Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (Questions)

Hello All,

Apologies for the delay in posting. I'm looking forward to seeing you all tonight.

My address is : 310 Queens Rd Wandin East ( if you're coming from Seville, we are just past the Wandin East Rd crossroad on the left hand side). We have a long driveway and there is 2 houses on the property, mine is the larger and I will have lots of lights on.  My mobile number is 0438 643857.

Questions
1. Knowing the truth about Eleanor’s family, look back through the book to revisit her exchanges with her mother. Did you see what was ahead? How did Honeyman lay the groundwork for the final plot twist?
2. What are the different ways that the novel’s title could be interpreted? What do you think happens to Eleanor after the book ends?
3. Eleanor says, “These days, loneliness is the new cancer—a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted” (p. 227). Do you agree?
4. What does Raymond find appealing about Eleanor? And why does Eleanor feel comfortable opening up to Raymond?
5. Eleanor is one of the most unusual protagonists in recent fiction, and some of her opinions and actions are very funny. What were your favorite moments in the novel?
6. “Did men ever look in the mirror, I wondered, and find themselves wanting in deeply fundamental ways? When they opened a newspaper or watched a film, were they presented with nothing but exceptionally handsome young men, and did this make them feel intimidated, inferior, because they were not as young, not as handsome?” (p. 74). Eleanor’s question is rhetorical and slightly tongue-in-cheek, but worth answering. What are your thoughts? If men don’t have this experience, why not? If they do, why is it not more openly discussed?
7. Eleanor is frightened that she may become like her mother. Is this a reasonable fear? What is the balance of nature and nurture?
8. Is it possible to emerge from a traumatic childhood unscathed?
9. Eleanor says, “If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn’t spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say” (p. 226–227). Why is this the case?


Mel :)

Terra Nullius Review

Thanks for a lovely and noisy night last night.  I loved how everyone stayed around for a chat afterwards. A big welcome to our new members Emma and Viv

The book was mostly loathed, but those of us with good looks and taste loved it (Viv, Tahnee and I).


Kathy tendered her resignation which was summarily rejected.  It was decided that attendance and cake must be provided before the resignation could be accepted.   #contritioncake
Scores and comments:

Anne-Maree
A cultural fail.  #$#@!            3/10


Colleen
Flip was a flop                        2/10


Kay
Lost me at the flip                  2.5/10


Viv
Ambitious                               7/10


Emma
Mourned the first half             4/10


Mel                                         
WTF                                        2/10


Tahnee
Blurring the lines between dystopian fiction and uncomfortable truth
                                                7/10

Meaghan             
Unlikely iteration on romanticised history
                                               4/10

Trilby
The intent may not have been achieved but I enjoyed the story
                                              7/10

Tamara
Was Australia imagined or discovered.


Next months book is 'Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine' by Gail Honeyman, at Mel's house.




Thanks for a fab night

Trilby

Terra Nullius questions

Hi All,

I'm looking forward to seeing you all tonight.
Please feel free to bring your slippers!



Question 1 -
Did you understand the book to be speculative or science fiction - or not until it was made explicit?

Question 2
In the first third of the book did you find anything in the story unbelivable or to ring false?

Question 3
What purpose did the author have in confusing/allowing the reader to believe that the first third of the book was about English invasion into Aboriginal Australia?

Question 4
Do you feel a belonging to the land of an area or of a type of landscape?

Question 5
Did the book change your feelings on the current challenges Aboroginal people face?

Question 6
Discuss that the author felt it necessary to use speculative fiction in order to have the (assumed) non-aboriginal reader identify with the natives.

Question 7
The heat and lack of water are both salvation and death in the book.  Do you think this is paticularly Australian focus?


I think that will do for now - I am still madly trying to finish it before this evening.  See you then.

Trilby

Somebody I used to know by Wendy Mitchell

Hi All
sorry for the late posting.
I chose this book under pressure to provide holiday reading for Tahnee. It’s a relatively new release that I saw reviewed in the Saturday Age.

Scores and comments were

Tamara     8.5     face to science of memory loss
Mel.          7.       I forgot (pardon the pun)
Colleen.     4
Bec.           7
Kaye          7.      Harrowing tale of an insidious disease
Tahnee.       5.     Terrifying
Meaghan.    6.5.  Poignant & thought provoking
Anne-Maree 7.    Confrontingly real

Tomorrow nights book (Trilby’s choice) is Terra Nullius by Claire Coleman. Look forward to seeing you all then.

Anne-Maree

Terra Nullius

Hello Book Clubbers,

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow at my house.

Address is 3/25 Seymour Street Seville.

My driveway has a number of letter boxes on the fence. My house is last on the RHS. Warch out for the hump in the drive. You can park on the concrete drive on the RHS (after the hedge) (in front of the caravan) if you wish or my driveway.

I will post questions tomorrow morning. I am slack, I know.

We will have two new members coming along to check us out tomorrow - Em and Viv.

Hope to see you there :)

Hi everyone,
hope you all had a good Easter. At our book club meeting last Tuesday a total of 6 of us turned up. Of the 6, I was the only one who had read and finished the book, everyone else either hadn't had a chance to read it or hadn't finished it yet. So the six of us took the executive decision to call the meeting off and just drink and eat. We had a lovely night just chatting and decided that at the next meeting we would discuss my book and Anne-Marie's. So next month's book is Somebody I Used to Know by Wendy Mitchell. Look forward to seeing you all at Anne-Marie's.
Kaye

Hi All,
Apologies for sending a whole new post to tell you I wont be at book club tonight...I cant for the life of me figure out how to post a comment on Kaye's original message.  I'm sorry I wont be there...I'm very behind on a presentation for work in the morning so going to keep working on it tonight.  Have a great night and Happy Easter everyone.
Georgia.

Tomorrow nights meeting

Hi all,
A reminder that book club is at colleens house tomorrow night. I hope you enjoyed the book and I will try and post some questions later today.
Kaye

March Meeting notes - People of the Book

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all the great discussion last night.  The book seemed to lead us down lots of other discussion paths!  The general feel for People of the Book was that despite some perhaps superfluous components to the story, the history surrounding the book was a winner.

Ratings and pithy comments (it was a scramble at the end so please let me know if I didn't capture your comment correctly!)
Tahnee - 7/10 For those who love reading margin notes and finding left behind bookmarks.
Kaye - 6/10 A little confusing but still enjoyable
Mel - 7/10 Give more of the people of the book
Meaghan - 7.5/10 Historically fascinating
Kathy - 7.5/10 Enjoyable
Colleen - 5/10 Loved the history
Trilby - 7/10 A page turner more of literary style than trash
Georgia - 6.5/10 A little bit lost in the second read but still historically fascinating

Next month's book is: The Last Painting of Sarah de Vos by Dominic Smith selected by Kaye with the book club meeting to be hosted at Colleen's house.

Have a great month everyone.
Georgia.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Hi Everyone,

Looking forward to seeing you at my house on Tuesday night.
My address is 605 Victoria Road, Gruyere.  We are in the middle of pool installation so things are a bit of a mess - just be careful as you come through to the garden gate as there is stuff everywhere and holes where the deck will be!

The book for this month was People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. I've included a character list because there was a lot to take in and a lot of people to remember!

Questions for Tuesday:

1. Hanna was more like her mother than she realised (or hoped) in terms of burying herself in her work.  What were your thoughts on their relationship?  In what ways was Hanna different to her mother?

2. How did you react to the way Australians were portrayed by the author through the character of Hannah?  The book was written in 2008 and set in 1996 (for Hanna).  Do you think Aussies would be portrayed differently now?

3. A review on Good Reads said the following: "I expected great things from Brooks - March is a book I treasure - but this novel is a third-rate Da Vinci code, written with about the same amount of skill."  
What do you think of this comment? Do you agree?

4. The story of the book unraveled backwards.  How did you find this to follow?  Would the story have been better or worse told forwards?

5. Did you come away from the book feeling that there were missing parts to the story?

6. Should the Haggadah have been restored or conserved in the form in which it was found? Is the story of the Haggadah more important than the actual Haggadah itself?

7. When Hanna found out who her father was, what impact did this have on her?  Do you think she changed after this part of the story?

