august's book

Hi All

I won't be at tonight's book club meeting as I will be on my way to Darwin.
Book Club is at my place next month and the book I have chosen is The One in a Million Boy by Monica Woods.

Have a great meeting.

Kaye

July Discussion 'The Joyluck Club'

Afternoon ladies, 

I will be hosting bookclub at my house this week, I'll have the fire going and a lovely spread to share.. Look forward to seeing you all. (Give me a call if you need directions 0407 341 651, I'll leave the gate open.) 

Tamara x

Discussion questions are below. 

1.What are your thoughts on the structure of The Joy Luck Club? It is not a traditional novel told by one narrator, but the stories are very intricately connected. How did that affect your reading experience? What were some of the differences you noticed in the way that you read this book as opposed to other novels or collections of stories? 

2. Was there a particular story that has stayed with you the most? Why?

3. To what extent do these women experience acculturative stress? Does the initial stress endured by the first generation immigrant mothers create more or less conflict and challenge than that experienced by the second generation daughters? 

(Prompts for discussion: 

While Waverly was a prodigy and grew up to be successful in her career, Jing-mei (or “June” as she is called in America) has had more difficulty. Her parents also wished for her to be a “genius,” as if hard work alone could will it. 

Jing-mei Woo’s chapter “Best Quality” (p. 221) highlights the difference between Waverly and June’s expression of familial culture.) 

4. The goal of the mothers was to provide a better life for their children. Agree/Disagree. Is this singular to immigrant parents or universal to all parents? 

5. To what extent do the second generation daughters experience gratitude for their circumstance, comparative to their mother’s experience. 

(Prompt - Can a parent go too far with providing for their children, is this the case for any of the mothers with their daughters? Is this again singular to the immigrant parent or all parents?) 

(Prompt - It is a common conception that young Asian children are more driven than their peers and more likely to excel because their parents demand more of them. However, it is Waverly’s mother who influences Waverly to quit chess, due to a hurtful argument.)

6. To what extent does The Joy Luck Club perpetuate or challenge stereotypes of Chinese culture.

7.How are men portrayed in the novel? Discuss. 

8.How is marriage represented in the novel? 

(Prompt - Each of the women faces difficult choices when it comes to marrying—whether it be Lindo Jong being forced into an early union with a man she loathes, Ying-Ying St. Clair starting life over with an American man after being abandoned by her first husband, or Rose Hsu Jordan, who is facing divorce from a man whose family never understood her.)

9. When Jing-mei’s aunties tell her about her sisters, they insist that she travel to China to see them, to tell them about their mother. They are taken aback when Jing-mei responds. “What will I say? What can I tell them about my mother? I don’t know anything. She was my mother” (p. 36). How well do any of the mothers and daughters know each other in this book? Kind Regards, 

Good Evening Ladies,

I am going to buck the trend and confess upfront that I have not finished the book. Might have been a bit ambitious trying to host book club a week before heading away.

Anyhow, questions for up to 52% (!)

Do you now understand 'The Troubles;. How would you explain it concisely to the uninformed?
What are your basic perceptions of the history of the troubles in NI.?

Non fiction can be a stifling and tedious read. How did you find the style of writing?

Were you shocked by the scale and extent of violence in such a small land mass

Were the tit-for-tat paramilitary actions childish & immature or a defiant act of revenge?

Discuss the validity internment. Would it be legal these days? As a policy to curb sectarianism, could it have succeeded if loyalists had been interned as well as nationalists.

Did you feel any bias from the authors?

Did Bloody Sunday in Derry shock. Does U2's song make more sense?

Anything worthy of discussion from the remaining 48%?

Hope to see you all tomorrow

That's all folks!!

The Dry by Jane Harper

I chose the book as after reading a review in The Age, also the author was Australian.

Huge attendance this book club, 11 in total.  Welcome to Mel, hope we weren't to boisterous for you.

Everyone except Tahnee (and Colleen who didn't read it) seemed to enjoy read.

Here are the scores and comments

Tahnee - 4/10 - Half baked crime read.

Kaye - 9/10 - Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Georgia - 8/10 - Whodunnit???

Colleen - Still recovering from cleaners blisters

Trilby - 6/10 -- Page turner with some unreality.

Irene - 8/10 - Anchored me for 12 hours.

Megan 6/10 - Page turnability belied the holes in the plot.

Mel - 7/10 - It's no romance.

Kathy - 9/10 - Light fluff that evoked many a town memory.

Tamara - 9/10 - The drought of human nature

Anne-Maree - 9/10 - Finally I picked a winner.


The next book club (June) is at Irene's and the book is Making Sense of the Troubles:..... by David McKittrick and David McVeagh,

July's Book Club is at Tamara's and book is Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club.

Happy Reading!!!

Sorry about the lateness;

My address is 36 Railway Rd Seville. There is a for sale sign out the front of the corrugated fence.

1. How important is grammar, usage, and punctuation?  Do you believe grammar is lost with the tech age?

2. How long has it been since you have thought about grammar and did you learn any thing new from the book?

3.Can you relate to the Author's obsession with stationary?

4. Do yo know of an example where grammar has been poorly used? (please don't pull apart my questions!)

5. Have you taken more notice to grammar since reading this book?

see you at 7:30

Hannah

And for those who like to be super organised in book purchasing....
My book, for discussion in June is Making Sense of the Troubles by David McKittrick & David McVea.
Happy Reading.

