Beaufort Book Club

Questions for Discussion-Breaking Night by Liz Murray

2012-01-05T09:49:00.004-05:00

1. There are plenty of atrocious aspects to Liz's childhood - the hunger so painful she ate Chap Stick and toothpaste, the lice she had for months, the stopped-up, putrid-smelling bathroom and consequent lack of personal hygiene, the sleep deprivation, watching her parents shoot up daily, being left alone with a child molester, the HIV-positive blood splattered on the kitchen walls and counters, even their pack of Wonder bread, etc. Was there an aspect you were most taken aback by?
2. Have you been close to someone with a drug addiction? Was Liz's portrayal of her parents similar to your experience?
3. Did you side more with Liz or Lisa in the way they handled their parents' addiction and behavior? Why?
4. Why do think Liz loved and accepted her parents as much as she did? Was this surprising to you?
5. What finally made Liz decide to turn her life around? Given her history, was this drastic change believable to you?
6. In reading this book, did you naturally compare your childhood (or the current childhood of your young children) to Liz's? Has this changed the way you look at obstacles in your own daily life?
7. Has the knowledge you've gained through reading Liz's story spurred you on to take action - to do something for yourself that you know is right, or to help children in Liz's situation?
8. Rate Breaking Night on a scale of 1 to 5.

Reading Group Guide questions for Left Neglected from simonandshuster.com

2011-09-20T17:03:00.002-04:00

1. Is Sarah better off at the end of the novel than at the beginning? If so, in what ways?

2. Sarah has a series of anxious dreams in the nights leading up to the accident. How would you interpret these dreams? What do you think her subconscious is trying to tell her?

3. Is Sarah a better mother before or after the crash? How do you think she would answer that question? Consider the amount of time she spends with her kids, her ability to keep track of them, and the level of participation in their lives.

4. The second time Sarah and Bob meet with Charlie's teacher about his progress in class, they learn that he is the target of some bullying. Ms. Gavin tells them many children experience this whether or not they have disabilities. Do you agree with Charlie's teacher? Do disabilities like ADHD make a child more of a target than other kids?

5. Sarah's Type A personality seems like it should help her through her physical therapy, but her friend and therapist Heidi believes she needs to stop trying to "win" and learn how to "adjust." Do you agree? Do you think by adjusting to her new limitations, Sarah holds herself back from a quicker recovery?

6. If Sarah had recovered completely, do you think she would have gone back to her high pressured job at Berkley Consulting?

7. While Sarah is in the rehabilitation hospital, she and Heidi trade watches, even though Sarah's is clearly the more valuable of the two. Toward the end of the novel, Sarah notes that Heidi is still wearing her expensive watch, but never asks for it back. Why do you think she doesn't reclaim her watch?

8. After Sarah's accident, Bob uses his cell phone at least once while driving in the car with Sarah and their kids. Why do you think he does that? Do we sometimes make exceptions for ourselves and do something unhealthy or risky in the interest of saving time or getting more done (like texting or using a cell phone while driving) even when we know it is dangerous? Why do you think that is?

9. At one point Bob argues that he doesn't think Vermont is a place to live full time when they are young. He sees it as a place to spend their retirement. Do you agree? What are the benefits of living and raising a family in a suburban setting versus a rural one?

10.Which character do you identify with the most? Which the least? Who is your favorite?

11.Is Sarah's mother's response to Nate's death understandable or unreasonable?

12.What did Sarah miss out on by having such a withdrawn mother? If her mother had been more available, do you think Sarah would be as high achieving?

13.Sarah's trauma gives her a chance to reconnect with her estranged mother. Why is it so hard for Sarah to forgive her mother?

14.Can working mothers really have it all—a successful career, well-adjusted children, a great marriage, a sense of well-being, and personal happiness? Or is that a myth? Does something always have to give?

15.Sarah's work/life balance before her disability is weighted toward work, whereas after it is weighted toward her family. How would you categorize your own work-life balance? Does Left Neglected make you reconsider any of your career decisions?

16.The back cover states that the novel is "about what we ignore and neglect in ourselves, in our families, and in the world around us." What do you think you are neglecting in your life? Yourself? Your relationships? Your home? Your job?

Little Bee by Chris Cleave-Questions for Discussion

2011-08-31T08:54:00.000-04:00

1. “Sad words are just another beauty. A sad story means, this storyteller is alive” (p. 9). For Little Bee and other asylum seekers, the story of their life thus far is often all they have. What happens to the characters that carry their stories with them, both physically and mentally? What happens when we try to forget our past? How much control over their own stories do the characters in the book seem to have?

2. Little Bee tells the reader, “We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived” (p. 9). Which characters in the story are left with physical scars? Emotional scars? Do they embrace them as beautiful? Do you have any scars you’ve come to embrace? Did you feel more connected to Little Bee as a narrator after this pact?

3. Little Bee strives to learn the Queen’s English in order to survive in the detention center. How does her grasp of the language compare with Charlie’s? How does the way each of these two characters handle the English language help to characterize them?

4. How did it affect your reading experience to have two narrators? Did you trust one woman more than the other? Did you prefer the voice of one above the other?

5. Little Bee credits a small bottle of nail polish for “saving her life” while she was in the detention center (p. 7). Is there any object or act that helps you feel alive and beautiful, even when everything else seems to be falling apart?

6. Of the English language Little Bee says, “Every word can defend itself. Just when you go to grab it, it can split into two separate meanings so the understanding closes on empty air” (p. 12). What do you think she means by this? Can you think of any examples of English words that defend themselves? Why is language so important to Little Bee?

7. Little Bee says of horror films, “Horror in your country is something you take a dose of to remind yourself that you are not suffering from it” (p. 45). Do you agree? Was reading this novel in any way a dose of horror for you? How did it help you reflect on the presence or lack of horror in your own life?

8. Little Bee figures out the best way to kill herself in any given situation, just in case “the men come suddenly.” How do these plans help Little Bee reclaim some power? Were you disturbed by this, or were you able to find the humor in some of the scenarios she imagines?

9. What does Udo changing her name to Little Bee symbolize for you? How does her new name offer her protection? Do you think the name suits her?

10. “To have an affair, I began to realize, was a relatively minor transgression. But to really escape from Andrew, to really become myself, I had to go the whole way and fall in love” (p. 161-162). Do you agree with Sarah that an affair is a minor transgression? How did falling in love with someone else help Sarah become herself? What role did Andrew play in perpetuating Sarah’s extramarital affair?

11. When Little Bee finds that Andrew has hanged himself she thinks, “Of course I must save him, whatever it costs me, because he is a human being.” And then she thinks, “Of course I must save myself, because I am a human being too” (p. 194). How do the characters in the story decide when to put themselves first and when to offer charity? Is one human life ever more valuable than another? What if one of the lives in question is your own?

Questions from readinggroupguides.com

More About James Edwin Mcteer, Jr., Witchdoctor Sheriff

2011-08-23T14:12:00.001-04:00

Here are some links that Grace Cordial, Historical Resources Librarian, gave the book club for futher information about Sheriff McTeer.
Quintessentially Lowcountry by Patrick Donohue
http://www.islandpacket.com/2009/07/24/915010/quintessentially-lowcountry-sheriff.html

Nudist Colony, Cat Island
http://www.scpronet.com/point/9509/s03.html

Gaynard Woods on Radio Free Dafuskie
http://www.citytrex.com/rfd/boynard-woods1.php

20 Years of History: Beaufort county Sheriff's Department by Neil Baxley
www.bcso.net/history.htm

Interview with Baynard Woods by Aaron Hinklin of WYPR, Baltimore
http://tenein.com/tuner/?Programldo=60224&Topicld=34260898&

That Old Black Magic by tom Poland
http://likethedew.com/2010/12/05/that-old-black-magic

Question for Discussion-Coffin Point: The Strange Cases of Ed McTeer, Witchdoctor Sheriff

2011-07-29T09:17:00.001-04:00

Here are questions for you to ponder as you read Coffin Point by Baynard Woods. Grace Cordial, Historical Resources Librarian for the Beaufort District Collection will lead our discussion on August 18.

1. What made you want to read Coffin Point: The Strange Cases of Sheriff Ed McTeer?

2. Compare this book to others your group has read. Is it similar to any of them? Did you like it more or less than other books you've read?

3. What did you find to be the most interesting event in this book?

4. How might things have been different if Governor McLeod had chosen someone else to fulfill Jim Eddie’s term?

5. What did you learn about the time period in which the book is set that you did not previously know?

6. What was Sheriff McTeer’s most admirable quality?

7. Would you have invited Sheriff McTeer over for dinner? What would you have served? How do you think that dinner conversation might have gone?

8. What do you think of the author’s writing style? Was the format he chose an appropriate one for the subject matter?

9. Has reading this book inspired you to do further research on the subject and the time period discussed?

10. What do you think will be your lasting impression of the book as a whole? How about Sheriff McTeer specifically?

Meeting Change

2011-07-22T16:09:00.000-04:00

You can still attend the discussion of Sarah's Key. Our normal meeting on July 21 was changed to the fourth Thursday, July 28, due to Water Festival and the Lowcountry Supper being held on the 21st. We will meet at 5:30 this Thursday in the South Carolina Meeting Room.

Questions for Discussion: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

2011-07-05T12:31:00.000-04:00

From ReadingGroupGuides.com

Reading Group Guide Questions Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

1. What did you know about France’s role in World War II—and the Vél d’Hiv round-up in particular—before reading Sarah’s Key? How did this book teach you about, or change your impression of, this important chapter in French history?

2. Sarah’s Key is composed of two interweaving story lines: Sarah’s, in the past, and Julia’s quest in the present day. Discuss the structure and prose-style of each narrative. Did you enjoy the alternating stories and time-frames? What are the strengths or drawbacks of this format?

3. Per above: Which “voice” did you prefer: Sarah’s or Julia’s? Why? Is one more or less authentic than the other? If you could meet either of the two characters, which one would you choose?

4. How does the apartment on la rue de Saintonge unite the past and present action—and all the characters—in Sarah’s Key? In what ways is the apartment a character all its own in?

5. What are the major themes of Sarah’s Key?

6. de Rosnay’s novel is built around several “key” secrets which Julia will unearth. Discuss the element of mystery in these pages. What types of narrative devices did the author use to keep the keep the reader guessing?

7. Were you surprised by what you learned about Sarah’s history? Take a moment to discuss your individual expectations in reading Sarah’s Key. You may wish to ask the group for a show of hands. Who was satisfied by the end of the book? Who still wants to know—or read—more?

8. How do you imagine what happens after the end of the novel? What do you think Julia’s life will be like now that she knows the truth about Sarah? What truths do you think she’ll learn about her self?

9. Among modern Jews, there is a familiar mantra about the Holocaust; they are taught, from a very young age, that they must “remember and never forget” (as the inscription on the Rafle du Vél d’Hiv) Discuss the events of Sarah’s Key in this context. Who are the characters doing the remembering? Who are the ones who choose to forget?

10. What does it take for a novelist to bring a “real” historical event to life? To what extent do you think de Rosnay took artistic liberties with this work?

11. Why do modern readers enjoy novels about the past? How and when can a powerful piece of fiction be a history lesson in itself ?

12. We are taught, as young readers, that every story has a “moral”. Is there a moral to Sarah’s Key? What can we learn about our world—and our selves—from Sarah’s story?

Secret Life of Bees--Questions for Discussion

2011-06-07T14:46:00.000-04:00

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Were you surprised to learn that T. Ray used to be different, that once he truly loved Deborah? How do you think Deborah's leaving affected him? Did it shed any light on why T. Ray was so cruel and abusive to Lily?

2. Had you ever heard of "kneeling on grits"? What qualities did Lily have that allowed her to survive, endure, and eventually thrive, despite T. Ray?

3. Who is the queen bee in this story?

4. Lily's relationship to her dead mother was complex, ranging from guilt to idealization, to hatred, to acceptance. What happens to a daughter when she discovers her mother once abandoned her? Is Lily right—would people generally rather die than forgive? Was it harder for Lily to forgive her mother or herself?

5. Lily grew up without her mother, but in the end she finds a house full of them. Have you ever had a mother figure in your life who wasn't your true mother? Have you ever had to leave home to find home?

6. What compelled Rosaleen to spit on the three men's shoes? What does it take for a person to stand up with conviction against brutalizing injustice? What did you like best about Rosaleen?

7. Had you ever heard of the Black Madonna? What do you think of the story surrounding the Black Madonna in the novel? How would the story be different if it had been a picture of a white Virgin Mary? Do you know women whose lives have been deepened or enriched by a connection to an empowering Divine Mother?

8. Why is it important that women come together? What did you think of the "Calendar Sisters" and the Daughters of Mary? How did being in the company of this circle of females transform Lily?

9. May built a wailing wall to help her come to terms with the pain she felt. Even though we don't have May's condition, do we also need "rituals," like wailing walls, to help us deal with our grief and suffering?

10. How would you describe Lily and Zach's relationship? What drew them together? Did you root for them to be together?

11. Project into the future. Does Lily ever see her father again? Does she become a beekeeper? A writer? What happens to Rosaleen? What happens to Lily and Zach? Who would Zach be today?

April 21 Meeting

2011-03-21T16:24:00.002-04:00

The group has voted to skip the April 21st meeting as so many of us will be away. We will just move our schedule down one month and keep the same reading list. The next meeting will be May 19 and our book will be The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. Mickie will be our presenter.

Questions for Discussion-The Heart of the Matter

2011-03-14T16:48:00.003-04:00

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How relevant is the setting to the action of The Heart of the Matter? How do the climate, the war, and the indigenous people of this remote colonial outpost affect Scobie, Louise, Helen, and Wilson? Is the novel implicitly or explicitly anticolonial

2. Scobie thinks that "no human being can really understand another, and no one can arrange another's happiness" (p. 75). What are the fateful consequences of Scobie's trying to make others happy? In what ways does the novel reveal the limits of our ability to understand one another

3. What kind of woman is Louise? Why is her love of literature so often regarded with derision in the novel? Why is she so upset when Scobie is passed over for the commissionership? To what extent is she responsible for Scobie's downfall?

4. What role does Yusef play in the novel? By what means does he entice Scobie into a corrupt relationship? Are we meant to see him as a diabolical character or merely as someone working the colonial occupation to his best advantage?

5. In discussing mercy and damnation, Father Rank says, "The Church knows all the rules. But it doesn't know what goes on in a single human heart" (p. 254). To what extent can The Heart of the Matter be read as a critique of the Catholic Church? In what ways does the novel show the workings of the human heart to be beyond the comprehension of Catholic doctrine?

6. Early in the novel, Scobie promises to find a way to send Louise to South Africa, and we read that "He would still have made the promise even if he could have foreseen all that would come of it" (p. 50). What are the consequences of this promise? Why would Scobie still have made it, even if he could foresee the ruin that it would cause?

7. In what ways is Wilson a foil for Scobie? How are the two men different? For what reasons does Wilson wish to destroy Scobie?

8. How has the death of his only child affected Scobie and the decisions he makes throughout the novel?

9. Why is Scobie so drawn to Helen? Why do they feel so "safe" in each other's presence? Why does this sense of safety turn out to be so dangerous?

10. In what ways do the subplots of spying and diamond smuggling parallel the novel's central concern with relationships? In what ways is the novel about the tensions between openness and secrecy, honesty and deception?

11. At the end of the novel, Father Rank says of Scobie, "It may seem an odd thing to say—when a man's as wrong as he was—but I think, from what I saw of him, that he really loved God." To which Louise replies: "He certainly loved no one else" (p. 255). Are these statements about Scobie true? Does he love God and no one else? If so, how can we explain the choices he has made—to commit adultery and finally suicide?

12. After Pemberton's suicide, Scobie thinks: "Suicide was for ever out of his power—he couldn't condemn himself for eternity—no cause was important enough" (p. 83). Why does Scobie kill himself, even when he believes it will bring eternal damnation? How does he rationalize his suicide to himself? Should his suicide be considered self-sacrifice for the well-being of Helen and Louise? Is suicide his only choice? What else might he have done?

