Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Reviving VBC
Two former members of the Virtual Book Club would like to revive it. If interested, contact e or tut-tut via their respective blogs. Thanks for your interest.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Revival?
Shall we revive this blog? One person thinks we should. The problem is the commenting format, which I think should be in a real-time way. What do you think? Anyone??
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: E's Remarks
Has anyone out there ever found the name of a stranger in a second-hand book and wondered about them?
I’ll confess to a flicker of thought about who may have read a book that somehow made its way into my hands, though never have I acted upon the impulse to communicate with them.
I’m simply not that brave; I had to work hard to visualize a reserved man from Guernsey writing a stranger in London because he’d read a book she had once owned and wanted further reading recommendations from her.
I wonder what went through his mind as he carefully composed his request. Sixty years ago, would such a request have been taken at face value or might it have been viewed as odd?
My guess is, since people communicated largely through letters and telegrams unless they could meet face-to-face such a request would have been answered eventually, as it was in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Penned by Mary Ann Schaffer and her niece, Annie Barrows, the book takes the reader back to post-war England and the Channel island of Guernsey. It is 1946 and both London and Guernsey share the grief and ravages of war. We meet a young writer, Juliet Ashton, and her friend and editor discussing via letter a book tour, her correspondence with friends and the receipt of a letter from an unknown man detailing his discovery of a book she once owned.
With time, the two develop an ongoing correspondence through which the reader learns of the Nazi occupation of Guernsey and the existence and membership of the island’s literary society. This presents Juliet with exciting possibilities for a new book and she soon finds herself engrossed in the lives of each society member and their families.
At the center of poignant anecdotes is a young woman, Elizabeth McKenna, whose whereabouts since her arrest by the Nazis is initially unknown. It is she who creates the society, first as a ruse, to hide the consumption of contraband pork by the group, which meets for dinner and then flouts the Nazi occupiers curfew. We learn too that Elizabeth becomes a central character in the lives of those she befriends and cares for on the island. She is presented as an unconventional woman who falls in love with a young German doctor, eventually having his daughter and raising her in tightknit Guernsey. When Elizabeth assists a young Nazi prisoner and arrested for her crime by the Nazis, all of Elizabeth’s friends care for four-year-old Kit, hoping for her mother’s return.
It is at this point that Juliet decides to meet the literary society members in person. She journeys to Guernsey and in Elizabeth’s cottage, falls in love with the place, its inhabitants, Kit and the gentleman she first met when he wrote her as a stranger.
For her part, Juliet sees beyond grief and loss in those around her. Having lost her own parents as a girl, she is no stranger to grief or anger, but it is the love for Kit that surprises her as well as her willingness to leave life in London behind for the sense of extended family she finds on the island.
Juliet learns of Elizabeth’s death at the hands of her captors and the horrors faced in her concentration camp through a French survivor, Elizabeth’s friend Remy. Like Juliet, Remy is invited to Guernsey to heal. Though she recuperates physically, Remy remains haunted by her experiences and eventually leaves for Paris to begin life anew.
The book ends with the promise of marriage for Juliet and her desire to adopt Kit. A novel rooted in contemporary history, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is also about transformation and the power of the human spirit to overcome oppressive forces.
The letter is used very cleverly in this book as a literary device. Much as I tried to picture the same information conveyed by e-mail, I could not. What would be lost? Warmth, the sense that the letter writer carefully selected his or her words and cared about the feelings communicated.
Additionally, the gift of detail or nuance, more easily explained in a letter, is often missing in today’s truncated electronic missives. The time taken to write a letter may also make a difference to its recipient. Finally, one does not keep e-mails as special tokens of attention, time or history. They cannot be bundled and put in a special place to preserve moments in time, as letters often were. There is a certain charm about this book that comes through in the letters between its characters. I would sum it up as an enjoyable read.
I’ll confess to a flicker of thought about who may have read a book that somehow made its way into my hands, though never have I acted upon the impulse to communicate with them.
I’m simply not that brave; I had to work hard to visualize a reserved man from Guernsey writing a stranger in London because he’d read a book she had once owned and wanted further reading recommendations from her.
I wonder what went through his mind as he carefully composed his request. Sixty years ago, would such a request have been taken at face value or might it have been viewed as odd?
My guess is, since people communicated largely through letters and telegrams unless they could meet face-to-face such a request would have been answered eventually, as it was in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Penned by Mary Ann Schaffer and her niece, Annie Barrows, the book takes the reader back to post-war England and the Channel island of Guernsey. It is 1946 and both London and Guernsey share the grief and ravages of war. We meet a young writer, Juliet Ashton, and her friend and editor discussing via letter a book tour, her correspondence with friends and the receipt of a letter from an unknown man detailing his discovery of a book she once owned.
With time, the two develop an ongoing correspondence through which the reader learns of the Nazi occupation of Guernsey and the existence and membership of the island’s literary society. This presents Juliet with exciting possibilities for a new book and she soon finds herself engrossed in the lives of each society member and their families.
At the center of poignant anecdotes is a young woman, Elizabeth McKenna, whose whereabouts since her arrest by the Nazis is initially unknown. It is she who creates the society, first as a ruse, to hide the consumption of contraband pork by the group, which meets for dinner and then flouts the Nazi occupiers curfew. We learn too that Elizabeth becomes a central character in the lives of those she befriends and cares for on the island. She is presented as an unconventional woman who falls in love with a young German doctor, eventually having his daughter and raising her in tightknit Guernsey. When Elizabeth assists a young Nazi prisoner and arrested for her crime by the Nazis, all of Elizabeth’s friends care for four-year-old Kit, hoping for her mother’s return.
It is at this point that Juliet decides to meet the literary society members in person. She journeys to Guernsey and in Elizabeth’s cottage, falls in love with the place, its inhabitants, Kit and the gentleman she first met when he wrote her as a stranger.
For her part, Juliet sees beyond grief and loss in those around her. Having lost her own parents as a girl, she is no stranger to grief or anger, but it is the love for Kit that surprises her as well as her willingness to leave life in London behind for the sense of extended family she finds on the island.
Juliet learns of Elizabeth’s death at the hands of her captors and the horrors faced in her concentration camp through a French survivor, Elizabeth’s friend Remy. Like Juliet, Remy is invited to Guernsey to heal. Though she recuperates physically, Remy remains haunted by her experiences and eventually leaves for Paris to begin life anew.
The book ends with the promise of marriage for Juliet and her desire to adopt Kit. A novel rooted in contemporary history, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is also about transformation and the power of the human spirit to overcome oppressive forces.
