Friday, July 13, 2018
Thursday, July 12, 2018
The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
What a great discussion we had with The Nest! Thirteen members were able to attend the meeting and most liked the book.
As we went around our table, sharing our name and whether we liked the book or not and why, the first person said: "I did enjoy the book, but was "pissed off" at Leo. He definitely had that effect on people. Another said they loved the book, and the sibling interaction kept their interest all the way through, and someone added that family dynamics were a big part of the book. One member said she was surprised by the siblings, but they are who they are! "Many of us have had this type of family after our parents died," someone mentioned and then a few chimed in with a "yes!" There was humor in the book, someone said.
One person said the characters were not likable, they were whining a lot. Someone said they liked the writing, but got bored with the story, thought they should have some real problems. "They really didn't 'need' the money," she said, "and Leo showed them they didn't need it." Another said "it seemed like "fluff" to me, how dysfunctional can it be?" And one more said they didn't see the humor in the dysfunctional family, so she didn't really enjoy it.
The Nest was money set aside by their father, and available when the youngest was 40. We discussed that they were all dependent on that money. Did the father, when he set it up, plan it to be such a nest egg?
We talked about the characters -- there were 65 in all. Click here for the link We first talked about Francine, their mother. We felt she was selfish and extremely sneaky. She knew she wasn't a good mom and she didn't care. "The story of the birthday party, was one time I liked Leo." someone said.
Leo, another one said, "had two redeeming moments, the birthday party and at the end, when he turned away and left the sister have her happiness." We wondered did she see him? She tensed up, making some think she saw him. But then she said she had seen him several times during the trip. Bea, was the one who genuinely cared for him. Did anyone really like Leo? He was impulsive and he was charismatic. "When Leo met with Nathan it was like looking in the mirror." was a comment from someone in the group. "Leo saw Leo for what he was. He thought he'd be golden and he wasn't, he was tarnished." Leo was "into himself" and "self-serving." It wasn't his fault for taking the money, someone said, it was their mother, she wanted to save her husband and her. But Leo had the money and could have made it right, he took the easy way out. Instead, Leo fled, he was use to running. Another person commented, "old money, you don't have to work."
Jack, Leo's brother was an antique store owner, dealer, and such a liar! What he did to Walker! Walker gave him the benefit of the doubt. Leo was the star of the show and Leo's little brother was not measuring up and could not come into his "own."
Bea did not find Jack as repulsive as the others did. Surprised she wasn't so nurturing, she tried. They didn't have a mother who was nurturing to teach them. Most of the time in families, it is the oldest daughter who is the nurturer, but she didn't have that skill.
Melanie, the youngest daughter, was full of pretense. She wanted to have everything. Her husband was such a good influence. She didn't need Jack to store her furniture after the house was sold. She had her redeeming moment at that time.
Stephanie was well-liked. She had a big influence on Leo. She tried to turn Leo around. At the end Leo thought Stephanie was going to come after him. They did really love each other. She did, though, want to be alone, she didn't want any man. She thought Leo was bad for her. She was a great mom.
Matilda/Vinnie -- she ends up getting a big "nest" but blows it on family. Kind of sad, she was going to buy boots to go up to her thigh. The money never gives anything good, causes a lot of conflict. Liked the Matilda/Vinnie part. The statue with Tommy, same thing. It was sentimental. Don't put it above people, like money.
Many of us thought this will be a great movie. Some may describe it about family, others about money. Is Leo a believable character? There is a Leo in every family, someone said, and it wasn't a well-rounded family. All the partners were likable, much more than the siblings.
As we went around our table, sharing our name and whether we liked the book or not and why, the first person said: "I did enjoy the book, but was "pissed off" at Leo. He definitely had that effect on people. Another said they loved the book, and the sibling interaction kept their interest all the way through, and someone added that family dynamics were a big part of the book. One member said she was surprised by the siblings, but they are who they are! "Many of us have had this type of family after our parents died," someone mentioned and then a few chimed in with a "yes!" There was humor in the book, someone said.
One person said the characters were not likable, they were whining a lot. Someone said they liked the writing, but got bored with the story, thought they should have some real problems. "They really didn't 'need' the money," she said, "and Leo showed them they didn't need it." Another said "it seemed like "fluff" to me, how dysfunctional can it be?" And one more said they didn't see the humor in the dysfunctional family, so she didn't really enjoy it.
The Nest was money set aside by their father, and available when the youngest was 40. We discussed that they were all dependent on that money. Did the father, when he set it up, plan it to be such a nest egg?
We talked about the characters -- there were 65 in all. Click here for the link We first talked about Francine, their mother. We felt she was selfish and extremely sneaky. She knew she wasn't a good mom and she didn't care. "The story of the birthday party, was one time I liked Leo." someone said.
Leo, another one said, "had two redeeming moments, the birthday party and at the end, when he turned away and left the sister have her happiness." We wondered did she see him? She tensed up, making some think she saw him. But then she said she had seen him several times during the trip. Bea, was the one who genuinely cared for him. Did anyone really like Leo? He was impulsive and he was charismatic. "When Leo met with Nathan it was like looking in the mirror." was a comment from someone in the group. "Leo saw Leo for what he was. He thought he'd be golden and he wasn't, he was tarnished." Leo was "into himself" and "self-serving." It wasn't his fault for taking the money, someone said, it was their mother, she wanted to save her husband and her. But Leo had the money and could have made it right, he took the easy way out. Instead, Leo fled, he was use to running. Another person commented, "old money, you don't have to work."
Jack, Leo's brother was an antique store owner, dealer, and such a liar! What he did to Walker! Walker gave him the benefit of the doubt. Leo was the star of the show and Leo's little brother was not measuring up and could not come into his "own."
Bea did not find Jack as repulsive as the others did. Surprised she wasn't so nurturing, she tried. They didn't have a mother who was nurturing to teach them. Most of the time in families, it is the oldest daughter who is the nurturer, but she didn't have that skill.
Melanie, the youngest daughter, was full of pretense. She wanted to have everything. Her husband was such a good influence. She didn't need Jack to store her furniture after the house was sold. She had her redeeming moment at that time.
Stephanie was well-liked. She had a big influence on Leo. She tried to turn Leo around. At the end Leo thought Stephanie was going to come after him. They did really love each other. She did, though, want to be alone, she didn't want any man. She thought Leo was bad for her. She was a great mom.
Matilda/Vinnie -- she ends up getting a big "nest" but blows it on family. Kind of sad, she was going to buy boots to go up to her thigh. The money never gives anything good, causes a lot of conflict. Liked the Matilda/Vinnie part. The statue with Tommy, same thing. It was sentimental. Don't put it above people, like money.
Many of us thought this will be a great movie. Some may describe it about family, others about money. Is Leo a believable character? There is a Leo in every family, someone said, and it wasn't a well-rounded family. All the partners were likable, much more than the siblings.
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