Anne-Maree's Book selection for May

Hi All

My selection for May book club is "The Dry" by Jane Harper and a reminder for anyone not at the last book club April book club is "Between You and Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen" by Mary Norris.

Happy Reading!

Anne-Maree

Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World - Haruki Murakami

Hello all,

Welcome to the new invigorated blog.
I have added a list on the right hand side that says who is hosting in what month.  Please update your book choice for your month as you pick em!

Everybody found my book awkward, dense, confusing or nonsensical.  Except for Hannah, who is obviously superior in looks and intellect to the rest of you ;).

Here are the scores and pithy comments -

Tamara - 1/10 An awkward 'noise'

Kaye - 2/10 Couldn't keep my eyes opne!

Tahnee - 3/10 Soft boiled

Mum - a generous 2/10. Didn't finish it,  Started nowhere and went nowhere.  Very uncomfortable read.

Anne-Marie - Didn't even try to fake it!

Irene - 2/10 Nonsensical attempt to analyse the human nature, under the guise of science fiction

Trilby- 6/10 - Worth wading through the beginning.  Amazing use of language

Hannah - 8/10. Highly imaginative, enjoyed the journey.

Next month is at Georgia's house - Victoria Road, first driveway past Chandler Road (Colleen's road).
The book is The Good People by Hannah Kent.

Hello Everyone

Sorry about the late post but learn to live with it.

Working Class Boy by Jimmy Barns

#Do you think his childhood  destroyed the man or made the man

#For all the degradation of his childhood and all the bad influences, at the core of the man is he bad or a good person

#I think the men in his life had more influence than his mother who I think was strange, very strange or very sick.  What’s your opinion

I# can’t imagine growing up in such a violent atmosphere or area

#Not as much discussion in the book about music as I anticipated

See you Tuesday 6th Chandler Road Seville

Colleen

Good Afternoon Ladies,
A little to consider to before tonight...

1. How does this book come across to you? What does Sue Klebold say her motivation was in writing A Mother's Reckoning? Does she fulfill her goal?

2. "A mother is supposed to know," Klebold has said. To what extent is she right? How much are parents supposed to know? How much can they be expected to know? If children are aware that their parents routinely search their rooms, won't they simply find better hiding places?

3. Talk about the trajectory of Dylan Klebold from Sue's "sunshine boy" to troubled, deadly killer. Was there any point when the Klebolds might have stepped in, where they might have—or should have—recognized something was amiss with Dylan, something seriously amiss?

4. How much sympathy do you accord to Sue and Tom Klebold? Has your attitude toward them changed after reading this book? Were any myths about the Klebolds dispelled, or misunderstandings clarified?

5. Should A Mother's Reckoning have been written? Should it have come out before this time? Or never at all?

6. Can you put yourself in Sue and Tom Klebold's place? Or is that simply to hard to contemplate?

7. School bullying has always been an troublesome element of childhood and adolescence. How has Columbine changed society's attitude toward bullying? What are the ways in which we're dealing with bullying? Are they effective?

8. What were the differences, according to Klebold, between her son Dylan and Eric Harris?

See you later,
Irene

Book club tonight

Hi All, don't forget book club tonight at my house.
61 Monbulk-Seville Rd
Seville
See you then
Kaye

The Harry Quebert Affair

Overall this book was not well liked with superficial, poorly developed, unlikeable characters.  Harry wasn't forgiven for his affair with Nola, a fifteen year old girl.  The age of consent was discussed.


Tahnee:  3/10 Clumsy and unbelievable.  Who dunnit, who didn't do it.

Trilby: 2/10 Dispicable, misogynistic, men projecting their desires onto empty women

Colleen: 0/10 A Group of words repeated, repeated, repeated...10 hrs and 35 mins out of my life.

Irene: 3/10 Superficial, shallow, stereotyped.

Ann Maree: 6/10 Still trying to work out who did it.

Cathy: 5/10 has potential.

Hannah: 6/10 Dissapointing.

"The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair" by Joel Dicker

Hi everyone!

Tomorrow night it is my house, 36 Railway Rd Seville, for book club.


1. Were you conscious of the fact the book was originally written in French?

2.Were you able to forgive Harry for having an affair with a fifteen year old girl?

3.Did your sympathies for certain characters change as the story unfolds?

4."The truth will set us all free", in the context of the novel do you agree?

5. Marcus potentially exploited his friend while saving his career. Discuss.

6. This book seems to be written to create suspense and surprise.  Did you guess the ending?  Discuss another book you have read that had twists, was it successful?

See you tomorrow night!

Hannah xo

My Brilliant Friend

Hi Everyone

I chose 'My Brilliant Friend' after I read a review in 'The Age'.  Must have missed the bit where it said that it was the first of four.  In any case I've finished all of them now and had promised to post a summary of the story since it was unlikely that anyone was going to read all four.

I will do this soon but realised that unless you were at the last meeting you probably don't know what the next book is (see below).

Scores are as follows

5 - Kaye - Bit of a chore.  Brilliance lost in translation
6 - Irene - Inconclusive
5 - Tahnee - Struggled to connect with the characters and place
5 - Colleen - Still waiting.
7 - Hannah - Enjoyed it.  Good story about two young women growing.
6 - Anne-Maree - Felt compelled to read the next 3.  Needed to know how it ended


July book club is at Hannah's and we're reading The Truth about Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker.

