Lyman Book Discussion

Away from Her

2008-07-21T11:52:00.002-06:00

Hmmm. Almost a year since I last posted. Kind of pathetic. I am going to try to be more consistent. Our discussion of Away From Here produced some strong emotional responses. Some group members were completely put off by the twist of the story. Interestingly, a group member pointed out that Sandra Day O'Conner went through very similar circumstances when her husband was institutionalized. Our discussion centered not just around the story and characters, but also issues such as being the caregiver for someone you love who no longer "knows" you, loss of independence and the expression of love. Some members recognized Grant's manipulation of Aubry back into Fiona's life as an act of love. Others could not forgive him for past acts of adultery and didn't feel that this redeemed him in any way. When it came to the movie, we were all pretty positive about Julie Christy's portrayal of Fiona. As a drawback, the way that the movie intersperses Grant's visit to Marian with flashbacks to Grant and Fiona's story was hard to make sense of until the end of the movie. Perhaps this was expecting too much of movie viewers. It's hard to say what the director felt was gained by the sequence. Just my own opinion, whether in a book or movie, the technique of starting the exposition at the point of climax, then returning to build the story is pretty trite. If the work doesn't stand on it's own (this story did), then don't try putting lipstick on a pig to keep the reader or viewer engaged. So in all, not a happy a story, but certainly touching and thought provoking.

My Antonia and Everything is Illuminated

2007-10-17T13:43:00.000-06:00

We had a great meeting last night starting with a light supper of chicken salad, croissants, eclairs and cream puffs, and France wasn't even a scheduled stop on our world tour. We began the discussion with Willa Cather's My Antonia. Members were generally appreciative of Cather's descriptions of place and with Antonia as a character. We talked a little about the immigrant experience in general and the courage it took to leave everything familiar for a land unseen and the language barrier. Next, we sort of discussed Everything is Illuminated, but most people either hadn't read the book, were totally confused if they had or felt negative toward it. I heard privately from others in the group who had a positive response to the book. The movie seemed better accepted but there wasn't really time to discuss some of the richer underlying issues. It's always a delicate balance between respecting individual opinions of the most outspoken members of the group while not allowing those opinions to speak for the group. Something for all of us as members to be aware of.

Catching Up

2007-10-17T13:38:00.000-06:00

It's been quite several months since I blogged our discussion, so let me catch up. Our book for August, If You Lived Here I'd Know Your Name did not spark a very lively discussion. Nothing wrong with the book per se...just not a lot to discuss. September's book, Stones for Ibarra was interesting in that we had a guest whose family history mirrored the events in the book. She came with family photographs and gave us a lot of atmosphere that enriched the book.

A Puzzled Stop in Umbria

2007-07-25T10:27:00.000-06:00

Last night we met to discuss My House in Umbria by William Trevor. Root beer floats hit the spot for refreshments. As a general rule, people seemed to like the movie better the book. Our discussion centered around the character of Emily Delahunty. It's not immediately obvious in the book that Emily is an unreliable narrator. Many members expressed confusion about the action taking place, her remembered vignettes, and the stories she spun. In the movie, the misting effect and specific music (pointed our by our new music teacher member) signaled a switch from real time. We agreed that her active inner life was a coping mechanism. Along with the alcohol, she could dull the pain remaining from her past. She played the role of victim throughout the book, an abandoned baby, an abused child, used by men, victim of the blast. Lots of folks thought the movie ended better than the book, with more hope. Whether she would be a better guardian for Aimee in the long run drew some debate. Probably not one of the favorite selections of the year, but many still appreciated the fact that it was a sympathetic story about a female written by a male.

