With Great Power Comes...Great Comic Books

After discussing comic books a bit at our last meeting, we selected the last book for our reading series, the graphic novel Maus by Art Spiegelman. Maus, a memoir, deals primarily with Spiegelman’s parents and their struggles during the Holocaust. Spiegelman learns their story through a series of interviews with his reluctant father, during which it is clear that the events of the past still reverberate in the present.

For anyone who might be picking up older copies or library copies, please make sure you find the complete Maus. When it was originally published as a trade paperback, the story was divided into two volumes (Maus I: My Father Bleeds History and Maus II: And Here My Troubles Begin). The two should really be read as a whole, and as such, more recent publications usually collect both volumes as a single work.

Of course, if anyone would like to borrow my copies, please just let me know. ☺

Dying to Get Back to Reading Group

The Obituary Writer is what's currently up. It's by Porter Shreve, and so we should be able to find it at Vons and the local Borders. I should say that I just got back late last night (thanks again, Mel, for picking us up from the train station), and am still borderline delirious from traveling. However, I am very excited to host tomorrow, and look forward to seeing all of you guys again.

Mom-Bev (my mother-in-law) left some cava and white wine for us, and I found some cool recipes for white wine sangria on the plane coming back, so I will make that to drink. I think I have some chips to contribute as well, but please bring whatever you want.

As for discussion questions...well, I haven't started the book yet, myself. BUT I spent the last 20 minutes googling it, and it looks very good. It also looks very readable, and like it moves quickly, so if you are like me and you haven't started it yet, cheer up! There's still time! Or, you can always just look forward to the next episode of 6 Feet Under.

I will ask the following, as it seems to be one of the major themes of the novel: Gordie feels the need to live up to his father's image as an incredible journalist. Do you feel there is someone you have to live up to? How have you dealt with this?

See you tomorrow!

Slackers, or just busy!

Hey Ladies! It seems that the busy-ness of this summer and the slacker-ness of myself has gotten the best of me!

The next book on the list is actually a play, Bug. Have fun reading it...there is also a movie out starring Ashley Judd. It is intense but a great play and great movie. If you need a copy, you can borrow mine (I read it), just let me know.

I'm looking forward to watching the final episodes of the first season of Six Feet Under. The second season is where it really starts to take off. I hope you are enjoying it!

And I hope you are all having fun on your adventures this weekend; I am SO jealous!

This week!

Sorry ladies, but I am in production weekend. So I will miss reading group! I will be thinking of you! I think Erica has Six Feet Under...enjoy!

Everyone went to the Apocalypse and all I got was this lousy T-shirt...

Just plain good! I've had so much *frigging* fun reading this book. I found myself laughing out loud at several points (and I'm not one to laugh/cry/cringe/scream at much when it comes to books/television/film). I've been a big fan of Neil Gaiman for a long time, especially his comics, but this is my first time reading his prose. I've also never had a chance to read Terry Pratchett, but hey, I might be convinced to pick something up after this.

I didn't find this to be a "quick read," but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The narrative voice was what really got me. Did the style remind anyone else of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Did anyone else picture a very quaint British gentleman sitting beside the fireplace with a glass of brandy...or was that just me?

I'd also like to hear what other people thought of the dichotomy of good and evil in the book. I'll be the first to say I don't know much when it comes to religion (everyone remember The Red Tent from last year's list), but it seemed central to Gaiman and Pratchett in this book. There definitely seems to be a gray, swampy area between the two opposing sides.

Speaking of the authors, it's been a long time since I've seen a collaborative piece of prose fiction, and I'm interested to know how these two constructed the novel (which was done over the course of one summer, those bastards...maybe I should consider collaborating with someone on my own novel...).

Well, girlies, I can't wait to see you this weekend. I'm planning to make lime gimlets (recipe courtesy of M.B.), and I've been dying to break out the fancy glasses!

*** Oh, and K.S., if you're out there in the wondrous world wide web, give us a shout and let us know what we're missing across the pool!

Not a prison, but a privilege.

Hello, Girls.

Here are a few things I found myself wondering after finishing The Handmaid's Tale. I don't mind if we don't actually talk about any of them, or if you want to bring up something completely different in the comments section or at our meeting. However, I figured these might help get us started.

Did the book suck you in? Why or why not?

If you had to name one character as the worst villain in the book, whom would you choose?

Part of Offred’s memories include revealing how the Republic of Gilead came to be in place, and at many moments it seems she is wondering if/how she could have resisted. What elements seem crucial for this Republic to have risen to power?

Moira is a character that is attractive for her strength and sass. What do we think of her escape plans, and her choice to become a Jezebel (as opposed to getting shipped to the Colonies)?

Especially toward the end, Offred frequently begins a new section with a line to the effect of “That’s not really how it happened...”? Is the book saying something about the difficulties of memory? The difficulties memory during a time of survival?

