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by Emily Nagel

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“Eleanor and Park” by Rainbow Rowell Book Club Questions

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Eleanor and Park

Courtesy Of:
www.rainbowrowell.com

There seems to be an increased trend of adults reading Young Adult books in the last decade.  Why is this? I think that question has more than one answer. For starters anyone who read a J.K. Rowling books  or the “Twilight” series will tell you that you get spellbound by the fantasy.  And then there are the story lines that bring you right back to your own youth.  Sometimes its simply the pure innocence and raw emotions found in the teenage characters and story-line.

I had Eleanor and Park  by Rainbow Rowell on my reading list for almost a year.  Yes, almost 12 months! It kept falling down the list as knew books came out that sounded [Read more…]

“Strengths Finder 2.0” Book Club Discussion Questions

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Courtesy Of:
www.gallupstrengthscenter.com/

Being a corporate warrior princess (a.k.a. employee) requires me to take continued education. Recently at a women in leadership training course we read and discussed a book that I quickly realized would be a valuable read for everyone. Yes, everyone.

From full-time student to full-time employee one of the main areas of growth for me was overcoming my weakness. For example, I have had assertiveness as one of my areas of top focus throughout my career.  I have often heard that I’m “just too nice” or that I “need to be more aggressive in negotiations”. These are constructive criticisms that I really do appreciate and makes me better understand some of my areas of opportunity. However…  What if you were told that you had to focus MORE attention to what your strengths and build upon those instead?

Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath is [Read more…]

Me Before You – By Jojo Moyes Book Club Discussion Questions

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Me Before YOu

Courtesy of Jojomoyes.com

Two of my top reads these past couple of years are written by the same author. The first was Me before You by Jojo Moyes.  A story of a young working class woman, Louisa Clark, who falls into a job of being a personal companion to a well-to-do paraplegic business man, Will Trayner. Will’s extreme obstinance to all things positive makes her days miserable, but she knows her parents and family depend on her financial support so leaving the job is out of the question.  Within time Lousia is able to break through Will’s tough shell and a mutual friendship abounds.  Its a story of  the companionship, wish fulfilling, and unabashed love.  Like any good book, it exudes fantastic character development and unexpected twists and turns.  When I finished this book I wanted more, and as luck would have it Jojo Moyes fulfilled my wish with her continuation in After You.

After reading this engaging and provocative book I was inclined to get other peoples’ thoughts and opinions.   Fortunately my book club was happy to oblige and we made it one of  our discussions.  There is some much I wanted to talk about with my group, here are my Me Before You – By Jojo Moyes Book Club Discussion Questions.  Warning:  Spoiler Alert [Read more…]

5 Ways to Get Books Free

By: Emily Nagelcomment

5 ways to get books free
I just can’t help myself. Its is not uncommon for me to read a few books a month with many many more waiting for me. One reason is because I belong to two book club groups and one of them I happen to be leading this year.

My book reading hobby has been an expense in the past, especially since I love a real hardcover book, and those are not cheap.  After buying my first house, having a few children, and running out of bookshelf space I have changed my ways.  There are plenty of ways to buy books on the cheap, here are some ways to get books free. [Read more…]

“Spinster: Making a Life of One’s Own” by Kate Bolick – Book Club Question

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courtesy of Penguin Random House

Have you heard about this great book yet?  It just came out in April 2015 so its pretty new by my book reading standards.  Kate ties her life into this book by evaluating the possibilities of living her life while remaining single.  She brings in short chapter-size bios of woman from generations, if not decades past, to compare there lives to modern single women’s today.  Its not a quick read and somewhat verbose, but makes you think differently about the way we choose our paths in life and the enlightening life that most woman even in this advance culture do not choose first.

Here are my Spinster: Making a Life of One’s Own by Kate Bolick – Book Club Question: [Read more…]

“Shanghai Girls” by Lisa See – Book Club Questions

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Shanghai Grils by Lisa See

Courtesy of Lisasee.com

I am notorious for not reading my book club books in order. Firstly because I take what ever is available at the library and it is not always the next book in line, and secondly, I often gravitate to what sounds good. I was especially excited to read Lisa See’s book “Shanghai Girls” that came out in 2009. Asian culture is one of my interests (just look at what my Minor was in college) and so I jumped ahead to our January 2016 book selection. [Read more…]