The prolific Anne Tyler is an author I have never read, and in a matter of a short time, have read "Saint Maybe" and through another book club, "Noah's Compass. " One more book "Back When We Were Grown Ups" awaits my break in books, begging to be read.
What did the Park Grove Library Book Club members think when we discussed this book at our September meeting? Most liked it, a couple did not. One stated "Didn't hate it, didn't love it."
"Could have happened to anyone in real life, " someone stated, "things like that happen."
Inside the book cover, we read: In 1965 the Bedloe family lives on a quiet street in Baltimore. It is an "ideal, apple-pie household," and seventeen-year-old Ian has all the usual expectations and dreams for the future. One of our first questions had to do with Ian. Was it his fault? Did his feelings toward Lucy play a role? We commented that he was aroused by his sister-in-law and had to take a step back regarding his feelings surfacing and guilt. He was taken advantage of with babysitting. He didn't understand her, was trying to put that together like a puzzle piece. We, the readers, felt we didn't know anything about her, were mystified by her. What kind of woman would send a bowling ball through the mail?
After the tragedy, Ian takes care of the children, along with his parents. We talked about the children's effort to marry him off, one time planning to have Miss Pennington join them at their home for an evening meal. Agatha and Thomas took care of Daphne when she was little. Agatha did what she needed to do to keep the family together, even hiding papers in her jewelry box, telling Thomas not to tell anyone or they'll ship us off to some strangers.
Ian wondered if he had done the right things in his life, did he make the right choices with the kids. We talked about that most peoples life don't go exactly as planned. We thought good morals were stressed through the whole book, and family values. Would the grandparents have kept the kids if they didn't have Ian? Was he a hero? Was he a Saint? Maybe.
Did we like how the book ended? We didn't get the happily ever after. We felt he was helping in someone else's life, becoming a dad again, sacrificing life again.
Footnote: Agatha eventually married, became an oncologist, still taking care of people. Thomas, the middle child, Monica found out in the search of the book, was a software programmer inventing children's games.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
September Book Club Selection
Tuesday, Sept 25 we will meet at the Park Grove Branch library from 6:30-8:00 p.m. to discuss Anne Tyler's book Saint Maybe (click on this link to go to Amazon). Monica made this book her suggestion, saying that it was "one of about 3 or 4 novels that I come back to again and again." Nothing is better than losing yourself in a good novel, and I think as much as I have read of this book, I might be agreeing with Monica!
If you have any questions regarding our Book Club, please see one of the librarians at the Park Grove Branch. Read the book and join us.
If you have any questions regarding our Book Club, please see one of the librarians at the Park Grove Branch. Read the book and join us.
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Where is the Hiding Place that Corrie Ten Boom speaks? There were several thoughts about where we found "hiding places" through out this book. Corrie Ten Boom shares with us her view as she, a single 50 year old woman, started hiding people in her family's home, people who were being persecuted by the Nazi's as they invaded The Netherlands. The book goes forward, to Corrie's 10 months of her own "capture," then to the years following the war, and to a rehab center that Corrie opened, as Betsie, Corrie's sister, had seen in her visions while at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp.
One hiding place was in the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp as the women were not bothered in their barracks by workers who thought the residents had "fleas." Betsie and Corrie were able to read and share God's word because of this. The hiding place was prominent in Corrie's family's home. A room only 2 1/2 feet wide was created within Corrie's small bedroom, and was host to many, including six people that were left behind after Corrie & her family were taken away by the Nazi. They were safe, as Corrie found out later. Another thought was that Jesus was hiding in their heart. By hiding in Jesus, through His Word, through His inspiration, they were able to survive the concentration camp, the horrors that they experienced, felt and saw.
What did we think as we talked about this book? Most of us loved the book and thanked Freda for picking this book for us to read. A few found it difficult to read, knowing that it was a true story, the subject matter was hard to avoid, and the horror of it.
Corrie's father tells her that he pities the Nazi's: "They have touched the apple of God's eye." What did this mean to us? Our discussion: "The Jewish people were God's eye, his chosen people. Nazi's were going against God's eye. He loved the Jewish people, his first people" we agreed. We saw that Corrie's father, Casper, was well loved in Harlem, and respected all people and loved all people, had a love for God, and knew that the Jewish people were God's first chosen people.
Another question had us discuss what we felt the kind of woman Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie were. What sustained them during their ordeal in the concentration camps? To what do you attribute Corrie's courage and survival in the face of so much death and hardship? We felt that Betsie was perfect or at least perfect in Corrie's memory. She found the good in others and prayed for others that Corrie would have never thought of. Betsie said "pray every day that love is greater." What sustained them? Reading the Bible every night, their upbringing, they could recall verses. They also had learned from their dad. We also agreed that Corrie was strong, hopping on her bike to deliver and get news and items needed, when there were many dire situations. We agreed there were lots of miracles through out this book.
We also found it interesting of Betsie's vision materialized for Corrie to help with rehabilitation after the war. Betsie said "have to forgive to go on."
How is Corrie like her fathers clocks? We answered with "reliable, fine tuned, adjustable like the pendulum, precious, tending to it, and taking care of it at all times." We talked about why Corrie chose to start the book much earlier then the war years. We felt it helped lay down about the family, about their belief and was needed in this book.
We discussed how hard it was for Corrie to get back to Harlem after being released from Ravensbruck. We were amazed that she was able to get some of her items back, the good booking that were kept on these prisoners.
We had some discussion of WWII and Hitler's affect on the German people. We also discussed that Corrie ten Boom went out to share her story of Hope and Forgiveness world wide. As a teen I remember reading this book, and hearing Corrie ten Boom speak.
Feel free to add more thoughts to this discussion, your own, or those that we discussed the night of book club! Thanks again, to Diane for opening her home for this special evening, Freda for leading the discussion and the group for bringing the eats!
Corrie ten Boom's web site has a great page of History. Click on the word History to read more.
One hiding place was in the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp as the women were not bothered in their barracks by workers who thought the residents had "fleas." Betsie and Corrie were able to read and share God's word because of this. The hiding place was prominent in Corrie's family's home. A room only 2 1/2 feet wide was created within Corrie's small bedroom, and was host to many, including six people that were left behind after Corrie & her family were taken away by the Nazi. They were safe, as Corrie found out later. Another thought was that Jesus was hiding in their heart. By hiding in Jesus, through His Word, through His inspiration, they were able to survive the concentration camp, the horrors that they experienced, felt and saw.
What did we think as we talked about this book? Most of us loved the book and thanked Freda for picking this book for us to read. A few found it difficult to read, knowing that it was a true story, the subject matter was hard to avoid, and the horror of it.
Corrie's father tells her that he pities the Nazi's: "They have touched the apple of God's eye." What did this mean to us? Our discussion: "The Jewish people were God's eye, his chosen people. Nazi's were going against God's eye. He loved the Jewish people, his first people" we agreed. We saw that Corrie's father, Casper, was well loved in Harlem, and respected all people and loved all people, had a love for God, and knew that the Jewish people were God's first chosen people.
Another question had us discuss what we felt the kind of woman Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie were. What sustained them during their ordeal in the concentration camps? To what do you attribute Corrie's courage and survival in the face of so much death and hardship? We felt that Betsie was perfect or at least perfect in Corrie's memory. She found the good in others and prayed for others that Corrie would have never thought of. Betsie said "pray every day that love is greater." What sustained them? Reading the Bible every night, their upbringing, they could recall verses. They also had learned from their dad. We also agreed that Corrie was strong, hopping on her bike to deliver and get news and items needed, when there were many dire situations. We agreed there were lots of miracles through out this book.
We also found it interesting of Betsie's vision materialized for Corrie to help with rehabilitation after the war. Betsie said "have to forgive to go on."
How is Corrie like her fathers clocks? We answered with "reliable, fine tuned, adjustable like the pendulum, precious, tending to it, and taking care of it at all times." We talked about why Corrie chose to start the book much earlier then the war years. We felt it helped lay down about the family, about their belief and was needed in this book.
We discussed how hard it was for Corrie to get back to Harlem after being released from Ravensbruck. We were amazed that she was able to get some of her items back, the good booking that were kept on these prisoners.
We had some discussion of WWII and Hitler's affect on the German people. We also discussed that Corrie ten Boom went out to share her story of Hope and Forgiveness world wide. As a teen I remember reading this book, and hearing Corrie ten Boom speak.
Feel free to add more thoughts to this discussion, your own, or those that we discussed the night of book club! Thanks again, to Diane for opening her home for this special evening, Freda for leading the discussion and the group for bringing the eats!
