Hi all, we had a fabulous time with our third annual Holiday Book Swap. We laughed and laughed, all the while trading around great books with great stories about how we picked them. What a wide range of interests are represented in the group! It was great.
The most traded book of the evening was Hilary Mantel's most recent book, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, a collection of short stories and a departure from Thomas Cromwell. That will be our January book, and I can't wait. If it hadn't been sitting on my shelf, I would also have claimed it!
Although it did not get traded, there was lots of interest in the book Dawn brought that Fiona was lucky enough to get, called Empire of the Summer Moon. It is the rise and fall of the Comanche and we selected that as our February book.
This year, for the first time there were some post-swap swapping, as Beryl ended up with the book she brought and Susan was willing to trade. Humm, another angle to add in!
There was lots of food and fun, thanks to all for coming!
Here is the complete list of the books that ended up under the tree:
Gray Mountain - John Grisham
Please Look After Mom - Kyung Sook Shin
Winnie Davis: Daughter of the Lost Cause - Heath Hardage Lee (Bonus DVD of Parade's End came along with it - I have always loved The Good Soldier, part one of this Ford Madox Ford trilogy.)
Texts from Jane Eyre - Mallory Ortberg
The Bridal Wreath - Sigrid Undset
Joan of Arc - Mark Twain (who knew Twain wrote a book like this? Twain said it was his best work, can't wait to hear how it is!)
The Paris Wife - Paula McLain
On Agate Hill - Lee Smith
Tigerman - Nick Harkaway
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher - Hilary Mantel
Empire of the Summer Moon - S.C. Gwynne
The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion
The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted - Elizabeth Berg
If you are looking for something to read, this list is a great place to start!
In the coming year, I have a board meeting on the second Monday of each month, so can we move to the third Monday? That will make our next meeting January 19 - did someone volunteer to host? If so, I have forgotten, pipe back up!
Hope to see you all then! Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
All caught up with Year of Wonders and Brideshead Revisited
Thank you Ashley for hosting our group for our November discussion which was also our October discussion. Because our October date was a big bust, we had two books to discuss, Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks and Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I hate to say it, but this was not a battle of equals, which gave us even more food for discussion.
Speaking of food, thanks so much to everyone who brought such FABULOUS treats. As usual, we had an imaginative and robust set of appetizers to enjoy. Yum! We have a veritable bake-off in the quality and variety of things people bring along to share with our book discussion, so thank you!
Now back to the books. Here is the short hand on Year of Wonders. Great start, really interesting and effective character development, really interesting characters. Compelling writing and plot development. Was there some reason it all had to blow up in the last, wholly inconsistent and odd finale? Who believed this outcome? Such a sad end to an interesting story based on a true experience of a small British village. Here is a link to the Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyam.
Hmmmm, no mention of Geraldine Brooks, it must be an oversight. Or maybe there was no record of a wronged housekeeper sailing off to Saudi Arabia while saving a rejected illegitimate child and her own unborn so this novel did not make the list of descriptive stories.
Geraldine Brooks is a journalist which may be why the historic portion of the story development was so strong, and yet there was so little force in the way she chose to wrap up the narrative. I hear her best (and really good) book is People of the Book. I am deciding whether to try it out as this last was definitely a mixed result.
On to a classic of English literature, Brideshead Revisited. A few pages in and I was hooked; what use of language! How beautifully the scene was constructed and an entire world constructed as if it existed all along and we just walked into it. At the same time, my immediate reaction was how dated the world, how dated the language. Isn't that the genius of a writer that even when we can no longer remember the world described, it still rings true and holds together.
I can remember reading Evelyn Waugh 30 years ago and having a completely different experience. It was easier to image that life and understand the expectations of that society. Now, it seems like a dream, an imagined world, one akin to that of Tolkien it is so distant. Despite that, like The Hobbit, we are there and involved, no matter how foreign, no matter how improbable.
Our discussion was fascinating, pivoting as it did between the role of religion on individual decisions and that of overall society. All in all, a great read, a great discussion and a great evening.
On to our next meeting, December 8 at my house. This is our annual holiday Book Swap so here is the way it works. Each person brings a book that she really wants everyone to read. Wrap it like a present, with a note explaining why it is so compelling to you but do not sign your name, it is anonymous.
All the books will go under the tree. We will draw numbers and pick a present in order. Each person will have the option of keeping the book she chose or trading for any other book already uncovered. Once we have opened all the books, number one will have the chance to pick from all the choices. Clear? It will make sense once we get started.
So...no reading for December, but bring your best idea as a gift to your fellow readers. See you on December 8 at 6:30, 1137 Manakin Rd., Manakin VA. Let me know if you need directions.
January's date is the 12th, our book will be the one traded most often in the December swap. Can you believe I am already getting inundated with info on the Book and Author dinner for May? Let me know if you are interested and whether in the luncheon or dinner. If there is enough interest, I will look into sponsoring a table.
See you all soon!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Our guest author David Ebenbach to speak at the Weinstein JCC!
Dr. David Ebenbach, who wrote Into the Wilderness and was our guest author when we read the book, will be speaking at the Weinstein JCC on Monday, September 6th at 7pm. His new book, "The Artist's Torah", is described as "an uplifting and down to earth guide to the creative process, wide open to longtime artists, and first time dabblers, to people of every religious background - or none - and to every creative medium".
David teaches creative writing at Georgetown, and is a terrific speaker and a great guy! Come out and hear his thoughts about the nature of the creative process in your life and work.