The letter is used very cleverly in this book as a literary device. Much as I tried to picture the same information conveyed by e-mail, I could not. What would be lost? Warmth, the sense that the letter writer carefully selected his or her words and cared about the feelings communicated.
Additionally, the gift of detail or nuance, more easily explained in a letter, is often missing in today’s truncated electronic missives. The time taken to write a letter may also make a difference to its recipient. Finally, one does not keep e-mails as special tokens of attention, time or history. They cannot be bundled and put in a special place to preserve moments in time, as letters often were. There is a certain charm about this book that comes through in the letters between its characters. I would sum it up as an enjoyable read.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Woman in the Fifth - Megan's Complaints :)
Overall, I have to give a thumbs down on this one. Although I admit to feeling some suspense and I enjoyed the descriptions of Paris and the differences between neighborhoods.
But everything was just a little too. Do you know what I mean?
The nasty desk clerk. That man went beyond nasty to the point where I couldn’t believe what was coming out of his mouth. I mean, really.
Omar. A dirty thug for a neighbor is certainly a possibility. Does he have to be a dirty thug who, aside from his regular dirty thug bad habits, uses the “minimum amount of toilet paper?” Come on.
The secret of the warehouse. They can’t just be dealing drugs down there. Or porn. Oh, no, of course not. They’re doing both those things plus making snuff films!
The Terrible Tragedy. Not only did he sleep with a student and lose his job. He slept with a student who killed herself AND his wife was sleeping with the Dean at the same time!
Now, maybe everything had to be awful to the nth degree before “our hero” was in the correct state of mind for Margit to appear. That was certainly implied. Her story was horrific to the nth degree, that’s for sure. What do you think?
I will say I wasn’t as disappointed as Beth about the supernatural aspect. Maybe it’s all that fantasy I still like to read. But even there the author goes overboard eventually. I can get behind a spectre that assists her chosen swain by planting evidence or causing accidents. But then all of a sudden she’s manipulating the Dean’s computer and waking the daughter up from a “non-responsive” coma?
And at the end, what? He gets a nice apartment and a nice job teaching Film Studies and he gets laid every three days.
Meh.
But everything was just a little too. Do you know what I mean?
The nasty desk clerk. That man went beyond nasty to the point where I couldn’t believe what was coming out of his mouth. I mean, really.
Omar. A dirty thug for a neighbor is certainly a possibility. Does he have to be a dirty thug who, aside from his regular dirty thug bad habits, uses the “minimum amount of toilet paper?” Come on.
The secret of the warehouse. They can’t just be dealing drugs down there. Or porn. Oh, no, of course not. They’re doing both those things plus making snuff films!
The Terrible Tragedy. Not only did he sleep with a student and lose his job. He slept with a student who killed herself AND his wife was sleeping with the Dean at the same time!
Now, maybe everything had to be awful to the nth degree before “our hero” was in the correct state of mind for Margit to appear. That was certainly implied. Her story was horrific to the nth degree, that’s for sure. What do you think?
I will say I wasn’t as disappointed as Beth about the supernatural aspect. Maybe it’s all that fantasy I still like to read. But even there the author goes overboard eventually. I can get behind a spectre that assists her chosen swain by planting evidence or causing accidents. But then all of a sudden she’s manipulating the Dean’s computer and waking the daughter up from a “non-responsive” coma?
And at the end, what? He gets a nice apartment and a nice job teaching Film Studies and he gets laid every three days.
Meh.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Woman in the Fifth
Is the floor open for comments/discussion? Megan, e, anyone? I have a bone to pick . . . with the author
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Lunch in Paris Summary And Comments...
An expat American woman studying in London meets a French professional and newly-minted Ph.D at a digitisation conference, they eventually have lunch, and while enjoying what has to be the most sensual meal I've read about in years, decide to have their after-lunch tea at his apartment. Both realise their desire for the other, and for her part, the American, though hesitant about being viewed as potentially slutty, decides her French man is nonetheless worth that risk. So begins Elizabeth Bard's Lunch in Paris...
Described by the author as a love story with recipes, the book, an engaging read from start to finish, pulls its readers along on a budding romance that blossoms into marriage, the melding of two linguistically challenged but loving families and an on-going exploration of what it can be like to live in a culture different from one's own.
Growing up as an expat myself, the interplay of cultures, the expectations engendered and the experiences that widen perspective have always intrigued me. For both Elizabeth and her husband, Gwendal, widening perspectives yield unanticipated results. In Elizabeth's case, this shows in the increasing knowledge that her life in Paris will be very different from the almost punch list-like achievement orientation found in her New York peers. At the same time, she uses her drive and vision to help shape and guide Gwendal's aspirations beyond what French convention says is possible, with apparent and growing success.
Equally interesting is Elizabeth's attraction to Paris, with its myriad museums, a city steeped in history, art, music, cinema, markets, and, of course, food. It is in food and French cooking that Elizabeth re-claims her joie de vivre while acclimating to the life and rhythms of her new home. Each chapter contains the fruits of her learning and labours, from entrees to lovely vegetables and sumptious desserts for each season or major event, including her husband's wonderful apricot charlotte.
Refreshingly penned, the book grew out of conversations with friends and the author's desire for a project that would focus not only her writing skills, but those she was gaining as a cook and a resident within French daily life and culture.
For more information on the book, visit http://www.amazon.com or the author's blog at http://elizabethbard.blogspot.com.
Interested readers can also consult the Readers Guide for the book that Elizabeth put together and which is posted below this entry.
As there are 13 questions, those of us participating in this discussion have agreed to answer the specific questions which each of us find most compelling. Visitors to this blog can check the Comments Section for those.
As this month's commentator, I will post my observations and questions here.
1. In Lunch in Paris, major life events are landmarked by food. Why is food such a potent force — and is this particularly true in France? Has a meal ever changed your life? Do you have a particular food that brings to mind certain memories, certain people?
Food is a potent socialiser and bonding experience in cultures across the world. Why? Because it is used for nourishment, to convey love, to convey and celebrate accomplishment, to assuage unhappiness or to provide reward. It is also a focal point for religious, social and cultural events, whether one is French or not.
I enjoyed seeing the differences between French and American eating customs, some of which were quite telling. For example, the French often serve multi-course meals but portions are smaller, and everything is good in moderation, whereas in America, gluttony often appears to rule the day, as does the comsumption of processed or fast foods, and we now have the rates of diabetes, obesity and other diseases to prove the point, unfortunately.
