Greetings everyone

The Sentimental Bloke by C.J. Dennis

Thank you ladies for a lovely and lively night.  Lots of subjects covered the least of them, I think was the book.  If not liked it did create some interest.

Review

Irene        In full appreciation of his literary significance having read from cover to cover I am none
   5             the wiser.

Hannah     ummmmmmmm Interesting snapshot of young people in yesteryear
7

Trilby       Vivid slice of life of the times

Kay          Didn't read it but enjoyed the pav and scored on the pav alone.
9

Colleen
9               Marvelled at the way an uneducated man could use words in such a descriptive way

Annmarie  ... and moving on to the next person
6

Tahnee      Neat snapshot of life stages in the 1900's.  Eloquently penned in prose.
6

Deb           I don't do poetry

Kerry        written like a great stage play
6

Cynthia     Read a very long time ago.  Window into the past both with language and imagery
7

Next book  Burial Rites by Hannah Kent at Kay's house in February.

Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year.

The Sentimental Bloke by C.J Dennis

 The first edition was printed in 1915.

#  Do you think good literature is always good literature no matter how old or what era it was written in or am I going to be picked on and  bullied for choosing an old fashioned piece of work.

# Who wrote The Night before Christmas

# I think C J Dennis captures an era of days gone by in words more so than any picture could, do you agree.

# Can everyone sing The Twelve Days of Christmas

# I am not going to pull apart each poem with questions but would like to know if you could feel the essence of the man who wrote them.

# How many presents  were given in total in The Twelve Days of Christmas.

# Could you understand the language without referring too much to the glossary of terms.

# How many of Rudolph’s eight companions names start with ‘D’.

See you at my place on Tuesday for a tasty book review with no singing involved.

Last gate on the right Chandler Road Seville.  Off Victoria Road.

Colleen

 

 

Book Club 29th OCTOBER The book thief

Hello all,

Posting on behalf of Cindy

Hi Everyone
Don't forget that book club is on this Tuesday (29th) as the following Tuesday is Cup Day.  Looking forward to seeing you all and hope you all enjoyed "The Book Thief".
 
Questions to ponder and discuss are as follows -
 
1.  How effective was the "collector of souls" (the narrator) to the telling to this story?
2.  Colour plays a significant role in the descriptions from the narrator.  How important is this to the reader?
3.  "Her whole death was ahead of her". Discuss
4.  What did you think of the characters in this book. Have you a favourite?
5.  Did you learn anything from an historical perspective?
6.  Score
 
Cheers
Cindy
0416 463 826 
605 Victoria Road
Seville
(1st gate on left after you pass Chandler Rd on the left.)

November Book

Hello Everyone.

There was much discussion and debate and  over the title of my book for the December Meeting. 

At Kerry's house I wrongly said the next book was to be The Sentimental Bloke by Henry Lawson.  Some looked it up and said it was The Songs of the Sentimental Bloke by C J Dennis.  Now I admit I had the author wrong but it was an honest mistake.  Even the title I can be forgiven because it uses both.    My Book is titled The Sentimental Bloke by C J Dennis.  Inside it is called The Songs of the Sentimental Bloke with a preface by Henry Lawson.  (see where the mistake came from)

The Sentimental Bloke by C J Dennis.  A selection of 14 Poems/Songs.

My address is Chandler Road Seville.  If you have not been to my house before ring me and I will talk you through to find it or come with someone else.

Don't eat a big dinner I will supply Christmas nibbles.

Colleen
0411799558

October Book Review....

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil   by   John Berendt........

It's hard to believe this book is based on a true crime story. Generally we felt the book read a little like a travel book that introduced many eccentric characters. Berendt's writing was able to bring to life the colorful and eccentric city of Savannah, that included a troubled story of murder..

Apologies from Tahnee, Deb and intrepid traveller Irene.

CIndy and Colleen didn't manage to read the book but felt enthused from the discussion to do so.

Trilby was pleased to announce ..."She made it to book club"...well done you...

Anne Maree    7    .........
Hannah           7    Managerie of characters with a twisted murder
Kaye               6    enjoyed the style of writing became tedious towards the end .
Kerry               6   Amusing, yet spooky. eloquently written. Like to put Savannah on the bucket list.

Book club for November will be in October due to Cup Day .... 29th October....

the book is The Book Thief..by  Markus Zusak

29th October at Cindy's place

 605 Victoria Rd. Seville.   0416 463 826

December's book is TBA by Colleen.....

Midnight in the garden of Good and Evil....John Berendt...

Good Morning Ladies..a few questions for consideration ...Given that book is based on a true story....

Did you get a "feeling" for Savannah as described by Berendt..did you find his descriptive prose enough to feel you where there.

Which character did you relate to and why

Did you like the bemused, gossipy way the characters stories were told

Was Jim William the real protagonist in this story

Do you think the isolation of Savannah and places like, breed eccentric personalities ...


how do you feel about  the Ladies Ritual Card nights, and their needs to conform to a social standard...opposed to Lady Chablis who completley throw social norms out the window.....

how did you feel about Danny Hansford..was he a misused and misunderstood young man or do you feel he was doing exactly what he wanted to.

Did you feel a little spooked at the role the conjoure played ......have you ever been tempted by the
supernatural.....

where you disturbed by the lack of moral fibre  in the story...


lots more i could ask but thats enough for now.

Hope to see you all on Tuesday night

Kerry    224 Schoolhouse road  Woori Yallock    0407 047 298

So....
General consensus was that this book was better suited to a younger audience and that Tony was trying too hard to be funny, where the scenario of hitch hiking round Ireland with a fridge inherently suggested a humorous situation.
Kaye suggested that an oral presentation would have been better and that the humour got lost in the translation to the written word.

A light read that didn't warrant much in-depth analysis.
And to the scores....

Kerry 6/10 Made me chuckle and loved the line "life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved"
Hannah 7/10 Enjoyable read. Will not be hitch hiking, but will visit Ireland.
Cindy - Looking forward to reading.
Ann Marie - Ill - hope you are feeling better.
Trilby - Ill - hope you are feeling better too.
Colleen - 5/10  Mild Book. Not Funny. Problem with Qu.5
Debbie - Unable to come - hope the house move is progressing smoothly.
Tahnee - 3/10 Great Christmas stocking filler for your back packing 17 year old
Irene - 6/10 Repetitive humour. Funnier for the under 30's.