8. What was your favourite historical time from the book?  

9. How does this book compare to other Geraldine Brooks novels?  Would it make a good movie?

Major Characters

Present
Dr. Hanna Heath, 30 year old conservator, from Australia

Dr. Ozren Karaman, the librarian in Sarajevo—saved Haggadah
Alia, Ozren’s toddler in a coma from gunshot during Bosnian war
Amalie Sutter, entomologist in Vienna, studies butterfly wing
Werner Heinrich, Viennese specialist in Hebrew manuscripts, speculates about losts clasps
Razmus Kanaha, chief conservation scientist at the Fogg museum, studies wine and blood stains
Delilah Sharansky, Hanna’s jewish grandmother
Clarissa Montague-Morgan, forensic specialist who examines hair

Vienna 1940
Lola, jew, laundresses’ and janitor’s daughter, hidden by Kamal’s after her family is taken by Nazis
Dora, Lola’s little sister
Rashelo and Lugo, Lola’s parents
Stela and Serif Kamal, wealthy Muslims who hide Lola and save Haggadah
Ina, Isak’s little sister, escapes with Lola
Josip Boscovic, museum director

Vienna 1894
Franz Hirschfeldt, jewish doctor serving Viennese aristocrats
David, Franz’ fencing brother
Herr Florien Mittl, book binder with syphilis (or other STD), steals sterling clasps to pay for medical treatment
Rosalind, Franz’ mistress
Anna, Franz’ wife

Venice 1609
Giovanni Domenico Vistorini, parish priest and book censor. Kept book from being burned.
Rabbi Judah Aryeh Dona reyna de Serena, fled Portugal as a Jew, ostensibly converted to Christianity. Wealthy, supporter of the Geto community. Received Haggadah from family manservant in Portugal

Tarragona 1492
David Ben Shoushan, Hebrew scribe who wrote the haggadah intended as a gift for his nephew; beaten to death by Spanish soldiers
Miriam, David’s wife
Ruti, Miriam and David’s daughter. Takes Rosa’s son and converts him into a Jew by immersion; saltwater gets on the Haggadah
Rueben, Miriam and David’s son who converted and is tortured by inquisition
Rosa, Rueben’s wife who believes her son is still born

Sevile 1480
Hooman, slave owner
Zahra, unnamed girl slave painter
Kebira, old woman in emir’s palace
Nura/Isabella, Emir’s wife
Pedro, Isabella’s brother
Netane haLevi, Jewish doctor
Benjamin, deaf son of doctor

I have been feeling very overwhelmed and it has rendered me mute in acknowledging the generosity of everyone at bookclub.
It has allowed me to put new tyres on my car which not only keeps us safe but keeps me law abiding!!
I would also like to thank you all for keeping book club about book club last month as it was refreshing to discuss and speak &think about something else.
These periods of difficulty in life can be very consuming and difficult to navigate when all security you normally surround yourself by gets stripped away.
Some of you have only met me a few times and this is one if those situations where saying thank you seems so trite and insufficient. But in the absence of something more substantial Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
Irene

February Meeting - Molokai by Alan Brennert

Thanks to everyone who made it to our February Meeting to discuss Molokai by Alan Brennert.

Book Selection - I do most of my reading on Kindle these days, Kindle often provides suggestions based on previous reads. Molokai was one suggestion and it seemed to have good reviews, so I thought I'd give it a go. Additionally, I know very little about Leprosy and how those afflicted were segregated at the time, so thought I might learn something along the way.

Meeting Wrap up  - Almost everyone enjoyed reading this book, barring Tamara who found it too sad to call it enjoyable, despite the quality of the novel. Most enjoyed the use of Hawaiian terminology throughout the book and found it added to the narrative and wasn't too distracting (as we have sometimes found in other books). It was generally agreed that the setting was integral to the story and all felt that the novel wouldn't have worked as well elsewhere, the mainland for example.
Most were deeply saddened for Rachel and how she must have felt being separated from her family at such a young age and conflicted as to how we would have behaved in the same situation, given the perceived communicability of Leprosy at that time. Overall a positive read, the narrative of a lifetime (albeit a sad one) managing to hold our interest for the length of the book.

Pithy Comments & Ratings

Average Rating 7/10

Tamara Exposing a tragic past 4/10

Meaghan Total tragedy to unexpected uplift 8.5/10
Georgia Good example of the power of resilience and community8/10
Ann-Marie Strength of the Human spirit 8/10
Colleen The inhumanity of the medical profession 6/10
Mel Really enjoyed it - The strength of one woman 9/10
Trilby Lovely fictional version of a hideous non-fiction event 7/10
Irene Overtly focused on pivotal moments in an otherwise luscious piece of literature 7/10
Tahnee  A sad truth 7.5/10
Beck  First meeting - Welcome

Housekeeping

This months book is 'The People of the Book' by Geraldine Brooks to be discussed at Georgia's.