August book club reading is The Secret History by Donna Tartt and we're meeting at Kaye's.

Happy Reading!!

Anne-Maree

Apologies Everyone.  Got a bit keen.

I'll see you all next Tuesday 7 June.

Thanks to Tahnee for letting me know I had the wrong Tuesday.  I would have been a bit disappointed tonight when no one turned up.

See you all next week.

AM

Hi All

Look forward to seeing you all at my house tonight (30 Carters lane, Seville) to review My Brilliant Friend.

Here are a couple of questions to prompt discussion tonight.

• What did you think of the girls relationship?  Could you identify something similar from your own childhood?
• Can friendships that are seemly so one sided last beyond puberty. 
• Nature or nurture?  How much are the girls a product of their environment ?  What of their adult 'role models'?  
• Did you find the style difficult?  The novel was translated from Italian to English do you think this impacted its readability?
• Do you get a sense of the violence of the neighborhood, of its inhabitants? Do you think it was a sign the times (50/60's) or a cultural thing?

See you at 7.30pm.

Anne-Maree

May meeting Cindy's house - Streetsweeper questions

Hi All - hope you all had a chance to read the 'Streetsweeper' by Elliot Pearlman.

The book club is at my place and for those of you that have not been here before it is at 605 Victoria Road, Seville. It is not far from Colleens . Instead of going down Chandler Road to Colleens you keep going along Victoria about 50 metres to the first driveway on the left hand side.

Questions to ponder prior to the night -

1.  Are we too distracted these days to hear people's stories? Why did Henry tell his story to Lamont and not his own son.

2.  How did you feel about Adam and his relationship with Diana and the relationship between Dr Border and Rosa?

3.  The novel brings together different people from different cultures and religions to tell the story of the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement in America. How powerful is this and does it work?

4. Did you find the book a bit too coincidental in parts?

Cheers and see you on Tuesday.
Cindy

Sorry for the delay in posting scores but I was enjoying myself down in Inverloch too much to sit at a laptop!!!

Colleen - 6 - Liked the short stories for a change
Cindy - 7 -  Thoroughly enjoyed the concept of short stories. Very good.
Tahnee - 4 - Possibly an unfair four. Will revisit
Hannah - 7 - It sucked me in
Kaye - 6 - would have liked the last story to be more developed.
Anne Marie - 7 - Really strong characters, particularly given short stories. Very Character driven.
Irene - 9 - Epic yet intimate.

See you all in May.

Two months to read The Street Sweeper

Hi all!

Cindy asked me to post to confirm we are not having an April book club meeting, it will be pushed to May.  This is because there will be a number of absentees in April. 

This means two months to read the book! No excuses people, especially those of us having a holiday.

See you all soon.

Love
Hannah

Good Evening Ladies,

Cakes are cooked and time for some self composed questions....

1. In an interview Colum McCann gives provenance of his stories
     "In the end though, everything we write is autobiographical perhaps more especially
       when we attempt to avoid the autobiographical"
 What do you think he means by this and do you agree?

2. Colum McCann blends his own narrative with fiction. Are there any advantages to this style or would you prefer one or the other?

3. Did you identify any continuance between each of the short stories, or did they all stand individually?

4. From the novella, discuss any irony that although his movements are tracked still no one knows for sure what happened on the pavement?

5. ' What Time is It Now, Where Are You' - For anyone who has aspirations of writing a novel would this be a true representative of the story writing process. If not is it convincing?

6. Was the nuns interaction with her abuser satisfactory and likely to have happened if translated into reality?

See you tomorrow.
Irene

Christmas Greetings to all

LITTLE MEN by LOUSIA MAY ALCOTT

The collective vibe for Little Men was heavy in the room.  No one really liked it I'd say everyone thought it was woeful.

TAHNEE:     Couldn't hold my interest, kept falling asleep.  Liked the language.                       3
ANN-MARIE:     Still looking for the personalities.                                                                     5
KAY:     Would have liked to have read it.                                                                                    0
                (for Kay's benefit don't bother)
IRENE:     A little too House on the Prairie.                                                                                  3
                 (A Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder is around $8.00 on
                   the net.  I think if we take up a collection we could buy it for Aruna.  Then
                   Irene could read the stories to her at night)
TRILBY:     Felt like a lecture told as a story.                                                                               2
HANNAH:     Like to go back in time and give the Author a slap.                                               2
                        (Hannah has supressed feelings she needs to get out)
CINDY:     Olden days read.  Awful book.                                                                                    3
COLLEEN:     Boring, awful waste of time.                                                                               
AVIS:         Apoligy
KERRY:     No show, flying around somewhere.

FEBRUARY-  Hope Farm by Peggy Frew   TRILBY 2 Valley Road Seville
MARCH - Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann  IRENE up the end of Warby Hwy
APRIL - Watch this space CINDY Victoria Road Seville cnr of Chandler Road
MAY - My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante ANN-MARIE up Carters Lane way.
I really need to write down everyone's address

Thank you all for a good year.  Very enjoyable as always.  Merry Christmas to all.
                                                                                             

Hello Everyone

I thought book club was next week.  Maybe if I kept track of dates I would know where I was.   I thought I would give you an easy night and have no real questions.  The fact that I haven't had time to organize any has nothing to do with it.  Unlike some I refuse to pinch them off the net.  I thought we could just discuss the woeful book I chose. Maybe discuss the language and the perfect children and how everything was portrayed in the time the book was written.
See you tonight.
Colleen

November Meeting Only the Animals

Only the Animals – Ceridwen Dovey

Book Club Questions

1.       Did you find that the stories as told from the animals’ point of view were believable or fanciful?

2.       Which was your favourite one and why?

3.       Did anyone have the hardcopy book and do the pictures add to the stories? I read it on kindle and did not have any images.