October's Book is 'Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil' by John Berendt courtesy of Kerry's hospitality.

And Cynthia for November has chosen 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak. Though we need confirmation from anyone who can remember, whether this has already been read and discussed?

And if anyone would like a postcard from Ireland send me your address!!

Thanks for another great night.
irene

Good Evening Fellow Book Clubbers,

Hope you all had a chance to read 'Round Ireland with a Fridge'. Here are a few questions to consider prior to congregating at my humble abode.

1. Did you laugh??

2. How was Tony's nationality relevant to the success of his venture?

3. There are a lot of Irish stereotypes in this book. Is stereotyping acceptable in the global culture that we live in and if so where is the line between what is and isn't acceptable?

4. How do you perceive Tony's outlook on life changed from the start to the end of the book?

5. Which aspects of life do you see the fridge as a metaphor for? And for whom?

6. Has anyone or do you know of anyone who had a similarly silly bet/adventure?

Looking forward to Tuesday at 9 Reefton Drive. Call me on 0437 358 890 if needed.

Irene

And the Mountains Echoed

Romantic night at my place with book club by candle light. Before I get to the reviews CAN EVERYONE PLEASE NOTE, Irene has changed her selection for next month to something more light hearted, "Round Ireland with a Fridge" by Tony Hawks. Hannah and Cynthia were both apologies but both gave scores of 6 for the book. Generally it seems most people enjoyed it, although the writing style tended to detract a little from full enjoyment. 6 - Kaye - enjoyed but not a favourite. Interwoven tales. 4 - Tahnee - Plodding. Vivid descriptive narrative. 5 - Irene - Spread too thin. Led to characters bereft of development and storylines underdeveloped. 6 - AM - Difficult to keep track of all the character connections Debbie - No score. Hadn't read the book.

And the Mountains Echoed - Questions

Questions for tomorrow evenings meeting 1. How well did the fable told at the beginning of the story set the scene for what was to follow? 2. Parwanna described Pari as "the finger cut to save the hand". Was the family really saved. 3. Nali says that everything she did, she did for Pari (although Pari wouldn't have appreciated it). What do you think? 5. So many interconnected relationships. Which one resonated most with you and why? 6. Did you enjoy the style of writing. Subtly linked, but could have been separate short stories. 7. Hosseini normally gives insight into the Afghan way of life through his characters and their stories. Did you feel this as a theme throughout the book. See you tomorrow night @ Lot 1 Karloo Lane, Seville.

The Handmaid's Tale

Hello all,

Most people seemed to like this book.
There was some discussion around tone and whether stealing discussion questions was ok (yup, pretty much ok! :P).

The Scores are as follows-
Cynthia - didn't make it and had a dodgy excuse - the last episode of Rafters was on!  Poor form Cindy :).
Toot - 7/10 Vividly bleak
Mum - 4/10 Bland futuristic story of people with no characters
Deb - 7/10 Thought provoking
Irene - 7/10 Depressingly not beyond the realms of possibility
Trilby - 9/10 - A tight story of a possible future
Hannah  - A good practice of the 'what if' despite the depressing content.

Next month we are at Anne-Maree's and the book is /"And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini,

September's book at Irene's house is "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer.

The Handmaid's Tale Discussion Questions

Hello all,

Looking forward to seeing you all tonight (those of you who are about)....

Questions for the Handmaiden's Tale

1)  Conversation in this book has no speech/quotation marks, but speeches do.  In what way does this effect  the tone of conversations in the book?

2) Do you think Luke's response to the take over and money transfer was complacent?  Why?

3) How possible is it that this dystopian future could actually occur? Do you see any parallels in current times?

4) Is objectivity really necessary when studying the Gileadeans? Is it okay to take an academic view point and not take a moral judgement on other cultures? 

5) Do you think the mating ritual is rape? Why/Why not?

6) What do you think we have freedom to and freedom from currently?  Is the distinction important?

7) Who has the 'best deal' - Wives, Aunts, Marthas, Handmaids, Econowives?

See you all tonight

August Reading

Hi All
The book for August is  "And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini,

A Clockwork Orange - Review

A Clockwork Orange - Reactions were mixed but the novel rated highly overall, 6/10.
I selected A Clockwork Orange as it's one of the novels on my 'must get around to it' list.

 and 'The Ratings' are...

Colleen   4/10
Didn't like it, life is to short to waste time reading the violence and foul language found in this novel.

Cynthia   8/10
Loved it, loved the writing. Struggled with the violence. Liked the plot development.

Kerry       7/10
Initially disliked, struggled with power imbalance. Opinion developed with novel as I could make parallels with today. Glad I read it, although not necessarily enjoyed.

Irene        6/10
A tale woven around a social conundrum that is still unanswered.

Tahnee     8/10
An unapologetic, unbridled, riotous read. Loved the language.

Hannah    6.5/10
Thought provoking.

Ann-Marie 6/10

Kaye (unfinished) Initial thoughts are that it's crap.

Debbie    4/10
Glad it's ticked of my reading list.


We should all be well into 'The Handmaids Tale' Margaret Atwood by now. See you next month!

P.S Ann-Marie, were you selecting the next book?

 

Hello my darling droogs,
Hope you found this months reading real horrowshow like.
I expect to see you all this coming Tuesday 4th June 2013.
Please text me on 0408 053 153 to RSVP and let me know if it's milk or milk plus you desire. Tahnee

1.       Should ultra violent literature be allowed?                                                                         

2.       Should there be restrictions surrounding the sale/availability of ultra violent literature? In today's age how would you control for this when anything is freely accessible on the internet?

3.       Where is the balance between free will and censorship/control  for protection of citizens?

4.       Is there a connection between music/literature and violence. Should the musician/author accept some responsibility for the reinforcement, encouragement of certain feelings/attitudes.

5.       Discuss the use of language Nadsat slang?

6.       Anthony Burgess has a large body of work significantly less well know and less violent than his most infamous novella (he laments that he is most well known for what is not his best work).  'A Clockwork Orange' was written after Anthony was told his death was imminent due to an inoperable brain tumour and thought by himself to be his last novel (He lived for a further 33 years).

