Great Works Book Club

The Kitchen House

2012-01-29T18:02:00.000-08:00

Next month (okay, okay, in a little over two weeks) we will be meeting at my house to talk about Kathleen Grissom's The Kitchen House.
It's an incredibly quick read, so pick it up and join us! I can't say I feel it has a whole lot of value for "substance" literature, but I can appreciate fluff on occasion, especially when life has been so busy lately. I do love to learn the background story of why authors choose to write, and she is one who chose to divulge. It just makes it more interesting to know where the idea sprang from.
The Kitchen House is written in an easy to read format and moves quickly to capture your interest. The theme felt a little underdeveloped, but I like what she was attempting to express.

Friday Night Book Club

2012-01-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

So, I'm really excited to have a date Friday night. lol. Usually it's just the girls and myself at home doing pizza and a movie, but this week I'll get to see all of you!! It'll be at K's house. Email me if you need directions/info.
Anyway, we are going to be talking about Gregory Maguire's "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" which should be fun and entertaining.
Hope to see you there!!

On the Way-Wayside

2011-12-07T06:16:00.001-08:00

I want to at least publish the titles of the books we'll be reading. I've been such a slacker with my book blogs that it is kind of pathetic. However, I have to say that other endeavors have kept me busy (like editing and formatting a biography for a friend).
January will be coming quickly and we have an exciting title on the horizon. I have not sampled any of Gregory Maguire's books, but I love the concept...especially since I had a notion to do similar stories back when I was actually pursuing becoming a writer (no, I have not attempted to write fiction since my high school days...sad, I know!)
We will be reading his novel "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" which is a twist on the Cinderella story...obviously telling it from the stepsister's point of view. Come join us!

'Nough Said

2011-05-17T15:48:00.001-07:00

I don't really feel like I can brief this book without giving it all away. With that in mind, I'll just reference you to their webpage so you can browse and think and ...think. Just click this link!

A Woman's Prerogative

2011-05-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

I've heard a million times that changing her mind is a woman's prerogative. So, in like manner, I'm changing the book for July. Instead of The Handmaid's Tale, we'll be reading The Princess Bride. I've heard that the book is "just like the movie" and, although I will agree with the same tone and satire, I would like to add that there are parts (significant or not) missing from the movie. Dig in, enjoy, and relive a modern classic!!
But, don't forget to read Freakonomics FIRST!!! That meeting is next month and has TONS to offer as far as discussion goes. It should be an interesting and entertaining meeting!!

Onward we Go!

2011-05-11T10:51:00.000-07:00

It was great to get together with the book club members last night. It's been so long since I've been able to attend and the numbers have been sparse the last few times I attended, so it was wonderful to have a good turnout and to discuss both the book and aspects of life.
We are gearing up for a great discussion on Freakonomics next month! I'm excited to talk about this book and the influence experts have on the way we view information and situations. It's not a textbook, but can be very influential to the way you look at the news, marketing, and even the way you interact you coworkers, friends and family.
So, enjoy May while reading a quick book and meet up with us next month to discuss it!!

Getting Charged Up Again

2011-05-04T08:00:00.001-07:00

Okay, so it has been several months since I posted anything here. I'm not sure if anyone is still following this way, but I wanted to send out a reminder of our meeting which will be happening this coming Tuesday, May 10th. We'll be talking about Mansfield Park. I know it's been awhile since some of you read this one, so dust off your memories (pull up spark notes or something) and refresh your minds on it and lets have a great discussion!!
See you then! Check your email for a confirmation of location.

Update

2011-01-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

Hey, our January meeting was rescheduled to Tuesday (yes, that's tomorrow) night. Can't wait to discuss Memoirs of a Geisha.
We are switching to Tuesdays for the rest of this semester.
Our next meeting will be the second Tuesday in February and at AW's house. We'll be discussing The Great Gatsby.
We haven't officially chosen a book for March or April, so make sure you come with recommendations.

By the Wayside

2011-01-03T16:27:00.001-08:00

Apparently that is where I've left this blog. Life certainly got busy lately. I apologize for not keeping up on this blog, but I'm not too sorry. I never heard feedback anyway. And, since no one mentioned it, I'm pretty sure I can leave it be until we get settled into yet another new schedule. However, in the event that someone is out there reading this...our monthly meeting is next week! Hope you are enjoying Memoirs of a Geisha! See you at Catholic Lady's house!!

The Day After Tomorrow

2010-11-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

Yes, that is when our next meeting will be held. Bownut is hosting our Vanity Fair event. Please check your email for additional information and bring suggestions for future readings!!
Hope you had the chance to finish reading this lengthy but enjoyable novel!

Vanity Fair

2010-11-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

Although this novel could demand much more familiarity with other works of literature, it gets things rolling right away when you discover the saucy orphan Becky Sharp. The story of two women and the surrounding culture and society is the basis of this satirical novel by William Makepeace Thackeray. It's not just a fun and funny novel to read, it can be a means of introspection. Thackeray has a knack for exposing truisms of human nature that even the modern reader may fall into.
William Makepeace Thackeray was born in Calcutta in 1811 but his family returned to England while he was still a young boy. There he was educated and fell into his own problems with debt. Although a failure at painting, he found his niche as a writer and wrote for several magazines of the day, notably Punch where Vanity Fair was first published serially. He wrote other works and lived on his success in his day. None of that waiting around posthumously for acclaim for this man!
Thackeray was inspired one night to write Vanity Fair which takes it's name from a fictional place starring in another novel called Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. There are more similarities than just borrowing the name, but you'd have to read that novel to understand more and, lets face it, Thackeray's Vanity Fair is tons more fun to read than the overly moralizing story of Bunyan's. Vanity Fair is written in a modernized (that is, modernized to Victorian England and then back dated 30 years earlier) form of picaresque (think Don Quioxte), a satirical novel following a low born "rogue" who utilizes his, or in this case, her wits to move around in a corrupt society.
So, dig in and we'll see you the second Thursday of November. Yes. That is, next week!!

