Stacks Book Club

Road trip across America, or stuck in a car with nothing but Narcissism?

2011-12-02T08:24:00.000-08:00

When I finally realized how behind I am in my literary reports and reviews, I debated whether or not to go back and comment on each of the books that we've read or to just move forward with Killing Yourself to Live, which we just read. I decided to maybe tie all of the books together, because I would say, other than the Master and Margarita by:Mikhail Bugalov, all of the last several books have been entertaining but disappointingly shallow.

Without giving a summary of each book, including my own expectations and then utter letdown. In thinking about this pattern, definitely some of the books were much more disappointing than others. For example, Fingersmith had an active plot that kept me engaged and distracted from the fact that many of the characters were one-sided and lacked the necessary depth for me to really feel any connection to their problems and supposed intricacies. The same is true of The Island, although much more so, as Victoria Hislop's book is the written version of a Greek soap opera; selfish characters were seemingly selfish for no reason, other than the trait's necessity for the plot to advance.

Running with Scissors is almost certainly not shallow and packed-full of entertaining anecdotes from a terrible childhood. Augusten is surrounded by the most selfish characters possibly ever portrayed, in fact so selfish that they believe their selfishness is a selfless necessity for the betterment of society as a whole. While I'm sure based on real characters, Burroughs must be exaggerating them in order to make the book more entertaining. At some point the hyperbole of the characters becomes repugnant and Augusten, the character, becomes tainted by their behavior. I stopped rooting for him and became annoyed that he hadn't taken any action to rid his life of them. By the end I was glad the whole lot of them was out of my life as my reading time had become more stressful than entertaining. As to which character is the most hated, the jury is still out. (Sidenote: the movie in no way captures the characters that Burroughs created, save the mother.)

Along the same lines, Klosterman's account of his cross country road trip to visit sites where musicians became legendary through death, had such great potential but was ruined by Klosterman's focus on himself. It seems he used the book as an opportunity to sort through his own (pathetic) relationship problems. In this case, he is the obnoxious character. I was giddy with anticipation when I read the first chapter of the book, where Klosterman outlines the premise, but as I progressed, the author's disrespect for musicians and seeming nonchalance about the reasons that various events had such a profound impact was exhausting and enraging. Honestly, I think Klosterman has an amazing memory that he has saturated with musical trivia, which is nowhere near the same as feeling emotionally connected to music and the people that created it. This is coupled with long stories about women that I failed to see the relevance of. That said, there were a few moments of interesting analysis. I thought that what Klosterman wrote about Kurt Cobain's death was exactly what I was looking for after I read the first chapter. Sadly it was the last chapter and too little too late. Jane said she would have loved the book when she was 18 or so, and I wholeheartedly agree.

More like the Particular Incompleteness of Potential Plotlines

2011-04-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you Jane for hosting a wonderful meeting and serving a delicious cake, filled with genuine care. It seems that Aimee Bender's novel left many of us with lots of feelings, which we really delved into (perhaps overdelved to a point of demonizing) and were able to explore.

First, I think that all of us agreed that there were moments of the book that we loved and that the conceptual basis of the book is fantastic. That excitement, unfortunately, was snuffed as the plotline veered into strange and, honestly, uninteresting territory. The idea that Bender's main character can taste the emotion with which a cook makes a meal is fantastic and opens the door to so many different plot possibilities. I, for one, was enthralled through the first part of the book, excited to see where such an unusual and phenomenal trait would land the character. The possibility that not just a child, but a woman, with real insight and emotional experience, would be given such a gift/curse is tremendous. Unfortunately for readers, this road is never explored. The character avoids food and becomes emotionally detached. Throughout the book, any moment that may, through deeper exploration, have proved to deepen any of the characters is abruptly shallowed. Her love interest, whom she kisses once, suddenly gets married, an event at which the narrator is completely detached. Any possible story lines when real depth, especially given the main character's insight, are simply never approached.

Further, the second half of the book focuses on the older brother, who also possesses a hidden talent: the ability to disappear into furniture. Unlike his sister's talent, this skill carries with it no possible emotional insight upon which to build a story. He simply vanishes and people look for him, the implications of which are dealt with in one or two pages at the end of the book: some people are able to utilize their talents, while others never use theirs or avoid them. Hmmm...right.

Thus, the only person that the main character's talent ever illuminates is her mother, whose desperation is turned to an affair that, again, is never explored. Perhaps the reason the book is ultimately so frustrating is that the questions existed, but were left unasked by the author, despite them looming large in the minds of readers.

Never a dull moment while Trout Fishing in America

2011-03-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

Richard Brautigan's tale of a journey through the Northwest and the mind (although it is never clear which one is which) is one that I would put in the poetry category before I would label it as fiction. Trout Fishing in America toys with every literary device born of the beatnik generation, but perhaps is most beautiful and telling in it use of various images. Jane marked this delightful passage:
"The next morning I got up early and ate my breakfast. I took a slice of white bread to use for bait. I planned on making doughballs from the soft center of the bread and putting them on my vaudevillian hook. I left the place and walked down to the different street corner. How beautiful the field looked and the creek that came pouring down in a waterfall off the hill. But as I got closer to the creek I could see something was wrong. The creek did not act right. There was a strangeness to it. There was a thing about its motions that was wrong. Finally I got close enough to see what the trouble was. The waterfall was just a flight of white wooden stairs leading up to a house in the trees. I stood there for a long time, looking up and looking down, following the stairs with my eyes, having trouble believing. Then I knocked on my creek and heard the sound of wood. I ended up being my own trout and eating the slice of bread myself."