Growing up as an expat, I was exposed to American and Central American foods, fresh vegetables and tropical fruits. The foods of Panama will forever have special memories and meanings for me, as do the foods commonly served during Passover, for example. A restaurant meeting in which I barely ate due to nervousness landed me my first long term writing job, and birthdays are always celebrated with a meal. What has changed significantly is how and what I eat; I always shop the freshest aisles of the market, rarely eat restaurant food, try to follow a mostly vegan regime and avoid sweets except for the occasional treat. My portions are smaller and since I cannot drink alcohol, my food budget stays fairly consistent. I've made a couple of Elizabeth's recipes and they were wonderful.
2. Elizabeth is slow to assimilate into French culture, in spite of her eagerness to do so. Which parts of this adaptation do you think would be the most difficult?
I've thought about this since I would like to visit Paris again...For me, it would be learning to get around the city or neighbourhoods, learning the language, although I speak more than one, and learning about what not to do when interacting with others...For example, here, many people mention what they earn in relation to their jobs but in France, this is a social no-no. It is considered uncouth.
4. Halfway through a first date with her future husband, Gwendal, Elizabeth goes home with him. How key a role does food play in the seduction that follows? How does sex on a first date play differently between France and America? Does the author seem confused or liberated — or both — by the cultural differences?
Food apparently plays a role through the entire process, starting with the mint tea and beyond with the post-coital apricot charlotte...I think the biggest difference is that American women are taught to think about sex and love...ie does he love me, will he still call me...etc, and worrying about "reputation" rather than asking themselves "do I like this person?" "would I enjoy being with this guy?" "Can I have sex without feeling guilty over it," rather than looking at it as being okay to climb between the sheets with someone in order to get to know them and have a bit of fun? I think Elizabeth seems a bit divided on this issue to begin with but gradually decides it is okay...I think I was ahead of my generation on this issue because I have always felt that women have as much right to sex as their partners, and have as much right to explore this arena.
12. Elizabeth voices serious doubts about raising a child under the French system of health care, after seeing how doctors treated Gwendal’s father. Is her wariness justified? Would you be able to reconcile the French outlook with your own?
Unfortunately, what happened to Gwendal's father can happen anywhere and has indeed happened in America to me and others I've known. Bad doctors and their misjudgements, lack of care or even overconcern with money or class can exist anywhere. If one is marginalised or looked down upon socially, their lives or productivity are often judged as being of less value which may be reflected in the time and attention they receive. I think the way we deal with these issues may be vastly different in terms of litigation but very few people in this situation have the time or resources to fight back. The American healthcare system is now so fragmented and hard to access that even those with resources find it difficult to use. We no longer have bragging rights in this area, in my opinion.
Check the Comments Section for Further Discussion and Happy Reading!
Described by the author as a love story with recipes, the book, an engaging read from start to finish, pulls its readers along on a budding romance that blossoms into marriage, the melding of two linguistically challenged but loving families and an on-going exploration of what it can be like to live in a culture different from one's own.
Growing up as an expat myself, the interplay of cultures, the expectations engendered and the experiences that widen perspective have always intrigued me. For both Elizabeth and her husband, Gwendal, widening perspectives yield unanticipated results. In Elizabeth's case, this shows in the increasing knowledge that her life in Paris will be very different from the almost punch list-like achievement orientation found in her New York peers. At the same time, she uses her drive and vision to help shape and guide Gwendal's aspirations beyond what French convention says is possible, with apparent and growing success.
Equally interesting is Elizabeth's attraction to Paris, with its myriad museums, a city steeped in history, art, music, cinema, markets, and, of course, food. It is in food and French cooking that Elizabeth re-claims her joie de vivre while acclimating to the life and rhythms of her new home. Each chapter contains the fruits of her learning and labours, from entrees to lovely vegetables and sumptious desserts for each season or major event, including her husband's wonderful apricot charlotte.
Refreshingly penned, the book grew out of conversations with friends and the author's desire for a project that would focus not only her writing skills, but those she was gaining as a cook and a resident within French daily life and culture.
For more information on the book, visit http://www.amazon.com or the author's blog at http://elizabethbard.blogspot.com.
Interested readers can also consult the Readers Guide for the book that Elizabeth put together and which is posted below this entry.
As there are 13 questions, those of us participating in this discussion have agreed to answer the specific questions which each of us find most compelling. Visitors to this blog can check the Comments Section for those.
As this month's commentator, I will post my observations and questions here.
1. In Lunch in Paris, major life events are landmarked by food. Why is food such a potent force — and is this particularly true in France? Has a meal ever changed your life? Do you have a particular food that brings to mind certain memories, certain people?
Food is a potent socialiser and bonding experience in cultures across the world. Why? Because it is used for nourishment, to convey love, to convey and celebrate accomplishment, to assuage unhappiness or to provide reward. It is also a focal point for religious, social and cultural events, whether one is French or not.
I enjoyed seeing the differences between French and American eating customs, some of which were quite telling. For example, the French often serve multi-course meals but portions are smaller, and everything is good in moderation, whereas in America, gluttony often appears to rule the day, as does the comsumption of processed or fast foods, and we now have the rates of diabetes, obesity and other diseases to prove the point, unfortunately.
Growing up as an expat, I was exposed to American and Central American foods, fresh vegetables and tropical fruits. The foods of Panama will forever have special memories and meanings for me, as do the foods commonly served during Passover, for example. A restaurant meeting in which I barely ate due to nervousness landed me my first long term writing job, and birthdays are always celebrated with a meal. What has changed significantly is how and what I eat; I always shop the freshest aisles of the market, rarely eat restaurant food, try to follow a mostly vegan regime and avoid sweets except for the occasional treat. My portions are smaller and since I cannot drink alcohol, my food budget stays fairly consistent. I've made a couple of Elizabeth's recipes and they were wonderful.
2. Elizabeth is slow to assimilate into French culture, in spite of her eagerness to do so. Which parts of this adaptation do you think would be the most difficult?
I've thought about this since I would like to visit Paris again...For me, it would be learning to get around the city or neighbourhoods, learning the language, although I speak more than one, and learning about what not to do when interacting with others...For example, here, many people mention what they earn in relation to their jobs but in France, this is a social no-no. It is considered uncouth.
4. Halfway through a first date with her future husband, Gwendal, Elizabeth goes home with him. How key a role does food play in the seduction that follows? How does sex on a first date play differently between France and America? Does the author seem confused or liberated — or both — by the cultural differences?
