Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

by Nancy,

 Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. A mother and daughter live on a plantation in Louisiana. The Civil War ends and the slaves remain. But freedom is still a fair way off..

There’s talk of magic and conjuring and the plantation is rife with suspicion.

Some things to think about as we read this months choice.

Afia Atakora has said in an interview with her publisher (Random House) that one of the central takeaways from her novel is that "our past isn't as far back or as well buried as we want to believe." What are the ways that the past haunts the present (and the future) in Conjure Women?

Let’s consider how racial issues have continually resurfaced in the USA: the shooting unarmed black men, the Black Lives Matter movement, football players kneeling before the flag, or the divisiveness over Confederate statues and flags. To what extent are the present issues tied to the very theme of a past that never dies in Conjure Women?

Have you read other works in the genre referred to as "slave novels," which creates, as Atakora puts it, "art from a legacy of horror." Atakora wanted her story to move beyond the "legacy of whippings" to consider what the years were like after the war and before the dawn of Jim Crow. Do you think she succeeded? How does her novel differ—or does it?—from others set during the Civil War era, and after?

I feel this novel has a lot to teach me, I hope we both enjoy it.

The Boy at the Door by Alex Dahl

by Katie,

I can’t remember any other books we’ve read so far being set in Scandinavia.  How do we feel about this different atmosphere?  Is it the same as any other part of the world we’ve visited with our reading?   

Goodreads calls May’s book a riveting psychological suspense that “asks the question, ‘how far would you go to hold on to what you have?’”  How tightly do we hold on to things we deem important? Maybe we should think about this while we read.  

In addition, our protagonist, Cecilia, has a dark secret from her past.  How much of a mistake was Cecilia’s secret truly?  Particularly as children, we tend to make big deals out of insignificant events. Is her past something that her husband could overlook and forgive if Cecilia is just open and honest? Or is it a truly unforgivable sin? 

We also meet Annika whose life isn’t going the way she would like.  She knows Cecilia’s secret and may use it to help herself.  This makes me think of Nina from Pretty Things.  How does Annika compare to Nina?  Are the two women similar or different? Does Cecilia compared to Vanessa? Is Cecilia an easy mark or does she have an underlying tenacity that will be exposed when she is pushed too far? 

The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller.

by Nancy,

So many different versions of this story over time, I hope this modern take is entertaining for us and adds something new to this ancient tale.

A couple of questions to ponder while we read:

Firstly and most importantly, what do we think of this account?

To what extent does Achilles ultimate destiny shape his choices?

What parallels do we see between the characters and conflicts of this novel and today?

What pieces of Patroclus and Achilles story can be universalised?

I'm looking forward to this read I hope we enjoy it.

 

Pretty Things by Janelle Brown

by Katie,

Diving into the world of wealthy influencers, Nina works to help “relieve” them of their wealth as a scam artist. Vanessa becomes one of these marks when she crosses paths with Nina. The two woman are brought together in what Litlovers calls a “twisty page-turner.” This may help feed into your desire for some mystery, Nancy!

I found these questions on randomhousebooks.com and thought they would be enjoyable to answer:

1. What motivates Nina to act the way she does? Do you think her actions are justified? What does her story say about class and privilege?

2. Did the book make you think differently about social media?

3. There are several “points of no return” in the book. Which did you find to be most critical?

4. How did you feel about the novel’s alternating voices and perspectives? How would the story be different without them?

I have tried not to read too much from the various synopses I found online because I don’t want the book to be ruined for me. From what I did read though, I am quite intrigued. I hope this isn’t as intense a thriller as Behind Closed Doors.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

by Nancy,

Part 2 takes us from Osaka January 1953 through to Tokyo 1989.

Pachinko covers a long span of time and is a long book.

What do you think of the length?

Is it too long?

What would you cut ,if anything?

What do we think of the ending of the novel?

Is it too tragic or just right?

I see Apple TV have made Pachinko into a movie. I have seen the cast list and have another question.

Hansu is played by the very handsome Korean actor Lee Min-ho.