7.       I'm of the opinion that the film depiction was more inflammatory and had more negative influence on the individual than the book. Do you agree/disagree? (I haven't seen the film, is visual media more dangerous than the written word?)

8.       Are children just clockwork oranges?

9.       Is there a difference between being good because you choose to, or because you're made to?

10.   Would you recommend the novel to someone else?

 

May 13 book club; The last King of Scotland

The general consensus on reading The last king of Scotland was that it was rather drab or blarrr... We felt there was no likable characters to connect to as many found the main character of Dr. Garrigan to be quiet insipid and spineless. Most of  us have seen the movie and agreed that the movie was far more entertaining than the book which probably influenced how disappointed we were in reading the book. The book prompted discussion around politics, medicine and the disappointment we have experienced in reading some so called award wining books as i chose this book based on it winning an award for the authors first novel. This led to discussion around some award winning films also failing to impress.

SCORES

• Hannah - 6/10 Found it difficult to relate to the main character thus story was lost on me.
• Anne - Marie - 2/10 Not finished totally blarr with and emphasis on the blarrrrrr.
• Kaye - 5/10 Found main character uninteresting and blarrrr
• Irene - 2/10 What a wimp
• Deb - 3/10 I did not read the last 20 pages in protest award winning definately not

Apoligies;
    Trilby- i dont know something about twins keeping her busy, We all can't wait to meet them
     Kerry- forgot book club was on
     Tahnee - overseas
     Colleen - MIA

Other Business;
    This months book, "A clockwork orange" by Anthony Burgess, June meeting at Tahnee's place

    July Book club book Handmaids tale by Margaret Atwood @  Trilby's place PLEASE Remember to bring a plate.

   Anne Marie has put her hand up for Augusts book club so we will need someone for September.

We also threw up the idea again of perhaps choosing themed books such as books that were made into movies or Biography's ect Hannah suggested perhaps putting some themes into a hat and us drawing a theme. To discuss further at next book club as the last two months we have been running with a dwindled group.
See you all next month

Questions for The Last King of Scotland by Giles Foden

Hi,
 Here are the questions for the current book "the last king of scotland" to ponder or not before Tuesdays gathering.
   1. Why do you think the author named the book "the last King of Scotland"?

   2. What is your reaction to the British Embassy's request for Dr.Garrigan to reason with Amin and in failing that "give him something that will make him reasonable. Calm him down" Then later asking Dr. Garrigan to kill Amin.

   3. In the book there was at times reference made of Amin being akin to Hitler what are your thoughts regarding this comparsion?

4. The question is raised on more than one occasion by both Dr. Garrigan and others of why did Garrigan stay on in Uganda and with Amin even after he became aware of  Amins crimes against humanity. Why do you think he stayed ?

5. By staying in Uganda did this make Dr. Garrigan complicit to what was going on around him?

6. For those who have seen the movie how does it compare with the book?


Hope to see you at my place on Tuesday night
17 Ashley court Seville
phone 0417977175 or 59644480
       Cheers Deb

 

Reading Lolita in Tehran plus make up tips but who can be f@#*

   "Reading Lolita in Tehran, A Memoir in Books" by Azar Nafisi, proved to be a difficult marathon of read for most people. The author would often jump from discussions of literature to people and conflicts in Tehran. I confessed that I read this book before William was born and had the time and energy to concentrate!  Love it or hate it, this books sparked interesting topics of conversation.  We discussed how books can sometimes have an impact on us and sometimes change our perspective on different issues.

   The wearing of the veil played a major role in this book, as Nafisi had strong objections to wearing it, but caved in when given the opportunity to teach classes her way.  The women in her special class, once inside the safety of her home, were able to uncover themselves, revealing an array of colours and styles. We discussed how we usually dress and how we don't necessarily make as much effort, even though we have the freedom to do so.  This lead to Irene's confession regarding a tube of mascara she has kept since she was 16!  Olay cream seems to be the widespread recommended product.

Tahnee 3/10 Cloistered and plodding.  A treatise on classic literature or an account of life in Tehran during the war, spread too thin trying to be both.

Kay 4/10 hard to get into, an interesting account of Tehran in the 80's

Irene 8/10 a detail prose showcasing the influences of personal, professional culture and politics.

Debbie 2/10 really wanted to love it, could not get it

Anne-marie 6/10 provoking perspective

Hannah 8/10 enjoyed the detail accounts of both the books and life in Tehran

Next months book is" The Last King of Scotland" by Giles Foden, at Debbie's house
17 Ashby Court Seville ph 59644480, mob 0417977175
 bye
Hannah





 

Hi all I hope everyone gets this message in time. I am coming down with a cold (the boys gave it to me) and cancelling book club for tonight.  We can have it next Tuesday evening, I hope everyone can make it.

Hope you had a good weekend.
bye
Hannah

reading lolita....questions

Hi there. Hope this makes sense as have baby on lap. one contact lense has just fallen out...

What did you learn about Iran from this book?

Have you read any books in the past that have taught you something about yourself?

Have you read any of the books discussed in this memoir? If so, do you agree with Nafisi's understanding of the novel? If not would you now like to read any of them and which ones?

Discuss the different attitudes towards the wearing of the veil and how "this piece of cloth" effects people differently.

Do you have any issues with censorship in Australia?

Address
36 Railway Rd Seville

bye
Hannah

How to add your book to 'Books we've done'

How to link 'Books we've done' to the relevant blog post

Hope this little tutorial helps you out. It's a little fiddly but not too complex.

• Go into the blog post you want to link.  That means finding the blog post you want and clicking on the header so you are only able to see that specific post and not the whole blog.
• Copy the web address from the address bar on the page e.g.http://firsttuesdaybookclub.blogspot.com/2011/05/do-no-harm-carol-topolski.html
• Log into the blog and go into Dashboard.
• Click on Layout
• On the RHS, there is Add a Gadget, then boxes underneath.  The fourth box down is Books we've done.  Click on edit in that box.
• A 'configure list' window should open. 
• Enter in the name and author of the book in Add List item box
• Click on the link symbol next to the box (between the box and the Add item button)
• A script prompt box should appear.  In that box, paste the web address you copied earlier.
• Click OK
• The add item text book will look all funny now.  This is normal!
• Hit add item!
• The book and author should now appear in the list below the add item text box.  The book and author should be in blue
• Scroll to the bottom and hit 'Save'
• You've done it, you techno wiz you!