How do we perceive the Marthas Rita and Cora? Are they sympathetic?

How do we perceive Nick?

What do we think of the ending Offred narrates? How does the epilogue of “Historical Notes” change this?

What would you have done with the cigarette and the match?

For the 3:30 meeting on Saturday, I will make lemon drops. I'll send out my address via email.

23rd May - The Handmaid's Tale

In a startling departure from her previous novels (Lady Oracle , Surfacing ), respected Canadian poet and novelist Atwood presents here a fable of the near future. In the Republic of Gilead, formerly the United States, far-right Schlafly/Falwell-type ideals have been carried to extremes in the monotheocratic government. The resulting society is a feminist's nightmare: women are strictly controlled, unable to have jobs or money and assigned to various classes: the chaste, childless Wives; the housekeeping Marthas; and the reproductive Handmaids, who turn their offspring over to the "morally fit" Wives. The tale is told by Offred (read: "of Fred"), a Handmaid who recalls the past and tells how the chilling society came to be. (courtesy of Amazon.com)

'09 Summer Schedule

So, after an incredibly huge meal of egg rolls, chicken salad, and whipped desserts, we officially decided on a summer schedule (see below)! As part of the discussion, we also decided that the hostess should start conversations regarding the upcoming books prior to each meeting. Anything and everything is welcome in discussion (we may also start any discussions regarding our summer television series, Six Feet Under).

23rd May; K. S. Hostess; The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
30th May; E. M. Hostess; Good Omens, Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
6th June; B. W. Hostess; Satanic Verses (Part 1), Salman Rushdie
13th June; M.B. Hostess (@ Bobbie M.'s Kickin' Pad); Satanic Verses (Part 2), Salman Rushdie
20th June; E. D. Hostess; Bug, Tracy Letts
27nd June; K.S. Hostess; Obituary Writer, Porter Shreve
4th July; NO BOOK - Cook Out!!!
11th July; E.D. Hostess; Sixteen Pleasures, Robert Hellenga (?)
18th July; B.W. Hostess; Rock And Roll, Tom Stoppard
25th July; E.M. Hostess; "Random Comic"
8th August - "Girl's Night!!!"

Book-A-Minute

"When even the cliff notes are too long." If you're not already already familiar with it, check out the "Book-A-Minute" website (www.rinkworks.com/bookaminute). Classic stories are squeezed down to a few lines text - usually with humorous results. For instance, I really enjoyed the following entry:

Lord of the Flies
By William Golding

(Some BOYS crash on an ISLAND.)

Ralph:
We need a fire.

(They make a fire. It goes out.)

Ralph:
We need a fire.

(They make a fire. It goes out.)

Ralph:
We need a fire.

Jack:
Forget the fire. Let's kill each other.

Other Boys:
Yeah!

(They do.)

THE END

The Handmaid's Tale is also on their list, but I've avoiding it until I finish the book. Enjoy!

--First Meeting--

I added a calendar ----->
I put the first meeting as next Thursday. Please let me know if this is a good day. I thought this could be a planning meeting, picking our book schedule and planning out hosts. We can also start our first Six Feet Under episode (and detour with We Cheer!).

For Thursday, I'd like to do pink martinis for cocktails! What do you think?

Adding to the "Dusty Books" List

So, the book list in the right column is just a list of some random stuff we might pick up over the summer...those lonely books that never seem to get the dusting they deserve! To add to the list, just click on "Customize" at the top of the blog's home page. Then, click on the "Layout" tab and on the "Edit" option under "Dusty Books."

* K, we should totally read Satanic Verses with you this summer. It's been on my personal reading list for years and I've never had the chance to pick it up!

Yowza! It's time for the Summer Book Club!

Gals, I'm super pumped for the summer book club, so I guess we better do a little bit of planning. Here's the long and short of it:

• How often does everyone want to meet and when?
• Does anyone prefer a particular day of the week?
  
• What books do you wanna read?!
• Did I miss anything? Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised at this point in the semester!
  

I'm open to anything on a W/F/Sa/Su in the afternoon or evening. My schedule's pretty flexible though, so I'm totally open to new ideas as well. Mel and I thought we might be able to meet once a week to talk about a book and watch an episode of Six Feet Under (this would more or less take the place of our weekly lunches). If it's a long book, we could even break it up over the course of a few weeks.

Like last year, I figure we should also rotate houses every week. It might also be helpful to make a general rule - she who hosts doesn't roast. Okay, I write fiction, not poetry, but you get my drift! In other words, guests would handle snacks and other goodies, leaving the hostess to supply the cool venue and maybe chip in on the drinks. What do you guys think?


* I'm still moving stuff around on the site, but since I set everyone as admins, you're welcome to make changes or additions anytime.