Where: The Weinstein JCC, Richmond, VA
When: Monday, October 6th, 7pm, $5 members and $8 for nonmembers
Register: Contact Erin Mahone: 545-8644 or online, at emahone@weinsteinjcc.org
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Hilary Mantel, taking time off from Cromwell and Marilynne Robinson's return to Gilead
For those Hilary Mantel fans among us, she has a new book coming out, this one having nothing to do with Thomas Cromwell. Instead, she gives us the rather provocative title The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher: Stories. Hummm....
The book will come out on September 30. With Marilynne Robinson's new book Lila, coming out on October 7, I know what I will be reading this fall, interspersed with the ongoing drama that is medieval France.
Advance reviews for both books are of course glowing. Hilary Mantel is, in my opinion, a consummate story teller with a gift for exposing character in a few short sentences. That makes her well suited for short stories, along with her ability to create a plot that carries you along. The advance blurb says these stories are "Unpredictable, diverse and sometimes shocking." I'm in .
As for Marilynne Robinson, plot and quick characterization are not her milieu. She returns to Gilead, to the interconnections she has crafted so carefully. This time she explores the new wife of the older minister, illuminating yet another human view all the while bumping up against the others we know in this tiny town.
You likely recall that her book Home sparked one of the longest and richest discussions we have had in our group. It touched so many of us personally, with our own experiences coloring how we perceived the characters, the questions they faced and their ultimate actions.
Her prose is so beautifully constructed and so rich in expression, again, I am in.
I can't wait.
Monday, September 15, 2014
The Monuments Men, an interesting view
Catherine was kind enough to host for our last meeting in her FAB townhouse at Short Pump. How cool it was! The rooftop deck was amazing, and the sky goes on forever there. Thank you so much for hosting Catherine, it was so much fun! And thanks to everyone who brought great food and drink, it is always such a great selection.
We also welcomed a new member to the group, Susan Smithwick, a friend of Lynn's. Once again, our new member came in ready to contribute and had some valuable input. Thanks Lynn for bringing Susan and welcome Susan!
As far as the book, it really sparked some great discussion, very little of which had to do with the text. Overall, our opinion of the book was that it was well-written and interesting. It brought out a very important and little understood part of war, how is an invading (or protecting) army able or to manage the cultural and artistic wealth of the territory it inhabits?
We were impressed, terrifically, with the sense of purpose that the "Monuments Men" displayed. Their intense focus on the amazing ancient art works of the areas motivated them to intense hardships, untold difficulties getting where they needed to go, overcoming inane ignorance of the history around them. Somehow, they found a way to impress upon invading armies to avoid, if not preserve the astonishing ancient treasures of the land they invaded.
Our discussion went way beyond that, way beyond what the armies should have done, to what the art and ancient monuments meant to the overall culture of the area. Did religion drive the culture? Did these ancient churches and monuments really hold the heritage of the surrounding village or region, or has the culture moved way beyond those now?
And how much of war was appropriately waged on these ancient relics of the local populations? It was a bit of a surprise to read how much the Allied Armies destroyed themselves, yet what was the right choice between protecting the cultural heritage of the area and making progress against the Germans? Not an easy choice in many circumstances.
We had an interesting discussion on the modern art involved and how much of it was supposed to be sold to fund the German Army. Although Picasso and his ilk were valuable at the time, they were only 30 years or so removed from their arrival on the art scene. These were the works found recently in an apartment in Germany - thousands of confiscated artwork that never made it to market.
It was another surprise that the Germans had a list of art it wanted and even as it was beaten back from Belgium and France, the army stole art works as it went along. The list was astonishing in its audacity, and the overall German plan no less so.
All in all, we liked the book. The author was so interesting as this was essentially his retirement project, after moving to Europe and learning the amazing story of the people who loved these art works. There was a good bit of well-known history that did not add to this particular story, so could have been deleted, but all in all, a good job.
Our next book is Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. We are meeting at Maggie's on TUESDAY October 14 in her new tree house! To make sure we can appreciate it, we are meeting at 5:30, a new time. This book came up in the group and many of us were interested, so it became our October pick! Please note also that the 14th is a Tuesday, we are trying to avoid Columbus Day as some of us are traveling.
November also has some scheduling challenges, so we are meeting on TUESDAY Nov. 11 at Ashley's. Our book is Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I don't know if I have ever read this so am really looking forward to it.
December is our annual book swap at my house, on December 8, back to Monday. Bring the book you want everyone to read and we will have a Yankee Swap. Can you believe we are talking about Christmas already?
Thanks to all for coming, it was so much fun and thanks again to Catherine for hosting. See you in October!
We also welcomed a new member to the group, Susan Smithwick, a friend of Lynn's. Once again, our new member came in ready to contribute and had some valuable input. Thanks Lynn for bringing Susan and welcome Susan!
As far as the book, it really sparked some great discussion, very little of which had to do with the text. Overall, our opinion of the book was that it was well-written and interesting. It brought out a very important and little understood part of war, how is an invading (or protecting) army able or to manage the cultural and artistic wealth of the territory it inhabits?
We were impressed, terrifically, with the sense of purpose that the "Monuments Men" displayed. Their intense focus on the amazing ancient art works of the areas motivated them to intense hardships, untold difficulties getting where they needed to go, overcoming inane ignorance of the history around them. Somehow, they found a way to impress upon invading armies to avoid, if not preserve the astonishing ancient treasures of the land they invaded.
