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Welcome to the Library's Book Club page
Mission Statement
The purpose of the library’s book clubs is to create a community of readers here at Immaculate Heart through the reading and discussing of quality literary works that vary in genre from new and classic fiction to science-fiction/fantasy and mystery to social commentary and history to autobiographies. The book clubs provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions by having monthly book discussions open to the entire school community.
Benefits of Joining
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Joining a book club is a great way to meet new people and be introduced to books that you might not otherwise read.
- The group dynamic opens up subtle aspects and avenues in the story that a single reader may never have crossed on their own. You have your own opinion on what you reading, but then someone in the group will say something and it will be, 'Oh, I didn't think about that'. It helps to broaden your understanding about what you're reading.
- It is more fun to talk in person with someone else who is reading the same thing at the same time. Talking about why you liked or hated a book, what was interesting or confusing and what you wished had happened or not happened can make the experience much more rewarding.
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A book group can be a tremendous confidence-builder. Within the group, you can ask questions, give your opinion, or defend an idea.
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Things get extra busy during the school year, but sometimes a fun activity like a book club can be relaxing and remind you that reading can be fun and recreational, not just something you have to do for school.
Upcoming Book Group meetings
Join MB’s Lunch Time Book Group for a discussion of this Noir classic sweetened by refreshments in Room 103, Friday, May 7th.
Catholic writer Graham Greene gives us post-war Vienna, a once-beautiful city that is now nothing but war rubble administered by the four victorious nations, Russia, France, Great Britain and the United States. There's a somber mood, a feeling of decay and destruction throughout. And, of course there's a mystery, and lots of suspense as the reader is swept into a story of intrigue, betrayal and constantly changing alliances.
It’s narrated by a British policeman who deals with the lead character, a fellow Brit named Rollo Martins who has been summoned to Vienna by a long-time friend, Harry Limes, only to find a funeral in progress for Limes when he arrives. The mystery deepens when Martins starts doing his own detective work.
Tracie's Book Club (Carpe Librum)
We will meet to discuss The Soloist by Steve Lopez on May 13th at lunch in SB4. Mrs. Suzuki's AP Psychology class will be joining us. Desserts will be provided.
Check out the display in the library to see pictures of the actual Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez. The links below give even more information about the two.
Links
Scurrying back to his office one day, Lopez, a columnist for the L.A. Times, is stopped short by the ethereal strains of a violin. Searching for the sound, he spots a homeless man coaxing those beautiful sounds from a battered two-string violin. When the man finishes, Lopez compliments him briefly and rushes off to write about his newfound subject, Nathaniel Ayers, the homeless violinist. Over the next few days, Lopez discovers that Nathaniel was once a promising classical bass student at Juilliard, but that various pressures—including being one of a few African-American students and mounting schizophrenia—caused him to drop out. Enlisting the help of doctors, mental health professionals and professional musicians, Lopez attempts to help Nathaniel move off Skid Row, regain his dignity, develop his musical talent and free himself of the demons induced by the schizophrenia (at one point, Lopez arranges to have Ayers take cello lessons with a cellist from the L.A. Symphony). Throughout, Lopez endures disappointments and setbacks with Nathaniel's case, questions his own motives for helping his friend and acknowledges that Nathaniel has taught him about courage and humanity.
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