Corrie ten Boom's web site has a great page of History. Click on the word History to read more.
The Healing by Jonathan Odell
All loved the novel. Someone said "If I can see it as a movie, it must be well written." We had also read, as a book club, Someone Knows My Name, which we felt shared a different aspect of the slavery issue, maybe more actual accounts?
We talked about the healing, healing out of slavery, which was more then just papers. We thought there would be confusion about what freedom really was. We agreed there were isolation aspects because slaves didn't move in and out of this plantation, like other plantations in the south. Polly Shine, as a healer was $5,000 back in those days. This was a big plantation back in 1847. Polly treat causes, not just the symptoms. Polly would whisper hope in the ear of the one she worked on healing. We felt Polly worked with body, mind and soul. We were reminded that the white doctors back then wouldn't treat the southern black. Polly recognized in Granada the same gifts.
Granada was taken under Polly's wing, finally found the respect for Polly. When Granada spoke to Violet, she questioned whether she had made the right choice, not leaving with Polly. She said some of us picked wrong.
We talked about the characters, the monkey Daniel Webster, the snack, the part Silas played in the plantation and with Polly, and Charity's granddaughter Violet helping to finish the journey.
We acknowledged in the book the "tangled web" that was spoken and weaved through out the book. In Chapter 43, Polly says: "She say, the difference in weavers is, some see the tangle and others see the weave. The ones that can't take their eyes off the tangle, they never rise above it." "It's the weave you got to remember, Granada. It's bigger than you and me leave this place and go to wherever it is Rubina is waiting. Just a tangle, Granada. The next chapter talks about Granada thinking "about the threads that stitch folks together. About daughters and mothers and mother's mothers touching through time."
There is so much more to discuss in this book, many aspects that we did touch on. I hope that anyone that was involved in the discussion or if you have further discussion, please share your thoughts.
I will add that we would agree on one thing. "If I can see it as a movie, it must be well written." It was.
We talked about the healing, healing out of slavery, which was more then just papers. We thought there would be confusion about what freedom really was. We agreed there were isolation aspects because slaves didn't move in and out of this plantation, like other plantations in the south. Polly Shine, as a healer was $5,000 back in those days. This was a big plantation back in 1847. Polly treat causes, not just the symptoms. Polly would whisper hope in the ear of the one she worked on healing. We felt Polly worked with body, mind and soul. We were reminded that the white doctors back then wouldn't treat the southern black. Polly recognized in Granada the same gifts.
Granada was taken under Polly's wing, finally found the respect for Polly. When Granada spoke to Violet, she questioned whether she had made the right choice, not leaving with Polly. She said some of us picked wrong.
We talked about the characters, the monkey Daniel Webster, the snack, the part Silas played in the plantation and with Polly, and Charity's granddaughter Violet helping to finish the journey.
We acknowledged in the book the "tangled web" that was spoken and weaved through out the book. In Chapter 43, Polly says: "She say, the difference in weavers is, some see the tangle and others see the weave. The ones that can't take their eyes off the tangle, they never rise above it." "It's the weave you got to remember, Granada. It's bigger than you and me leave this place and go to wherever it is Rubina is waiting. Just a tangle, Granada. The next chapter talks about Granada thinking "about the threads that stitch folks together. About daughters and mothers and mother's mothers touching through time."
There is so much more to discuss in this book, many aspects that we did touch on. I hope that anyone that was involved in the discussion or if you have further discussion, please share your thoughts.
I will add that we would agree on one thing. "If I can see it as a movie, it must be well written." It was.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Summer Read
Nothing is more relaxing in summer then reading a book, while on the beach or in the backyard on the patio! What are you reading this summer? Any good book suggestions you want to share, new or old?
Thursday, May 24, 2012
To Kill A Mockingbird
We had a group of sixteen participants discussing this month's book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Thirteen members liked or loved the book, a few saying it was their all time favorite, and many thanking Cora for choosing this book to read. One person said "It wasn't as good as I remember," and another said it was an "engaging story, but didn't get the whole fuss." Even with a classic novel it is good to have diverse views and thoughts. Someone said it would be good to have a sequel or more to the book, but this is Harper Lee's only published novel. She received a Pulitzer-Prize for it in 1960.
