Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Twelve members attended this book club discussion in February 2020. This was the last discussion we would have together when CoVid struck. We were no longer able to gather together in person, but was able to meet in August through Zoom.
This is the third novel that we have read by this author, having read in the past: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry and A Man Called Ove. A few members have read other books he has written and one member said she just read the sequel: Us Against You.
We found he did a remarkable job with the characters. Someone said "he is so good at what he does it almost wears you out as he pulls you in." "He is a Master at Human Behavior!" How believable the characters are someone said. Someone also said that there were a lot of characters in the story. Another said all the characters were overwhelming but then it all fit together.
Many of us liked the hockey theme in the story. Someone grew up in northern MN where hockey rules and another had a couple nephews that were goalies. A member noted we were reading this and it was the 40th Anniversary of Miracle on Ice for US Mens Hockey.
The story is about community. It is also a story about how powerful pride can be, but if something happens, how divided it can be, according to a member. Hate is easy, loving is hard. From Chapter 35: "Hate can be a deeply stimulating emotion. The world becomes much easier to understand and much less terrifying if you divide everything and everyone into friends and enemies, we and they, good and evil. The easiest way to unite a group isn't through love, because love is hard. It makes demands. Hate is simple."
Of course we talked about the characters in the story. How people gathered around Kevin. Someone said they liked Amat and his Mom. They found his character to be strong and loyal. Kira was a remarkable woman. She wasn't fond of the town, but went because of Peter, found her element when working and yet, loved being a mother and felt torn. She was a protector of her daughter. There were also many secrets in the story with these characters. People weren't always talking. Benji had an interesting storyline. He was a bear, a protector of his teammates and Kevin and then when the incident happens he is protective of Maya.
A member said: "The book left me sometimes crying, sometimes laughing and sometimes so mad!" Another said: "It was a good winter read." It really was a good read. Someone said they have read four of his books and each one feels different than they other.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Thursday, November 21, 2019
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
UPCOMING BOOKS
November 19
BOOK CLUB SELECTION
Members give 2-3 ideas on a book they would like the group to read. From that, we choose what we would like to read in the upcoming months. We will be meeting off site.
December 17
Holiday Party
We will be meeting off site for this event.
January 28
The Hidden Life of Trees
by Peter Wohlleben
February 25
Beartown
by Fredrik Backman
March 24
The Other Einstein
by Marie Benedict
Monday, September 9, 2019
Sept 24 Plot Against America by Philip Roth
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace
Our July gathering had 13 members ready to give their view about this interesting book. Those that liked it, thought it was a good summer read, light for the thought! Someone said if you like tall tales, you would love the book. One member said, "When I first started reading I was like, what kind of book is this? Then I liked it and saw where it was going." Another said she liked it, fun summer read and had listened to it, the reader had a very good southern accent." Some members did not like it, they commented: "Surprised that I never heard of this. I found it frustrating trying to figure out what was real and what isn't. I just wanted to latch onto something that was real." "Couldn't get into the book, kept waiting for it to make sense. Reminded me of my husband as he would make a joke about things!" "Didn't like the book, thought the second half was better than the first, but would have never read it." I think the majority of the group did, however, enjoy the book! Our leader who had selected the book for our group said this "Read it three times! I selected this book because my teen age son said 'Mom, you have to read this book!' The second time found the nuances, had to stop and think, saw it in a new light. The third time, it was a literature experience, did the book do it's job? I think it did."
One member said "An author who takes on the subject of death and turns it into a fun and adventurous read is very talented." And one person said, "Fantastic imagination and loved that they turned it into a movie, and was on Broadway too." Some had seen the movie, and said the movie is different. One part that was different was at the end, the characters really come when he passes.
A member said, "It made me a little sad that the Dad didn't know who his son really was. The father liked to joke, didn't like showing his feelings, the corny jokes were his way of connecting. Another said this "I thought it was sad, many missed opportunities. The dad could spin webs but couldn't connect with his son."
Stories make us immortal. Edward wanted to be a big fish in a big pond. Our parents are larger than life, this was a story of how William viewed his Dad. Through the tall tales, he got to know his father better. His dad wanted to be successful, his son wanted his dad at home He wanted love and acceptance, and attention from his father, to have a serious talk with his Dad, without making it some myth or a joke. Did he look at it with rose colored glasses on? He wanted his Dad's story to be good. We do that sometimes. We look at things and want them to be good, but deep down we know it was not that good. Edward had made a list that he wanted to pass to his son. Someone said that through the book the dad/son were dysfunctional and distant at first, but became closer at the end.
There were three different "stories" about William saying goodbye to his Dad. Some felt that the three stories were Edward telling the story and finally at the end William told his version of what happened. We thought at the end, he was a great man, he did love his son, he loved and respected who you were. We also talked about there are different ways to look at grief, different ways of going through it. Someone felt the ending was "very weird," how he swam away!
We did comment that memory gives us different stories. If you take siblings and ask them to share a story about the same place, each one will share what they see and heard and all will be different. No two people will remember the situation the same. It changes a little, when we tell a story. Memory isn't always reliable. Truth to one person, is not the same truth to the other.
We enjoyed the jokes, the patient to doctor joke, the stories, the one with the woman who had a glass eye, and talked about the town with the dog that was biting people. Why? The dog was fear, they couldn't leave without losing a part of yourself, you weren't strong enough to leave. The town's name was Spectre, which means ghost!
We had a great discussion and it was certainly a different book! Many left wanting to see the movie!