4.       Does the collection suffer from ‘too much research’ in that we are subject to historical authors and conflicts as well as the animals own tale in each story? Could a more simplistic approach have worked as well?

5.       Did you enjoy the short story format?

6.     Has anyone read any other books from an animals point of view?

6.       Pithy comment and rating

7.       Next book is ‘Little Men’ at Colleen’s house.

Reading list for October and November 2015

Hello All,

October's book is 'The Mandarin Code' by Steve Lewis and Chris Uhlmann.
It will be at Kathy's house.

November's book is 'Only the Animals' by Ceridwen Dovey.
It will be at Tahnee's house.

Happy Reading!

The Delinquents by Criena Rohan

Hello all,

This book seemed to be enjoyed by the group but not loved.

AnneMarie - 8/10 Really enjoyed it but struggled picturing Kylie!

Hannah - 7/10 - Although depressing, a happy ending was the reward

Tahnee - 6/10 - Somehow I haven't written down your comment- sorry!

Irene - 6/10 Tiredness breathes lethargy (she was too tired to be as pithy as usual!)

Avis - 5/10 Decent snapshot but no real story.

See you all at Avis' in August for Terry Pratchetts' The Wee Free Men.


Cheers

Trilby

The Delinquents Questions

Hello

Tonight's book club is at Colleens house - Chandler Road, Seville.

I hope you have enjoyed The Delinquents


1. Do you fee l the author creates an authentic time and place?

2.  Do you feel the 'moral panic' displayed by the adults surrounding Lola and Brownie is justified?

3. How  and why did the youth sub cultures provide a belonging for Lola and Brownie?

4. What was the most dated/jarring aspect of the book for you?

5.Do you think that 'moral panic' around youth sub-cultures has changed since the 1950s? How?

See you tonight

Trilby

Septembers book

Hi all

I think at the May meeting I put my hand up to do September's book, I'm not sure who was doing August maybe Avis?  Anyway thought I would choose my book early so we can all order it in plenty of time.

My book choice is..............Life after life by Kate Atkinson.   

Happy reading

Kaye

Good Evening Fellow Literary Lovers,

Unless I get a couple of hours reading done tonight I am pretty sure ''We of the Never Never” shall remain unfinished on my part so my questions may be a little off the mark, but here goes....

1. Does the prose adequately describe the Australian Bush; the conveyance of size, isolation, vastness, ..... Could you have dated it as a book written in the early 20^th Century. If so what were the indicators?

2. I was easily confused by the pseudonyms used for many of the characters. Does this illicit a sense of disconnectedness or highlight a classist tone throughout the story.

3.There is a considerable degree of 'noble savage' myth in her perception of the Aboriginal characters. Did she lack understanding or comprehension of the injustices imposed upon them?

4. Did you feel gender stereotyping was exaggerated to highlight how willing she was to 'muck in'?

5. In what ways was 'little missus' a pioneer of woman folk living and working in the bush or was the tone patronising and condescending?

6. Why did Cheon succeed where she failed in managing the household?

7. Discuss the atrocities committed under the guiding light of the attitudes of race and gender from that era?


8. Is it a book that emphasis's humanity and the equalising nature of the bush? In what ways?

9. In the book Jeannie describes the Aboriginal's as ''...children who needed someone to lead them''.

Is this approach of whites to Aboriginals still prevelant today?

10. They could ''Live with anything except tea'' Could you?

Hope to see you all tomorrow night.

Irene

59668480

Hi folks! Be seeing you tomorrow night at 36 Railway Rd, 0402812945.

1. Keeping in mind the book started out during the sixties, did you understand David's actions after the birth of his daughter?

2.Did you feel that this book represents how women were greatly underestimated?

3.What do you think would have happened if David didn't give his daughter away?

4.Caroline appears to be the character who takes the moral high ground.  Do you think this is true?

5.Do you know anyone with Down Syndrome?  What are your expereinces?

www.babble.com/parenting/8-people-with-down-syndrome-who-are-making-history/

See you soon

Hannah

April Tuesday Book Club review.

All the Light We Cannot See.....Anthony Doerr.

We all agreed the book was beautifully written. An enjoyable and intense read.

Coll...........6 .....Enjoyable read. A sad reflection of the war.

Irene..........9......Really, really enjoyed it.
"catastrophic consequences and casualties of the singular pursuit of self".

Kaye.........8.......Loved it. A thoroughly good read.

Hannah..... ........An intense read. Very suspenseful. Can't wait to finish it.

Trilby........ ........writing is beautiful.

Kerry........8........An interesting and worthwhile read for lovers of historical fiction...like me...

Next Book Club is at Hannah's  ...The Memory Keepers Daughter..by Kim Edwards.

June Book Club... .....Irene ...........We of The Never Never......by Jeannie Gunn.

July Book Club..........Trilby..........The Delinquents.......by Criena Rohan.