Pictures from the Beaufort Book Club Christmas Dinner

2011-01-10T11:34:00.004-05:00

Let the Great World Spin-Discussion Rescheduled

2010-09-20T14:31:00.004-04:00

Discussion of Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann has been rescheduled for October 21.

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

2010-07-17T10:36:00.006-04:00

For a thousand years men have denied her existence--Pope Joan, the woman who disguised herself as a man and rose to rule Christianity for two years. Now this compelling novel animates the legend with a portrait of an unforgettable woman who struggles against restrictions her soul cannot accept. When her older brother dies in a Viking attack, the brilliant young Joan assumes his identity and enters a Benedictine monastery where, as Brother John Anglicus, she distinguishes herself as a scholar and healer. Eventually drawn to Rome, she soon becomes enmeshed in a dangerous mix of powerful passion and explosive politics that threatens her life even as it elevates her to the highest throne in the Western world.

Questions for Discussion:

1. How important is it to this story to believe in its historicity? Are there lessons to be learned from Joan’s story whether it’s legend or fact? What are they?

2. Francis Bacon, the seventeenth-century philosopher, said, “People believe what they prefer to be true.” How does this relate to Joan’s story compared to, say, that of King Arthur? What is it about Joan’s story that people might not “prefer to be true”?

3. Are reason and faith incompatible? What do you make of Aesculapius’s argument that lack of faith leads people to fear reason? What about Joan? Does her study of reason in the work of classical authors such as Lucretius diminish her faith?

4. Joan sacrificed much because she loved Gerold. Do you know women who have sacrificed opportunities to exercise mind, heart, and spirit for love of a man? For love of a child? Are such sacrifices justified?

5. What implications does Joan’s story have with regard to the role of women in the Catholic Church? Should nuns play a greater --- or different --- role? If so, what should that role be? Should women be priests? What effect would women priests have on the Church and its liturgy? What effect have they had on the Episcopal Church?

6. One reviewer wrote: “Pope Joan... is a reminder that some things never change, only the stage and the players do.” Are there any similarities between the way women live in some places of the world today and the way they lived back then?

7. What causes any society to oppress womankind? What are the root causes of misogyny? Are they based in religion or in society? Both? Neither?

8. Why might medieval society have believed so strongly that education hampered a woman’s ability to bear children? What purpose might such a belief serve?

9. What similarities or differences do you see between Pope Joan and Saint Joan of Arc? Why was one Joan expunged from history books and the other made a saint?

10. If Joan had agreed to leave with Gerold when he first came to Rome, what would her life have been like? Did she make the right choice or not?

11. What causes Joan’s inner conflict between faith and doubt? How do these conflicts affect the decisions she makes? Does she ever resolve these conflicts?

Questions from readinggroupguides.com

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

2010-06-08T16:39:00.005-04:00

Here are some questions from litlovers.com. Please consider them as you read Beaufort Book Club's selection for Thusday, June 17 at 5:30. We will be meeting in the Children's Program Room.

Book Club Discussion Questions

1. Charlotte and Sean are faced with a very difficult decision when presented with the option of suing for wrongful birth. How did you feel about the lawsuit? The matter is complicated in many aspects, but especially because of Charlotte’s close friendship with Piper, her ob-gyn. How might the O’Keefes have considered and entered into the lawsuit if they had not had a personal relationship with Piper? Would your own reaction to it have changed?

2. During the filming of a day in Willow’s life, Charlotte purposely asks Willow’s physical therapist to try some exercises that she knows Willow isn’t ready for yet, and Willow begins to cry in pain. Charlotte rushes to her daughter’s side, blaming the physical therapist, and when she asks if they got that on film, Marin—Charlotte’s lawyer—is angry at Charlotte for exploiting her daughter. Do you agree with Marin that Charlotte exploits Willow? Charlotte believes she is doing everything out of love for Willow, to win the case that will get her the care she needs, but does this take it too far? Where can we draw the line?

3. Breaking is a theme in Handle with Care: bones break, hearts break, friendships break, families break. Consider examples from the book and discuss why you think certain breaks can or cannot be mended. Is there anything in the book that represents the unbreakable?

4. The author inserts recipes throughout the book that highlight certain baking techniques, such as tempering, blind baking, and weeping. How do these recipes provide further insight into the story and into Charlotte’s character in particular?

5. Throughout the story, the question is raised of what it means to be a mother. For Charlotte, it means doing anything in her power to provide the best life for Willow, but at the same time, her other daughter’s suffering goes unnoticed as she develops bulimia and begins cutting herself. For Marin, the question of what it means to be a mother addresses the issues of her adoption. Is a mother someone who gives birth to you and gives you away, or the woman who raises you? Discuss the different ideas about mothering that the author presents in this book. At what moments do certain characters fail or succeed at being a mother?

6. The term wrongful birth suggests that some people never should have been born. If abortion had been legal when Marin was conceived, she likely would not have been born. Willow’s severe disability, had Charlotte known about it early enough, could have been cause for abortion. How do we determine what kind of life is worth living? Who has the right to say whether a pregnancy should be brought to term?

7. Discuss the roles that honesty and deception play in this novel. How do the characters lie to themselves? To each other? Is it sometimes better not to know the truth?

8. Charlotte is confident that the potential end of her lawsuit will justify the means, but Sean can’t handle the idea that the means may leave Willow thinking she is unloved or unwanted. Clearly, they both love their daughter, but express it in drastically different ways. What do each of their approaches say about love? Do Charlotte’s actions speak louder than Sean’s words?

9. What message does the trial verdict send? Do you agree with the jury’s decision?

10. How do you think Amelia’s testimony affects the outcome of the case?

11. We follow Marin through the search for her birth mother, and what she eventually finds out about the circumstances surrounding her conception are truly devastating to her. Why do you think she thanks her birth mother for this information? Discuss Marin’s reaction to what she learns.

12. Why do you think the O’Keefes never cash their $8 million check? How do you feel about what they end up doing with it?

13. How do you feel about the ending? Why do you think the author chose to write it this way?
(Questions issued by the publisher.)

South of Broad Discussion

2010-05-24T11:44:00.002-04:00

If you missed our lively discussion of Pat Conroy's South of Broad, here are some highlights:
Micki gave us a short biography on the author, and then introduced 2 attendees who had grown up in Beaufort and had known Mr. Conroy for some years. As it happened, another attendee had been the Conroy's neighbor when the family moved to military housing in Laurel Bay. We were all highly interested in their reminiscences!

Below are some questions about the book that we discussed.
1. At the beginning of the novel, Leo is called on to mitigate the racial prejudice of the football team. What other types of prejudice appear in the novel? Which characters are guilty of relying on preconceived notions? Why do you think Leo is so accepting of most people? Why is his mother so condemnatory?

2. What do you think of the title South of Broad? How does the setting inform the novel? Would the novel be very different if it were set in another city or region?

3. As a teenager, Leo is heavily penalized for refusing to name the boy who placed drugs in his pocket. Why did he feel compelled to protect the boy's identity? Do you think he did the right thing?

4. When Leo's mother asks him to meet his new peers, she warns, “Help them, but do not make friends with them.” Do you think such a thing possible? Through the novel, how does Leo help his friends, and how do they help him?

5. Leo's mother tells him, “We're afraid the orphans and the Poe kids will use you,” to which he responds, “I don't mind being needed. I don't even mind being used.” Do you think this is a healthy attitude toward friendship? Do any of the characters end up “using” Leo? Does his outlook on friendship changed by the end of the novel?

Other questions for discussion:
6. Leo admits that the years after Steven's suicide nearly killed him. How was he able to cope? How do Leo's parents deal with their grief? What does the novel say about human resilience and our propensity to overcome tragedy?

7. When Sheba suggests to Leo that he divorce his wife, he says, “I knew there were problems when I married Starla so I didn't walk into that marriage blind.” Do you think that knowledge obligates Leo to stay with his wife? In your opinion, does Leo do the right thing by staying married? Would you do the same?

8. Both Chad and Leo are unfaithful to their wives, but only Leo is truthful about it. Do you think this makes Chad's infidelity a worse offense? Why or why not?

9. At two points in the novel, the group tries to rescue a friend: first Niles, then Trevor. But when Starla is in trouble, they don't attempt to save her. Why do you think this is? Has Starla become a “lost cause”?

10. At one point Leo remarks, “I had trouble with the whole concept [of love] because I never fully learned the art of loving myself.” How does the concept of self-love play into the novel?

11. In the moment before Leo attacks Trevor's captor, he recites a portion of “Horatio at the Bridge,” a poem about taking a lone stand against fearful odds. What is the significance of the verse? Do you think it's appropriate to that moment?

12. The twins are the novel's most abused characters and also the most creative. Do you think there is a connection between suffering and art?

13. What do you make of the smiley face symbol that Sheba and Trevor's father paints? How does the novel address the idea of happiness coexisting with pain?

14. At several points in the novel, characters divulge family secrets. Do you believe that this information should stay secret, or is there value in bringing it to light?

15. Leo examines his Catholicism at several points in the novel. What do you think he might say are the advantages and drawbacks of his religion? Do you think all religions are fraught with those problems?

16. One might interpret Leo's mother's attitude toward religion as one of blind faith. If Steven had admitted his abuse to her, do you think she would she have believed him? How do you think the information might have affected her?

17. Sheba and Trevor are literally tormented by their childhoods, in the form of their deranged father. How are some of the other characters hindered by the past? Are they ever able to escape its clutches and, if so, by what means?

18. Discuss the scene in which Leo and Molly rescue the porpoise. What does the event symbolize?

19. Why do you think the discoveries about Leo's mother and Monsignor Max begin and end the novel? What theme do these incidents convey?

20. Chapter one begins with the statement, “Nothing happens by accident,” and Leo often reflects on the way that destiny has shaped his life. How does destiny affect the other characters? Do you agree that real life is the result of predetermined forces? Or can we affect our fate?

Questions from www.readinggroupguides.com

Discussion of Michael Connelly's Scarecrow

2010-04-20T11:40:00.002-04:00

These are the questions we used from www.michaelconnelly.com
The Scarecrow Reading Guide

SPOILER WARNING! This guide does address the entire book. Do not read it if you have not read the book.

1. Jack McEvoy had been flying high for a while, after The Poet case. He wrote a bestselling book about that story, was featured on TV shows, and was hired at a premier newspaper. However, at the start of The Scarecrow, 12 years after The Poet, he is divorced and seemed to be at the end of his career as a journalist. Did you like Jack as a protagonist? Could you relate to him or to his career issues?

2. The layoffs at the Los Angeles Times in this novel are a fictional example of what is really happening in the newspaper industry today. Why are so many newspapers shutting down or going bankrupt? What is the future of the news industry? And what will our communities miss if local daily newspapers are gone?

3. Jack McEvoy and Rachel Walling reunited in The Scarecrow and appeared to be in a good relationship at the end. Michael Connelly has also written Rachel in an on-and-off again relationship with LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. Who do you think is a better fit for Rachel, Jack or Harry? Or neither?

4. Rachel seemed lost when she was forced out of the FBI. Can you imagine Rachel in another line of work? Do you think she can ever really have job security with the FBI or will she always be one mistake away from being fired?

5. Wesley Carver, the Scarecrow, was obviously a very smart man who was very dangerous. Do you think, if his childhood had been different, he would have leaded a healthier, saner life? Or do you think some people are just simply born bad?

6. Carver seemed to have found a home on the Internet, indulging in his twisted sexual fantasies, finding others who shared his tendencies, laying traps, and finding victims. He was able to get information about his victims very easily. Think about Angela Cook and how much information he gathered about her just by visiting a few web pages. Is this book a cautionary tale about our use of the Internet?

7. Did you catch any of the references to the The Wizard of Oz throughout the book?

March Meeting-Digital Fortress

2010-03-23T14:17:00.003-04:00

Stuart had some great questions for our discussion Thursday evening. You might want to consider them too.
Discuss national security and an individual's right to privacy. Under what circumstances does the government have the right to intercept private conversations? Where do you draw the line?

We all have right to keep secrets," he [Tankado] said. "Someday I'll see to it we can." (Chpt. 6, p. 33) Why did Tankado create Digital Fortress? What were his intentions? Was he right or wrong? How so?

What does Strathmore want to do with Digital Fortress? What are his intentions? Is he right or wrong? How so?

Discuss Tankado's early childhood. What effect did the events of his past have on his life? What makes Tankado's life ironic?

What does Susan think of Commander Trevor Strathmore? What does she think of Greg Hale? Do Susan's opinions cloud her judgment? In what way?

What is the significance of the ring? What does the inscription mean? Explain in detail.

What is the pass code? Who figures out the pass code, and how do they figure it out? What is the connection between the pass code and Tankado?

In addition to the above, we were intrigued by the line of 16 numbers on a blank page at the end of every copy of the novel, no matter what edition each of us used. It looked like a code. It was. Can you read the message?

Digital Fortress

2010-03-09T11:53:00.004-05:00

If you do not yet have a copy of Digital Fortress for our book club meeting on March 18, you can find one at Beaufort Branch on the paperback rack. It will not be listed in the catalog. Stuart has also made his personal copy available. Of course, he will need it back before the meeting as he is our presenter!

Food of a Younger Land

2010-02-22T13:53:00.002-05:00

Thursday evening Brenda lead us in a discussion of Food of a Younger Land, a book that Mark Kurlansky created from newly discovered submissions to a 1930s WPA project called America Eats. Brenda told us that the project was never published.
We learned a great deal about WPA projects from Brenda's research. For instance, at the time of the WPA, government support for the arts was a brand new concept.

Several members of the group brought regional dishes to share. Brenda, who is from Virginia, brought Brunswick stew. Cathy brought a corn dish often served in her native Iowa. Micki brought a local dish called Shrimp Bog, while Judy brought my childhood favorite, Snickerdoodles!

No, we haven't become a cooking club, but we were treated to some very fine food as part of our discussion of what people ate before the advent of the Interstate and fast food. I think we found that regional fare has survived in our homes, if not in restaurants.

A Note on our February Book

2010-02-11T20:57:00.001-05:00

As our book next week focuses on food of an earlier generation, I would like to add, please be thinking of some of the foodways or regional cookery that you grew up with, or that perhaps you miss, if it is not readily available here. And what you find strange or wonderful or strange AND wonderful about Southern foodways. We’ll go around the room and savor each other’s stories, and get to know each other better. Thanks!

p.s. I’m bringing Brunswick stew from a recipe of my native Virginia.

Brendagael Beasley~Forrest, MA, MSLS

Blog Reader Request

2010-02-11T13:35:00.004-05:00

Someone in cyberspace wanted to see pictures of the Beaufort Book Club. The only one saved on my computer is from our Christmas gathering. So, folks, here we are!

Please understand that the composition of our group changes from meeting to meeting. We are a book club that is freely open to the public, so people attend if they are interested in the subject of the book under discussion.

Food of a Younger Land

2010-02-10T11:41:00.005-05:00

I hope you are enjoying our February selection. It has already created lively discussion as readers have dropped by the library! Remember that our meeting is Thursday, January 18 in the Children's Program Room.

I have been asked if attendees can bring a sample of a favorite recipe from the book. Of course, but please don't feel that you must bring something.

Meeting with Carolyn MacCullough

2010-01-25T16:06:00.004-05:00

Seventeen of us met on Thursday with author Carolyn MacCullough, her husband, her darling baby girl and of course her mother and father who are regular attendees of the book club. For the aspiring authors in the group, Carolyn had a great deal of information:

Should you have an agent? Yes.

Is it hard to have a new editor for the second novel in your series? Probably, yes. She has not worked with the new editor yet, but the former editor has moved away.

Did she go into writing intending to write for the teen reader? No, but her "picture books" had too much text to fit into the category, so she adjusted.