A Journey to "The Other Side of the Sky" in Afganistan

2007-06-20T14:43:00.000-06:00

Farah Ahmedi's memoir of her Afghan childhood and subsequent immigration and assimilation to life in the United States provided the basis for a pretty deep discussion of the state of the world we live in. Over some scrumptious cherry cheesecake, we talked of the horrific aspects of Farah's land mine accident and the level of medical care available. We discussed Farah's observation as she flew into Afghanistan after her stay in Germany. She wondered why Germany was so modern and had built so many things when her own country had failed to prosper. We speculated that political unrest, tribal level ethnic associations and perhaps climate has limited modernization in Afghanistan as well as much of Africa. We talked about life as a woman in a socially repressive society where opportunities for education and basic rights are denied or dependant on a male relative. We noted Farah's spunk and resourcefulness. One member pointed out that her mother probably wouldn't have survived without her. We also addressed her expectation of help--that someone should help her. We contrasted this to "Western" thinking that hardship is overcome by the individual. Farah's situation was grim, and she was 14 or 15, a young girl not the woman or head of household she had to become. One member compared the breakdown of services that heralded the Taliban with the precarious state of normalcy here. She mentioned the oil crisis of the 70s and how closed gas stations or long lines at the pump brought the worst behavior out in some people. We discussed what would happen if "the grid went down" and people were stranded and food supplies became scarce. In this way, we are all venerable in the same way whether in a highly developed country or one with little infrastructure. One member mentioned that assimilation depended not just whether you were a foreigner but if you were from a rural or urban setting. Things like understanding a subway schedule, hailing a taxi, going through a revolving door are intimidating to someone from a village regardless of the country they're in. We were touched by Farah's religious experience, something universal regardless of sect. Farah has her own website if you would like to keep up to date on how she's doing. http://www.farahsworld.com/

Sojourn in China with Snowflower and the Secret Fan

2007-05-22T16:45:00.000-06:00

I'm a little pokey posting to the blog this month--must be the gorgeous spring weather. Our discussion of Snowflower and Secret Fan was really fun with some great cheesecake made by Cindy's husband Blake. In general, the group found this an easy read for content, but many commented on the small text size the publisher chose. Many felt that they learned something about Chinese culture from the reading. Numerous questions were raised about the issue of foot binding--how it started, why it was prized, and how it impacted the mother/daughter relationship. During my visit to China several years ago, we ran into an elderly woman who was raised in a remote providence who had bound feet. Although it was officially outlawed around the turn of the last century the practice continued in some of the outlying areas. She had to be supported on both sides by her daughters to walk through the formal gardens where we saw her. Our guide on the trip told us the practice had originated through the ballet when men became fascinated by the shape of the woman's foot in toe shoes. I've never researched to ascertain that this is correct--but whatever the reason, you have to wonder about how beauty is signified in various cultures. We tried, but couldn't come up with a direct equivalent in our own culture that compared to voluntary (or maybe parental enforced) mutilation. We talked about the laotong relationship and marveled how a friendship you made as a young child could be sustained through adulthood. We shared ideas about the closed world of women, how they were geographically limited to within a few miles of their birthplace, and how this may have contributed to remaining in the same limited circle for social interaction. The topic of patriarchy came up, and the imbalance of overt power in the marriage relationship. We also noted the women had covert power with jurisdiction over the female realm as long as they were able to produce sons. We touched (no pun intended) on the "bed business" and the erotic interlude between Lily and Snowflower when they traced characters on each other's bare skin. Some members wondered if this would be a more natural affection between the women since the marriage relationship could be devoid of tenderness. But we also noted that there was a range of response, for instance Auntie and Uncle who openly enjoyed their private time. Some members had a problem with the novel at the point that Snowflower's illness was revealed. We wondered what kept her from simply sharing this fact with her sworn friend. One member felt Lily was justified in encouraging Snowflower to comply with tradition, to tell her to keep trying to have boy babies to raise her status, to be faithful in serving her mother-in-law. Another wondered why Snowflower, who seemed very much in charge and sure of herself, who was Lily's teacher at the outset of the relationship would surrender her power to her so completely after marriage. In a large context, we decided we often take offense with others not knowing the complete reasons behind their actions. Hear an interview with the author at exclusive audio interview to gain some insight into the author's experience.

Touring South America with The Motorcycle Diaries

2007-04-18T13:43:00.000-06:00

Over some yummy brown sugar coffee cake and lemonade we took an interesting ride through the life and times of Che Guevara. Members seemed to fall into two camps on the book, 1)boring 2) poetic travelogue. However, everyone seemed to enjoy the movie (at least those who could keep up with the subtitles). We spent quite a lot of time analyzing Che and his transformation from idealistic young medical student to hardened revolutionary. One member noted that those whose standards of caring are high tend to become radicalized as they grow older. In the same vein, we discussed Ernesto's blunt honesty, and how few people really care to hear the truth, or are capable of delivering it. We were like fussy mothers about the idea of his setting out on a journey that deteriorated into such deprived physical comforts with a chronic medical condition. Perhaps as Ernesto told the young leper, the medical field interested him because of his condition and possibly having to fight off death with every attack gave him the fearlessness that was later displayed in the revolution. Some members noted that you were born with gene for wanderlust and adventure and are perfectly satisfied staying in one place otherwise. We admired the cineomotograpy in the film with its luscious glimpse of South American landscapes. Since it's difficult to ignore politics and social conscience when examining Che's life, we talked about how his encounters with the poor and deprived changed him. We thought the movie was effective in portraying this through the still photographs of people's faces. We discussed how communism as a pure concept includes qualities any religion finds desirable--everyone taken care of, all equal--but how, in practice, that really doesn't happen. A comment from Alberto when interviewed for the film was that Che would be disappointed to see the lack of progress in Cuba. We liked the way the pair charmed themselves into free meals and places to stay and were impressed with the quality of Ernesto's journal entries and his writing style. We recognized the quality of the music from the movie and how this appears to be a universal thread between various people and countries. Although this may have not been a book that most members would have selected on their own for something to read, as a springboard to conversation it provided some interesting comments and insights. Try this link http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/guevara01.html to see Time magazine's take on Che whom they have included in their 100 most important people of the century. Interestingly, he's not in the "Leaders and Revolutionaries" category, but in the "Heroes and Icons"