Aprils book (Kaye's selection) will be hosted at Colleens. Kaye will still post questions and chair the meeting after returning from holiday that day. Book to be announced at next meeting so you don't all read ahead and forget about it by the time the meeting comes around.

We welcomed 'Beck' to her first Book Club meeting and I think we were all relatively well behaved, so she may return.

Mel questioned whether a further breakdown in scoring might be considered i.e. 8.75/10. Much robust discussion ensued with no resolution.

'till March, happy reading : )

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Moloka'i

by Alan Brennert

Hello Everyone, 

Looking forward to seeing you all at my house tomorrow night to discuss Molokai.

I hope to have a few more questions for you by tomorrow, just wanted to get a few up tonight to remind everyone of tomorrow's meeting.

Tahnee

Imagine yourself in the place of Rachel’s mother, Dorothy Kalama. How would you have handled the situation?

What other diseases of more recent times have a similar story?

Did you as a reader regard Leilani as a man or a woman?

Was there a character other than Rachel that had an impact on you? Who and Why?

Was it fair of the nuns to remove Rachel from Uncle Pono's house and bring her to the convent school? Should Rachel have been allowed to stay with Uncle Pono?

Considering the United States' role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, was the American response adequate or not? In recent years a "Hawaiian sovereignty" movement has gathered momentum in the islands—do you feel they have a moral and/or legal case?

January Reading for February Meeting

This months book is Molokai by Alan Brennert.

Happy Reading, see you all at my house in Feb. Tahnee 

Meeting at Colleen's.  The Drover's wife by Henry Lawson.

Almost full house.  Couple of housekeeping tips for next year.  You need two bottles of red and white.  One of each is not enough.  No one drinks Bailys.

Book was well received, everyone liked the quick read.  I feel slightly vindicated for my choice of books at last.

Irene         9     Short and Sweet
Trilby       7     Historically evocative
Kathy       8     Usually hate short stories but this was ok
*Tamara* 10  Lawson the realist        to Banjo Patterson's 
                     romanticism
Tahnee     8     Early Australian at its best
Annmarie 7     It is going to make me read more Henry Lawson
Georgia    9     Short but sweet
Mel          8     The bleakness of early Australia
Colleen    8     The skill to tell a story and have you feel you are there in 
                        time.
Thank you ladies I wish you and your family a lovely Christmas.     

Hello Everyone

The Drovers Wife by Henry Lawson.

Book club at my place (Colleen 0411799558) Chandler Road Seville off Victoria Road.  Last gate on the right.  If not sure follow someone who has been before.

Questions will be handed out on the night.

See you there.

FOUND IT:

November meeting

BOOK: Extinctions

AUTHOR: Josephine Wilson

General overview

Our meeting on Tuesday was a more subdued affair than the uproar at Kathy’s meeting in October, but still a lot of fun, and thanks to all who were able to make it. I’m glad you all survived the stairs, the exhaustive (read “exhausting”) questions and the book itself. 

Generally, the book was considered lightweight on character building, with the main character (Frederick) being insipid, self-centred and “boring”, and some of the minor character being far more interesting, but given a thin veneer by the author.  Some of the recurring themes around regret and the ownership of possessions may have developed the story further. The general view was that actual theme of “Extinction” (whether of a species or individual) was largely unexplored and left the reader feeling unfulfilled.

It was agreed that the unrealistic ending wrapped up the main themes and characters too neatly and that the minor characters’ stories were left hanging without resolution.  All in all, not the best read. Most members were astonished that this book was the Miles Franklin Award winner for 2017, and many wondered “what were the judges thinking”.

Why did I choose this book?

My mum gave be a copy of The Age Newspaper’s monthly book review mag a few months ago.  She does it every month after she’s read it, and I dutifully promise myself to have a look (but never do- I already have too many books I haven’t read yet).  This time, however, with Book Club upcoming, I took a peek. Hoping for a good impression for my first book, I selected (what was then Miles Franklin shortlisted) “Extinctions”. Woe betide me- never again!

Rating and Pithy Comments

Hope I got you all connected to the correct comments….