The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid

February's book The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid was an interesting novel about a young pakistani who found his identity through living in the USA just prior to and post 9-11. 
In our discussion of the novel it was felt that the title was quite misleading as although there were elements to the main character Changez that could be perceived as being fundamentalist in nature, this was not a major focus of the novel.  The smiling reaction of Changez to the 9-11 attacks, was likened by our group to the reaction that is felt when someone who has been outspoken about a topic, then falls on their sword.  Although you may have a chuckle about the situation they find themselves in you don't feel any malice towards them.  Changez attitude to america and his job after 9-11 was discussed with reference to how his cultural heritage shaped his view.  We all felt that his view was influenced by the affect that the attacks had on his homeland which he couldn't reconcile with the affluence that he lived with in america.  We also discussed how weird his relationship with Erica was and how in a way neither of them could live with the reality that they were experiencing.  The ending of the novel was left to the interpretation by the reader, there were three possible scenario's discussed each of which could have been a valid conclusion to the book.  Overall the novel was rated as an average read.

Hannah  - 6   Disappointed, wanted to read more about Changez fundamentalist nature

Irene      - 4   Found the singular narrative alienating

Tahnee  - 5    Articulate, brief, engaging

Colleen - 4    Found it boring

Debbie -  4    Disappointing, sad that society is still racist

Trilby  -  5     Interesting to see two perspectives, challenging

Kerry  -   5     Poignant tale about life changing

Kaye   -   5    Enjoyed the conversationalist style of writing, but, found Changez to be a wishy washy character

April's book - Reading Lolita in Tehran  by  Azar Nafisi (Hannah)

May's book - The Last King of Scotland by Giles Foden  (Debbie)

June's book - A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (Tahnee)

July's book - The Hand Maid's Tale by Margaret Attwood (Trilby)

The Reluctant Fundamentalist Questions

Hi all

Here are the questions that I have chosen for the Reluctant Fundamentalist.  See you at my house tomorrow night.

1. Why did Hamid call the novel the Reluctant Fundamentalist?

2.At the beginning of the book, Changez says that his companion's "bearing" gives him away as an American.  What does Changez mean by this? What are his deeper implications?

3.How can the reader reconcile Changez's smiling reaction to the 9.11 attacks and his words of being a lover of America.

4.In what way does the novel show us that the way in which people view the world is shaped by their cultural heritage.

5. Does Changes lose or find his identity throughout the course of the novel?

6. Assess how nostalgia is a destructive force in the novel.

7. To what extent do you agree that the fate of both Erica and Changez are similar?

8. For a novel with "fundamentalist" in its title, this work has surprisingly little to say on the subject of religion.  When, if at all, does Changez speak of devout fiath divine right, or deity worship.

Blog updates

Hello all,

I have been faffing around with the blog so there are a few changes

• There is a list of who is holding book club when.  There was some discussion last month about swapping some one around so that Hannah isn't doing a double up - does anyone know what the decision was?
• I have added a box where you can enter your email if you are not receiving email updates. No one should have to do that - I have added Cindy's email and Kaye - I have added your gmail address.  It's more for new members from now on, or if you change email address.
• Cindy - I have invited you to be an author - this just means you can put on a blog post when it is your turn.

Hope the new changes are helpful.

Cheers,

Trilby

February book review. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides Feb

Hi All,
Tonight we welcomed  new member Cindy Paton to our group and we were introduced to Deb's newest addition Lucca.

The review of Middlesex was varied. Most agreed that the first half of the book was interesting for its historical content and introduction of a little known genetic condition of hermaphrodite.
The family issues of incest and marriage between cousins was discussed and concluded that although not accepted by our culture is part of and has existed through time. We all felt the second part of the book lacked the intensity of the beginning and drag on somewhat.

Kaye...       6....    Didn't not like but didn't like it either.......

Irene...        4....   Uneasy blend between genetics and moral ambiguity......

Hannah...      ....   so far Compelling read ...

Deb ...         7 ....  Great family saga.......

Colleen ...    5 ....  Power of genetics interesting.......

Trilby...        6....   Enjoyed. Felt uncomfortable that hermaphroism was used as an example......

Cindy ...                Historical content fantastic. Trials of someone Else's sexuality amazing. Genetic side        
                              interesting........

Tahnee...      6 ....  Historically rich narrative. Enjoyed detailed character development. Manages to take  
                             a tricky topic without sensationalism.........

Maryanne ...  6 .... Liked style and  historical element. Second half didn't engage.

Kerry...........  7....  loved that the story was being narrated from the perception of a mutated Gene.
                              Made me think how hit and miss genetics really are......



March Book Club is at  Kaye's and her book is   The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid.

and April's is at Hannah's ...Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

April's book

Hi there fellow readers!
The book I have chosen is "Reading Lolita In Tehran" by Azar Nafisi. See you next month.
Hannah

Hi All and a Happy new Year...

Middlesex......Jeffrey Eugenides

1.   do you identify more with Cals story because he"s the narrator......

2.   Did you identify with all the charaters as Cal "Inhabited" each one..

3.   The story moves backward and forwards throughout Cal"s narration ..it starts just b4 Cal's birth and       then moves backwards we only met Cal midway ...Why do you think the story is told this way and     does it influence the way you view the larger themes i.e.   like Desmodena and Leftys early life and  
       marriage.


4.    Did you find it interesting to be exposed to so much  contemporary  History
      throughout the story.... war between Greece and Turkey...the rise of the nation of Islam...WW2,
      and the Detroit Riots.....how do you think this influenced the lives of the charactors.

5.   Where you shocked by the stroy of Desdemona and Lefty's relationship...do you think it was
       morally wrong?



6.    how does Cal's experience reflect on the Nature vs Nurture debate.

7.    Why does Cal decide to live as a Man.

8.     Do you think Dr. Luce had CAl's best interests at heart.

9.      Do you think that the Obscure Object had more of an influence than anyone on Calliope's life.

         How and Why.....

