Up Next: The Paris Wife by Paula McClain

From Amazon.com:


Paula McLain on The Paris Wife

Most of us know or think we know who Ernest Hemingway was -- a brilliant writer full of macho swagger, driven to take on huge feats of bravery and a pitcher or two of martinis -- before lunch. But beneath this man or myth, or some combination of the two, is another Hemingway, one we’ve never seen before. Hadley Richardson, Hemingway’s first wife, is the perfect person to reveal him to us -- and also to immerse us in the incredibly exciting and volatile world of Jazz-age Paris.

The idea to write in Hadley’s voice came to me as I was reading Hemingway’s memoir, A Moveable Feast, about his early years in Paris. In the final pages, he writes of Hadley, “I wished I had died before I ever loved anyone but her.” That line, and his portrayal of their marriage -- so tender and poignant and steeped in regret -- inspired me to search out biographies of Hadley, and then to research their brief and intense courtship and letters -- they wrote hundreds and hundreds of pages of delicious pages to another!

I couldn’t help but fall in love with Hadley, and through her eyes, with the young Ernest Hemingway. He was just twenty when they met, handsome and magnetic, passionate and sensitive and full of dreams. I was surprised at how much I liked and admired him -- and before I knew it, I was entirely swept away by their gripping love story.

I hope you will be as captivated by this remarkable couple as I am -- and by the fascinating world of Paris in the 20’s, the fast-living, ardent and tremendously driven Lost Generation.

Suggestions Box

Well, while we wait on Justy Mac to catch up (post her Water for Elephants post, and read Bossypants)... I think this is a great time to take suggestions on what we should read next. So far we have read 2 bestsellers, and 2 memoir-esque books.

So what next?

Post your suggestions!

Oh yeah, here is my review of Bossypants...

Bossypants by Tina Fey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What do I think? I think I want to be Tina Fey!
Hilarious! I really liked this one!

View all my reviews

yes, i'm still here....

OH MY!! I have completely been neglecting my reading time. Life has been rather hectic with school craziness, sick children and husband, and studying. Yes, STUDYING!!! What am I studying for? I am taking the School Leaders Licensure Assessment in June. Am I crazy? Yes, probably. I should have done this a long time ago as it is something I am very interested in. However, I will save all that for another post.

 

Books I have read since last time:

• Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi
• Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
• Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
• Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler
• Life Laughs by Jenny McCarthy

 

I downloaded "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" but haven't started it yet. I would also like to read "Water for Elephants".

 

Thoughts?

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Anyone that teaches school, or is thinking about teaching school, is a parent, or has ANY interaction with children NEEDS to read this book. It is honest, eye-opening, hilarious, and even a touch sad in sections. It really makes you aware what it is like for children (or adults) with ADHD.

I give this book 5/5 stars

Link to Goodreads

The Beginning...

We are teachers. By nature, we read. Sadly, it is not always possible for us to read what we WANT to read. In these busy school days filled with planning, crowd control, family counseling, grading, assessing, being assessed by our assessments, and let's not forget, an amazing lack of funding, it is SUPER important to take some ME time and read for pleasure!

So as part of our New Year's Resolutions, we have started this book club to inspire & motivate us to read. (It also helps that we both got Ereaders for Xmas!)

In the past we have read a lot of the same books, and tend to have similar opinions. So it will be interesting to see how we each feel about our selections.

Up first is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. This was a best-seller last year, and has been recommended (and loaned) to me (S. Dub) by a fellow teacher. JustyMac has graciously agreed to read along with me.

So here we go... In the words of our favorite Mexican restaurant server-- let's make this EPIC!