Bush on Abraham*...Do you think he'd like to join our book group?

2007-04-10T16:46:00.000-06:00

During a C-Span interview President Bush recommended Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths by Bruce Feiler. Prompted by a question about what books he had been reading, he responded, "Well, I just finished a book called Abraham by a guy named Feiler. And it's a really interesting book that studies the prophet Abraham from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim perspective. And the lesson is, is that if you--you can look at Abraham as a unifying factor. In other words, all three of our--all three of those religions started from the same source, which means it's possible to reconcile differences. And I was impressed by his writing. I really enjoyed the amount of study he did on the subject. And I appreciated his lessons that sometimes as each religion appropriated Abraham to suit their own needs, but, ultimately, we could view Abraham as a way to find a common God." *Abraham was our book club selection June 2006.

Mutant Message Down Under

2007-03-21T15:24:00.000-06:00

We gathered to discuss Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan March 20th. Megan provided some outstanding refreshments, homemade berry pie with lemon-vanilla ice cream. I know you're kicking yourself now if you missed it. Inevitably, the controversy surrounding the book carried into our discussion. Basically, the question is, "Did the incidents depicted really happen or did the author create a story to deliver a message she came to believe in?" A list for the skeptics:

Publisher was unable to verify her educational degrees
Although she claims to be a health practitioner, she doesn't use any title, MD, OD etc.
Aboriginal counsel organization from Australia has tried to block publication of the book, the making of a movie based on the book and they have organized protests at various speaking engagements of the author.
Discrepancies cited by the aboriginals include 1) water is not used in food preparation 2) dung is not gathered for fuel 3) Real People is a native American term not used in Australia 4) Male and female rites are strictly segregated even to penalty of death.
The aboriginal who offered the letter of support later recanted.

Here's a website if you're drawn by the controversy and want to know more: http://www.creativespirits.de/resources/books/mutantmessage_timeline.html

Having dealt with the controversy, we still found much to discuss. We felt pretty incredulous that the narrator didn't freak out given the situation or that family back home or others close to her didn't sound the alarm. Some felt dubious about the lengthy kangaroo tail conversation, and I have to say the communication in general, even verbally, in reality would have proved a lot harder, even with an interpreter.

Forgetting these short comings, we found many appealing ideas in the narrative. We liked the idea of not celebrating a birthday because a year has past, but because you have experienced something worth celebrating. Also, the idea that you give a gift someone wants not that you want them to have. The idea of noncompetion and peaceful recognition of every one's best qualities or role. The idea of having no negativity in thought so that others reading your mind would find no offense. (Not sure about you, but I'm still working on that one.)

We discussed how New Age ideas that were just being rediscovered at the time the book was first published have now become common place-- alternative medicine, aromatherapy, mind/ body connection.

So the question that remains unanswered, did the events take place or did she create them. If she did fabricate it, why? Why did she find it necessary to give the story legitimacy by even implying the events occurred? Perhaps, at that time, the message was just too radical. Possibly, she didn't foresee the impact of her statements or that anyone would care enough to discredit her. Maybe, she just felt strongly about her message of connectedness and was at a point in her life that she felt compelled to share it.