Anne Marie:        6/10- A bit trite

Tahnee:               4/10- Too many stories not realised. I would have liked to have known more about Caroline.

Colleen:               4/10- Unbelievable mismatched collection of characters.

Tamara:               5/10- Like driving with an erratic driver

Mel:                      5/10- 33% done, and no more!

Trilby:                   4/10- Incomplete

Kaye:                    3/10- Not a complete waste of time

Meaghan:            4/10- A disappointment of unfulfilled characters and storyline.

NOTE: Next meeting is Colleen’s.  She has selected “A Drover’s Wife” by Henry Lawson.  She explains

it is a short read, so even those with limited time in the lead up to Christmas can get this one
knocked over.  Thanks again!

Hello all, I put up a post about our last meeting a couple of weeks ago, but it appears not to have "posted"?!? Not sure what I have done.  Will try to resend.  In the meantime, I was supposed to notify those of you who did not attend last meeting that the December meeting is Colleen's with "the Drover's Wife" by Henry Lawson being the text. Again my apologies for stuffing up somehow. 

Hi Meaghan
I'm really sorry but I cant get there tonight.  Hope it all goes well.
Cheers, Georgia.

OK, guys, here are the questions.  Sorry- too many in the end, but there it is.  Thanks for your patience.  My address is 18 George St, Wandin North.  Our drive is opposite Meadow Court, and given the road works, that is not a bad place to park. Hope to see you tonight!

1.      When Fred sees his friend, Tom, struggling with his walker in the heat, he watches but takes no action. What other times in Fred’s life does this occur, and what are the implications? Does this “holding back/ wait and see” approach happen to any other characters?

2.      Is Katie’s experience with the overdose on alcohol pivotal to the story and, if so, does our later knowledge of Martha and Ralph’s relationship put a different spin on Katie’s problems?

3.      At one point, Fred says “A theoretical bridge is perfect, the real bridge is a different matter.  What if the calculation of a load is flawed? I became an expert on disasters…..”. When Fred discusses his unit at the retirement village as being a bridge between his real life and death, is the calculation of the load flawed? Is life a case of “the best laid plans…?”

4.      At one point Fred questions whether anyone truly looks back on their life and can say, “I wouldn’t change a thing”.  What do you think about this notion?

5.      Were you surprised about the relationship between Martha and Ralph?  Do you think this has implications on the plot? How is Martha an important character?

6.      Do you think Fred’s expectations of his family are too high?  Is the conflict he has with Callum about the soccer final realistic behaviour?

7.      Is it possible that Fred’s experience with the dolphin is an analogy of his experience with Virgil?  Did you think at any stage that either the dolphin or Virgil were figments of Fred’s imagination?

8.      Jan expresses to Fred that “Possessions can possess you” – What do you think of Fred’s obsession with objects?  We tend to spend our lives collecting things, and becoming curators of the collections of others- why? At some point in life many people stop collecting and start “decluttering”?  When and why?

9.      Caroline also questions Fred’s values in this regard, saying to her father, “keeping isn’t value”.  What is she trying to say?

10.   At one point Fred comes to understand that he doesn’t like being alone.  Do other characters reflect a sense of loneliness?

11.   Why do you think Caroline’s sense of identity so conflicted? Does the strength of her relationship with her mother falter when she finds out about Martha’s affair?  How are the themes of adoption and abandonment important to the story?

12.   The author writes of Caroline that, “she learned from her mother that in the absence of a real career, a woman had to make things up for herself.”  Do you agree?

13.   Why does Caroline think she is “close to extinction” at the age of 37?  Do you hope she has a child as she desires?

14.   In Caroline’s conversation with Richard, they discuss the nature of destiny.  She says that Fred always thought it was his destiny to be an engineer, but he had hoped to be an architect originally.  Did Fred’s unfulfilled desire fuel Callum’s decision to become an architect?  Are we all influenced by our parent’s unfulfilled dreams?  What implications might that have for our kids?

15.   Does meeting Callum’s carer change Fred’s views on family, or anything else?

16.   Do you feel hopeful for Fred, Jan, Morrison and Callum in their new home? 

17.   Do you feel there is adequate resolution in the story? Is the ending satisfying? 

18.   Do you think your approach to life and/or behaviour with family and friends would be likely to change as a result of reading this story?