December-Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!