Food apparently plays a role through the entire process, starting with the mint tea and beyond with the post-coital apricot charlotte...I think the biggest difference is that American women are taught to think about sex and love...ie does he love me, will he still call me...etc, and worrying about "reputation" rather than asking themselves "do I like this person?" "would I enjoy being with this guy?" "Can I have sex without feeling guilty over it," rather than looking at it as being okay to climb between the sheets with someone in order to get to know them and have a bit of fun? I think Elizabeth seems a bit divided on this issue to begin with but gradually decides it is okay...I think I was ahead of my generation on this issue because I have always felt that women have as much right to sex as their partners, and have as much right to explore this arena.
12. Elizabeth voices serious doubts about raising a child under the French system of health care, after seeing how doctors treated Gwendal’s father. Is her wariness justified? Would you be able to reconcile the French outlook with your own?
Unfortunately, what happened to Gwendal's father can happen anywhere and has indeed happened in America to me and others I've known. Bad doctors and their misjudgements, lack of care or even overconcern with money or class can exist anywhere. If one is marginalised or looked down upon socially, their lives or productivity are often judged as being of less value which may be reflected in the time and attention they receive. I think the way we deal with these issues may be vastly different in terms of litigation but very few people in this situation have the time or resources to fight back. The American healthcare system is now so fragmented and hard to access that even those with resources find it difficult to use. We no longer have bragging rights in this area, in my opinion.
Check the Comments Section for Further Discussion and Happy Reading!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Lunch in Paris Readers Guide Questions...
As promised, I've posted Elizabeth Bard's Lunch in Paris Readers Guide here so that those who are reading and any who may be interested in the upcoming discussion will have the questions readily available. A summary of the book and my observations will be posted by April 30. The author, Elizabeth Bard, has promised to drop by around that date. Thanks and happy reading!
READING GROUP GUIDE
Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes
By Elizabeth Bard
Questions and Topics for Discussion
1. In Lunch in Paris, major life events are landmarked by food. Why is food such a potent force — and is this particularly true in France? Has a meal ever changed your life? Do you have a particular food that brings to mind certain memories, certain people?
2. Elizabeth is slow to assimilate into French culture, in spite of her eagerness to do so. Which parts of this adaptation do you think would be the most difficult?
3. Elizabeth faces some linguistic challenges as well as cultural ones, especially when she meets Gwendal’s parents — and introduces them to her own. How does she overcome communication barriers? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to rely on a form of communication other than language?
4. Halfway through a first date with her future husband, Gwendal, Elizabeth goes home with him. How key a role does food play in the seduction that follows? How does sex on a first date play differently between France and America? Does the author seem confused or liberated — or both — by the cultural differences?
5. Elizabeth has some difficulty adjusting to life in Paris after having grown up in New York. What are the main differences she sees between French and American culture?
6. In the beginning, Elizabeth has trouble understanding Gwendal’s lack of a concrete “five year plan.” Throughout the book, how do their different visions of success clash and,ultimately, complement each other?
7. In explaining his frustrations with the French system, Gwendal quotes the American author (and former Paris resident) Henry Miller: “In America, every man is potentially president. Here, every man is potentially a zero.” What do you make of Gwendal’s statement?
8. Elizabeth pushes Gwendal to pursue his career beyond what is generally socially acceptable. What do you make of her effort —and his eventual success?
9. Despite some misgivings, Elizabeth is helpless but to fall in love with French cooking. What would you say typifies Parisian cuisine? If you had to serve a meal "typical" of your culture to a French person, what would it be like? What do you think your way of eating says
about your country and its culture?
10. What meal or dish could you be seduced by — or which would you use to seduce someone?
11. When Elizabeth asks for a “normal”-size piece of cake at a family dinner, she makes a subtle cultural error that takes her a long time to understand. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you missed a social cue but didn’t quite understand what you did wrong?
12. Elizabeth voices serious doubts about raising a child under the French system of health care, after seeing how doctors treated Gwendal’s father. Is her wariness justified? Would you be able to reconcile the French outlook with your own?
13. What will be the ongoing challenges — and opportunities — as Elizabeth and Gwendal continue to shape their life and grow their family in Paris?
READING GROUP GUIDE
Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes
By Elizabeth Bard
Questions and Topics for Discussion
1. In Lunch in Paris, major life events are landmarked by food. Why is food such a potent force — and is this particularly true in France? Has a meal ever changed your life? Do you have a particular food that brings to mind certain memories, certain people?
2. Elizabeth is slow to assimilate into French culture, in spite of her eagerness to do so. Which parts of this adaptation do you think would be the most difficult?
3. Elizabeth faces some linguistic challenges as well as cultural ones, especially when she meets Gwendal’s parents — and introduces them to her own. How does she overcome communication barriers? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to rely on a form of communication other than language?
4. Halfway through a first date with her future husband, Gwendal, Elizabeth goes home with him. How key a role does food play in the seduction that follows? How does sex on a first date play differently between France and America? Does the author seem confused or liberated — or both — by the cultural differences?
5. Elizabeth has some difficulty adjusting to life in Paris after having grown up in New York. What are the main differences she sees between French and American culture?
6. In the beginning, Elizabeth has trouble understanding Gwendal’s lack of a concrete “five year plan.” Throughout the book, how do their different visions of success clash and,ultimately, complement each other?
7. In explaining his frustrations with the French system, Gwendal quotes the American author (and former Paris resident) Henry Miller: “In America, every man is potentially president. Here, every man is potentially a zero.” What do you make of Gwendal’s statement?
8. Elizabeth pushes Gwendal to pursue his career beyond what is generally socially acceptable. What do you make of her effort —and his eventual success?
9. Despite some misgivings, Elizabeth is helpless but to fall in love with French cooking. What would you say typifies Parisian cuisine? If you had to serve a meal "typical" of your culture to a French person, what would it be like? What do you think your way of eating says
about your country and its culture?
10. What meal or dish could you be seduced by — or which would you use to seduce someone?
11. When Elizabeth asks for a “normal”-size piece of cake at a family dinner, she makes a subtle cultural error that takes her a long time to understand. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you missed a social cue but didn’t quite understand what you did wrong?
12. Elizabeth voices serious doubts about raising a child under the French system of health care, after seeing how doctors treated Gwendal’s father. Is her wariness justified? Would you be able to reconcile the French outlook with your own?
13. What will be the ongoing challenges — and opportunities — as Elizabeth and Gwendal continue to shape their life and grow their family in Paris?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Lunch in Paris Readers Guide...
Having finished Elizabeth Bard's Lunch in Paris for the second time, I'll be working on the questions from her Readers Guide and posting a brief summary of the book by April 30th.