A vist to Iran with Persepolis

2007-02-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Despite the confusion with the discussion date changing several times, we had a nice turnout for our discussion of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Our discussion started with an examination of the graphic novel format. Most members seemed to feel comfortable if a bit unfamiliar with the format while at least one member distinctly preferred written text. We speculated on the elements our own personal childhood memoirs might contain if written in graphic novel form. We seemed to agree that Marjane was politically aware at a much younger age than we were. We discussed her family stories of prison, torture and displacement and agreed that they were vastly different from family legends we hear at our family reunions. We touched on Marjane's religious experiences and concluded that her parents were intellectuals first and weren't particularly devout to their religion. When we considered the social climate in Iran after the fundamentalist revolution and the Iraqi war, we identified some elements such as unreliable press coverage, social sanctions for opposition to the war and shrouding the true psychological costs of the war under patriotism. For many of us, this was an introduction to the history of Iran and possibly a first encounter with an ordinary Iranian citizen. Marjane's story continues in Persepolis 2. I have ordered a copy for the library if any of you are interested in following her coming of age story. Persepolis is being made into a movie to be released in April 2007. Here's a site to learn more: http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/persepolis/. Persepolis was the selection for the "Seattle Reads" One Book One Community program for 2006. Part of their tradition is to make selections available in braille. As you might imagine, this posed some problems for a graphic novel. This link has several parts, but you might find the audio stream of their discussion interesting: http://www.opal-online.org/OPALpromo20060320.htm. On the left hand side of the page, click on the triangular play button to stop the guy from talking to you about other OPAL programs. On the left hand side menu of the web page, click on ARCHIVE, click on the top selection, BOOK DISCUSSIONS AND OTHER LITERARY EVENTS. Scroll down the chronological list until you see "Book Discussion of the graphic memoir Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, held on May 30, 2006" , click on it and select your preferred format for listening to it (just use the top one if you're not sure). This was something new for us, both in format and perhaps the most political book we've discussed. Everyone was a really good sport about, and I think it was a good experience.

World Tour Begins in South Africa with Tsotsi

2007-01-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

Our first discussion of the new year kicked off our "Around the World in 11 Books (and 5 movies) with a visit to the townships of South Africa and look inside the mind of a young street thug with Tsotsi by Athol Fugard. Most members expressed some repulsion to Tsotsi as a character, at least initially, and for some throughout the book. We talked about how people exercise power and where they get it. Tsotsi's posse looked to him to direct their activity, the neighborhood cowered as he passed, even the policeman questioned his safety when Tsotsi was around. Tsotsi wasn't the oldest, the most experienced or the most ruthless if you consider Butcher, the most intelligent if you consider Boston or the one with the most brute strength if you consider Die Aap. We can each ponder who we give our power to and how we exercise power over others. The introduction of the baby into Tsotsi's life and the ripple effect it had on his sense of self was a definite topic of interest. Some members were hooked on this aspect of the narrative and read further just to see what would happen to the baby. The departure between the book and the movie on this point is pretty striking. In the book the baby comes from unknown origins, is sickly, ready for discard in a shoebox and dies in the end. In the movie, the baby comes from a privileged home, is loved by two parents we can sympathize with and is ultimately returned to them. The transformation it triggers in Tsotsi is still similar. As he gives care to a child, however inept, his own helplessness at the point he suppressed his past bursts through and the young man begins to nurture the vulnerable part that lives inside of all of us. We talked of Miriam as a character. Some members were disappointed with her immediate disgust at the sight and smell of little David and would have liked her to respond with compassion without hesitation. Others could relate to her reluctance and had personal experience with the repulsion. We seemed to agree that in the end, her care for the baby and offer to raise the child showed great strength. We spent some time with the minor characters in the book and the way their stories gave us a fuller picture of the South African experience. For some, these characters were a distraction and detracted from the main story line. We talked a little of Fugard's prose style, instances when he used it like a master and other times when some members felt he played it way past the normal range of response. The ending, and to what degree we found it satisfying, sparked some lively exchange. Again, the book and movie offered markedly different choices. Some members felt a kind of poetic, redeeming message that Tsotsi would sacrifice himself to try to save the child and that he died just at the point that his humanity was so clearly manifest. We discussed the alternate endings shot for movie, one where Tsotsi is killed by police fire after surrendering the baby, the other where Tsotsi surrenders the baby, makes a break and returns to streets to what end, we know not. And finally, the ending in the movie as it was edited; Tsotsi surrenders to the police his future unknown and unshown to us. In some ways, there is no ending for Tsotsi. Just as the book is relevant set in the Apartheid era and the movie still speaks to us of social imbalance in the modern era, Tsotsi as a stock character, a child with no childhood who expresses his pain through violence will be with us always. Try this link to listen to an interview with Tsotsi author Athol Fugard from Indiana University: http://broadcast.iu.edu/hp_conversations/burgun-fugard.htm He talks about theater and his development as a writer. He has a charming accent.