10.    Do you think Cal was happy with his decision to live as a Man


See you all at   224 Schoolhouse Road. Woori Yallock.


A reminder that supper is now being supplied by Hostess.


             
 
         



     

March's book

Hi everyone, my book for March is the Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid.  See you all in february Kaye

The inaugural AGM of the First Tuesday Book Club was held on 4/12/12.  The reports are as follows.

The Secretary:  No report she absconded with the president.

The Treasurer:  No report she absconded with all the money.

The President:  No report.  See above.

So the rest of the plebes left made all the vital decisions necessary to keep the club running smoothly.

No. 1.   As of next year the host for the night is the only one to supply sustenance, that excludes

             Hannah who can't control the urge to bring something along.  Please let her in if she does.

That's it, major problem covered.  We then moved onto the book.

ABANDONED WOMEN BY LUCY FROST

Tahnee:        Didn't read the book but carried out a giant cover up to hide the fact that she didn't
                     read the book.  Please not that she didn't read the book.

Hannah:        Not finished.  (Better than Tahnee)  Looking forward to conslusion.

Kerry:           7  Fascinating look back at history of the women who pioneered the colony.

Irene:            7  Unhappy naration on the human capicity for cruelty.

Trilby:          6 Overly long, interesting but tended to merge into one long story of unhappiness.

Debbie:         No Show

Kaye:            Cherries

Colleen:        7  Showcases terrible like for women.  Women are still fighting for ewuality.

Overall everyone quite liked the book.  It showed the hardships women went through.   We had a round table dicussion  on who, if taken back in time, would have surrived the ordeal.  It was an overall death march, except for Tahnee, we would have all died in childbirth.

Thanks ladies for a great night and a great year it has been enlightening.
Next year is as follows.  Please take note.

February  Kerry. m Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides.
March      Kaye
April        Hannah
May         Debbie
June         Tahnee
July          Trilby + 2
August     Hannah
September  Annmarie
October    New girl
Novemver  Irene
December  Colleen        

Follow up from Novembers meeting

Hello all,

Following our discussion about twins births and subtle ways of saying no - here are some links if you are interested.

Twins born over 48 hours apart 

Subtle signals of no/go away


Cheers

Trilby

ABANDONED WOMEN BY LUCY FROST

Women played a big part in the settling of Australia but have been largely overlooked in history.  Lucy Frost shows us a small window into the lives of some of our earlier ladies and the part they played in the early colony

 

Do you think these women were criminals or simply victims of circumstance?

 

Was shipboard life a respite that the women did not fully appreciate?

 

What a terrible situation for the children involved.  The English and their rules have a lot to answer for.  What do you think?

 

These women were used and abused like mongrel dogs.  Can you even comprehend how tough each and  day of their life was.   Placed back in time do you think you would be one of the survivors?

Dubliners by James Joyce,


Hannah: 7 Took a while to get into it. Grew to enjoy it.

Tahnee: 7 Real & Vivid. Enjoyed. Great.

Anne-Marie: 6 Score might have been more if I'd finished it. Thought provoking vignettes.

Coleen: 9 Love James joyce. Every story a little package. Concept needs to be explained to those of lesser intelligence.....Hannah excused.

Trilby: Didn't read but now wants to.

Kerry: 8 Must ready again.

Kaye: 3 Good illustration of life at the time. It was well written but not enjoyable.

Irene: 9 A descritpive feast.

Thanks everyone for a great night and for coming all the way to McMahons Creek.
Irene

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Despite receiving some very good industry reviews this book failed to engage all of us (except for Meg).


Meg - 8/10   Engaging with an interesting twist.

Hannah - 5/10  Had to find out what happened in the end.

Colleen - 4/10  Didn't like the foul language.  Bad Read.

Irene - 4/10  Initially captivating.  Gradually disengaged.

Tahnee - 4/10  Smutty thriller.  Squandered potential.  Unlikeable characters.

Kaye - 6/10  Convoluted plot.

Anne-Maree - 5/10  Really disappointing. Promising start degenerated into hard to believe "soap opera".


Book for December is Abandoned Women by Lucy Frost at Colleen's house.

Hello Fellow Book Clubbers,
Here are some questions for contemplation before Book Club which will be on the second Tuesday (13th)  in November due to Cup Day.

James Joyce was born on February 2, 1882 in Dublin, Ireland to impoverished parents. As the son of a devout Roman Catholic mother and a tax collector,
his works are heavily resentful of male figures and the Catholic Church.
1. What is the story which you responded to most, emotionally?
2.How are the themes of paralysis and simony echoed in the short stories?
And in case anyone else didn't know what it means......
Simony: In Christianity  the practice, now usually regarded as a sin, of buying or selling spiritual or Church benefits such as pardons, relics, etc, or preferments
3. How is Charles Parnell an important figure throughout the book?
4. What are the connecting factors that allow this book to be grouped as a collection of short stories?
5. What sort of image does Joyce paint of England? How could his upbringing have influenced this?
6. What causes Joyce's epiphanies to occur? Why does he tend to end his stories with an epiphany
7.Is "Araby" a conventional love story?  At the end of "Araby," why does the narrator say his eyes "burned with anguish and anger" (p. 28)?
8.To what extent does one's birthplace determine one's identity or destiny?
9. Is individual freedom inevitably limited by the social customs of a particular place?

Hope to see you all soon.
Irene

Hiya,
Would somebody please post the address for Book Club tonight?
Thanks,
Irene

Hello Fellow Book Clubbers,

November's book is Dubliner's by James Joyce at 9 Reefton Drive, McMahons Creek.
I seem to remember car pools happened last year for the trip to the wilderness of my home!!! And takes about 45 mins from Seville.
If anybody needs help with directions my number is 0437 358 890. But a good marker is if you pass the Reefton Hotel you have missed the right hand turn onto Reefton Drive by about 100m, along Woods Point Road.
See you all next Tuesday,
Irene

Hannahs query

Hi Hannah im sorry i have not updated the post with last months books details ect... im afraid in my packing frenzy i have misplaced my notes so i am not sure of the name of the book or the address of next bookclub if anyone does could you post it pretty please.
About the only thing i remember from the my night of book club is that we were introduced to our newest member of book club Alexander the book was okay on most accounts a few mixed reviews from memory.
Sorry guys.

query nov's book

Hi guys just wondering if you can tell me the name of the James Joyce book we are doing for next month because I can't remember it and need to get organised.

