We're Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Okay...so, we have been MIA for awhile, but we are back in action now. We will be reading, "The Hour I First Believed" bu Wally Lamb and we will have discussions about the book as we read along. I have already read the first chapter and the book is very easy to read and it is very well written. Please join us!!!

Hi my long lost book buddies...



Anyone out there?? Are you girls reading anything new? I know I sucked at being part of the book club but would like rejoin and commit fully to reading and joining in discussions at The Gathering Place.



Please let me know...



Thanks,



X's and O's



Nicole

Hello

Hello all-

I believe that we are all finished with "The Center of Everything." Like I mentioned several times before, the book was amazing. I was really able to connect with all of the characters in some way. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that we are going to start reading "The God of Small Things" next week. Hopefully, we will all be able to get our hands on a copy of the book before then. I have read about 26 pages of the book. I am having a difficult time remembering the names of the characters and remembering who is doing what. I have been reading the book before bed and I don't think that that is the best time to read because I am sleepy. So, I am going to try to read a little more of the book when I am awake. lol. :o)

I would love to hear from anyone who has started to read the book.

I am going up north tomorrow and I will not be able to read/post/participate until Monday evening. I hope that all of you are having a great summer and I look forward to talking with you about the book.

Oh, I just have to say, we have a kid who is really emotionally impaired in my classroom and the other teacher in the room said that he had a lot of pain-body. I knew that she was a Tolle fan as soon as she said it! Hilarious!

~Erika

The Center of Everything So Far

I think I am through Chapter 11. Sorry, ya’ll, but I warned you that I would not start reading until after vacation, which ended up being about five days after vacation... ;)

It took only a few pages for me to get very enveloped in this book. I immediately fell for Evelyn’s voice, but it wasn’t until the impending visit to the grandparent’s home that I had to know what would happen next!

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a good story and been transplanted into someone else’s world, which is what I enjoy most about this novel.

I agree with and like everyone’s observations and feelings about this book, and I’m glad you enjoyed it. I guess I want to talk a little about Evelyn’s relationship with her mother...

I think it’s clear that Tina loves Evelyn more than anything, but her shortcomings arise when she allows her pride to get in the way of her daughter’s best interests. She did this when she refused her father’s help to give them a reliable car, and again two more times, both times, Evelyn thinking to herself, “it was Wichita all over again...”

Tina also shows a lack of mature parenting at times. I thought it was crazy when her solution to Evelyn’s getting kicked off the school bus for a week was to have her stay home all week. Couldn’t she call the school and let them know that was Evelyn’s only means to get to school? Wouldn’t the school want to work out a different form of punishment for Evelyn’s fight? I’m not sure where this carelessness stems from on Tina’s part. Maybe it’s that she just doesn’t know any better at times, or is too preoccupied with her own stress to give Evelyn the proper attention she needs. (like when Evelyn immediately wanted to go home when she didn’t place in the science fair, and Tina was OK with it).

There is a point in every person’s life when you realize that your parents aren’t perfect. I remember it to be a heartbreaking thing. Evelyn was 10 years old when this happened, and to me that is a young, early age to go through this. Even though Evelyn heard from other people that she was different from her mom and also that her mom was bad, I do not think that she let those judgments affect her love for her Mom until she saw Tina unravel before her own eyes.

This happens after they go to sign up for welfare and Tina ends up not cooperating with the guidelines. Tina's fear and then her pride stand in the way. I was angry when Tina wouldn’t tell the worker the baby’s daddy’s name. She was too scared and wanted to keep the mistake hidden. I wanted her to put everything aside for Evelyn’s sake - for her daughter who didn’t even have shoes to walk home with.

After they get home Tina is depressed for days and when Evelyn finally gets her out of her room, Tina tells her that everything will be OK. Evelyn thinks - I know it will not. In her mind, things have changed and she’s started to draw a line between the two of them. She begins to separate herself from her Mom at that young age. I think it’s wonderful that Evelyn feels secure knowing that she is gifted in school, but sad that she is creating a resistance against her mother, which is sure to cause a lot of pain. At the same time, I think it’s an unavoidable and realistic direction given Evelyn’s age and circumstance.

The books skips ahead a bit to Evelyn being 14, when she has all out resentment for Tina. I’m sure there are going to be many more blow outs between Evelyn and Tina at this stage. Evelyn is at that age when your parent can become your enemy, and she isn’t letting go of her mother’s mistakes and accepting her for who she is. Tina does teach Evelyn many good values, but I think it’s going to be impossible for Evelyn to understand her for a very long time.

Book Suggestions

Hi everyone!

I have just finished reading, "The Center of Everything"...I happened to log on last Friday and noticed that people had not only started reading but Erika had finished :0 I thought we were waiting...lol!!! It's all good though, I finished last night...I will post my comments shortly.

I wanted to give my book suggestions for the next novel...



(TWO GREAT NOVELS...Flowers for Algernon and The God of Small Things)


The God of Small Things By: Arundhati Roy -----

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The story of the tragic decline of an Indian family whose members suffer the terrible consequences of forbidden love, The God of Small Things is set in the state of Kerala, on the southernmost tip of India. Armed only with the invincible innocence of children, the twins Rahel and Esthappen fashion a childhood for themselves in the shade of the wreck that is their family — their lonely, lovely mother, Ammu (who loves by night the man her children love by day), their blind grandmother, Mammachi (who plays Handel on her violin), their beloved uncle Chacko (Rhodes scholar, pickle baron, radical Marxist, bottom-pincher), their enemy, Baby Kochamma (ex-nun and incumbent grandaunt), and the ghost of an imperial entomologist's moth (with unusually dense dorsal tufts).

When their English cousin and her mother arrive on a Christmas visit, the twins learn that Things Can Change in a Day. That lives can twist into new, ugly shapes, even cease forever. The brilliantly plotted story uncoils with an agonizing sense of foreboding and inevitability. Yet nothing prepares you for what lies at the heart of it.

Review:

"A novel of real ambition must invent its own language, and this one does.... A Tiger Woodsian debut." (-- John Updike, The New Yorker)

Synopsis:

"A banquet for all the senses", said "Newsweek" of this bestselling and Booker Prize-winning literary novel--a richly textured first book about the tragic decline of one family whose members suffer the terrible consequences of forbidden love.

Flowers for Algernon By: Danielle Keyes -----

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Charlie Gordon is about to embark upon an unprecedented journey. Born with an unusually low IQ, he has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase his intelligence-a procedure that has already been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon.

As the treatment takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment appears to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance, until Algernon suddenly deteriorates. Will the same happen to Charlie?

WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD AND THE NEBULA AWARD

The classic novel that inspired the Academy Award-winning movie Charly

Daniel Keyes, the author of eight books, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Brooklyn College. Professor emeritus at Ohio University, he lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

Synopsis:

Following his doctor's instructions, engaging simpleton Charlie Gordon tells his own story in semi-literate "progris riports." He dimly wants to better himself, but with an IQ of 68 can't even beat the laboratory mouse Algernon at maze-solving. Then, an operation turns him into a genius and introduces him to heartache.

Synopsis:

With more than five million copies sold, Flowers for Algernon is the beloved, classic story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In poignant diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance-until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?
An American classic that inspired the award-winning movie Charly, Flowers for Algernon now returns to Harcourt as a Harvest paperback.



I couldn't choose between the two but I figured two suggestions was better than none ;) Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

If You Are Still Reading "The Center of Everything"

Hi...

I just wanted to let all of you know that the book club is still finishing up "The Center of Everything." We will continue to read and comment on the book until the end of next week. In all honesty, we were waiting for Kim to get back from vacation to begin, but Laura and I were too excited to wait. I was wondering, is there anyone else that plans on posting about the book?

Nicole and Laura, we would love to hear what novels you would like to read. Laura, I think that you said, "Eat, Pray, Love," but Kim has already read that book. So, please feel free to post any books that you would like to read.

For the next novel, I was thinking that we could read a classic or a mystery. I would like to mix up the genres. What about fantasy, historical fiction, or a collection of short stories? Just think about it!!!

As for now, just keep posting and commenting about "The Center of Everything." I thought that it was fantastic, but it would be really fantastic if I could share my thoughts with all of you.

Keep reading,

Erika

The Center of Everything...in general

After reading "The Center of Everything," I realized that there are numerous things to say about the title. You can think of Evelyn being in the center of everything, or you can think about family, religion, or dreams to be the center of everything. When I was reading the book, I kept thinking about what I believed when I was a kid. All I can remember is that I wanted everyone to like me. I wanted to have cool clothes, cool hair, and a boyfriend. That's right. I wanted a boyfriend. When Evelyn talks about Travis, I can't help but to think of myself. I tried to be nonchalant in front of boys, but I could never hide my feelings. I think that Evelyn resisting Travis (especially in the end) shows how mature she really is-I also believe that her resistance is a form of rebellion from her mother, Tina. As you know, Tina is kinda promiscuous and Evelyn is trying to not be like her mother.