Is she allowed to pick her cover art? Not really, but her editor let her give a lot of input into the one for Once a Witch. Actually, the large, chain bookstores dictate cover art, placing larger orders for those books whose covers they approve!

Carolyn gave us some insight into how her last book came to be. Imagine looking at a carved gargoyle and thinking "what if...."

Carolyn is an entertaining and articulate speaker. We were all so pleased to have her with us! Keep up with Carolyn and her books at http://www.carolynmaccullough.com/.

I hope you have all found a copy of Foods of a Younger Land, our selection for February 18. It's an interesting look at regional foods in the thirties when the WPA paid authors to investigate what people ate in this country. I read a few recipes that had survived into my own childhood passed along from my grandmother to my mother!

Review of Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

2010-01-14T08:37:00.004-05:00

Join the Beaufort Book Club and the Teen Book Club to meet the author on Thursday, January 21 at 5:30 in the Children's Program Room.
It is a great honor for an author to be reviewed in Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and the former publication Kirkus Reviews. See below.
Review of Once a Witch.
“[MacCullough] has created an enormously sympathetic character in Tamsin, whose itchy relationship with her family will resonate with teens struggling to define themselves. Characters, setting, conflict—all develop nicely to create a light urban fantasy that goes down easy and will have readers asking for its sequel.”—Kirkus Reviews

“With the glut of contemporary romantic supernatural tales, this will be popular, but the action, drama, and great potential for compelling sequels set it apart from the crowd.”—Booklist

"MacCullough's writing is evocative without distracting from her story; readers will identify with Tam's desire to create a space away from parental expectations and take comfort that even extraordinary families make mistakes."--Publishers Weekly

January Meeting

2009-12-31T11:58:00.004-05:00

I hope you have found a copy of Once a Witch by Caroly MacCullough.

It is a teen novel, but still very interesting as an adult read. If not, the library system has four copies of the book. If you would like to own one, Baystreet Trading Company was ordering copies when I checked.

The author is still planning to speak to the combined adult and teen book clubs on January 21 at 5:30 PM in the Children's Program Room at the Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street in Beaufort, SC. Even if you haven't read the book by that time, please come and learn about the writing process.

Carolyn's next novel, Always a Witch is in the works! Have read the first one, I'm looking forward to the the sequel.

Happy New Year!

Fran

October 15 Reading Guide

2009-09-18T09:43:00.004-04:00

Caution! It is likely that the following reading guide will reveal, or at least allude to, key plot details. Therefore, if you haven’t yet read this book, but are planning on doing so, you may wish to proceed with caution to avoid spoiling your later enjoyment.

Book Group Questions
Pearl's narration is unique because of its level, calm tone throughout – even when the events she describes are horrific. One is reminded of Wordsworth's reference to "emotion recollected in tranquility." It is almost as if Pearl is writing in a diary. What was Lisa trying to accomplish in setting up this counterpoint between her tone and her narrative?

Pearl is a Dragon and May is a Sheep. Do you think the two sisters are true to their birth signs in their actions in Shanghai Girls?

Which sister is smarter? Which is more beautiful?
Each sister believes that her parents loved the other sister more. Who is right about this? Why?

Pearl says that parents die, husbands and children can leave, but sisters are for life. Does that end up being true for Pearl?

If you have a sister, to what extent does the relationship between Pearl and May speak to your own experience?

What's the difference between a relationship that's "just like sisters" and real sisters?

Is there anything your sister could do that would cause an irreparable breach?

Z.G. talks about ai kuo, the love for your country, and ai jen, the emotion you feel for the person you love. How do these ideas play out in the novel?

Shanghai Girls makes a powerful statement about the mistreatment of Chinese immigrants to the United States. Were you surprised about any of the details related to this theme in the novel?

How would you describe the relationship between Pearl and May?

How does the fact that both are, in a sense, Joy's mother affect their relationship toward each other?

Who loves Joy more and how does she show it?

Pearl doesn't come to mother love easily or naturally. At what point does she begin to claim Joy as her own? How, where, and why does she continue to struggle with the challenges of being a mother? Do you think this is an accurate portrayal of motherhood?

There are times when it seems like outside forces conspire against Pearl—leaving China, working in the restaurant, not looking for a job after the war, and taking care of Vern. How much of what happens to Pearl is a product of her own decisions and choices?

Pearl's attitude toward men and the world in general is influenced by what happened to her in the shack outside Shanghai. To what extent does she find her way to healing by the end of the novel?

Did your attitude toward Old Man Louie change? How do you feel about Sam and his relationship with Pearl and Joy? Did your impression of him change as the novel progressed?

The novel begins with Pearl saying, "I am not a person of importance." After Yen-yen dies, Pearl comments: "Her funeral is small. After all, she was not a person of importance, rather just a wife and mother." How do you react to comments like these?

Speaking of Yen-yen, Pearl notes: "When we're packing, Yen-yen says she's tired. She sits down on the couch in the main room and dies." Why does Pearl describe Yen-yen's death in such an abrupt way?

After Joy points out the differences in the way Z.G. painted her mother and aunt in the Communist propaganda posters, May says, "Everything always returns to the beginning." Pearl has her idea of what May meant, but what do you think May really meant? And what is Pearl's understanding of this saying at the end of the novel?

Near the end of Shanghai Girls, May argues that Pearl and Sam have withdrawn into a world of fear and isolation, not taking advantage of the opportunities open to them. Do you agree with May that much of Pearl's sadness and isolation is self-imposed? Why or why not?

How do clothes define Pearl and May in different parts of the story? How do the sisters use clothes to manipulate others?

How does food serve as a gateway to memory in the novel? How does it illustrate culture and tradition both in the novel and in your own families?

What influence—if any—do Mama's beliefs have on Pearl? How do they evolve over time?

Pearl encounters a lot of racism, but she also holds many racist views herself. Is she a product of her time? Do her attitudes change during the course of the story?

What role does place—Shanghai, Angel Island, China City, and Chinatown—serve in the novel? What do you think Lisa was trying to say about "home"?

Questions provided by bookbrowse.com

Questions for American Wife

2009-09-01T15:57:00.002-04:00

1. The novel opens and ends with Alice Blackwell wondering if she’s made terrible mistakes. Do you think she has? If so, what are they?

2. Alice’s grandmother passes down her love of reading to Alice. What else do they have in common? What does reading provide for Alice throughout her life?

3. Why does Andrew Imhof remain such an important figure to Alice, even decades later? Do you think they would have ended up together under different circumstances?

4. To what do you attribute Dena’s anger at what she calls Alice’s betrayal? Do you think her anger is justified? Are there other issues influencing Dena’s decision regarding their relationship?

5. After her confrontation with Pete Imhof in her early thirties, Alice states, “Long ago, I had become my own confidante.” What does she mean by this?

6. Is Charlie Blackwell a likable character? How did you feel about Alice’s decision to stay with him despite the problems they encountered in their marriage? Why do you think she continues to love him even though they are so different in so many ways?

7. Alice states that she lives a life in opposition to itself. What does she mean by this statement, and do you agree with it?

8. Does Alice compromise herself and her ideals by marrying Charlie? She tells him before they wed that she never wants to become a public figure. Do you think this has changed by the time he becomes president?

9. Were you surprised by the scene between Alice and Joe at the Princeton reunion? Why do you think it happened?

10. What would you have done in Alice’s situation at the end of the novel if you shared her beliefs? Do you think it was wrong of her to take the stance she did?

11. How do you think Laura Bush would react to this novel if she read it?

12. How is this book different from Sittenfeld’s previous two novels, other than in its subject matter?

August 20 Meeting

2009-08-21T08:18:00.006-04:00

I think we all came away with a greater respect for Teddy Roosevelt after reading River of Doubt. One of our big questions was: why had we not heard of these major events from T. R.'s life? Was this a life so full of big moments that some had to be overlooked? Was the time after his presidency not considered important? Was the discovery of a river-course in South America deemed unimportant to North Americans? We could not decide.
We began the reading list for the coming months:

Sept. 17 American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield Facilitator: David

Oct. 15 Shanghai Girls by Lisa See Facilitator: Micki

Nov. 19 A Voyage Long and Strange by Toni Horowitz Facilitator: Fran

Dec. 17 Christmas Party -Kathy

Jan. 21 Combined meeting with Teen Book Club to meet the author:
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Feb.18 The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky Facilitator: Brenda

Mar. 18 Digital Fortress by Dan Brown Facilitator: Stuart

Apr. 15 The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly Facilitator: Tally Essman

May 20 South of Broad by Pat Conroy Facilitator: TBA

Jun. 17 Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult Facilitator: TBA

Jul. 15 Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Facilitator: TBA

River of Doubt-Discussion Questions

2009-07-08T08:43:00.004-04:00

Judy has agreed to lead our August 20 (5:30 PM) discussion of River of Doubt. Here are some questions to consider in the meantime. They come from http://www.readinggroupguides.com/.

1. Chapter one, “Defeat,” depicts dramatic scenes from Roosevelt’s final election. What parallels exist between a risky political career and a risky Rain Forest expedition? What enabled him to survive both?

2. Compare Rondon’s and Roosevelt’s leadership styles. In what ways did these co-commanders complement each other? In what ways were they at odds?

3. Discuss the very concept of survival as it shapes The River of Doubt. In choosing provisions, what items did Roosevelt’s team consider necessary for survival? What aspects of survival (greater quantities of dry, mildew-free clothes, for example) did they overlook? What intangibles (especially in terms of emotions) are also necessary for such an expedition?

4. What aspects of humanity were represented by the various personalities in the group, ranging from exploitive Father Zahm and the rational Cherrie to the volatile Julio? Can such varied people coexist? How did you react to Roosevelt’s belief that it was necessary for Julio to be found and shot after he murdered one of the team members?

5. Do any contemporary American politicians possess Roosevelt’s public-speaking style? Why did he believe it was important to debate the former Chilean ambassador and deliver speeches refuting the protestors there?

6. Discuss the extraordinary medical history included in The River of Doubt. How was Roosevelt able to survive so much in his lifetime --- from gunshot and disease to a train wreck --- with only rudimentary medical care? What aspects of modern medicine would have made his expedition safer? Would safer conditions have undermined the thrill?

7. What did you discover about the intricate, sometimes surreal ecology and geography of the Rain Forest itself? What is the significance of the ancient history of South America’s formation, such as the plate tectonics that sculpted the Andes Mountains? What was it like to read descriptions of a region where few humans have adapted to the environment? Why is it important to preserve rather than develop these ecosystems?

8. In the end, what do you believe Roosevelt’s true missions were in this expedition? What was revealed about the nature of some geographic explorers when his success was met with deep skepticism? What motivates any explorer --- from ancient nomads to NASA scientists? What separates Roosevelt’s brand of adventurousness from that of contestants on television shows such as “Survivor”?

9. Share your observations about the Cinta Larga, ranging from nutrition and family life to warfare. Does their self-sufficiency make them noble?

10. What did you discover about Roosevelt’s parenting style? Is his approach–particularly his insistence that his children learn to conquer rather than avoid obstacles --- prevalent in many American schools today?

11. Do you believe that Kermit’s later despondency, which eventually drove him to suicide, was related more to genetics or to his life’s circumstances? Did his father expect too much of him? How did their relationship shift throughout this father-son expedition? How would you have fared on a similar mission with your mother or father?

12. How might Roosevelt respond to current concerns about the environment and climate change? How might he and his Progressive “Bull Moose” Party have fared in recent elections?

13. What separates The River of Doubt from other presidential narratives you have read? What writing techniques enabled the author to weave together science, travelogue, and history? What do the Notes and Acknowledgments sections reveal about her research techniques? If someone were to write a biography of you, what narratives could be constructed from your collection of letters and other memorabilia?

14. Discuss the historical context of Roosevelt’s trip, in terms not only of South American history but other aspects of world history from this time period, such as the sinking of the Titanic in 1912? Would World War I have unfolded differently if Roosevelt had defeated Wilson?

15. How were the first chapters of Roosevelt’s life, which were marked by poor health, resolved by this final South American chapter? Do his triumphs of endurance, from boxing at Harvard to valiant service during the Spanish-American War, form a timeline of progressively more dangerous challenges throughout his life? If so, did he finally meet his match with The River of Doubt? Why do you believe this expedition was, until now, less well known than his other triumphs?

Saints at the River-Jan 2008

2009-06-26T10:36:00.003-04:00

We have just had a query from a reader asking who we would consider the "saint" on the drowned girl's behalf. We had earlier considered the environmentalists or the parents to be, at various times, the saints mentioned.
Comments from the group?

Beach Music Discussion

2009-06-19T08:14:00.005-04:00

We had a lively discussion of Beach Music on June 18. Brenda gave us a short biography of Pat Conroy and lead the discussion of this complicated work. We also read excerpts from the text and commented on the language, structure, and themes.
Brenda brought fabulous crab cakes from the Pat Conroy Cookbook, and Judy brought his delectable white chocolate pistachio cookies. Several others brought goodies to see that the group was well fed.
We will not meet in July. At our next meeting, August 20, we will discuss The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard. Would someone please volunteer to lead the discussion? Contact me at fhays@bcgov.net, or come by the Beaufort Branch Reference desk.
Below are highlights of Brenda's presentation from last evening.

We heard from his publisher that Pat Conroy had had surgery recently [unspecified] and would be unable to accept our invitation for the monthly book club discussion. We wish him a speedy recovery, all best wishes for health, and much success with his forthcoming novel. Mr. Conroy, we want you around a long time!

This month’s selection, Beach Music, features Jack McCall, a South Carolina Lowcountry native, who flees the South for Rome with his daughter, Leah, after his wife commits suicide. There he tries to find peace and escape the drama of his dysfunctional family. Jack is an author of cookbooks and a restaurant critic. But his search for solitude is disturbed by his sister-in-law, and by two school friends who want his help in tracking down another classmate who went underground as a Vietnam protestor and never resurfaced. The novel explores Jack's younger years during the Vietnam War-era, the lives of his in-laws who survived the Holocaust, and coming of age in the twentieth century. Beach Music a complex and rich story that covers three generations and explores a cornucopia of themes and subthemes: sibling and parent/child relationships, orphans and orphanages, emotional abuse, mental illness, alcoholism, class differences, politics, man against nature in a test of survival skills, self-discovery, faith and religion, patriotism, and peace. You’ll find Holy Mother sightings, nunneries and monasteries, a tree house, mental asylums, communication with dolphins, immigrant stories, Appalachian terror, seafood recipes, a manta ray devil fish, collegiate rivalry, military brashness, Southern traditions, speech and food ways, turtle conservation; a love letter, a suicide letter.
Many in attendance had not seen images or even heard of the monstrous manta ray. Brendagael showed an 1858 engraving from our South Carolina Room of the creature, who had been struck by William Elliott’s great harpoon, as described in the novel. The group of fourteen in attendance were split on the literary success of the novel overall, but agreed there were exquisite passages to be enjoyed again and again. Some embraced the novel without exception, while others were distracted and annoyed with some of the tangential stories that veered from the immediate circle of Jack’s friends and family. Brendagael passed around examples of the beautiful language from various parts of the book, and each had a turn in reading Conroy’s poetic meter aloud. This brought up points of discussion such as who was ultimately responsible for Shyla’s suicide, and Jack’s love/hate relationship with the South, and how the South was personified throughout the novel as its own character, illustrating Jack’s conflicted world view. Also discussed were Conroy’s recurring themes and characters in the larger body of his work.

Since its inception three years ago, the Beaufort Book Club has read a Conroy novel each year. We look forward to discussing South of Broad (available in libraries and bookstores everywhere, August 11, 2009) in the near future. “Per la vostra salute,” Mr. Conroy.

Brendagael Beasley~Forrest, MA, MSLS

Questions for Beach Music

2009-06-01T13:32:00.002-04:00

1.) Did you like it? Yes, no, or neutral and (briefly) why?

2.) Who was your favorite character and why? Your least favorite?