Our discussion went way beyond that, way beyond what the armies should have done, to what the art and ancient monuments meant to the overall culture of the area. Did religion drive the culture? Did these ancient churches and monuments really hold the heritage of the surrounding village or region, or has the culture moved way beyond those now?
And how much of war was appropriately waged on these ancient relics of the local populations? It was a bit of a surprise to read how much the Allied Armies destroyed themselves, yet what was the right choice between protecting the cultural heritage of the area and making progress against the Germans? Not an easy choice in many circumstances.
We had an interesting discussion on the modern art involved and how much of it was supposed to be sold to fund the German Army. Although Picasso and his ilk were valuable at the time, they were only 30 years or so removed from their arrival on the art scene. These were the works found recently in an apartment in Germany - thousands of confiscated artwork that never made it to market.
It was another surprise that the Germans had a list of art it wanted and even as it was beaten back from Belgium and France, the army stole art works as it went along. The list was astonishing in its audacity, and the overall German plan no less so.
All in all, we liked the book. The author was so interesting as this was essentially his retirement project, after moving to Europe and learning the amazing story of the people who loved these art works. There was a good bit of well-known history that did not add to this particular story, so could have been deleted, but all in all, a good job.
Our next book is Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. We are meeting at Maggie's on TUESDAY October 14 in her new tree house! To make sure we can appreciate it, we are meeting at 5:30, a new time. This book came up in the group and many of us were interested, so it became our October pick! Please note also that the 14th is a Tuesday, we are trying to avoid Columbus Day as some of us are traveling.
November also has some scheduling challenges, so we are meeting on TUESDAY Nov. 11 at Ashley's. Our book is Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I don't know if I have ever read this so am really looking forward to it.
December is our annual book swap at my house, on December 8, back to Monday. Bring the book you want everyone to read and we will have a Yankee Swap. Can you believe we are talking about Christmas already?
Thanks to all for coming, it was so much fun and thanks again to Catherine for hosting. See you in October!
Saturday, August 16, 2014
The Iron King - we all loved it!
Thanks Julie for hosting us on Monday night, what an elegant setting with such good food! Not to mention the beautiful new kitchen that Chip Spitzer completed for Julie and Mike, so nice.
By the time we all met to discuss The Iron King, the first of the Accursed Kings series by Maurice Druon, the majority of us had already gone on to the next book in the series, proof that this was a great pick and a great read. It is also a testament to the power of a series, even one with seven books like this one.
This book was written in 1955 yet it read as if it were brand new. The vocabulary was interesting and challenging, with just a hint of the stilted rhythm of a translation. Much of the time, our discussion was about the content, which is part of the joy of a great historical novel. The series occupied the author for twenty-two years, with the last published in 1977. The series was adapted for television twice over the years and is considered the inspiration for the George R.R. Martin series known as the Game of Thrones.
This is a period of time that few of us knew well. What was the Hundred Years War really about for example? How did these events really play into the war or was the author's assertion that they did just for drama? And the Templars - was it their brutal end that caused repercussions on the history of France or their curse on thirteen generations of its kings. Was it thirteen generations to the guillotine of Louis XVI in 1793?
The internet just does not cough up the gripping story filled with intrigue and compelling characters that this book did and so on to the second book and likely more after that. While there was just not that much to discuss, we were all pretty happy to have started on this long, French journey.
Our next meeting is on September 8 at Catherine Hammond's house in Short Pump. Thanks for hosting Catherine! We will read the Monuments Men by Robert Edsel which got great reviews from those who had read it.
See you all then!
By the time we all met to discuss The Iron King, the first of the Accursed Kings series by Maurice Druon, the majority of us had already gone on to the next book in the series, proof that this was a great pick and a great read. It is also a testament to the power of a series, even one with seven books like this one.
This book was written in 1955 yet it read as if it were brand new. The vocabulary was interesting and challenging, with just a hint of the stilted rhythm of a translation. Much of the time, our discussion was about the content, which is part of the joy of a great historical novel. The series occupied the author for twenty-two years, with the last published in 1977. The series was adapted for television twice over the years and is considered the inspiration for the George R.R. Martin series known as the Game of Thrones.
This is a period of time that few of us knew well. What was the Hundred Years War really about for example? How did these events really play into the war or was the author's assertion that they did just for drama? And the Templars - was it their brutal end that caused repercussions on the history of France or their curse on thirteen generations of its kings. Was it thirteen generations to the guillotine of Louis XVI in 1793?
The internet just does not cough up the gripping story filled with intrigue and compelling characters that this book did and so on to the second book and likely more after that. While there was just not that much to discuss, we were all pretty happy to have started on this long, French journey.
Our next meeting is on September 8 at Catherine Hammond's house in Short Pump. Thanks for hosting Catherine! We will read the Monuments Men by Robert Edsel which got great reviews from those who had read it.
See you all then!
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Interesting, imaginative, thought-provoking and sometimes just plain weird.
The Tenth of December by George Saunders was a fascinating read and a really well crafted set of provocative and compelling stories. We had a small group to discuss this interesting author and his most recent work, but still managed to have a good discussion about how odd yet skillfully written they were.