One of the most awkward scenes in the book is when Evelyn and Tina go to ask the grandfather for money. I smirked when I read the whole horse/whore bit, but I was so sad that the grandfather was such a jerk. I was annoyed that he couldn't just forgive Tina and love her and Evelyn. I hated how cheesy he acted towards Evelyn. He kept treating her like she was a 4-year-old. Yuck.

I was unsure of how the book was going to end, but I was pleased for the most part. I like books that answer some questions but leave some unanswered questions as well. :o)

~Erika

Chapters 1-9

I totally agree with you, Erika, 'The Center of Everything' is a very good book.  It's been hard for me to put it down since I picked it up yesterday!  The first thing that struck me about the book is how Moriarty manages to take us into the mind of a ten year old child; for instance, Evelyn's confusion about what the "Iron Curtain" is and her wondering how Noah managed to feed all the animals on the Ark.  I love that even though an adult woman wrote the book, I really feel like I am inside a young girl's mind.  I also really appreciated all the early eighties references, like how cool Ocean Pacific was and those friendship pin things.  I totally remember those!

The book really reminds me of how painful (and, at the same time, hilarious) adolescence can be. I laughed out loud as I pictured Evelyn and her mom in the run-down Volkswagen that plays Sinatra over and over again while the no-seatbelt alarm dings constantly.  Yet, Evelyn's desire to be popular and her jealousy toward Traci Carmichael show the more painful side of being a pre-teen.  The scene on the bus when Traci claims that Evelyn only won the Science fair because people felt sorry for her, and even the scene at the science fair in Wichita, are pretty tough to read.  Anyone who felt unsure of themselves as a kid, as I'm sure most people did, can totally relate to these scenes.    

The main idea I'm taking away from the novel so far is about family.  Clearly, Evelyn has a tenuous relationship with her mother.  She is embarrassed by her, feels somewhat neglected and is starting to think that she is immoral (at least by the end of chapter 9).  Tina herself has a very strained relationship with her own mother, and is estranged from her father. Nevertheless, there is still an unspoken bond between them all.  I was really struck by the scene when Evelyn and Tina were driving back home after the disastrous visit to the grandparents' house.  They see a flock of birds all flying together in the same crazy pattern, but at the same time the birds seems to be fighting against each other, jockeying for position.  I interpreted this as a symbol for what family life is like.  We are all bound together by this strong connection, but we are constantly "fluttering and flapping on top of one another".  

I am so interested to see where the rest of this novel takes us!   

The Rest...

I couldn't help myself...I finished the book. I can't wait to talk about it. There were some surprises and some of my predictions were fulfilled, but I loved every second of the novel, which is why I am finished. Also, I am really bored and I am house sitting, so there is not much to do. I finished reading "The Time Traveler's Wife" and that was okay and I also read "A Lesson Before Dying" and that was amazing.

I am not sure about the ending of "The Center of Everything." I am very anxious to hear what you all have to say.

Happy reading,

Erika

The Center of Everything Chap. 1-9

Hello-

If you have not started to read the book, you probably do not want to read on.


"The Center of Everything" is exactly what I expected. The novel is from the viewpoint of a 10-year-old girl named Evelyn. However, Evelyn is not like most girls her age. She is really smart and she is very mature.

The beginning of the book grabbed my attention right away. The family (the mother, grandmother, and Evelyn) are watching Ronald Reagan on TV. I could instantly tell that the book would focus on the mother-daughter relationship, and how certain things are passed down from one generation to the next. Also, there is an obvious absence of men. Now, I don't mean that men are not mentioned in the novel, but the men that are in the novel are all shady. For example, Mr. Mitchell seems like a great guy. He gives Tina a car and he buys Tina and Evelyn groceries, but he is MARRIED!!! I couldn't believe that he was such a jerk to his wife. In the end, or from what I've read so far, he has been a jerk to Tina as well.

Right now, I am trying to figure out what roll the neighbors will play in this novel. The dad just left with one of the sons, Kevin, but Travis and his mother are left behind, which almost mirrors the situation Tina and Evelyn are in. Evelyn is really attracted to Travis, but he, like the men I am assuming Tina has been involved with, has a "bad boy" image. I feel like Travis' mother despises Tina, but I don't know if it is because her husband always commented on how beautiful Tina looked or because she is just like her.

One of the main themes that have been brought to the foreground in chapters 1-9 is religion. The grandmother is really religious, but Tina, the mother, is not. Evelyn seems to be confused, but she wants to decide for herself. Part of the rebellion against her mother is typical of a child that is struggling to be different from their parent. I am sure that we have all heard, "I will never be like my mother/father." Evelyn's teacher confirms that she is unlike her mother by saying that Evelyn is "blessed."

I am very excited to see where this story will go. I am at a somewhat sad part of the story (Tina just had the baby) and I am eager to see what happens. I am sure that you will all have a lot to say about this story.

~Erika

Happy Belated Posting!

There are many "things" I enjoyed about Possible Side Effects aside from his quirky stories making me laugh when I probably should have been crying!!! Here is a list of my favs:

* His love for the truth and nothing but! I can "honestly" say I have never read a book by an author who wasn't afraid to get naked for his readers

* The way he finds humor in the incidentals of life (good OR BAD)

* His love of dogs

* His unconditional love for Dennis

"Happily, GLEEFULLY, would I live in dire poverty with him, if it meant we got to live to each be one hundred years old. The next morning, a tree could fall on top of our cardboard box and crush us both to death at the same instant. Bliss"

...love in its purest form

* The ending of the book.."Oh," she said, smirking, and blowing a plume of smoke into the air. "Well, don't say anything hateful about me." "Don't worry," I said smiling. "I would never do that." Priceless.

All in all, I thought it was a good read. I found myself sharing Augusten's tribulations with my friends and family...always a good conversation starter :)

Excellent choice! I'm ready for the next book !!

Mental note to self: Contribute more to our discussions and not take so damn long doing it!!!

xo

NIColE

Better Late Than Never?

Whoops, sorry I am a little late in responding to 'Possible Side Effects'!  

I loved this book.  I had previously never read anything by Burroughs', although I had seen the movie version of 'Running with Scissors' so I knew a little about his life.  I really enjoyed his short stories.  They were brutally honest and self-deprecating but in a totally hilarious way!   I don't know how someone who went through such a traumatic childhood and early adulthood could find such a humorous take on it all, but I am so happy that he did.  It made me really sad to read about his mom's bipolar breakdowns and his dad's absentee presence in his life, but I love it when an author can master the whole spectrum of human emotion and take us from laughing to crying.  

Some of my favorite moments:

In "Killing John Updike", just when you think Burroughs has had a change of heart about his death wish toward Updike ("If anyone deserved to die in his sleep tonight, or choke on a tortilla chip, it was me") he then turns to plotting the death of Ira Levin ("Okay, Ira. Your number's up.")  Love it.  

Jumping on the chinese man's lap in his allergist's office and yelling, "Santa! I love you, Santa.  And I want a bike with a banana seat!"  Oh, man, that image kills me!

In "Unclear Sailing" when Chip is explaining the complex process of measuring and cutting the sails, he says "See what I mean?" and Augusten thinks "I did not see what he meant, but I nodded, which meant, I see that you have a large Adam's apple and I am very tempted to reach over and touch it."

Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the read and I just checked out 'Dry' and 'Running with Scissors' from the library.  I'm looking forward to reading more of his stuff!  Thanks for the great book idea, Erika!

Next up...

I stumbled across this book and would like to select it as the next novel...

"The Center of Everything" by Laura Moriarty
Synopsis
A dazzling debut in the tradition of Jane Hamilton and Mona Simpson.
In Laura Moriarty's extraordinary first novel, a young girl tries to make sense of an unruly world spinning around her. Growing up with a single mother who is chronically out of work and dating a married man, 10-year old Evelyn Bucknow learns early how to fend for herself. Offering an affecting portrayal of a troubled mother/daughter relationship, one in which the daughter is very often expected to play the role of the adult, the novel also gives readers a searing rendering of the claustrophobia of small town midwestern life, as seen through the eyes of a teenage girl. Evelyn must come to terms with the heartbreaking lesson of first love -- that not all loves are meant to be -- and determine who she is and who she wants to be. Stuck in the middle of Kansas, between best friends, and in the midst of her mother's love, Evelyn finds herself . . . in The Center of Everything.

Time Out New York
Moriarty creates empathetic, engaging characters and situations.

San Diego Union Tribune
Teriffic…. Moriarty has steady confidence…expertly wringing poignancy from…young lives…. A deeply satisfying novel.

Denver Post & Rocky Mountain Ne
Lively and endearing… complete tour of…conflicts between mother and daughter, as well as between the narrator's hopes and dreams.