This passage certainly shows Brautigan's knack for images, but maybe is not overly representative of the book as a whole. This passage is much more of a narrative than the bulk of the book. Other passages are strings of images, seemingly unrelated.

The beauty of such images is that the book gives you feelings, without telling you stories, which is truly challenging. Initially, I found myself trying to follow a succession of events and only after forgetting this method entirely, was I truly able to be taken by the book, although not always somewhere that I wanted to go.

In discussing the book, it was great to be reminded of moments that others had loved that I had forgotten or not noticed. Please share if there are any images or passages that stuck with you!

Back on Track, although Lolita doesn't make it easy...

2010-10-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

In celebrating life's lovely joys, from new babies to new jobs to new loves and experiences, it is difficult to find moments for thought or just sitting and not doing anything. More and more, I struggle with balancing getting involved with the things and people I love to be around and being alone to think and regroup. Weeks when I do too much, by Sunday my head is spinning and I'm completely exhausted and desperate to be alone. Weeks when I plan alone time, I get ansy and want to go out and see friends. Will I ever figure out how to plan just right?

That said, finding a quiet moment to read and then cracking open Nabakov's Lolita, is a bit counterintuitive. Not to imply that Lolita is poorly written or even not a proseful pleasure to read. Quite the opposite. It does however raise questions about the primal state of man that are not easy to grapple with, nor does it offer any resolution. In Lolita, famously, an older man falls helplessly in love with a pre-adolescent girl and will stop at no criminal behavior to keep from losing her. The book is a reflection on an adventure the pair shared to avoid suspicion of her imprisonment and an opportunity for her escape. The truly brilliant element of the book is that Nabokov allows Humbert, the pedophile, to tell the story, removed from the judgment of a third-party narrator. In doing this, Nabakov is forced to create a mental arena in which a man recognizes his lust for pre-teens, realizes its illegality, but must have the girl at any cost. Obviously, in his mind he is not crazy, but completely focused and logical about his pursuit, thus any air of judgment is nonexistent. Here the exquisite writing is crucial as readers are forced to ride the innerworkings of Humbert's mind and hear vivid accounts of his sexual encounters with Lolita.

The other point I have to make about the book is how oversimplified Nababkov's concept has been through pop culture. When the term "Lolita" is dropped into conversation or texts, it is often to label a pedophile. I think that Nabakov works very hard to create a highly complex character whose psychosis is much more inticate than simply a sexual preference for young girls. Humbert seems to truly prefer the unbridled mannerisms of young girls versus women who have learned to speak and behave a certain way. While certainly, physical characteristics play a role, it is more his obsession with simple, unmitigated thinking and behavior that perpetuates his unraveling. I would not say that at any point, Humbert's meditations win the reader's favor, but I would say that he is much more thoughtful and complex that the oversimplified pederasts on modern TV shows.

While Lolita is a tragedy and often heartbreaking to read, the writing is crisp, clear, deliberate, and at moments a pleasure to read. Unfortunately, it is difficult in these moments of brilliance to forget the previous imagery that is difficult to hear described.

Classics and Movies! Oh My!

2010-02-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

As we take on a new year, book club has become decidedly our own. While the first year seemed plagued by how-should-we-behave-at-a-book-club feelings, this year I think that the format of the club has become very specific to what we actually enjoy. Yes, we are different, but I think that we have agreed on a level of seriousness that we can all manage.

That said, I am eager to read books that I think many of us feel we should have read by now, but haven't gotten to. I also think that having the option of watching the movie rather than read the book every month will make it a lot easier for several people to participate, especially the ladies that are moms or moms-to-be.

I am just starting To Kill a Mockingbird, but am excited to see how different it is to read as an adult rather than a 14 year-old. Really, all I can remember about this book is the guy that sat next to me in class while we were reading it....

The Implications of FEED

2009-10-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

As we (by we I mean I) rush into Fall and struggle to meet all of our self-imposed deadlines, I was struck by the similarities between the MT Anderson's characters' urges and my own. I'm definitely not far enough into the book to write anything too in depth, but I thought that his description of the characters hunger for shopping and consumption were frighteningly close to our own current reality. I recently heard the term 'affluenza' for the first time, which is defined as a need to 'keep up with the Joneses' or make your life appear great to your neighbors through by purchasing the latest, hippest items. In Feed, Anderson's characters are literally stimulated by sales and their own buying-power. I wondered how soon the gap will be bridged, or even if it has already been, between identifying yourself with possessions (which currently exists) to being tittillated by the opportunity to do so. I guess to bring another thread into this thought, in China, with only public housing and a publicly assigned job, retail possessions were literally the only form of self-expression. Needless to say, people went to extraordinary lengths to appear a certain way and own certain items. As I begin to ramble, I just wonder how far the internet, our sense of self, and consumerism will continue to be intertwined in the future.

Because I am so behind, I not only have yet to comment of our last novel, Galapagos, but also never said anything about Alias Grace.

