For the new year, I have decided to add a new element to my blog.  Thus far, I have been documenting my book club journey: the books we've read, my progress of these books and the results of the meetings we've held.  For 2011, I made a resolution to complete a book I am writing.  Currently, I have three chapters written and am working on number four.  I've made a resolution like this in the past and was able to accomplish it by finishing my first book.  This will be book number two.  To help keep me on track, I've decided to document my journey: my progress, frustrations, setbacks, etc., figuring that keeping you informed will help keep me motivated.  And, who know, maybe you can even help me on those days I seem to be blocked.  First, let me tell you a little bit about my book.

The book is called Glasses and All.  It's from the view point of a 16 year-old boy who finds himself infatuated with the new girl.  The issue is he's popular and she's not.  Why isn't she popular?  Because she doesn't care about what she looks like.  She wears glasses, no makeup, hair in pony tails and doesn't follow the fashion trends.  From day one, she's labeled an outsider and what makes our hero fascinated by her is the fact that she doesn't care.  She is who she is and he wished he could be that way.

The idea is to show that glasses is beautiful.  I am a glasses wearer and growing up I was picked on one way or another for wearing them.  Being called four-eyes was the least of what I went through.  The hero of this story isn't the only one who will discover that you don't have to be picture perfect to be beautiful.  You're beautiful just by being who you are:  Glasses and all.

I know what you're thinking, "You haven't started it yet."  The truth is I have not.  Jane is a retelling of Jane Eyre, which I have never read.  I wanted to read the original story first to make some comparisons to the new, but I find myself having a hard time getting through the book.  I don't think it has anything to do with the book itself, but with me.  I seem to be finding myself in one of those sporadic reading moods.  I start a book and find myself quickly disinterested.  I then put it down and start a new book.  I've done this a few times already and I can't seem to keep hold of one.  It's happened on occasion before and I always get passed it.  This just happens to be bad timing.  I'm afraid I may have to read the book club book before I can finish the original or I may not have anything to talk about at the next meeting.  I'll keep you posted on my progress.  As soon as a date is set, I'll have a better idea on what path I'll have to take.

Overall, the book club liked the book.  We did feel at times the book moved too fast and there were some lingering questions left at the end.  I guess this is were the sequel comes in. None of us really knew much about the Norse Mythologies, but that didn't stop us from enjoying what the book had to offer.  We liked Kat and her journey into the world of the storks.  We liked Jack, although a few of us are getting tired of the whole "I have a secret I don't think she'll understand so I'm going to push her away until she finally breaks down my walls and I realize she's the only person who could understand."  We all know that character. 

For our next book, we have chosen Jane by April Lindner.  It's a spin on the classic Jane Eyre story.  No date has been set yet, but as always, I'll keep you posted.