Elle Magazine
Intelligent and charming debut novel.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Moriarty's enchanting novel passes too quickly.

USA Today
It's not easy to build a novel around a personality, but Moriarty does it well. — Anne Stephenson

The New York Times
Laura Moriarty's debut novel has the makings of something wearily familiar: the Midwestern mother-daughter coming-of-age story, featuring at least one episode in which Mom leaves home looking like a movie star but winds up collapsing in tears. Happily, Ms. Moriarty's artful, enveloping book is a lot more interesting than its genre initially suggests. It traces not only stormy adolescence, but also the essential stages of Evelyn's moral and intellectual evolution. — Janet Maslin

Right On

I guess that we will probably all agree that "Possible Side Effects" is a fun and funny novel. Although I found that Augusten's stories were really over the top, there was something about them that reminded me of myself. I mean, I have never been an alcoholic and I have never been addicted to Nicorette gum or McDonald's. But, I have made many impulsive decisions. My favorite part of the book was the entire section about the dogs. I laughed reading that entire section. I hated that he drank so much, but that was him finally being honest with the fact that he made some mistakes! I was particularly stressed out with how messy his apartment was, and I didn't care for him being locked out of his apartment. I think that I will read, "A Wolf at the Table" at some point and I will rent and watch, "Running with Scissors." I hope that you found this book to be interesting.

~Erika

Finished PSE

I finished "Possible Side Effects" Friday night. It was a fun read. I really enjoy Augusten's childhood stories involving his mother, father and brother. I get stressed out about him in his drinking stories. If you want to know more about that you have to read "Dry."

I was back to laughing in the end.

"Throwing things horrified me."

Bedtime routines

Hungover from her festering mental illness...

"Searching for that penny occupied much of my life..."

"And most importantly, how could I manipulate the situation for my personal gain?"

He is crazy :)

Picking the Next Novel

Okay, so I realize that some of you may not be finished with Augusten's Burroughs' "Possible side Effects," but it is never too early to talk about the next novel. I received an email today from Amazon and I was wondering what all of you thought about the books that are posted at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=pe_23490_9562360_fe_txt_1/?docId=1000061771

Or-If you really want to read a certain book please post about the book. I am interested in reading, "A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest Gaines and "The Glass Castle" by Walls? I am not really sure of the author. What would all of you like to read? I chose the last book so if anyone else would like to choose, that would be great. Keep me posted!!!

Have a great day!

~Erika

Reviews for Augusten's new book....Wolf at the Table (memoir)

Now, I know we are reading Possible Side Effects...but here's the thing. I love the book we are reading so much I was just taking a quick look to see what else he has coming out...and I read these two GREAT reviews on Wolf at the Table....chilling and true....

Burroughs' 'Wolf at the Table' memoir is a serious departure...In 2002, Burroughs became the memoir "it" boy with his hilarious yet heartbreaking Running With Scissors...But this memoir is not at all funny. It's a moving depiction of fear and powerlessness from a child's point of view...In A Wolf at the Table, Burroughs paints a portrait of his father as a rage-filled alcoholic with a personality disorder. His health was poor. And his marriage to Augusten's mother was a nightmare of screaming and physical violence...But the most compelling aspect of Wolf is the way that Burroughs has left behind the campy humor of Running With Scissors. This is a serious book by a grown-up writer."- Deirdre Donahue, USA TODAY

"Augusten Burroughs's much-anticipated new memoir begins with a chase. In a gripping prologue, we are alongside the pajama-clad 10-year-old as he races barefoot through the woods near his family's Massachusetts home, his enraged, alcoholic monster of a father at his heels...This scene, shocking and terrifyingly thrilling, hooks the reader immediately. It promises that Burroughs is about to take us on another rapid-fire, acerbic, so-horrible-it's-hilarious ride of our lives, the kind we've taken with him in both "Running With Scissors" and "Dry." Yet this is not that Burroughs...Burroughs is doing something new here: ripping the scabs off emotional wounds without his usual acidic humor to deaden the pain...Still, Burroughs retains his capacity to move the reader: There is gorgeous writing on every page...Clearly, this was not an easy tale to tell. "


I got pins and needles just reading the reviews...I can only imagine the reading the novel itself!

Nicole

Possible Side Effects

This is a nice book to read after "A New Earth." It's almost pure entertainment. My favorite story so far has been The Sacred Cow. I was worried that Augusten would never come to love the Cow, and it was great when he did. So do you girls think Augusten Burroughs is a likable guy? More often than not, he paints a pretty unappealing picture of himself. He always talks about himself being shallow, and of course there are his numerous addictions. I'm not sure what I would think if this was the first book of his I read. As it is, I feel like I already kind of know him and this is just bonus material of his life. Do you feel compelled to read his other books and find out about his childhood? Just wondering :)

P.S. I think the name Augusten is adorable.

Please...

Watch the first Youtube video. I only have control over the top video...so needless to say, I have no idea what the other videos are doing there.

Okay.

Hope all is funny, happy and great.

~Erika

Well, well, well

Hey all-

I was searching for some information on Augusten Burroughs and I found a blog that is really interesting...

Check it out!

http://www.augusten.com/blog/

My favorite thing about the book is that I feel like I am hearing Augusten's voice when I read. I would love to meet him.

Touching Base

Hello-

All of you new members...

We are a laid back book club. We realize that people are often busy at different times and we realize that it is really hard to stay on schedule. So, you can post at your leisure. For example, I assume that most of the people reading the book will post about the first few chapters sometime this week. You can just say what you are liking, not liking, relating to, not relating to, inspired by, motivated by, etc. You can talk about the author, the author's writing style, and other books that you have read that might tie into this novel. Please feel free to talk to each other about the book, too. If you are a fast reader and would like to post when you are finished, that is fine. But, you might want to get involved in some conversations via post throughout your reading...that's totally up to you.

I hope that you enjoy reading with us. Like Kim said, I am finished with the book; however, I will be participating in all of the discussions. I look forward to hearing what all of you think.

What did you all think about the tooth fairy story in the beginning? :o)

Got it

I got the book last night and have started reading. Erika told me that she is already done. Should we just post when we're finished? It's OK that we're not a structured book club, lol.

Let's do this!

I got Possible Side Effects today.  I'm excited to start reading!

I am so excited

I forgot to tell all of you...

Wally Lamb is coming out with a new novel in November!!! I am ridiculously excited.

Just for fun

Hello-

I hope that all of you are having a great week. I am. Anyway, I just received an email from borders.com. Did you know that borders has a book club, too? They provide discussion questions and information. I stumbled upon some discussion questions for "A New Earth" and I just wanted to share. You can choose to respond or you can just read through the questions.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In Chapter One, Tolle discusses the reasons for reading A New Earth, and what leads people towards awakening. He writes: "For some, it may have begun through loss or suffering; for others, through coming into contact with a spiritual teacher or teaching, through reading The Power of Now or some other spiritually alive and therefore transformational book." Discuss why you decided to read this book and seek spiritual awakening. What led you to want it? Do you think you were already on the path when you began reading A New Earth? How did the book help you with your enlightenment?

2. Discuss the following passage: "If the structures of the human mind remain unchanged, we will always end up re-creating fundamentally the same world, the same evils, the same dysfunction" (p. 22). Do you agree with this statement? What changes does Tolle argue for? What can humans do as a people to make change happen? What can you do as an individual?

3. Why does Tolle tell the story of "The Lost Ring" in Chapter Two? Have you ever felt as the woman in the story feels? Why does Tolle teach the importance of disassociating ourselves with our physical possessions? Why do you think people are so quick to identify so closely with their possessions? How can we stop? Why should we stop?

4. On page 52, Tolle discusses the importance of feeling the inner body. He says we should "Make a habit of feeling the inner body as often as you can." Why is this so important to do? How is your inner body different than your outer body? What can we learn from our inner bodies?

5. In Chapter Three, Tolle delves into "Reactivity and Grievances." Discuss a grievance you've had with someone. Have you let go of it? How or why not? Why is it so important to let go of grievances? How does holding on to grievances damage your ego?

6. In what outward behaviors does your ego manifest itself? Pride? Superiority? Criticism? Examine the outward face of your ego. How can you conquer these issues and let go of them? Now consider the internal manifestations of your ego. What are you holding on to? How can you try to let go? Discuss.

7. "In Zen they say: 'Don't seek the truth. Just cease to cherish opinions'"(p. 121). What does this statement mean to you? How can you practice this in your own life? What other sayings or thoughts help you to see beyond your own mind to get beyond your ego?

8. What unconscious assumptions (ie. "Nobody respects me" or "I don't deserve love") have you had to fight against? Have you been able to conquer these assumptions? How? Are there any you are still trying to conquer? Why are some harder than others? Why is it so important to get unconscious assumptions out of our minds?