March Review - The Dinner by Herman Koch

I think the reason that I chose this book was I'd read a review in the Age that "peaked" my interest.

Avis  - 7/10 - A terrifying read

Colleen - 2/10 - Overly descriptive in some areas and too little in others.

Cindy - 7/10

Trilby - 5/10 - Didn't like the book, but it was cleverly written to be so deliberately unlikeable

Hannah - 6/10 - Interesting platform for story.  Unlikeable characters, difficult to read.

Kaye - 6/10 - Hard to get into, just wanted to scream at Paul.

Tahnee - 4 1/2 - Flawed.  Unpalatable at every course.

Anne-Maree - 6/10 - Difficult to feel empathy with any of the characters. Distinct lack of a moral compass.

April Book Club.... All The Light WeCannot see.... by Anthony Doerr

Hi All sorry for the late post...
Hope you all had a Happy easter and you're able to make it tonight...

Few questions to consider.... Not mine ..

The book opens with Two epigraphs. How do these quotes set the scene for the rest of the book?
How does the radio play a major part in the story and the time period. how do you think the impact of the radio back then compares with the impact of the internet on todays society.

The narration moves back and forth both in time and between different characters. how did this effect your reading experience? how do you think the experience would have been different if the story had been told entirely in chronological order.

Whose story did you enjoy most.Was there any character you wanted more insight into?

On Page 160, Marie-Laure realizes. "This...is the basis of his fear, all fear. That a light you are powerless to stop will turn on you and usher a bullet to its mark." How does this image constitute the most general basis of all fear? do you agree.

One of Werners bravest moments is when he confronts von Rumpel: "All your life you wait, and then it finally comes, are you ready? Have you ever had a moment like that? were you ready? What would you say that moment is for some of the other characters?

more questions tonight...


hope to see you all tonight

224 Schoolhouse Rd
Woori Yallock..

February Review

February Book Review - All the birds singing by Evie Wyld

Sorry for the late review, no excuses, I'm just slack.

There was a consensus about the book that it posed more questions than it provided answers for and was difficult to keep track of when the narrative moved from previous time periods to the current time.  We all struggled to find anything likeable about the characters and were a bit confused why there were names in it that were mixed gender i.e. Jake and Clare.  Overall another prize winning book that we wouldn't have judged highly.

Scores

Trilby 4- Great scenery was there, unsatisfied

Tahnee 3 - Good evocation of place unappealing, unfinished

Kerry 3 - Confusing narrative filled with pain and lacking fulfilment

Irene 3 - Meaty plost lost to laborious narrative

Hannah 5 - The only thing enjoyed was tour of the island

Avis 2 - Too disconnected to enjoy

Kaye 3 - Too many questions not enough answers

Coleen 5 - Started nowhere going nowhere, Kaye is letting the side down, not finished

Hi All

Here are some questions for 'The Dinner".

• What did you think of the style of the book  (story told in flashback, with a male voice).  How reliable do we believe Paul to be once we are made aware of his condition
• Did you feel frustrated, not knowing the exact nature of his condition and / or Clare's illness.
• What did you think of the venue for the dinner?  How did this act as a driver for the evenings events
• Is the death of the homeless person and the teenagers roles a comment on today's youth?
• Were you surprised by the vastly different views of the parents?
• Did you relate to any of the characters in the book? If so which ones and why?
• How far would you go as a parent to protect your child.
• How did you react to Clare and Michel’s "solution”? 

See you tomorrow night.

Anne-Maree

Feb Meeting

Hi everyone, just a reminder that book club is on at my house tomorrow night. Hope you have all read the book! See you then.
Kaye

Two Brothers by Roger Furphy

Hello Eveyone

I will keep my questions light because I know a few who haven't read the book.

* Did you know the author is a member of the famous Water Cart family.
* Did anyone WHO READ THE BOOK notice a few discrepancy's in the mileage quoted as distances to Melbourne and surrounds from Yering.
* A general discussion on the extreme differences between the two brothers.
* I found Joe to be an excellent poet.  I can be transported to the moment he wrote the work and picture the scene as he wrote.   Does anyone else feel the full of his writing.
* I also feel the author Roger Furphy has a gift for descriptive writing.  I can picture and feel the moment he is writing about.  I think it is very hard to write about the Australian bush because not a lot happens quickly.  It all unfolds slowly and quietly.  'Comments'.

 GOOD BETTER BEST

NEVER LET IT REST

UNTIL YOUR GOOD IS BETTER

AND YOUR BETTER BEST

 

See you all tomorrow night at my place Chandler Road Seville 7.30pm.  I will endeavour to have a Christmas feast for you.

Hello All,

Please see below the questions for the first half of our double whammy December meeting;

The Fictional Woman – Tara Moss

1. Have you read Tara Moss, fiction? Good/Bad/Indifferent.
2. Did you have any preconceptions about the Author prior to reading this book? Did reading this book change them?
3. There is something about Tara Moss that doesn’t sit well with her many detractors, what is it about her persona that attracts so much derision?
4. Has proprietary and predatory behaviour by men towards woman lessened with each generation?
5. Are we all older and wiser, is there anything in this book for us (except perhaps validation of our own experiences)…would young woman benefit from reading this book?
6. Give one positive comment about the book.

We will also discuss Two Brothers - A Bit of a Yarn - Roger Furphy - among other things. 