3.) Jack both reveres and reviles the institution of family. On the one hand, it is understandable that after the pain of the custody trial, he would want to remove both himself and Leah from the association of his in-laws. But what of his own family? What evidence is there to explain his refusal to maintain contact with them when they acquitted themselves so well in coming to his defense?

4.) Who does Jack blame for Shyla's death? Whose failing do you see as being greater and/or who do you hold most accountable: the individual, the close family and friends, or society at large? Further, Jack feels personally that had he known of Shyla's obsession, he could have helped her more. Is this just a typical survivor's reaction, or do you find some merit in this?

5.) Jack blames Shyla's parents for her sadness and his own parents for many of their children's problems. Dallas asks: "Can you ever forgive Mom and Dad for being exactly who they were born to be?” Is the wish to have one's parents be something different a futile desire? How do you assess Jack's own talents when it comes to child rearing?

6.) John Hardin's brothers, in their quest to deal with his emotional problems, make free use of their characteristic sarcasm, caustic wit, and irony. What effect, if any, do you believe this treatment has on John Hardin? In what other ways might you imagine them treating him differently, and what effects do you imagine such changes would make? Are family members' behavior more a cause or an effect of mental illness?

7.) There were a lot of topics addressed in the book... the old South, Vietnam War, the Holocaust, mental illness, cancer, etc. Was it too much for one novel? Did all the different issues make the story more realistic or less realistic for you?

8.) In the first portion of the story, Jack seems tired, bored--even annoyed--with Ruth's and George's repeated references to the Holocaust. What value does the telling of these unspeakable tales hold for Jack, and further, what value do they hold for the modern reader?

9.) Conroy’s plot winds and weaves, backward, now forward again, repeating on itself, and taking on the texture of waves. What effect does this technique contribute to the tale? Is there something that would be lost had Conroy adopted a more linear approach in the telling?
10.) To what extent do you believe that Jack's views are Conroy's views? At what points, if any, do you feel that they diverge? Finally, can you find instances where Conroy steps back and is actually critical of Jack?

11.) Virtually all of the characters here are affected in some way by the concept of masks--both metaphorical and literal--and the converse issue of nakedness. At one extreme, we have Lucy calling for her makeup first thing after waking from a near-death coma. At the other end of the spectrum, we have John Hardin talking to the turtle ladies on the beach while stark naked. Is the relative ability to don masks or abide one's own nakedness an asset or a hindrance to these characters? How is the mask/nakedness issue related to both the physical and emotional survival of other characters, particularly the Foxes?

12.) Jack speaks of his own sense of helplessness as a child when witnessing violent acts. Yet, in a sense, he subjects Leah to the same emotions when he beats up Mimmo DeAngelo, even if it is in defense of Mimmo's wife, Sophia. Is Conroy perhaps showing us here, with brutal honesty, that it is impossible to escape our own genetic/environmental past? Do you believe that it is possible to break out of our familial molds, or is each generation doomed to re-create in some fashion the wrongs of its predecessor?

13.) It can be said that "place" almost functions as another character in this book. What do you make of Jack's choice of Italy as a refuge for himself and Leah?

14.) It is interesting that Capers--arguably one of the least sympathetic characters in the novel--is often granted the discerning vision of the realist. "`Yours, Jack, is a world of either-or, all or nothing'" (153). With one sentence, he nails the fact that the very same fault that Jack finds with Catholicism, Judaism, and zealous patriotism--the extremity of it all--is one that he is guilty of himself. Is it just human nature, or is it a tragic flaw peculiar to Jack, this inability to see the thing we hate in ourselves, and so turn it outward on humanity?

Questions for The Art of Racing in the Rain

2009-04-22T14:20:00.002-04:00

1. Some early readers of the novel have observed that viewing the world through a dog’s eyes makes for a greater appreciation of being human. Why do you think this is?

2. Enzo’s observations throughout the novel provide insight into his world view. For example:• “The visible becomes inevitable.”• “Understanding the truth is simple. Allowing oneself to experience it, is often terrifically difficult.”• “No race has ever been won in the first corner; many races have been lost there.”How does his philosophy apply to real life?

3. In the book's darkest moments, one of Zoe's stuffed animals --- the zebra --- comes to life and threatens him. What does the zebra symbolize?

4. Can you imagine the novel being told from Denny’s point of view? How would it make the story different?

5. In the first chapter, Enzo says: “It's what's inside that's important. The soul. And my soul is very human.” How does Enzo's situation --- a human soul trapped in a dog's body --- influence his opinions about what he sees around him? How do you feel about the ideas of reincarnation and karma as Enzo defines them?

6. Do you find yourself looking at your own dog differently after reading this novel?

7. In the book, we get glimpses into the mindset and mentality of a race car driver. What parallels can you think of between the art of racing and the art of living?

8. The character of Ayrton Senna, as he is presented in the book, is heroic, almost a mythic figure. Why do you think this character resonates so strongly for Denny?

Questions are from ReadingGroupGuides.com

Wild Swans

2009-03-30T18:57:00.004-04:00

Here are some questions to consider as you begin our April selection, Wild Swans.

Does the book succeed in being primarily a memoir rather than a historical document?

How does the book convey the horror of Communist China?

What is your abiding memory of the book″

How do you view the relationship between Chang′s parents; What do you admire/dislike about the family′s attitude to their problems?

Questions are from harpercollins.com.au.

Savannah Grey Presentation

2009-03-30T17:47:00.002-04:00

Fourteen attendees listened to Jim Jordan tell us about the 4 years of research and writing that went into his book, Savannah Grey. He found a professional editor to help him cut the book into readable size, but never found a publisher. His book is self-published, although available in many area bookstores. He has marketed it primarily through public speaking engagements.
On the topic of the plot, Mr. Jordan pointed out that he wanted to draw attention to the role of free "persons of color" in the antebellum south. Not all these people were black. He also explained why a certain pivotal character in the book had to die.
We all look forward to Mr. Jordan's next book, a work of nonfiction on one of the historical characters in Savannah Grey. Beyond that, we were told to look forward to the sequel to Savannah Grey.
Our next meeting is on April 16 when we will discuss Wild Swans: Three Daughter of China by Jung Chang.

Savannah Grey by Jim Jordan

2009-03-18T16:09:00.004-04:00

I hope you are all reading our selection for this month. Please join us for Mr. Jordan's discussion of his book next Thursday, March 26, at 5:30 in the Children's Program Room.

Our February discussion of Tombee: Portrait of a Cotton Planter, lead by Librarian Grace Cordial was a lively one attended by 28 people. Grace gave us a lot of background on Beaufort and St. Helena Island in the period just before the Civil War. She even brought along an original map of the town that the Federal government planned, but never built, on St. Helena. I think most of us decided that we would love the opportunity to talk to Tom B. Chaplin about his life as a plantation owner, but we would not want him for a friend. He borrowed too much from those around him, and whined a lot!

I have discovered that I did not comment on Stuart's presentation of Suite Francaise in January. We were treated to a discussion of the Nazi occupation of France from the point of view of of a citizen of Britain. (Stuart is a Scotsman.) It was a unique perspective for most of us. Stuart had really done his homework on the period and on Irene Nemirovsky! We were all amazed that her orphaned children proteacted the manuscript of her work for so many years through so many relocations. We were glad that this fictionalized first-person account of life in a French village was preserved for us.

Questions for Discussion from Grace Cordial

2009-01-22T18:47:00.004-05:00

Tombee: Portrait of a Cotton Planter

While you are reading our selection for February 19, Rosengarten’s Tombee, please consider these questions:

Would you choose Thomas B. Chaplin as a friend? Why or why not?

What is your evaluation of the extended introduction that Rosengarten provides before Chaplin’s edited diary?

What do you think of his scholarship and conclusions? How did you arrive at your decision?

See you at 5:30 on Thursday, February 19th!
4:55 PM

Suite Francaise-Questions from Book Browse

2009-01-13T09:31:00.002-05:00

This guide is designed to enliven your group’s discussion of Suite Française, Irène Némirovsky's masterpiece—a unique work of fiction about the chaotic exodus from Paris in June, 1940, as the invading German army approaches, and the complex life of an occupied village a year later.
The novelist, who herself fled Paris on the eve of the Nazi invasion, wrote the book virtually while the occupation was happening, most likely making Suite Française the first work of fiction about World War II.

How do you think she managed to write while she herself was in jeopardy?

Do you think it was easier for her to capture the day-to-day realities of life under occupation?

In what ways might the book have been different if she had survived and been able to write Suite Française years after the war?

Suite Française is a unique pair of novels. Which of the two parts of Suite Française do you prefer?

Which structural organization did you find more effective: the short chapters and multiple focus of Storm in June, or the more restricted approach of Dolce?

What is the significance of the title Dolce?

How does Suite Française undermine the long-held view of French resistance to the German occupation?

Discuss Irène Némirovsky’s approach to class in Suite Française.

How do the rich, poor, and the middle classes view one another?

How do they help or hinder one another?

Do the characters identify themselves by class or nationality?(You might consider the aristocratic Mme de Montmort’s thought in Dolce: “What separates or unites people is not their language, their laws, their customs, but the way they hold their knife and fork.”)

In Dolce, we enter the increasingly complex life of a German-occupied provincial village. Coexisting uneasily with the soldiers billeted among them, the villagers—from aristocrats to shopkeepers to peasants—cope as best they can. Some choose resistance, others collaboration. Each relationship is distorted by the allegiances of war.

What happens when someone—who might have been your friend—is now declared your enemy during a war?

The lovers in the second novel question whether the needs of the individual or the community should take priority. Lucille imagines that “in five, or ten, or twenty years” this problem will have been replaced by others. To what extent, if at all, has this proved the case?
Has Western society conclusively decided to privilege the individual over the group?

How does Suite Française compare to other World War Two novels you have read? How would you compare it to the great personal documents of the war (for example, those written by Anne Frank and Victor Klemperer), or to fiction?

“Important events—whether serious, happy or unfortunate—do not change a man’s soul, they merely bring it into relief, just as a strong gust of wind reveals the true shape of a tree when it blows of all its leaves.” —Storm in June, p.203. Do you agree?

Consider Irène Némirovsky’s plan for the next part of Suite Française (in the appendix). What else do you think could happen to the characters?

Date Change for March

2009-01-02T15:43:00.003-05:00

Jim Jordan, author of Savannah Grey, was to present his book for us on March 19, but he has been invited to present at the Virginia Festival of the book. He is very excited, and we are excited for him. He is, however, free to speak to us on the following Thursday, March 26, so I took the liberty of changing our meeting date to the 4th Thursday for March only. We will, again, be using the Children's Program Room on the first floor. I hope to see lots and lots of book lovers at the March meeting, and at all of our meetings!
Happy New Year.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-20T14:51:00.006-05:00

May all the joys of the holiday season, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, come to you, and a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

In the meanwhile, take time to relax and read. Don't forget to join us January 15, at 5:30, in the Children's Program Room for a discussion of Suite Francaise led by Stuart. Bring a friend along.

Favorite Book Read in 2008 by Brenda

2008-12-20T14:39:00.003-05:00

My pick is Pat Conroy’s “Prince of Tides.” I’d seen the film many times, and it’s on my top 10 list, but just had never gotten around to the book. Fortunately, our book club read it recently. Conroy is quite a wordsmith. Some passages are so beautifully poetic they illicit tears. The book is filled with stories of hope, failure, anguish, injustice, and again hope, and tells how a family that has endured much pain and hurt (so that they inflict it upon each other) can maintain love and respect for that same family and help heal the scars of darker times. The book has so many more stories than does the film, for obvious reasons (or the film would be 8 hours long!). There is always comic relief amidst the heavy themes of life among the Wingo family. If you’ve not taken the time to read the book, it’s never too late. It reads like it was written yesterday, and will give you a feeling of pride and appreciation for life in the Lowcountry. There is a new place in my heart for Pat Conroy.
~ Brendagael
Brendagael Beasley~Forrest, MA, MSLS

Schedule Change

2008-11-21T15:30:00.004-05:00

Please note that we are now reading Tombee for February 19 and Savannah Grey for March 19. As noted at left, Grace Cordial, our library system's Historical Resources Librarian for the Beaufort District Collection will present Tombee and give us historical (insider) information about the Chaplin family and the book.
March 19, we will have the author of Savannah Grey, Jim Jordan, as our guest speaker! He will, no doubt, answer questions for us.
If you missed the discussion of Prince of Tides, I'm sorry to tell you that you missed a number of insights into the book from those present. We had an interesting time delving into the family dynamics of the Wingos and trying to figure out if the three Wingo children could have avoided the psychological damage that became evident later in life. (Probably not.)
We read some reviews of the book written at the time of publication: one favorable and one a scathing denunciation of the plot and of Pat Conroy's writing style. We agreed with the favorable review!
The group could have spent 2 sessions on this book, but that is not to be. December 18 will be our dinner out to socialize. In January, Stuart will lead us in a discussion of Suite Francaise.
Please join us!

The Prince of Tides

2008-11-04T14:23:00.005-05:00

While you are reading our selection for November 20, Pat Conroy's Prince of Tides, please consider this question:

What are the social issues that the author deals with in this book?

See you at 5:30 on Thursday, November 20!

Book Discussion: A Thousand Splendid Suns

2008-10-17T09:42:00.004-04:00

During the business portion of our meeting we expanded our reading list through May. The choices appear on the left. The December 18 meeting will be dinner out. At the November meeting we will discuss whether to have a "Secret Santa" drawing for December, have a used book exchange, or discuss our favorite books from our personal reading.

We had a lively discussion of our chosen book led by Miki. We learned the history of the burka, which was originally created to protect both men and women from the heat and dust prevalent in the Middle East. Only later did it become a tool to keep women hidden in public. We were also given copies of the beautiful poem, Kabul by Saib-e-Tabrizi from which the book's title comes. Miki also brought before and after pictures of the Buddha statues in Bamyan, Afghanistan that were totally destroyed by the Taliban. The statues were formerly the tallest in the world.

Meeting This Thursday Evening

2008-10-14T16:22:00.003-04:00

Don't forget our book discussion this Thursday at 5:30 on A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. In addition, please bring ideas on books we can read Feb. through May.
Do you want to do something special for December? We don't have a book discussion scheduled, but could go out to dinner, or bring Christmas goodies to the library. How about a used book swap? I'm about ready to "weed" my own collection and I never throw anything away!
See you Thursday.

Discussion Questions for A Thousand Splendid Suns

2008-09-26T09:55:00.002-04:00

From readinggroupguides.com

1. The phrase “a thousand splendid suns,” from the poem by Saib-e-Tabrizi, is quoted twice in the novel – once as Laila’s family prepares to leave Kabul, and again when she decides to return there from Pakistan. It is also echoed in one of the final lines: “Miriam is in Laila’s own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns.” Discuss the thematic significance of this phrase.2. Mariam’s mother tells her: “Women like us. We endure. It’s all we have.” Discuss how this sentiment informs Mariam’s life and how it relates to the larger themes of the novel.3. By the time Laila is rescued from the rubble of her home by Rasheed and Mariam, Mariam’s marriage has become a miserable existence of neglect and abuse. Yet when she realizes that Rasheed intends to marry Laila, she reacts with outrage. Given that Laila’s presence actually tempers Rasheed’s abuse, why is Mariam so hostile toward her?4. Laila’s friendship with Mariam begins when she defends Mariam from a beating by Rasheed. Why does Laila take this action, despite the contempt Mariam has consistently shown her?5. Growing up, Laila feels that her mother’s love is reserved for her two brothers. “People,” she decides, “shouldn’t be allowed to have new children if they’d already given away all their love to their old ones.” How does this sentiment inform Laila’s reaction to becoming pregnant with Rasheed’s child? What lessons from her childhood does Laila apply in raising her own children?6. At several points in the story, Mariam and Laila pass themselves off as mother and daughter. What is the symbolic importance of this subterfuge? In what ways is Mariam’s and Laila’s relationship with each other informed by their relationships with their own mothers?7. One of the Taliban judges at Mariam’s trial tells her, “God has made us different, you women and us men. Our brains are different. You are not able to think like we can. Western doctors and their science have proven this.” What is the irony in this statement? How is irony employed throughout the novel?8. Laila’s father tells her, “You’re a very, very bright girl. Truly you are. You can be anything that you want.” Discuss Laila’s relationship with her father. What aspects of his character does she inherit? In what ways is she different?9. Mariam refuses to see visitors while she is imprisoned, and she calls no witnesses at her trial. Why does she make these decisions?10. The driver who takes Babi, Laila, and Tariq to the giant stone Buddhas above the Bamiyan Valley describes the crumbling fortress of Shahr-e-Zohak as “the story of our country, one invader after another… we’re like those walls up there. Battered, and nothing pretty to look at, but still standing.” Discuss the metaphorical import of this passage as it relates to Miriam and Laila. In what ways does their story reflect the larger story of Afghanistan’s troubled history?11. Among other things, the Taliban forbid “writing books, watching films, and painting pictures.” Yet despite this edict, the film Titanic becomes a sensation on the black market. Why would people risk the Taliban’s violent reprisals for a taste of popcorn entertainment? What do the Taliban’s restrictions on such material say about the power of artistic expression and the threat it poses to repressive political regimes?12. While the first three parts of the novel are written in the past tense, the final part is written in present tense. What do you think was the author’s intent in making this shift? How does it change the effect of this final section?