9. Discuss the parable of "Carrying the Past" on page 139. What does the story mean? How does it relate to the larger themes in this book? Are you carrying baggage from your past? How can you unload it? If you have unloaded past baggage, explain to the group how you managed it.

10. What is Tolle saying when he writes about the pain-body? How does the pain-body manifest itself in you? How can you break free from it? How is the pain-body stilting to spiritual growth and awakening?

11. How have the lessons in this book helped you to identify who you truly are? How can you expunge negativity and unhappiness to find your true self? What techniques have you tried? What has worked and what hasn't? Discuss with the group.

12. How is your true identity different than your inner purpose? How can you find your inner purpose? What in this book has helped you to uncover it? Do you feel that you have reached an awakening? What more do you have to work on? Discuss ways to help one another to reach the awakening you seek.

13. How can you help other towards enlightenment? Do you think "The New Earth" that Tolle writes about is possible to achieve? How can the human race a whole be helped by his teachings?


ABOUT ECKHART TOLLE

Eckhart Tolle is a contemporary spiritual teacher who is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition. In his writing and seminars, he conveys a simple yet profound message with the timeless and uncomplicated clarity of the ancient spiritual masters. There is a way out of suffering into peace. Tolle travels extensively, taking his teachings throughout the world. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Well...

I said that I would post the new book by Monday, which obviously did not happen! I was very busy, and I forgot to post. :o(

Anyway, I have decided that we should read, "Possible Side Effects" by Augusten Burroughs. I have already started to read it, but I understand that it may take some time for you to get your hands on a copy. I found it at the library, but I also saw that there were many copies available on amazon.com. Please let me know if you are having a hard time finding a copy.

Talk to you soon...


Erika

Let's Regroup

Hello all-

As you can see, Kim and I are finally finished with "A New Earth." We both felt like the book changed our lives and we are both really happy that we read the book. Now, our next order of business is deciding on the next novel. I am thinking about choosing an Augusten Burroughs novel. He is very funny and charming and I think that his style would be great to read after "A New Earth." Also, I think that his writing is easy to follow and read.

I checked out a couple Augusten Burroughs books from the library and I am going to read a little bit of each book. I will probably pick a book by Monday. If you have any last minute suggestions please feel free to post them on the blog.

Kim has already read "Running with Scissors" and "Dry" so it will not be either or those.

Great.

Have a good one,

E

The End is only the Beginning...

This book changed my life. I feel like this book allowed me to have the life that I was blocking from myself. It swept me up at the most perfect time. I was experiencing lows that were coming more frequently. I was manifesting so much pain-body. I remember driving to knitting class with Lou one Monday night and telling her my weekend had been shitty. That I didn’t know how I was going to make it through more time in Arizona. Lou looked at me and said, “You need to read the book.”

I also saw A New Earth featured on the Oprah show, and I heard the quote Erika mentioned in her first post about, “How do you know this is the right experience? Because it is the experience you are having at this moment.” That one quote had a powerful impact on me, and I could only imagine what reading it in its entirety might do for my state of mind.

I was finding a lot of fault in my present situation, but there was nothing terrible about the present moment. My thoughts about things were terrible. How I reacted was terrible. Sure, I disliked my job something fierce, but I later learned to accept it for what it was, and not make it my identity.

When my parents were here in January, I came home from work every single day upset about my job. Why the F didn’t I just enjoy that time with my parents?! I would also ruin nights or sometimes even days with Jason being in a foul mood. Like Erika, I had no idea I was carrying that pain-body in me. The greatest revelation of all is that, like E said, it was all me which allowed that to happen!

My thinking also got crazy when I got this idea in my head about what I should be achieving and when. I forgot the present and began looking to the things I didn’t have that would bring future happiness.

“Don’t let a mad world tell you that success is anything other than a successful present moment.” - Eckhart Tolle.

I still experience pain-body but I usually recognize what triggers it. That recognition is my awareness. My ego still gets in the way, but the awareness doesn't let me totally lose myself. Even when my sister received a huge medical scare for something that has impacted her health greatly and changed her life forever, and I worried about her like I never have before, and I wanted to be with her just to be there with her, I held onto some sanity. That sanity, that peace, is in the present moment. The present moment was that she does not have worst case scenario, and we can look at the changes in her life in a positive way. There is no point cursing the situation that we can’t change. The resistance causes more pain.

When I made the decision and the effort to accept that job situation for “what it is,” I became happier and I could bettter tolerate it. Things then got worse at work and I was fine. I knew I had to get out of the situation but I wasn’t going to do anything rash and it wasn’t getting me down in my day to day. In a spectacular turns of events, I was laid off from the job, which then led me to applying for my dream job and securing it just one week later.

“Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” - Tolle. “The source of all abundance is not outside you. It is a part of who you are.”

Hi, The Secret.

I am astounded, looking back, at how often I let myself be engulfed in pain-body. Jason was the #1 person who had to deal with that and the only person really affected by it. When I focus on my present being with him, I am the happiest person in the world. How could I let so much other stuff matter to the extent I thought it did?

I truly hold this book in very high regard and I am so, so happy that I read it. Thank you, Lou, for busting my ass! E, it was so much fun reading it with you.

Love, Kim

Final thoughts

Ah, to finish a book...

I feel great. I feel as though I just spoke with someone about all of the things that I have been feeling about myself for the last 29 years. So, needless to say, I really enjoyed reading "A New Earth." I felt like the book inspired me to look deep within myself. I also felt like the book inspired me to be a better person.

Over the last few years, I've been working with young children in a variety of environments. I worked at a daycare, as a nanny, in public schools, in private schools, etc. But, I could never go through a day without being totally and completely irritated. I would just end up being so frustrated with the children that I didn't even want to return the next day. I had no idea why or how their behavior could make me feel the way that I did. I can even remember driving home in tears. However, while I was reading, "A New Earth" I realized that it's all about me. I had no idea that I was carrying and fueling so much pain-body. Granted, I have no idea where all of my pain-body derives from, but I am sure that it is present.

I was guest teaching in a 4th grade classroom after I read and learned about pain-body. Unfortunately, there were numerous staff members who informed me of the "bad" behavior that I was going to encounter throughout my day. But, I didn't have any issues or behavior problems. I would not let that negative energy into me or into that classroom. I was there for two days and those two days were the best teaching experiences that I've ever had. When I left, I felt happy. I wasn't happy that I was leaving, but I was happy that I was able to teach the children something valuable. Most importantly, I was able to show those students who I really am...

At the end of the novel, Tolle writes, "This, too, will pass," which I found to be so interesting. Now, if someone had said those words to me right after Matt passed away, I would have thought that the person didn't understand the pain that occurs when someone you love passes away, but it makes sense to me now. Although I am very sad that Matt passed away, the initial sadness and shock has faded. All of the worries that I felt about passing tests, ex-boyfriends, and past experiences have passed. In some cases, I can't believe how much time and energy that I spent worrying about things that I couldn't change. I can't bring Matt back, I can't become a ballerina, I can't change the past. It is what it is. The past is the past.

If I could choose one thing that I really learned from reading "A New Earth" I would say that I learned to be aware of this moment. Right now. I learned to appreciate and become aware of my Presence... I am.

Thanks for participating. I will decide on a new book next week. Stay tuned.

~Erika

Yay, I finished the book!

Just wanted to let you know. I will post once more on it, maybe tomorrow.

So, What's Next?

Hello-

Every week I get an issue of People magazine delivered to my house. Luckily, there is a section in the magazine that focuses on books. One of the books that was reviewed this week was, "A Little Girl's Death, and After" by Ann Hood. The book is a memoir-which is a book that focuses on one particular event and creates a story around it. The review reads, "Some things that didn't help novelist Hood after her 5-year-old daughter, Grace, died in 2002: being told she should try Pilates. Going to church (she hated God).
'None of them,' Hood writes, 'know what it is to lose Grace.' This affecting memoir shows what it was, and what brought solace in the dark months and years after the little girl, who loved art, sparkly shoes and overripe kiwis, came down with a virulent form of strep one day and was dead 36 hours later. Undone by sorrow, Hood found respite in knitting-filling her empty arms with soft wool. Her husband's and son's love helped; adopting baby Annabelle in '05 cheered them all. Friends suggested that by sharing her story, 'I could help others,' Hood writes. 'Of course I can't.' In graceful prose, Comfort bears witness to the heartbreaking particularity of her-of any-loss. It's what she could do."

The other books that are highlighted in this week's issue of People include:

Evan Handler: It's Only Temporary
Nikolai Grozni: Turtle Feet
Janelle Brown: All We Ever Wanted Was Everything

We could try to pick a newer novel or we could think about reading some of the classics. The only problem with picking one of the classics is that it would be harder to find something that we all haven't read. I am thinking that I would like to read a newer fiction novel. What is everyone else thinking about?

