Thought I should report on last Saturday's gala book group. First up was a sensational lunch at Ripples Chowder Bay, glorious weather and scenery, unsurpassed company and fine dining. Some slight confusion in getting the group there on time (MJ ordered via mobile) but we all acted according to type which is an excellent thing. We then did some very mild walking around, just in our party shoes to check out the historical credentials of the site. Another stop by tour leader Janet for breathtaking views and more historical buildings before we zoomed through the suburbs (MJ valiantly following Janet's fast disappearing tail) to Castlecrag. There we enjoyed an excellent selection of dainties with our cups of tea (we really needed more food) and onto the books.
Sashenka was universally enjoyed for the wealth of detail about Russia at various turbulent times, and the feeling that the author really knew what he was talking about. Some discussion about the literary merit of the work (fiction or literature) with MJ putting forward the view 'So what?' Since I was the one suggesting it was not a particularly literary work, I have pondered why it matters. I think I have come to the conclusion that it matters because the book hasn't stayed with me as much as it would have if I had read it more slowly (I found it a compulsively readable book) and been more struck by the images and language. Neither did I find Sashenka a very real or compelling heroine. The author told you everything he wanted you to know, there was no production of meaning or emotion by the reader.
However I would recommend it as a great read, but not necessarily pass it along to some of my regular borrowers.
Breath was also viewed positively by all, especially for its lyricism and subtlety. For non-surfers it gave a strong sense of the magic and addictive nature of that sport, and MJ felt it could be compared to the sensation of skiing, interesting as that was Eva's sport. Some discussion about the selfishness of surfing and its cult of individualism.
There was strong condemnation of Eva's actions, and discussion of whether it was her abuse of Pikelet in starting a sexual relationship with him at all, or just when she started involving him in her auto-erotic practices. We had several very positive reviews from OS sources.
Next event is at MJs on Monday 6 October (fingers X-ed you will be here then Niki or we will look at a reschedule)then Murray is keen we don't lose momentum in his absence, so we are going to do The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser in November, with remote participation by MM. We will probably spend the intervening time trying to work out whose place it is at without Murray to tell us.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Blogging from Boise
Will miss you all -- but hope you have a great evening. Oh what I'd give for some of your delicious food, Janet, and for an evening's conversation with you all. Here, late at night and off the top of my head, are a few random thoughts re Consolation:
I think Redhill really captures the new world “frontier” exceptionally well – those icy or gritty streets, the forest that has been pushed back but is ready to take over again, the array of weird and wonderful characters who left home and went to Canada for many and varied reasons, that gruesome weather. Wonderful poetic language, no doubt about that. Lots I could quote, but the fingers aren't up to it. You'll know what I mean.
I said to Marjorie today that I really liked the way the historical story is told in quite a conventional manner, and the contemporary story is told in a less conventional, more contemporary narrative style. I think it works beautifully. There are also some paragraphs in the final chapters where Redhill blends the present and the past -- but I can't find them! As I recall (and I'm realising it would be great to re-read this book), sentences begin in the present as John walks through the city and finish in the past as he considers all that would have occurred in this place. Am I imagining this?
I love the layered nature of the novel – and the way it reflects the "forensic geology" of David Lewis. We do live on the layers upon layers of all that has gone before us, don’t we? It's interesting being in Boise, a place of somewhat the same age as Toronto -- quite new, really -- and seeing the way history can so easily be swept aside by a mad dash for progress. My mother, who has lived here all her life, flinches regularly as old houses and businesses come down, are built over, and in effect vanish, unless they linger in somebody's memories. My elementary school has just been torn down (a replacement with big yellow pencils supporting the front portico will open at the end of the month) and my junior high is next on the demolisher's list. I can't help but wonder if part of my personal history vanishes with each demolition? I think Redhill captures all this quite well.
I'd love to know what the locals in Toronto think of the book.
Plenty of questions about the book remain:
What happened to Hallam when he took the photos to England? How were the photos received? What did Hallam’s family think of him? What did he think of them?
Consolation? Who was consoled for what? Who provided the consolation? Did they indeed find eventual consolation? Lots to tease out here I think.
Wonderful book, I loved it! Definitely glad we chose it -- thanks for finding it, Marjorie.
Enough -- time for bed! Look forward to your thoughts, and perhaps an ongoing conversation about the book. What's next, gang?
I think Redhill really captures the new world “frontier” exceptionally well – those icy or gritty streets, the forest that has been pushed back but is ready to take over again, the array of weird and wonderful characters who left home and went to Canada for many and varied reasons, that gruesome weather. Wonderful poetic language, no doubt about that. Lots I could quote, but the fingers aren't up to it. You'll know what I mean.