I realize that I have already said this to several of you in conversation, but I loved getting lost in time while reading Alias Grace. While the novel itself was set in the 1800s, the psychology and analysis was fairly modern. When I finally checked the publication date, I was shocked to see that it was written in 1996. Margaret Atwood's portrayal of the character was so perfectly placed in the period, yet completely complex. While slow and descriptive in parts, Atwood definitely inserted plenty of suspense and I didn't know how the novel would end until the very last page.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on November 9th. Send me suggestions of where we should meet. Hope everyone is well and coping with this abrupt shift to Portland Fall.

Ups and downs, but never bad

2009-08-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

I know that by the time we met this month, many, in fact I think everyone that read, was still working on the marvelous "White Teeth". With everyone diving into summer headfirst, I think that it may have been difficult for anyone to find time to sit and enjoy a book.

When I did have time to read Zadie Smith's novel, I was instantly drawn into the community she creates. Regardless, of whether I had time to read this book for an hour or five minutes, I was always instantly there. Train rides flew and mornings whizzed by as I spent my time in England with a very interesting cast of characters. If I could describe the book with one word, it would likely be absorbing.

That said, every moment of the novel was good, but it wasn't always linguistically great. At no point did I wish she would just get on with it or attempt to skip pages without feeling guilty, rather, there were moments when I was blown away by Smith's descriptions and overwhelmed by the depth and humor of her characters. Unfortunately, these moments were sporadic, sometimes lasting for pages and other times just a sentence.

The story itself is very interesting and I think that Smith's knack for storytelling from a plethora of perspectives is phenomenal. Her ability to move seamlessly from one brain to another was amazing to witness.

In the end, I would recommend White Teeth with ease to anyone looking for an interesting and unique book. On the other hand, it will never make it to my list of favorites, but then again I can't just give those spots away.

So we're on to Alias Grace by: Margaret Atwood. This novel is based on the facts surrounding a 19th century murder investigation. I was tempted to read about the case online, but decided to wait until after I've read the book to learn more about it. Hope everyone enjoys this sunshiney book!

On a scale of one to ten: 3.

2009-07-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

Needless to say Snuff was not a group favorite. Indeed, I believe it has stolen Middlesex's crown as the Stacks BC least favorite book to date. The group's preferences for Palahniuk ranged from those that consider themselves his biggest fans and others who have read several of his books and never understood his unique style. That being said, the opinion of SNUFF was pretty much unanimous. Those that have previously enjoyed Palahniuk's raw grit were disappointed by what felt like a lack of effort on his part. Those that have never appreciated his unromantic sexual images and unflattering realism sited the book as yet another example of Palahniuk getting caught up in trying to disgust readers, rather than presenting them with new and interesting ideas. The book did receive the three because many members enjoyed his historical references, true or not, to why certain innovations came about the way that they did. Hitler and the blow-up dolls, Marilyn Monroe eating eggshells, etc. Those small joys were not enough to save the work from its repeated use of the term "pudpullers", which I, personally, could not stand reading over and over again. No one uses that term and stop using it ever other line! All and all the book was very unsatisfying.

This meeting brought a few new concepts to the meeting that I would love to hear feedback on. First, rather than meet at someone's home we met at a bar. I, personally, really enjoyed being out with everybody especially sitting out in the wonderful summer air. I recognize that it is a little bit more expensive, but I was thinking that it may be fun to alternate month to month between house and public venue.

Also, I really liked rating the book numerically. I realize the shortcomings of a rating system as it does not allow for a full evaluation into the complexity of a book. On the other hand, I think that rating novels and being able to post a comment to explain the rating satisfies this pitfall. If there are disagreements about the rating (obviously not everyone in the group often agrees completely on a book - see Mailer's American Dream) I am more than happy to post the variations and let disagreers explain.

So it is on the Zadie Smith, whose novel I think will offer much more insight and creativity than Palaniuk's, dare I say, ridiculous day at a porn warehouse.

I may not be the super reader I thought I was, but at least I know what I like

2009-06-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

Needless to say, Infinite Jest was daunting. Every time I picked it up I felt like I was dumping a glass of water into a river. Some of the pages literally took me 10 or 15 minutes to read. When you look up and you have been reading for over an hour and you have only read 7 pages, you may begin to feel like life has passed you by in your attempt to read this book. That being said and having read the novel's cautionary forward, I would like to read it at some point. Moments of it had me cracking up, while others left me simultaneously intrigued and bewildered-a sensation that I definitely have an urge to satisfy. Infinite Jest just wasn't the recreational read I needed as this quarter came to a close. That in no way discounts it from being a book I run to in the future, just not right now.

The next novel we face is Snuff by our beloved Portland neighbor, Chuck Palahniuk. I think that we all have read at least one or more of his novels and have some idea of what to expect. That said, and maybe it was because I put down Infinite Words and turned to Snuff, my initial reaction is that it is no where near as complex and clever as some of CP's previous works. As prior novels offered insight and, to some extent, revelations, Snuff offers a lot of creative porn titles and euphemisms for penises and masturbation. While funny, you will likely read this book quickly and feel like he is trying to use sex in a shocking way that seems like a stretch. I've said too much! Don't let my opinion sway you at all! I would love to hear what others think. Enjoy.

I know it's controversial but.....

2009-04-10T16:59:00.000-07:00

So now that we are all experts on both Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Blade Runner, I think I can go out on a limb and say that the two have little to nothing in common with one another. I say this with such caution only because in discussing Blade Runner with people, some seem outright shocked that I didn't think it was the greatest movie of all time. In fact, I thought the film was odd, disjointed, and having nothing to do with the novel it was supposedly based on. My shock that so many people consider the film to be one of the best of all time, is probably about equal to theirs.