Have you ever?

Have you ever been in a big argument with someone, and then suddenly looked at them and realized how ridiculous, how irrelevant, how what your arguing about is off point and doesn’t matter? Or, has someone ever been very upset with you, and as they talk to you and speak of the hurt/anger, you don’t recognize the look in their eye?

I have noticed these things on many occasions, and even though I had the presence of mind to realize how fruitless an argument was, many times couldn’t stop it because of my ego. I have also been on the other end where someone has been angry with me and I felt like I couldn’t reach their true self, because something else had taken over. I see this now as both examples of the ego and pain-body.

Broken Laptop

Hello All-

I hope that all of you are having a great time finishing the latter portion of "A New Earth." I have enjoyed the majority of the book and I have recommended the book to several people. I haven't really been posting because my laptop is broken. Boo. I am sharing a laptop with Tom and that has not been so great. I loved having my own laptop...So, I am working on fixing my laptop and if that doesn't work out I will get a new one. I am almost finished with the book (only a few pages left) and I will make a final post after the long weekend. I have really enjoyed talking with all of you. You are all so smart and wonderful.

Have a terrific weekend!

~Erika

Where you at?

Hi everybody!

Erika, where are you at in your reading? I know you have been going strong whereas I keep taking breaks from the book. I am enjoying reading it slowly. I feel like I am learning a lot, and I'm letting all of it sink in before I continue plugging along. In my spare time I am also reading a book series that I read in middle school - The Vampire Diaries. I LOVED this series when I read it 15 years ago and I am enjoying it once again! lol. Tiff, where you at in your reading? Marcus, are you even bothering with this book anymore? Lou, how is your second read coming along?

I am mid-Chapter 7. I will post more soon.

Love you all.

Kim

Tons of Pain-body

Hi everyone!

I was glad to see some posts about chapters 4-6. I felt very connected to the idea of the pain-body. I feel like I have a lot of pain-body; however, I feel like I have accumulated most of it during my adult years. Tolle states, "Children in particular find strong negative emotions too overwhelming to cope with and tend to try not to feel them." This quote could explain why I don't feel like any of my pain-body occurred during my childhood. For the last 10 years, I have been trying to find out what I want to do with my life. Most of my adult life has been extremely wonderful, but I feel like I have been focusing on the negative--even if it is something small. Luckily, this book has changed the way that I think about life, about me, and about awareness. Almost two years ago, my friend passed away and I was very angry and devastated. After about a year, I felt like time had healed so much of that pain, but every once in a while that pain would seep out. Sometimes the pain would be unbearable and other times I felt like I forced the pain because I thought that was what I was supposed to feel. Now, I am still trying, and I mean I am trying, to clear my head. I am trying to become aware. I know that I cannot erase the pain-body that I have, but I can prevent more pain-body from entering into my body. I feel really silly for admitting this (so please forgive me in advance), but for some reason every time that I see my mom or anyone in my family, I feel like it is going to be the last time that I see them. It is so strange. I will write more about this topic, but I need to rest my eyes.

Hugs,

Erika

The Pain-Body

Hi Friends,

I have read through Chapter 6. This book continues to open my eyes and help me understand myself as well as others. Now - with the explanation of the pain-body. It’s a good thing, because this here pain-body has been rearing it’s ugly head on me sporadically for the past year. I don’t want to go into explanations of what Tolle named the pain-body, I’ll just tell you what I took away...

“The ego cannot distinguish between a situation and its interpretation of and reaction to that situation.” The situation is what it is. “What is dreadful is your reaction, your inner resistance to it, and the emotion that is created by that resistance.” This is huge for me, because I was in the habit of blaming Arizona for my unhappiness. Many times, in so many words, I’ve stated “I would be happier if I lived somewhere else.” At first I was saying that I didn’t want to be here because I missed my family, and then I started saying that so many other places would be better than AZ - that it’s AZ that is just not doing it for me.

What I feel now is that I don’t have to love Arizona, and this new way of living isn’t going to MAKE me love it, but it will separate my dislike from ME. My situation is what it is. How I react to it determines my state of happiness.

Since reading this book, I still have moments where the “funk” creeps up on me. I got very annoyed at the pool recently because it’s so hot already, I couldn’t stand to be out there. I was mad that when I touched the metal chair it burned me. I started hating on AZ and getting mad at Jason for laying there, loving it. I know this is ridiculous behavior! Another day, I got a letter from my niece - the first letter she had ever thought out and written to me by herself - and it was beautiful and it made me cry, and my pain-body surfaced and I was once again sad about being here and being away from my family.

These types of situations would happen before and I would completely slip into a funk. My negative thoughts would feed into my pain-body and it would spiral down. Or, sometimes, I couldn’t even pinpoint my trigger - it would just feel like a bad mood - which would then led to the same thoughts of why am I here and I don’t want to be here and I’m miserable. This would also lead to problems with Jason, because the pain-body wants to be miserable and it wants to drag others down with you.

I have been able to break that pattern now - I have done it. I recognized my pain-body, and the negative thoughts and feelings did not immediately go away, but there was a separation between me and it. The negativity didn’t consume me for more than a few moments, which is a major improvement. I felt OK with how I felt, while also finding a peace with the present.

“The knowing needs to be followed by accepting. Accepting means you allow yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling at that moment. Through allowing, you become what you are: vast, spacious. You become whole.”

Sorry!!!

I would like to apologize for triple responding to Tiffany's post. As the Amazing Kim Boven will tell you, computer technology is not my forte.

I know we are talking about books on this blog, but there are a few movies I feel really encapsulate what we are reading. One of my favorites is, "What the bleep do we know". This movie uses some "interesting" illustrations of the scientific explanations of the power of thought and Ego.

I also recently watched a movie called, "Revolver", the latest Guy Ritchie movie. Interesting interpretation of the power of Ego, if you can handle a ganstar flick. Makes sense since he and Madonna practice Kabbalism.

You could make a case for both "Donnie Darko" (great movie!) and "Into the Wild" being awareness quest movies also.

If anyone is thinking about watching the movie version of "The Peaceful Warrior" and has not; my recommendation is to skip it. It is a Hollywood-ized version of an amazing book. Practically the entire meaning is lost.

Does anyone else know of any great movies that parallel Tolle's work?

Something to think about...

First of all- let me say- that this is book is GREAT.. with a capital GRR! I read Siddhartha when I was 19 and it changed my life. New Earth is in the same vein as Siddhartha but breaks the concept down clearly and specifically. I feel from reading everyone else's posts that these concepts are something that we have all felt intuitively but have not been able to grasp consciously. I read an essay once that really put all of this into perspective for me and I'll share it with all of you. I felt the itch after I read Siddhartha- the sense of connection to something greater, the seed of awareness being planted, the excitement that after a life of being fed bullshit that maybe the truth was upon me...much the same as how I'm feeling reading New Earth... so anyway.. I got obsessed. I started reading Eastern philosophy, going to a Buddhist temple, started Yoga.... I renounced materialism (sort of - HA!).. yada..yada.. BUT it wasn't working. I was still angry and narcissistic...I still wanted new clothes and the material trophies of success....I still gossiped and felt negativity toward my fellow man. I felt like a spiritual failure, like maybe I just wasn't cut out for enlightenment or "awakening". I tell you all of this because one day I stumbled upon an essay online. The author basically said that it's hard for westerners to grasp these concepts because we are inherently impatient, we make a change and BAM- we want the result- RIGHT NOW or we give up. He explained that to embark on this journey is to look at it like taking up martial arts. Of course you don't expect to be a black belt after your first class or even after your first year or ten years.. but through practice, discipline and commitment some people master the art. Very few ever reach the pinnacle of black belt status but everyone who takes up martial arts benefits in one way or another. I offer you this because as we hit the pavement of this spiritual journey together, maybe thinking about the process in this light will ease some frustration. It helped me feel more patient about learning, more patient with myself- but it's still an ebb and flow for me- there have been way more set backs then successes, for me it's just about picking myself back up and trying again (coincidentally a theme in Siddhartha). There are years when this feeling sits on a dusty shelf of my mind- surfacing only occasionally and then receding quietly in the background of my life. In some ways- I haven't changed at all- still angry, want new clothes and gossip.. but it has made a huge impact on my life and I feel hope that if I ever do understand this or even advance to my green belt- that peace and fulfillment are waiting for me. New Earth is such a refreshing and understandable user's guide...thank you for encouraging me to read this book- it's been a comfort in this period of my life and I feel like I'm back in spiritual karate and ready to kick some ass!!!! I'm almost through chapter 3...

Sorry...

Sorry I haven't been participating....Having some family troubles. Erika, I emailed you on myspace.



Hope to be back in action soon, though!

The Next Novel

I read a review of this novel in People magazine and I was wondering what you all thought.