Paul's Case

2006-11-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

Turn out was light, but lively for our discussion of Paul's Case. Apparently Thanksgiving interfered with several member's schedules. Linda Loveless supplied us with warm gingerbread cake with lemon butter sauce and whip cream--delicious. We began our discussion with a "What about Paul?" question. Was there any kind of intervention that might have prevented Paul's suicide? One member pointed out that it can be a failure to grasp the opportunities that exist in the Arts. Paul might have channeled his appreciation for the arts into a satisfying career. Kids like Paul often just can't plug into the traditional path offered through the normal curriculum. At the same time, we noted that Paul really didn't seem interested in participating in the arts, rather, they were his fix--his escape from the glum reality of his surroundings. Another member suggested that if he had one person in his life that related to him, and nourished his interests, this might have made a difference. This lead to a probe of Paul's mental state. Was this just a sensitive boy in an insensitive world, or did he have a mental illness? One member mentioned his problem with authority. His Dad came off as cold, but perhaps was doing the best he could as a single parent and did provide the basic trapping of live for Paul, as well as paying off the employer for Paul's embezzlement. The school staff were pretty harsh, while at the same time, Paul did nothing himself to meet them half way. In short, Paul was about Paul and really didn't relate well to any of the groups around him. We added in the scene where Paul returns late from the theater and enters the home through a basement window and fantasizes about being mistaken for a burglar. Would his father kill him, or just wound him and he would die later? Odd musings. It was noted that Paul also felt no remorse for taking the money, or that his Dad had to repay it. Then we looked at the fact that just before the train hit, Paul flashed to the things he hadn't done, hadn't seen in his short life. For most suicides, no future possibilities can be entertained, and this leads to their action. In short, a case could be made for a mental illness, but we really don't have the information to draw that conclusion for certain. We wondered if things would have been different for Paul now, rather than in the early 1900s. We discussed how arts are the first thing to go when there are budget cuts and the disportionate attention given to athletics. It can still be difficult for someone who has an artistic bent. Next, I played amateur English teacher, armed with critical essays that exposed such things as the "case study" style of writing. At the time Paul's case was written, psychology was a budding science, and this "just the facts" style of writing was experimental. We seemed to agree that Cather had failed to be completely objective, as we felt that she was sympathetic to Paul, however, she did leave us to draw our own conclusions. Another theme in the story is determinism vs free will. Was Paul destined for this ending? The picture of a Calvinist leader in his bedroom exposes this train of thought as they hold that you are either saved or damned from birth. Related to this is the idea that social expectations insured that Paul could not succeed in living a "normal" life. The young bookkeeper that Paul's Dad held up to him as an example represented the American Dream ideal. You get married, have children, and settle into a routine life at a routine job. A fate worse than jail, or death, for Paul. For such a short little story, there were a lot of interesting ideas to discuss. One member not at the meeting mentioned the reference Paul made to the yellowed wallpaperin his room back home. Does that bring a fond recollection of a former holiday book selection featuring depression and madness? Keep Tuesday, December 5th, 7 pm open. We will watch the movie version of Paul's Case and do our annual bookmark and Christmas goodie exchange. Well touch on anything I might have left out then.

Read the Movie Club Off to a Great Start

2006-10-18T14:09:00.000-06:00

There was a good turnout in chilly conditions for our first Read the Movie Club meeting last night. The Bridge of San Luis Rey offered an array of topics to discuss. The characters in the book drew numerous comments as we tried to understand their motivation. Several members were puzzled by the mutism imposed on Manuel and Esteban in the movie. We couldn't really come up with a reason why they decided they shouldn't talk since they do in the book. Their relationship seemed to illustrate the general difficulty in communicating with another human being. Although Esteban urged Manuel to pursue Camilla, Manuel felt compelled to relinquish the chase in deference to Esteban. We discussed Dona Maria and her smothering mother love and the irony of the letters becoming her legacy. Our discussion of Madre Maria del Pilar centered on her devotion to her work, which we related to a woman choosing a career rather than traditional family life today. We talked about Uncle Pio, and his cold criticism of Camilla. As a common thread, one member suggested that all those (with the exception of the young boy) who perished on the bridge had a relationship built on selfish love that eventually became a more mature, encompassing love. One of the central themes of the book pitting chance against divine design popped up throughout the discussion. It's unclear from either the book or the movie what conclusion Brother Juniper ultimately came to from his study, except that it seems to involve learning to love in this way. Whether that's provable scientifically, as Brother Juniper wanted to do, is up for debate. A hilarious discussion of whether we ourselves would cross the bridge, or bungee jump, or take other risks continued in this vein, with some members feeling you don't tempt fate and others feeling that your life and death are appointed to you. We talked about the way the book was written with rich language and imagery. Some of the insults the characters used were cited such as the Cardinal telling the Abbess that he counted among the compensations of dying the fact that he would never have to meet with her again, or Camilla writing to her lover after he stood her up that no one aged faster than a matador, not even an actress. Some members found the movie a little slow moving and confusing. Others appreciated the period costumes and visual richness of the surroundings. Many felt that Robert de Niro was miscast as the Cardinal, and that Brother Juniper was undeveloped as a character. For a review of the movie from a religious angle try this website http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week842/review.html Thanks everyone who came for a great evening, and those of you who missed it we hope to catch you next time.

