In the words of Hazel Lancaster, the main character of The Fault in Our Stars, cancer books suck.

And I have to agree with that. No matter how amazing a book is, the minute the word cancer comes up it automatically sucks.

That’s why the #1 New York Times bestseller The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is honestly the best horrible book I have ever read.

Hazel Lancaster is sixteen and has cancer. Throughout the novel, she makes it very clear that she is dying. Her rare form of cancer causes her lungs to “suck at being lungs.”

She has accepted the fact that her cancer will kill her, and this makes her brutally honest about the illness.

Hazel is content to spend the rest of her time at home watching America’s Next Top Model, but her parents think otherwise. They think that Hazel needs to actually live her life, which is why they make her join a support group for kids with cancer.

It is at this support group that she meets Augustus Waters: a gorgeous, intelligent cancer survivor.

Hazel’s life suddenly becomes more twisted then ever before, as she falls head over heels in love with Augustus Waters.

With her new relationship also comes an experience that Hazel never thought she would be able to have. She goes out, makes friends, and for the first time in years actually lives her life.

The Fault in Our Stars is a must read. You will laugh, cry, laugh while you cry and by the time you finish this book you will be ultimately inspired.

I suggest that this week, you get your hands on a copy of The Fault in Our Stars and settle down with a box of tissues for a few hours, because once you start reading this book it will be impossible to put down. It will be the best horrible book you have ever read.

The Look for the Good Project Press Release:: “What makes you grateful? That was the question Anne Kubitsky proposed with the distribution of 500 invitational postcards in her local community in 2011. Back then, Kubitsky’s idea was more of a simple experiment. Today, Anne Kubitsky is the author and illustrator of the The Lookf for the Good Project, a “glimmer of gladness” project that has resulted in thousands of postcards with inspirational messages and artwork from people all over the world.With the help of local fundraising efforts, Kubitsky’s collection of postcards has been displayed in many art galleries and other artistic venues. Her book, What Are You Grateful For? Will contain 200 of these messages, and will be published in November of 2013.”

The Prospect Public Library will be hosting Kubitsky on February 12th at 6:30 p.m. for a special Valentine’s presentation of gladness and gratitude. She will be showing a video followed by discussion, question and answers, and time for artistic reflection. If you wish to attend you must register ahead of time by calling the Prospect Public Library at 203-758-3001 or e-mail them at libraryprospectad@yahoo.com

Les Miserables Review
By Makenzie White

From a book to a musical to a movie Les Miserables has come a long way.
The well-known book, Les Miserables, was written by French author, Victor Hugo and published in 1862.
It wasn’t long before this book was claimed one of the great novels of the 19th century and in October of 1985 the story was set to the stage as a musical.
Over the years the story has touched the hearts of many people worldwide and on December 25th of 2012 the story hit the big screens as it once again the well-known story was told.
The movie was directed by Tom Hooper, produced by Working Title Films, and distributed by Universal Pictures. In the film movie stars like Hugh Jackman, Russell Crow, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried all stared as major characters.
The movie similar to the book and musical follows the story of Jean Valjean who is a former convict. The story follows Valjean throughout his life and the different times and struggles he faces.
The story follows the history of France and the poor people who were enslaved and treated poorly and shows the French Revolution.
Many had reservations about the movie because of the fear that the story would not be done justice or that the storyline would stray too far from the original.
However, on December 5th of 2012 the movie was released in London prior to its release in the United States. And on December 26th, the day after its release in the United States, the movie was released in Australia.
As of January 1st the Box Office results have shown that in North America alone it has made 80,579,110 dollars and in other territories it made 48,700,000. Worldwide in less than ten days the movie has made 129,279,110 dollars.
On opening day in America it made 18.1 million dollars—breaking the record for the highest opening day gross for a musical film.
On the Rotten Tomatoes website it has received 72% approval and has also received some good comments from other critics worldwide.
Regardless of the overall opinion of the movie critics all have agreed that Hathaway’s performance of I Dreamed a Dream was the showstopper of this movie.
With high performances from the cast and a unique take on the story from the director the movie took the audience in all the right places and left them wanting more.

On Wednesday, March 29th One Region, One Book will be wrapping up the book The Things They Carried with a final discussion of the novel with special guest veterans in the WRHS library at 2:15 PM.

Hey everyone! Be sure to start following us on Twitter, @1Region1Book! Follow us for updates, information, and insight about our book, The Things They Carried!

Yes, we’re blogging now!

Be sure to watch the 6:00 news on WVIT (Connecticut’s NBC affiliate) tonight (Wednesday)! Region 16′s One Region, One Book is going to be featured in a story.

On October 28th in room 225 at 2:15 the book club will be discussing It’s Kind of a Funny Story a novel by Ned Vizzini.

All are welcomed to join. See Mr. Geary or Mrs. Kilcourse with any questions.

WRHS Book Club will be reading Ned Vizzini’s 2006 novel, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, during the month of October. In a nutshell, the book is about a teenager, Craig, who succumbs to the pressures of his prestigious prep school, and winds up in a psychiatric hospital for a week. While there, he encounters a myriad of patients with various problems, including Noelle, who is a cutter. With encouragement from his family and the new friends he meets in the hospital, Craig regains his balance, and discovers a talent for art that he has never nurtured before.

Check out the author’s website here.

And now it’s a movie! Check it out here.

Our next Book Club meeting will be on October 28th. Read the book and join us! There’ll be pizza! And we’re planning on seeing the movie!

See Mr. Geary or Mrs. Kilcourse with any questions.

The Woodland Regional High School Book Club will hold its first meeting on September 30th in room 212 at 2:15 P.M.

All students are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

If you have any questions, see Mr. Geary or Mrs.Kilcourse.

Photo Credit: http://tnrdlibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/book-club-book.jpg

So … this is our next Book Club selection – Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Were trying something different for this book selection – instead of reading it and then having a book club discussion, we’re going to try to have our discussions online, via the Book Club Blog.

I have not started the book yet, but I have come across a few interesting articles about the book and its author. Enjoy!

“The Secrets of Stieg Larsson” – Newsweek, May 14th

“The Afterlife of Stieg Larsson” – The New York Time Magazine, May 17th

“The Legacy of the Dragon Tattoo” – Time, May 24th