"Augusten Burroughs wowed readers with his offbeat memoir, Running with Scissors, and the subsequent film based on the book was a hit with critics and fans alike. He returns to his formative years for a chilling portrait of his complicated relationship with his dark and unpredictable father in A Wolf at the Table."

I am thinking that there would be a lot to talk about. Just a suggestion.

~Erika

Any Connections?

Revelation 21

The New Heaven and the New Earth
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place [1] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, [2] and God himself will be with them as their God. [3] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Response to Marcus and Kim

Hi, Guys:

Marcus, I loved your response. Tolle, himself, said many people would not get anything out of the book. I agree with Kim, it is much easier when you have studied either yoga or meditation; because you already have a history of seeking "beingness".

It sounds like you are philosophical. What my old college friends would call a deep thinker. I dont think Tolle wants you to lose that. As a matter of fact, you will find later in the book that is revered. I just think the message is, dont make your past or future your identity. When we tend to worry about these things; we miss the now. As my very wise Father used to say, "When you have one foot in the past and one foot in the future; you end up peeing on the present". Alright, a little crude; but it makes sense.

Maybe you are too evolved for this. Maybe you already have the ability to appreciate the now and not get caught up in labels, baggage and role-playing. I sure am not there. I have just learned how to think about my thinking. Now when the crazy Scottsdale drivers cut me off (a frequent occurence, right Kim?) when I start getting angry, I spend some time thinking about what is really bothering me and find a whole new set of Ego voices. It is pretty freeing.

I know you questioned whether we can ever change the world. You said that pain, disease etc were going to happen anyway. All wars have occured over either commerce or religious beliefs. I think Tolle is saying, all great leaders have been in the now...aware of their beingness. Jesus, Gandhi, Buddha, The Dalai Llama, Mohamed, Martin Luther King etc. were tolerant and spoke of being in the moment and appreciating what we have. If hundreds of thousands of people end up of this mindset, which I believe Oprah alone has over 2 million people taking her class, cant we be more tolerant? If we are less attached to the things the Ego loves (which is MORE) and are more tolerant of people's religious views; wont that spread peace and love?

Chapter 5 will address the disease/pain part. I hope you stick with the book long enough to read about the role-playing and pain-body. Also, I do find Tolle's writing to be a little dry. But if you have ever seen him speak, he is a little dry by nature. If it is something you are interested in; you can go to Oprah.com and see the videos of the classes. The questions people send in are very similar to yours; and he and Oprah answer them more eloquently than I can. It really is worth the time to watch them.

Marcus, I hope you continue to question the book. I think we learn most in this life by listening to others. It helps us to hear other people's views and forces us to analyze our own. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Everyone have a great week. Cant wait to hear your comments on Chapters 4-6.

Where are you?

Bethany, where are you? I know that you have been reading!!! We want to hear what you think!

Welcome

Hello all-

I wanted you all to know that I invited some of my friends and family to this blog. I want you to feel free to invite some of your friends and family as well. Please let me know if there is someone that you want me to invite.

For all of the new people...

Welcome!

We are currently reading "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle. Most of us are about 4 chapters in at this point. We welcome all questions, comments, thoughts, ideas, etc. at "The Gathering Place." I hope that you join us in any way that you can. :o)

I hope that you enjoy this experience as much as I do!

~Erika

Response to Marcus

Hey Marcus, I’m glad you’re reading!

Let me first say that the first Chapter of this book did nothing for me. I remember nothing from it, and I read it twice. It is impossible to judge this book from the first Chapter. Honestly, not one part of it made sense to me. I do not identify myself as “flowering.” Nor should I try to. The lesson is not to identify ourselves as anything…just be. Be your awareness. Will that stop bad things from happening? Absolutely not. Does it mean we will stop feeling? No way. Just last night, my yoga teacher was saying that we are, of course, still human. We won’t become robots.
We will still feel bad things and we should allow for that to happen. The important thing is to not MAKE that thing or thought our identity. We allow and we grow. Allow and move on.

I do not think this will take away from the beauty of life - which includes getting through the trials and tribulations. I think it will help us get through it faster. This philosophy just says that if something bad happens, that doesn't become who we are. Because we aren't what happens to us, we aren't what we have and we aren't the content of our mind. We just ARE. I am beginning to feel the boundless joy, freedom and inner peace with what disidentifying from my ego and mind can do for me. It hits home with me because I have been consumed at times with sadness about being away from my family. This philosophy tells me it's ok to feel sad - but I do not have to become so identified with those thoughts and feelings that I AM a sad, depressed person. I am not that - I just AM. That detachment will make me stronger and happier, I know it :)

As a sidenote, I am not sure if this book would have the same impact on me that it does if it weren't for my yoga study, which I have been practicing for one year. This book is simply expounding on those lessons...and, in turn, I feel that I have immediately taken my yoga practice to the next level. Every class has been better so far, I'm nodding along and understanding the teacher better than I ever have before.

Anywho, give the book more of a chance. Chapter 2 was wonderful for me – Chap. 3 was more unremarkable, and so far I am LOVING Chapter 4. It’s about “role playing” of the ego. It’s hilarious, really. People playin roles… ;)

So, if the book still isn’t doing it for you…that’s ok. I thank you for being here and wanting to participate!

Tolle Chapters 1-3

I wanted to thank everyone again for including me on this. I love this book and I love talking about this book. The only thing I love more than talking about it is hearing other people talk about their thoughts on it.

The best part for me is this was the direction I was heading anyway. As Kim said, this is the philosophy behind yoga, and so many spiritual teachings. I just couldnt put it all together. Now I find the frustration of trying to name it or find my niche was part of the problem.

To me, the best part is that the spiritual teachings of the great prophets and leaders make so much more sense. I now love Jesus talking about the lillies of the field. I love that Tolle uses a flower as a great thing to focus on to appreciate beauty and beingness.

I have been working on my beingness and rereading this book now for about 6 months. I have to tell you, the most frustrating part was when I was aware of the ego, trying to fight it...making it wrong. Which, being a person of peace; is irony in itself. As Tolle says, "whatever you fight, you strengthen, and what you resist, persists". I just stopped trying to hurry the process and became aware of the Ego. The great thing is, it does start to go away. Just by awareness; Ego starts to choke and suffocate.

Every day I enjoy being more and more. Several days ago I sat on my balcony and watched the tree bend and sway with the wind. I cant tell you the peace I felt when I just enjoyed it and stopped thinking about it. For over 20 years I have meditated (or tried to!) and suffered from racing thoughts and what I called dysfunctional focus. It is so much easier now.

I once had a professor who told me yoga, meditation and an good red wine will extend your life by 20 years.

Amen to that Professor Israel!!!

Response to Lou

I just noticed a comment from my dear friend Lou...

Hi, everyone. I am a friend of Kim Boven's and have kind of insinuated myself into your blowin books. Thanks for having me. New Earth has been one of the most amazing books I have ever read. I really feel it has transformed my life. Tolle has a tendency to write in summations then "fill in" later in the book. You might find three chapters is a lot to discuss, because there is so much to it. The most amazing thing is talking to others to see what they got out of it. I cant wait to see what you all think. Thanks again for including me. :)

Thank you so much for being here, Lou! I see what you mean...there IS a lot to discuss! There is so much more I could say on Chapter Two alone! However, I only had the energy to focus on one point, otherwise, this will turn into a class for me. (I see why Oprah is doing a class!)

But...by keeping up with this blog and posting and commenting with each other, maybe we will get a lot of bases covered :)

Love you all.

My (strongest) response to Chapters 1-3

Chapter Two has already hit home with me as well. I was delighted to discover that Tolle's teachings are along the same lines of what I am learning from yoga. It is always good to get the same meaning from different sources and in different words. Reading this book has helped tremendously to bring home the messages my yoga teachers have been saying all along. In fact, my yoga teacher has been focusing all month long on the exact same topic Tolle discusses ...the theme of "I AM."

This is about not identifying your being with your thoughts. Our thoughts tell us all sorts of things..."I am a woman/daughter/sister/wife/worker/upset/angry/unsatisfied..." The one constant advice I hear from my yoga teachers is to be aware of your thoughts, but do not identify with them - do not attach yourself to them. This is what they tell you when you are trying to calm your mind for meditation. This is also the advice they give to help you deal with irritations in your everyday life. They say that not being able to control your thoughts - to keep them away - is perfectly fine. Just notice that you are having them, and that is the first step.

I'll be honest, I wasn't getting it. Something would happen to piss me off and I knew that I shouldn't be mad about it, but no matter what, I could not stop being mad. So I would think "OK, I'm noticing that I'm mad." Well...I still stayed mad. My yoga teachers say that does not matter, and they are just proud that you noticed. Still, I did not feel that I was getting anywhere.