Questions to Ponder

2010-10-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

Book Club Discussion Questions

1. Who was your favorite character? Why?

2. What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one hand she is terribly cruel to Aibileen and her own help, as well as to Skeeter once she realizes that she can’t control her. Yet she’s a wonderful mother. Do you think that one can be a good mother but, at the same time, a deeply flawed person?

3. Like Hilly, Skeeter’s mother is a prime example of someone deeply flawed yet somewhat sympathetic. She seems to care for Skeeter— and she also seems to have very real feelings for Constantine. Yet the ultimatum she gives to Constantine is untenable; and most of her interaction with Skeeter is critical. Do you think Skeeter’s mother is a sympathetic or unsympathetic character? Why?

4. How much of a person’s character would you say is shaped by the times in which they live?

5. Did it bother you that Skeeter is willing to overlook so many of Stuart’s faults so that she can get married, and that it’s not until he literally gets up and walks away that the engagement falls apart?

6. Do you believe that Minny was justified in her distrust of white people?

7. Do you think that had Aibileen stayed working for Miss Elizabeth, that Mae Mobley would have grown up to be racist like her mother? Do you think racism is inherent, or taught?

8. From the perspective of a twenty-first century reader, the hairshellac system that Skeeter undergoes seems ludicrous. Yet women still alter their looks in rather peculiar ways as the definition of “beauty” changes with the times. Looking back on your past, what’s the most ridiculous beauty regimen you ever underwent?

9. The author manages to paint Aibileen with a quiet grace and an aura of wisdom about her. How do you think she does this?

10. Do you think there are still vestiges of racism in relationships where people of color work for people who are white?

11. What did you think about Minny’s pie for Miss Hilly? Would you have gone as far as Minny did for revenge?
(Questions issued by publisher.)

Intro to the Author

2010-10-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. She later attended and graduated from the University of Alabama where she obtained a degree in English and Creative Writing. She pursued a career in the magazine business in New York. She is currently living in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family.
As this is Ms. Stockett's first novel, there isn't really other works with which to compare The Help. That being said, she's made a great break out into the world of published novel writers with a book filled with round and full characters that will endear themselves to you.
Enjoy this novel (quickly) so we can discuss it on October 14th at Ms. S's home!!

September Meeting

2010-10-01T05:09:00.000-07:00

After a couple weeks of postponement, Book Club was able to finally start the new Fall Schedule. There was a great turnout with a fantastic discussion. We are also happy to welcome a few new faces and perspectives!
The majority of our discussion revolved around organ donation and a critique of motherhood from many different perspectives. It was interesting to see how the discussion developed as some people were unable to read My Sister's Keeper before the meeting. Due to this, we have voted that if someone has not finished reading the selection, it's fair game to tell the ending so that the discussion can be full and open.
We'd like to Welcome Ms. N and Ms. C and thank Ms. J for hosting (I really need to verify use of people's names on here!). We look forward to the following months and continue to welcome all who would like to join us. We've opted to move meetings to the second Thursday of each month to avoid some scheduling conflicts.
So, get in gear because the next meeting really is just two weeks away!! We are reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Never fear! It's a recent best seller, so the language is easy and it is a compelling and quick read. You'll enjoy it!

Discussion and Thought Questions

2010-08-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not getting on this sooner, but I thought I would give you the link to Jodi Picoult's own website. The follower are questions that may help you think through what you are reading as well as bring more depth to the way you feel about the book.
Find more at: http://www.jodipicoult.com/

Book club discussion questions for My Sister's Keeper

1. Reread the prologue to My Sister's Keeper. Who is the speaker? Is it the same person you thought it was the first time you read it?
2. What is the metaphorical relevance of Brian's profession as a fire chief?
3. Why is Jesse's behavior so aberrant, while until now, Anna has been so compliant?
4. What might be a possible reason for Brian's fascination with astronomy?
5. On page 98, Kate is being admitted to the hospital in very serious condition. She mouths to Jesse, "tell Anna," but is unable to finish. What do you think she was trying to say?
6. On page 122, Julia says, "Even if the law says that no one is responsible for anyone else, helping someone who needs it is the right thing to do." Who understood better how to "help" Kate, Sara or Anna?
7. Did Anna do the right thing, honoring Kate's wishes?
8. Do you feel it was unfair of Kate to ask Anna to refuse to donate a kidney, even though this seemed to be the only way for her to avoid the lifesaving transplant?
9. On page 142, Brian says that when rescuing someone from a fire, that "the safety of the rescuer is of a higher priority than the safety of the victim. Always." How does this apply to his role in his own family?
10. On page 144, Brian says, "Like anything that's been confined, fire has a natural instinct to escape." How does this truth apply to Kate? to Brian himself?
11. On page 149, Brian is talking to Julia about astronomy and says, "Dark matter has a gravitational effect on other objects. You can't see it, you can't feel it, but you can watch something being pulled in its direction." How is this symbolic of Kate's illness?
12. For what reason(s) did Brian offer Anna a place to stay at the firehouse while the legal proceedings were underway?
13. How does Anna's decision to pursue medical emancipation parallel Campbell's decision to end his relationship with Julia after his accident?
14. Do you agree with Brian's decision not to turn Jesse in to the authorities for setting the fires?
15. Do you feel that it's ethical to conceive a child that meets specific genetic requirements?
16. If not, do you believe that there should be specific exceptions, such as the purpose of saving another person's life, or is this just a "slippery slope?"

To Begin Anew

2010-08-21T07:41:00.001-07:00

Hello, fellow Book Lovers! We're about to reconvene as an official club and are changing things up a bit.
First off, our meetings will be held the third Thursday of each month at 6:30. Pay attention to your messages for meeting locations. We will continue to rotate homes and treats as we have done before.
The biggest difference is that we will no longer be exclusive to the "classics" but will be venturing into more current literary successes. In fact, we will begin with Jodi Piccolt's My Sister's Keeper with the first discussion meeting in September.
So, get out your books and let the reading begin!!

Chinua Achebe

2010-06-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

Chinua Achebe was born in Eastern Nigeria in 1930. He was the fifth of six children and raised in a family who converted to Christianity. As he grew older, he rejected the Christian name he was given and went back to his native name. He attended and graduated from a university in Nigeria.
Disgruntled with works depicting Africans, such as those written by Joseph Conrad (and to which I will agree a dislike for), he penned his first novel and found success. Things Fall Apart was published in 1959. Although his target audience are his fellow Africans, it has been loved by people all over the world and has been translated into over forty different languages.
Chinua Achebe has written books, short stories, poetry and articles. He has been an educator as well as being politically involved. Due to a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, he returned to the United States (previously was here to teach at a University) to again teach and receive greater medical care.
Although Nigerian and under some scrutiny, he writes his African novels in English and declares the use of English as a way to allow varying language backgrounds to unify under one language, similar to the way the Euro has allowed a unified currency in European countries.

They Sure Do

2010-05-27T14:35:00.001-07:00

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe might be the perfect novel for this point in the club. It seems that no matter how hard we try to shift things to make meetings more manageable with life, other things pop up. I can relate a bit with Okonkwo as he tries desperately to hang on to the way things have been. I'd love for book club to be as heavily attended as it has in the past, but, to quote John Lennon, "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."
So, hang in there, everyone! We'll keep reading and meeting. Make it when you can. Definitely check out this month's read, though!

Gardening

2010-05-18T04:36:00.001-07:00

Choosing The Secret Garden for this past month's read coincided with our own vegetable garden growing and flourishing. The fascination with new growth and the anticipation of seeds to appear as plants is so fun, but it is even better with children. They become so excited when they see something come up, but they are also devastated when seeds don't work and never appear.
That powerful emotion of expectation motivates for good changes. Our oldest daughter has become a very healthy eater as she has watched these plants grow. She doesn't want to eat anything that doesn't help her body to grow and be healthy. I think she would have been a good influence on the children of Misselthwaite Manor.
Positive thinking and positive doing are definitely a prescription for happiness and improved living.

A Little Break

2010-04-19T08:54:00.001-07:00

After getting through The Count of Monte Cristo, we figured we needed something a little less intense. So, we are going to be reading The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett for the month of May. We are also changing back to the third Tuesday at 6:30pm as our attendance has declined the past couple of months. Hopefully that will help people out, sorry for anyone it inconveniences. We'll also be meeting at Kim's new abode, so don't forget to check Facebook for further details!

Political Change

2010-04-06T07:48:00.001-07:00

A little background in French history may help in understanding Dumas and his world in The Count of Monte Cristo.
The area we now know as France wasn't truly established under one rule until Louis XIV (en francaise, it sounds so nice) who ruled for over fifty years. This man was quite the social magician and truly established France to become the most fashionable country as well as a country governed by an absolute monarchy. He united France by cultivating the arts and establishing the culture and standard at Versailles. In his efforts to delight and dazzle, he maintained an incredible control over his peers as they vied for his attentions and honors. In fact, rumor has it that this is the time when the phrase "faux pas" began, as Louis XIV had such regimented procedures and dances, that no one wanted to be accused of a "false step" which would land them outside of Louis XIV's favor.
After Louis XIV died in 1715, there were already great social tensions that would lead to the French Revolution. There was constant politicking for ruling and favors among the nobles who basically saw the peasantry as lesser beings. This, the lower class of people, did all the work on the lands and yet were only given the smallest portion (estimated at about a tenth of the revenue from the harvest) to starve on while they watched the upper crust dine on extravagant lifestyles. Eventually the unrest culminated in the French Revolution which also gave rise to the ideas of enlightenment, nationalism and inalienable rights, as well as setting the stage for a reformer such as Napoleon.
Napoleon was loved by the people while despised by the nobles. He made himself known through his military prowess and eventually scraped himself into the First Consul (sort of dictator-type role) and then voted as Consul for life and next emperor by the people, demonstrating his ability to lead the common man, conquer Europe and cultivate the arts. He thrived on conflict and lead his army into many wars. He wounded not only the army, but his own reputation back home with the disaster in Russia (he kept pushing forward, Russian retreated and burned everything behind them, leaving Napoleon's army to dwindle and diminish due to starvation and famine). He was ousted through his own abdication of the crown and exiled to the Isle of Elba (where Edmond encounters Napoleon and all Dantes' troubles begin). Napoleon is able to secretly enter France and take back the throne for just under one hundred days before again being exiled, this time to St. Helena, a small, rocky island far into the Atlantic.
The ensuing century is full of unrest and change. The working and middle classes gained power and position due to the benefits of the industrialization. These ideas and economic changes enable the lower classes to maneuver and politic for position and power granted to the nouveau riche (newly rich) and implied in the characters of such friends and foes as the Danglars and the Morcefs.

What's It About?

2010-03-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

I hope by now you have all realized how incorrectly the movie follows the plot of the book. The world Dumas describes in The Count of Monte Cristo is so extremely different from the one portrayed in film.
So, what is the novel about? What is Dumas trying to get at? What is his purpose in writing?
There are several answers to these questions, and each one of them correct in their scope. For me, the overriding theme was vengeance and justice. What is the difference between these two? Is there a difference? Is one right and the other wrong? And, if this is the case, how does one become socially acceptable over the other?
The concept around vengeance is to enact a reprisal against one who has done wrong to you. Justice, on the other hand, seems to follow a specific line of ensuring the retribution from one who has done wrong. Truly, the difference seems to lie in the hands of whom is enacting the punishment. For vengeance, it is the individual who has been wronged whereas justice is through a society determined process.
Within this definition, it appears that Edmond is strictly performing out of vengeance. But, is he? Can a person be enacting justice without filing formal complaints and leaving it in the hands of the "justice" system? Is there a higher power that determines this ability? To whom is Edmond accountable?

An Introduction to Dumas

2010-02-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

Alexandre Dumas had a big appetite for living large and luxurious, and found himself constantly making and spending fortunes as well as creating beautiful historical fiction and other works of literature.
Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie was born in 1802 in Picardi, France, to Thomas-Alexandre Dumas and Marie-Louise Élisabeth Labouret. His grandfather was a marquis who fell in love and had a son (Thomas-Alexandre) with a French-Creole woman in what is now known as Haiti. Falling from grace with Napoleon as he served in the military, Thomas-Alexandre lost his pension and later died, leaving his family destitute. Marie-Louise Elisabeth found herself struggling to provide not only an income for her family, but also an education for the young Alexandre. Not having any interest in education, but having beautiful handwriting, Dumas was able to find work as a notary and eventually found himself in the literary world.
Dumas came on stage with melodramatic plays and historical fiction novels which were first published serially in newspaper journals. His flare for the dramatic and colorful scenes quickly made sales rise and put money in his pockets. His work was assisted through the use and collaboration of other assistants and writers, though each work was reworked in his own hand. His prolific work of 250 books was aided through his varied use of 73 assistants. He was also inspired by historical and current events, especially in the case of The Count of Monte Cristo, which was inspired by the account of a shoemaker similarly imprisoned by jealous men.
The success Dumas was endowed with brought many female admirers and lovers. He sired at least three children out of wedlock, namely a son of the same name who also would become a great writer. To differentiate these two, the titles Alexandre Dumas, père (our writer of The Count of Monte Cristo) and Alexandre Dumas, fils are used. These terms are the French form of "father" and "son" respectively.
Alexandre Dumas built his own Chateau de Monte Cristo which he quickly could not afford and escaped to Brussles to avoid his creditors. He died in December 1870 after suffering a stroke and was buried in Villers-Cotterêts, his birthplace, but was exhumed in 2002 and placed in the Panthéon of Paris. He was writing up to his death, leaving a novel unfinished by a few chapters (The Last Cavalier).

The Harlem Renaissance in Brief

2010-02-12T06:48:00.000-08:00

Zora Neale Hurston was one of the acclaimed writers that came to the forefront during the Harlem Renaissance, an interesting point of growth in African American culture.
The New Negro Movement, later titled the Harlem Renaissance, began in the early 1920's and continued into the 1930's. African Americans, after migrating to northern communities, began finding power in numbers with the influence and production of literature, art, and music. The goal of the New Negro Movement was to improve social and political relations in the United States. They desired to demonstrate the equality of humanity in the black culture with that of the white culture. However, there was some dispute over certain ideas of what was desirable to display in art, especially in the form of literature. The intellectual side wanted a more educated and "civilized" portrayal of their culture. Hurston found disfavor from some of her Harlem associates due to her use of the vernacular in her writings.
For more information about the Harlem Renaissance and other faces of the movement, give yourself a tour of Harlem.

Zora Neale Hurston

2010-01-29T11:46:00.001-08:00

Zora Neale Hurston's life seemed full of up's and down's. Born in 1891 as the fifth child in a family of eight, she enjoyed the privileges of living in Eatonville, Florida, which was the first integrated all black community in the United States. Here, blacks were able to exist without the prejudices of the age and area. Zora, thusly, portrayed much of her characters and their outlooks from this vantage point.
Although a participant in the Harlem Renaissance, she later found disfavor for her portrayal of black dialects in her writings. As an anthropologist, she remained true to this recording and has preserved some of this language. Reading books such as Their Eyes Were Watching God, you feel the power of utilizing this language instead of changing it to the "proper" English form. The rhythm and flow is uninterrupted through Zora's pen in this manner.
She eventually found herself becoming a resident in St. Lucie County Welfare Home and later died of hypertensive heart disease.

The Official Word

2010-01-22T12:48:00.001-08:00

Since this is the "official" blog for The Great Works Book Club, I thought I would clarify the changes/decisions that were voted upon last night.
By popular vote, we will continue to hold meetings at 6:30pm every third THURSDAY of the month. We will reevaluate our meeting time in May. So, if this doesn't work out the best for you, it will only be for a few months before we can change.
The next meeting will be February 18th at 6:30pm at Loretta's house. If you need directions, please email or call me. We will read and discuss Zora Neale Thurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. It's a fairly short book, but get reading now so you have time to think about it and get ready for discussion!!

We have a little debate on the books for the next few months. Please talk to me about your preferences and questions!

Meeting Information

2010-01-15T13:25:00.001-08:00

Our next book club meeting is just around the corner!! I hope you have enjoyed this month's selections and have some ideas and opinions to share.
There have been some changes to meeting times and such, but we still need to refine this so everyone has equal opportunity to make it to the meetings. In the meantime, our next meeting will be held at Jennifer's home on THURSDAY, January 21st, starting at 6:30pm (a half-hour earlier than it has been held). For further information, please remember to check the Facebook club page.
Until Thursday!!

Similarities

2010-01-06T05:47:00.001-08:00

The future is always looked to with hope and expectation of technology and other advances. However, dystopian literature points out how good things can go drastically wrong (although The Giver isn't typically categorized as such, there are enough similarities to qualify it). There tend to be many similarities that authors put into their novels. The trash receptacles is one example. In both Fahrenheit 451 and The Giver (as well as other novels), there is a wonderful trash receptacle readily available to keep the society clean and orderly. This seems like a great concept and somehow you get the impression that this is the solution for our waste issue (go green!). Aside from the fact that burning actually releases toxins and other pollutants into the atmosphere, there are downfalls to such a simple system. Blindly, the civilians in Fahrenheit 451 promptly destroy materials without thinking, to the point that books have become prohibited. In a similar manner, the father in The Giver simply follows his directive and not only places but pushes the body of the infant into the receptacle. Although I am not promoting littering, it seems to be when the choice is removed, individuals no longer think about what they are doing. Habits are hard to break, but become impossible without thinking about it. The trash receptacle was created in response to littering and to break the bad habit of littering. Yet, the true issue would have been correcting the way people think about trash in the first place.
What other symbols and tools are repeated in the novels? Why? What are the pros and cons of each?

Slackerville

2009-12-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

I have to apologize for my recent absence in postings on this blog. The holidays and birthday events greatly distracted me from other duties.
We had a great discussion over Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol earlier this month. I must say, I have a greater appreciation for the short story after the discussion.
Now on to The Giver by Lois Lowry and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Interestingly enough, both of these authors are living and have sites to reference their information from, so I thought I'd share those with you (click on their names above). By reading these, I hope you can become better acquainted with the author and their writing style and influences.
We just gave one of our nephew a copy of The Giver, if that gives you a clue as to how much I have loved this book. Fahrenheit 451 was a one night read for me, so, again, I enjoyed it a lot.

Discussion

2009-12-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

If you haven't viewed the discussion board on FB for GWBC, please do. Just because we have finished reading a specific title and have "moved on" doesn't mean we have to stop talking about it. Feel free to discuss using either FB or the blog. If I see something in the comments, I will transfer it to a blog post so everyone will have a chance to discuss and think about what other members are thinking about.
Enjoy this holiday season! Our next meeting will be on the 15th, just a little over a week away. Don't forget to read A Christmas Carol!!
I'm still searching out titles for February and March, but I think I have some good options. Stay tuned!

Tiny Tim

2009-11-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a thought to ponder....how would A Christmas Carol differ had there not been a Tiny Tim character? Would Scrooge have been able to come through his catharsis without the glaring image of depravation accompanied by infirmity in Tiny Tim? Was Scrooge truly only impressed by the goodness in this character BECAUSE of the physical hardships Tiny Time endured? Or, was it only that Scrooge's own sister was similar to Tim that allows Ebenezer to once again have feelings of compassion to another human being?
What are your thoughts?

An Intro to Dickens

2009-11-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

With the recent release of yet another film creation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, it is hard to deny the influence of such a work of literature and an author upon society.
Dickens was born Charles John Huffam Dickens on 7 February 1812 to John and Elizabeth Dickens. His father was a clerk in the Naval Pay Office and found himself imprisoned a couple of times for debt. The first occurrence of this happening landed the whole family in prison, minus Charles who was sent to work in a blackening warehouse at age twelve. This experience would later lead to some of his creative works and characters and influenced his life throughout, especially as a theme of social reform permeated his works.
Dickens took the pen name of "Boz" and began publishing works. These writings were released serially through periodicals and led Dickens to the creation of such parts of his novels and stories with cliffhangers that helped him create more anticipation for his audience for the next edition. A series of books issued at Christmastime began in 1843. A Christmas Carol was the first of these Christmas books and was first published the 19th of December 1843. A fan, himself, of the gothic tradition, he wrote a Christmas story with key elements from a seemingly opposing genre.
In April of 1836, Dickens married Catherine Hogarth who would become the mother of their ten children. Dickens also continued to pursue the pen in providing for his family through his own writings, being editor of different papers, and eventually establishing a theater group. This theater group later led to the separation between Dickens and wife Catherine due to a love affair with an actress by the name of Ellen Ternan.
Dickens continued to find success in his career as a novelist throughout his life, even leaving an unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood at his death. He left the world in June of 1870 due to a stroke. Although he wished to be buried in a private manner without the pomp and circumstance of the famous, he was interred in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.

Notes from Discussion

2009-11-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

As a few of you were unable to attend our monthly meeting last night, I thought I would include some ideas we discussed.
First, Oscar Wilde is hilarious! The snappy comebacks and asides happening throughout the play reveal his wit and the reason for his popularity.
As close as a realism play and a comedy can come in similarity, there were many different ideas and themes found in both A Dolly's House and An Ideal Husband. One spouse losing the favor of the other, the love trysts that inevitably "save" the offending party, the blackmailers, as well as unreal and unfair expectations of character in the two marriages. Look for more details that are shared.
As for Tess, neither of the starring men are good guys. Both leave her ruined and unable to face society and family in any degree of honor or provision. There is a lot of symbolism throughout.

Apologies

2009-11-16T17:26:00.000-08:00

I have been slacking in my posting of thoughts on this month's readings. I will post from notes after tomorrow's meeting.
Don't forget! Tomorrow night at Carol's. 7pm. Don't bring your blackmailer....which, ironically could have been the "theme" of this month's selections.

Tess and Trials

2009-11-09T17:53:00.000-08:00

The world over, there continues to be issues revolving around the revolting incidences of rape and the way it deteriorates a woman's identity to herself as well as to those around her. Individuals such as Thomas Hardy who exposed such truths or doctors like Denis Mukwege who assist rape victims in the healing process are heroes on a battlefield that continues to be fought.
Tess, in all of her goodness, attempts to lead a good life contrary to the poor and slovenly natures exhibited by her parents. She becomes a pawn in their hands and is subjected to not only the embarrassment of "reconciling" two ends of an assumed family relation, but ultimately to the stigmas of a ruined woman.
As the novel continues, the reader is unable to escape from mourning for this young lady subjected to such trials and torments as beset her. No step in her life is easy. She fights for her existence on so many different levels yet no one is there to help her or lift her from her troubles. Even the one who should have been her guiding angel out of a life of scratching out a living and hiding a dark and loathsome past turns away from her and eventually leaves her to the wolf who thrust her into this position in the first place.
Thomas Hardy may have stirred up a nation as he depicted the rape of a woman and the ensuing complications of her life due to this deed, but he also brought to the forefront the dichotomy of sin in regards to both genders. While it was not only acceptable for a man to live a life of debauchery, he also could sire children without any repercussions. A woman, not so. Not only does her body become the bearer of the sin in obvious manners if a child is conceived, but her mind is forever marred by the occurrence. No relief is even possible for Tess as society and a man seeming to overcome social stigma rejects her because of an action she was subjected to and not an active participant.
Rape and abuse continues to pervade societies in every part of the world. Those who expose the wrongs of this are heroes to the afflicted.

Season for Sensation

2009-10-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Taking into consideration three great writer's names, there, at first, doesn't seem to be any link between these men. However, each went through dealing with the public, society and controversy in their own ways. All three men enjoyed success of their writings within their lifetimes. Oscar Wilde and Henrik Ibsen both for their plays and Thomas Hardy for his fictional novels and poetry. Each also brought forth their observations of the inconsistencies of Victorian society and what was really going on back at home.
Wilde was wild! Born Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde in Dublin, Ireland on 16 October 1854 to a doctor and a writer, he was exposed early on to genius in many realms. He went on to study and gained his own awards for his scholarly abilities and writings. He received great acclaim for his plays and the comedic take on society, especially "An Ideal Husband." Although himself a married man and father, he was also a known homosexual. Due to a relationship with Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas, he was prosecuted for "gross indecency" and sentenced to two years hard labor. Wilde's health and popularity were affected by this trial, causing his name to be removed from authorship of his plays. Wilde left Britain after his imprisonment and remained abroad for the remainder of his life, dying in November 1900 of cerebral meningitis.
Another author born into what should have been prosperity and family was Henrik Ibsen, born Henrik Johan Ibsen in March of 1828 in Norway. However, his family suffered severe setbacks and were removed from their home early on in Ibsen's life. This dramatic change affected both of Ibsen's parents in different manners, influencing their son. In tandem with the loss of fortune, Ibsen was sent to study pharmacy as his parents' choice of profession. Due to the birth of an illegitimate child, Ibsen soon was providing for another but also seeking a way to pursue his true passion: writing. Eventually Ibsen was able to find success in this field. He married Suzannah Thoresen in 1858 and had one child with his wife. Due to some finanicing from a friend and the government, Ibsen went abroad and wrote many of his greatest plays, including "A Doll's House" (1879), which gathered controversy due to content. He eventually returned home and died of a stroke in Christiania on May 23, 1906. Ibsen's influence lived on as he is attributed with Modernism, as his plays dealt with the middle class and the psychological developments as plot drive. His works greatly influenced Anton Chekov, a Russian playwrite.
Thomas Hardy also dealt with social pressure against his novels and ultimately rejected writing more after suffering such attacks on his works. Hardy was born in England in June of 1840 and gained early experience in architecture under the instruction and influence of his own father. He was sent to be an apprentice and continued in architecture as a means of employment until his literary career took off. He married Emma Gifford in 1874 but never had any children. His writings mirrored the reality of life rather than the picturesque. Eventually, after the criticism over Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure, he rejected the fictional world and only kept his pen active through poetry and playwriting. He died in January of 1928 of unknown causes. Interestingly enough, there is even controversy over his burial. He requested to be buried next to his first wife (she preceeded him in death and he later remarried). However, his request was not honored, as his body was interred in Poet's Corner and his heart buried with Emma. However, it is rumored that the housekeeper placed his heart on the kitchen table where a cat devoured it, leaving not even his heart to be placed with Emma. A pig's heart was used instead. (Truth or fiction, it isn't known.) His works influenced both D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Wolfe.
The month ahead will see discussion of married life as well as the role of women in Victorian society through the pens of these three great writers.

On To November

2009-10-21T05:36:00.001-07:00

Last night's discussion was great! I hope everyone gets a chance to finish reading Udolpho.
We chose the selections for our November meeting as well as December's.
November: 2 plays: Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband" and Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House", as well as Tomas Hardy's novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles.
December: Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol.
We also have talked about getting together on another night to watch a film version of "An Ideal Husband." Be watching for that announcement, too!

Tonight, Tonight....

2009-10-20T06:07:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder that we are meeting tonight. Bring your favorite title choices to put on the book list for future selections!

Secret Meeting

2009-10-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it isn't so secret and it is quite predictable...
Don't forget to put it on your calendar, but our next meeting is in less than a week! October 20th at 7:00 pm. We'll be meeting at Stefanie's house. (If you need the address or directions, leave a comment and I'll email you the info.)

Bring any friends you may have: old or young! We'll be discussing The Mysteries of Udolpho as well as choosing literature for the next three months, so even if they haven't read, it will benefit them to cast their votes.

Also, think about this so you can put your picks in the pot...
What are three of your "favorite" great works you have previously read?
What are three great works you have on your list to read in the future?
I'm hoping that this compilation of likes and interests will help us build the picking pool.

Relief on the Rise

2009-10-06T07:59:00.001-07:00

I know this book has been a big one to tackle. I apologize for the amount required this month. Don't panic about where you are. There are still two weeks before we meet.
I also wanted to alleviate any stress about the next selection. I have another novel to recommend, but I have two plays to read as an alternative to the novel. The plays (yes, two, but they are short) will enable those who aren't able to finish Udolpho to continue reading in October-November and not feel like they are being left behind.
I had it in my head that a month's reading should be maxed out at about 400 pages, give or take a few. So, the next time we tackle such a huge book, we'll split it in half and meet twice on it (we'll HAVE to do that for Tolstoy or Dostoevsky).
So, relax and enjoy what you are reading. I think the pace is pushing things a bit, but don't stress. See if you can guess what "natural" occurrences are causing the mysterious/supernatural perceptions. It'll make the reading more interesting.

Keep Reading!

2009-09-26T10:53:00.001-07:00

The trials of everyone trying to obtain a copy of this book is kind of ironic in that there are such crazy obstacles and adventures within the story! You may find segments of the story to be slow, but I PROMISE, it allows her to tie everything up nicely at the end. So, keep on reading. She builds and builds and builds and then resolves. Her writing style is definitely a true and perfect exhibition of denouement!
Ann Radcliffe is flowery with her descriptions of things, yet this is influenced by other artists she admires. She makes mention of a couple of painters in her story. Looking at their works helps one understand her writing style better. (To view such pieces, search Salvator Rosa, Claude Lorraine, Gaspard Poussin, Domenico Zampieri). By viewing these paintings, you can understand more of the landscape and the mood Radcliffe invokes through her writings.
Like Dracula, there is hope, so you must journey to the "end of the rainbow" to have that satisfaction. Enjoy and keep reading!

Ann Radcliffe and the Gothic Novel

2009-09-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

"Terror and horror are so far opposite, that the first expands the soul, and awakes the faculties to a high degree of life; the other contracts, freezes, and nearly annihilates them. I apprehend that neither Shakespeare nor Milton by their fictions, nor Mr. Burke by his reasoning, anywhere looked to positive horror as a source of the sublime, though they all agree that terror is a very high one; and there lies the great difference between horror and terror, but in uncertainty and obscurity, that accompany the first, respecting the dreader evil." -- Ann Radcliffe
Ann Radcliffe was born on July 9, 1764 in Holborn, London, England to a haberdasher, which gave her entrance into the artistic world due to those with whom her father came in contact. She married a William Radcliffe, an editor of the English Chronicle in 1788. Without children in this marriage, Ann turned to writing to fill her time. Her husband much encouraged this pastime.
Publishing two works anonymously, Ann Radcliffe found acclaim in the genre of Gothic fiction. Although many of the highly educated and upper crust of society found these tales to be nothing more than "sensational women's entertainment" it influenced great writers such as Jane Austen, Sir Walter Scott, the Bronte sisters (esp. Jane Eyre), and Edgar Allen Poe. Still, she received great public acclaim and large compensations for her following two books; The Mysteries of Udolpho (published 1794 and our next reading) making her the most popular novelist in England at the time.
The Gothic genre was, early on, an attempt to meld the fantastic found in medieval literature with the realism in contemporary literature. Dark and dilapidated castles, swooning heroines, the supernatural along with combining both physical and mental horrors captivated readers of Gothic fiction. Radcliffe developed her style in response to trying to explain the supernatural. Demonstrated in her novels is the sense that even supernatural occurrences could be traced back to natural beginnings.
Although still finding favor and audience for her literature, Ann Radcliffe stepped out of the literary scene and was believed deceased in 1816. It was even published that she had died of "terrors." However, it wasn't until 7 February 1823 that she died, probably due to respiratory problems caused by pneumonia, complicated with her asthma. Again, upon her true passing, it was published more fantastically, touting that 'she died in a state of mental desolation not to be described'.
Radcliffe's influence upon the genre popularized the concept and many others copied the style, sacrificing it to an early death due to the unimaginative imitations of such works, leaving it to be mocked and parodied in other literature including Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey.

Tea Tips

2009-09-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had to calculate the appropriate sum for a tip after dining out? Did you know that tips and tea go together?

Tea came into high fashion in England after King Charles II took the throne with his wife Catherine de Braganza. Both growing up in other parts of Europe conditioned them to the taste and tradition of taking tea. As time passed, consumption of the beverage increased greatly (going from 40,000 pounds to 240,000 pounds in a ten year span).

Tea was defined as either "low" (or "afternoon") tea or "high" tea. Ironically, "low" tea was held by the upper class and served around 4:00 pm. This was viewed more as a snack and consisted of only light refreshments(it should be noted that they typically only had two meals previous to this trend, dinner being held at 8:00pm). Whereas the middle and lower classes held the "high" tea at either 5 or 6 in the evening and served with a wide variety of foods. Why the difference in "height" for the teas? It was determined by the table at which teas were offered: the "low" table of a coffee table or the "high" table of the dinner table.