 Does this change the perception of the character?

Was this how we perceived Hansu to look?

When reading a story it is easier to assign unlikable characters less desirable looks.

 it is part of the great joys of reading to create your own version of characters. 

What are your feelings on seeing characters in movies before reading the story?

Sorry this is so late, things have been hectic here.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

by Nancy,

As we have two months to read Pachinko let’s finish this first part at Book 2, Chapter 9 - Osaka 1949.

Pachinko is: the multi million dollar pinball gambling industry dominated by Korean Japanese, an immigrant community that has been unwelcome and ill treated for generations.

The name of the book seems a metaphor representing the life of Sunja and her family. Life is a gamble sometimes you win-sometimes you lose.

Spanning nearly 100 years and moving from Korea at the start of the 20th century to pre and post war Osaka and finally Tokyo and Yokohama the novel highlights the struggle of the Korean people in Japan.

Some questions for us to think about while we read this first part:

Early on Sunja is made to feel shame for her pregnancy. How does the idea of shame persist throughout the novel both in a sense of morals and identity?

Who seems the better father, Hansu or Isak?

The better provider, the better man?

The definition of home is another theme to Pachinko, Ms Lee prefaces the novel with a Charles Dickens quote.

“Home is a name, is a word, it is a strong one, stronger than magical ever spoke or spirit answered to, in strongest conjuration.” 

Is this applicable to the novel?

How does the concept of home and belonging evolve throughout the story?

A Song for the Dying by Stuart McBride

by Nancy,

A last  visit with Ash, Alice and Shifty for now, I hope this series continues. I wonder if we will get to meet “Henry” the dog and learn about him.

My hopes for something less dark and gritty seems to be fading as I read about this months book.  I think I’ve given up any chance of plausibility with this trilogy and now am just hanging on enjoying the wild ride.

I guess we could decide if we have a favourite of the tree stories?

Would we read any other Stuart McBride novels, he has written a lot?

I guess we brace ourselves for what happens to Shifty, which we’ve already discussed won’t be good.

Francis and Joseph have been in both novels so far, what are our thoughts on these characters

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

by Katie, 

  

Our November story is a tale spanning five decades that follows a deep bond between brother and sister. From the synopsis I read, it seems we will have a classic wicked stepmother that sends our main characters from riches to rags.  We will follow Danny and Maeve as they overcome the hardships they will face after being sent out of their family home.  

Here are a few questions I took from bookriot.com that I think we might enjoy answering. 

 

1. Why was the story narrated from Danny’s perspective rather than Maeve’s? How might the story have been different if told from Maeve’s point of view? 

2. Many of reviews of The Dutch House have compared the story to a fairytale: abandoned children, a creepy old house, and evil stepmother…is this a fair comparison? If The Dutch House does have fairytale elements, what purpose does that serve in the story? 
3. After their stepmother kicks them out of the Dutch House, both Danny and Maeve remain obsessed with their childhood home. For instance, throughout the years, they often sit in a car outside of the house and just look at it. What explains their obsessions with this house? And how do their feelings about the house and about the meaning of “home” change with the passing years? 

 

I started reading our book and it is apparently set in my neighborhood.  While the house is a fictitious house, the neighborhoods of Elkins Park, Melrose Park and Jenkintown are quite real. I did not choose this novel because of the setting but it makes me look forward to reading further.  I look forward to hearing from you! 

Birthdays for the Dead by Stuart McBride

by Nancy,

 Here we go on our Stuart McBride Trilogy! Sue would be proud of us, reading the last book first, the ultimate in finding out the ending first! 

Does knowing the fate of some of the characters make a difference in how we view the events in this first novel?

I am really looking forward to learning the back story on all the characters.

Is there a character you like more or less from the Coffin Maker after reading Birthdays for the Dead?

We are introduced to the Birthday Boy. The crimes he commits are horrific beyond belief. Is this novel too gruesome for us?  Is the level of gruesome necessary?

My question from the Coffin Makers Garden still stands: Is this story plausible?  

Let's enjoy the ride!

Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat

by Katie,

Ms. Danticat is hailed as a novelist “who evokes the wonder, terror, and heartache of her native Haiti…” Goodreads says she will give us “vibrant imagery and narrative grace” in her work. 

Our story is about 12-year-old Sophie who is sent from the only home, country, and people she’s ever known to a new country and to a mother she doesn’t remember.  Our story travels between Haiti and the United States as Sophie uncovers truths about her family and what it means to be strong.  From what I have read looking for questions for our novel, our novel will involve a sexual trauma within this family’s history.  Going forward we may want to think about the following questions (which I borrowed from Readinggroupguids.com). 

Atie says to Sophie, "Your mother and I, when we were children we had no control over anything. Not even this body" (p. 20). How does this knowledge help Sophie shape her life? 

In what ways does Sophie take control of her own life as her mother and aunt never were able to? 

Breath, Eyes, Memory is primarily a story of the relationships between women: mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters. But there are two significant male characters in the novel, Joseph and Marc. 

Does Danticat depict Joseph and Marc as full, rounded-out characters, or do we see them only through Sophie's slanted point of view? 

How does Sophie express her ambivalent feelings about both of them? 

Why is she so angry with Marc after her mother's death? 

Do you feel that her anger is justified? 

Is it possible that Sophie's aloofness from both these men stems from her upbringing in an almost exclusively female world, where "men were as mysterious to me as white people" (p. 67)?

Do you believe that the three women in the sexual phobia group have comparable problems? 

Is the word "abuse" equally appropriate in each of their cases? 

How effective is their joint attempt to free themselves from their past? 

Is Buki's wrecked balloon a pessimistic symbol? 

Do you believe that the therapist's psychological tools are adequate to deal with the complex, culturally rooted problems of Sophie and Buki?

Despite the intense subject matter, I hope we find this book moving and insightful.  I look forward to hearing from you. 

The Coffin Makers Garden by Stuart McBride

by Nancy,

When I suggested this novel I was unaware it was part 4 in a series [sorry].  I am hoping this won't impact our understanding of the characters and story too much. Also, apologies for dragging you into my UK crime drama obsession haha.

The story is set on the east coast of Scotland and in Edinburg.  As a storm rages and erodes the cliff face and houses fall into the sea, bodies are uncovered and a horrible crime scene is exposed [sounds pretty creepy].

The pivotal character in the series, Ash Henderson, is on hand to solve the mystery.

Some questions to think about as we read.

Is the story plausible?

So often this genre can be unbelievable, Stuart McBride is a very experienced crime writer, but do you think this could actually happen?

Are there any plot twists that you were not expecting or that surprised you?

There are two simultaneous investigations going being conducted in the novel, one is a whodunit. Did you guess who the perpetrator was? 

Interpreter Of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

By Katie,

 

Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of short stories with themes revolving around love, immigration, belonging and heritage.  Book Magazine says of Lahiri’s short stories:

“There is not one false note here, not one misstep or hesitation.... Each of these nine stories has the capacity to amaze us.... "In Lahiri's sympathetic tales, the pang of disappointment turns into a sudden hunger to know more.... Lahiri's achievement is something like Twinkle's. She breathes unpredictable life into the page, and the reader finishes each story seduced, wishing he could spend a whole novel with its characters. There is nothing accidental about her success; her plots are as elegantly constructed as a fine proof in mathematics. To use the word Sanjeev eventually applies to Twinkle, Lahiri is 'wow.'"

Which novel was your favorite?  Which do you think could be turned into a longer novel?  Or which would you have preferred been part of a longer story?

How, if at all, do you feel the stories are connected?  Can we find similarities between the characters and their situations?

How did we feel about Ms. Lahiri’s choice in using the Interpreter of Maladies as the book’s name rather than one of the other stories?  Do we feel another story would have been a better choice in title? Or was this one fitting?

Happy reading! 