Thanks and see you next week
P.S can someone tell me the address!
Hannah

Questions for the Secret Scripture

1. Did anyone predict the secret that Dr. Grene uncovered before it was revealed. How did you feel about the secret?

     2. Fr Gaunt played a pivotal role in Roseanne's life, why do you think he took such an interest in Roseanne and her families life? Was it motivated by religion, his views on women or something else?


    3. What did you think of the authors writing style, could you connect?


    4. Do you think this book is reflective of its setting in Ireland or was it reflective of the world in general at the time in its treatment of women?

   5. Joe Brady discuss?



See you all at mine next Tuesday night September 4th.
16 railway road Seville a couple of doors up from Hannah.
PH: 0417977175

Book club december 2012 to 2013

Naturally this is subject to change...

December Colleen( 2012)
Feb Kerry
March Lesley
April Kay
May Tahnee
June Trilby
July Hannah
Aug Deb
Sept Anne Marie
Oct Meg
Nov Irene

The Little Stranger

His guys! Sorry it has taken me a while to write this up.

   "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters proved to be a disappointment, especially if you were expecting a book that would chill you to the bone.  Frankly I personally found Deb's ghost story far more freaky.

  Dr Faraday, the narrator, a very unlikeable character, had the romantic idea about coveting Hundreds by marrying Caroline.  The relationship between the two characters, was very unlikely and rather creepy, as it was clear to the reader that Caroline was not interested in Dr Faraday and staying at Hundreds.  It was suggested that Dr Faraday was an opportunist and perhaps in time he was to latch unto another wealthy family.

 The book left other unanswered questions, such as what really happened to Caroline at the end? Was Dr Faraday feeding the hysteria of the two employees?  We also found it frustrating that Dr Faraday was never questioned in regards to Caroline's death.

Colleen: 2/10 boring didn't enjoy it
Tahnee: 3/10 promising but never delivered
Anne-Marie: 7/10 engaging disappointing end
Kay: 6/10 intriguing story, crappy ending
Kerry: 3/10 more enjoyment from discussing the book
Deb: 5/10 a good "filla" book
Hannah: 6/10 needs more spookiness, and more a of a conclusion

Octobers Book

Hi everyone,
here is the title of October's book
Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters Questions

Hi guys!  Hope everyone is well. Here are the questions...

Is Dr Farraday a reliable narrator?

Despite the happenings at Hundreds, Dr Farraday was the voice of rationality.  Are reason and rationality incompatiple?

How does Dr Farraday's history with Hundred's affect his feelings about the building and the family?  Does Mrs Ayers personal history effect her feelings about Hundreds?

Do you think Caroline was ever invested in the relationship with Dr Farraday?

The War shook up the British class system.  How will Dr Farraday "fit" in the coming years?

I hope there were no sleepless nights over this book.  See you Tuesday.

June 2012 Meeting 'The Life of Pi' and pelvic floor exercises...

Well I loved it, Kerry seemed to enjoy it and everyone else's reaction was a tad luke warm...
Most struggled to believe the narrative.

Apologies: Colleen, Meg, Leslie, Kerry, Ann-Marie

Irene:     5/10: Not for the practically minded.

Hannah: 6/10: At times found it a bit slow.

Kaye:     5/10: A fanciful tale.

Debbie:  6/10: The more enjoyable the faster I read it.

Kerry:    7/10: Via text...a wonderful story masterfully spun, made me wonder how I could believe such an adventure, Pi was such an interestinf and adventurous character that questioned everything and adopted the things that resonated with him.

Ann-Marie: 4/10: Via text... a difficult read, not engaging at all.

Tahnee:   8/10: Unbelievably believable. 

Trilby: Didn't read.

Next months book is 'We need to talk about Kevin' - Lionel Shriver @ Trilby's house

Followed by              'The Little Stranger' - Sarah Waters @ Hannah's house

Followed by              'The Secret Scripture' - Sebastian Barry @ Debbies house

Followed by Meg and Irenes choices........

June Meeting - Questions regarding The Life of Pi

Hello my Renegade Readers. Please see below some questions for discussion on Tuesday night. Look forward to seing you all then.

1.       An important component of books is the ability of the author to induce 'suspension of disbelief' in the reader. Yann Martel wondered how far in could push the reader....

Did you find the story believable, when did it become all too much for you? The floating islands, the meeting of the other blind man, or at the very beginning "I turned around, stepped over the zebra and threw myself overboard"!

 

2.       Do you think you could've eaten raw fish and drank fresh turtle blood? Why did Pi save Richard Parker in the first place, then feed and assist him instead of enticing him over board or letting him starve?

3.       Pi opines that Zoo's (good ones) are more like guarded neighbourhoods then jails and don't deserve the bad press they receive. Agree/Disagree.

      4.       Which version of Pi's experience do you believe?
 

5.       Just to see if everyone picks the same colour as me... If Hinduism is associated with orange and Islam with green, what color would you make Christianity, based on the novel?

 

6.       What do you think of Pi's assertion that we are all "in limbo, without religion, until some figure introduces us to our God"?

 

7.       How is the novel related to religion or religious belief, in one brief sentence.

The little coffee shop of Kabul

Our book for the month of May, The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul, provided some interesting topics of conversation.  Each member was asked who there favorite character was.  Halajan was selected by 3 members, her feisty and strong character was cited as the reason for their choice. Other members liked Isabel, Ahmet, Jasmina and Candace.  We all felt that Candace was quite naive, given the situation with Wakel and also at the embassy with the boy with the package.
It was also agreed that every character in the book held a secret that they managed to cover up in some manner, Jasmina's pregnancy, Halajan and Rashif's love, Isabel's rape, Candace's background etc.  Although the men in the book were felt to be secondary to the main characters, they still had fairly strong storylines of forbidden love.  However, it was felt that the change to Ahmet's character accepting his mothers love for Rashif and then his own for Jasmina, was not true to what a devout Muslim would do. 