Those interested in her Readers Guide will find it on her blog under February 20. A link to the blog was provided in the previous post. As Elizabeth is flying back to New York City tomorrow to resume her book tour and readings, I'm sure she'll appreciate our wishes for safe travel and a successful trip.
Those reading the book for VBC, kindly send me an e-mail and let me know whether you intend to participate in the discussion and how the reading is coming along for you.
Thanks and happy reading!
Those interested in her Readers Guide will find it on her blog under February 20. A link to the blog was provided in the previous post. As Elizabeth is flying back to New York City tomorrow to resume her book tour and readings, I'm sure she'll appreciate our wishes for safe travel and a successful trip.
Those reading the book for VBC, kindly send me an e-mail and let me know whether you intend to participate in the discussion and how the reading is coming along for you.
Thanks and happy reading!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Lunch in Paris
Lunch in Paris, by Elizabeth Bard, is our next foray into virtual book discussion. The author has a web site and a discussion guide. I welcome input for an end date for reading and one for beginning discussion. I know e has two more France/Paris–based books to keep us on the theme: Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay, and Woman in the Fifth, by Douglas Kennedy.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Finally, I've finished.
Before I go on, let me say that it was a good book. A very good book. Unfortunately, it's taken me since late October to slog through it. I'm relieved to say that I'm not the only one who slogged through (two of my coworkers I've found out, said the same) it so at least there's that.
OK, so 'Wind-Up Bird Chronicle'.
When I logged it into my Shelfari page the words 'magical realism' came up. That works. I had that that the 'chronicles' were actually about Mr. Okada, but with more reading I began to wonder if there was something more that was only skimmed. So much is going on in this book, so much that connects somehow, but so little is explained that many questions are left by the time the words are read. Like, what about Cinnamon? What about Cinnamon's father? One can conjecture, but one would rather not. I like back stories and now I feel the need to fly to Japan and get to know some of the places mentioned in the book and perhaps meet Mr. Murakami and shake some answers out of him.
Now I see that no one else as written since late last year, except for Cinnamon to say that she's got a life. Which is what has kept me quiet here and elsewhere. So I hate writing more till I know that someone isn't going to read this and feel cheated that I let something slip.
Anyway, I did enjoy the book and may possibly read more of his stuff. Anybody out there?
OK, so 'Wind-Up Bird Chronicle'.
When I logged it into my Shelfari page the words 'magical realism' came up. That works. I had that that the 'chronicles' were actually about Mr. Okada, but with more reading I began to wonder if there was something more that was only skimmed. So much is going on in this book, so much that connects somehow, but so little is explained that many questions are left by the time the words are read. Like, what about Cinnamon? What about Cinnamon's father? One can conjecture, but one would rather not. I like back stories and now I feel the need to fly to Japan and get to know some of the places mentioned in the book and perhaps meet Mr. Murakami and shake some answers out of him.
Now I see that no one else as written since late last year, except for Cinnamon to say that she's got a life. Which is what has kept me quiet here and elsewhere. So I hate writing more till I know that someone isn't going to read this and feel cheated that I let something slip.
Anyway, I did enjoy the book and may possibly read more of his stuff. Anybody out there?
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Hideous Kinky : E's Comments
Esther Freud's Hideous Kinky, published as a first novel in 1992, is as charming as it is often alarming. A narrative of one family's trip by caravan, train and trek, through Europe and into North Africa, the story is told through the eyes of the youngest of two sisters, who is five at the start.
Set in the 1960's, as the story unfolds, the reader meets the two sisters, their mother and an evolving cast of characters they encounter along the way. We learn that the mother and the girls are English, that they've left home in search of adventure. Though there is a father, he is out of the picture, save for sending money and Christmas gifts to the girls.
Though the mother is a talented seamstress, she appears without further credentials, and makes her way through various adventures either by her wits or with the help of a young Arab man, Bilal. It is Bilal, whom her youngest daughter pointedly asks to be her father, at one point. Largely without resources, the mother and her girls survive from day to day, and she spends a great deal of time worrying whether or not money from England will present itself.
For his part, Bilal also survives by his wits, acrobatic tricks and business schemes, which fall flat, as he is unable to train the narrator of this story to effect more than a handstand. A growing attraction to Sufism compels the girls' mother apart from Bilal as she goes to another town in search of a mystic with whom to broaden her spiritual horizons.
At this juncture, the oldest daughter, Bea, all of eight, announces she's staying put. Headstrong, Bea craves the stability of school and home, as does her younger sister, who dreams of mashed potatoes. Their wandering, self-preoccupied mother, meanwhile, remains oblivious to these needs.
Leaving Bea with an expatriate couple, her mother and the young narrator in this book set out, eventually making their way to yet another town by train, hitch hiking and walking until they find the desired Sufi colony. Gone for weeks on end, growing penury and the event of Bea's birthday finally forces their return to Marrakesh.
Alarmed to learn that Bea is no longer where she left her, the reader finally sees panic set in as her mother searches, eventually locating Bea at a school for children with polio, which is run by yet another ex pat. Meeting her eldest in the midst of her birthday celebration, an event laden with sandwiches, fruits, cake and lemonade, Bea's mother notes a cold reception.
Returning to their previous hotel and its diverse inhabitants, the girls, their mother and Bilal find themselves in dire straits monetarily. It is then that Bilal composes a letter of flourishing prose, exhorting his rich Islamic brethren to show charity and kindness to this English woman. Instructing her to take the letter to the best merchants and others, the girls' mother is thus reduced to begging.
While one would think that this mother would then see sense and return to England, it is not until Bea evidences a nasty gum infection and is taken to see an ex-pat known as Auntie Rose, that the tide turns. Though Rose confirms a gum infection and shows Bea how to gargle with warm water and salt, she is neither doctor nor dentist, advising the girls' mother to simply get them home.
Finally obtaining medication from a doctor, Bea's infection clears, and plans are made to return to England. In a poignant ending, Bea climbs into a barren luggage rack, softly chanting the words hideous kinky to herself as the narrator of this story decides to stay seated with their mother, in case she should suddenly drop her plans to go home, exiting instead at one of the train stops.
While I enjoyed the perspective and narration in Freud's novel, I often found myself wondering what the girls' mother was thinking, first carting them across Europe in a broken down caravan driven by her married boyfriend, while his wife in the back doesn't speak. The only words emerging from her almost catatonic silence are 'hideous kinky', which becomes a soothing mantra for the children as the twists and turns of this otherwise delightful read become too confusing.