Great Lion of God

2008-08-28T15:20:00.003-04:00

Now is the time to start on this remarkable book. It is a L-O-N-G one, taking Saul/Paul from birth to the last time he left his home.

Unfortunately, the library system owns only one copy, currently in use. I'd suggest one of the online discount companies for this if you can't find one to borrow from someone who regularly comes to book club.

Our next meeting is September 18 at 5:30 in the Children's Program Room.

PS 9-8-08

David is returning the library's copy of Great Lion of God today. You would have 11 days to read it including today. I have an ILL copy that I have finished. It is, however, due to be returned on the 15th.

Questions for Sisters of Cain

2008-08-07T13:45:00.004-04:00

I could not find specific questions for Sister of Cain, our August 21 selections, so here are some general ones. I did make a few of them specific. Please, please feel free to come with your own!

What did you find surprising about the facts introduced in this book?

How has reading this book changed your opinion of a certain person or topic such as Civil War espionage, of Allan Pinkerton, or of another historical topic?

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he or she achieve this?

The author is writing on a debatable issue, at least during the 19th century, that of women as Civil War era Department of the Treasury spies, and women as nurses. Does he or she give proper consideration to all sides the debate? Does she seem to have a bias?

How has the book increased your interest in the Civil War, feminism in US history, or the history of spies in America?

July Meeting Last Night

2008-07-18T15:33:00.003-04:00

I just have impressions of last evening's talk with our author, Brian Copeland, because frankly I was too interested in what the man was saying to stop and take many notes! He did begin by telling us that the book came out of his one-man show, a project that is "the longest running solo show in San Francisco history." He told us that, when he began to want to write a show, he consulted Carl Reiner. Reiner told him to "find the piece of ground that you alone stand on and write from there." Copeland's piece of ground was his experience as a black child growing up in a white suburb. He has since discovered that his experiences were shared by others living in different towns during the same time in our country's history. Brian has also, through the experience of the show, been able to talk to his siblings about what they endured trying to live near some people who did not want them in the neighborhood.
Brian Copeland, an articulate and entertaining speaker, talked to us and answered questions for 45 minutes by phone from his home in California. Afterward, the group stayed to discuss what we had heard and read. I know I always say after a meeting that it was the best we ever had: I'm saying it again. This was the best Beaufort Book Club yet! Thanks, Tally, for being our moderator.
If you would like to know more about the show, the book, and the author, go to:
http://www.briancopeland.com/.
The library will have a copy of the book as soon as my donated copy is processed. I hope you will read it or purchase your own. I'm told that the Beaufort Book Store will order one for you. It is also available on Amazon.
Next month we will meet on August 21 to discuss Sisters of Cain by Mariam Monfredo. Don't miss it!

Meeting Location

2008-06-30T11:39:00.004-04:00

July 2008 until November 2008 we have been offered the Children's Programming Room for our regular 3rd Thursday of the month meetings. This is a concession on the part of the Youth Services Librarian since she has strict guidelines to follow from the SC State Libray for the use of that space. She knows we like to eat, and that this is the only space left at the moment where we can have food and drink. Thank you, Maria Benac and staff.
You can reach the room from between the stacks on the left side of the room in the aisle to the right of the "Large Print Materials" sign.

July 17 Meeting-Not a Genuine Black Man

2008-06-30T11:38:00.000-04:00

1. Do you think that a majority of the black population has been affected by various acts of prejudice against them?2. How can we identify racism within ourselves, even if we think we aren't racist (maybe we are)?3. How can people help change and eliminate prejudice?

4. How are black gangs or gangs of any color the result of racism?

5. What was the turning point in the book where Brian felt “genuinely” black? What inner feelings brought him to that point?6. Imagine what it would be like to have a lifetime of pain heaped upon you because of the color of your skin. How would it feel to you? How would you adapt to it?7. Do you think Brian's mother, Carolyn, was right in trying to bring up her family in a white enclave despite the costs to her family in suffering racism?8. How does Brian's family's situation in the 1970s compare with that of the Middle Eastern or Hispanic emigration experience of today?9. How does Brian's family's move into a white enclave in the 1970s compare/contrast with the contemporary issue of gentrification?10. Brian has been accused of being an “Oreo cookie” (white on the inside). Is there any validity to analogies such as “Oreo,” “banana” or “coconut” or are they simply pejoratives? Is it an expected adaptation to living in a “white” neighborhood? Does “keeping it real” foster racism against whites?11. When was a time in your life when you were “the only one”? What did it feel like? How did you react to the situation?12. There are several success stories in the book. Name them.

13. The book felt like an iconic identity crisis, embodying in one man's story the pain of the black race. It is easier to digest because it is couched as a human story. How can the book be used to eliminate the racism it describes?

The author’s Web site:
http://www.briancopeland.com/

News About Our Book Selections

2008-05-29T15:25:00.003-04:00

Brenda sent along this link about the Hadron Collider. We read about it in Angels and Demons.
http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2008/05/23

Another piece of exciting news: Brian Copeland, author of our July selection, Not a Genuine Black Man: My Life as an Outsider has graciously offered to join our discussion by speaker phone. We will meet in the Children's Programming Room, so I am asking our library's Systems Specialist to set up the phone. (It goes through the computer system somehow and is totally beyond me.) Anyway, I just emailed Mr. Copeland to accept his offer. This should be fun! Bring your friends along.

My apologies for not posting questions for discussion on our June selection, Deception Point by Dan Brown. I haven't found any yet. If any of you find some, could you pass along the link?

Book Club Meeting Location

2008-05-23T16:07:00.003-04:00

The Beaufort Branch upstairs lobby where we have been meeting will only be available for our next meeting on June 19. After that date, the lobby will be a staging area for construction of the new Beaufort District (Historical) Collection. Our July 17 meeting will move to the Children's Programming Room on the first floor. Maria, Youth Services Manager, has graciously offered the room to an adult group because she knows we like to eat, and can't do that in other areas of the library!

To enter the Programming room, go to the adult shelves in the aisle to the right of the "Large Print" sign. You will see the door ahead of you marked "Meeting Room". We can't enter the room through the Children's area, so if you are confused, just ask at Circulation and they will direct you.

Our June selection is Deception Point by Dan Brown. Stuart is our presenter.

We do not have a presenter for our July selection, My Life as an Outsider by Brian Copeland. Would anyone like to volunteer?

Discussion Questions-Answers from Our group and Links to More Sherman Alexie Info.

2008-05-06T14:25:00.008-04:00

The following was contributed by Brenda who led the discussion complete with a YouTube interview with Alexie, Mapquest maps of the location of the reservation, and a film clip from another Alexie novel.

1a. What was your overall reaction to the book? Even if this is not your genre of choice, did you find the story fun to read? Would you recommend it?
I loved this comment by a reviewer of the book: Alexie doesn't sugarcoat problems on the reservation, and the alcohol and poverty and racism is pretty grinding, both to Junior and to the reader, even though the novel doesn't set up shop in angstville and live there.1b. What are some themes in the book?
1. Readers of all ages can benefit from the novel’s message: our past need not define us. It is never too late to change your destiny.
2. Forgiveness. Like when his father is absent once again at Christmas. Like when Rowdy gives him a concussion. Like the end of Smoke Signals when Victor scatters his absentee father's ashes in the river and gives a wailing cry. 3. His absolute disgust of alcohol. The scene in Smoke Signals where the kid is throwing beer bottles at his dad's truck left over from the party the night before.

2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian shows a different side of American Indian life than do many other books. Did you learn anything new about Indians from it?I failed to realize how pervasive death is in the rez. I know there is rampant trouble with drugs and alcohol and crime, but the notion of attending 42 funerals by the age of 14 was foreign to me. Most of the deaths being alcohol-related. I *may* have been to 30 funerals in my lifetime.
This was Alexie's first attempt at a young adult novel. He says, "My first draft was twice as long as what you see in the book now. My editor cut it up—HARD—and at first I just cursed at her and wouldn’t do it. If you’ve read “Flight,” that whole book is actually me working out my frustration at having to write a young adult novel. But in the end I realized my editor was right all along. So I made the cuts and got all the credit. Funny how that works out.”

3 & 4. Junior/Arnold says “I felt like two different people inside of one body.” Let's discuss his inner conflicts brought about by the experiences of going to school off the rez. Even before Arnold leaves the rez Arnold misses his best friend, Rowdy, after he starts his new school. But Rowdy doesn’t seem to want to join him there. How do Arnold’s and Rowdy’s views of the reservation – and their own lives – differ? What do you think Alexie is trying to show you through those differences?Junior has an undying search for identity and tries to figure out where he belongs. He says, "It was like being Indian was my job, but it was only a part- time job. And it didn't pay well at all."He is stuck between two worlds that don't mesh. Rowdy sees Junior's defection as the ultimate sell-out. Junior/Arnold is coping with tragedy and despair in his home life AND has to reach beyond himself in his new school environment. HE has to prove himself. It's unfair; they should try to make him feel welcome. But life doesn't operate that way for the most part. It's the new kid, the new employee in a job that has to prove themselves while also adjusting to a new environment. ARNOLD has to make the extra effort to fit in– by going out for basketball, dating a popular white girl and befriending a fellow bookworm – while coping with tragedy at home. And if some Indians continue to see him as a traitor for leaving the reservation, Arnold eventually learns that the world has many kinds of tribes and that more than a few of them have a place for him; like the tribes of bookworms, basketball players & writers.
His quest for higher learning is quite literally a search for hope. A search for a way to break this mousewheel of despair he's caught in. Junior writes in his diary:
It sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor. You start believing that you’re poor because you’re stupid and ugly. And then you start believing that you’re stupid and ugly because you’re Indian. And because you’re Indian you start believing you’re destined to be poor. It’s an ugly circle and there’s nothing you can do about it.
A quote from one of his stories: "Indians can reside in the city, but they can never live there."

5. Let's discuss the warrior archetype/persona/mentality on the reservation. In real life Alexie's fight record is 5 wins, 115 losses and one when he was 12 years old when a 20-yr old guy said he would beat him up unless Sherman wanted to beat himself up. With fists. There is a deep-seeded anger that is still pervasive among our indigenous people. Remember the scene where the rich guy from Montana comes to return the dress? (I think we all figured out that was Ted Turner). "Not another white guy coming to the rez who loves Indians. Who collects Indian art." He said somewhere that in every Indian's heart of hearts is the spirit of Crazy Horse, rising up to face the white nation head on.

6. What did you think of Ellen Forney’s pictures for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian? What is their purpose in the book? Do they provide a mirror for the text, reflecting back only what you read on the page? Or do they expand it? How?See www.ellenforney.com. Briefly show all of her sites above & end at her Bio... scroll down & you will see a photograph or her.The illustrations are humorous and do not overpower the book; they don't appear too frequently and provide a nice complement to the text. Alexie and Forney balance the use of text and images excellently, sometimes carrying dialogue from the prose into a cartoon and then back to the prose. The comics help us to see the world through Junior’s eyes. I love how most of them appear on crinkled pieces of paper, taped onto the pages, a charming effect. They look like rule paper and even paper bags--whatever he could find to write on.

7. What’s the purpose of the humor in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian? Why does Alexie use it when Arnold is clearly angry about a lot of things?Sherman Alexie epitomizes the notion of laughing in order to keep from crying. He uses humor to illustrate the sadness, hopelessness, and sheer poverty of the people in Junior's world on the rez. There is one line that reads, “When it comes to death, we know that laughter and tears are pretty much the same thing.”Remember that scene when Junior is laughing when his father comes to pick him up from school after his sister's death? I guess he was just sure his dad would stop at a bar on the way and get drunk and he'd forget him or get into an accident. To this day Alexie is an insomniac, which he claims stems from all the nights he stayed awake until his father got home. And while it was painful for him when his father died, he admits there is also a certain relief of not having to wait up for him any longer. [play audio clip]
Mortality. (handouts) In a clip from his 2nd film The Business of Fancydancing, there is a scene when the family is all home for the night; the parents passed out drunk and "snoring like drums." And one of the kids says, "We were all alive; and that was enough."
Alexie's siblings are surprised when people find him funny. "I was always the depressed guy in the basement," he says. "But I've borrowed their sense of humor and made it darker and more deadly - a weapon of self-defense. Being funny you win hearts quicker; people laughing are more apt to listen."8. Do you agree with Alexie that in order to make his point he had to use language that some people find offensive?
Some thought some of the talk of masturbation could have been left out, and others say this is a real life issue for 14-year old boys and someone reading it may feel more normal about it. Another pointed out that YA readers are becoming exposed much more explicit themes in literature and in everyday life than they were a generation ago.

9. Arnold’s math teacher at Wellpinit High School, Mr. P, tells him that the teachers at the school used to beat the Indians with a stick: “That’s how we were taught to teach you. We were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child.” What did he mean?
We didn't get to this one.

10. With so many scholarships available to them, why have American Indians given up on life and turned to drugs & alcohol? Why do they not take pride in their yards and houses and try to keep litter off the streets?It's like everyone has given up on life. This pervasive, defeatist attitude.
In another YouTube interview, Alexie says with conviction, "We seem to have forgotten that reservations were created as death camps; we were supposed to go there, disappear, and/or die."

11. How different is the American Indian experience for women than men?

Brigette Hernandez Elteto says it's not much different for women; being raised on the rez is like being raised in a foreign country. A third world country. Brigette: "We have nothing left but each other and our culture. Sherman Alexie is a quandary to the Indian people because he has broken away from the oral tradition. That is what they know best."

Look for more from Alexie in the coming months. He is currently working on a book with his wife and kids for readers grade 2-6 based on two characters named Thunder and Lightening, which they develop from Indian mythology. He's also working on another YA novel called A Radioactive Love Song about an ipod. Also an adult murder-mystery. AND he's got about 3,000 pages of notes on a family memoir.

Alexie on Casinos: They are creating a class society on the rez that has never existed before. In the past it's been all third world low class all the time. Now you're starting to see some upper and middle class distinctions. All without the advantages of a democracy--no control.

In the book Flight, there is no sense of hope at all, like you find in Absolutely True Diary, even though both are about teenagers of the same age. Flight is also more violent, so it is marketed as an adult novel.

In his short story "the approximate size of my favorite tumor" Alexie concludes the 2 things Indians are good at are frybread and helping people die.