Perhaps my dislike for the movie had some relationship to my absolute love of Phillip K. Dick's novel. Both his creativity and philosophical depth took me on a ride I in no way was expecting. At first, I had thought because of the title that the fundamental question of the novel was whether or not machines should be treated the same way as human beings. As the novel unraveled, I began to realize that the point was more what the difference between humans and androids is, rather than similarities. Mr. Dick offers empathy. While the main character eventually develops emphatic feelings towards androids, the feelings are never returned.

The real adventure was the thought process and gathering of data in order to make a final judgement. There are a couple of themes of the book I am still sorting through and would love to get opinions on such as: Mercerism (Wilbur, stones, etc.), the last chapter with the toad, Buster Friendly, and anything else anyone would like to add. I'm certain that Dick thought every element of the novel through very carefully and I would love to hear opinions about why these parts were included, other than for obvious entertainment value.

On to Infinite Jest....I hope we're all ready for this!

Who knew I would like adventure books?

2009-03-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

So, as a quick review of my many blog posts would easily show, I have always tended to avoid books centered around stories that follows characters as a witness to their lives. For some reason these books (see Middlesex) often seem superfluous and excessive, as if the author is just writing without clear purpose or direction. I mean really, why did the kid in Middlesex start doing a tranny show in San Francisco? It just began to seem like too much.
I have often preferred books where the story is secondary to the thought process of the author (or narrator). As in the American Dream or the Corrections, the events of the characters lives existed merely to uncover the truth of their personalities and character traits. We weren't waiting to see what event would happen next, but rather how that event would affect the inner dialogue and future actions of the author.
This being said, the last two books have been stories that are truly adventures novels, taking readers from one interesting encounter to the next. I have not been able to put them down, not because of the level of thought, but because the sheer excitement of the account of what is going on. Not that the thought isn't also there. In fact, in Dorian Gray and Kavalier and Clay the balance of introspection and narrative has been so perfect that it is often difficult to tell the two apart. The stories are the thought process and vice versa.
In Dorian, the little action that occurred between the fascinating conversations, reinforced whatever had been being debated. These illustrations seemed to further emphasize the various points Wilde was trying to make. It is only as Dorian begins to care about the way people interpret his actions, unlike Lord Henry, that his actions begin to affect his appearance. The action is a perfect supplement to their lengthy discussions.
Kavalier and Clay is much less a discussion than just an adventure, pure and simple (hence the title). As the two traverse 1930's New York in search of the American dream, they are blind-sided by the simple task of becoming adults. Not only do we see them working to build a comic book empire, but they are working to figure out how to make the leap from boys to men. Chabon is careful to include all of the questions that we ask as we make this transition, without forcing them on the reader. Joe's first flirtation is offset with the near drowning of Salvador Dali. The combination of contemplation and story-telling is of course bettered by humor.
In short, I feel like I have newly discovered a whole genre of books I had previously assumed I wouldn't enjoy and can't wait to read more of books of this style.
Now let's see how I do with science fiction as we take on Philip K. Dick.....

A Tree Grows in /Dorian / Getaway weekend

2009-01-31T19:44:00.000-08:00

It pains me that I have not taken the time to pay proper homage to A Tree Grows. It was a book that I adored and now that is has been three weeks since I finished it, I miss. Betty Smith's autobiographical novel is easy to fall into, but in my case it was the sense the book gave me that I was traveling back in time that lured me in. Many of you know that I am semi-obsessed with the idea of time travel, which I think is the foundation for my love of reading in general. A Tree Grows was, as few books have been able to completely, an opportunity to be the fly on the wall in a small home in early-20th century Brooklyn. From the richness of the author's descriptions to the catalogue of sensations she was able to convey in her writing, it would be short-sided to describe Smith's book as one of mere sensory details.
Further, she takes you beyond the starving streets to the place where Brooklyn lives in her memory. She gives small moments meaning and slight interactions a lifetime of significance. The reader is simultaneously a child curious and observing and an adult attempting to derive meaning from the whirlwind of moments stuck in her head.
Not to go to far off on a tangent, but this was a great book and story. One that I highly recommend and will keep bringing up in conversation.

I'm not sure how many people are reading the Dorian Gray this month, but so far it is yet another book that I am pleasantly surprised by. I've read a few Wilde short stories, but had forgotten how effortlessly insight appears in both his dialogues and his descriptions. I am anxious to see where this twisted tale ends up.

Finally, this coming weekend is the cabin weekend. Please let me know if you intend to go so that we can plan rides, etc. More details to follow! Have a pleasant week!

Corrections: Upper or Downer?

