Erin's Midday Book Club

Welcome to my book club!!

erinchristy — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:49:06 GMT

2News Midday is officially starting a book club today! I've just recently started reading books on a regular basis again, and I'm so excited to get others motivated to do the same. So now's the time to pick up this month's selection, Made in the USA by Billie Letts.

I really enjoyed her novel Shoot The Moon, and since she is a local author I thought this would make a good selection for our "first" book club book. I haven't read this one yet, so we're all going to be reading it together.

When you're finished, let me know what you think by emailing me (link is above). You might get to come on the show and we can all talk about it together.

So go get the book now! We have a month to finish. Welcome!

Watch 2News Midday Today!

erinchristy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:53:57 GMT

Rita Scott, coordinator of the local "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign, will be on to discuss the topics in Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

How to get involved in Tulsa in "buying local!"

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle....

erinchristy — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:07:58 GMT

Kingsolver jokes in the book about a child who thought spaghetti came from the ground. OK, I'm not that bad, but not much better.

I am only on Chapter Three, yet AVM has opened my eyes to a whole new world of FOOD. It has truly made me question why I have never learned much about where my food comes from, and how all these years I could be stuffing my face without wondering how it was made.

How could I not know which fruits and vegetables are in season? I literally had to 'google it' to find out, an even bigger sign of the changing times. And it never occured to me WHY buying local and in season was so important to us, outside of the taste.

Looking forward to my journey with Kingsolver and learning more.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

erinchristy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:45:15 GMT

Getting ready to open up September's book club selection, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It's our first official non-fiction selection, outside of our diet book, The Engine Two Diet.

Anyone already read it? Our T-town mom said it's one of her favorites!!

I'd love to hear what you think about the book.

email me with your thoughts... christy@kjrh.com or respond to this post!

Tune In Friday!

erinchristy — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:28:49 GMT

Don't forget to watch 2News Midday at 11am THIS Friday. We will have The Ultimate Dream author, Tulsan Heather Chabino, and her daughter Kenzie, on the show to discuss this month's book club selection.

How has the Ultimate Dream journey changed their lives?

What do they hope readers get out of their experience?

What was the most difficult part of the journey?

Get all the answers.. this Friday!

If you haven't picked up the book yet, there is still time. I read it in one sitting. It's short, easy to read, and a great life-lesson. Even if the lessons are just reminders for you, they are worth hearing again.

THE ENGINE TWO DIET

erinchristy — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:11:17 GMT

Ok, everyone we are switching things up this month. To get the public a little more involved, we are trying a DIET book. The big d-word. And this is no ordinary diet - it's a very aggresive nutrition plan, written by an Austin, TX firefighter, Rip Esselstyn.

No meat.

No chicken.

No fish.

No eggs. No dairy... even no oil.

Are you up for the challenge? We have recruited two firefighters from the Tulsa Fire Department. One with dangerously high cholesterol, who pays $90 a month to pay for cholesterol medications. The other is an athlete who wants to maximize his athletic potential. Firefighters in general are at very high risk for heart disease given the nature of their job.

But this is not just for these guys - the book is for everyone. The author claims this is the ultimate road to good health. How could it effect you? I'm giving it a try. I'm already a vegetarian, but this is taking it to a new level.

Thoughts? We'll be checking in with the firefighters periodically. Also, tune into 2News Midday for their results.

I haven't forgotten about Wicked - review to come!

Happy Fourth of July!

Love The One You're With

erinchristy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:02:52 GMT

Love The One You're With By Emily Giffin.

As I've said, unlike other book clubs, I have NOT read the books before the viewers. The books often come as a suggestion, but other that recommended reading, I do not know much about the books before reading them. After this selection, maybe I should reconsider.

Initially, I was very enthusiastic about the idea of reading Love The One You're With. Primarily because it seemed like a "beach read"; an easy read, a book for chicks, and a looooove story. Mmmm.. my favorite. So, I was very positive going into this read. Being in the news business, I like a good non-fiction biography, and I also enjoy a suspense thriller, but to me, there is nothing like a GREAT love story. I guess I am saying all of this beforehand because.. ultimately, I was disappointed in the novel.

If you're reading this blog, you probably know that it's the story of Ellen, a happily-married 30-something who happens to run into an old flame in a train depot several years after college named Leo.

Something I liked about the book: I do feel like Ellen's character and I had a lot in common. She's heavily driven by her career, she and I are about the same age and in the same place in life, and she has the same basic conflicts and discussions with her friends, family and in her intimate relationships (well, to a certain extent!). So, I liked reading about Ellen. I liked reading how she handled different situations. It often had me thinking "is that what I would have done?"