Between a Rock and Hard Space revisted

2006-10-16T12:12:00.000-06:00

Here's a cute cartoon summary of Between a Rock and a Hard Place I thought you might like. http://www.overduemedia.com/archive.aspx?strip=20060618

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

2006-09-27T12:33:00.000-06:00

It's been some time since I wrote and you didn't respond, so like Cinderella dreaming of the ball or Snow White waiting for that kiss, I will continue to put my thoughts out there and hope sometime, somewhere that special reader will follow the hero's path and post a reply. Our September discussion flowed easily around the moral issues posed in The Memory Keeper's Daughter. Much of the group saw Caroline as a heroine, saving Phoebe from a father fighting the demons of his past and insisting that his wife Norah would be unable to cope with a Downs child. A counterpoint to this selfless portrayal of Caroline examines her moral obligation to tell Norah the secret, the earlier the better. Taking this action was mitigated by her own infatuation with David and her early bonding and genuine mother love toward Phoebe. While many members felt compassion for David, the general consensus was that he did no one, himself included, any favors by his split second decision. We talked about his craft as a photographer and the ability of the camera to freeze a moment, but also keep you from the present. In the same way David allowed Phoebe and his past from having the satisfying life he should be enjoying. We speculated about whether Nora would have been able to handle the truth. Would she have become an over-clingy, over-protective mother or would she have been at a loss to cope at all? Although she evolved into a strong woman, she didn't begin her marriage that way, and eventually turned to casual affairs, obsessive busyness and alcohol to dull her pain. In examining the scope and distance of her grief over her lost daughter, some members felt depression might explain the way she kept her pain alive. Others were surprised that when the secret was revealed she wasn't interested in more of a relationship with Phoebe. Although this selection was a little longer than or normal page limit, most members seemed to make it through the book and enjoy analyzing these characters. An interesting discussion of when and if you should ever keep family secrets was sparked by our discussion with some members coming strongly down on telling the truth no matter what and others advocating a need to know basis for decisions. The Memory Keeper's Daughter was the featured selection on NPR's "Reader's Review" program with Diane Rehm. Here is a link to that program. You can listen to their discussion of the book by clicking on "listen to this segment" link. http://www.wamu.org/programs/dr/06/08/16.php#10663

July Discussion: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

2006-07-19T17:17:00.000-06:00

July apparently turned out to be a pretty busy month for most of us. The final afternoon discussion group was held July 6th. The members in the group have branched out to a different discussion group, or have become extremely busy keeping up with other family responsibilities. I'm happy to reinstate the afternoon timeslot anytime at least two other people are interested in meeting at that time, just drop me a line. Cindy brought some great Margarita pie for evening discussion that was oh, so refreshing on a hot summer evening. This was also a nod to Aron's thirst fantasies while he was trapped. Well, I'm hoping a lot of you will respond to the blog since you weren't at the discussion. Following are the main themes that came up. 1) Aron as writer. Several of us were impressed with the quality of writing and the way the story unfolds. 2) How many close shaves does one guy get? Guardian angels must be tag teaming or playing rocks, siccors, paper to decide who gets the next shift. 3) Following your bliss/living the dream. How many people have the courage to live the way Aron does. Forget cutting off your arm, how about turning your back on Intel? 4) Blame. Aron accepts full responsibility and definitely had the knowledge, skill and training to avoid being isolated for so long, but whom among us hasn't been caught up in the moment and found ourselves in a situation where we feel less than safe. 5) Objectivity. Many of us admired the cool way Aron caculated his options and participated actively in his own rescue. 6) Driven. What drives a man to climb 14000 foot peaks, solo, in the winter time? After the immediate response, crazy, do you find something to admire in Aron's single-minded pursuit? Is living on the razor's edge selfish or just inescapable for someone with a vision? 7) Spirituality. Aron's account of opening a door in the canyon, being comforted by friends and the vision of himself balancing a toddler with his arm stump all point to a dimension people rarely access in daily life. Combined with his statement in the last paragraph of the book that if he had a second chance, he'd still take the hike even knowing the outcome, we can only guess that Aron is fulfilling his destiny. I did a little web surfing to see what Aron's been up to lately. Of note, he recently climbed the highest peak in South America and is preparing for a climb of K2 in the Himalayas. He does public speaking appearances free of charge to nonprofits of choice but charges large corps a large price if the location is enticing enough.

