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!