2008-12-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

Kim here. As usual, this post is delayed. Not only did I not have the Corrections finished by the meeting, this month has continued to be a complete roller coaster ride. Anywho, enough about me. The Corrections was yet another completely polarizing book for us. Similarly to most of the books that we have read, either readers totally adored it or abhorred it. I myself am in the former camp, but was shocked by how staunch people were about their opinion of the book. Even the strangers who saw me reading it on the train or at a cafe, had something to say about it. What is it about this novel that is so completely polarizing?
I think that our meeting addressed the issue to an extent: not the subject matter, but the format of the novel itself is rather challenging. For those that appreciate a story line instead of a psychological makeup of characters, the Corrections lacked the usual dramatic techniques. But it didn't stop there. Even for those readers who love to delve deep into a characters psyche, there seemed to be something here that was too bleak to swallow. In my opinion (biased because I loved the book), the bleakness is born out of his refusal to give the reader a storybook ending. The reality is that these people have a lot of terrible tendencies, and living the way that they are, there isn't a great chance they are going to find the happiness they are seeking. I don't think their well-being should be the reader's concern, but rather the complexity Franzen creates. It's simultaneously entertaining, frightening, and completely true to human behavior, which is not an easy feat.
So, in response to the question of what it is about this book, I think that the polarizing effect is a symptom of the depth of the writing. I have no doubt that had Franzen written a more shallow, less true to man novel people would put it down, brush it off, and carry on their day. Instead he dives in head first, and gives us a frustrating look at the real America.

Nymph

2008-09-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

This book conjures up such rich descriptions of times and people that I just couldn't help but to add another drawing of yet another favorite character. The nymph Lalo. This is my response to "sexual, deviant characters" as posted by Jane..

Immortality, perfume, and beets...can't forget the beets!

2008-09-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

Jane here. I'd have to agree with the Garcia hermanas, Tom Robbins manages to come up with themes that seem completely unrelated and and tie them all together in a nearly indescribable way. As I begin to tear into the last 30 pages, however, I realize more and more that, though Tommy has been shining a very bright light on the concept of immortality, the book as a whole seems to be more about the evolution of humans - sometimes even the evolution of the world. I think it was so important for him to have an "immortal" character (Alobar) so that he could depict human evolution over the past 1000 years in his robbins-esque way. Based on other books I've read of his, I've noticed that he loves to present very important, deep, insightful philosophical matters by following the lives of eccentric, nearly-magical, sexual, deviant characters. Making his books incredibly funny and entertaining yet important and slightly life changing.

As per Kimmy's comments on how he describes things - I couldn't agree more. "So out there and perfect at the same time" is exactly how I view his descriptions as well. I was cracking up when he described Alobar's finger as "water-logged" (after spending the night inside Kudra) or Alma "hiccuping the mushroom scent of his spurt." (May I add that this is the 2nd time we've read of a man's biznass smelling of mushrooms -- think Greek couple on a boat) I can't help but wonder if he has to think long and hard before coming up with such brilliance, or if these ideas just come pouring out of him one after the other.

Anyway, reading Tom Robbins always feels like a breath of fresh air for me, and I'll be sad when the book is over. Can't wait to talk about it over wine though!

Questions/Comments

2008-09-29T17:02:00.000-07:00

I'm assuming the last person that commented was my darling Christiny Beanie. I couldn't agree more with your post. The central question of the book is definitely immortaliy, both the implications and downsides of the legendary ideal. The way that Robbins seeks it is wholly in line with the complexity of the idea: circularly, jaggedly, and everything but headon, which I don't believe actually exists. That is to say that he creates images and discussions to conjur up a sensation that deceives us into feeling like we've gotten straight to the heart of the matter. I don't believe this is possible, nor is his deception a negative thing. It is simply the most real the topic can feel.
I also am really enjoying his mismatching of adjectives and nouns that somehow is perfectly descriptive. Sexual images are paired with ugly and mundane words like mud and mushrooms. This seems to take away from the glamour of sex and bring it back to its place in daily life. I would love to hear other people's reactions to his descriptions. They just seems so out there and perfect at the same time.

two pages left

2008-09-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

The easiest question is "What are you reading?" The hardest question is "Whats it about?" Maybe Im just not good at explaining a plot but people just nod their heads politely and the conversation ends. Maybe because its just plain HARD to talk like Tom Robbins. Conveying his ideas are like describing what love is. I describe that the book deals with the real idea of immortality and how to achieve it and also... perfume... that links three very different parties together. Thats not really the plot. Its just the simplest way I can put it but you can't get into Robbins' head until you open up the book for yourself.

Speaking of which, what a NUT. Don't get me wrong, I love nutcases, especially genius ones.
Reading this book, I am more sucked into the authors head than I am in the storyline. I can compare him to Mark Ryden in a way; you can paint a pretty picture but I am still sitting here wondering what on earth it all means.

Wake me up before you go-go!

2008-09-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

I would first like to comment on how well the last meeting went. Not only did we talk about the book (wow!), but our discussion really illuminated aspects of Cloudstreet that I was struggling with. As always, having people to bounce ideas off of really helps, especially when dealing with concepts that I am having a hard time even putting into words.

One of the many ideas that had a hard time making it from my mind to my mouth was narrator or point of view. In a way, it seemed like the narrator was biased and had an opinion of all the characters. On the other hand, the narrator also seemed omnipresent. I'm not trying to say that this is an outrageous way for an author to write a novel, but there is something about the voice in Cloudstreet that seems distinct in the sense that the narrator is himself a character in the story. The discussion of the narrator brought several things to light and possibilities that hadn't even crossed my mind.

The other aspect of the novel I struggled greatly with was the simple difference between an Australian style (to be honest, I'm not sure if Winton or Cloudstreet are true representatives of an Aussie literary style. Cam?) and what I can only call American writing, although I am uncomfortable putting everything written in the U.S. into one category. Some of the differences I noticed included the lack of quotation marks, gratuitous sex scenes, and, of course, the lingo. Those were definitely the biggest hinderences for me, but of the three the quotation marks, or lack thereof, were the most difficult for me to deal with. The lingo seemed tough at first, but I was able to decipher certain terms as I worked my way through the book. For some reason, it was not quite being sure when people were speaking that tripped me up a couple of times. In some ways, though, the lack of quotes almost turns the novel from being actual action into something being replayed in someone's mind, which the author may have intended.