The use of the youngest child as narrator in this book provides a comedic, innocent foil against which the restlessness, rootless wandering and spiritual dabbling of her mother contrast sharply. One wonders about the "Daddy in England," whose presents appear at Christmas, the boyfriend John, who leaves with his fragile wife as the others depart for Morocco via ferry from Spain, all of the prostitutes at their hotel in Marrakesh who steal a friend's baby's nappies and other things from them, and the mother's subsequent relationship with an otherwise religious Muslim, whom the narrator claims as her father. The plethora of characters they meet on their various adventures also stand out against the innocence of her narration, sometimes to an alarming degree. The mother's naivete in leaving Bea behind, is but one of many examples of this.
Another is her almost constant penury. Who takes children on a trip with no money and no plan as to how to provide for them? Who makes no plans for a child's education, leaving it to an eight-year-old to announce that she was going to school and needed a uniform? Given that the 60's were an era of hippies and 'free love', some but certainly not all of their mother's preoccupation and longing for adventure, was understandable, but these children seemed more like props on her stage, as did Bilal and John.
The fact that this book is loosely autobiographical is interesting. Freud, an actress turned novelist, appears open to adventure in this book. One wonders whether she is the young narrator of this tale or her more rebellious older sister.
Adapted into a 1998 film of the same title, this book is a refreshing read. As I have yet to see the film, starring Kate Winslett, I've no idea how the movie compares to the book. Has anyone else seen this?
Until Next Time...
Set in the 1960's, as the story unfolds, the reader meets the two sisters, their mother and an evolving cast of characters they encounter along the way. We learn that the mother and the girls are English, that they've left home in search of adventure. Though there is a father, he is out of the picture, save for sending money and Christmas gifts to the girls.
Though the mother is a talented seamstress, she appears without further credentials, and makes her way through various adventures either by her wits or with the help of a young Arab man, Bilal. It is Bilal, whom her youngest daughter pointedly asks to be her father, at one point. Largely without resources, the mother and her girls survive from day to day, and she spends a great deal of time worrying whether or not money from England will present itself.
For his part, Bilal also survives by his wits, acrobatic tricks and business schemes, which fall flat, as he is unable to train the narrator of this story to effect more than a handstand. A growing attraction to Sufism compels the girls' mother apart from Bilal as she goes to another town in search of a mystic with whom to broaden her spiritual horizons.
At this juncture, the oldest daughter, Bea, all of eight, announces she's staying put. Headstrong, Bea craves the stability of school and home, as does her younger sister, who dreams of mashed potatoes. Their wandering, self-preoccupied mother, meanwhile, remains oblivious to these needs.
Leaving Bea with an expatriate couple, her mother and the young narrator in this book set out, eventually making their way to yet another town by train, hitch hiking and walking until they find the desired Sufi colony. Gone for weeks on end, growing penury and the event of Bea's birthday finally forces their return to Marrakesh.
Alarmed to learn that Bea is no longer where she left her, the reader finally sees panic set in as her mother searches, eventually locating Bea at a school for children with polio, which is run by yet another ex pat. Meeting her eldest in the midst of her birthday celebration, an event laden with sandwiches, fruits, cake and lemonade, Bea's mother notes a cold reception.
Returning to their previous hotel and its diverse inhabitants, the girls, their mother and Bilal find themselves in dire straits monetarily. It is then that Bilal composes a letter of flourishing prose, exhorting his rich Islamic brethren to show charity and kindness to this English woman. Instructing her to take the letter to the best merchants and others, the girls' mother is thus reduced to begging.
While one would think that this mother would then see sense and return to England, it is not until Bea evidences a nasty gum infection and is taken to see an ex-pat known as Auntie Rose, that the tide turns. Though Rose confirms a gum infection and shows Bea how to gargle with warm water and salt, she is neither doctor nor dentist, advising the girls' mother to simply get them home.
Finally obtaining medication from a doctor, Bea's infection clears, and plans are made to return to England. In a poignant ending, Bea climbs into a barren luggage rack, softly chanting the words hideous kinky to herself as the narrator of this story decides to stay seated with their mother, in case she should suddenly drop her plans to go home, exiting instead at one of the train stops.
While I enjoyed the perspective and narration in Freud's novel, I often found myself wondering what the girls' mother was thinking, first carting them across Europe in a broken down caravan driven by her married boyfriend, while his wife in the back doesn't speak. The only words emerging from her almost catatonic silence are 'hideous kinky', which becomes a soothing mantra for the children as the twists and turns of this otherwise delightful read become too confusing.
The use of the youngest child as narrator in this book provides a comedic, innocent foil against which the restlessness, rootless wandering and spiritual dabbling of her mother contrast sharply. One wonders about the "Daddy in England," whose presents appear at Christmas, the boyfriend John, who leaves with his fragile wife as the others depart for Morocco via ferry from Spain, all of the prostitutes at their hotel in Marrakesh who steal a friend's baby's nappies and other things from them, and the mother's subsequent relationship with an otherwise religious Muslim, whom the narrator claims as her father. The plethora of characters they meet on their various adventures also stand out against the innocence of her narration, sometimes to an alarming degree. The mother's naivete in leaving Bea behind, is but one of many examples of this.
Another is her almost constant penury. Who takes children on a trip with no money and no plan as to how to provide for them? Who makes no plans for a child's education, leaving it to an eight-year-old to announce that she was going to school and needed a uniform? Given that the 60's were an era of hippies and 'free love', some but certainly not all of their mother's preoccupation and longing for adventure, was understandable, but these children seemed more like props on her stage, as did Bilal and John.
The fact that this book is loosely autobiographical is interesting. Freud, an actress turned novelist, appears open to adventure in this book. One wonders whether she is the young narrator of this tale or her more rebellious older sister.
Adapted into a 1998 film of the same title, this book is a refreshing read. As I have yet to see the film, starring Kate Winslett, I've no idea how the movie compares to the book. Has anyone else seen this?
Until Next Time...
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Sheltering Sky...Some Comments by E
Paul Bowles 1949 book, The Sheltering Sky, focuses on the lives of an American couple and a friend and their travels together in the North African desert. Bowles never answers the question as to why they choose to travel that region, although he hints at marital difficulties between Kit Moresby and her husband, Porter, who it seems, is just seeking adventure and believes Europe to be ruined by war.
Kit is portrayed as rather manipulative; She becomes guilt-ridden after almost responding to the romantic attentions of their friend, Tunner. Her relationship with Porter is noticeably lacking in both romance and genuine affection. Tunner apparently has amorous feelings for Kit, which are never fully explored or explained by the author.