LINKS:

Map of the Reservations:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Wellpinit,+WA,+USA&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

USCD YouTube interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWolPAoDk3g

National Book Award Acceptance Speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6AbxJxDoI8

ShermanAlexie.com (reverts to fallsapart.com)

http://www.fallsapart.com/

His Illustrator:
http://www.ellenforney.com

April Meeting

2008-04-22T15:11:00.003-04:00

With just four members attending, Beaufort Book Club engaged in one of the most wide-ranging discussions we've had. Dan Brown's Angels and Demons was the launching point for our discussion, and Stuart did a remarkable job of bringing us back on topic after digressions. We did some comparison of Angels with The Da Vinci Code such as the vivid descriptions of Rome compared to the detailed descriptions of sites in Paris. We did the same with information about the Illuminati and the Knights Templar. We decided that Brown is a first-rate researcher and detail man. No wonder some readers think his books are nonfiction! The longest part of the discussion centered on the faith vs science question and whether the two are really mutually exclusive.
You really had to be there to get the full effect! Try to be there on May 15 when Brenda leads our discussion of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. The titles we chose for the rest of the year appear in the sidebar. Please consider presenting one of your favorites.

Saying Goodbye to a Club Member

2008-04-21T13:10:00.002-04:00

Our friend Mitch writes:
"I got a job at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta and will start May 5, so therefore my book club days are over. Please tell everyone how much I have enjoyed our discussions and books."
I know we will all miss Mitch and that we wish him well in Atlanta.

Questions for Discussion from readinggroupguides.com: Angels and Demons

2008-04-10T11:35:00.004-04:00

1. What is your view of Robert Langdon? What motivates him to find out more about the circumstances of Leonardo Vetra's death? Is it merely academic interest? Aside from his scholarly knowledge, what else in Langdon's background helps him succeed during this adventure?

2. Discuss the other characters' motivations for their actions, both the "villains" and "heroes" in the story, including Vittoria, the Hassassin, the camerlengo, Cardinal Mortati, and Maximilian Kohler.

3. Angels & Demons is filled with examples of science versus religion, a debate that has raged for centuries. Is there room in the world for both science and religion? Is one likely to render the other obsolete? Would you rather live in a world without science...or in a world without religion?

4. Were you aware of the existence of CERN prior to reading this book? What is your opinion of the work they conduct, particularly in regard to antimatter technology?

5. Discuss Vittoria's role in the story. How does her knowledge as a scientist come into play? Leonardo Vetra was both a scientist and a priest. How did he reconcile these two seemingly disparate entities? In what ways did her father's beliefs influence Vittoria's own opinions of science and religion?

6. When he first meets Maximilian Kohler, Langdon tells him he is "undecided on miracles... . I study religious symbology -- I'm an academic, not a priest" (21). Does Langdon change his view on miracles by the end of the book?

7. Had you heard of the Illuminati before reading Angels & Demons? The Illuminati is rumored by some to be active today. Do you believe this is true? What is the enduring fascination with conspiracy theories? Given what Dan Brown reveals about the history of the Illuminati, is their alleged vendetta against the Vatican justified?

8. Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca emerges as one of the most complex characters in the story. What was your opinion of the camerlengo when he is first introduced? How about by the end of the book?

9. What role do the media play in the events that unfold? How about Glick and Macri in particular? The media were not interested in covering the election of a new pope until there was tragedy involved. How much influence do the media have on what information is relayed to the public? Is it true, as Glick believes, that "viewers didn't want truth anymore; they wanted entertainment" (190)?

10. The novel takes place during a 24-hour period. How does this narrative structure heighten the suspense in the story? What red herrings does the author use to keep the reader guessing? Did you anticipate any of the events in the story?

11. What did you find to be most compelling about Angels & Demons -- the action scenes, the characters, the setting, the history, or something else entirely?

12. Discuss the novel's ending. Do you think the Vatican (and Robert and Vittoria) made the right decision to keep the events that took place secret from the public?

13. In an interview on his website (www.danbrown.com), Dan Brown said that Angels & Demons "opens some Vatican closets most people don't even know exist." Did you learn anything about the Vatican, its practices, and its history that surprised you?

14. In the same interview Dan Brown goes on to say, "The final message of the novel, though, without a doubt, is a positive one." What do you see as the ultimate message of the book?

15. Have you visited Rome? If so, do you recall seeing the Illuminati symbolism that Dan Brown describes in the book, such as at the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona? If you have not been to Rome, has reading Angels & Demons inspired you to make a visit?

16. If you've read Robert Langdon's second adventure, The Da Vinci Code, compare the two books. What similarities do the stories share? How does the character of Robert Langdon change?

March Meeting

2008-03-24T16:32:00.003-04:00

Seven of us met on 3/20 to discuss A Conspiracy of Paper. Sandi gave us a short biography of the author, and then told us about the real people and settings included in this fictional account of stock trading in 1720s London. The author's depiction of the South Sea "bubble" during which stock was traded for the South Sea Company that really had no assets was based on an actual event. When the bubble burst, London experienced the first stock market crash. Our discussion circled several times back to the fact that the book could almost be the morning paper as the US experiences the failures of companies and a volatile stock market. One of our attendees who has considerable experience in stock trading was able to give us good background information so that we could understand Conspiracy.
Our next selection is Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. Stuart will lead our discussion on April 17 at 5:30 in the upstairs lobby of the Beaufort Branch Library. This library program is free and open to the public.

A Conspiracy of Paper

2008-03-05T12:30:00.003-05:00

Our next meeting is Thursday, March 20 at 5:30 PM. We will, again, be meeting on the second floor of the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott Street. Our book this month is A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss. There is still one copy on the shelf at the Hilton Head Island Branch. If you need it, just go to our online catalog, look up the book, and click on "Place Hold" on the right. The book will be sent to this branch for you to check out.

The following link leads to discussion questions that might help you begin to draw conclusions about our book:

http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_C/conspiracy_of_paper1.asp#discuss

Questions: Same Sweet Girls

2008-02-18T11:50:00.004-05:00

Brenda has sent us this link to questions that we might keep in mind for Thursday's meeting with Cassandra King. Since the author will be doing a presentation of Same Sweet Girls for us, we will not be addressing each question on this list. However, if the questions suggest something you want to ask the author, there will be a Q & A session at the end.
http://www.cassandrakingconroy.com/tssg/the_same_sweet_girls__reading_guide.htm

Same Sweet Girls Presenter

2008-01-23T11:51:00.001-05:00

This just in: Cassandra King has agreed to attend out discussion! Tell your friends and bring them along. Our regular members are bringing snacks.

February Discussion

2008-01-22T11:16:00.000-05:00

Sandi will be unable to lead the discussion of Same Sweet Girls in February. She will be out of town. Would anyone else like to volunteer? See Fran at the Beaufort Branch, call 470-6523, or email fhays@bcgov.net. Thanks.

Saints at the River

2008-01-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

Our discussion, led by Brenda, began with an examination of the title to determine which characters might be the "saints." Our conclusion was that, depending on whether the reader was more sympathetic to the environmentalists trying to save the river or to the parents who wanted to dam it to retrieve the body of their child, characters on either side of the struggle could be seen as either "saints" or "sinners." For some of us, the perspective changed multiple times as we read.

The river served multiple purposes in the novel: It served as another character representing the power of nature that man has to accept on its own terms. The river also impressed us as a metaphor for the journey of life towards death.

The group then tackled the depictions of families in the novel. Maggie, the protagonist, is estranged from her father, but ends by caring for him through a fatal illness. She does begin to remember her father as a caring parent during her childhood, although their estrangement continues. Kowalski, father of the drowned child, also seemed to us to be an inadequate parent as he made no attempt to save his drowning child.

Our final conclusion was that Saints at the River is a cautionary tale about the power, and final authority of nature.

Our next meeting is February 21, 5:30 PM in the second floor lobby of the library, 311 Scott Street. Our book is Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King with discussion leader Sandi.

Saints at the River by Ron Rash

2008-01-14T11:14:00.000-05:00

Our meeting is this Thursday evening at 5:30. We will, again, be on the second floor in the large meeting room. Brenda, who will lead our discussion, has seen some links to help us with the book.

For the book club blog:

http://www.breaktech.net/EmergingWritersForum/View_Interview.aspx?id=130

This one shows image of book and author if you want to copy them onto the blog:
http://www.picadorusa.com/product/product.aspx?isbn=0312424914

Discussion questions are found here:
http://www.picadorusa.com/rgg/files/0312424914.pdf

Thanks much!

~ Brenda

2008-01-07T11:48:00.001-05:00

Sherman Alexie's Done It Again!
Author: Charlene Hollow Horn Bear
Well, it's finally here and it is selling like crazy! For all you Sherman Alexie fans out there we have his new book, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian". For those who haven't had the chance to read any of his material, he has an excellent way of writing about the side of Native Americans that tend to get the blind eye. Too often and sadly when people come to visit the reservation they come at a time of gathering, such as a powwow, sundance, giveaway, feed or even a death. At these times everyone is having a goodtime; friendly, social and at their best. Very seldom do the people who come to visit see the hardships that Native People often bare. Sherman Alexie writes about these blind eye matters in his stories, sometimes with humor and other times telling the harsh realities. Growing up on the reservation as a "part-time Indian", I found the book very funny and therapeutic. It brought up a lot of memories both good and bad that I haven't thought about in years! I have read every one of his books and my all-time favorite is, "Toughest Indian in the World", but this one is a close second. My co-workers humored each other by reading sections of the book to one another and laughing out loud. Talk about getting the customers attention!I would highly recommend this book to all those who would like a good laugh with a little dose of reality.Toksa,Charlene Hollow Horn Bear

Fran, I’d like to put this out for consideration for our book club. Can you order some copies for the library? Thanks!!!

~ Brenda
Brenda Gale Beasley, MA, MSLS Catalog Librarian
Beaufort County Library ~ Beaufort Branch
311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
843.470.6529 ~ bbeasley@bcgov.net
www.beaufortcountylibrary.org

December-Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

2007-12-18T13:43:00.001-05:00

The ten participants at December's meeting were led by David in an enthusiastic discussion of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. David began with a short survey of critics' opinions of the work, and continued with a condensed biography of the author. He then surprised us with the information that Francis Ford Coppola's film Apocalypse Now is a modern retelling of Heart of Darkness. Parallels between the book and the film were pointed out.

The discussion continued with a list of discussion questions. We considered:
The meaning of the title; the motives of the British colonists; the contrasts between Kurtz's female native companion and his "intended" left behind in England; and the question of whether men who think they are invulnerable to the forces of darkness are, at that point, most vulnerable to temptation. We then briefly considered the question "Is man innately good, but corrupted by society, or is man innately evil and saved by society." Please feel free to comment to the blog with your own opinions.

The next meeting is on January 17. Brenda will lead a discussion of Saints at the River by Ron Rash. We will meet at 5:30 here at the library. Watch this blog, or check at the Beaufort Reference Desk for the room location.

December Meeting-Heart of Darkness

2007-12-08T10:18:00.002-05:00

Remember, we are meeting a week early in December. Join us Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 PM (instead of the usual 5:30) in the 2nd floor lobby of the library at 311 Scott Street. Our book this month is Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. David will lead our discussion. Bring a snack to share if you like.

Come early and see the Beaufort Railroaders' model train exhibits ub the second floor meeting room and the first floor Children's Programming Room. These are wonderful displays for the young and the young-at-heart.

Background on Devil in the White City

2007-11-20T13:53:00.000-05:00

Here's a full text online book (20+ chapters) you might want to point to the book clubbers. The site allows you to print it out, too.

http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/history/holmes/index_1.html (H. H. Holmes info.)

And this is a 10 minute video with good pictures but not of History Channel production quality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nifJ4z6VxJU

Here's a 7 minute one from a National Geographic documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ngPdCdWgug

Amanda Brewer, MLS, Reference Librarian

Devil in the White City

2007-11-16T10:37:00.000-05:00

Erick Larson’s The Devil in the White City elicited a lively discussion from the Beaufort Book Club. First we watched about ten minutes of the DVD Expo: Magic of the White City. The introduction to the film showed contemporary photos and art of the Columbia Exposition of 1893. We also looked at some still photos of the Fair and discussed what happened to the originals and what remained of the Fair today.

The first question we tackled was in what way Daniel Burnham, the talented and driven architect of the Fair was like H. H. Holmes the “devil” serial killer. We decided that both were determined and creative, Burnham in his vision of the Fair and Holmes in the way he lured and disposed of his victims.

We then discussed the dream-like atmosphere of the Fair. Participants decided that the choice of white paint for the buildings surrounding the Court of Honor waterway and the massive size of buildings, fountains, and sculpture gave the fair that unreal quality. Various members noted the contrast between the clean, white fairgrounds and the smelly, stockyard-dominated Chicago of 1893.

Enumerating the innovations introduced at the Fair was a fun exercise. They included: spray paint to ready the buildings quickly, massive public lighting using Westinghouse’s alternating current that set the standard down to the present, the building of the first ever Ferris wheel, the introduction of Cracker Jacks, and the popularity of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer that won medals at the Fair that are reproduced on the label to this day.

Participants also discussed the structure of the book. We approved of the author’s use of short chapters alternating between the actions of the murderer and those of the Fair’s creators. Brenda read some descriptions in lyrical language that approximated the use of language in 1893 when letter-writing and elaborate speech-making were in vogue.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 PM. The one time change to the 2^nd Thursday and the later time was due to holiday activities. We will meet in the second floor lobby to discuss Joseph Conrad’s The Heart of Darkness. The discussion will be lead by David. This meeting is free and open to the public.

November Meeting

2007-11-14T13:00:00.000-05:00

Our November discussion is tomorrow evening, Thursday the 15th at 5:30 PM. Our book this month is Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. We are in the 2nd floor meeting room still.

The Year of Magical Thinking

2007-10-31T11:58:00.001-04:00

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Of the 8 attendees at October’s meeting of the Beaufort Book Club, only two felt that we had chosen a worthy book. Six people were of the opinion that the author did not have her heart in the writing of this book. There was some speculation that she wrote it merely to satisfy the demands of her publisher for a new work. Readinggroupchoices.com describes Didion’s tone in this book as “detached.” Perhaps it is that tone that struck a wrong note with our group. Some thought that the author “over-talked” about despair, pain, and the fear of losing a daughter. Whatever the reason, no one in the group wanted to read more books by this author.
The narrative of the book involves one year in which Joan Didion’s only daughter was hospitalized in septic shock. Her doctors induced a coma, and put her on life support. Returning from a visit to their child, Didion saw her husband of 40 years collapse with a heart attack and die. Didion spent the ensuing year trying to learn everything she could about the cause of his particular heart attack, as if the knowing could change the result. Later that same year, her daughter, now recovered from septic shock, collapsed and underwent brain surgery “to relieve a massive hematoma.” Again, Didion’s life was characterized by fear and grief, and the desire for medical knowledge that could put the new disaster into a context.
Two of the group members felt that the author really was writing in an involved manner and had a message. To them, she appeared to be working her way through the worst tragedy of her life by putting herself in her husband’s place mentally, emotionally, and physically in order to understand the extent of his peril. Those members felt that she had done an enormous amount of research to share with her readers as she, and potentially they, tried to understand how someone so alive one minute could be irrevocably gone in the next.
Submitted by David

October Meeting

2007-10-06T15:12:00.001-04:00

Our October meeting is on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 5:30 in the library's second floor meeting room. Judy will lead the discussion of The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. Hope you can come!