The author had me laugh a couple of times, particularly when it came to depicting the Georgia suburbanites. In one chapter, Ellen was getting constantly annoyed by one woman's over use of "super cute." While I could relate to Ellen's distaste, I also tend to use the phrase "super cute." (Am now looking for an alternative).

Here's what bothered me about the book: it is an age-old love story. Did you let the love of your life get away? Did you marry the right person? If an author is going to tell such a classic tale, they need to bring something new to the table. I got all the way to the end, and never got that sense of excitement or tingle up my spine when something happens in a story that you didn't expect. Love stories are, on some level, predictable as they stand. There has to be something else there that has me saying "YOU have to read this!!"

I'm ready for Wicked.

Love The One You're With By Emily Giffin

erinchristy — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:48:37 GMT

Ok, so after two novels about disease, we are going to go with a little more light-hearted selection this month, Love the One You're With, By Emily Giffin.

Don't forget to email me, or respond on this forum on what you think about the book!

Happy reading!

My email is christy@kjrh.com

My Sister's Keeper

erinchristy — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:56:17 GMT

I've been asking viewers to email and write in on their thoughts about my book club books, most recently My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Little did I know, it's a loaded request to ask, considering after reading the book I still truly do not know my own thoughts on the book. It's easy to say I "liked" the book and that I enjoyed the book. The topic just raises so many questions that it has just left me as it did all of the characters: feeling helpless and confused.

Honestly, I chose this book simply because my grandmother suggested it. Plus, the movie version of the book, starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin, is about to be released. I thought, "this is supposed to be good, let's read the book. It's a timely choice." I was not expecting the heartbreak, the tears and certainly not the surprise ending that fuels such anger toward the author. I'm still angry about the ending, one that I never would have predicted, but now realize that there wasn't going to be a winning solution. No happy ending. So, of the options, perhaps this was the only one to have.

It's the story of a 13-year-old girl Anna, literally "designed" by science through In-Vitro fertilization, to be a genetic match for her older sister battling leukemia. She has been through countless surgeries, given bone marrow, and when asked to give a kidney, she instead decides to sue her own parents for the rights to her body.

From page one, the topic conjures up so many questions in your mind. Would you do this for a sibling? Does this child even know what kind of decision she is making and the consequences it would have? Are the parents doing the right thing? How far would you go?

The book left me torn through the end, as it seems it intended to do. The mother, Sara, is not the most likeable character, and it is very easy to want to be judgmental toward every decision she's made. But just like every character in the book, she is left with decisions that no one, no parent, no human being, wants to even think about, much less make.

I often thought Anna maybe had a little too much insight into the adult psyche, a little too much wit and even knowledge for a child. But the character is no ordinary girl, and she has gone through more than most people will in their lifetime, so her character soon started to make more sense.

Decision, choice, sacrifice, unconditional love, life, grief. One family's story encompasses it all.

Hope you brought the kleenex. After this one, we are lightening things up a bit next month.

Have You Started Reading My Sister's Keeper By Jodi Picoult?

erinchristy — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:15:45 GMT

I've been sucked in since page one!
What an issue to think about... let me know your thoughts!

STill ALiCE

erinchristy — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:54:27 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I hope you enjoyed Made in the U.S.A. by Billie Letts. She came on 2News Midday on Friday and was a great interview!

As I told Billie, I thought the book was fantastic. The last two pages were my favorite part of the whole book - we finally got to see Lutie and Fate be the kids that they are, and it made me happy to find them happy in the end.

I'm glad Lutie came around. I was starting to think I was never going to like that character! And Fate is just too cute.

Now, it's time to gear up for Still Alice by Lisa Genova! My producer bought this book for me for my birthday saying it would make Book Club selection... so here it is. Enjoy! And be sure to let me know what you think after reading it by emailing me at christy@kjrh.com.

Happy Monday!

Great Book

Colleen — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:13:57 GMT

I started this book on Friday and would be done with it by now, IF LIFE DID NOT GET IN THE WAY... hehehehehe

Thanks for suggesting it....

The Author Will Be Here!

erinchristy — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:42:02 GMT

Join us on Friday, March 6th, as we discuss Made in the U.S.A. with the author, Billie Letts!

What a fantastic opportunity - to be able to ask questions and discuss our book selection.

If you'd like a chance to talk with Billie on 2NEWS Midday, send your review of the book to me, at christy@kjrh.com.

Lutie McFee

erinchristy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:50:28 GMT

Hi Everyone,

Well, I am about a third of the way finished with the book. It is GREAT so far .. but I'd better get to reading if I plan to finish by March 6th!

What does everyone think about Lutie's character? I actually thought she was really funny at first with all of her antics.

Now, it's just sad! I hope things look up for her and Fate soon.