Kristie hosted February's meeting to discuss Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. You're going to have to excuse the lack of detail in my recap; the discussion was so engrossing, I kept forgetting to write the notes!
Everyone enjoyed this book very much. Kristie remarked that she liked Stegner's intellectual approach to writing. Kathleen mentioned that this novel seemed very much of its time (late 70s, early 80s), which she recalls as having many more books and films exploring adult issues and interests than we see today. Betty particularly liked the descriptions of Vermont and of Italy.
There was, of course, much discussion of the nature of the two marriages and their differences and similarities. Carole and Shirley both commented on how Charity and Sid did not live their lives as their natures would have dictated; Shirley said Charity could have been the chairman of General Motors (we all agreed), and wondered what would have happened to this marriage in 2014. We talked a bit about what Charity wanted for Sid, and what Charity needed and what Sid needed, and how the 2 were not necessarily the same thing, or even the best thing for Sid (despite Charity's assertions to the contrary). Janet felt that Charity sought perfection in her mate. Kathleen reminded everyone how Sid appears to Larry as a sort of Adonis when he is outside of the university environment; would his life have been happier if he had been left to live it as he wished, puttering in nature?
Another question that fostered much discussion was this: given the differences in their backgrounds, what draws these two couples together? We all agreed that Larry and Sally, the orphans, were drawn by the welcome of Charity and the sense of family and belonging they drew from being around Sid and Charity. Betty asked if Charity was likable; we agreed that she was, even though she was also a force to be reckoned with. Shirley commented on how like-minded Sid and Charity were when it came to being generous; it truly gave them more pleasure to help their friends than it did to spend money on themselves.
Finally, we all agreed on what a remarkable man Larry was. He was fully aware of the character flaws of his friends and observed them with a very clear eye, but was able to tolerate those flaws and love them anyway.
Kristie, Carole, Shirley, Betty, Janet--please leave comments if I've missed something important!
Next month's discussion will be hosted by Jen, and we'll discuss Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. Shirley will host April's meeting to discuss The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, and Betty will host May's meeting (book TBA).
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
One/Paragraph Reviews (November/December)
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
So, I was probably the last person left in Maine who had never read this book, and now that we've all read it, let's talk! I thoroughly enjoyed Russo's depiction of a small mill town and its decline, and the effects of that decline on its inhabitants. This is a total package novel: meaty themes, vivid characterizations, and a suspenseful plot. If you haven't read it yet, you have a treat in store.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding
Taking up several years after Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason left off, we see Bridget coming to terms with widowhood and drawing new admirers through social media. (You haven't lived until you've experienced her tweets!) Has Bridget changed? Not essentially, but Fielding has done a nice job of fleshing out the grown-up version of Bridget with more depth and humanity while remaining true to her lovably ditzy character.
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
This intriguing blend of historical fiction and fantasy takes the reader to late nineteenth-century Malaysia, where several cultures collide and ghosts who coexist with the living must be regularly appeased. Li Lan declines an offer to wed a ghost that would help pull her family out of their straitened circumstances, but when her dreams are terrifyingly invaded by the would-be groom, she must seek a way to free herself from him.
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
In this heartwarming story, Molly, a teenager in Maine's foster care system, takes on a community service project helping a wealthy, elderly woman sort the lifetime's accumulation in her attic. As the project progresses, Molly learns that she and Vivian have more in common than she initially supposed--after losing her entire family to a horrific accident, Vivian was shipped off to Minnesota as a child on one of the "orphan trains" that tried to place children with Midwestern families during the Depression.
Inferno by Dan Brown (Audiobook)
Robert Langdon returns to save the world from a madman's attempt to spread contagion; he must locate "ground zero" by solving the clues left by the culprit. Brown takes us on a whirlwind tour of some of Italy's most famous towns and works of art and literature; fans expecting a breakneck pace and plot twists will not be disappointed.
Twelve Journeys in Maine by Wesley McNair
Maine's poet laureate takes the reader on an intimate journey through the small towns and byways of the state, offering compelling glimpses along the way of our accompanying ways of life. These poems are accessible and deceptively simple; successive re-readings offer up initially overlooked complexities of language and meaning.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
In this sprawling, old-fashioned novel about loss and the redemptive power of art, Theo Decker loses his mother and gains secret possession of a priceless painting through a series of random, freakish circumstances. The art becomes both albatross and touchstone as Theo struggles with grief, survivor's guilt and the everyday traumas of being a teenager. Abandoned to his own devices, he forges a lasting friendship with another lost soul, a boy who has had to fend for himself for years while being dragged around the world by his abusive, alcoholic father. Theo's morally dubious self-upbringing results in a morally dubious adulthood, which in Tartt's skillful hands seems more fitting than the fate he would have received had he been created by, say, Dickens. This is a long one, but engrossing, engaging, and very satisfactory.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
This fairy tale for adults examines events in the life of a young boy that may either be supernatural, or beyond his understanding of humanity.. Best known for his children's books, Gaiman excels at portraying the hidden lives of childhood, and this book is no exception. A lovely read for (adult) fans of Harry Potter or Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus.