The consensus was that we admired this work. It was clearly well-crafted and quite imaginative while delivering a good dose of social commentary. Two of the stories stood out to the group. The first, "Victory Lap" is a stunning portrait of overbearing, perhaps but not necessarily well-meaning parents, a son whose life was structured almost, but just not completely, to the point of obliterating his own judgement and personality, the next door neighbor, a schoolmate and her abductor. What would the son do as he witnessed her abduction? If he helped, what would be the cost? If he didn't, what would be his damage? The characters were beautifully drawn with spare details and telling inner dialogue, the story line disturbing on many levels. Yet this story was just setting the table for the offerings to come.
The second story that really resonated was "The Semplica Girl Diaries". Keeping up with the Jones is a time-honored tradition but it typically doesn't involve the high stakes of this scenario. The narrator wanted a gift for his daughter's birthday, and like so many, struggled with comparisons to those with more resources. What followed was a calamitous set of decisions that found his family facing ruin in the wake of his youngest daughter's moral outrage and action. The narrative in this story was exceptional, information unfolding with perfect timing, quietly creating a scene of pointless exploitation that somehow was Petrie dish of the narrator's collapse of judgment.
So, the conclusion? We admired these stories, maybe even liked them but not one of us wanted to be friends with this author. What kind of world view is this? I loved this book and was so impressed with the stories. My usual response would be to buy another from the same author, maybe even two or three. Not this time! This time, I am going to admire him from a distance, at least until I can regain my bearings with the human race. Maybe then I can indulge in his wholly transporting writing about a world I don't want to inhabit.
Many thanks to those who brought the usual yummy things for us to enjoy while having a spirited discussion! Count back to when you first came as our group recently (in May) passed our seven year anniversary! Julie, Jean and I are the only original members still in the group as far as I can recall. Pipe up if I missed you. Mary came soon thereafter and we have grown from there. Thanks to everyone for being a part of the group!
Our next meeting is at Julie's (if still convenient) on August 11 at 6:30 pm. Our next book, suggested by Lynn, is the first in the Accursed Kings series, called The Iron King by Maurice Druon. For you series fans, this is the first of seven. Nothing like having some direction for future reading! Here is the writeup Lynn sent on:
"Sporting an enthusiastic introduction by George R. R. Martin (in which he calls the book “the original game of thrones”), this is the first U.S. publication of the first volume of French novelist Druon’s seven-volume historical saga, collectively known as The Accursed Kings. Originally published in 1955, the novel is set in the year 1314. Philip IV, the king of France, has disbanded the Knights Templar, arresting, torturing, and executing most of them. Relations between France and England are as strained as they have ever been. Philip’s increasingly desperate search for money to pay his massive debts has virtually bankrupted the country. Against this sprawling backdrop, Druon tells the story of Robert of Artois, a French lord whose lands have been taken from him by his greedy aunt and whose efforts to reclaim his birthright will lead to all-out war between France and England. Unlike Martin’s multivolume Song of Fire and Ice, Druon’s saga is based on real history and features real people as its central characters. It’s historical fiction on a grand scale, full of political intrigue, family drama, and characters who, while drawn from life, are larger than it. Fans of historical epics who have not yet discovered Druon’s saga will be thrilled with this one." --David Pit
Historical fiction, a great time period, a part of history new to me, what's not to like? Hope to see you all there. Julie, weigh in if you can't host, Ashley has also offered. As I mentioned, we had a small group last week, so please post your comments.
The consensus was that we admired this work. It was clearly well-crafted and quite imaginative while delivering a good dose of social commentary. Two of the stories stood out to the group. The first, "Victory Lap" is a stunning portrait of overbearing, perhaps but not necessarily well-meaning parents, a son whose life was structured almost, but just not completely, to the point of obliterating his own judgement and personality, the next door neighbor, a schoolmate and her abductor. What would the son do as he witnessed her abduction? If he helped, what would be the cost? If he didn't, what would be his damage? The characters were beautifully drawn with spare details and telling inner dialogue, the story line disturbing on many levels. Yet this story was just setting the table for the offerings to come.
The second story that really resonated was "The Semplica Girl Diaries". Keeping up with the Jones is a time-honored tradition but it typically doesn't involve the high stakes of this scenario. The narrator wanted a gift for his daughter's birthday, and like so many, struggled with comparisons to those with more resources. What followed was a calamitous set of decisions that found his family facing ruin in the wake of his youngest daughter's moral outrage and action. The narrative in this story was exceptional, information unfolding with perfect timing, quietly creating a scene of pointless exploitation that somehow was Petrie dish of the narrator's collapse of judgment.
So, the conclusion? We admired these stories, maybe even liked them but not one of us wanted to be friends with this author. What kind of world view is this? I loved this book and was so impressed with the stories. My usual response would be to buy another from the same author, maybe even two or three. Not this time! This time, I am going to admire him from a distance, at least until I can regain my bearings with the human race. Maybe then I can indulge in his wholly transporting writing about a world I don't want to inhabit.
Many thanks to those who brought the usual yummy things for us to enjoy while having a spirited discussion! Count back to when you first came as our group recently (in May) passed our seven year anniversary! Julie, Jean and I are the only original members still in the group as far as I can recall. Pipe up if I missed you. Mary came soon thereafter and we have grown from there. Thanks to everyone for being a part of the group!
