DownSyn Forum

jennifergg · Posted: October 04 2006, 2:43 PM Post subject: General Info and revised schedule

Hello fellow readers!

Here we are in our roomy new space!

Just a quick recap:

The book club will begin discussing each selection on the THIRD THURSDAY of each month. We will continue the discussion until we run out of things to say. If you have comments or thoughts that you want to bring up ahead of time, feel free to email them to me and I will save them up until the discussion begins, so that we are not ruining it for those who are still reading.

As we progress, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on how to make this club work as well as possible, please please please email or post them!

OCTOBER: Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards. For this discussion, please also read the author interview at: http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/memory_keeper.html

This month we are honored to have the book's author, Kim Edwards, as a guest poster. The discussion should be a good one!

Happy reading!

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

jennifergg · Posted: October 28 2006, 1:24 PM Post subject:

Well we did it, the first discussion of the book Memory Keeper's Daughter was a lot of fun and I want to thank everyone who participated. It looks like we had a half-dozen regular posters, and about fifty or so viewing quietly. To me, that's a successful book group!

I am wondering if anyone else is interested in continuing the group? I think it might be really fun to discuss the new book GIFTS, edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper. It is a compilation of writing from sixty-three moms of children with DS, many from this forum. Would anyone be interested in joining/leading a discussion about this new book?

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

Suz · Posted: October 28 2006, 8:19 PM Post subject:

Sure, has the book been released yet?

If so, where can us Canadian-types get it from?

jennifergg · Posted: October 29 2006, 10:30 AM Post subject:

GIFTS is hot off the presses and can be found at:
http://giftsds.segullah.org/.

By ordering from the GIFTS page, the nonprofit receives a royalty, which will be used for outreach and support for new parents of babies with DS.

Any other interested readers out there?

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

jooniper · Posted: October 29 2006, 2:51 PM Post subject:

I wanted to order that book soon, so I'm in. Don't know how I feel about commenting on excerpts written by ladies from this board. I guess we'll see.

_________________
Gillian
wife to Sergei and mom to Elaina (7), Zoya (5 1/2) and Polina (04/05/06 DS)

http://lintofpocket.wordpress.com/

ImperfectMe · Posted: October 30 2006, 12:13 PM Post subject:

I'm in! I'd love to participate or lead!

I'm not shy about commenting on material written by moms from here!

_________________
CJ
Mom to:
B (10/96)
E (06/04: DS)
J (09/05: DS)

Annie Ree · Posted: November 05 2006, 5:57 PM Post subject:

I think this is cool. I am in for getting the book and participating. Can't wait till discussion begins.

_________________
Andrea - mother of
Andruw 03-28-02
Ayden 08-19-03 (DS)

jennifergg · Posted: November 05 2006, 6:25 PM Post subject:

This is terrific. I'd really love to discuss this book, too. What I am hearing, from the book's editor Kathryn Soper, is that not all of the contributors have gotten their books, and I'm hearing this from readers, too. So I think we might wait a bit, and hopefully everyone who wants to participate will get and have time to read the book.

I know the holidays are busy for everyone (I will actually be gone for quite a bit of November, without a computer) so I think we might need to be flexible with this next discussion date.

I will keep updating this thread, as I get more info.

Happy reading!

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

jennifergg · Posted: November 12 2006, 11:00 AM Post subject:

Me again! Me me me.

I have a bit of news...what I am understanding is that GIFTS will be shortly out of print. It will be reissued through Woodbine House press with an additional forward by Martha Sears, author and wife of William Sears, and mother to an adult son with Down syndrome. The new edition of the book will be available in summer 2007.

I'm suggesting we hold of on the discussion of GIFTS until the Woodbine House edition is available.

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

Suz · Posted: November 12 2006, 8:14 PM Post subject:

Bummer!

Do you have any other suggestions for a book we can chip away on? Perhaps we can discuss it in January?

I just picked up 'My sister's keeper'...it is three years old, but I have heard it is an interesting examination of sibling obligation. Something I often ponder about Aaron's older siblings...

Anyhow, Jennifer - can you suggest a book to read over Christmas?!?!? I need a book to read on the beach!

jennifergg · Posted: November 12 2006, 10:05 PM Post subject:

Oh sure, I'm game...especially if we do the discussion in January.

These are the books I think I could do a good discussion on:

Expecting Adam, Martha Beck (I wouldn't ask the author to participate because I don't have entirely good things to say)

Differences in Common, Marilyn Trainer

You Will Dream New Dreams, Stanley D. Klein

Life As We Know It, Michael Berube

Do any of these seem promising?

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

Suz · Posted: November 13 2006, 9:40 AM Post subject:

Well, I could read 'expecting adam' again...I read it when Aaron was a baby and could certainly read it again.

Since it is one of the very few books that talks about Ds from a mother's perspective. I remember liking some of the little stories about her son Adam in it...they gave me hope for Aaron's future.

So, that's my vote!

jennifergg · Posted: November 13 2006, 10:18 AM Post subject:

Me, too. I read it a long time ago and I'm interested in what I'll think of it now. I'll get a copy again and begin reading. I think it will be fun to have a discussion about it...I was just me, myself and I when I read it the first time, I didn't know any other moms of kids with DS...

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

lespring · Posted: November 13 2006, 10:28 AM Post subject:

Wow...someone needs to write new books! LOL These are all books I read when Angela was a baby. They're each very different, and different people will like different ones. Oh, you need to add "Jewel" to the list.

But, those of us who write need to get going, huh?

_________________
~Leah~

Did you vote for my mom today? http://www.blogforayear.com/profiles/leah

http://www.gardenofeagan.blogspot.com
mom to Noah 20, Tyler 18,Angela 11 (DS)

jennifergg · Posted: November 13 2006, 10:34 AM Post subject:

Oh lespring, I agree! There are not enough stories about our lives and the lives of our children!

I do know of several books "in the works," including one by me. But that shouldn't discourage the other writers out there...I will always hope for more more more when it comes to our kids.

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

Annieo · Posted: November 13 2006, 11:35 AM Post subject:

I know I haven't been participating here, but I just finished a book called "Welcome to the Great Mysterious" by Lorna Landvik. It's about a Broadway star whose sister has a child with DS. The star comes to Minnesota to stay with her sister's son while the sister goes out of town with her husband for an extended vacation. I was wishing I had someone to discuss it with while I was reading it. It was written in 2000 and as far as I know the author does not have a child with DS, but I thought she did a good job of making the boy with DS believable.

Just thought I'd throw another title out there for consideration.

_________________

Ann
Mom to Sally, Mark, Jane, John (12/02, DS), and Paul

Tom · Posted: November 30 2006, 6:18 PM Post subject:

I nominate "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time". It's about autism rather than Ds but it is a really good story.

_________________
Tom

Dad to Beth (15) and Mikey (10 - Ds and PDD-NOS)
My Blog - Random Thinking

What a difference a haircut makes! Wink

jennifergg · Posted: December 05 2006, 7:57 PM Post subject:

Great suggestion, Tom...I will put some thoughts together and get a full list posted in January. I know people like to plan ahead and it will probably be helpful to have the books chosen in a more orderly fashion.

Thanks for the thought!

_________________
Jennifer Graf Groneberg

Mimosa · Posted: December 06 2006, 7:51 PM Post subject:

I was going to mention "Jewel" too - I've only just started it, but I think it'd be good one to read. The nurse at the DS clinic mailed it to me.

I also liked "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" it was a really interesting read!

_________________
Melissa ~ Mom to Dominic (5) Delphine born June 22, 2006 (DS & Transitional AV Canal repaired 6/5/07)

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