Rankings
Debbie  5- Not enough cups of coffee for my liking
Anne Marie 6 - Afghani cultural buffet
Hannah 5 - Easy enjoyable read, but, didn't explore the friendships enough
Kerry 5 - Good holiday read, bit soapy
Meg  5 - Pleasant fluffy read squandered its potential
Irene 5 - Drawing on real life situations made the happy ending a melancholic comparison
Leslie 7 - Makes her feel sorry for women in other countries
Colleen 5 - Floated alon on even level, average
Kaye 7 - Captivating story about women in a hostile environment

Little coffee shop of Kabul

Hi all
Hope you have enjoyed reading the little coffee shop of Kabul. Here are some questions for discussion on Tuesday evening I have selected them from the reading group questions at the back of the book.   See you on Tuesday.
Kaye

1. Who was your favourite character and why?

2. A working title for this novel was The Seventh Dove.  What does Halajan's story about the doves mean, and why does it have such a strong effect on Sunny?

3. 'Every character in the novel is hiding something' Do you agree with this statement?  Discuss each character's secrets and subterfuges.

4. Five women are at the heart of this novel. But what do you think of the representation of men?

5. What was the most shocking thing you learnt about life for women in Afghanistan?

Hi all.  Humble apologies from me. I have misplaced my notes from last book club meeting and know I put them somewhere safe. I will post as soon as I have found them. 
In the meantime we should all be reading 'The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul" written by Deborah Rodriguez. This book was Kay's choice and the next meeting will be at her house.  For those that wish to read the next book. It is "The Life of Pi" by Yan Martel chosen by Tahnee.
Sorry again.  Leslie

Hi guys just wondering if Tahnee has had a chance to think of a book for June, so i can get ordering ugh... Sorry Tahnee know you are away hope you are having a great time with the family, look forward to seeing you when you get back.

QUESTIONS FOR

When you read of Jasper's discovery in the clearing, who did you think did it.Why do you think Charlie agreed to become an accomplice.Do you think the novel accurately captures the experience of adolescenc.Would you choose spider hat or penis fingers.

FROM LESLIE

Caleb's Crossing

Mar 6, 2012 02:40 PM

Caleb's Crossing Tuesday 6 March 2012 at Colleen's place.

It seems the book was enjoyed by all, a little slow to get into, some a bit slower than others. (Leslie)

IRENE 7
Too tired for a pithy comment, the author took to much artistic licence

HANNAH 7
Want to read more about Native Americans

TRILBY-ROUX 6
Well crafted, facts got in way of story

MEG 1
A weak welcome to new member Meg who can't seem to grasp the concept of book club is to read the bloody book

LESLIE 6
Hard life. Leslie now loves her washing machine, dryer, cooker, micro wave etc.

DEBBIE 7...5
Got carried away with language. Loved the language.

KAYE 7
Slow to start but pleasantly surprised at (oops can't read my own writing so have no idea what Kaye is surprised at.)

TAHNEE 6
Worth persevering with . Liked the use of language. Want to call next baby Solace.

Ann Marie 8
Energizing, excellent read.

MARIMBA 8
Went to sleep but points for sending in her review.
Her skill as a writer was magical, the depth of her themes astounded. I was moved to tears more than once.

COLLEEN 7
Impressed with the writing style and the amount of research taken to produce the story.

Thanks everyone for comming.

Next month book is Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey at 16 Wattle Valley Road Mt Evelyn.

Caleb's Crossing

Sorry forgot to add Bookclub is at my place (Colleen) Chandler Road Seville. M285 D5 use your Melways not a GPS. Chandler Road is off Victoria Road, we are the last gate on the right, Dewhurst/Kelly on gate, long driveway you will eventually get there. Ring me on 0411 799 558 if lost and I will talk you though.

Caleb's Crossing

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

Do you think the author did enough research for her story? Did it show in her writings?

Did you feel the author kept her narrative in time with the era? Did you struggle with the language?

After reading this book do you feel that not much has changed with the downtrodden in our society feeling the predjucices against them in 1665 and 2012

review for "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet"

We Welcome Anne-Maree and Marimba to our group and look forward to your contribution. Congratulations Irene and Stewart and thank-you for bringing Aruna for us all to love and cuddle.

It was generally agreed the book was an interesting read. The complex relationship between Father and Son/s was thought to be normal for the time period where children where seen and not heard. The romantic side of this novel caused emotional responses as these relationships remained unresolved by the author. The issues created by the war were repressive and destructive.

Colleen.............7.....Enjoyable and believable

Trilby-Roux....6......Interesting....detached

Anne-Maree....7......Cried

Kaye..................7......Captivating

Marimba..........7......Swept me away....cried at the train station......

Hannah............6.......Enjoyed ending

Tahnee.............6.......Melancholic/ Entertaining

Irene.................8......(Thought to be still very Hormonal) Didn't want the story to end. Left me wanting more.

Leslie...............8.......possibly hormonal as well!!..really really enjoyable..well written...and she cried.......

Kerry................7.......Loved the complex relationships, the history and an insight into the injustices forced on alien citizens during ww2.

Deb...................6.5.....Frustrated by Henry/Sheldon relationship. Distant didn't connect.

March Bookclub is at Colleen's the book is" Caleb's Crossing"

April Bookclub is at Leslie's and the book is "Jasper Jones" by Craig Silvey

Kerry

questions for february's book club

Happy New Year to you all...some questions to ponder for discussion

- Why do u think the story was told in flashbacks. What perceptive can an older Henry give and do u think it would be accurate

- Father-son relationships are a crucial theme in the novel. How is Henry's relationship with his Father and Son different. What accounts for the difference?

-Why does Henry's father insist on only English from Henry when he intends to send him back to China for study.

-If u were Henry would u be able to forgive your father.? Does he deserve forgiveness?

-Henry's mother comes from a culture in which wives are subservient to their husbands. Given this background , do you think she could of done more to help Henry in his struggles against his father? Is her a loyalty to her husband a betrayal of her son.

-bullying is a big part of the theme in the book..Henry's bullied by his father,schoolmates, society in general. How do you think this shaped his character . Do you think society has changed much in regards to bullying.

-Do you think Henry was right to stay with Ethel even after he found out about his fathers deceit. Should he have searched for Kieko.