Our next meeting is at Julie's (if still convenient) on August 11 at 6:30 pm. Our next book, suggested by Lynn, is the first in the Accursed Kings series, called The Iron King by Maurice Druon. For you series fans, this is the first of seven. Nothing like having some direction for future reading! Here is the writeup Lynn sent on:
"Sporting an enthusiastic introduction by George R. R. Martin (in which he calls the book “the original game of thrones”), this is the first U.S. publication of the first volume of French novelist Druon’s seven-volume historical saga, collectively known as The Accursed Kings. Originally published in 1955, the novel is set in the year 1314. Philip IV, the king of France, has disbanded the Knights Templar, arresting, torturing, and executing most of them. Relations between France and England are as strained as they have ever been. Philip’s increasingly desperate search for money to pay his massive debts has virtually bankrupted the country. Against this sprawling backdrop, Druon tells the story of Robert of Artois, a French lord whose lands have been taken from him by his greedy aunt and whose efforts to reclaim his birthright will lead to all-out war between France and England. Unlike Martin’s multivolume Song of Fire and Ice, Druon’s saga is based on real history and features real people as its central characters. It’s historical fiction on a grand scale, full of political intrigue, family drama, and characters who, while drawn from life, are larger than it. Fans of historical epics who have not yet discovered Druon’s saga will be thrilled with this one." --David Pit
Historical fiction, a great time period, a part of history new to me, what's not to like? Hope to see you all there. Julie, weigh in if you can't host, Ashley has also offered. As I mentioned, we had a small group last week, so please post your comments.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - another great discussion
Maybe it was the serene, sleek and elegant setting, maybe it was the yummy food, maybe it was just the book but we had another long, deep and fascinating discussion. Thanks to our hostess Lynn, whose house is just as beautiful and stylish as it is comfortable and welcoming. She also made a killer app, as in appetizer, with asparagus on puff pastry. They were stylish too, of course. Thanks to everyone who brought wonderful food and even better insights and observations.
So what did we say? First of all, this is a beloved book and we all enjoyed it. Some of us had read it many, many years ago and it resonated in a personal way through all that time. I read it for the first time last year, when I was lucky enough to end up with it in our Christmas Book Swap (thanks Carol!) and also loved it.
Something about the relatively straight-forward writing style and the endurance of the characters kept it from being a depressing tome of overcoming hardship, at least sort of. The story is a testament to Francie's and in fact her mother Katie's determination to improve their lives, and if that is not possible, at least improve their children's lives.
Most of our discussion revolved around the relationships and how they reflect patterns in many stories, including our own. Katie's obvious preference for her son, Neelie, kicked off most of the discussion. Why are sons so often favored by their mothers? Why are fathers given a bye when mothers are held up to scrutiny and judgement by their children and the wider world.
We had no answers of course. Dawn made an interesting point, supported by her observations at work, watching mothers and children in the horse world. She felt that perhaps it was that Francie was capable and motivated and Katie knew it, so Katie made it easier for Neelie because he needed help. This was shown directly when Katie chose to send Neelie to school rather than Francie because she felt Neelie had to be forced to get an education while Francie would find a way on her own because Francie wanted it so much.
It is one thing to favor with resources and another with an emotional connection and in this too, Katie obviously favored Neelie. We talked at some length about the relationships with mothers and sons, sharing personal stories, very interesting. The upshot was yes, boys and men get more love and support. And yes, they need it because they are not able to make things work the way girls and women have to. Like Katie, they have no choice except to make it work however they can, while so often men can just wander off and do what is easy for them, like Johnnie getting drunk rather than earning money to support his family. He couldn't cope with the burden of supporting his family so Katie had to find a way.
That led to another discussion, another theme in the book and in life. Why do women stay with these men and why don't they stop loving them? Somehow, these talented, hapless and destructive men earn and keep the adoration of their daughters and wives, like Francie and Katie, and yet make all their lives miserable. Of course, at the time, in the early 1900's, divorce was not much of an option, and in fact that was true way into the century, into our lifetimes. And so, Dawn felt, women were disappointed in their husbands and fathers, but did not stop loving them.
Another thing that came out of the book was the progress across the generations. Katie's mother saved money on the sly in order to have something to handle emergencies and opportunities, giving Katie a slightly better life and a model to follow. Katie then slaved to exhaustion and gave Francie and Neelie a chance. While any one life can make great leaps in circumstance, it is more often the starting point that allows progress over the generations.
Thanks all for a fun and engaging evening, in an idyllic setting. Lynn, can I move in?
Our next book is The Tenth of December by George Saunders. This is a really great set of short stories, I can't wait to hear the discussion! We are meeting on July 14, at 6:30pm. I have in my notes that we are at Julie's, is that the case? If not, we can come to my house, I will confirm and let you know.
See you all then!
So what did we say? First of all, this is a beloved book and we all enjoyed it. Some of us had read it many, many years ago and it resonated in a personal way through all that time. I read it for the first time last year, when I was lucky enough to end up with it in our Christmas Book Swap (thanks Carol!) and also loved it.
Something about the relatively straight-forward writing style and the endurance of the characters kept it from being a depressing tome of overcoming hardship, at least sort of. The story is a testament to Francie's and in fact her mother Katie's determination to improve their lives, and if that is not possible, at least improve their children's lives.
Most of our discussion revolved around the relationships and how they reflect patterns in many stories, including our own. Katie's obvious preference for her son, Neelie, kicked off most of the discussion. Why are sons so often favored by their mothers? Why are fathers given a bye when mothers are held up to scrutiny and judgement by their children and the wider world.
