Thanks for the great comments on last month's novel. How do you think we went, any suggestions?
Let's give Water For Elephants a go!!
Please make some suggestions for more novels and I will make a list so we have a few months in advance.
Happy reading !!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-
by Sue, “This epic retelling of the Flood and Noah's Ark defies any easy description. It is at times humorous, dark, and tragic; fill...
-
Anne Tyler has been called "the most impressive novelist of her generation". She has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize and four of...
-
I think we are really getting the hang of this!!! My copy of Unless is due in at the library next week so I will have some summer reading t...
I think we did ok for our first book! Do you think we should find some discussion questions for after we've read the books? Or should we just keep it free form as we are? I will try to think of some other books.
ReplyDelete-Katie
Yes a few questions would be good, there is often guides on the online book sites that have some interesting ideas, or we're creative women we could come up with a few of our own. Good to hear from you hope all is well
ReplyDeleteSome suggestions for books:
ReplyDeleteThe Secret River: Katie Grenville
Unless: Carol Shields
Falling Angels: Tracy Chevalier
All other suggestions gratefully received.
Should we go for general questions, or questions specific to the books? I'll look for questions for "Water for Elephants", which I've started. At this early stage, I'm enjoying it more than our last book.
There are some book club questions in the back of the copy of book that I have. We could take a few questions from that. I'm afraid I haven't had any ideas for our next novel but I'll keep thinking about it. But whatever you both would like to read is fine with me.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue for the book suggestions, are you both happy with the list like this?
ReplyDeleteDo you think we should pose questions as we go along so we can think about them as we read or do you think it better after we finish the novel?
I agree with Sue I am enjoying this story so much more, even though I quite liked Divine Secrets.
Thank you two so much for joining in this book club with me, it is a great way to keep in touch and get to know each other a little better.
Our little book club is fun, Nancy! I'm enjoying it. Most of the questions in the back of my version seem to be for after completing the book. But if either of you think of some during questions I'll be happy to follow them too. I'm up to Chapter 7 so far. I find that the few scenes with Jacob as an old man are so sad. I've had a lot of patients who come from nursing homes. For a lot of them coming to the hospital is like an outing.
ReplyDeleteJacob's view of the present is very bleak. "I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other." The present doesn't matter to Jacob; it's only the past that consumes him. I find that very ominous. Are we going to dwell on what was when we get older? Are we going to not care about what is going on in the present and forever be stuck in the past?
For the part, I’m at now, I’m hoping that Jacob will be able to save Silver Star! I don’t want to see him get thrown off the train.
Hello ladies
ReplyDeleteAre we going with the recommendations I made? Terrible sense of responsibility here!
I’ve finished and thoroughly enjoyed Water for Elephants. I went on to two sites to find questions (www.litlovers.com & http://bestsellers.about.com) and must say found some of the questions (both general and specific) a little intimidating. However, I’m going to have a go at the following question:
In what ways is Water for Elephants a survival story? A love story? An adventure?
Obviously, it’s all three so I’ll say a little bit about each one. You could make the argument that anyone who survived the wrath of August and Uncle Al is a survivor, but given that as far as we know Jacob is the last one left standing (just) I’ll go with him. And clearly he survived everything thrown at him, both physically and psychologically. And in what circumstances! Really enjoyed the circus – great environment in which to be forced to survive. And if the character really is based on the Jacob of the bible (seven years in the circus, seven years working for Rachel, only he didn’t get Rachel at first and had to work another seven years, so I’m not sure about the connection here – I must be missing something) he survived the wait for love, too. The depiction of Jacob’s old age is horrifyingly realistic, but I’m not sure how convincing the end is. You might not have got there yet, so I won’t discuss it, but I’d be interested to read what you have to say. Anyway, as a survivor he has to be admired – and the strength of character that survival would require is there from the beginning. As a story of survival, then, I think it works. I should mention that I think Rosie is a great survivor, too.
As a love story it has everything – love at first sight, has to survive great tests and dangers during which the lovers learn a lot about each other and the audience recognizes they deserve each other, and a happy ending. I like the fact that Jacob has to survive even the loss of love. Not very cheerful, but does add to the realism. The circus background and the way the events are firmly anchored in time also adds to the realism of what could have been Mills & Boon (I did find one dimensional villains a bit of a problem here)
And it was a great adventure story: the railway, the circus, the enormous cast of characters, including the animals, the interweaving of the subplots. I did have a problem with Camel. It’s not clear why he was so helpful, nor why Blackie pays attention to Camel and doesn’t throw Jacob from the train in the first place – especially given Blackie has no problem with this later in the novel. It could be argued Camel saw in Jacob the son he had lost, but that’s not well developed if that’s the case. These niggles aside, it was a good story in a wonderfully entertaining setting.
