I have been feeling very overwhelmed and it has rendered me mute in acknowledging the generosity of everyone at bookclub.
It has allowed me to put new tyres on my car which not only keeps us safe but keeps me law abiding!!
I would also like to thank you all for keeping book club about book club last month as it was refreshing to discuss and speak &think about something else.
These periods of difficulty in life can be very consuming and difficult to navigate when all security you normally surround yourself by gets stripped away.
Some of you have only met me a few times and this is one if those situations where saying thank you seems so trite and insufficient. But in the absence of something more substantial Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
Irene
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Thursday, February 15, 2018
February Meeting - Molokai by Alan Brennert
Thanks to everyone who made it to our February Meeting to discuss Molokai by Alan Brennert.
Book Selection - I do most of my reading on Kindle these days, Kindle often provides suggestions based on previous reads. Molokai was one suggestion and it seemed to have good reviews, so I thought I'd give it a go. Additionally, I know very little about Leprosy and how those afflicted were segregated at the time, so thought I might learn something along the way.
Meeting Wrap up - Almost everyone enjoyed reading this book, barring Tamara who found it too sad to call it enjoyable, despite the quality of the novel. Most enjoyed the use of Hawaiian terminology throughout the book and found it added to the narrative and wasn't too distracting (as we have sometimes found in other books). It was generally agreed that the setting was integral to the story and all felt that the novel wouldn't have worked as well elsewhere, the mainland for example.
Most were deeply saddened for Rachel and how she must have felt being separated from her family at such a young age and conflicted as to how we would have behaved in the same situation, given the perceived communicability of Leprosy at that time. Overall a positive read, the narrative of a lifetime (albeit a sad one) managing to hold our interest for the length of the book.
Pithy Comments & Ratings
Average Rating 7/10
Georgia Good example of the power of resilience and community8/10
Ann-Marie Strength of the Human spirit 8/10
Colleen The inhumanity of the medical profession 6/10
Mel Really enjoyed it - The strength of one woman 9/10
Trilby Lovely fictional version of a hideous non-fiction event 7/10
Irene Overtly focused on pivotal moments in an otherwise luscious piece of literature 7/10
Tahnee A sad truth 7.5/10
Beck First meeting - Welcome
Housekeeping
This months book is 'The People of the Book' by Geraldine Brooks to be discussed at Georgia's.
Aprils book (Kaye's selection) will be hosted at Colleens. Kaye will still post questions and chair the meeting after returning from holiday that day. Book to be announced at next meeting so you don't all read ahead and forget about it by the time the meeting comes around.
We welcomed 'Beck' to her first Book Club meeting and I think we were all relatively well behaved, so she may return.
Mel questioned whether a further breakdown in scoring might be considered i.e. 8.75/10. Much robust discussion ensued with no resolution.
'till March, happy reading : )
Book Selection - I do most of my reading on Kindle these days, Kindle often provides suggestions based on previous reads. Molokai was one suggestion and it seemed to have good reviews, so I thought I'd give it a go. Additionally, I know very little about Leprosy and how those afflicted were segregated at the time, so thought I might learn something along the way.
Meeting Wrap up - Almost everyone enjoyed reading this book, barring Tamara who found it too sad to call it enjoyable, despite the quality of the novel. Most enjoyed the use of Hawaiian terminology throughout the book and found it added to the narrative and wasn't too distracting (as we have sometimes found in other books). It was generally agreed that the setting was integral to the story and all felt that the novel wouldn't have worked as well elsewhere, the mainland for example.
Most were deeply saddened for Rachel and how she must have felt being separated from her family at such a young age and conflicted as to how we would have behaved in the same situation, given the perceived communicability of Leprosy at that time. Overall a positive read, the narrative of a lifetime (albeit a sad one) managing to hold our interest for the length of the book.
Pithy Comments & Ratings
Average Rating 7/10
Tamara Exposing a tragic past 4/10
Meaghan Total tragedy to unexpected uplift 8.5/10Georgia Good example of the power of resilience and community8/10
Ann-Marie Strength of the Human spirit 8/10
Colleen The inhumanity of the medical profession 6/10
Mel Really enjoyed it - The strength of one woman 9/10
Trilby Lovely fictional version of a hideous non-fiction event 7/10
Irene Overtly focused on pivotal moments in an otherwise luscious piece of literature 7/10
Tahnee A sad truth 7.5/10
Beck First meeting - Welcome
Housekeeping
This months book is 'The People of the Book' by Geraldine Brooks to be discussed at Georgia's.
Aprils book (Kaye's selection) will be hosted at Colleens. Kaye will still post questions and chair the meeting after returning from holiday that day. Book to be announced at next meeting so you don't all read ahead and forget about it by the time the meeting comes around.
We welcomed 'Beck' to her first Book Club meeting and I think we were all relatively well behaved, so she may return.
Mel questioned whether a further breakdown in scoring might be considered i.e. 8.75/10. Much robust discussion ensued with no resolution.
'till March, happy reading : )
Monday, February 5, 2018
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
Moloka'i
Hello Everyone,
Looking forward to seeing you all at my house tomorrow night to discuss Molokai.
I hope to have a few more questions for you by tomorrow, just wanted to get a few up tonight to remind everyone of tomorrow's meeting.
Tahnee
Imagine yourself in the place of Rachel’s mother, Dorothy Kalama. How would you have handled the situation?
What other diseases of more recent times have a similar story?
Did you as a reader regard Leilani as a man or a woman?
Was there a character other than Rachel that had an impact on you? Who and Why?
Was it fair of the nuns to remove Rachel from Uncle Pono's house and bring her to the convent school? Should Rachel have been allowed to stay with Uncle Pono?
Considering the United States' role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, was the American response adequate or not? In recent years a "Hawaiian sovereignty" movement has gathered momentum in the islands—do you feel they have a moral and/or legal case?
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