Alrighty, our next book is going to be "Freakonomics" for the April 21st bookclub night.
I looove this book, just look at the chapter titles:

Chapter 1: Discovering cheating as applied to teachers and sumo wrestlers
Chapter 2: Information control as applied to the Ku Klux Klan and real-estate agents
Chapter 3: The economics of drug dealing, including the surprisingly low earnings and abject working conditions of crack cocaine dealers
Chapter 4: The controversial role legalized abortion may have played in reducing crime
Chapter 5: The negligible effects of good parenting on education
Chapter 6: The socioeconomic patterns of naming children

Come on, you're interested now, aren't you?
Also this book is really short because the second half is all appendices. If you have already read it, you should go on to...
With chapter titles like:
Chapter 1: How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa?
Chapter 2: Why should suicide bombers buy life insurance?
Chapter 3: Unbelievable stories about apathy and altruism
Chapter 4: The fix is in--and it's cheap and simple
Chapter 5: What do Al Gore and Mount Pinatubo have in common?

Also, the epilogue is possibly the best part of this one. I'm a geek for weird facts and economic studies.

In other, administrative news, next bookclub on March 17th will be at our new secretary, Megan Dunford's house at 8:00PM. We will be discussing "The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" so get reading!

The Actor and the Housewife

"The Actor and the Housewife" by Shannon Hale is our next book. Don't worry, it's a book for grownups, and not a series.
This is the first of Shannon Hale's books that I have felt gets close to how funny she is in person. This is also the book of hers that deals with the deepest issues. I love it and I want to read it again right now even though I just barely read it.

These are some reviews from Shannon Hale's website:

"Hale keeps the prose crackling with humor and has a sure hand in creating nuanced, believable characters"
Publisher's Weekly

"Readers will certainly keep turning the pages...Hale offers a pure wish-fulfillment fantasy, one that readers, especially housewives, will thoroughly enjoy."
Booklist

"Like "Austenland," "Housewife" is entertaining and is far above many books in its genre."
Deseret Morning News

"Hale's prose is friendly and funny."
Kirkus Reviews

"Couldn't put it down and read the entire book in one sitting...I kept bursting out laughing, startling my husband, and then began weeping (he kindly passed the kleenex) and then began reading furiously, knowing it was getting late, but having to finish the book. Well, now it's tomorrow and I'm sitting in front of the computer, bleary eyed but happy...and knowing that this sleep-deprived day was totally worth it."
Cathy from Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Texas

"Witty and warm-hearted, the latest book from the ever-intriguing author, Shannon Hale, will delight audiences with its humor and loyalty...Between the pages of the book lie the unique twists and turns of humor and poignancy that Ms. Hale utilizes with skill and mastery in crafting a modern fairy tale of love, devotion and friendship."
Jean for Reader's Choice for Salt Lake County Library

My review is on goodreads, and I'm sticking to it.

The one caveat of this book is that you will not be able to get it from the library, at least not in the greater Salt Lake area. You can get it for ridiculously cheap on amazon or support your local indie bookseller and buy it from The King's English.
If you do go on amazon, don't read the reviews, they are almost all spoilers and part of the fun for me was guessing what would happen.
Alright, next month-at Megan's.

Okay the first book is "North and South" by Elizabeth Gaskell. The next meeting will be September 18th at Katie Rockwood's house.
I think I should also add a little pitch for North and South in case there are some of you out there thinking, should I read this? The answer is yes, this book is awesome. Elizabeth Gaskell was a contemporary of the Bronte sisters and George Elliot. The book itself is a little reminiscent of "Pride and Prejudice", but a little more emotional and a little more political. The story starts right away with compelling characters, very accessible from the beginning and the heroine is quite original and strong. If you are a fan of Jane Austen's books this is a book you could love.
There is also an excellent mini-series made by the BBC of "North and South" made in 2004 for an added element.