Really enjoyed this. On a scale of 1-5, 3.5.
Thanks for suggesting it.
Is it The Secret River next?
Hello! I, too, have finished the book. I'm going to answer a question from the reader guide in the back of my book. Nancy, if you haven't finished the book please do not read my post yet.
ReplyDeleteSo the book asks: "Who do you, upon reading the prologue, think murdered August? What effect did that opening scene of chaos and murder have on your reception of the story that follows?"
Yes I did assume that it was Marlena who killed August at the beginning of the book. Jacob talks about seeing the pink sequins which the reader associates with Marlena. He refers to a female, and there is no other major human female character in the book. When you first get to meet August and interact with him, you see humanly flaws. But I cannot find any reason why Marlena would be justified in killing him. While I do not condone animal or spouse abuse, in the 30s and 40s such actions were just accepted. People didn’t talk about them and by not talking about it those incidents just occurred. It is not until chapter 20 when Marlena revels to Jacob all the mysterious deaths that occurred in August’s company. I did not like August when he abused the animals. I did not like him when he abused Marlena. But when I found out that he was the cause of several deaths, I felt that Marlena had a right to kill him. Then I read that it was Rosie. I thought it was quite poetic when Rosie killed August. He had been so cruel to her, it was only right that she got to protect and revenge herself.
Some stories start slow and work their way to excitement. Gruen throws the peak of the story at you right away. This, I feel, pulls the reader in right away. The reader thinks, “This portion of the story was so exciting! I can’t wait to get there to find out how we get there.” Even though Gruen gives the reader the climax of Jacob’s tale, she still leaves some things shrouded in mystery. She doesn’t give away who is the murder. She also doesn’t even give away who is murdered. I would like to point out that the opening doesn't specifically say that it was August who was killed. The prologue says "That son of a bitch was standing with his back to her..." This reference could have been to Uncle Al. However, we all correctly assume it was August just as we all incorrectly assume it was Marlena who killed him.
I enjoyed this novel so much. When Jacob runs away to rejoin the circus at the end, I felt like cheering. Jacob’s life in the retirement home was just so sad. I hated the idea of the story ending with Jacob being left to wait for the end. You know Jacob will die one day, that’s just life. But to go out with a whimper after such an extraordinary life was just too sad. I loved the end. I think I may run away and join the circus when I’m 90. Or 93.
I believe Secret River is next. Thanks Nancy for the excellent book suggestion!
Did either of your ladies get to see my post before the internet deleted it? I was hoping that maybe the internet would right itself and my post would return. Would you like me to try to remember what I wrote and repost?
ReplyDeleteI received your comment Katie in my emails so I will forward it on to Sue in case she did not receive it. I don't suppose any one received my post of a week ago?????
ReplyDeleteNo matter I have just returned today from a weeks holiday so when my mind clears I'll re post it.
Glad you both enjoyed the book, so did I.
Hello ladies
ReplyDeleteReceived the e-mail. Thanks to both of you. Very interesting comments, Katie. It speaks volumes for the sloppiness of my reading that I'd completely forgotten about the prologue so I'm glad you reminded me. It was indeed an excellent device to get the reader into the book.
Didn't receive your post, Nancy. Hope you enjoyed your holiday.
Will now start reading The Secret River
I have no idea where my post of a week ago went so I'll try and remember how it went.
ReplyDeleteWhile I enjoyed the novel very much and was entertained by the times of Jacob as a young man and his many challenges and joys I found it was the aged Jacob that affected me the most and caused me to look at myself and in my quest for efficiency and time management with my parents and the various things I need to do for them that maybe sometimes I am guilty of, as Jacob says on page 209 "I'm so used to being scolded and herded and managed and handled." I also found Jacob's life in the nursing home sad but I think that maybe that is a comment on nursing homes and not old age to quote Jacob again on pg 205 "Either I'm finally going senile or else it's my mind's way of coping being entirely unchallenged in the present." I feel that life unchalllenged at any age can be damaging to your mental health.
I also found it interesting that alot of the circus storylines in the novel where based on the authors research of "true" events from the old circus museums and records. for example Rosies love of alcohol!!!!
That was the basic gist of my lost post but I feel it was longer so can't remember what else I said.
I really enjoyed reading your posts and your different ideas on the book, that is what makes this so much fun. I really enjoyed this book and while the ending with Jacob running off with the circus may be a little implausible it was definitely a 'get up and cheer ' moment for me.
I agree Nancy! The ending made me want to cheer. I'm enjoying the reading so far. I heard Water for Elephants was good, but hadn't really felt any drive to pick it up until it was one of our books. And I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed it. I'm having a good time with our book club. Thanks for arranging this! I love this creative way of staying in touch.
ReplyDelete