We had no answers of course. Dawn made an interesting point, supported by her observations at work, watching mothers and children in the horse world. She felt that perhaps it was that Francie was capable and motivated and Katie knew it, so Katie made it easier for Neelie because he needed help. This was shown directly when Katie chose to send Neelie to school rather than Francie because she felt Neelie had to be forced to get an education while Francie would find a way on her own because Francie wanted it so much.
It is one thing to favor with resources and another with an emotional connection and in this too, Katie obviously favored Neelie. We talked at some length about the relationships with mothers and sons, sharing personal stories, very interesting. The upshot was yes, boys and men get more love and support. And yes, they need it because they are not able to make things work the way girls and women have to. Like Katie, they have no choice except to make it work however they can, while so often men can just wander off and do what is easy for them, like Johnnie getting drunk rather than earning money to support his family. He couldn't cope with the burden of supporting his family so Katie had to find a way.
That led to another discussion, another theme in the book and in life. Why do women stay with these men and why don't they stop loving them? Somehow, these talented, hapless and destructive men earn and keep the adoration of their daughters and wives, like Francie and Katie, and yet make all their lives miserable. Of course, at the time, in the early 1900's, divorce was not much of an option, and in fact that was true way into the century, into our lifetimes. And so, Dawn felt, women were disappointed in their husbands and fathers, but did not stop loving them.
Another thing that came out of the book was the progress across the generations. Katie's mother saved money on the sly in order to have something to handle emergencies and opportunities, giving Katie a slightly better life and a model to follow. Katie then slaved to exhaustion and gave Francie and Neelie a chance. While any one life can make great leaps in circumstance, it is more often the starting point that allows progress over the generations.
Thanks all for a fun and engaging evening, in an idyllic setting. Lynn, can I move in?
Our next book is The Tenth of December by George Saunders. This is a really great set of short stories, I can't wait to hear the discussion! We are meeting on July 14, at 6:30pm. I have in my notes that we are at Julie's, is that the case? If not, we can come to my house, I will confirm and let you know.
See you all then!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Tale of Two Cities did not disappoint
Thanks so much to Wendy for hosting for our discussion of Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, it was a lovely evening. We suffered a bit for the lack of Val as none of us stepped up with any intriguing questions, and because we all liked the book, our views were all consistent.
That being said, we had a lovely discussion about the book. One thing that came up immediately was the way the book was organized into scenes more than chapters. Perhaps this is a result of the way the book was published, chapter by chapter in a magazine published by Dickens, called All Year Round. This was the usual way of publishing at the time, 1859, a method that continued on for many years after.
For whatever reason, each chapter really was a set piece, and although the narrative carried through, it was possible to envision each chapter as a scene in a play.
That did not diminish the strength of each character, so well drawn, so vividly described, so believable.
Although one could certainly see Lucie Manette as an idealized female figure, somehow she worked as a character, devoted to her heroic husband and father, perfect in her ability to create a charming, thrifty home. Her father again was a perfect character and still somehow so believable and charming.
The plot also was wonderful, fast paced, easy to follow, and again, so well organized into chapters that kept all moving forward. Of course the language was florid and representative of its time. Despite that, it was easy to follow, moved the action forward and formed the characters.
So a great pick! Thanks to Maggie for suggesting it. Our next meeting is June 9, 6:30 pm at Lynn's. (Thank you Lynn!) Lucky us! The book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. This was a hot book at the past two Christmas book swaps so it will be fun to discuss it.
Great to see you all!
That being said, we had a lovely discussion about the book. One thing that came up immediately was the way the book was organized into scenes more than chapters. Perhaps this is a result of the way the book was published, chapter by chapter in a magazine published by Dickens, called All Year Round. This was the usual way of publishing at the time, 1859, a method that continued on for many years after.
For whatever reason, each chapter really was a set piece, and although the narrative carried through, it was possible to envision each chapter as a scene in a play.
That did not diminish the strength of each character, so well drawn, so vividly described, so believable.
Although one could certainly see Lucie Manette as an idealized female figure, somehow she worked as a character, devoted to her heroic husband and father, perfect in her ability to create a charming, thrifty home. Her father again was a perfect character and still somehow so believable and charming.
The plot also was wonderful, fast paced, easy to follow, and again, so well organized into chapters that kept all moving forward. Of course the language was florid and representative of its time. Despite that, it was easy to follow, moved the action forward and formed the characters.
So a great pick! Thanks to Maggie for suggesting it. Our next meeting is June 9, 6:30 pm at Lynn's. (Thank you Lynn!) Lucky us! The book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. This was a hot book at the past two Christmas book swaps so it will be fun to discuss it.
Great to see you all!
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
The Goldfinch really kept our attention
Thanks everyone for a great discussion. It is not every book that can keep us talking about it for almost the whole evening when we have oh so much to discuss about everything else in the world. For a book of this length, it was very easy to read. Our consensus was that the story, as implausible as some found it, really held our attention and kept moving.
So what kept it moving along? The characters were really well drawn and compelling. Each of us had one that particularly stood out but in general each person in the book was a complete personality. Wendy particularly liked Boris, others mentioned Hobie. The characters were good enough so we spent time talking about their characteristics and nuances. Was Theo really evil? Was Boris? What about the family Theo lived with - were they cold and unfeeling or caring in their own way?
How Theo ended up with the title painting and why he kept it was at best a jump-ball to get the story going. Mary wondered if the bomb blast in the museum was glossed over because we have become inured to public violent acts. Others thought it was just not the point of the story and so the aftermath was not central. And, given this book was already 770 pages meant there wasn't a lot of extra space!
