It's time to hit the bookstore, place an amazon order, or load up your kindle. Our next book for the Family Book Club is Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen. This book will be a change of pace from Mountains Beyond Mountains but I believe it will be equally rich in content. I have run across a ton of passages from his books in my daily devotional (A Prayer Guide For All Who Seek God) and his words resonate in a way that other author's have yet to parallel.
Lets start in mid June so people have time to pick up the book. I would like for each person who participates to be "in charge" of a section of the book. This means you would write a post that reflects on that passage and/or poses questions for us to answer. It would be good for us to engage in a dialogue through the comments section in response to the posts for this book. There will be a small tutorial about how to subscribe to the comment feed so that you can be notified when someone updates the comment section. Please comment in the comment section if you are interested in participating so we can break up the book into sections for each one of us to cover.
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Showing posts with label family book club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family book club. Show all posts
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
FBC - Mountains Beyond Mountains - Part 1 Questions
Hello Everyone,
Glad to hear that you are enjoying Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains, or as they say in Haiti, "Deye mon gen mon." Our questions will be a mix from the discussion section at the back of the book and a few from conversations I have had with friends about the book. So here goes. . .
*****
1. The title of the book comes from the Haitian proverb, "Beyond Mountains there are mountains." What does the saying mean in the context of the culture it comes from, and what does it mean in relation to Farmer's work? Can you think of other situations - personal and societal - for which this proverb might be apt?
2. What do you think about Farmer's unique approach to his patients? Is this similar or different than the experiences you have had in the health care setting. Would you want Paul Farmer to be your personal physician? Why or why not?
3. In chapter 4, Farmer is referred to as a 'blanc' or white. According to the book, what makes someone 'blanc.' As we read further, consider whether Farmer remains 'blanc.' Have you ever experienced being 'blanc' and what is your reaction to that experience?
4. A few of you have recently told me that the book is good - what makes it good in Part I?
5. In chapter 4, a Haitian elder woman says to Farmer, "eske-w pa ka konprann bagay ki pa senp." This literally translates, "are you not able to understand things which are not simple." Why did she say this to Farmer? How could it apply to our own lives?
*****
You can respond to the questions (whichever ones you want) in the comments of this post or you can make a separate blog post with your thoughts. If you write a post, be sure to include Family Book Club in your label at the bottom of the post. Feel free to add other questions into the mix and bring up other interesting items from Part 1 of the book.
Let's try to have Part II - The Tin Roofs of Cange read by March 15th.
Important Haitian Vocabulary from Part I (that wasn't directly translated in the book)
gwo wout la - the big road
Wi - yes
ti kay - little house
doudou - gentle, mild mannered person
cherie - dear
maji - witchcraft
Glad to hear that you are enjoying Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains, or as they say in Haiti, "Deye mon gen mon." Our questions will be a mix from the discussion section at the back of the book and a few from conversations I have had with friends about the book. So here goes. . .
*****
1. The title of the book comes from the Haitian proverb, "Beyond Mountains there are mountains." What does the saying mean in the context of the culture it comes from, and what does it mean in relation to Farmer's work? Can you think of other situations - personal and societal - for which this proverb might be apt?
2. What do you think about Farmer's unique approach to his patients? Is this similar or different than the experiences you have had in the health care setting. Would you want Paul Farmer to be your personal physician? Why or why not?
3. In chapter 4, Farmer is referred to as a 'blanc' or white. According to the book, what makes someone 'blanc.' As we read further, consider whether Farmer remains 'blanc.' Have you ever experienced being 'blanc' and what is your reaction to that experience?
4. A few of you have recently told me that the book is good - what makes it good in Part I?
5. In chapter 4, a Haitian elder woman says to Farmer, "eske-w pa ka konprann bagay ki pa senp." This literally translates, "are you not able to understand things which are not simple." Why did she say this to Farmer? How could it apply to our own lives?
*****
You can respond to the questions (whichever ones you want) in the comments of this post or you can make a separate blog post with your thoughts. If you write a post, be sure to include Family Book Club in your label at the bottom of the post. Feel free to add other questions into the mix and bring up other interesting items from Part 1 of the book.
Let's try to have Part II - The Tin Roofs of Cange read by March 15th.
Important Haitian Vocabulary from Part I (that wasn't directly translated in the book)
gwo wout la - the big road
Wi - yes
ti kay - little house
doudou - gentle, mild mannered person
cherie - dear
maji - witchcraft
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Book Club?
Hi All, How is everyone doing with the Book Club? I have finished the first section, how bout you? Is there a new deadline for the next section? Just wondering..... Debbie
Friday, January 14, 2011
Loose Ends. . .
Hello Everyone,
Family Book Club
From what I can tell, your books are here or on their way. Let's try to read through section one by the end of January. I know that some of you have already forged ahead (ahem . . . mom) but that's just fine. We'll post questions/thoughts/comments at the end of January? Sound Good?
Returning to Haiti
Just wanted you to know that I'll be going on a short-term mission trip to Haiti in February. I am REALLY excited - a twinge nervous (I'd be worried if I wasn't) - but mostly really excited because I think God made me to play a part in international missions. I'll be getting my "orders" soon. I'm happy to be working again with the Salvation Army - what an incredible organization/church. I read up on what is happening in Haiti on a regularly. Today I read this post about a little girl who has been under the care of a mission organization called Real Hope For Haiti - and for real - they are bringing some real hope. Read it for yourself - you won't be the same after.