Things started clicking more when I read Tolle's words. His examination and explanation of the ego really helped with my understanding. He says being absorbed and totally identified with our thoughts AND emotions means we lose our true self and are completely identified with form and ego. "Ego arises when your sense of Beingness, of 'I AM,' which is formless consciousness, gets mixed up with form." (page 54)

He says...(chapter two, page 30) "Some people never forget the first time they disidentified from their thoughts and thus briefly experienced the shift in identity from being the content of their mind to being the awareness in the background. For others it happens in such a subtle way they hardly notice it, or they just notice an influx of joy or inner peace without knowing the reason."

My problem is I am still identified with my thoughts (the ego). So my yoga teachers are right, the first step is just noticing that I am identified with them. I trust that there will come a day when the shift happens for me...when I feel my being as my awareness, not my thoughts telling me who I am or what I feel. And I believe that is where true peace resides.

For now..."I am the awareness that is aware that there is attachment." (page 46). And I'm happy with that.

Reponse to Chapters 1-3

I first started reading "A New Earth" over the weekend. I was frustrated at first because I thought the book seemed pretty dry, but after reading the first 10 pages my view changed. Many of you know that in 2006 I lost a great friend, Matt Pawlik. After Matt passed away, I could finally "see" with clear eyes. The little worries that I carried with me throughout my life were nonexistent. The rip in my tights was just a rip. Not getting enough sleep was fine. I knew that my life was not measured by those insignificant annoyances that occurred throughout the day, week, or month. Honestly, I couldn't believe that I put all of my time and energy into worrying about things I couldn't change.

I can remember driving to work and seeing a man standing at the headstone of a loved one. I watched him as I waited for the light to turn green and I started to cry. I knew how he felt. I finally went beyond just saying that I understood. I felt his pain in my heart. As you can see, Matt's death awakened me. Unfortunately, I have lost some of that awakening as time has passed; however, this novel is helping me regain what I have lost.

I believe that chapter 2, "Ego: The Current State of Humanity" really connected with my disconnection, if that makes sense. The explanation of how I Am allowed me to view myself from another perspective. The section of identifying with material things was very thought provoking. You see, I have a ring (funny that the story Tolle told was about a ring) that Matt gave me in 1996. When he passed away, I looked frantically for the ring. I felt like, if I find the ring then I can bring a little bit of Matt back, but that was far from the truth. I started to think about why I need to keep the ring and I realized that the memories and all that I loved about Matt had nothing to do with the ring. "Will you become less when you let go of it?" No.

I believe that the best part of the first three chapters is on page 41. Tolle states, "One thing we do know: Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment." Of course, I have to believe this to be true. In order for me to move on and continue with my life, I need to know that everything happens for a reason. Some things are not explained right away, but in time, all things come together.

For me, the first three chapters have reopened my eyes. I am finally having a glimpse of how I viewed the world after Matt passed away. I am hoping that I can fully "see" when I complete the novel...


I hope that the reading was moving and thought provoking for all of you. I am excited to read your posts.

Laura's Book Survey

Hi, everyone!  Thanks so much for inviting me to be a part of this.  I'm really looking forward to it.  

Book Survey

1. What is one of your favorite books and why?

This one's tough because my favorite book changes from year to year, but right now it would definitely have to be The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.  It is beautifully written and weaves together several different plot lines into a very compelling story.  It can be incredibly funny at times and heart-wrenchingly sad at others.  I love authors that can do both well.

2. Who is your favorite author?

I will have to give a top four because I'm not sure I have a favorite:  J.D. Salinger, Tom Robbins, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Jane Austen.  I like them all for very different reasons, but if they are listed here then that means I like everything that I have ever read by them.

3.  Do you prefer male or female authors?

As you can tell from my favorite authors, I don't really have a preference.  I guess as I have gotten older I have started to tend toward female authors more.

4.  What was the last book that you read?  What did you think of that book?

I just recently finished Fast Food Nation and I really liked it.  I typically read very little non-fiction, but my curiosity got the better of me.  I learned quite a lot about the meat-packing business that I didn't know before, which is probably why I haven't been able to enjoy ground beef at all recently!  I'm currently reading The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and it is wonderful.  

5.  What is your favorite genre?

Definitely fiction.  I switch back and forth between the classics and more modern fare.  

6.  What book (if any) did you not enjoy reading?  Why?

The last book that I didn't finish was Henry James' The Portrait of a Lady.  I really liked James' The American, which is why I tried to read the more popular title, but I couldn't get through it. It was incredibly slow and dry.  It may be one of those books that is full of important meaning, but I definitely missed it!

7.  List 3-5 books that you would like to read.

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri 

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

No Country For Old Men - Cormac McCarthy

What is the What? - Dave Eggers

A Little Tolle Tidbit...

"The One Thing”
by Eckhart Tolle

In the Gospel story of Mary and Martha, Jesus says to Martha, “You are anxious and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needful.” (Luke 10:41)

As I was writing A New Earth, people would sometimes ask me, “What is the new book about?” And invariably, my answer would be, “I only ever write or speak about one thing.” What is that one thing? Spiritual awakening. Can a person be awakened spiritually by a book? Yes, if three conditions are met:

Firstly, there must be a readiness on the part of the reader, an openness, a receptivity to spiritual truth, which is to say, a readiness to awaken. For the first time in history of humanity, large numbers of people have reached that point of readiness, which explains why millions have responded so deeply to The Power of Now.

Secondly, the text must have transformative power. This means the words must have come out of the awakened consciousness rather than the accumulated knowledge of a person’s mind. Only then will a text be charged with that power, a power that goes far beyond the informational value of the words. That is why such a book can be read again and again and lose none of its aliveness.

Thirdly, the terminology used needs to be as neutral as possible so that it transcends the confines of any one culture, religion, or spiritual tradition. Only then will it be accessible to a broad range of readers world-wide, regardless of cultural background.

Look

Hey guys-

I posted a some youtube videos on the side of the blog. The first two are related to the reading. The second two are crazy and they were selected randomly. If you have time, please watch the first two videos. A window will open right on the page, which is great.

Smiles,

Erika

Take a Vote!

Hi all-

There is a little poll on the side of this blog! I created it to see where/how we learn about new books. Please take a second and vote...

Thanks a bunch.

Well, hello!

Hi new members! It is so great to know that there are other people that like to do dorky things. I have been surprised to learn that there are many other people that want to be part of this blog. My dad even showed interest. I think that I am going to send him an invitation when we really get the ball rolling. I hope that you are all enjoying your weekly reading. I am ready to be inspired. Once again, I am really excited to see all of our new members. We welcome all suggestions, comments, and questions. Please feel free to use this blog at your leisure.

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
- Frederick Douglass


Best,


Erika

New Friends

We might have some new friends soon. :o)

Happy reading~

My Idea

There are 10 chapters. Week 1-Chapters 1,2,3; Week 2-Chapters 4,5,6; Week 3-Chapters 7,8,9,10

This could just be a guide. You can read ahead, but we will only talk about the chapters that are assigned for the week. That way we don't give away anything for the readers who haven't read a particular section. So, for the first week, we might want to just have discussion about predictions or where we think the book is going. In the second week we will talk about the reading from the first week, etc. If there is something that you are really eager to talk about, just post the chapter and the page and the people that have already read to that point can engage in a conversation via comment (that way, the people that haven't read that to that point can choose to not view the comments).

Comments? Let's figure this out. :o)

Chapter 1

That sounds good, Kim. Unless E wants to do it differently....I'm new to this book club thing. But I'm really excited about it!

I'm almost done with the first chapter. So far, so good... I mean, it hasn't made a huge impact on my thinking yet, but I'm still very early in the book. It's fast reading, and that's good. I read it on the porch while Ian did yard work:)

As far as the next novel, I'm pretty open. I'll do some research and maybe make a suggestion or two.

A New Earth - What's Next

I am only a few pages in...I started reading while having a few beers at the pool today ;) How about write when something impacts you...or ask each other questions...I'm sure stuff will come up as we get deeper into the book!

No Idea...

What are you guys thinking? I mean, for the next novel...my dad had some recommendations. Great.

A New Earth

Got it today! Started reading it today....What's next?

A New Earth

Let's start reading on Monday...what do you think? I am ready.

~E

Just an Idea

Many times the discussion just flows naturally from your enjoyment of the book but if you think you need extra input, you could…
.
-Choose a conversation leader. This could be the host for the month, or perhaps another rotating member. The leader needs to be aware of each member's different styles of discussing - some people have no problem giving their opinions and find it hard to hold themselves back while others need to be encouraged! It is a good idea, early on in the life of a bookclub, to discuss what each person thinks is their own style in a discussion - the louder, more extroverted ones don't generally mind the occasional reminder to hold back, if it is done in humour.