One thing that we noted was just how much there was to know about in order to write this book - no wonder it took ten years. The art, the artists, and the stolen art world were enough of a challenge. Add to that the antiques trade (buyer beware indeed!), the sad world of teenage dissolution and parental self-destruction, criminal activity and up to date Amsterdam scene and her research load must have been unbelievable. The great accomplishment here is that it all rang true even when the story itself did not.
All in all, we liked this book! Thanks to Maggie for her wonderful hospitality in her lovely home! Thanks to everyone who brought yummy food and fab wine, particular kudos to Val for the wonderful cupcake lasagna. And congrats to Fiona for being included in this year's collection of best Math papers. Yes, you read that right, Fiona is a published math scholar, not that is a surprise to those of us who know her!
Our next book is Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, on May 12 at Wendy's. If the weather is good, we may go to the Deep Run Hunt Club for a picnic by the pool. Can you believe it is almost May??? I know we agreed on the June book, can someone remind me what it was? Thanks, see you on the 12th.
P.S. Still no baby. Foal watch at 3am at 30 degrees is definitely over-rated.
So what kept it moving along? The characters were really well drawn and compelling. Each of us had one that particularly stood out but in general each person in the book was a complete personality. Wendy particularly liked Boris, others mentioned Hobie. The characters were good enough so we spent time talking about their characteristics and nuances. Was Theo really evil? Was Boris? What about the family Theo lived with - were they cold and unfeeling or caring in their own way?
How Theo ended up with the title painting and why he kept it was at best a jump-ball to get the story going. Mary wondered if the bomb blast in the museum was glossed over because we have become inured to public violent acts. Others thought it was just not the point of the story and so the aftermath was not central. And, given this book was already 770 pages meant there wasn't a lot of extra space!
One thing that we noted was just how much there was to know about in order to write this book - no wonder it took ten years. The art, the artists, and the stolen art world were enough of a challenge. Add to that the antiques trade (buyer beware indeed!), the sad world of teenage dissolution and parental self-destruction, criminal activity and up to date Amsterdam scene and her research load must have been unbelievable. The great accomplishment here is that it all rang true even when the story itself did not.
All in all, we liked this book! Thanks to Maggie for her wonderful hospitality in her lovely home! Thanks to everyone who brought yummy food and fab wine, particular kudos to Val for the wonderful cupcake lasagna. And congrats to Fiona for being included in this year's collection of best Math papers. Yes, you read that right, Fiona is a published math scholar, not that is a surprise to those of us who know her!
Our next book is Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, on May 12 at Wendy's. If the weather is good, we may go to the Deep Run Hunt Club for a picnic by the pool. Can you believe it is almost May??? I know we agreed on the June book, can someone remind me what it was? Thanks, see you on the 12th.
P.S. Still no baby. Foal watch at 3am at 30 degrees is definitely over-rated.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Jordan Curves, and much more...
It was great seeing you all at Maggie's beautiful home tonight! Several of you kindly asked for information about the book that includes the article that Bill and I co-wrote and illustrated.
The book is titled The Best Writing on Mathematics 2013, edited by Mircea Pitici. New and used copies are available on Amazon- just click on the title and it'll take you to the book page.
And here's some information about Paul Erdös (pronounced something like "er dish", and the "o" should have 2 accents, not dots, but that's as close as I can get with this non-Hungarian keyboard!). He was a very interesting man.
Wikipedia
The Man Who Loved Only Numbers (NYT review of his biography, has good anecdotes.)
The Erdös Number Project (Maybe you have one too!)
The book is titled The Best Writing on Mathematics 2013, edited by Mircea Pitici. New and used copies are available on Amazon- just click on the title and it'll take you to the book page.
And here's some information about Paul Erdös (pronounced something like "er dish", and the "o" should have 2 accents, not dots, but that's as close as I can get with this non-Hungarian keyboard!). He was a very interesting man.
Wikipedia
The Man Who Loved Only Numbers (NYT review of his biography, has good anecdotes.)
The Erdös Number Project (Maybe you have one too!)
 |
| Illustration by LeUyen Pham, from The Boy Who Loved Math, by Deborah Heiligman |
Sunday, March 16, 2014
The Ocean at the End of the Lane - we like it!
Hi all and special thanks to Kathy Baker for hosting. We had a lovely beef bourguignon and party favors! It doesn't get much better than that, especially since all the other goodies were wonderful that everone brought along.
As vor the book, we had a really interesting discussion as most of us liked it. Mostly, it fell along the lines of people who liked this type of sci/fi fantasy work and those who did not. Those who did really liked how well the characters were drawn, particularly the youngest Hemstock, Letti. She seemed to some to have been created her age and size in order to be of help to the young narrator (never-named) in a form that would not have been scary or offputting like the older Hemstocks. Each of the characters was well done and their worries and dreams plausible enought to make the story hold together.
The character Ursula was quite interesting as she worked to give everyone what they wanted and in the process gained total control of all around her. The way the author moved so seamlessly from the fanatasy to the real world was really well executed. So many times I had to go back to find where the story began to diverge - suddenly I just found myself somewhere else!
Those who did not like the book felt it was a bit contrived. Mary mentioned that she is not a fan of this type of fiction as it just makes up its own rules. In that way the writer can manipulate the story however he or she wants. Perhaps to some that is the very reason to read fantasy, to get away from the limitations of gravity and societal norms among other things.