The Huntress by Kate Quinn

by Nancy,

All the characters begin the book standing on different lake shores --- Nina at Lake Baikal, Anneliese at Altaussee, Jordan at Selkie Lake, and Ian at the lake in Cologne. Nina and the Huntress clash for the first time at Lake Rusalka in Poland, and everyone comes together ultimately at the lake in Massachusetts. 

Maybe as we read we can think about how how the idea of the lake, and the rusalka lake spirit, weaves through THE HUNTRESS . 

Does it play an important role in the theme of the story?

 Jordan’s drive to become a photographer clashes with the expectations of her father --- and almost everyone else she knows --- that she will marry her high school boyfriend, work in the family business, and relegate picture-snapping to a hobby. How have expectations of career versus marriage changed for women since 1950?

 Throughout THE HUNTRESS, war criminals attempt to justify their crimes: Anneliese tells Jordan she killed as an act of mercy, and several witnesses tell Ian they were either acting under orders or ignorant of what was happening. Why do they feel the need to justify their actions, even if only to themselves? Do you think any of them are aware deep down that they committed evil acts, or are they all in denial?

The Night Witches earn their nickname from the Germans, who find their relentless drive on bombing runs terrifying, but the men on their own side haze them, mock them and call them “little princesses.” How does prejudice and misogyny drive the women of the Forty-Sixth to succeed? Did you know anything about the Night Witches before reading THE HUNTRESS?

Welcome back to us!!  

When I started looking for questions for this novel I got excited as there is so much to discuss, so many different stories weaving together. I am so happy to begin again!

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

By Katie,

 

I know December is almost over and you are probably half through the first half of this novel as I am.  I feel like there is a lot of in this novel that would be missed if we tried to assess it all in one go so I feel that half in December and half in January is the best way to go.  Also with the holidays, reading can easily fall to the wayside. 

 

The man who “fathered” Dominick and Thomas is quite the mystery.  Do we have any theories as to who he could be? Do we believe we will ever get an answer to the Birdsey’s paternity?   

 

What about Nerda Frank? Do we think she ever returns? And Papa’s autobiography will ever return with answers for Dominick? 

 

How do we feel about the collapse of Dessa and Dominick’s marriage? And Dominick’s substitute relationship with Joy?  

 

There seems to be a lot to analyze in just the first half of the book!  I have not read any book club discussions like I usually do for this intro because I didn’t want to spoil anything for myself.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Before Women Had Wings by Connie May Fowler

by Katie,

 

A young girl with a strong imagination leads us through the turmoil of her young home life.  Listed partly as a coming-of-age tale, Bird struggles with growing up while dealing with alcoholic, abusive parents.  This novel is described by the Chicago Tribune as “a thing of hear-rending beauty, a moving exploration of love and loss, violence and grief, forgiveness and redemption.” 

 

Maybe we can think about how people struggle to break away from family patterns.  Are all children raised by abusive parents doomed to repeat the cycle?  Can anyone break free from that type of cycle?  Or more specifically can Bird’s family break from it? 

 

While there are male characters in our novel, female ones take the lead.  Who do you think was the strongest female character?  What traits led to your opinion?  What do we think about Glory Marie naming her daughters after birds?  Do we think the girls were able to fly away? 

 

MADDADDAM by Margaret Atwood

by Nancy,

I have been very excited to read the last in our Margaret Atwood trilogy.

I have avoided the reviews so I didn't see any spoilers!  

From what I've read so far there is much of Zeb's backstory filled in and what life is like after the waterless flood.  I am hopeful this final story is as good as the last two.

Which one is our favourite?

 

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

 by Nancy for Sue,

 
 A Thousand Acres is a Pulitzer winning re-imagination of King Lear, set on an Iowa farm during the 1970s.
 This is our last story chosen by Sue and the reviews for it sound like we are in for a treat.
Here are a couple of questions to think about while we read.

Having Ginny narrate gives us a very limited perspective on the other characters' motives - does she or her readers ever understand the whys behind others' actions?

What are the differences between appearance and reality, and how does that come out in the book?

Was the outcome of the novel fated or could it have been prevented? What caused the ultimate downfall of the farm?