Well moving forward, I can't wait to start Jitterbug Perfume. It seems like one of those books that everyone has read and loved and I can't wait to join the club. I know that several people in Stacks have read it, so feel free to jot down some notes or tips. Also, feel free to write reviews.

Fair Dinkum

2008-08-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

G'day girls.
This months book pick was my suggestion and I would love to hear what people think so far. Reading it for the second time, I am coming across so many slang Aussie terms that I wanted to make a big list with a definition column but decided against it, as everyone learns selectively when it comes to new books. An odd phrase I've come across the most is fair dinkum, which I looked up to mean "something is truthful. Fair share of work, truth, or honesty" Try to throw into a conversation today.

Another point I wanted to point out that with this book as opposed to the American classics we have been reading is the lack of quotation marks. Without these important punctuations, it is not certain if a character is speaker their dialogue or just thinking it. This creates a bit of surrealism to the story and adds a dreamy tone although some events can be quite violent.

I have quite slew of things to talk about regarding Fish. But I will read a bit more before I jump into that subject...

Christine

Back on Track...hopefully

2008-08-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

So the last month has been very challenging, but, on the bright side, I have had loads of time to read. I am hoping now to get back on track with Book Club and not only be prepared for the next meeting but also keep up with the blog. Obviously, our discussions are not only clarifying, but also very necessary in this time of endless hospital talk. I don't know if I can handle learning anymore acronyms, let alone learning how to work all of the equipment in Kevin's room.

I, unfortunately, wasn't able to attend the meeting that Jane so nicely had at her home last night. I snuck in around 10:30, just in time to grab a couple glasses of wine. So far, I have only heard a few opinions about 3 Cups, but the verdict so far is very informative, but less of a pleasure read than some of our past books. I think that is just the difference between fiction and non-fiction. I definitely found Greg Mortensen's tale very inspiring, especially for someone who is completely uncertain about what they would like to do. It was a lot of information, though, and I had to push myself through some parts. As a side note, the co-author, David Oliver Relin, apparently lives in Portland and I saw a car Friday night with a license plate that said "3 Cups T". I'm pretty sure it was him, so, needless to say, I have had an amazing brush with near-celebrity.

The next book on our incredible journey is Cloudstreet by: Tim Winton. I had never heard of this book, but have had several conversations with Christine and Cam about it. In Australia, the book is a modern classic and Cam cannot wait for us to take on the deep, Outback dialect. (That's the region, not the restaurant ladies.) He said to prepare ourselves for some complicated translating, but that the book is one of his absolute favorites.

Here are some reviews of Cloudstreet:

'I found that it took a while to get into this book. Once I got my head round the use of Australian colloquialisms and strange names (Fish, Quick) I thought this was an excellent story of two Australian families brought together by adversity during the 1950's and 60's.'

'Two white Australian families, both disabled members, end up sharing a house. One is hard working and poor but proud, the other is into betting and booze. Strangely, they don't end up killing each other and one of the children seems to have been swapped at birth. This book is part grounded and realistic and part mystic. Sometimes the two parts work together, as when the mentally handicapped man talks about ghosts and is misunderstood. A long read, but it is easy to get attached to some of the characters. If you like family stories go for it.'

'Probably the most extraordinary book I have ever read. A myriad of strange characters, vivid and very beautiful imagery, juxtaposed with the mundane and trivial, even banal. It took me some time to get into it but once I had I found it a compulsive read. It was a bit like 'Grapes of Wrath' in an Australian setting. There was, incredibly, also a spiritual element. Was the 'black man' real?'

I hope that everyone gets a chance to read it and to come to the next meeting. As always, feel free to invite new peeps to the club and add comments to the blog.
Hope everyone is well and thanks for all of your support.

Tying it all together

2008-06-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Hey Stacked ladies!
I think that every meeting thusfar has clarified the dozens of aspects of the various books that were a little bit cloudy or incomplete. That being said, no book was more confusing for me to tie together than Garcia Girls. I really enjoyed the book taken as a series of short, self-contained vignettes, but when attempting to tie all of the tales and episodes of the book together and sort out an overall theme or meaning, I was at a loss. I really just couldn't marry the situations together.
So, once again, I think our discussion really came to the rescue. I was able to list elements of the book that didn't make sense to me and get really great feedback about something I had missed or not picked up on. Talking it out really helped me create a better timeline of events and picture of the Garcia family.
I still think there are aspects of the book that I will struggle with no matter what such as Alvarez' use of language and some weird sexual events, but all in all I think it was the easiest book for the group to relate to so far. It seemed, more than any other book, like this one reminded all of us of something that happened during our childhood or of a relationship we have with a family member.

Anyway, on to Norman Mailer. I myself have never read a Norman Mailer book, but am excited to undertake the endeavor after how many things I have read about him. An American Dream is supposed to be filled with all the makings of a great novel including alcoholism, murder, sex, and the urban underworld. Can't wait to start!

Just a quick logistics update: our next meeting would have been the 3rd (first Thursday of July), which will sort of be a Friday because everyone has the next day off. I moved the meeting to Tuesday the 1st tentatively. Please let me know if that day doesn't work. Can't wait to discuss!

