THE IDEA:
The book drive is an idea that emerged from Marcio's suggestion at the first meeting of the Book Club to donate the books read in our club to school children. As we have entered into our second year and we have been going strong with 30+ members. I thought it was time we expand our love for books to students in local schools and ESL programs. We all are in some way or the other involved with the Latino cultures and of course would love to help Latino kids, but I think if our book drive can reach as many kids as possible, irrespective of their race or ethnicity, it will be a success.
THE PLAN:
This is where I need help. I have contacted Eleni Pappamihiel, a member of the Latino Book Club and also a Professor of Education at UNCW. She has been kind enough to get us in touch with three local schools who have all shown interest in our plan and be the target programs. These schools are: Williston Middle School, Hoggard High School, and Mary C. Williams Elementary School.
Now we need to figure out the next step. Please send your comments.
NEXT MEETING: 28th April 3 PM Leutze Hall 103.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
March 2009: Rain of Gold
The Latino Book Club meets March 28th to discuss Victor Villaseñor's Rain of Gold.
March 31st, 2009
The Latino Book Club met this Saturday at Francesco’s Cafe to talk about Victor Villaseñor’s Rain of Gold. Thanks to Lizzy, Cathy, and Irene. I am sorry I could not make it this time, but I have received great reviews. Everyone enjoyed the book, and must I add that there is a cultural bias here, but I do agree with them that the “folksy” feeling makes it very appealing and inviting.
Irene writes:
Everyone agreed ,they enjoyed the book.Loved the folksy,family feeling of the book.How different from the Dominican,Puerto Rican,Cuban,experience.How important Dona Margarita and Dona Guadalupe were in the family...strong matriarchs..very religious(but,we all agreed that it was the Indian spiritualism,that entered into it)how loving and nurturing the mothers were,thru all of the tremendous challenges in their lives.The importance of education,Salvador and Lupe's love...Also,how Salvado's mother explains the prejudice regarding "color" and what we can do regarding this topic,that runs thru all of the stories we have read. There is just too much!!!!
Cathy writes:
"I LOVED this book! (but truth be told I have not finished it either) almost done though. Anyway I agree whole heartedly with "Irene". The love and respect each of the families had for one another was very touching. They all went through so much but never lost hope and even when things went bad they continued to pray! I think it was Lizzy who stated that the families did not just pray, they actually lived their beliefs - truly inspirational. Oh and the love between Salvador and Lupe - oh my goodness - it makes the heart pound! I can't wait to finish to see how everything turns out!! I give this one an A! "
Moving on to the next book. We will be reading Cristina Garcías, Dreaming in Cuban.
“Latino Book Club’s Book Drive” is the next project for our book club. I have already spoken to some of you of the idea, but would like to extend the idea to the whole group.(Read our e-newsletter) Please send your ideas and opinions. I would like to meet sometime this month to start work on this project.
As I had promised in my last email I am glad to let you all know that the Public Library has responded favorably to our request to acquire books read in our club. In spite of their budget restrictions they will work with us. I will get in touch with them soon. That would also mean that it will help us to plan out our future books. Please send suggestions.
I hope everybody enjoys reading Dreaming in Cuba, and it seems that traveling to Cuba without any restrictions will soon be a reality.
Amrita
March 31st, 2009
The Latino Book Club met this Saturday at Francesco’s Cafe to talk about Victor Villaseñor’s Rain of Gold. Thanks to Lizzy, Cathy, and Irene. I am sorry I could not make it this time, but I have received great reviews. Everyone enjoyed the book, and must I add that there is a cultural bias here, but I do agree with them that the “folksy” feeling makes it very appealing and inviting.
Irene writes:
Everyone agreed ,they enjoyed the book.Loved the folksy,family feeling of the book.How different from the Dominican,Puerto Rican,Cuban,experience.How important Dona Margarita and Dona Guadalupe were in the family...strong matriarchs..very religious(but,we all agreed that it was the Indian spiritualism,that entered into it)how loving and nurturing the mothers were,thru all of the tremendous challenges in their lives.The importance of education,Salvador and Lupe's love...Also,how Salvado's mother explains the prejudice regarding "color" and what we can do regarding this topic,that runs thru all of the stories we have read. There is just too much!!!!
Cathy writes:
"I LOVED this book! (but truth be told I have not finished it either) almost done though. Anyway I agree whole heartedly with "Irene". The love and respect each of the families had for one another was very touching. They all went through so much but never lost hope and even when things went bad they continued to pray! I think it was Lizzy who stated that the families did not just pray, they actually lived their beliefs - truly inspirational. Oh and the love between Salvador and Lupe - oh my goodness - it makes the heart pound! I can't wait to finish to see how everything turns out!! I give this one an A! "
Moving on to the next book. We will be reading Cristina Garcías, Dreaming in Cuban.
“Latino Book Club’s Book Drive” is the next project for our book club. I have already spoken to some of you of the idea, but would like to extend the idea to the whole group.(Read our e-newsletter) Please send your ideas and opinions. I would like to meet sometime this month to start work on this project.
As I had promised in my last email I am glad to let you all know that the Public Library has responded favorably to our request to acquire books read in our club. In spite of their budget restrictions they will work with us. I will get in touch with them soon. That would also mean that it will help us to plan out our future books. Please send suggestions.
I hope everybody enjoys reading Dreaming in Cuba, and it seems that traveling to Cuba without any restrictions will soon be a reality.
Amrita
Saturday, January 31, 2009
February 2009: Geographies of Home
Latino Book Club meets for its coffee hour on Saturday, 28th February.
Some topics:
1. Religion
2. The most interesting member of the family
28th February
Latino Book Club met today. Thanks to Irene, Cathy, Kathy, Lizzy, Annetta (who joined us for the first time) and our newest member Donna Treolo, for coming out on an awful rainy day like today. Also, thanks to Olga for sending her comments.
We talked about Loida Maritza Perez’ Geographies of Home. The novel has a lot of things that one can talk about and we did: dysfunctional families, domestic violence, poverty, mental illness, and religions (yes, that was a really interesting discussion). None of us knew much about Seventh Day Adventist, but we did figure out that it is a very “strict” way of being. If you know more, please enlighten us by leaving your comments on the blog.
It did lead us to talk about other religions and also the folk forms that we see in the novel (Caribbean/Dominican) and had seen earlier in Bless me, Ultima (South Western/ Mexican).
Despite being a serious and dark in many aspects we enjoyed it. From the technical aspect too, this novel offers quite a bit, in the way things and actions are described and how many of the chapters seem complete in themselves. Some of the characters are simply just so well developed that you actually see them right in front of your eyes.
Moving on to next month- we are reading Victor Villaseñor’s Rain of Gold.
In April we will read Cristina García’s Dreaming in Cuban and in May Carlos Castaneda’s The Teachings of Don Juan. (We will need an anthropologist to lead us through this one).
We are running out titles. Please send us books that you have wanted to read or have heard about. Our only criterion is that it has to be a Latino author of the United States writing in English.
Also, if you remember we had learnt that the public library did not carry any of the books we are reading. Kathy spoke with the NH Public Library and they have agreed to acquire some of the titles. Please send your recommendations, for the must have books.
Some topics:
1. Religion
2. The most interesting member of the family
28th February
Latino Book Club met today. Thanks to Irene, Cathy, Kathy, Lizzy, Annetta (who joined us for the first time) and our newest member Donna Treolo, for coming out on an awful rainy day like today. Also, thanks to Olga for sending her comments.
We talked about Loida Maritza Perez’ Geographies of Home. The novel has a lot of things that one can talk about and we did: dysfunctional families, domestic violence, poverty, mental illness, and religions (yes, that was a really interesting discussion). None of us knew much about Seventh Day Adventist, but we did figure out that it is a very “strict” way of being. If you know more, please enlighten us by leaving your comments on the blog.
It did lead us to talk about other religions and also the folk forms that we see in the novel (Caribbean/Dominican) and had seen earlier in Bless me, Ultima (South Western/ Mexican).
Despite being a serious and dark in many aspects we enjoyed it. From the technical aspect too, this novel offers quite a bit, in the way things and actions are described and how many of the chapters seem complete in themselves. Some of the characters are simply just so well developed that you actually see them right in front of your eyes.
Moving on to next month- we are reading Victor Villaseñor’s Rain of Gold.
In April we will read Cristina García’s Dreaming in Cuban and in May Carlos Castaneda’s The Teachings of Don Juan. (We will need an anthropologist to lead us through this one).
We are running out titles. Please send us books that you have wanted to read or have heard about. Our only criterion is that it has to be a Latino author of the United States writing in English.
Also, if you remember we had learnt that the public library did not carry any of the books we are reading. Kathy spoke with the NH Public Library and they have agreed to acquire some of the titles. Please send your recommendations, for the must have books.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
January 2009: Dark Dude
Watch an interview with the author of Dark Dude, Oscar Hijuelos.
The Latino Book Club meets again on Saturday, 31st January at our usual joint: Francesco's Cafe.
Latino Book Club met for the first time this year this afternoon, and our good old faithful members Irene, Lizzy, Olga, and Cathy came out to Francesco's Cafe.
We all unanimously agreed that Oscar Hijuelos' Dark Dude did not meet our expectations and in Cathy's words we gave a grade of "D for the Dark Dude." This is Hijuelos' first attempt to write for teenagers, and maybe only teenagers should read this book, but we felt teenagers deserve better. Sorry for the harsh criticism but none of the issues of racism or drugs, etc actually came across. Hijuelos seems to try to aspire to create a Huck' Finn kind of character, but sorry to say Twain would have had a few interesting words to say if he read this book.
We certainly would like to hear from the rest of our 25 members. Please drop in a line on our blog site.
We are looking forward to our next month's read which was recommended by a colleague of mine: Loida Maritza Perez' Geographies of Home.
The Latino Book Club meets again on Saturday, 31st January at our usual joint: Francesco's Cafe.
Latino Book Club met for the first time this year this afternoon, and our good old faithful members Irene, Lizzy, Olga, and Cathy came out to Francesco's Cafe.
We all unanimously agreed that Oscar Hijuelos' Dark Dude did not meet our expectations and in Cathy's words we gave a grade of "D for the Dark Dude." This is Hijuelos' first attempt to write for teenagers, and maybe only teenagers should read this book, but we felt teenagers deserve better. Sorry for the harsh criticism but none of the issues of racism or drugs, etc actually came across. Hijuelos seems to try to aspire to create a Huck' Finn kind of character, but sorry to say Twain would have had a few interesting words to say if he read this book.
We certainly would like to hear from the rest of our 25 members. Please drop in a line on our blog site.
We are looking forward to our next month's read which was recommended by a colleague of mine: Loida Maritza Perez' Geographies of Home.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
October 2008: What Night Brings
Latino Book Club meets on Saturday 25th to talk about Carla Trujillo's What Night Brings.
This update is coming a little late as I got caught up with school-work, but I am happy to write that we met last Saturday to talk about Carla Trujillo’s What Night Brings. Thanks to Kathy Humphrey, Irene, Lizzy, and our newest member Kathy Murphy (she is Irene’s daughter) for coming out on Saturday.
This book received an overall B grading. Lizzy wasn’t sure exactly what grade she would give it, and I who had not read it completely, had to abstain, but I think this book certainly needs to be finished. Kathy Murphy who grew up in LA felt very close to the character as she identified with some of the issues the adolescent protagonist Marci went through her life, except certainly the abusive father, and Irene, her mother vouched for it.
This was the last time we met this year but we will meet back up again in January with Oscar Hijuelos’ Dark Dude and in February with Loida Maritza Perez’ Geographies of Home. You will be receiving the next e-newsletter close to the end of December this year with information for the first book. I hope you will be able to catch up on some of the readings in the next two months and the holidays. If you are thinking of gifting a book you certainly have many choices.
Finally I also wanted to mention that of the ten times that we have met this year Irene and Olga have been the most regular members and Lizzy is right behind them. Since Kathy Humphrey joined she has not missed one book. Thanks for coming and keep reading.
Have a great rest of the year.
This update is coming a little late as I got caught up with school-work, but I am happy to write that we met last Saturday to talk about Carla Trujillo’s What Night Brings. Thanks to Kathy Humphrey, Irene, Lizzy, and our newest member Kathy Murphy (she is Irene’s daughter) for coming out on Saturday.
This book received an overall B grading. Lizzy wasn’t sure exactly what grade she would give it, and I who had not read it completely, had to abstain, but I think this book certainly needs to be finished. Kathy Murphy who grew up in LA felt very close to the character as she identified with some of the issues the adolescent protagonist Marci went through her life, except certainly the abusive father, and Irene, her mother vouched for it.
This was the last time we met this year but we will meet back up again in January with Oscar Hijuelos’ Dark Dude and in February with Loida Maritza Perez’ Geographies of Home. You will be receiving the next e-newsletter close to the end of December this year with information for the first book. I hope you will be able to catch up on some of the readings in the next two months and the holidays. If you are thinking of gifting a book you certainly have many choices.
Finally I also wanted to mention that of the ten times that we have met this year Irene and Olga have been the most regular members and Lizzy is right behind them. Since Kathy Humphrey joined she has not missed one book. Thanks for coming and keep reading.
Have a great rest of the year.
Monday, September 1, 2008
September 2008: Latin Moon in Manhattan
Latino Book Club meets next on Saturday September 27th to talk about Jaime Manrique's Latin Moon in Manhattan.
Latino Book Club met this Saturday to talk about Jaime Manrique’s Latin Moon in Manhattan. Thanks to Irene and Kathy (Humphrey) for the interesting discussion beyond the book. As for the book it was a "mixed" reaction. Kathy "hated" it, and respecting her reaction Irene and I said we enjoyed it. We all agreed that the novel does not go into depth about any issue, but simply entertains with the variety of unusual crazy characters: Simón Bolívar, Hot Sauce, Mr. O’Donnell etc.
Moving on to our future plans, I would like to welcome our newest member Mary Bulluck to our Book Club.
Some of our regular members (Olga and Lizzy) notified that Pomegranate Books had difficulty getting Jaime Manrique's book, which led us to talk about the unavailability of the books on our list in any of the Public Libraries here in Wilmington, and Kathy has suggested that we send a petition to the Libraries to acquire these books. If you are interested please let me know. We would like to get as many signatures as possible.
With the upcoming holidays in November and December, Latino Book Club will be suspended during these two months. This will give you time to catch up with the books you weren’t able to read, or liked so much that you might want to gift them to someone.
We will meet in January 2008 with Oscar Hijuelos new novel Dark Dude (suggested by Kathy).
We will meet for the last time this year next month to talk about Carla Trujillo’s What Night Brings (suggested and highly recommended by Irene).
Please send ideas for other books that we can read next year, and don’t forget to blog.
Please leave your comments to get the discussion started.
Some topics:
1. Mother and son relationship
2. Homosexuality in the Latino culture
3. The craziest character
Latino Book Club met this Saturday to talk about Jaime Manrique’s Latin Moon in Manhattan. Thanks to Irene and Kathy (Humphrey) for the interesting discussion beyond the book. As for the book it was a "mixed" reaction. Kathy "hated" it, and respecting her reaction Irene and I said we enjoyed it. We all agreed that the novel does not go into depth about any issue, but simply entertains with the variety of unusual crazy characters: Simón Bolívar, Hot Sauce, Mr. O’Donnell etc.
Moving on to our future plans, I would like to welcome our newest member Mary Bulluck to our Book Club.
Some of our regular members (Olga and Lizzy) notified that Pomegranate Books had difficulty getting Jaime Manrique's book, which led us to talk about the unavailability of the books on our list in any of the Public Libraries here in Wilmington, and Kathy has suggested that we send a petition to the Libraries to acquire these books. If you are interested please let me know. We would like to get as many signatures as possible.
With the upcoming holidays in November and December, Latino Book Club will be suspended during these two months. This will give you time to catch up with the books you weren’t able to read, or liked so much that you might want to gift them to someone.
We will meet in January 2008 with Oscar Hijuelos new novel Dark Dude (suggested by Kathy).
We will meet for the last time this year next month to talk about Carla Trujillo’s What Night Brings (suggested and highly recommended by Irene).
Please send ideas for other books that we can read next year, and don’t forget to blog.
Friday, August 1, 2008
August 2008: American Chica
Latino Book Club's next Coffee Hour on Saturday, August 30th at 3PM. We meet to talk about Marie Arana's memoir American Chica.
We had an exciting discussion arising from Marie Arana's memoir, thanks to our regulars: Olga, Irene, and Lizzy and our newest member Kathy. We all seemed to agree that Arana's writing style is very impressive. This is Olga's favorite book.
If you like Marie Arana's American Chica you can also read her first novel Cellophane, set in Amazonian Peru.
The next month's author and book is : Jaime Manrique's Latin Moon in Manhattan.
We have also chosen October's book: Carla Trujillo's What Night Brings.
Please send suggestions for our book list. Remember they just have to be US-Latino authors and writing in English.
Also, lets try and get our blog site going, especially those who can't come to our meetings, but would like to join us with their reactions. The September discussion link will be available starting September 1st.
Please leave your comments, discussion topics.
Irene sends some themes:
1. Color of skin
2. Family ties
3. Identity
We had an exciting discussion arising from Marie Arana's memoir, thanks to our regulars: Olga, Irene, and Lizzy and our newest member Kathy. We all seemed to agree that Arana's writing style is very impressive. This is Olga's favorite book.
If you like Marie Arana's American Chica you can also read her first novel Cellophane, set in Amazonian Peru.
The next month's author and book is : Jaime Manrique's Latin Moon in Manhattan.
We have also chosen October's book: Carla Trujillo's What Night Brings.
Please send suggestions for our book list. Remember they just have to be US-Latino authors and writing in English.
Also, lets try and get our blog site going, especially those who can't come to our meetings, but would like to join us with their reactions. The September discussion link will be available starting September 1st.
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