CHAD POLLOCK IN TWENTY YEARS: A RETROSPECTION

a good friend of mine - who happens to be a humdinger writer - recently posted this sonnet entitled TWENTY TIPPLED YEARS FROM TODAY. i think it's mighty nice for many reason and hope a few of you might check it out. unfortunately, the art of sonnet writing has gone the way of the billy wordsworth buffalo; i do appreciate the brave cowhands who wrangle a few into our modern direction.

Is Mack Real?

When I read the foreword in The Shack it brought me to believe that Mack Phillips is a real person. I read the entire book in two nights all the while amazed that Mack was real. However, is you visit the author's blog he addresses this exact question and it is an amazing story. You need to check it out. As for the scheduled reading...good luck. This book is one of those you hate to put the bookmark in and go to bed. And yes, I am starting it again tonight.:)

I don't mean to be the Blawg Mama, but

I just read through chapter 4 of The Shack because no one could possibly put it down between chapters 3 & 4. It would be a super bad place to stop for discussion. Are you guys up for reading the whopping 66 pages, through chapter 4? 

"THE HABITS OF A PEACHICKEN LEFT TO HIMSELF WOULD HARDLY BE NOTICEABLE, BUT MULTIPLIED BY FORTY, THEY BECOME A SITUATION." - f.o'c.

the new post on my personal site, which mrs. haines kindly linked to over yonder on the house left, is a review of flannery o'connor's novel THE VIOLENT BEAR IT AWAY. i thought that, perhaps, the announcement of a book review was suitable material for a quick post in our collective reading room, even if the book is not one on our group queue. i'd love to hear your thoughts here or over there. thanks.

Setting Up Shop

I just read The Shack's foreword, and my nitpicking head is reeling, but I'll save all that for later. 

Is it reasonable to try to read this book in 4 weeks so we can start discussing the work as a whole during the last week in August? Will most of you have it finished by then? I seriously think I am like a page/minute slow as a reader, but I can somehow get through a book I'm enjoying pretty quickly. Are you mullers like I am, or are you wanting to get this show on the road? Let me know. I'm good with whatever.

This is what I'm thinking:

Ch. 1-3 by 8/4 (gives you time to actually buy the book?)

Ch. 4-8 by 8/11

Ch. 9-13 by 8/18

Ch. 14-18 by 8/25

If you're so inclined, you can write a post after each reading-goal date, and we'll discuss the posts with comments. If you haven't finished the chapters, don't come clubbing, or we'll spoil your reading surprises. 

God cooks supper in the Shack's kitchen, and He's a she.

Run out and buy The Shack. Start reading it asap.

So how do we want to do this? As we begin reading, if something pops out, write a post for it so we can get some dialogue going. Then after all is read, let's write some real posts with finished perspective.

Send me your email if you want an invitation to be a member here, so you can lead with a yummy post on your perspective of the book. 

amberhaines@gmail.com

Did I say perspective twice? Shewt. I hope my vocabulary starts growing right as soon as I go get that book. 

Welcome To Our Bloggy Book Club

Our temporary book list so far:

1. The Shack by William P. Young
2. Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard
3. Floating in My Mother's Palm by Ursula Hegi
4. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
5. Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'Engle
6. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time by Greg Mortinson and David Oliver Relin

Of course, this list can change. It's up to you. Feel free to suggest books with a comment. Should we also suggest a reading goal per week? 50 pages per week? 150 pages per week? Any ideas?