The View from Penthouse B by Elinor Lipman
When a wealthy divorcee falls victim to a Ponzi scheme; she is forced to take in roommates, beginning with her widowed sister. Both feel they are at a time of their lives when change is no longer desirable or possible; being forced to change helps them both see how wrong they were, and reinvention leads to redemption.
The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
After a young Colombian professor's brief acquaintance with a mysterious, reticent man involves him in unexpected violence, he becomes obsessed with learning the story of the man who unwittingly drew him into these circumstances. Translated from the Spanish, this novel offers a glimpse into a society forever changed by America's desire for drugs during the 70s and 80s, and the many ripple effects caused by the drug trade even 20 years later; ultimately, though, it is a portrait of a place and a way of life beyond our (stereotyped) expectations.
So, I was probably the last person left in Maine who had never read this book, and now that we've all read it, let's talk! I thoroughly enjoyed Russo's depiction of a small mill town and its decline, and the effects of that decline on its inhabitants. This is a total package novel: meaty themes, vivid characterizations, and a suspenseful plot. If you haven't read it yet, you have a treat in store.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding
Taking up several years after Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason left off, we see Bridget coming to terms with widowhood and drawing new admirers through social media. (You haven't lived until you've experienced her tweets!) Has Bridget changed? Not essentially, but Fielding has done a nice job of fleshing out the grown-up version of Bridget with more depth and humanity while remaining true to her lovably ditzy character.
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
This intriguing blend of historical fiction and fantasy takes the reader to late nineteenth-century Malaysia, where several cultures collide and ghosts who coexist with the living must be regularly appeased. Li Lan declines an offer to wed a ghost that would help pull her family out of their straitened circumstances, but when her dreams are terrifyingly invaded by the would-be groom, she must seek a way to free herself from him.
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
In this heartwarming story, Molly, a teenager in Maine's foster care system, takes on a community service project helping a wealthy, elderly woman sort the lifetime's accumulation in her attic. As the project progresses, Molly learns that she and Vivian have more in common than she initially supposed--after losing her entire family to a horrific accident, Vivian was shipped off to Minnesota as a child on one of the "orphan trains" that tried to place children with Midwestern families during the Depression.
Inferno by Dan Brown (Audiobook)
Robert Langdon returns to save the world from a madman's attempt to spread contagion; he must locate "ground zero" by solving the clues left by the culprit. Brown takes us on a whirlwind tour of some of Italy's most famous towns and works of art and literature; fans expecting a breakneck pace and plot twists will not be disappointed.
Twelve Journeys in Maine by Wesley McNair
Maine's poet laureate takes the reader on an intimate journey through the small towns and byways of the state, offering compelling glimpses along the way of our accompanying ways of life. These poems are accessible and deceptively simple; successive re-readings offer up initially overlooked complexities of language and meaning.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
In this sprawling, old-fashioned novel about loss and the redemptive power of art, Theo Decker loses his mother and gains secret possession of a priceless painting through a series of random, freakish circumstances. The art becomes both albatross and touchstone as Theo struggles with grief, survivor's guilt and the everyday traumas of being a teenager. Abandoned to his own devices, he forges a lasting friendship with another lost soul, a boy who has had to fend for himself for years while being dragged around the world by his abusive, alcoholic father. Theo's morally dubious self-upbringing results in a morally dubious adulthood, which in Tartt's skillful hands seems more fitting than the fate he would have received had he been created by, say, Dickens. This is a long one, but engrossing, engaging, and very satisfactory.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
This fairy tale for adults examines events in the life of a young boy that may either be supernatural, or beyond his understanding of humanity.. Best known for his children's books, Gaiman excels at portraying the hidden lives of childhood, and this book is no exception. A lovely read for (adult) fans of Harry Potter or Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus.
The View from Penthouse B by Elinor Lipman
When a wealthy divorcee falls victim to a Ponzi scheme; she is forced to take in roommates, beginning with her widowed sister. Both feel they are at a time of their lives when change is no longer desirable or possible; being forced to change helps them both see how wrong they were, and reinvention leads to redemption.
The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
After a young Colombian professor's brief acquaintance with a mysterious, reticent man involves him in unexpected violence, he becomes obsessed with learning the story of the man who unwittingly drew him into these circumstances. Translated from the Spanish, this novel offers a glimpse into a society forever changed by America's desire for drugs during the 70s and 80s, and the many ripple effects caused by the drug trade even 20 years later; ultimately, though, it is a portrait of a place and a way of life beyond our (stereotyped) expectations.
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