Cora, our leader, shared with us, that the story reflects some aspects of Harper Lee's life as a child. Harper Lee's father was an attorney and a state legislator paralleling to what Atticus was in the novel. The well spoken, articulate young Scout declared her love for Dill, who visited in the summer, and was beholding to her and would marry her someday. Cora shared that the character Dill was similar to Harper's real next door neighbor Truman Capote. After listening to Cora, I did read online that Truman Capote also said that Boo Radley really did put items in the tree, and lived just down the street from them.
This is such a great discussion book. We felt the storyline was very detailed and descriptive. We read that life was routine, and at times, life was unbearable.
We agreed Atticus Finch was way ahead of his time. Their maid, Calpurnia was a strong part of their family. Scout and Jem even went to where Cal lived, although it was in a separate part of town. We also observed that she was different in their home than she was at church or with folks while away from her work. We discussed how we adapt to our environment and take on characteristics, like our speech and language, of those we are with.
We saw that Atticus taught his children that all people are created equal. He also could see from others' perspective, even someone who disagreed with him. We were glad when Atticus sister came to help with the family, and that Calpurnia stayed. Cal, Atticus and his sister, "Aunt Alexandra" as Jem and Scout called her, worked together to help their family during the busy trial time.
"There's four kinds of folks in the world. There's the ordinary kind, like us and the neighbors, there's the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes." This is a comment someone mentioned even the youngsters knew there was a pecking order. After Jem's comment, Scout said she believed that there was just one kind of people.
We did talk about prejudices through out this book and also who were the "Mockingbirds." Jem and Scout received their air guns and Atticus said they can shoot the blue jays, but it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. Besides the injustice to Tom Robinson, we felt that Mayella Ewell also was trapped in her life. She couldn't leave her house, just like Boo Radley couldn't leave his.
I want to add, that although this is just a small part of what we discussed, the book brought many more thoughts and comments than we could put down in writing. One of the best reasons for being a part of a group, like a book club, is that we are thinking out loud, with one another, sharing comments and thoughts freely, and learning while we discuss. We share what we have seen in our lifetime, and how it may have affected others or ourselves. The discussion enriches our interpretation of a book.
Cora, our leader, shared with us, that the story reflects some aspects of Harper Lee's life as a child. Harper Lee's father was an attorney and a state legislator paralleling to what Atticus was in the novel. The well spoken, articulate young Scout declared her love for Dill, who visited in the summer, and was beholding to her and would marry her someday. Cora shared that the character Dill was similar to Harper's real next door neighbor Truman Capote. After listening to Cora, I did read online that Truman Capote also said that Boo Radley really did put items in the tree, and lived just down the street from them.
This is such a great discussion book. We felt the storyline was very detailed and descriptive. We read that life was routine, and at times, life was unbearable.
We agreed Atticus Finch was way ahead of his time. Their maid, Calpurnia was a strong part of their family. Scout and Jem even went to where Cal lived, although it was in a separate part of town. We also observed that she was different in their home than she was at church or with folks while away from her work. We discussed how we adapt to our environment and take on characteristics, like our speech and language, of those we are with.
We saw that Atticus taught his children that all people are created equal. He also could see from others' perspective, even someone who disagreed with him. We were glad when Atticus sister came to help with the family, and that Calpurnia stayed. Cal, Atticus and his sister, "Aunt Alexandra" as Jem and Scout called her, worked together to help their family during the busy trial time.
"There's four kinds of folks in the world. There's the ordinary kind, like us and the neighbors, there's the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes." This is a comment someone mentioned even the youngsters knew there was a pecking order. After Jem's comment, Scout said she believed that there was just one kind of people.
We did talk about prejudices through out this book and also who were the "Mockingbirds." Jem and Scout received their air guns and Atticus said they can shoot the blue jays, but it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. Besides the injustice to Tom Robinson, we felt that Mayella Ewell also was trapped in her life. She couldn't leave her house, just like Boo Radley couldn't leave his.
I want to add, that although this is just a small part of what we discussed, the book brought many more thoughts and comments than we could put down in writing. One of the best reasons for being a part of a group, like a book club, is that we are thinking out loud, with one another, sharing comments and thoughts freely, and learning while we discuss. We share what we have seen in our lifetime, and how it may have affected others or ourselves. The discussion enriches our interpretation of a book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)