August's Book: Ender's Game

Well, the vote turn out was small and close, but it comes down to Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card for August. It will be a good one for summer and for me in particular since I've got a pretty busy August.



For those of you who want to know what you're getting into here is the set-up (mostly from Wikipedia)

The book takes place somewhere in the near-distant future of Earth. Mankind has made contact with an insectoid alien race known to humanity as the Formics, or colloquially as "Buggers." The buggers have attempted to invade earth twice, having been narrowly defeated the second time by a man named Mazer Rackham, and the threat of the third bugger invasion looms large over the earth.

Enter Ender Wiggin, a six-year-old boy and third son of his parents, an audacity under the population restriction laws, permitted only by special sanction by the government that is seeking the next brilliant military commander. Young Ender is approved by the government for training at the elite Battle School, a space station where children train in armies commanded by older children in mock 41-on-41 battles. Ender chooses to accept the government's offer, leaving behind his parents, his sister Valentine whom he deeply cares for, and his sadistic and manipulative older brother Peter.

The book is mostly about Ender's experience in Battle School and doesn't feel incredibly science fiction to me. In fact, also according to someone who posted on Wikipedia several schools around the world have adopted Ender's Game as required reading, some for its psychological aspects, others for its science fiction background. For example, The Marine Corps University at Quantico as a textbook for the psychology of leadership and Teachers College, Columbia University as an example of online learning

It is really a fascinating book and I think we'll all enjoy discussing it! Until then...Happy Reading!

Twilight *****

July is here and it is time to open our discussion of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I'm really excited to hear what you have to say and to see if you liked it as much as I did. Special thanks to my friend Terra for some great discussion questions. Let's get started!

What did you like about the book?

What didn't you like about it?

Were the characters believable? Was the portrayal of vampires realistic or too caricature?

Why do you think the author chose a high school setting for this grown up romance? How would the story have changed if these characters were adults?

As a first time author, how would you as a reader advise Ms. Meyer in future writing endeavors?

The story has been picked up for possible production into a movie, who would you love to see cast in the roles?

Argue for or against Bella becoming a Vampire.

Why is Edward so against Bella "changing" since he holds no animosity towards Carlisle for changing him?

Edward says he is a selfish being--how is keeping Bella human selfish?

And away we go...