-Do you think Ethel knew what was happening to Henry's letters?

-Why do u think Kieko didn't make an effort to find Henry once released from the camp?

-Internment of foreigners happened all over the world during WW2 what are ur views on this and do you think it is a practice that could happen today?

Happy reading see u all at my place

224 Schoolhouse Road Woori Yallock

on the first Tuesday in Feb.....

hey reading buddies just wondering if someone can post the name of the next two books because i know i wrote them in a safe place i just can't remember where that safe place is ugh....

Australian Women Writers 2012 challenge

Hello,

Don't want to force anyone into picking certain books but I was wondering if people would be interested in doing this for book club?

http://www.australianwomenwriters.com/p/australian-women-writers-book-challenge_25.html

Let me know

Trilby

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Burrows

This book was generally liked. At first some of us had our reservations. On the back of some copies the author of "Eat, Pray, Love" stated she enjoy this book, which would discourage some readers. Some of us found an epistolary novel (thanks Tahnee) meaning a novel created out of letters, a bit of a challenge at first. For some however found this method of creating a story, enjoyable and an easy was to explore the different characters.

The subject of letters themselves was an interesting topic, as the use of letter writing has changed due to technology. Though it was discussed that writing an email can sometimes be similar to the writing that you post.

The characters Juliet and Elizabeth, were liked because of their independence and heroic behaviour during a time when men were considered "the boss". The risks they both took were different, Elizabeth's actions lead her to her death. Juliet's ultimately lead her to Dawsey

As for the rest of the Guernsey society, it was found they were sometimes too eccentric and quirky. Some of us thought Dawsey was about fifty until Juliet described him. Despite the historical quality of the book, some of us didn't know where the story was leading.

Debbie: 7 Enjoyable read. Inspired to get letters out to read.

Lesley: 5 Interesting but couldn't get into it. Can't fall into a book of letters.

Tahnee: 6 Enjoyed it, love new word "epistolary".

Trilby: 5 Enjoyable, pleasant, interesting.

Kaye: 6 A lovely read. At the start found the letters annoying.

Colleen: 5 Liked format, half way through the book couldn't understand characters, a bit fluffy.

Kerry: 4 Enchanting tale, a bit boring, a bit disjointed.

Hannah: 6 Letters annoying at first, an easy read.

Book club a Kerry's in February; "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jaimie Ford.

At Colleen's in March; "Caleb's Crossing", by Geraldine Brooks.

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year. Congratulations Irene! (you still could have come to book club though he he just kidding)

Hannah

Hi there, sorry I didn't post this earlier. See you this evening.

What was your experience reading a novel composed of entirely out of letters? Are there types of information letters convey more successfully than other forms of expression? Would a novel in emails have different strengths and weaknesses?

Dawsey first writes to Juliet because books are so difficult to obtain on Guernsey in the aftermath of the war. What differences do you note between the bookselling in the 1940s and bookselling today? Do book lovers share common qualities across generations?

In what ways are Juliet and Elizabeth kindred spirits?

Numerous Guernsey residents give Juliet access to their private memories. Which voices were memorable for you? What is the effect of reading a variety of responses to a shared tragedy?

How would you characterise Juliet? Did you like her?

If you had lived in Guernsey before the occupation, do you think you would have sent your children to England without you?

What do you think of Elizabeth's relationship with Christian? Was it wrong of her to love a Nazi?

Do you think books have the power to lift people out of the circumstances? What role did books play in the lives of the Guernsey Literary Society?

Book Club For 2012

It was agreed that we should know who is deciding what book in what month so here goes.

February: Kerry
March: Coleen
April: Lesley
May: Kay
June: Tahnee
July: Trilby
August: Hannah
September: Debbie
Oct: Meg
November: Irene

Hello Again,
Firstly thanks for a great evening. Loving book club.

The general feeling towards Tamil Tigress was one of disappointment and doubtful as to the sincere description of Niromi's experiences. The word "dubous" was used on more than one occasion!!! The writing in the first person was very uninteresting and made what should have been confronting and shocking content less impactful.

And to the scores:

Debbie: 4 Really struggled to read. Couldn't connect with main character. Name use confusing
and difficult to be sure who was who.

Kerry: 5 Difficult to read,from her point of view.....'insert senior moment'.....written in first person was not engaging enough. Story was 'dubious'.

Hannah: 6 Exhausting read -makes you appreciate the freedoms here in Australia.

Trilby: 3 Not connected to cause or story.Can understand motives. Wouldn't be surprised if story is 'dubous'.

Coleen: 4 Blandly written. Whole story was self promoting.. 'Dubious' read.

Kay: 5 'Dubious' Lack of anticipation.

Lesley: Didn't Read

Tahnee: 4 Distant from story, surprisingly boring given the content.

Irene: 4 Disappointed in lack of education about Sri Lanka's polictical situation.


Next months' book is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, hosted by Hannah who can be found at 36 Railway Road Seville. See you there.

Hello All,

Hope you all had a win on Cup Day.....or at least a nice day off work.

As this is a relatively new book there weren't any book club questions on my google searches so I resorted to coming up with a few questions myself so please be gentle with me.

In an interview Niromi states that violence is no tool or means to achieve resolution. Do you believe this to be true? Is there any scenario/situation in life where violence is the only means to defend a belief or something held dear?


How much do you think she was protected by the other Tamil Tigers? Was this because of her middle class upbringing?


Is her story really one of being a fighter or a protected teenager championing a naive belief? Friends spoke of support for the cause but within her social circle it never translated into action. Why might this be?

Was Niromi brave in not hiding behind the social expectation of the caste system or fear of disappointing her family and the social impact that may have?


Can you understand why Benjamin’s murder by the Tamils was not enough to make her walk away but actually paved the way for innumerable excuses and sacrifices for the Tamil Tigers.


Was Niromi’s honorable intent in joining the Tamils justified or driven by fear?
Can the two be separated in the face of injustice/persecution?


I also came across this article which I thought was rather interesting……
http://groundviews.org/2011/08/31/forbidden-fruits-niromi-de-soyzas-tamil-tigress-noumi-kouri-and-helen-demidenko/


Hope to see you all tomorrow in sunny Reefton.

Irene