Discussion of The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy

2007-09-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

The Beaufort Book Club met of Thursday evening for a lively discussion of The Water is Wide. We also looked briefly at Sallie Ann Robinson's Gullah Homecooking the Dafuskie Way as Sallie Ann is one of Conroy's former students. We tried to guess which student was Sallie Ann, having concluded that the author created names for the students as well as for the island. One attendee reminded us that the fictional name of Yamacraw referred to a Native American tribe once resident near Savannah.
A former teacher related the experience of teaching children who had formerly been isolated in coal camps in rural Kentucky. Her experience with these isolated students was similar to Conroy's in that the children had little conception of the geography, culture, and opportunities in the outside world. We concluded that both white and black children in some areas had been cheated of a useful education during that period in our history.
We discussed the motivations of the other teacher, Mrs. Brown, who "beat" the children and exposed them to what would now be considered emotional abuses. Former teachers, and former students among us recalled the fact that spanking students for infractions was common during that time. We concluded that Mrs. Brown may have been using behaviors that were used by teachers when she was a student.
The group also discussed Pat Conroy's teaching methods to keep the interest of his students. Today's lesson plans would have been no use to him at all considering the vastly limited points of reference his students would bring to traditional curriculum. We applauded his use of classical music to gain their attention and give them a success in identifying pieces of music that they could show to visitors.
The discussion concluded with examining the symbolism of the title. We agreed on the idea of separation and isolation suggested by the water image.
If there are parts of the discussion not seen here that were significant to you, please click the "comment" link and let me know. Your posts will be included as soon as I receive them. Remember, you can sign your posts, but when sending them, they will only send if you check "Anonymous."
Next Meeting:
Thursday, October 18. Judy will lead the discussion of The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Add to you list of upcoming titles:
February 21-Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King (8 copies in the library system including LP)
March 20- A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss (6 copies in the library system)
April 17-Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (8 copies in the library system including LP)

Note from Sandi

2007-09-20T10:18:00.000-04:00

Just a tidbit for the club tonite. The Kite Runner is coming to the big screen in Nov. ! Hope to be back in November. I have registered our club on various Book Club webs hopefully we will win some freebies. Sandi

Meeting Thursday, Sept. 20

2007-09-19T13:25:00.000-04:00

Don't forget, we are discussing Pat Conroy's The Water is Wide on Thursday evening at 5:30 in the second floor library meeting room at 311 Scott Street. Be ready for a lively discussion!

Suggestion from Brenda

2007-09-01T09:29:00.000-04:00

maybe we can read one of hers

and have her come to Book Club next year!

http://www.cassandrakingconroy.com/book_clubs3.htm
Brenda

More Ideas for Book Selections

2007-08-20T18:54:00.000-04:00

As you can see, we did not make enough choices for the entire year. We will do that after the discussion of The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy on September 20. Here are the suggestions so far:
THE CITY BELOW by James Carroll
THE MANGROVE COAST by Randy Wainwright
MY LOSING SEASON by Pat Conroy
CONSPIRACY OF PAPER by David Liss
POET by Michael Connelly
THE COLONY OF UNREQUITED DREAMS by Wayne Johnston
A MAN IN FULL by Tom WolfeSARATOGA by Richard Ketchum
1421 by Gavin Menzies
THE SPARROW by Mary Russell
SEIZE THE DAY by Saul Bellow
EMPIRE FALLS by Richard Russo
THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS by David McCullough
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME by Mark Haddon
THE POET AND THE MURDERER by Simon Worrall
BENEDICT ARNOLD by Willard Randall
THE STONE CARVERS by Jane Urquhart
EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES by Lynne Truss
TALK TO THE HAND byLynne Truss
SHALIMAR THE CLOWN by Salman Rushdie
NICKEL AND DIMED by Barbara Ebrenreich
BIAS by Bernard Goldberg
THEODORE REX by Edmund Morris
SAILING THE WINE-DARK SEA by Thomas Cahill
KILLING OF BONNIE GARLAND by Willard Gaylin
1776 by David McCullough
A LESSON BEFORE DYING by Ernest Gaines
A GATHERING OF OLD MEN by Ernest Gaines
ABSOLUTELY AMERICAN by David Lipsky
KRAKATOA- THE DAY THE WORLD EXPLODED by Simon Winchester
The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
Searching for Caleb by Anne Tyler
Morgan's Passing by Anne Tyler
Child of My heart by Alice McDermott
Educating Alice by Alic Steinbech
The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer
Middlessex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller
When the Emperor was Divineby Julie Otsuka
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
In America by Susan Sontag
Absolutely American by David Lipsky
Outlander by Diane Gabaldon
The Planets by Dava Soba (I think this is the right one.)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
The Apostle by John Pollock
The Great Lion of God by Taylor Caldwell
The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond
Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter

If I left out anyone's suggestions, I am truly sorry. I was writing as fast as I could.

We still seemed to think we needed more suggestions from which to choose, so bring more picks to the next meeting!

Reading List

2007-08-17T09:34:00.000-04:00

September 20-The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy-Discussion leader: Fran
(10 copies at Beaufort Branch Library in both the Local History and Book Club areas)

October 18-The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion-Discussion leader: Judy (3 copies in the library system; 1 copy at Beaufort Branch)

November 15-The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson-Discussion leader: Fran
(11 copies in the library system; 3 copies at Beaufort Branch)

December 13 (2nd Thursday of the month to avoid the holidays)
The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad-discussion leader: Alice
(4 books in the system; 1 at Beaufort Branch and separate books on CD at both Beaufort and Bluffton.)

January 17-Saints at the River by Ron Rash-Discussion leader: Brenda
(4 books in the library system; 1 at Beaufort)

August Meeting

2007-08-01T12:23:00.000-04:00

Several people have dropped by the library to ask about our August book choice. Please remember that we are each bringing what we are currently reading, or something significant we have read to share with the group. If the book you bring is not one of your choices for our fall/winter reading list, please bring your list of titles and authors. Bring a friend too! We will meet at 5:30 on Thursday, August 16 in the 2nd floor meeting room, or in the lobby if that seems a more congenial, and less institutional spot. See you there. Fran
PS
I apologize. An earlier post had the wrong date. We are meeting today!! If you can't come, send me a list of your book choices by email: fhays@bcgov.net. Our "Comments" link to the blog is disabled at the moment for unknown reasons. When it is back up, feel free to use it to communicate, and I will make a post from your comments.

Digging to America

2007-07-19T15:51:00.000-04:00

Digging to America"

Let's start with the title. Is this a play on the familiar phrase "digging to China?" I believe that's a metaphor for working at something for so long and hard it was as if you were "digging to China." So is "Digging to America" similar inthat against great odds these Asian babies have come to be rescued and live in America? Is the author using the word "America" as metaphor for a utopian existence--a Mecca or Shangri-La? Some place or some state (like Nirvana) that we all aspire to?

Taylor doesn't fill the book with much plot; it's more about attitudes and traditions and impressions and character-building.

Regarding the naming of the Korean girls, I think the Yazdans, both first generation Americans of Iranian parents, are still very conscious of their ethnicity and ever mindful of "fitting in" to Western society. Therefore, they have opted to eschew her given name Sooki for Susan, a somewhat similar American one. The Dickinson-Donaldsons, several generations American, embrace Jin-Ho's Koren name and even dress her up in traditional clothing on occasion and teach her Korean songs. They are not as threatened about blending in and about their Americanness, because they were already deeply established in the culture.

Maryam's character is developed more fully than all the others combined. In my view, the book leans most towards being first person Maryam; perhaps her character is one the author is very familiar and comfortable with. Maryam is a complex woman. The classic introvert. I readily identify with her! Like Maryam, I think it would be unforgivable if someone put me on the spot in front of so many people and popped "the question." (aside: Is overconfidence an extrovert trait?) What I don't understand, is how she could be such a freethinking feminist in her native country, but put all that aside in this county. Is it because she was trying to help her husband (and herself) fit in to America's status quo, her mainstream way of being? What changed for her? But here she is, later in the book, long after the death of her husband, where she has every opportunity, every right to be an eccentric feminist and she plays it safe instead. For Maryam, the less you say, the less chance you have of making a mistake and looking even more like an outsider. "Very rarely did she go out in public in the mornings. Going out was work. It required conversation. It raised the possibility of mistakes."

and

"Somehow, for no other reason she could name, she had never felt at home in her own country or anywhere else; which was probably why her three best friends were foreigners."

Maryam's relationship with Dave could be a cautionary tale for those too proud to let down their guard and dare to be loved or needed. "She had resented his never-ending neediness. It hadn't yet occurred to her that a life where no one needed her would be a weak, dim, pathetic life." But then she calls herself a fool for falling in love. It's a constant struggle with Maryam, her desire to be above all that--all that is needy and emotional, versus BELONGING and all the give-and-take-and-feelings that come with that. "Oh, the agonizing back and forth of romance! The advances and retreats, the secret wounds, the strategic withdrawals."

Maryam sets wide boundaries. She suffers in silence (and enjoys it!). Some people don't want to be rescued. Maryam finds comfort and balance in her sterile, staid, minimalist home environment.

At time, Anne Tyler's writing has a poetic aesthetic. I love her alliterative passages such as "...he was just another hapless man desperate for a helpmate." And "She greeted Farah with a flood of Farsi."

But at other times, Tyler's writing is inconsistent and confusing, particularly in the end. All of a sudden in Chapter 9 we go from equal coverage of the Yazdans and Dickinson-Donaldsons to first-person Jin-Ho. Bitsy and Brad throughout this entire chapter are Jin-Ho's mom and Jin-Ho's dad this, and Jin-Ho's grandpa that. I found it very distracting and disruptive of the flow of the book. Also, I had to reread the ending to see if I missed something. It was as if she'd forgotten what she'd written already. "She and Dave were spending every day together and every night." (aside: Were they conjugal or merely companions?) Then, 20 pages later, Farah is visiting Maryam and asks, "Do you ever hear from him?" "Oh, from Dave," Maryam said. "No."

That said, I think it was an overall good book that proposes many important questions of what it means to belong; both to a country, and to a relationship or family. Why do some fear eccentricity and "otherness" while others embrace it?

Is there anywhere that books are rated like films? If not, why? I give this a 2-3/4 star rating out of 4.

~ Brenda

July Meeting

2007-07-18T12:08:00.000-04:00

Don't forget our meeting tomorrow night, July 19, at 5:30 in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Beaufort Branch. See you there!
Please bring a list of books that we can consider for fall and winter.

Questions for Discussion: "Digging to America"

2007-07-03T11:42:00.000-04:00

Sandi Jordan has agreed to lead our July 19 discussion of Digging to America by Anne Tyler. See you on the second floor at 5:30!
Below are discussion questions provided by Random House:

1. In calling their baby Susan, the Yazdans “chose a name that resembled the name she had come with, Sooki, and also it was a comfortable sound for Iranians to pronounce” [p. 10]. The Donaldsons keep their baby’s Korean name, Jin-Ho. What is the significance of these choices, both within the context of the novel and in the context of adoption in general? Is it important for an adoptive family to give children from another country or ethnic group a sense of their heritage? What insights does Ziba and Bitsy’s fractious disagreement about “Americanization” [p. 46] offer into this question?

2. Right from the start, Maryam feels a deep connection with Susan—“something around the eyes, some way of looking at things, some onlooker’s look: that was what they shared. Neither one of them quite belonged” [p. 13]. Does Maryam’s pleasure in bonding with Susan hint at needs or emotions that she is unable or unwilling to acknowledge? To what extent does her insistence that she is “Still and forever a guest, on her very best behavior” [p. 15] serve as a convenient excuse for remaining aloof from other people?

3. What aspects of her heritage does Maryam value most and why? Why is she so unsettled by her visit to Iran and her reactions to Iranians in the country [p. 39]? Why is she annoyed when her cousin’s American husband sprinkles bits of Farsi into his conversation [p. 147]? Why has she raised Sami to be “more American than the Americans” [p. 83], even as she clings to her otherness?

4. Does Maryam’s behavior show that she feels not only estranged from American society but also in some way superior to it? What specific incidents and conversations bring this aspect of her personality to light?

5. In addition to being a wonderfully amusing vignette, what is the import of Sami’s “performance piece” [pp. 80–81]? Why does Tyler use humor and mockery to convey a serious point about Americans and how they appear to immigrants? Does the fact that Sami is American-born and-raised make his criticisms more credible (and perhaps more acceptable) than they would be if a newcomer to the country expressed them?

6. How does Maryam differ from Ziba’s parents and her cousin Farah, the other Iranian immigrants depicted in the novel? What factors, both practical and psychological, influence the characters’ desire and ability to make a place for themselves in American society? What do these varying portraits show about the process of assimilation? Are there inherent contradictions between accepting the culture of an adopted homeland and retaining one’s ethnic identi

7. Compare and contrast Ziba and Bitsy. How do they differ as women? As mothers? Which woman is more sympathetically drawn? How does Tyler use both negative and positive attributes to bring each woman to life? How do the women’s individual approaches to motherhood influence the way they regard and evaluate each other? Is Ziba overly susceptible to Bitsy’s criticism and suggestions? Does her friendship with Ziba, as well as her frequent encounters with Maryam, affect Bitsy’s beliefs or behavior? Does the relationship between Ziba and Bitsy change over the course of the book?

8. How do the portraits of Sami and Brad compare to those of their wives? Are their personalities as richly described? Do they play parallel roles within their families? Is their behavior in relation to their children and wives a reflection of their personalities and the nature of their marriages, or do cultural patterns, expectations, and values also play a part?

9. Does the romance between Dave and Maryam unfold in a realistic way? In addition to Dave’s moving reaction to Connie death, what other events or conversations show that he contains a depth and a self-awareness that Maryam and the others seem oblivious to?

10. What does Maryam’s description of her courtship and marriage [pp. 155–160] add to our image of her? Why has she chosen to keep the story to herself, not even sharing it with Sami?

11. Discuss Maryam’s reaction to Dave’s proposal [pp. 211–214]. What does her conversation with Sami and Ziba reveal about her difficulties in reconciling her prejudices about Americans and her affection for Dave? In what ways do her protests also bring to light her ambivalent feelings about who she is and what she is willing to give up at this stage of her life? Why do you think Maryam makes the decision she does at the end of the book?

12. To what extent does Digging to America echo the themes and concerns Tyler explored in her previous novels? Do Tyler’s views on marriage and family here differ in significant ways from those presented in her earlier works? How does Digging to America compare to other books you have read that portray women trying to establish an identity apart from what is expected—or demanded—of them?

Questions: July and August Meetings

2007-07-02T12:31:00.000-04:00

Our meeting in July is on Thursday the 19th. We chose to read Digging to America by Anne Tyler. The August meeting will be on Thursday the 16th. Since no title was chosen for August, why don't we all just plan to share with the group what we are currently reading. It does not need to be an elaborate presentation; you don't even need to have finished reading the book, article, short story, etc. Just share what it is, why you like or dislike it, and maybe to whom it would appeal.
We did put off reading Devil in the White City by Erik Larson because it is long. What about doing it in September? There are 12 copies in the library system, and there is lots of time. Yes? No? Other choices?
Fran

Review of Heat by Bill Buford prepared by Brenda

2007-07-02T12:28:00.000-04:00

Those of us who attended the last book club meeting were in agreement that this was a superbly written book, giving insights into a little-known world of the gourmet chef. We would have liked to discuss it with others who did, and did not like the book, but it was not to be…

Journalist Bill Buford explores the mysteries and kitchen secrets of EVERYTHING that goes into and onto the plate of a restaurant meal. Buford’s book project begins as a chronicle of the life and times of the famed chef, Maurio Batali, of NYC’s three-star restaurant, Babbo. His curiosity of what goes on behind the scenes in a gourmet restaurant soon becomes an obsession as he attempts to emulate his subject as Batali’s cook/kitchen slave. But after learning what goes on in the various stations, the pasta station, the grill, the pastry station, the plate-and-serve station, the produce prep station, etc., and even getting promoted to line cook, this is not enough. Buford then wants to study with the masters that shaped the creative genius of Mario Batali. After several trips to Europe to apprentice with pasta makers, butchers and noted chefs, Buford gives us vivid picture of the entire process of how a gourmet meal becomes gourmet.

He delves into the history and philosophy of cooking, regional variations and practices, the importance of buying fresh and local (when available, as long as it is not inferior) and shaping the weekly menu around that, not selecting a menu then trying to find the food to make it. Even purchasing meat requires an education in what the animal was fed, and where it was raised, or under what conditions a particular crop was harvested. And then there are the strong personalities one finds in the great restaurant kitchens of the world. There was a repeated theme of these larger-than-life chefs, all competitive, high-energy, in-your-face, socially inappropriate, ECCENTRIC, emotionally-charged, temperamental, and yet extremely quick (in body and mind), talented individuals. One chef stated “I prefer working with women. There is so much less testosterone bravura.”

