Challenge
Book Clubs I Have Not Joined
Is this what book clubs look like I think to myself as I look at pictures of book clubs. I know there is an Oprah book club with suggestions about what to read. But then I think about how I never have trouble knowing what I wish to read.
Denise E LindquistPublished 10 months ago in BookClubBeloved-Toni Morrison
Books have a unique power. Imperceptibly, like a distant memory of a dream, they permeate our psyche, altering our perceptions and transcending our limited experiences.
The Tale of Despereaux
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Di'Camillo completely changed the way I thought about writing. When I read The Tale of Despereaux, I was only 8 years old, very susceptible to learning and changes. At the time, I believed what all 8-year-olds believed: the Golden Rules of Writing. You cannot have any run-on sentences. You cannot start a sentence with the letter "and." And you cannot speak to your reader using the word "I."
Anne of Green Gables
The book that changed my life the most was Anne of Green Gable by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This book gave me the courage to be me and helped shape me into the writer I am today. Anne, with an E, helped me understand that there was life after mortal embarrassment. This book is one I encouraged both my children to read.
Mother CombsPublished 10 months ago in BookClubI DID NOT ASK TO BE HERE.
Is it preferable not to have existed? Some people think it would be better if there was no conscious life at all. The philosophical position known as antinatalism holds that procreation constitutes moral evil. Therefore, we ought to steer clear of it. Some antinatalists believe that just humans should stop having children, while others argue that it would have been better for all sentient beings if they had never existed. But isn't it wrong to be against childbirth? Why would somebody be opposed to the development of new life? David Benatar is one of the most well-known antinatalist thinkers of our time. Instead, Not to Have Been, one of the books he wrote, contains a thorough explanation of his antinatalist beliefs. Benatar contends that creating new sentient life is always evil because doing so causes grave harm. Therefore, the most beneficial thing we may do for our future offspring is to avoid procreation because those who haven't been born aren't subject to the pain of life. His antinatalist stance is, therefore, not motivated by a dislike for sentient creatures. It is motivated by compassion because it wants to stop the inevitable misery of being born. Antinatalism is a contentious issue that conflicts with many people's worldviews. The general public likely opposes antinatalism since they view it as misanthropic. After all, isn't destroying all sentient life to alleviate suffering a bit harsh?
Ian SankanPublished 10 months ago in BookClubWhy You Should Read Siddhartha
"Siddhartha" is a novel by Hermann Hesse that follows the spiritual journey of a young Indian man named Siddhartha during the time of Gautama Buddha. The novel explores themes of self-discovery, enlightenment, and the pursuit of meaning. Spanning a lifetime of experiences and inner transformations, Siddhartha's story is a profound exploration of the human condition and the quest for spiritual truth.
Emery St. WaynePublished 10 months ago in BookClubOlive’s Ocean
“She tried to imagine what it would feel like to be hit by a car… A mail truck sounded its horn as it thundered past and Martha could feel its power. The force blew her hair away from her face. She winced; even her toes tightened.” -Olive’s Ocean
Shelby HagoodPublished 10 months ago in BookClubView from the Floor
As many people here know, due to my previous articles and poems, I have a disorder known as functional neurological disorder (FND). A huge part of functional neurological disorder for myself, and many others, is a type of seizure called psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). These seizures, while not dangerous, are very disruptive to daily life. They make me feel alone, weak, and not in control of my own anxiety (and other emotions).
Rene PetersPublished 10 months ago in BookClubLearning a little about Love
I have a confession to make: I am not the single most confident person in the world. Despite being fairly outspoken at times, a little loud at others and in general a bit manic and over-the-top, I'm actually an introvert. During the course of the years, I've learned that being a wallflower really doesn't help me achieve my goals or make connections with other people. And those connections are important for so many different reasons, but I wont get into them right here and now.
Lilly CooperPublished 10 months ago in BookClubOn the Outside
No, I did not live a life filled with rumbles and small-town crime and golden sunsets. Nonetheless, S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" is one novel that always manages to draw me back, especially when I'm reminded of my "outsider" ways myself.
Lizzy RosePublished 10 months ago in BookClubLook Me in the Eye
Look Me in the Eye is a book by John Elder Robinson. It’s a biography of his life growing up with Aspergers (now called Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD for short) back in the old days and his difficulties growing up. His father was abusive and he got picked on in school. He had many odd habits growing up, including an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes to stick his younger brother, Augusten Burroughs, in them.
Alex H MittelmanPublished 10 months ago in BookClubWhispers of the Enchanted Grove
In a forgotten corner of a distant land, nestled between rolling hills and ancient trees, there lay an enchanted grove. Its whispers were said to be the echoes of forgotten tales, and its shadows held secrets only the moon had witnessed. This is where our reimagined fairy tale unfolds, a tale of unlikely friendship, courage, and the magic that thrived in the heart of the grove.
Emilio Renato LourençoPublished 10 months ago in BookClub