Abraham Evening Discussion

2006-06-22T14:50:00.000-06:00

We had a dynamic triad discussion Tuesday evening where we lost track of time and went half an hour over. Refreshments were triple chocolate brownies from Bruce Feiler's website listed above. He also writes for gourmet magazine and this recipe is definitely worth trying. So--if you're keeping track, that's three members, discussing Abraham: A Journey to the the Heart of Three Faiths eating triple chocolate brownies. Our discussion covered a lot of territory, and I would say in that respect Feiler accomplished what he wanted with the book, namely open discussion. Some members were uncomfortable with the idea that Feiler seemed to be speaking for God, assigning His thoughts and motivation for His actions. Other members wished for footnotes so they could feel more comfortable with the authority of the information presented. From my own perspective (and again, I encourage you all to post with your own comments) this just wasn't an issue. I feel like we all interpret God's intent as part of our own faith building and I didn't see the material in the book as "gospel truth" as much as a compendium of material gathered from various sources. Raw data that we can keep or discard in building our own Abraham. As a general consensus, members seem to feel that this is one of the denser selections we have attempted. Several members didn't finish the book. I applaud you all for the attempt and for adding your viewpoints to the discussion. I think this is the value of book group. We can expand our understanding by listening to others and our contribution can become a meaningful thread in the fabric of the group.

Afternoon Discussion Abraham

2006-06-01T15:10:00.000-06:00

Afternoon discussion of Abraham by Bruce Feiler proved to be thought provoking and lively. We covered the specifics of Abraham's life such as the call and the binding in relation to information presented in the book that was new to us. We sympathized with Hagar's plight and the natural tension between Sarah. Several members commented that having any information about women in the Bible was nice since they are largely overlooked. One member who has kept a journal for an extended period expressed her dismay at reading early entries and from her present perspective finding them whiney. In relationship to Sarah and Hagar, we speculated that we wouldn't want future generations to base their own spirituality on a decision that had been recorded perhaps at a moment when we weren't our best self, as in Sarah's harsh treatment of Hagar. We discussed the idea of better interfaith understanding and barriers that exist to prevent that. Several members came to distrust Feiler as a source of information as his presentation differed from their own beliefs, others appreciated the balance of viewpoints. It was noted that mistrust and perhaps the idea that our beliefs have "more truth" than someone else's could prevent common ground. At the same time, we felt that uniqueness was a strength and shouldn't be homogenized in the name of peaceful coexistence.

List of Upcoming Discussions

2006-06-01T14:59:00.000-06:00

Here's a list of the books we'll be discussing for remainder of 2006 for anyone out there who would like to read along. July 6th, 1 pm July 18th, 7 pm Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston The world knows the outlines of Ralston's extraordinary story: with precious little water or food, his right arm pinned for nearly five days by a boulder in a narrow canyon shaft in central-eastern Utah, Ralston amputated the arm with his pocketknife, then rappelled and hiked his way to his own rescue. What makes his account of his ordeal extraordinary is the detail and precision Ralston, a former mechanical engineer, brings to the telling. August 3rd, 1 pm August 15th, 7 pm When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka Re-creates the Japanese internment camps of WWII with the precision of a fine jeweler. Minimal, almost flawless, the story follows an American-Japanese family uprooted from their home "for the sake of national security" and sent to an internment camp in Utah. Broken by circumstance and prejudice, they will continue to pay, in large and small ways, for the shape of their eyes. September 7th, 1 pm September 19th, 7 pm Almost by Elizabeth Benedict A story about starting over and looking back, about the pain of staying and the consequences of leaving, and about a woman's longing for children, "Almost" presses readers to wonder how much responsibility they bear for other people's happiness. By this riveting novel's end, Sophy has it all figured out--almost. October 5th, 1 pm October 17th, 7 pm Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson The four visitors at Hill House-- some there for knowledge, others for adventure-- are unaware that the old mansion will soon choose one of them to make its own. Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has unnerved readers since its original publication in 1959. A tale of subtle, psychological terror, it has earned its place as one of the significant haunted house stories of the ages. November 2nd, 1 pm November 21st, 7 pm Paul’s Case by Willa Cather Paul, a sensitive high school student, felt very frustrated with his home life and his family's expectations that he would grow up to work in a factory or the steel mills as his father and most of his neighbors did. It is a testimony to the reality of youthful dissatisfactions and the common failure of families to understand and of schools to be helpful. Paul was a misfit and was unable to accept the drab reality of his daily life. He takes action with unfortunate consequences. December 5th, 7 pm Annual Christmas Party We will watch the movie version of Paul’s Case. We will hold our annual bookmark and Christmas goodie exchange. Here’s how it works. Bring a bookmark, purchased or homemade; wrapped or unwrapped. We play a game to exchange them so everyone goes home with someone else’s bookmark. Also bring two dozen of your favorite Christmas treats—cookies, candies, etc. We will feast on these while we watch the movie, then we all go home with a sampler plate of each other’s treats

