Our Saviors Lutheran Church » Book Club

September Book Club Selection: The Year of Living Biblically

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:03:39 +0000

What would it require for a person to live all the commandments of the Bible for an entire year? That is the question that animates The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, a hilarious, quixotic, thought-provoking memoir from A.J. Jacobs.

Our discussion will take place on September 30th at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcomed to take part. We are a very fluid group and love to see new faces. Many of us cannot read every book every month, but when you do read a book we’ve selected, we’d love for you join us for discussion and dessert. Books may be ordered through Sandra Hansen for $11.00.

See Eat, Pray, Love with the OSLC Book Club on August 26th

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:09:56 +0000

The OSLC Book Club will NOT be meeting at church on Thursday, August 26th! We will be meeting in the lobby of the Marcus Cinema Theater (2032 Ward Avenue) at 6:30 p.m. to see the movie, Eat Pray Love. The movie runs from 6:50 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. After the movie, all are welcome to join us for a discussion of the book and the movie at a place to be announced that evening.

Ticket prices are $9.00 for adults and $6.50 for those 60 and over. Please call Sandra Hansen if you have any questions.

August Book Club Selection: Eat, Pray, Love

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:41:42 +0000

Our book club selection for August is Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert. Copies of this book are available at the public library or you may contact Sandra Hansen to purchase a paperback copy for $11.00. This book has recently been made into a movie starring Julia Roberts, and it may be showing in La Crosse late in August. So instead of a book discussion, we will be going as a group to see the film and all are welcomed to join us!

Since the theaters will not pinpoint a date at this time when the film is to be shown, we cannot yet set a specific date and time. But keep Thursday, August 26th open as that’s the date we will try to attend. Please stay tuned for updates!

July Book Club Selection: Travels with Charley

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:36:54 +0000

The Our Savior’s book club selection for July, Travels with Charley: in Search of America by John Steinbeck, should appeal to all of us armchair travelers. It was written in the 1960’s and is a memoir of Steinbeck’s 3+ month road trip around the country with his dog, Charley, to ‘rediscover’ America. Lots of copies of Travels with Charley are available at the public library. Please join us! Our discussion will be held on Thursday, July 29th at 6:30 P.M.

May Book Club Selection: The Silenced

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:44:59 +0000

Our May book The Silenced is by James DeVita. Consigned to a prison-like Youth Training Facility because of her parents’ political activities, Marena organizes a resistance movement to combat the restrictive policies of the ruling Zero Tolerance party. This is a gripping read and adults and young adults will certainly empathize with the characters’ conflicts between self-expression and a desire to fit in. Readers will find the Zero Tolerance credo that the state’s first priority must be the safety of its citizens to have a chilling resonance with statements in the news today.

The OSLC Book Club will NOT meet on Thursday, May 27th as planned. We will meet to discuss both May’s book, The Silenced, and June’s book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, on Thursday, June 17th at 6:30 p.m. All readers are welcome!

April Book Club Selection: The Omnivore’s Dilemma

admin — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:15:22 +0000

The Our Savior’s Book Club selection for April is The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. The book offers insight into food consumption in the twenty-first century, explaining how an abundance of unlimited food varieties reveals the responsibilities of consumers to protect their health and the environment.

Pollan’s easy writing style and unique approach freshen this contemporary debate. Our book discussion will take place on Thursday, April 29th at 6:30 p.m.

March Book Club Selection: The Lost Symbol

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:44:28 +0000

Our March book is The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, at the U.S. Capitol Building to deliver a lecture, is drawn into a desperate search through the hidden tunnels and temples of Washington, D.C., when his mentor Peter Solomon, a prominent Mason and philanthropist, is kidnapped and the only clue to Solomon’s whereabouts lies in an ancient invitation to a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.

We will also view a DVD of the program aired on the Discovery Channel to learn more about the Freemasons. Our book discussion will take place on Thursday, March 25th at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome!

February’s Book Club Selection: Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:03:25 +0000

The OSLC January book club selection is Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom. This is a true story of author Mitch Albom, having been asked to write a eulogy for an elderly rabbi, begins a relationship with the man in order to get to know him better, and, in the process, also becomes involved with the plight of a local pastor whose church is falling down around him, leading Mitch to better understand the importance of faith.

We have a wonderful group of members who enjoy reading and then coming together for a discussion of ‘the book of the month’. Talking about books is another way to learn some thing new about our friends and ourselves as we travel our faith journey together. We look forward to seeing you!

January’s Book Club Selection: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:15:43 +0000

The OSLC January book club selection is “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian,” by Sherman Alexie. This book is categorized as a ‘young adult’ novel and is appropriate for anyone in Grade 7 or above. Exploring Indian identity, both self and tribal, the novel is a semi-autobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, a.k.a. Junior, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old was born with water on the brain, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, “I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats.” …The teen’s determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. (School Library Journal)

Please see or call Sandra Hansen if you would like to purchase this $8.00 paperback book. We have a wonderful group of members who enjoy reading and then coming together for a discussion of ‘the book of the month’. Talking about books is another way to learn some thing new about our friends and ourselves as we travel our faith journey together. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, January 28th at 6:30. We look forward to seeing you!

November’s Book Club Selection: A Thousand Splendid Suns

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:29:59 +0000

Our Savior’s November Book Club selection is A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

Hosseini’s compassionate storytelling and his sense of personal and national tragedy are woven into this tale of two women that is weighted equally with despair and grave hope. This is a riveting story—an in-depth exploration of Afghan society in the three decades of anti-Soviet jihad, civil war and Taliban cruelty.

Please let Sandra Hansen know if you would like to purchase a book for $12. Copies are also available at the public library. All are welcome to join us in the Fellowship Hall on Monday, November 30th at 6:30 to talk about this eye-opening, and sometimes jaw-dropping story.