Scripture Memorization Challenge
How's it going? Have you memorized 2 Cor 5:17? What kind of impact has it had on you? Has it popped into your mind at any particular point?
I have been wanting to post my chocolate lecture for quite some time now. It is about why humans love chocolate so much. The images have been a real bear to prepare - so keep your eyes peeled - if you see the post it will be a victory for me!
Thanks
Thanks to all of the family who filled out the Nadeau Family Basic Facts Survey. I am waiting for just a few more people to fill it out and then I will e-mail you the file so you have a copy too.
Family Book Club
From what I can tell, your books are here or on their way. Let's try to read through section one by the end of January. I know that some of you have already forged ahead (ahem . . . mom) but that's just fine. We'll post questions/thoughts/comments at the end of January? Sound Good?
Returning to Haiti
Just wanted you to know that I'll be going on a short-term mission trip to Haiti in February. I am REALLY excited - a twinge nervous (I'd be worried if I wasn't) - but mostly really excited because I think God made me to play a part in international missions. I'll be getting my "orders" soon. I'm happy to be working again with the Salvation Army - what an incredible organization/church. I read up on what is happening in Haiti on a regularly. Today I read this post about a little girl who has been under the care of a mission organization called Real Hope For Haiti - and for real - they are bringing some real hope. Read it for yourself - you won't be the same after.
Scripture Memorization Challenge
How's it going? Have you memorized 2 Cor 5:17? What kind of impact has it had on you? Has it popped into your mind at any particular point?
2 Cor 5:17 (NASB) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold, new things have come.Chocolate Lecture
I have been wanting to post my chocolate lecture for quite some time now. It is about why humans love chocolate so much. The images have been a real bear to prepare - so keep your eyes peeled - if you see the post it will be a victory for me!
Thanks
Thanks to all of the family who filled out the Nadeau Family Basic Facts Survey. I am waiting for just a few more people to fill it out and then I will e-mail you the file so you have a copy too.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Family Book Club - Pick Up/Order Your Books NOW!
Hi Again Family & Friends,
We have decided to read Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. Order or pick up (click the link and it will bring you right to amazon) your book right away!! We are going to start reading really soon - keep your eye out for the schedule and subsequent posts where you can weigh in with your thoughts on the book!
While we are getting ready:
We have decided to read Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. Order or pick up (click the link and it will bring you right to amazon) your book right away!! We are going to start reading really soon - keep your eye out for the schedule and subsequent posts where you can weigh in with your thoughts on the book!
While we are getting ready:
- Check out a couple of related links:
- Learn these two Haitian Creole Words
- Lasante = Health
- Zami = Friend
- Get familiar with the map of Haiti:
- Find the capital, Port-Au-Prince (everyone calls it PAP)
- Find Mirebalais on the map of Haiti
- Find Letter on the map, it points at Cange
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Family Book Club
I have heard a few rumblings that folks are indeed interested in a Family Book Club. I would love to do this and keep it fairly informal at the same time. Here are some thoughts:
1. Choose the book we will be reading. I have some suggestions below that have lots of opportunity for discussion. Please post in the comments any new suggestions or any thoughts on the three below.
2. Set up a loose calendar (e.g. read chapters 1 - 5 in January)
3. Have an online blog discussion about what we read at the end of the month.
So to get the ball rolling, here are my suggestions for our first book:
Mountains Beyond Mountains - a fascinating true story about Dr. Farmer. This is Pulitzer prize winning book and I started reading it on the train back from Chicago. It is riveting. There is profanity but all within context. I would consider this if only the adults were going to read along.
The Magician's Nephew - the first (chronologically speaking - it wasn't written first) of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. This is a perfect book that folks could read to their kids before bedtime. It would be fun to work our way through the series. The reading order of the Chronicles is actually hotly debated so we could start with The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe as well.
Hinds Feet On High Places - I admittedly have just finished the book but would LOVE to read it again! It is an allegory about a girl named "Much-Afraid". It will surprise and challenge you throughout every chapter. The book was actually written in 3 weeks during the year 1949.
1. Choose the book we will be reading. I have some suggestions below that have lots of opportunity for discussion. Please post in the comments any new suggestions or any thoughts on the three below.
2. Set up a loose calendar (e.g. read chapters 1 - 5 in January)
3. Have an online blog discussion about what we read at the end of the month.
So to get the ball rolling, here are my suggestions for our first book:
Mountains Beyond Mountains - a fascinating true story about Dr. Farmer. This is Pulitzer prize winning book and I started reading it on the train back from Chicago. It is riveting. There is profanity but all within context. I would consider this if only the adults were going to read along.
The Magician's Nephew - the first (chronologically speaking - it wasn't written first) of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. This is a perfect book that folks could read to their kids before bedtime. It would be fun to work our way through the series. The reading order of the Chronicles is actually hotly debated so we could start with The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe as well.
Hinds Feet On High Places - I admittedly have just finished the book but would LOVE to read it again! It is an allegory about a girl named "Much-Afraid". It will surprise and challenge you throughout every chapter. The book was actually written in 3 weeks during the year 1949.
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