Commenting on Blog

2006-06-01T14:50:00.000-06:00

I'm glad a lot of you are looking at the blog. I hope you will also feel free to leave your own comments. When you do, you may be asked to sign up for a blogger account. This is optional, but if you don't want to mess with being asked, post anonymously, then include your name within your comment.

Small Change Afternoon Discussion

2006-05-04T14:23:00.000-06:00

Afternoon discussion was just peachy today. Cristi brought some refreshing peach angelfood dessert for refreshments and group members seemed to enjoy the postive themes of the book. A couple of members commmented that it would make a perfect Christmas gift--and it's never too early to think of Christmas, right? Most members felt there was much to admire in Pennny's life. They pointed out her ability to make something good out of a difficult situation and felt her secret life reflected loving values they would like to emulate. We talked about charity in general and how it can be difficult to give and to accept in a way that allows another to keep their dignity. Since I won't be at evening discussion this month I'll put in my two cents worth here and say that I had a very different reaction to the book. I really felt like it was written in a code that I just don't understand. I found nothing to admire in longsuffering in a relationship with no real communication. I feel like this was propoganda designed to convince women that it's up to them to accomodate the man in a relationship. I'm actually not convinced they even had a relationship. Why did they get married anyway? My reaction has gotten stronger the more time that has past since I read the book, so this might sound a little ranty, but please feel free to respond if you can help me see the light.

Evening Discussion: Things Fall Apart

2006-04-19T11:14:00.000-06:00

Last night's discussion of Things Fall Apart was so rockin that we went over by half an hour. We were joined by new member Tracy Richards who set a proper example as an English teacher and came with notes she had made while reading the book. Her fresh perspective added a lot to our discussion. Linda supplied us with some decadent chocolate bunt cake for refreshments so we were feeling no pain as we worked through the discussion guide questions. A couple of interesting discussion points-- some members felt that Achebe was illustrating to us that Oko didn't possess the character traits of a leader. He was motivated by fear and lacked compassion in his personal relationships. This was mirrored on the societal level by James Smith who pushed Christianity onto the Ibo with no appreciation for their culture. Lori Lundblad who recommended the book for discussion shared her experiences of reading it for the time in college while working with international students, some from Niger. These students related some first hand reactions to the type of cultural clash described in the book. For instance, what happens to the second or third wives and their children after it becomes illegal to have more than one wife? It was a great discussion with everyone (even Celeste who hadn't finished the book) contributing their thoughts.

Afternoon Discussion: Things Fall Apart

2006-04-07T09:04:00.000-06:00

Afternoon discussion of Achebe's Things Fall Apart was lively and tart with my core girls Cristi and Karen and lemon meringue pie for refeshments. We all had a positive reaction to the book. Crisiti commented that this was the kind of book she joined book group to read. We appreciated Achebe's unbiased voice in telling this story, especially remarkable since it's drawn from his own experience. The discussion questions seemed especially well written this month and we used them as the framework for our discussion. A couple of points not really addressed in the questions though, Was Oko's suicide a final act as a warrior or an act or resignation? Regarding the priestess--we discussed whether her role in the tribe mirrors the role of our psychics, just a regular gal at the checkout counter until she goes into a trance and channels dead people. The discussion flowed easily from larger societal issues--government, religion to individual experience of relationships in families and responses to change or outsiders. We agreed we wouldn't want to be Nigerian tribal women.

2006-03-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

Mythic Book Lover

Check out the glossary

2006-03-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to make sure you all noticed the glossary of Nigerian words in the back of Things Fall Apart. If the word is in itallics in the text, chances are you will find its meaning there.