-Discussion Questions/Reading guides You can often get discussion questions off the internet for a particular book. Try the discussion questions here or on publisher's websites. Don't fall into the trap of using discussion questions that make you feel like you are in a literary exam. They are only meant to be conversation starters and help focus your group's thinking about a book. Also watch out for alienating somebody who doesn't feel quite as literary as the others - everybody's opinion is valid.

-Leader sets discussion topics. The leader (the host or the person who chose the particular book) could choose some favourite passages in the book to start the discussion and have some basic discussion questions ready to get it going, A bit of research about the author or background to the book helps. Emailing the others before hand with some question starters is a good idea.

-Individual preparation. As preparation each individual chooses a favourite passage, a question about something they didn't understand, or something about the book or author to add to the conversation. Take it in turns to talk about each person's response to the book. Preparation shouldn't become too much like homework though!

-General Topic Guidelines. These are some general topic guidelines. Bear in mind these are very general - each book will have specific issues that will leap out at you.


Subject - What is the book about?, Why did the author choose this?
Plot - does it work? Too simple or complicated? Resolved or unresolved? Time frame? Is the ending satisfying or not? Why?
Characters - Single or many? Well developed or simple? How did you feel about the characters? How does the author use the characters to tell the story?
Point of view - How was the story told? - one voice or many? In the first person -" I" - or a distant narrator's voice? How did the voice influence the tone of the story?
Setting - Where and when? Is the setting important to the story? Is it evoked well? Realistic? Or not? Does it matter?
Themes - What are the major themes the author is trying to explore?
Style - what is the author's style of writing? Ie descriptive, lyrical, forceful, emotive, spare, blunt, wordy, … Does the style work for you or not?
Reviews - find some critics opinions of the books and discuss whether you agree or disagree.
Author - compare with other books, What is the author trying to achieve with the writing? What works for you or doesn't? Will you try and read another one by this author?
Enjoyment - was reading this book enjoyable or hard work? Why? What do you think the author wanted you to feel or think?

Generally it is better to let the discussion flow from what you think of the book. Often the best books for discussion are the ones that polarize opinions- half the group love the book and the others hate it and nobody can understand how they can!. If nobody feels particularly strongly about the book, then have coffee early and discuss something else!

7. Other Ideas

What ever format works for your group is up to you but you can still change and adapt it as you go along. It is often a good idea to do something different or totally creative occasionally. Some ideas are…

-Have a theme night. Pick a theme i.e. Indian, Italian, Western, New York, Irish, medieval…choose the books around the theme, more than one maybe, and organize the food, music etc to match the theme.

-Have an author night - choose one author and each member reads a different book and reports back briefly. Compare main themes or issues.

A New Earth

I received my book in the mail today...what's up, girls? Did you order or go out and buy it??? I am excited to start reading and discussing!

Bethany's Book Survey

1. What is one of your favorite books and why?
I guess we all have similar tastes....I love love LOVE "I Know This Much Is True" by Wally Lamb. I read it during the "black out" we had in Michigan a few years ago. From the first page, I couldn't put it down. I loved the way Wally Lamb makes you feel so connected to the characters. That was a book that made me feel sad when I was finished reading it. It took me a long time to get so into another book after reading that one.

2. Who is your favorite author?
Wally Lamb is great. I've also loved both books by Khaled Hosseini, the author of "The Kite Runner". "A Thousand Splendid Suns" was by far the best book I read last year.

3. Do you prefer male or female authors?
Thinking back, I guess I prefer male authors.

4. What was the last book that you read? What did you think of the book?
The last book I read was a fluff book called "Something Borrowed" by Emily Giffin. I had just finished reading this really heavy book by Jodi Piccoult about a school shooting and needed something light and easy to read. I enjoyed it, but then tried to read another book by the same author and discovered that I needed to read something meaningful and thought-provoking.

5. What is your favorite genre?
I like fiction. Historical fiction is interesting.

6. What book (if any) did you not enjoy reading? Why?
See question # 4. The second book by Emily Giffin made me gag.

7. List 3-5 books that you would like to read.
1. Anything by Nicholas Sparks (I've never read him)
2. Into the Wild
3. Eat, Pray, Love
4. Life of Pi

A Response to Kim

Hi Kim,

I wish that Wally Lamb would come out with a new novel. I have high expectations!
I would really like to read something that inspires me. I've kinda been in a slump lately and I would love a pick-me-up. I think that the first book that you listed in your survey is a good choice. Honestly, I am just trying to stay away from a boring or depressing novel. I usually like sad stories, but like I mentioned, I would really like an inspirational, motivational, great book to read. What do you think?

Kim's Book Survey

1. What is one of your favorite books and why?
“I Know This Much Is True” is the book I always recommend others to read. The book is very close to my heart. I love how Wally Lamb invests so much into his characters…really making them dynamic, complex and human. Since Erika and I both talked about this one, I’ll also say that “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” is a favorite. This is just a beautiful story with a gripping setting. I become totally transformed into Francie’s life when I read it, and I am always amazed by Francie Nolan.

2. Who is your favorite author?
I would love to read more novels by Wally Lamb and Jeffrey Eugenides. I love Betty Smith’s writing, and I plan to get more of her books although they are hard to find! I am also a new fan of Augusten Burroughs.

3. Do you prefer male or female authors?
I may love more male authors than females, but I don't have a preference.

4. What was the last book that you read? What did you think of the book?
The last book I finished was “The Alchemist." It didn't do that much for me. The meaning is good, but if you are looking for a book to change your life I would by far recommend "Way of the Peaceful Warrior." That one spoke to me much more, and when I think of those philosophies I regain a perspective that just makes me feel better...not worried...which is pretty great :)

5. What is your favorite genre?
Coming of age novels. I like memoirs, too. I just love reading good stories where I get into the heads of different characters and lifestyles.

6. What book (if any) did you not enjoy reading? Why?
Sometimes I think it’s a good idea to pick up some light and fluffy chick lit but then find them totally not worthwhile. Examples – “Lipstick Jungle” and “The Second Assistant.” I didn't bother finishing either.

7. List 3-5 books that you would like to read.
1. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose
2. Into the Wild
3. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
4. A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father

Family Book Night

We had a "Family Book Night" last week. We read several children's books for young children. I just wanted to share.

Yes!

Okay. I figured it out. I added The New York Times feed on the left side of the blog. You can click on the feed and it will take you to the latest book review! You can see that there are two feeds. The first feed discusses books in general. The second feed is the Sunday book review. You can click on the title of the book and you will be directed to the review. I think that it will be a great way for us to learn about new books. I also like hearing about books from friends and family. Please let me know if you hear about any great books!

Reader-McReaderton.

Feed

I am trying to figure out how to add a feed...gosh, it's annoying.

FYI

Hello friends-

I just wanted to let you know that you should read the blog from the bottom up. After a month or so, the old posts are removed. I can change that if we need to see posts for longer periods of time. Hopefully, we will have enough discussion that the post removal issue will be a non-issue. :o)

I am really excited, as you can see. I just can't wait to talk about books. Maybe others will want to join in the future.

Best,

Erika

Erika's Book Survey

1. What is one of your favorite books and why?

One of my favorite books is "I Know This Much is True." I was really moved by Lamb's use of imagery and language. I really loved that I felt like I knew the characters. Even though the book is approx. 1000 pages, it seemed like a quick read...I was that into it.

2. Who is your favorite author?
I am not sure. It is hard to say Wally Lamb because he only has two novels. I think that one of my favorite authors is Amy Tan. It is my asian background that attaches me to her. lol.

3. Do you prefer male or female authors?

Typically, I prefer males. I have no idea why.


4. What was the last book that you read? What did you think of the book?

Oh gosh. Dreams of my Father...some book by Barack Obama. I was not impressed.

5. What is your favorite genre?

Fiction. In particular, drama. Not beach books. Not romantic novels.


6. What book (if any) did you not enjoy reading? Why?

Wow, I hate Flannery O' Conner. I know that I shouldn't hate, but I really do hate her writing.


7. List 3-5 books that you would like to read.

1. "Beloved" by Toni Morrison
2. "My Sister's Keeper" Jodi Picoult (Spelling?)
3. "Their Eyes Were Watching God"
4. "Lolita"

These are in no specific order. :o)

I can't wait to read your surveys. Enjoy!

Welcome

Hello fellow book readers...

I have created this blog for us! We can easily chat about the books that we are reading, ask questions, post links, post pictures, etc. I think that this is going to be a great adventure for all of us. The first thing that we need to do is select a worthwhile novel to read. I think that one way that we can find out what kind of books we like to read is by taking a simple survey!

Please cut and paste the survey and answer the questions:

1. What is one of your favorite books and why?


2. Who is your favorite author?


3. Do you prefer male or female authors?


4. What was the last book that you read? What did you think of the book?


5. What is your favorite genre?


6. What book (if any) did you not enjoy reading? Why?


7. List 3-5 books that you would like to read.


Thanks!


I look forward to reading with you!


Best,


Erika