Les Miserables - new movie

Well what do you know, there is a new movie coming out in December and it is based on our May book club selection ... Les Miserables!  

This is the movie trailer starring Hugh Jackman as Jean Vajean, the convict that became mayor, fugitive and devoted adopted Dad.  Also features Russell Crowe as Javert, a man following the law without any compassion.  

We did not enjoy the book at our book  club but the movie should be just as wonderful as the musical we saw in Jacksonville a few weeks ago.

What are you reading on Memorial Day?

Thanks to all you military personnel who risk your life every day.   A shout out to all my family members who have served over the years you know who you are.

I have been reading Defending Jacob.  Is the propensity to violence an inherited trait?  That is the issue in this book and so far I am enjoying it.  Hopefully, I will complete reading and begin the first book of the Hunger Games Trilogy.   

Lessons from Les Miserables

So we chose a difficult book this month, Les Miserables, which none of us could finish reading before our meeting last Friday.   There were too many irrelevant details in the book.  In fact I cheated.  I went to see the musical in Jacksonville and I borrowed the DVD from the library to get the storyline.  Imagine my surprise when this morning on twitter I came across a post with  this link   to Lessons from Jean Valjean, Jean Valjean being the main character in Les Mis. 

The main lesson in the book, I think, is compassion.  A bishop had compassion on Jean, a former convict, and Jean changed his life expressing compassion to everyone he met and in turn changed the lives of many.  The injustice in France at the time was highlighted.  Jean was sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread.   His question to the courts at the time is relevant today, it was something to this effect, "Don't you know what it's like to be hungry and not to be able find any work?"

Great Idea to Promote Reading

What a great idea to promote books and reading! The Seattle Public Library system will be hiding 1,000 books around town for young people to find, read, and re-hide for other young people.  The Theme for its annual Summer Reading Program is Century 22: Read the Future. Little Brother is one of the Young Adult books that will be hidden.

7 Must Read Books on Happiness

This looks like an interesting site with recommended books on happiness.  I listened to the TED Talk by French Scientist turned Buddhist Monk, Matthieu Ricard.

Top 10 Most Read Books

Well, well, well, I am sure you guessed that The Twilight Saga  would be on the list and likewise The Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter.