January 11, 2007
Marianne's Book Group
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
A favorite current book club read is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. This is a tale about a life-long friendship of two women of different social status, living in the harsh society of the remote, farming area of Hunan province in 19th century China. It is a very moving story.
However, our group was particularly struck by the cruel practice of foot binding.
To accomplish the desired tiny feet (3 inches), viewed as a sign of beauty, young girls were subjected to unthinkable and painful procedures involving the breaking of bones. As we dwelled on this, it occurred to us that our societal focus on ‘beauty’ achieved by multiple plastic surgeries and extreme dieting could well be hard to understand by others in years to come.
Has anyone else read this book, either for your own pleasure or with your group? Why not share your reactions with us?
To learn more about foot binding refer to the following websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1155872
See our summary
Posted by marianne at 11:15 AM
November 16, 2006
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
Tangled fishing lines tell of something mysterious in the deep. So, begins the story of Shadow Divers, a book our group rated 9 of 10, probably because it offers something for everyone. Ranging from the mystery and sleuthing surrounding a lost German U-Boat off New Jersey’s coast (the subject of the book) to the physics of deep sea diving to the fraternal nature of the diving community to the WWII historical content, specifically the role of German submarines and finally to the human dimension when one of the principal divers, Richie Kohler, is compelled to travel to Germany to visit, these many years later, the families of the doomed sailors on board the German U-Boat, U-869, and ultimately to bring closure for them and himself.
Something for everyone, indeed, as a matter of fact some group members are planning to give this book as a holiday gift. Also, Connie Melvin may be a key reason for the increased popularity of Shadow Divers because she has recommended it to so many people.
Posted by marianne at 11:31 AM | Comments (1)
June 27, 2006
The Language of Baklava by Diana Abu-Jaber
As the oldest daughter of an American mother and Jordanian father, Diana Abu Jaber grew up learning that meal preparation, cooking, and unforgettable feasts with relatives teach as much about identity, family and love as they do about food. Why does this concept seem to exist more in non-American families? Is our lifestyle more geared to the fast-food strip than to a slower pace where one can savor family and friends? Does food play a significant role in your family's lifestyle?
See our review.
Posted by marianne at 11:24 PM
May 18, 2006
March by Geraldine Brooks
Geraldine Brooks cleverly takes Peter March, the invisible father in Little Women, who was off serving in the Civil War and explodes him into a full blown main character. This she does by resourcefully using Bronson Alcott, Louisa May’s real life father and diligently researching the period. March is a foil for Brooks in expressing her antiwar sentiments. As a relatively older, naive and idealistic Union recruit, he serves as a chaplain attempting to save soldiers and teach free slaves to read. Blaming himself for not being able to do more, in the face of the ravages of war, he is disillusioned and his idealism is shattered.
While difficult to read at times, March is well written and the crafting of Peter March as a character is singularly impressive. While Brooks' inventiveness in manufacturing March is clearly a notable achievement, is he a logical personality fit for the little women and Mrs. March?
Posted by marianne at 09:35 AM | Comments (1)
May 17, 2006
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Our recent book group selection, Little Women, retains a special place in American literature. Warmly realistic, Alcott’s sense of comedy, tragedy, and insights into human nature make the endearing stories of Little Women come alive. It’s one of those rare classic novels that is still relevant and fresh today.
Why has this homespun story of the tender relationships of four sisters and their mother during the Civil War endured as it has? A possible answer is that for almost a century Louisa May Alcott had been dubbed “the children’s friend.” With the woman’s movement of the 1960’s and 70’s there was an impetus to recover forgotten, neglected, or underestimated women authors. Since that time the upsurge of interest in Alcott has been unique among 19th century women writers.
Now will the real Louisa May Alcott please stand-up? To get a more balanced view of Alcott consider her sensational works published in 1975 that included tales about mad, vengeful, and manipulating women in adulterous, bigamous, and incestuous relationships. Much has been written about how to square the rebellious, assertive heroines in these stories with the submissive, self-sacrificing heroines of Little Women. But to me it simply demonstrates the versatility and depth of this great writer.
Posted by marianne at 04:18 PM | Comments (1)
March 27, 2006
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Looking for a life-changing story? Consider Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. Our diverse group rated this watershed reading event a near perfect score. This biography of medical doctor Paul Farmer tells of his quest in the extremely poor environs of Haiti, to overcome life threatening and potentially pandemic illnesses.
Make no mistake, this is not just one of those inspirational, human interest, feel good stories....it literally can move you to action which it did with at least one in our group who immediately made a contribution to Farmer's cause.
He is truly a unique individual with a singularly unusual upbringing who has definite views on how we deal with the world's most underprivlieged living in abject poverty.
Posted by marianne at 08:38 AM | Comments (6)
February 20, 2006
Marianne's Book Group
The Hamilton Case by Michelle de Kretser
It seems to me that whether or not you liked The Hamilton Case depends on what your goal is in reading.
If your objective is to take the reading at face value, enjoy the descriptive prose, and find comfort in the certainties laid before you, you probably won’t rate The Hamilton Case highly. But if you enjoy complexity (the multilayered portrayal of Sam), uncertainty (who really killed Maud’s baby), some confusion (Shivanathan’s shifting position on the Hamilton murder) and realism you might well find this novel engrossing.
I think I’m a hybrid. I’m in the first group in many ways. But I do like complexity. However, I was not able to see all the subtleties and the structural depth the first time through. For me The Hamilton Case required a second reading, maybe more. What do you think?
Posted by marianne at 01:16 PM
January 25, 2006
Introducing Marianne's Book Group!
In the world of popular reading, book groups have become all the rage. For the past three years, on the second Wednesday of the month, here at the Library, 20 avid readers have gathered to discuss thought provoking works of fiction and non-fiction.
The first selection in the current series was The Sisters: the Saga of the Mitford Family by Mary S. Lovell who writes with insight, humor and skillful analysis about a dazzling, complex English family and aristocracy during the period from the 1920’s through the 1960's.
In November we read To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. Considered one of the great novels of the twentieth century, Virginia Woolf's poignant novel chronicles the lives of the Ramsay family and friends, examining human relationships and emotions with great insight and daring introspective and innovative form.
Last month we read The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys. It is a beautifully crafted coming-of-age story about the impact of WWII on English life and the quiet self-discovery by Gwenn, the main character, and her experiences with love and friendship in the ever changing, early days of the war.
Our January title, a memoir, Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner is a heartwarming and nostalgic look at what life was like for one little girl growing up in the 1950s in Lewiston, New York, a small town near Niagara Falls. Comments from our members ranged from “hilarious”, “outrageous”, “wonderful”, to “unbelievable”, “disturbing”.
Our last meeting coincided with the revelation that James Frey’s memoir, A Million Little Pieces, contained fabrications which Frey surprisingly defended as acceptable in the larger story he was imparting. This led us to a discussion of how accurate a memoir needs to be, concluding that some “embroidering” of the facts is expected, but it should not disturb the integrity of the essential storyline.
So that’s what we’re reading and discussing. We’d like to hear from you. If you’ve read Too Close to the Falls or want to add your thoughts about what you expect from a memoir or if you simply want to talk books, send us a message at the bottom of this entry.
Posted by marianne at 10:14 AM