November Meeting Postponed

Hello Everyone,

Unfortunately, I need to postpone Novembers meeting for 'The Fictional Woman'.
Colleen has generously offered to run a double meeting at her house on Tuesday the 2nd of December where we can discuss both my book and her book 'Two Brothers a Bit of  a Yarn" at the same meeting.
I am attending a book launch on Tuesday the 11th November for a book which I have contributed to and didn't realise that this clashed with book club as book club falls on the second Tuesday this month, due to Cup Day. I apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope that I'm forgiven as it's kind of book club related. See you all for our 'Double December' meeting. Tahnee 

October Meeting - Brief Life of Oscar Wao Review

Hello all,

It was a great book club as per usual.  A big welcome to our newest member Mr Hendrix James - you're welcome anytime, and you were super cute.

The book was not well liked, but Anne-Maree enjoyed it the most.

Somehow the discussion devolved into penises.  Penii? Peni?

Anyhow!

Avis 7/10 - Disfrute de le prose

Irene - 2/1- Not wonderous, on so many levels

Hannah - 6/10 - There was a plus - learning a little bit about Dominican life and penises. (Peni?)

Kay - 5/10 - A dry read

Anne-Maree - Wao Wow

Tahnee - 4/10 - Lack of wonder - failed to hold my attention.

The next meeting is at Tahnee's house.  It will be the second Tuesday due to Cup day- 11th November, 7:30.   The book is 'The Fictional Woman' by Tara Moss. Hendrix is encouraged to attend.


I am a bad host, I did not read the book, nor make the cake.


See you in November.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Hello all,

Book club is at my house tonight, see you there at 7:30.

Here are the questions for the book:

1. Is Wao a political book? Why, or why not?
2. What role does the supernatural play in this novel?
3. Wao attacks the assumption that American identity, or any national or personal identity, is uniform. What other assumptions do you think the novel attacks? Why would it be important for Díaz to unravel these assumptions?
4. Is the novel really about Oscar Wao? If so, what evidence can you cite from the novel to support your answer? If not, what do you think the novel is about, and what evidence can you cite from the novel to support your answer?
5. Why do most of the historical facts about the Dominican Republic and the U.S. appear in the book's footnotes? What does this choice say about the relationship between the individual and history?
6. Do you think that men, and male voices, dominate Wao? If so, do you think this is a mistake on Díaz's part, or is he up to something here? What do Wao's male characters tell us about American culture? Dominican culture?
7. In John Lingham's review of Wao: "Indeed, I can think of no other novel that contains so much brutality, torture, rape, murder, and suicide, yet nevertheless feels fun throughout." Do you agree with Lingham's statement? Is Wao full of disturbing stuff? And does Díaz make it all seem fun and light, in spite of it all? Why do you think Díaz mixes such atrocities with such lightheartedness in Wao?

See you tonight

Trilby!

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Not ''Official'' Book Club Business

Hello Fellow Book Clubbers,
Just wanted to let everyone know that we welcomed Hendrix Mill into our world on Friday morning. All very calm and a gentle introduction by water birth which was awesome. Came home yesterday and we are settling in well. We shall see you at next book club unless new born cuddles drives you towards Reefton.
Irene
P.S I have a new mobile number but reception is intermittent.
5966 8480
0490452860

Coraline and other stories - Neil Gaiman - REVIEW.

Book Club Reviews for Neil Gaimans’ Coraline

This book generated robust debate on what is scary and what is appropriate for kids. I recommend the movie or picking up any of his other books in your spare time.

Anne-Marie   7/10 - Be careful what you wish for…

Trilby-Roux 8/10 - Fantastic imagery.

Tahnee 8/10 - Terrifying in it’s simplicity.

Kaye (absent) 2/10 - Not my cup of tea. Wouldn’t have liked it any bettere if I was eleven.

Colleen 3/10 - It was weird. The author tried too hard to be weird.

Cindy 8/10 - I didn’t read the book, but I had a great time!

Kerry 7/10 - It was a fascinating insight into a young girls mound, with a twist from an old                                    mans’ mind.

Irene 4/10 - Nonsensical musings with an occasional lighter relief.

Hannah 8/10 - It was an enjoyable, scary journey into a childs' imagination.

Julianne 6/10 - There’s no place like home…

Avis 8/10 - This is how I’d like my own daughter to see the world.

Coraline and other stories - Neil Gaiman: posted on behalf of Avis

Coraline is a book aimed at younger readers  - the author wrote it for his 11 year old daughter. At what age would you think it would be suitable to read to kids?

Can scary be good for kids? Has the sanitation of fairy tales impacted on children’s development?

What is the scariest theme from the book?

What do you think about Coraline's Father and his definition of bravery?

Which of the Other Stories did you enjoy, and why?

Niel Gaiman is known for his dark twists on common or classic story elements. How did his stories make you feel?

Address is 4 Lalors Road Healesville. Park on the driveway if you can - the grass is a bit marshy right now. There is a parking spot in front of the letterbox as well.

My mobile is  0430 529 100 if you ladies have any questions.

P.S. There will be much food. Much, much food. You have been warned.

July's Slaughterhouse V.

Thank you to those who came - and for not breaking any of my china teacups!!


Kaye -3/10 - Fanciful rambling

Hannah - 6/10  - Took a long time to get to the point, but don't know what the point was.

Trilby - Hadn't read it and not convinced she shall!!