The book is “peppered” with recipes, food terms, wine pairings, and helpful cooking techniques. And there is something for everyone to “chew” on here; a travel guide to fine dining and drinking as well as a travel guide to the great food regions of Italy, France, and England:13 pages written about cookery, travel, and literature.

Yes, Buford and some of his subjects are quite poetic at times:

"Teresa was effervescently happy. She hummed, broke into song, laughed at the slightest absurdity, and because she found the world delightfully absurd, she laughed all the time, unless she laughed too hard, and then she cried. "

"It’s not the breed but the breeding."

"For Dario, implicit in the culture of a place was its language and its art AND its food—maybe the most direct expression because the habits of cooking and eating arise out of the land itself."

And referring to the slow, steady curing and cooking of old, “You cannot do traditional work at a modern pace.”

For someone who is not passionate about fine food and drink, this book would be a difficult read. But as a psychological study in obsessive, exhibitionist personalities and a rare glimpse into some of the great kitchens and how a dinner dish comes together, it is an exciting read. At times Buford repeats himself, and we’re not sure if it’s bad editing or perhaps to underscore a point. And he borrows liberally from other “foodies”; even his title is taken from British chef Marco Pierre White’s book “White Heat.” Interestingly Buford comes full circle in this book from his first dinner with Mario-the-great-chef to the last chapter, another dinner with Mario where he is more the chef’s equal, even being encouraged to open his own restaurant.

Oh, did I mention that during Buford’s entire “one-track fetish with all things cookery,” that he was married? His wife Jessica Green, also a successful journalist, sometimes accompanied him to Europe. She must be a saint, tolerating his taking over their apartment kitchen for a week while he dresses every part of a pig; he would go for days without seeing her, coming home during the wee hours after cooking late then staying up until dawn trying to unwind. Buford (at age 50) and his wife are now parents of twin boys. In a a quote from Dante’s Divine Comedy, he dedicates his book “For Jessica …che move il sole e l’altre stelle” (“whose love moves the sun and the stars”).

Comment on Eat, Pray, Love

2007-06-19T13:52:00.000-04:00

Gilbert lost favor with some in the book club because in the end, she finds love again. In her defense, Gilbert spent a year of her life doing nothing but trying to put the past behind her, working through her pain, reconnecting with her inner self, devoting the whole of her days to prayer, meaningful interaction, and soul-searching for truth and knowledge of how we fit into the universal scheme of things. Not many of us have the luxury of taking a year off to do this, which is why it can take us the better part of a lifetime to make the leaps she has made in just one year, to overcome the bitterness of a failed relationship, or to enlighten ourselves on a path of inner peace and happiness. It's not like she jumped from one relationship to another (although David was the epitome of a rebounder). Gilbert shunned going out to the party where she met Felipe, the Brazilian, but eventually gave in to the peer pressure to "get out and circulate." Then she kept a safe distance from him after they met; she didn't just plunge into a love affair, she led in with her big toe, one foot, then the other, slowly followed by body and soul. Sometimes no matter how hard we fight it, when the right love comes along, its power is too strong to deny. What does one gain in trying to fight it, instead of giving in to love? In our time, it Pollyannaish to be a romantic? Who are we to say that two persons from two different continents who found each other on a third continent weren't meant to be together? Isn't life about seeking happiness? Did not Thomas Jefferson recognize this when framing our constitutional right to "the pursuit of happiness?"

Comment from a member

2007-06-14T14:44:00.000-04:00

Since this comment requires some thought before we meet, I'm entering it as a post so that all of us are sure to see it.

Food for thought:Since there are some "summer reads" I've been looking forward to, I won't be able to read those AND book club selections. I will probably not attend the next 2-3 months so that I can focus on some other things. If I'm not the only one wanting to take a break, I propose we do something that would take less personal time but still would be a meaningful book club meeting. We could have 1 month where people select 2-3 poems from their favorite poet(s) to share with the group, as well as a bit about the poet. Another meeting could be the same with essays. There are many wonderful books of essays and poetry out there that are often overlooked. And then there are the short stories, some by prominent authors, others unknown. How do these compare with their larger works?

Posting Comments to This Blog

2007-06-14T11:03:00.000-04:00

Here's a tip to post a comment. Click on "Comments" under an earlier post, then click on "Anonymous" so that the username/password boxes for Google disappear. Please send comments, especially if you can't come to a meeting. We all want to hear your opinion! See you on the 21st at 5:30 for our discussion of Heat.

Heat by Bill Buford

2007-05-21T11:34:00.000-04:00

Discussion Questions for June 21 at 5:30 PM. We will meet in the library's 2nd floor Paul Siegmund Room, 311 Scott Street. For information about the Beaufort Book Club, email fhays@bcgov.net or just come to the meeting!

Did Heat make you want to become a cook, or did it make you want to run far, far away from the kitchen?
Why do you think Buford included the story about Miguel, the cook who killed himself?
Which larger-than-life chef were you most intrigued by? Mario Batali, Marco Pierre White, or Dario Cecchini? In what ways are they alike, and how are they different?
Have you ever spent an intense period of time learning a new skill, the way Buford did in the Babbo kitchen and the Cecchini macelleria?
At one point, Buford is told that the heat of the kitchen means the chef's sweat flavors every meal. Do you think this was meant to be an interesting fact? A provocative metaphor? A slightly disgusting reality?
Rate Heat on a scale of 1-5.

Discussion Questions-Winter of Our Discontent

2007-05-01T16:43:00.000-04:00

Questions for Discussion:

In what ways does Steinbeck show the reader that a new order is replacing the old in New Baytown.
As the story opens, is Ethan Hawley part of the new order or the old? Explain.
Critics have stated that Steinbeck is presenting a paradox: “[man] can simply become one of the ‘eaters’ who simply fulfill their needs and urges, or he can try to make a difference as a moral, conscious individual." How is Ethan tempted to abandon his values and morals?
How does he himself expand on those temptations? What are the results?
When Margie reads Ethan’s fortune, she gets a vision of a snake shedding its skin. What might the image of the snake signify?
How do the actions of Ethan’s son mirror Ethan’s decline?
What is Ethan’s reaction?
What prevents his suicide?
To Mr.Marullo, Ethan is the “light” because he has not taken a kickback from a salesman. Who does Ethan discover as his own symbol of light for the next generation?

April 19-Eat, Pray, Love Discussion

2007-04-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

In the absence of Maura (We missed you!), I will touch on the highlights of our discussion.

One of the questions for discussion from the publisher quoted author Gilbert as saying that American is"an entertainment-seeking nation, not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one." Our group agreed, noting how often we feel guilty for "doing nothing" when we should be enjoying a chance for solitude or an attempt to rest and reflect. Europeans, we decided, are much more able to just relax and enjoy when the opportunity presents itself.

A member commented on the brilliant structure of the book: one chapter for each of the 108 beads on the japa mala, Indian prayer beads. We also decided that the order in which the author visited her countries was well chosen: Italy to eat too much, learn to relax, and gain weight; then India to the ashram where she ate vegetables and brown rice and scrubbed floors--surely an accidental weight-loss program!

During her stay at the ashram, Gilbert decides to become silent. Her goal is to become"The Quiet Girl." At that point she is assigned the job of Key Hostess, a job where the assignment is to greet new guests and be "social and bubbly and smiling all the time." She must talk! The universe has a sense of humor, and a sense of a person's true personality.

Another discussion ranged around the author's quest for a word that describes her. She had been told that cities have a defining word: "Rome's word is SEX" for example. She finally decided to choose "Anteavasin" for herself. The word means "one who lives at the border." She sees herself as one who has left her normal life to become a seeker after wisdom, but one who has not yet arrived. The club decided that her word was really one on which she focused in Italy: Attraversiamo. It means "Let's cross over." The two words seem related in meaning.

Upcoming Titles for the Beaufort Book Club

2007-04-19T19:49:00.000-04:00

June 21st-Heat by Bill Buford (The library system has 6 copies total. It is also in paperback for under $12, at least on Amazon.)
July 19th-Digging to America by Anne Tyler (The library system owns 7 copies. It is in paperback on Amazon for just over $10.)
Happy Reading!

Don't Forget Our Meeting!

2007-04-18T16:05:00.000-04:00

Remember, our club meets tomorrow night (Thursday, April 19) at 5:30 in the 2nd floor meeting room. Bring a snack or drink to share, maybe a friend (!), and come ready to enjoy discussing Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. If you have a chance, go to her website at www.elizabethgilbert.com/faq.htm to read more about the trips behind her book. There you will also see pictures of the people about whom she writes: Dario and Giovanni (yes, too cute), Wayan & Tutti, and others. I'll bring a print-out to the meeting. See you there!

The Book Club by Maura

2007-03-26T15:52:00.000-04:00

The Beaufort Book Club met on March 15^th to discuss The Book Club, by Mary Alice Munroe. In this novel, Mary Alice Monroe weaves a story of relationships and friendships that are forged through a meeting of the Book Club. Eve, Doris, Annie, Gabby and Midge undergo difficult times. Their friendships provide support and solace and deepen their relationships.

The book is predictable at first but as the story progresses, the reader is led through the intertwining of lives.. Two of the characters, Eve and Doris live parallel lives. Gabby, a nurse is the most truthful and must support her family when her husband loses his job. Midge, an artist, struggles with her own problems when her mother decides to move closer to her. Annie’s behavior causes a split in the friendships but helps the women grasp what is really important in life.

Change is difficult and in the end the women realize they can and must take control of their lives. The strength and support of the their friendships helps the Book Club members emerge as stronger women.

The next meeting of the Beaufort Book Club is April 19^th at 5:30p.m. The book for discussion is:

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Changes-We are Evolving

2007-03-23T10:44:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed that the club name keeps changing! First we decided to drop "boadacious" as it seemed to relate to Queen Boadicea and exclude the males in our club. Next to go was "bookies." Not sure why on that one, although I'm sure my 76-year-old mother is relieved that her daughter is not associated with anything that could be construed as gambling! (We don't, by the way, unless you count hazarding an opinion as risky.) Anyway, we are now the Beaufort Book Club.
Another change: While we are still reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert for April 19, the May 17 selection has changed to The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck. Beaufort Branch has one copy, Hilton Head Branch has 3 copies, and Bluffton has one regular print and one large print copy.
Books being considered for later meetings are:
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (summer)
The Bridge by Doug Marlette
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Atonement by Ian McEwen
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
The Bastard of Istanbulby Elif Shafak
anything by John Irving
Give this some thought and make your preferences known. Happy Reading!

Discussion Questions: Eat, Pray, Love

2007-03-23T10:36:00.000-04:00

These questions are courtesy of the publisher of Eat, Pray, Love.

Discussion Questions From the Publisher
1. Gilbert writes that "the appreciation of pleasure can be the anchor of humanity," making the argument that America is "an entertainment-seeking nation, not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one." Is this a fair assessment?

2. After imagining a petition to God for divorce, an exhausted Gilbert answers her phone to news that her husband has finally signed. During a moment of quietude before a Roman fountain, she opens her Louise Glück collection to a verse about a fountain, one reminiscent of the Balinese medicine man's drawing. After struggling to master a 182-verse daily prayer, she succeeds by focusing on her nephew, who suddenly is free from nightmares. Do these incidents of fortuitous timing signal fate? Cosmic unity? Coincidence?

3. Gilbert hashes out internal debates in a notebook, a place where she can argue with her inner demons and remind herself about the constancy of self-love. When an inner monologue becomes a literal conversation between a divided self, is this a sign of last resort or of self-reliance?

4. When Gilbert finally returns to Bali and seeks out the medicine man who foretold her return to study with him, he doesn't recognize her. Despite her despair, she persists in her attempts to spark his memory, eventually succeeding. How much of the success of Gilbert's journey do you attribute to persistence?

5. Prayer and meditation are both things that can be learned and, importantly, improved. In India, Gilbert learns a stoic, ascetic meditation technique. In Bali, she learns an approach based on smiling. Do you think the two can be synergistic? Or is Ketut Liyer right when he describes them as "same-same"?

6. Gender roles come up repeatedly in Eat, Pray, Love, be it macho Italian men eating cream puffs after a home team's soccer loss, or a young Indian's disdain for the marriage she will be expected to embark upon at age eighteen, or the Balinese healer's sly approach to male impotence in a society where women are assumed responsible for their childlessness. How relevant is Gilbert's gender?

7. In what ways is spiritual success similar to other forms of success? How is it different? Can they be so fundamentally different that they're not comparable?

8. Do you think people are more open to new experiences when they travel? And why?

9. Abstinence in Italy seems extreme, but necessary, for a woman who has repeatedly moved from one man's arms to another's. After all, it's only after Gilbert has found herself that she can share herself fully in love. What does this say about her earlier relationships?

10. Gilbert mentions her ease at making friends, regardless of where she is. At one point at the ashram, she realizes that she is too sociable and decides to embark on a period of silence, to become the Quiet Girl in the Back of the Temple. It is just after making this decision that she is assigned the role of ashram key hostess. What does this say about honing one's nature rather than trying to escape it? Do you think perceived faults can be transformed into strengths rather than merely repressed?

10. Sitting in an outdoor café in Rome, Gilbert's friend declares that every city-and every person-has a word. Rome's is "sex," the Vatican's "power"; Gilbert declares New York's to be "achieve," but only later stumbles upon her own word, antevasin, Sanskrit for "one who lives at the border." What is your word? Is it possible to choose a word that retains its truth for a lifetime?

New Feature on Our Blog

2007-03-06T11:55:00.000-05:00

Reference Librarian Rachel Kingcade has added a new feature to our blog: Instant Messaging. The link on our blog is that green and black rectangle on the left that says "Yaplet" and "Chat Here." I can't monitor it all the time, but we could use it at the next meeting to communicate with others who can't come. Does anyone have a laptop you'd like to bring? We have WiFi in the meeting room so that we can IM.
Nex meeting: Thursday, March 15, 5:30 PM in the 2nd floor meeting room. See you there. Bring a friend!

Synopsis: Marie Antionette-The Journey

2007-02-19T10:58:00.000-05:00

Was Marie Antoinette, heartless Queen or misunderstood royalty? These and many other ideas were discussed at the Beaufort Bookies first meeting on Thursday night. Antonia Fraser presents quite a different picture from the usual of Marie Antoinette. Instead of seeing her s the queen who said, “Let them eat cake!” readers are led to a completely different conclusion.

Throughout the book, the author shows the influences of Marie’s mother, the circumstances of Marie’s upbringing and how manipulations of people at the court of Versailles impacted on this often-misunderstood queen. Parallels were drawn in the discussion between Marie Antoinette, Princess Diana and Lady Sarah Ferguson. In the book, Marie Antoinette makes many decisions, which are unpopular with the populous, and the people at court. Her fall from the favor of the French people was fueled by financial excess, and suspicions that she was trying to further the influence of Austria at court.

Despite all of the troubles brought on by the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette chose to remain at the side of her King. Her courage at her trial and execution evoked admiration even from her enemies.

This book allows the reader to re-examine the view of history during that period, and obtain a different perspective of a Queen who may have simply been misunderstood.
Synopsis by Maura

Reading Group Site

2007-02-15T12:52:00.000-05:00

Sandra Jordan has found a good site for synopsis of book plots/content for us. It is at:
www.ReadingGroupGuides.com.

Bring Someone Along With You

2007-01-23T19:38:00.000-05:00

In response to a question today: Yes, bring someone, or several someones, along with you on February 15! This group is open to the public, so tell your friends. If someone cannot come, but wants to take part, I will publish an outline of our discussion for your comments on this blog. If you wish to comment on the book, Marie Antoinette: The Journey before the meeting, please feel free to do so through the blog.