Another hallmark of these characters is that none of them seem aware of the myriad dangers present around them---from disease and bad food to political unrest. There is also the matter of an over-bearing, extremely racist, anti-Semitic English woman and her thieving son, who attempt to befriend the trio. Aside from feeling superior to Jews, the French and Africans, which the reader learns about via increasingly jarring commentary, her character and that of her son, appear to exemplify the worst of English classicism and racism, while Americans are portrayed as ignorant, adventure-seeking fools. Arabs are seen in a somewhat more sympathetic light.
When Porter dies after an unnamed illness, Kit wastes no time in fleeing, leaving Porter's corpse to be discovered by Tunner and the police. Leaving her old life behind, Kit determines to have an adventure of her own, paying no heed to the possible dangers, cultural differences or vagaries of politics that darken the road ahead.
Eventually becoming the concubine of an Arab, Kit also realises she too is ill, a situation that escalates as the last part of the story unfolds. When she is escapes and is at last located by the police and consulate, the woman sent to organise Kit's return to the United States is genuinely shocked at her appearance and attitude and wonders whether Kit has gone mad.
The reader, at least this one, is left with that unanswered question as well as others. and struck by Bowles apparent dislike of his characters.
As an expatriate himself for over fifty years, Bowles may have seen adventurers of every stripe; he is certainly unstinting in his portrayals. An interesting contrast in his own life is that Paul Bowles writing is characterized by dark elements while his musical compositions, for which he is also well known, are of much lighter tone. For more information about the author, visit the official Bowles website at http://www.PaulBowles.org.
The Sheltering Sky is a provacative read.
Kit is portrayed as rather manipulative; She becomes guilt-ridden after almost responding to the romantic attentions of their friend, Tunner. Her relationship with Porter is noticeably lacking in both romance and genuine affection. Tunner apparently has amorous feelings for Kit, which are never fully explored or explained by the author.
Another hallmark of these characters is that none of them seem aware of the myriad dangers present around them---from disease and bad food to political unrest. There is also the matter of an over-bearing, extremely racist, anti-Semitic English woman and her thieving son, who attempt to befriend the trio. Aside from feeling superior to Jews, the French and Africans, which the reader learns about via increasingly jarring commentary, her character and that of her son, appear to exemplify the worst of English classicism and racism, while Americans are portrayed as ignorant, adventure-seeking fools. Arabs are seen in a somewhat more sympathetic light.
When Porter dies after an unnamed illness, Kit wastes no time in fleeing, leaving Porter's corpse to be discovered by Tunner and the police. Leaving her old life behind, Kit determines to have an adventure of her own, paying no heed to the possible dangers, cultural differences or vagaries of politics that darken the road ahead.
Eventually becoming the concubine of an Arab, Kit also realises she too is ill, a situation that escalates as the last part of the story unfolds. When she is escapes and is at last located by the police and consulate, the woman sent to organise Kit's return to the United States is genuinely shocked at her appearance and attitude and wonders whether Kit has gone mad.
The reader, at least this one, is left with that unanswered question as well as others. and struck by Bowles apparent dislike of his characters.
As an expatriate himself for over fifty years, Bowles may have seen adventurers of every stripe; he is certainly unstinting in his portrayals. An interesting contrast in his own life is that Paul Bowles writing is characterized by dark elements while his musical compositions, for which he is also well known, are of much lighter tone. For more information about the author, visit the official Bowles website at http://www.PaulBowles.org.
The Sheltering Sky is a provacative read.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The next 3 Books!
We have 3 winners, with 42% of the votes each!! I have added them to the sidebar for our next 3 months.
I have also added a 'Working List' a bit further down the side bar. I suggest that when any of us thinks of a book they would like to read here, just add the title to this list. Any of the 'contributors/authors' of the blog can do this by going to the edit layout page from the dashboard. Alternatively leave a comment and one of us will do it. It just makes it easier to see at a glance what has been proposed without trawling back through all the comments. I have added all the books which we recently voted on which had one or more vote- and have left off those which had no votes!
Hope everyone is ok with this? I suppose at some stage we should have an explanation of how we choose books on the side bar, but as this is still a work in progress perhaps that should be for later. Feel free to comment if you think anything needs changing....!
Oh one other thing...if we write what we think about each book on one post (ie by adding our comments to the first person's post either by editing that post- because we can edit each other's- or by writing in the comments page) we can link the picture of the books we have read to that post- to make it quicker/easier to find past posts....not sure if I am making sense here...
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Voting Open!
Having read e's post below and Jo's comments, I would like to propose that e chooses the book for October, as she has been having trouble getting books. therefore she can choose one she knows she can get hold of. Then I thought I would try to add a poll to the side bar to see if we can choose the next book few books after that.
I am not sure if it will work, because most of us who read here are co-authors of the blog, will it count as one vote? So I have enable 'multilpe votes' to see if that helps. Of course anyone who visits here who is not a 'co-author' can still vote!
I have tried to include all books suggestions from previous comments pages. I am sorry if I have missed anyone's choice- just leave a comment and we can add it in for next time. I propose that we take the 3 top chioces for our next 3 books. Any suggestions about how this progresses welcome....
Monday, September 14, 2009
My Apologies...
I have yet to receive the Bowles book from my library system. The latest information is that I should get it by September 30, at which time I'll be away and the VBC will have begun the October selection.
Obtaining several of the selections for the VBC has been a persistent problem over the last months. I wonder if we might consider coming up with a short list of reading possibilities through December so that I and others can have a bit of advance time to secure the books via either the library or Amazon?
Also, I wonder if anyone has read any of the novels of Philippe Claudel?
Is anyone open to perhaps reading a play or some poetry?
As we've not yet settled on a selection for October, these are some ideas...
Obtaining several of the selections for the VBC has been a persistent problem over the last months. I wonder if we might consider coming up with a short list of reading possibilities through December so that I and others can have a bit of advance time to secure the books via either the library or Amazon?
Also, I wonder if anyone has read any of the novels of Philippe Claudel?
Is anyone open to perhaps reading a play or some poetry?
As we've not yet settled on a selection for October, these are some ideas...
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo- Cinnamon's thoughts
note- this may give away details of the plot....
A satisfying read. All the loose ends tied up at the end. A substantial plot with several climaxes. As a crime thriller though, not for the fainthearted. If this were a film it would have a rating of '18' at least. The scenes of sadistic rape and torture were painful to read. Each section of the book is introduced by a presumably accurate statistic about the extent of sexual violence and domestic abuse against women in Sweden. Shocking. I am uncertain whether the cause of these women is served by fictionalising this violence. Larsson makes good points about the role of power and its misuse in these situations. Although Lisbeth's revenge (against her guardian) is clever, I was uncomfortable knowing that our justice systems today are up against people of such cunning evil that no other option would be open to a victim. Abduction, torture and murder of disenfranchised women continues today and the novel seems to suggest that the high-profile serial-killer cases that come to light are just the tip of the iceberg.
