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!
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Just updating: I'm still reading Porter's book and I'm really enjoying it. I've always appreciated Porter's knack for creating "real" characters, not plaster cut-outs. They've got histories, secrets, stories, desires, loves, fears, all that good stuff. If nothing else, he's a man who knows the value of the fine details.
ReplyDeleteAfter all our conferences, I can still hear him lecturing me on character development. "Make them unique...Make them people." He always said "people" with this hard emphasis (at which point I would usually sigh, thinking of the all those hours necessary for revision). But he really meant it - your best characters would likely become something as real to you as your friends and family.
So, I guess I'm saying he was right. But Porter was always right. Kinda made it hard to hang out with him, but don't tell him I said that... ;)