Interestingly enough, tea gardens came upon the scene and boxes were made to hold monetary contributions for a waiter in order to gain faster service as the kitchens were far removed from these gardens. These boxes were marked "T.I.P.S": an abbreviation for "To Insure Prompt Service."

This is just a summary of an article found at The Jane Austen Centre. Poke around through the rest of the site to find interesting tidbits of the era, including fashion and history!

I hope you will join me for a "high tea" (minus the tea) this Tuesday at 7:00pm at Amanda Hall(I know, extremely inventive, isn't it?)

Reminder

2009-09-02T05:31:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to remind you that our discussion night is on the 15th (3rd Tuesday of September). Send me a message if you need directions to my house.
If you have finished Persuasion, I would encourage you, if time is available, to pick up another Austen and compare/contrast it to Persuasion.

Concepts to Consider

2009-08-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

A few things to consider during your reading of Jane Austen.
The influence of the surroundings and the reflection of such upon the characters, especially Anne.
The relationship and pursuit of acceptable acquaintances among the gentry.
The role of women in society.
The purposes of a woman being "accomplished".
Austen's perception of a good marriage match.
Flat and round characters within the novel and their influence in the plot.

Book Selection List

2009-08-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be important for everyone to have access to the list we are pulling titles from. You will find a complete list of "approved" books through BYU's Honor's Program.
Other requirements are books that are short enough to complete in one month (two months, maximum) as well as being accessible within the public library system and/or purchase through book stores or online.
I have checked several of these titles with a specific website. If anyone is interested in purchasing books with me, a $50 order (shared) has free shipping, which leaves the books at nearly half the cost of books currently found at a local bookstore. If you are interested in this, we will be making a list of the books for the next year at the first discussion meeting held in September.

Knowing an Author's Influences

2009-08-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

There are so many different approaches to understanding a piece of literature. One such way is to become familiar with those texts with which an author enjoyed. While this is not always apparent and available, Jane Austen often finds herself alluding to other works while composing her own.
Being human, an individual goes about the world coming into contact with so many various people and influences. As this occurs, the individual invariably comes away with a portion of new understanding due to this interaction. If an artist attempted to convey this on canvas, she might paint a more understandable visual using a collage of different items/ideas/people with which portions become attached to a central figure.
I see this in myself in my word patterns after spending large amounts of time with any given individual or after submerging myself in a particular novel. It is inescapable for me, yet neither is it desirable to not be influenced as I choose good things and people by which to be influenced.
Even in this thought, the entirety of the plot of Jane Austen's Persuasion is set. The characters are persuaded through their encounters with others to create their opinions and further their influences. It is only by the end of the novel that the heroine rises above strictly being persuaded and influenced to make good and justly decisions on her own. Anne ultimately recognizes in herself the ability to make good judgments and to be happy with the outcome and consequences of such.

First Selection

2009-08-16T10:50:00.002-07:00

The first selection for the book club is Jane Austen's Persuasion.
Persuasion was published posthumously by her brother Henry. She was not fully confident in her writing and found herself plaguing the texts to perfection before allowing them to be published, leaving this, Northanger Abbey and Love and Friendship to find publication after she left this earth. She grew up in a religious family; her father being the Rector through her childhood and into adulthood. She lived with her family throughout, and was never married herself.
While Jane Austen struggled through an illness that eventually took her life, she completed this final book. Persuasion is about a woman who has jilted her love and through the course of devastating family circumstances, is faced to encounter him years later and confront her feelings for him and he for her.
Enjoy this reading this month! We will be meeting 15 Sept 09 to discuss our perceptions and insights into this novel.

To Begin

2009-08-16T10:50:00.001-07:00

Great Works Book Club

“Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” (D&C 88:118)

Purpose: To enlighten the minds of readers through the reading and discussion of great works.

Members: Those women who choose to participate on any level of commitment, as this will be an on-going club. It is acknowledged that certain times of the year may be difficult to meet, however meetings will continue to be held throughout. Advance notice will be given if there is a change to the schedule in order to avoid conflicts with such events that may deter the majority from being in attendance.
There are no dues or fees of any kind.

Text: The definition of a “great work” is a text which has endured the test of time as well as remaining pertinent to the human condition. No current best-seller’s listed books will be viewed as consideration for participation. Consideration will be given to the selection of each text, largely drawn from recommendations from the Church universities to avoid unsuitable and/or offensive material.

Goals: To read one text per month. Some texts, due to the length or level of writing may require more than the allotted month’s reading. A mid-point will be decided and will be the amount of the text discussed at that month’s meeting.
To meet once per month to discuss the text and gain insight to the way we view the world as well as the way our peers might perceive it.
To help build personal libraries if finances are available and the individual has the desire to purchase each text.

Meetings: Held once per month for one hour to discuss the text and socialize with other members. Meetings must begin promptly at the appointed time to ensure enough time for the discussion. Those arriving late will quietly join the group and freely participate.

The meeting place will rotate through those homes of participates who so desire to invite members into their home to discuss. It is recommended that these homes also be welcoming to women who would like to come but must bring their children with them. Children visiting during these times will remain in another portion of the home to play but must remain respectful of the toys and home they are in, the mother being solely responsible for the child.

Discussion: Those reading the text are encouraged to form opinions upon what they are reading. Historical, social, scientific, economical and other influences upon the work will be brought up and discussed when and if possible. Members should respect each other’s differing opinions and thoughts about each text as reader response is largely the way individuals personalize the reading of literature.