Holes by Louis Sachar Book Discussion

 The snow was coming down like big heavy cornflakes, when the Busy Gals Classic Reading Society gathered to discuss the book Holes by Louis Sachar. By our meeting March 10th our book group has pretty much had enough winter and the weather conditions described in this book couldn't have been farther on the weather spectrum. Another winter storm was setting upon our area and one member 'on call' would have to miss due to an emergency delivery when a coworker saved her a two hour trip which allowed her to join our discussion. Our numbers were a skimpy three after I showed up and eventually rose to max out at five with the return of Stefanie (on-call) and Peggy Ann who had family circumstances keeping her away for several months. 

Warm and inviting as always our host Kris has been sharing her home the last few times. She once said she prefers to host because she doesn't have to go out in the winter weather.

Great food as always and a small celebration for Lorraine's upcoming birthday sparked off our evening of catching up and discussing the book.

Our birthday girl, who is always an interesting source of information shared the importance of a good first line in a book. And as a librarian, has found there are games that test her student's knowledge.  Also, demonstrating the important aspects of drawing a reader into the story by the first sentence of the book. She also alerted us to the importance of an accurate description of the book's expected contents in order to make a decision on whether to read it or not.

"There is no lake at Camp Green Lake." This is the first sentence of the book Holes. I bet you knew that. The five of us at book group loved this book. The characters are more colorful than the scene set at camp Green Lake. The movie is very close to the book. It should be, it's own author was part of the cast. Louis Sachar as Mr. Collingwood, from the Katherine Barlow scenes at Green Lake when there was a lake.

I got it wrong. I thought he was one of the lawmen. With the author on set it only seems right that he  would have had oversight on how the film was produced.

I thought it was a great story that connected the past with the present in an ancestral/genealogical way. I always enjoy a book that fills in the gaps with an extra story that helps to foreshadow what a reader hopes might come to light later on in the book.

I liked how Stanley genuinely seemed to care about Zero and really didn't seem to blame Zero for his incarceration at Camp Green Lake, forgiving without a second thought. It made forgiving a lot easier because of the humble nature of Zero and his willingness to make amends even before the truth about the shoes came out.

Our next selection is a book we have been talking about reading almost since the beginning. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom.