Nickel and Dimed

Nickel and Dimed turned out to be a great book club book. Ehrenreich's experiences gave us a lot to discuss and think about.

Here are a few links to other work from Barbara Ehrenreich:

Barbara's Blog: http://ehrenreich.blogs.com/

"Smile! You've got cancer": http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/02/cancer-positive-thinking-barbara-ehrenreich

Hunger Games Meeting

Tuesday we had our Book Club meeting.  In fact, we all read the book so fast that we moved our meeting up 2 weeks!  So, you can assume that we all really enjoyed the book!  Hunger Games is part of a trilogy, Catching Fire is the next book & Mocking Jay comes out this summer.  We had lots of discussion which was awesome, I think we talked more about this book than we have at any of the others.  I think all of us are going to read the 2nd book.  Breana even set out items to represent each of the Districts (hence the random items in the picture below).  She's so creative!  Fun night, good discussion with good friends!  Great Pick Bre!

I need to see the picture!!

Where is it? I had so much fun that night and love the club!

Up Next: Nonfiction

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America

by Barbara Ehrenreich

Millions of Americans work full-time, year-round, for poverty-level wages. In 1998, Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that any job equals a better life. But how can anyone survive, let alone prosper, on $6-$7 an hour? To find out Ehrenreich moved from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, taking the cheapest lodgings available and accepting work as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing home aide, and Walmart salesperson. She soon discovered that even the "lowliest" occupations require exhausting mental and physical efforts. And one job is not enough; you need at least two if you intend to live indoors.

Nickel and Dimed reveals low wage America in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generosity--a land of Big Boxes, fast food and a thousand desperate strategems for survival. Instantly acclaimed for its insight, humor, and passion, this book is changing the way America perceives its working poor.

Breana's choice!!!

Hello all, let me just say I am very excited about this book! It is a Trilogy and somewhat different than what has been chosen in the past. Here you go....

COULD YOU SURVIVE ON YOUR OWN, IN THE WILD, WITH EVERY ONE OUT TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T LIVE TO SEE THE MORNING?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

"Once I am on my feet, I realize escape might not be so simple. Panic begins to set in. I can't stay here. Flight is essential. But I can't let my fear show."

WINNING MEANS FAME AND FORTUNE.

LOSING MEANS CERTAIN DEATH.

THE HUNGER GAMES HAVE BEGUN...

Last Chance Saloon Meeting

Last night we met in Topeka at my house for the discussion of Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes.  We were missing two girls, Amy & Shandal...we missed you girls! 

I had chosen this book so it's a little ironic that I was THE ONLY one to not finish it...yes, you heard me correctly...I didn't even finish my own book club choice!  I have been super busy the last few weeks and read all but the last 80 pages...and according to the girls last night that's when it gets good!  It took all of us a while to get into it, but overall we all thought it was an "okay" choice.  We agreed that it was pretty straight forward, not leaving much discussion for a Book Club.  So, instead of chatting only about Book Club it was nice to talk about other things going on in our lives since we are all married and don't get much "girl time".  Breana picked the next book so stay tuned because she'll reveal it on the blog later today!  I'm excited for something new and different!

Even thought I didn't have time to finish the book I DID have time to find a beverage that I thought was fitting for our Book Club....

Little Black Dress Wine!

I was pretty excited when I saw this so I had to have it for us last night!  And, it was good wine too!

Until next month...Happy Reading!