I said to Marjorie today that I really liked the way the historical story is told in quite a conventional manner, and the contemporary story is told in a less conventional, more contemporary narrative style. I think it works beautifully. There are also some paragraphs in the final chapters where Redhill blends the present and the past -- but I can't find them! As I recall (and I'm realising it would be great to re-read this book), sentences begin in the present as John walks through the city and finish in the past as he considers all that would have occurred in this place. Am I imagining this?
I love the layered nature of the novel – and the way it reflects the "forensic geology" of David Lewis. We do live on the layers upon layers of all that has gone before us, don’t we? It's interesting being in Boise, a place of somewhat the same age as Toronto -- quite new, really -- and seeing the way history can so easily be swept aside by a mad dash for progress. My mother, who has lived here all her life, flinches regularly as old houses and businesses come down, are built over, and in effect vanish, unless they linger in somebody's memories. My elementary school has just been torn down (a replacement with big yellow pencils supporting the front portico will open at the end of the month) and my junior high is next on the demolisher's list. I can't help but wonder if part of my personal history vanishes with each demolition? I think Redhill captures all this quite well.
I'd love to know what the locals in Toronto think of the book.
Plenty of questions about the book remain:
What happened to Hallam when he took the photos to England? How were the photos received? What did Hallam’s family think of him? What did he think of them?
Consolation? Who was consoled for what? Who provided the consolation? Did they indeed find eventual consolation? Lots to tease out here I think.
Wonderful book, I loved it! Definitely glad we chose it -- thanks for finding it, Marjorie.
Enough -- time for bed! Look forward to your thoughts, and perhaps an ongoing conversation about the book. What's next, gang?
Sunday, August 3, 2008
What a fine looking group of book lovers!
Not wanting to wear the opprobium of not having contributed to our very own BLOG, I thought I should at least post something before our meet tomorrow night for our consideration of Consolation. It's almost all too easy really that I can't think why two of our BLOG have chosen not to contribute, as yet. I'm sure some moral suasion will set that right.
Many thanks Niki for the work in getting our BLOG set up. If it's any consolation, we will seriously miss you tomorrow night but from your emails it seems as though life in Idaho at the moment isn't too bad. I'm not sure if we are going to do a real time blog, but we will certainly all be thinking of you.
Murray
Many thanks Niki for the work in getting our BLOG set up. If it's any consolation, we will seriously miss you tomorrow night but from your emails it seems as though life in Idaho at the moment isn't too bad. I'm not sure if we are going to do a real time blog, but we will certainly all be thinking of you.
Murray
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Library Thing
I've been doing a little online course on Web 2.0 technologies, so have had a good excuse to play around with a lot of stuff I've heard about but not really experienced firsthand. Today's activity (only 2 weeks late) was to explore Library Thing ("28 million books on members' bookshelves"). Have a look -- do you think it might be fun and/or worthwhile to start adding our books to Library Thing? I added 5, and it was interesting to see how many other people have (or haven't) read them. If you have a look at the blog I'm keeping for this course, you can see how we could add a Library Thing "widget" to this blog. On the other hand, keeping something else going would mean more time away from good books, and heaven knows the pile beside the bed shows no sign of decreasing!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Ideas about adding to our blog
I just copied the content of Jano's email and pasted it in -- then added a couple of hyperlinks (click on the little icon that looks like a chain link and then paste in the url of the site you want to link to).
You can add photos, too, like this one that I pulled off Google images. It's fun and not very hard, so have a go!
We could also easily add urls for reviews, new books to read, and the like. The possibilities are vast.
And being good librarians, we should add labels (subject headings really) to group like things together. I haven't added any yet, but it's easy enough to do -- see the line at the bottom of the new post window.
Sydney Writers Festival
From Janet --
Just recovering from the writers festival. Despite the look of the program it was really interesting with far too much to hear. Junot Diaz was articulate, thoughtful and outspoken (lots of swearing and hip hop talk - he loves the music) and also a very attractive boy. Niki and Marjorie how was his closing address?
Jeanette Winterson was amazing. Cath said she spoke on the opening night without reference to any notes and gave an inspirational lecture on the role of imagination and creativity in our lives. I heard her in the questions session where she was one of the best speakers to handle this difficult format. She is extremely well read, articulate, passionate and has a great sense of humour. She said her books were chaotic and either you love or hate them - am inspired to try her latest The Stone Gods. One girl asked if she could have Jeanette's baby!
Other highlights were Heather O'Neill (new Canadian writer who is winning a lot of acclaim - Lullabies for Little Criminals), Bob Carr and his writer Grahame Freudenberg speaking about oratory, Paul McGeogh (SMH) on Iraq war and Don Watson about his new book Travels in America ( a fascinating insight into how he thinks Americans function) - Niki you will have to tell us what you think of his views.
Some interesting fiction writers were, David Davidar on modern India, Imran Ahmad on life in UK as a Pakistani immigrant and Jose Dalisay from Phillipines on the plight of overseas workers.
Ran into Jean Hart who is 80 this year but looks 70 and is as passionate as ever.
Just recovering from the writers festival. