Big Brain Book Group: March 2017

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Carrie Fisher

While thinking that we needed some “light” and humorous reading for our next book, we reminisced a bit about Carrie Fisher’s passing and decided to read something of hers. While her books cover some serious topics, her nature tended to bit funny, so we thought we’d give it a go. So, for our next book, please read anything by Carrie Fisher. Here is a list that includes summaries. Since there is such a long hold at the library for her books (clearly, we weren’t the ONLY ones with this idea), we might need to push out our next book group meeting – or pick another book!

http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/27/14091392/carrie-fisher-author-books-screenplays-writing

We talked about the “Book Challenges” list that’s been going around. Here is the link to the whole article, but attached is a version you can print and think about. While the list seems daunting for 2017, I think I could probably complete it for 2016. Afterall, the books we read do add up!

http://modernmrsdarcy.com/reading-challenge-2017/

I can't say we LOVED Carrie Fisher's books, but there were funny moments. Some books focused more on her illness than others. Some showed the love she had for her mother and some the estrangement. Some moments were highly triggering (for those of us who have had issues with mothers).

If you are a Star Wars fan, then the Princess Diarist is the book for you! It chronicles her years while filming - and earning only $500 per week.

OUR HISTORY

We began this book group in September, 2004 with a few parameters and goals. Our parameters began with a sense that, for the moment, the group would be all female. Folks could come and go, but we needed to have a "core" of at least four who came more regularly. As much as possible the core group needed to be diverse in their cultural background (ethnicity, religion, etc.). Ideally, the “core” needed to read A LOT on their own (not just for book group). They also needed to be willing to have high level intellectual conversations which included concepts of power and privilege and the ability to talk about oppression (personal experience, courses on the topic, familiarity with the language, etc.). We agreed as a group that people didn't need to have finished a book to be part of the discussion, but someone in the group needed to have read it. Logistically, the meetings would be a once a month potluck dinner. When we invited “new folks,” we needed to let them know our “parameters.”

Our goals included developing “themes” and then selecting four to six books at a time to read over the months the theme would stretch. The books could come from sources such as our own previous reading, current bestseller lists, or recommendations from others.

Our nickname "The Big Brain Book Group" evolved after one member shared this story - She belonged to two book groups and was heading out to ours one night when her partner asked, "Is it the big brain or the small brain group?" The answer was "big brain" and the name stuck.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Carrie Fisher

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