All in all, it was a good read for most and mercifully short for some. Our next book is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. We will be at Maggie's on April 7. Does that work for everyone?
Our May book is Tale of Two Cities at Wendy's, at least that is what is in my motes, let me know if I got that wrong.
Thanks everyone!
As vor the book, we had a really interesting discussion as most of us liked it. Mostly, it fell along the lines of people who liked this type of sci/fi fantasy work and those who did not. Those who did really liked how well the characters were drawn, particularly the youngest Hemstock, Letti. She seemed to some to have been created her age and size in order to be of help to the young narrator (never-named) in a form that would not have been scary or offputting like the older Hemstocks. Each of the characters was well done and their worries and dreams plausible enought to make the story hold together.
The character Ursula was quite interesting as she worked to give everyone what they wanted and in the process gained total control of all around her. The way the author moved so seamlessly from the fanatasy to the real world was really well executed. So many times I had to go back to find where the story began to diverge - suddenly I just found myself somewhere else!
Those who did not like the book felt it was a bit contrived. Mary mentioned that she is not a fan of this type of fiction as it just makes up its own rules. In that way the writer can manipulate the story however he or she wants. Perhaps to some that is the very reason to read fantasy, to get away from the limitations of gravity and societal norms among other things.
All in all, it was a good read for most and mercifully short for some. Our next book is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. We will be at Maggie's on April 7. Does that work for everyone?
Our May book is Tale of Two Cities at Wendy's, at least that is what is in my motes, let me know if I got that wrong.
Thanks everyone!
Saturday, February 15, 2014
We couldn't have laughed harder, and the book was good too.
Ok, let's start with the basics - Life After Life was great, the writing excellent, a few odd plot points but overall a compelling story and interesting read. We liked it very much and Kate Atkinson is certainly someone many of us will seek out for our next reads. In this case, enough said, not because the book wasn't worth more discussion, because it certainly was. While we definitely missed Val and her book club questions, we just had too much else to talk about this particular evening.
It turns out, talking about the book was just the warmup act. Or, the second warmup act as our incredible hostess Lynn has such wonderful art all over the house that many of us were wandering around looking at it. Absolutely stunning and Lynn if you are thinking of shaking up your decor, ask Lynn for help, she has got the touch!
Somehow, we ended up talking about many, many other things that made us laugh like crazy. While the topics were relatively wide ranging, they seemed to center on hair removal. There were some personal stories of attempts gone wrong (I am not revealing from who) which were hilarious. Note to self, do not request a bikini wax in a country where you don't speak the language, it doesn't end well.
There was also some discussion of trends for men that still make me blush. Ashley and Fiona know a lot more about this than I would have ever thought, you will have to ask them how they get all their information because it was complete news to me!
What a fun, funny night, thanks again to Lynn for hosting and showing us all her amazing art! Thanks to everyone who brought great food and wine, it was a wonderful evening.
Our next meeting is March 10 at Kathy Baker's and our book is The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. This is a short book and a relative quick read, let me know if you want to borrow my copy. For those of you planning ahead, our April book is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, her first book in a very long time, and we will be at Maggie's new house!
See you all in March!
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Fannie Flagg was a really fun read!
Beryl called me yesterday, wondering where the blog was - had she missed it? No, for whatever reason, I have been very slow in getting it up! Maybe it was because most of us enjoyed reading the book, but there really wasn't that much to discuss, fun as it was. There were some who saw themselves (and their mothers) in the characters, I am still not sure whether that was a good thing.
Kathy Baker reviewed this book and ended up in Real Simple magazine - she brought along her review, what fun to see it. You go, Kathy!
We still had a fabulous time at Fiona's, who is always such a generous and gracious hostess. The highlight was a tour of her recent art work, always interesting and oh so impressive. Fiona is working toward a joint show in the fall with our friend Rob Walz, let's start planning now for what I know will be a highlight show.
So, on to next month, which will be at Lynn's house on Feb. 10 at 6:30 pm. The book is Life After Life, by Kate Atkinson. This is a bit of a change from choices we had discussed earlier, but this one has far more discussion possibilities than some others we had selected.
Other we talked about that came off the list included Roar of the Heavens, which is about Hurricane Camille and The Funeral Dress, by Susan Gregg Gilmore. I had dinner with her and Ellen Brown (of The Making of Gone With The Wind) when Susan was in town for a reading at the Fountain, she was lovely!
As usual, great to see you all, I am looking forward to our next great read.
Kathy Baker reviewed this book and ended up in Real Simple magazine - she brought along her review, what fun to see it. You go, Kathy!
We still had a fabulous time at Fiona's, who is always such a generous and gracious hostess. The highlight was a tour of her recent art work, always interesting and oh so impressive. Fiona is working toward a joint show in the fall with our friend Rob Walz, let's start planning now for what I know will be a highlight show.
So, on to next month, which will be at Lynn's house on Feb. 10 at 6:30 pm. The book is Life After Life, by Kate Atkinson. This is a bit of a change from choices we had discussed earlier, but this one has far more discussion possibilities than some others we had selected.
Other we talked about that came off the list included Roar of the Heavens, which is about Hurricane Camille and The Funeral Dress, by Susan Gregg Gilmore. I had dinner with her and Ellen Brown (of The Making of Gone With The Wind) when Susan was in town for a reading at the Fountain, she was lovely!
As usual, great to see you all, I am looking forward to our next great read.
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