Avis - 7/10 - Well constructed insight into a breakdown

Tahnee - 2/10 - Prosaic, choppy, unfunny - "So It Goes"

Anne - Marie - 5/10 - For most of the story I was waiting for it to make sense, but maybe in war there is none.

Coleen - Weird. Not Finished. Hope it gets better.

Kerry - 4/10 - I get the underlying story but too convoluted to follow

Irene - 3/10 - Left somewhat bewildered by its' classic listing.

August is courtesy of Avis - Coraline and Other stories by Neil Gaiman
Followed by Trilby with The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz in September.


And for anyone who wants the cake recipe....
1 cup seeded dried dates
!/4 cup crystalised ginger
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
1 cup boiling water
50 g butter
!/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup self raising flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger

Combine dates, ginger soda and water in a food processor and leave to stand for 5 minutes.
Add butter and sugar and process till almost smooth
Add eggs, flour  and ginger and process till combined. Pour mixture into a lined 20cm round cake pan.
Bake at 180 for approximately 45 mintues.

Hello Fellow Literary Lovers,
Hope everyone is keeping warm in these wintry conditions.
A few questions to ponder prior to book club on Tuesday.

1. Did the book live up to your expectation?

2. Are we intended to believe Billy's tales of Tralfamadore or do you assume, like Barbara that it is a figment of Billy's brain damaged imagination?

3. How is Slaughterhouse V also a book about America in the 1960's?

4. Why does Billy become 'unstuck' in time?

5. What purpose does Billy's abduction by the Tralfamaforians plot line serve?

6. What irony does Billy's profession bring to the story?

7. How did the saying 'So It Goes' enhance or distract from the significance of death?

8. How do you feel about the idea of a Child's Army - Is this idea still prevalent today?

See you on Tuesday.

Irene
0437358890

The Accidental Apprentice....by Vikas Swarup

June Book Review...The Accidental Apprentice by Vikas Swarup

It was agreed that the book was a reasonable read. With two many unbelievable and unrealistic plots...A book written soley for the movie market...



Tahnee ....       3/10......A Collection of........... (sorry couldn't read my writing.)....stories poorly linked

with unbelievable characters and forced dialogue....

Trilby.......      5/10......A page turner (stolen from Hannah), that failed to meet its goals.

Anne-Marie ..6/10.......really enjoyable read...Bollywood meets Phyrne Fisher.

Kaye..............7/10........Outrageously contrived plot, but really enjoyed it.

Hannah...........7/10........Page Turner.....disappointed in the ending.

Avis................3/10........Obvious full of Troupes.

Irene................4/10........Immersed in disbelieve, and any potential was overshadowed by the    
                                       duplicity of the plot structure.

Deb.................7/10.........loved the book...no pithy comment.....  


Next Month is at Irene's.....book is .....  Slaughter House 5 by Kurt Vonnegut.

August is at Deb's......A Tale for the time being....by  Ruth Oseki...

Deb's new address is.....11 Bamfield Rd.. Mt. Evelyn.

Instuctions as follows.....It is next entry after the big white gates. You enter round the back of house. From the back it is the house on the left because our neighbours are on the property with us.....


apologies from me for July and August.......

Sorry for the late addition of everyone's reviews for last months book, The Orchardist. Seems that while not a favourite everyone found something to enjoy. Kerry - 7/10 - Very melancholic saga Hannah - 7/10 - Bittersweet descriptive Avis - 5/10 - Descriptive language, beautiful story Irene - 5/10 - The plot potential is dwarfed by the superfluous use of language Colleen - 6.5/10 - Authors writing style put me in the story Kaye - 6/10 - no pithy comment Trilby - 7/10 - Instantly immersed. Provocative writing Tahnee - Dreamlike narrative (sorry didn't write the score down) Anne-Maree - 5/10 - Slightly disturbing narrative style contrasted breathtaking landscapes

Is Book Club at Anne Maries on tonight???

The Rosie Project reviews

The Rosie Project was an enjoyable read for most people.  A book, which is lighter than most of the books chosen for this club, pokes fun of a disorder which is very real.  We all agreed not knowing enough about Aspergers, but believe that there are people in our lives who may have this condition( ahem...Ben).  There is a possibility we all have a touch of Aspergers.   Don changing too easily for Rosie was questionable, but many stranger things have happened for sake of love (I moved to Seville).  The way Don narrates this book was discussed which makes the story telling unique.

Anne-Maree: 8/10 loved it. Quirky, funny & shed a tear.

Colleen: 3/10, boring predictable.

Deb; 71/2 out of 10, an unconventional love story, a little far fetched at times, but a thoroughly joyous read.

Tahnee; predictable, but fun, fun, fun, looking forward to the movie.

Cynthia: loved the read, glad it was chosen.

Trilby: 6/10 yet to finish, highly enjoyable holiday rom-com style

Irene: 8/10 three evenings of giggles.

Kay: 7/10 light hearted look at something more serious

Hannah 8/10 enjoyed it.

Next book is at Anne Marie's, "The Orchadist" by Amanda Coplin.

June's meeting is at Kerry's "The Accidental Apprentice" by Vikas Swarup

July's is at Irene's "Slaughterhouse  5" by Kurt Vonnegut.

Have a happy Easter.
Hannah

On a day when I have about ten thousand things, I could do with a bit of Aspergers.  Of course if I did have Aspergers I would be counting the number of things I have to do, it would not add up to ten thousand.  This leads me to my first question...

1.  Have you ever had a first hand experience with Autism? Do you think "The Rosie Project" is a realistic account of a person with Aspergers?

2.  Did you think, as I did, and that Don would make a great PA?

3.  How realistic was the relationship between Don and Rosie?

4.  Do you know of any couples who have or have had an open relationship?

5.  How important to the story was it that Rosie turned out to be "smart"?

6.  Give an example how breaking your routine effects you.  Can be positive or negative.

7.  This book is a comedy based on a serious subject.  Give examples of other such comedies including mediums (T.V shows, film, poetry).

See you tomorrow night
Hannah
0402812945
36 Railway Rd Seville

Their eyes were watching God..Ratings and Reviews

Colleen 7/10
Like eavesdropping on a conversation between two woman.

Hannah 6/10
Sad story about African/American woman breaking out on her own.

Irene 7/10
Timeless story well related for its era.

Kaye 6/10
A tale of Joy and woe.

Meg 4/10
A difficult over complicated read.

Debbie ....it's all too hard.

Cindy 6/10
Great insight into black America culture in that era.

Kerry 7/10
A heart rending story a womans' endurance.

Ann-Marie 7/10
Engaging universal tale of female strength and resilience.

Tahnee - Couldnt finish it.

Our next book....The Rosie Project...Meeting at Hannahs house, the first Tuesday in April.
Aprils reading for the May meeting has already been posted by Ann Marie.
May's reading for the June meeting is The Accidental Apprentice - Vikas Swarup @ Kerry's house.

Enjoy.....Tahnee

Book Selection for May 2014

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin

pre-meeting questions March 2014

Hello Rabid Readers,

Here are a few questions to mull over prior to Tuesdays 7.30 pm meeting at my house.

1. Have you ever read a book because it was recommended by an author whose work you enjoyed, did you like it, or were you disappointed, what was it?
2. Their Eyes Were Watching God is widely recognised to be of literary importance in regards to race/ethnicity/race relations/African American literature/Feminism and the documentation of a predominantly aural history. Are there any other books that might fall into this genre that you have enjoyed in the past and might recommend here?
3. In my book, a forward by author Zadie Smith, postulates that the book may be lost on those who are not black themselves, discuss?
4. The novel is rich in dialect, discuss.
5. The themes of race and colour, are in my opinion sometimes ambiguous i.e. Janies' looks are often praised because of her long 'straight' hair. Is this because, it makes her more "white", or just a point of difference that makes her stand out...discuss.
6. Is Janies' independence a beneficial side effect of the men she is associated with or does she primarily attract the attention of these men because of her independence?

See you Tuesday. Tahnee

February's Book - Burial Rites Hannah Kent

Burial Rites - Hannah Kent

Thanks to everyone who attended our first meeting back after our Christmas break.  It was even good to see Meg (Meg who?) after her lengthy absence, the big question is whether we will see her again next month and will she have read the next book!!
Most people enjoyed the book with the general consensus that the author skilfully portrayed the harshness of both the environment and the life of the people of Iceland in the 1820's.  We also felt that Agnes' fate was sealed when she met Natan who tricked her into working at his farm. Agnes' intelligence and independence,which attracted Natan, played against her in the end as these qualities were viewed as suspicious in a woman in the 1820's.  Comfort was given to Agnes before her execution with the family at Kornsa and also by Toti the minister who allowed her to tell her story rather than preach to her.  Overall a disturbing but enjoyable read.

Ratings

Tahnee 6    A bleak cold desperate evocation of existence

Debbie 7     Engaging read confusing title

Colleen 7    Dramatic story about scratching an existence out of life

Hannah 7    Interesting lesson into Icelandic life in the 1800's

Meg    7      Tragic and depressing view of Icelandic life

Anne Maree 8 Thought provoking and really enjoyed it

Irene 6        Icelands stark and unapologetic landscape similes all the trials and tribulations of the characters

Trilby 9    Tightly drawn intriguing characters wanted to know more about the family

Kaye  8     A disturbing but enjoyable read.

April's book at Hannah's   "The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion

Book Club 4th Feb

Hi everyone, there seems to have been a bit of confusion on who is holding book club on Tuesday.  It's at my house (Kaye's) 61 Monbulk-Seville Rd Seville.  I think that you have all been here before.
Anyway here are a list of questions we can discuss re: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.

• How did you enjoy the book?  Were you engaged immediately or did it take a while to get into it and what emotions did you feel when reading it?
• Fate and destiny are major themes in this work, for Agnes seems fated to have come to the end she does.  Could she have escaped this destiny?  Was there a turning point in her life which she might have avoided?
• What do you believe drew Agnes to Natan, and vice versa?
• Blondal is the real villain of this piece.  What did you make of his decision to lodge Agnes with District Officer Jon and his family? Why did he do that?
• Are Steina, Lauga and Margret changed by Agnes's time with them" Has her fate changed theirs in any way?
• Agnes goes to her death holding Toti's hand, for they have discovered a deep need for each other.  Is this story ultimately about the loneliness of our end in life? Or does it celebrate the comfort that a person can bring to the dying.
• Gossip, rumour and prejudice determine Agnes's end.  She is 'hung' on the strength of a reputation which is largely conjecture and linked to her poverty. Discuss

See you on Tuesday
Kaye

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