Some highs, some lows

2008-05-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

This is Kim. So first and foremost, I have to admit that I am a little bit behind on this book (hence the first post on it being May 20th). I have had a very busy month, which I think is pretty true for everyone. That being said, there are a few things I have noticed about the books so far that I am anxious to discuss with fellow readers.

First, I think that Alvarez's ability to write familial politics is extraordinary. By politics I don't mean sisters working to ensure a certain inheritance or anything like that. Their political actions are much more subtle and detectable only by someone related. Anyone with siblings knows the nuances I'm referring to. For example, at the wedding as the poor, drunk mother attempts to tell the story of the red sneakers, the sisters are studying one another. Each of the other's actions reiterates something that the girls have learned about their sisters after decades of study. Each of the girls is saying just enough to participate in the dance that has become the Garcias' interactions. The all have a role and, however annoying they are to one another, they must continue to play it. Further, I think that the struggle of the book will come from the characters attempting to break out of the mold that has been made for them by their family members.

So, the tension that Alvarez creates, that anyone with a family recognizes, is what I am really enjoying about the novel thus far. What I am having the most trouble with is the feminity of the world the author has created. While I understand the way she is painting the friendly interactions of the characters I'm having a hard time with how gossipy and girly everything is, almost as though she is trying to build on a preexisting cliche. To be honest, I can't quite wrap my head around what is bothering me about that aspect of the book, so feel free to comment (in favor or against) if you can help me say what I am trying to.

I hope everyone is enjoying the book! I look forward to hear what you think of it!

A couple of updates

2008-04-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hey bookies!
I hope everyone is enjoying the antics of Ignatius J. Reilly. I have been trying to read as much as possible to refresh my memory of his hilarity. Jane and I were discussing how magnetic this novel is. Even when I plan to just read for a few moments I find myself getting sucked in and reading for awhile, almost just wanting to see the effect of what has just occurred.

I wanted to discuss the next meeting with everyone and get some ideas about how to do it. As many of you know our dear Jacquie and her adorable fiance Dillon have decided to abandon us and return to Nevada. Due to this, this meeting will be Jacquie's last. I was thinking that it would be fun to do cocktails and appetizers out on the town, but wanted some ideas of cheap but nice places to go. If you have any suggestions let me know! The only place I really came up with was Andina, mainly because they have a very decent and affordable happy hour.

Also, I will need a head count for a reservation so please let me know if you can make it.

Please send me some ideas!

Book Cover

2008-04-10T18:45:00.000-07:00

Ok Kim,
We all love this book, I'll just throw that out there for everybody. But the book cover you have chosen to display this novel is perturbing. I feel that when you read only the first few pages you get a pretty solid idea of what Ignatius looks like and I tell you this: he does not look like this LUIGI character that has been mistakenly smeared on this childbook cover. I personally like this one...

Still pretentious and bigger than life. Less Luigi. Ok. Gotta get back to reading.

Christine... out.

On to a new book!

2008-04-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. This is Kim. So after the last meeting I think I can safely say that the general consensus on Middlesex is that it lacked a few too many things to be considered a great book. Many people, myself included, were even baffled that it is a Pulitzer Prize winner. The story itself was amazing. It was not only creative, but interesting , original, and educational. In the first half of the novel I learned so much about not only Greece but early Detroit.
That being said Eugenides particular style left so much more to be desired. A few people at the meeting went as far to call him smug and condescending. His metaphors felt both overdone and incomplete at the same time. There was also a mention of him being a little unrealistic. (What are the chances of a hermaphrodite growing up on a street called Middlesex?)

I personally struggled with two things: his over-foreshadowing and his narration. As far as the foreshadowing, I got tired of being told that at some point he was going to explain certain things over and over again. Finally when the explanation was given it wasn't worth the wait.

The narrator as a character was also quite difficult for me. He wrote the book in first person as a hermaphrodite man writing a book, needing to get the whole situation off of his chest. At point's the narrator calls on the reader to observe or decide certain things, making the whole fake memoir thing even more confusing. Are we really supposed to actually invest ourselves in this whole mess as a fly on the wall, ignoring the fact that it is all fiction?

Anyway, I thought the book was actually a great success. This is definitely a fun group to have the gloves come off and really lay into a topic. I really enjoy getting critical with everyone.

One important thing that we need to discuss is if the next meeting should be moved. Jane is going to be in Ecuador and requested that we push it back a week. Any thoughts?

I am excited for the discussion of Dunces, especially because it is completely different type of book. COMEDY!

Here is a link to a little info about John Kennedy Toole. His story is pretty interesting, mainly because he killed himself 11 years prior to the books publication.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kennedy_Toole

Nearing the End

2008-04-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

This is Kim. So I am getting close to the end of the book and can't wait for the opportunity to discuss it. Actually anyone who has seen me in the last week has probably observed my eagerness to talk about it. I am desperately trying to save everything for the meeting on Thursday.

So one of my primary concerns for the meeting is that we have a little bit more structured format than the last meeting. I really like the free-flow of ideas, but also want everyone to have an opportunity to speak. So, with that in mind, I was hoping that everyone who is planning on attending on Thursday could bring at least one discussion topic. I definitely don't want the Club to turn into a class, but do think that will guarantee everyone the chance to talk. Obviously, one discussion topic is not a limit. The more the merrier!

