Speaking of Books......

I've been asked to start a book discussion on my blog by some eager readers.

I love reading and discussing books...so why not?

Starting next week (hopefully, if my copy comes in from the library) I will be hosting a weekly discussion of Leif Enger's latest book So Brave, Young and Handsome.

Here is an excerpt from the front jacket flap of the book:

One of Time magazines top-five novels of the year and a New York Times bestseller, Leif Enger’s first novel, Peace Like a River, captured reader’s hearts around the nation and sold over one million copies. His new novel is a stunning successor—a touching, nimble and rugged story of an aging train robber on a quest to reconcile the claims of love and judgment on his life, and the failed writer who goes with him.

In 1915 Minnesota, Monte Becket—“a man fading, a disappointer of persons”—has lost his sense of purpose. His only success long behind him, Monte lives a simple life with his loving wife and whipsmart son. But when he befriends outlaw, Glendon Hale, a new world of opportunity and experience presents itself.

Glendon has spent years in obscurity, but the guilt he harbors for abandoning his wife, Blue, over two decades ago has finally lured him from hiding. As the modern age marches swiftly forward, Glendon aims to travel back into his past—traveling to California to seek Blue’s forgiveness. Beguiled and inspired, Monte soon finds himself leaving behind his own family to embark for the unruly West with his fugitive guide—a journey that will test the depth of his loyalties, the inviolability of his morals, and the strength of his resolve. As they flee from the relentless Charles Siringo, an ex-Pinkerton who’s been hunting Glendon for years, Monte falls even further from his family and the law, to be tempered by a fiery adventure from which he may never get home.

With its smooth mix of romanticism and gritty reality, So Brave Young and Handsome often recalls the Old West’s greatest cowboy stories. But it is also about an ordinary man’s determination as he risks everything in order to understand what it’s all worth, and follows an unlikely dream in the hope it will lead him back home.

I chose this book because:

1. I've been wanting to read it.
2. I read Enger's first book, Peace Like a River, and absolutely loved it.
3. Everyone else I've talked to loved Enger's writing as well.
4. One of my eager readers wants to read it too.

So, if you are interested in joining us all you have to do is pick up the book at your local library or book store. You can purchase it for $8.22 at http://www.half.com/. If you live in my area there are approximately 15 copies available through interlibrary loan. There is also an audio book version out there if that is more your style.

Once you have the book...start reading. I'll post on each chapter and then the comments section will be open for you to add your own insights about the story. Feel free to make comments, pose questions or list favorite quotes. I will post at the rate I read...which is relatively fast....but you can read at your own pace and read the posts as you get to them. There is no rush. If you read faster than I do you are out of luck. Sorry.

Each post that is a book discussion post about So Brave, Young and Handsome will have this picture at the top.


This will let my regular readers (who are not joining in on the book discussion) know that they can skip this post and move on to the next one.

This is all just an experiment. I've participated in blog book discussions before but I've never hosted one, so we'll see how it goes. We may have to tweek things as we go.

I hope you can join us.