The evil of fascist, neo-Nazi politics and the criminal activities of big corporations are other causes for reflection. As is the apparent ease with which it is possible for someone with the know-how to hack into a computer. I have been so naive!
I was surprised when the name of Enid Blyton came up when the authors on a bookshelf (was it Henrik's?) were listed. I later read that Larsson was a fan, also of Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking- on whom he based the character of Lisbeth ( a grown-up version). Mmmm.. a very grown up version!
There were many autobiographical elements- the author himself was a journalist, a vehement anti-nazi campaigner, a publisher of Expo, an independent Swedish anti-racist magazine, and himself a veteran of death threats. So we can surmise the character of Blomkvist is based on Larsson. Sadly the author, a 60-a-day smoker and a workaholic, died aged 50 from a heart attack in 2004- take note any driven authors out there.
I thought the pacing of the book was brilliant- considering the 2 main investigators do not even meet until the middle of the book, the threads of the strory were very cleverly woven. I thought all the characters were plausible (even Lisbeth)- but it is not edifying to think that we are so flawed as these characters are portrayed. It is not edifying to think that relationships are carried on in the absence of love. It is not edifying to think of the skeletons in our family histories- but all sadly plausible.
When we read the Martha Grimes I felt I was an outsider trying to get to grips with a group of characters that had a history together. The same is true of other series of books- Enid Blyton's 'The Famous Five', for example- you can't just read one in isolation- you have to read to read them in sequence. Larsson has 2 more in this trilogy. I am very tempted to see where he takes these characters next...
Friday, September 4, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Fugitive Pieces- Cinnamon's thoughts
I found the first part of this book to be both a sobering and heartening read. 'Enjoyable' is not the word, considering the subject matter- the massacre of seven year-old Jakob's family at Nazi hands, his escape to Greece and the profound effect that witnessing this and other horrors has on his life, including his haunting by his murdered sister Bella. The message is eventually of healing; a peace that comes through the self-expression of poetry.
The relationship between Jakob and his rescuer/'Godfather' ('koumbaros'), was well drawn- the tenderness and respect they have for each other; their shared suffering resulting in a mutual understanding which can only be described as pure love.
Jakob receives a most amazing education from geologist Athos, who literally digs him out of the mud at Biskupin. Athos has a grip on our rootedness (if there is such a word!) in history and on the earth. "What is a man", said Athos, "who has no landscape? Nothing but mirrors and tides." I loved the descriptions of Greece, their friendships, their conversations, their shared discoveries.
Jakob speaks Yiddish, Polish and a smattering of German. With Athos he learns Hebrew, Greek and eventually English. The redemption of language is displayed in this novel. For Jakob, remembering his experiences in Polish or Greek is too painful- the memories are bound up in the language. However he finds that English is one step removed "English could protect me; an alphabet without memory". He starts to write poetry and makes the telling statement "Poetry, the power of language to restore".
Anne Michaels, the author, skillfully weaves in snippets of stories about Nazi occupation of Greece and their treatment of the Jewish people- each atrocity revealed by a hint or a glimpse fills the reader with fresh horror. It is very difficult to write about such subject matter in a work of fiction, but I think the author does it well. Such is her evocation of the effects of these horros on the survivors that when in part 2 Ben's father (a ghetto survivor and escapee) tries to enrol for a Canadian pension and comes face-to-face with an ex-Nazi (one presumes) now working in Canadian civil service, the cruelly whispered words "you do not have the right papers" sends chills down the spine.
Jakob talks about photographs he later sees of Nazi officers carrying out their 'duties'- how their faces are are captured laughing as if they do not believe they are doing anything wrong- as if they really believe that the people they are humiliating are not part of humanity- they are less than human- they are vermin. Jakob does not believe this however- he does not believe that they didn't know. He believes that deep down they each knew their victims were fully human. Their faces are lying, he says, and he finds this frightening. "If truth is not in the face then where is it? In the hands! In the hands!"
The second part of the story attempts to relate Jakob's story and experience to Ben, the son of a ghetto-survivor. The author wishes, I think, to show how history effects subsequent generations on a personal level. Ben comes to understand, for example, that his father's unusual behaviour and intense sadness around food; the fact that his mother sometimes has to soothe his father's head as he eats, can be explained by the dehumanising experiences of starvation in the ghetto.
Whilst the author makes some important observations here, I found this second part of the book more difficult to read- partly because I was still too lost in Jakob's story and still too amazed by his miraculous relationship with Michaela, to really want to focus on Ben and his relationships. The scenes of him picking through the deceased Jakob's possessions would ring true with anyone who has had to clear the belongongs of a deceased family member. I thought it was interesting that Ben found that Jakob had a collection of buttons- maybe this was Jakob's way of connecting with his mother who was sewing on buttons at the time of her death and all the boy Jakob could hear was the sound of the buttons clattering onto the floor...
So those are my thoughts! I am yet to find out if Jakob Beer was a real poet as is implied by the preface, or whether he has any published work. I'm off to google...
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Fugitive Pieces mini-Review
Well, like the last book, this one took me way too long to read. I again resorted to speed reading otherwise I'd have ended up sleeping away a century. I won't say much about this book, but will wait to see what other may say.
I have read several stories with this narrative style. I've written in this narrative style. I've come to the conclusion that I don't like this narrative style. I especially didn't like it toward the last 50 pages when I completely lost the thread of the story and the narrator changed and started talking in the second person.
What's that about? Again, I've written using 'you' instead of 'I' or 'he/she'. But that was one short story and the narrator never changed. Didn't like it this time.
I guess I didn't like it. Sorry to be so negative.
I did like the point about the gradual instant though. That was nifty. I can imagine long convos dedicated to the gradual instant.
I have read several stories with this narrative style. I've written in this narrative style. I've come to the conclusion that I don't like this narrative style. I especially didn't like it toward the last 50 pages when I completely lost the thread of the story and the narrator changed and started talking in the second person.
What's that about? Again, I've written using 'you' instead of 'I' or 'he/she'. But that was one short story and the narrator never changed. Didn't like it this time.
I guess I didn't like it. Sorry to be so negative.
I did like the point about the gradual instant though. That was nifty. I can imagine long convos dedicated to the gradual instant.
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