Also, I know there are a few people who will not be able to make it. I was hoping that maybe you guys could post a few ideas on the blog for us to pool from at the meeting.

In conversations that I have had some of the topics that have been raised are things like: the background of the author, the use of a narrator, Greek culture, and gender roles (a male author writing from a female perspective). Those are some ideas! Can't wait to see/hear from everyone!

Middlesex in Portland

2008-03-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

"An Oregon man who used to be a woman says he is pregnant with a baby girl"

Hey kids,

Christine here.
You may have heard about this guy on the news... check out his and his wife's wacky story about HIM having their child. He is 5 months pregnant so far, as the report said tonight. Kinda correlates with our story... kinda not. Enjoy!

Click HERE

Can you say incest?

2008-03-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

Kim here. So the first thing I have to say with respect to Middlesex is that I think it is the exact opposite of Cannery Row. Where Cannery Row paints a picture and the reader is expected to infer emotion, Eugenides tells you every detail about everything going on in any situation. Needless to say, for me the transition was a little bit rough. In the first fifty or so pages, I found myself constantly going back to try and remember all of the names and references the reader is immediately given from the narrator's family.
That being said, I really like this book so far. Yes the transition was a little tough, but now that I am into it I love the detail Eugenides is constantly inundating me with. The story seems to be less about the big picture and more about the intricacies of familial relationships. I love the explanation of the wedding on pg 68-69: "We Greeks get married in circles, to impress upon ourselves the essential matrimonial facts: that to be happy you have to find variety in repetition; that to go forward you have to come back where you began."
Anyway, I am fascinated and excited to continue reading!

Cannery Row Meeting

2008-03-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

This is Kim. So, as usual, I had a wonderful time at Thursday's meeting. What I noticed and really enjoyed was that discussing the episodes or themes in the book led to a much broader discussion about our personal experience, which completely separates a book club from a course where a purely academic tone must be maintained. Not only do I feel like I learned a lot about everyone, I thought about my own experiences that I haven't thought about years.
As far as Cannery Row goes, there were a lot of mixed feelings on the book. I would say the verdict was about fifty/fifty on how everyone felt about the novel. There were also a few parts that we were all puzzled by and had interesting assessments of the events. Here are a few parts that we discussed. Please feel free to explain how you felt about them, especially if you couldn't make it to the meeting!

the gophers
the dead body Doc discovers in the rocks
the skater on the building
the hitch hiker's interaction with Doc
Mrs. Talbot and the cats
the frogs

Please add to this list because I have definitely forgotten several things.

Also, as far as the socializing aspect of the Club, we discussed having next meeting be a cocktail party.
Sarah suggesting doing a getaway to her parents cabin at some point this summer. We'll need to figure out when is a good time for everyone. (Can we say hottub!)

Now for Middlesex...

Mrs. Talbot

2008-02-24T16:54:00.000-08:00

In discussions that I have had about Cannery Row, people have repeatedly asked me if I've gotten to the part about the lady who likes to throw parties. I finally arrived at Chapter 24 today and was very pleased with his description of dear, old Mary Talbot. The thing that I think Steinbeck has done so well throughout this novel is describe a character without passing or even hinting at judgment. He continues this with Mary and shows how she behaves, but doesn't pity or glorify her. I think she sounds incredibly interesting and absolutely fabulous for just being able to entertain herself both effortlessly and creatively.

Also, I wanted to revisit some previous thoughts on Steinbeck's glorification of Mack and the boys, who I see as the complex heroes of the town, even though they manage to destroy everything they touch. Doc's observations of the guys in Chapter 23 are beautifully written and I think once again reflects own vision of what life truly is and what should be valued in it. He writes from Doc's perspective, "They could ruin their lives and get money. Mack has qualities of genius. They're all very clever if they want something. They just know the nature of things too well to be caught in that wanting" Then later, "The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty understanding and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second."

Funny Line

2008-02-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

I just read Chapter 11. I thought the paragraph about Model T's was not only well written but hilarious. He says "Someone should write an erudtie essay on the moral, physical, and esthetic effect of the Model T Ford on the American nation. Two generations of Americans knew more about the Ford coil than the clitoris, about the planetary system of gears than the solar system of stars."
It seems there are a lot of good lines, but that one in particular jumped out at me.

Chapter Two

2008-02-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

So, I really like this book so far. I really enjoy the amount of detail he is pouring into the town. I'm sure by the end we will all feel like we have been there.
My only question so far is Chapter Two. I think it is beautifully written, but had a hard time trying to figure out what the point he's trying to get at is. I understand the religious metaphors but couldn't wrap my head all the way around it.

Any thoughts?

Great Success

2008-02-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

So I definitely thought that the first meeting went really well. It is obvious that everyone in the group has read quite a bit. It was even difficult to find books that no more than one person had read. I can't wait for the conversations to come and feel like I have a lot to learn from the other women in the group. Also, I think that it is important to note that we have stumbled upon a very saucy group of ladies. I think that above educational, the club is going to be very entertaining, as long as we remember to bring more wine next time. Apparently, for future reference, Kevin won't go out at 12:30 to get us another bottle.

Does anyone know anything about this novel?

Getting Ready!

2008-02-06T13:55:00.000-08:00

So we are finally ready to meet. The first meeting will pretty much just consist of setting a twelve month schedule and figuring out how we want to approach the books. We'll see how it goes!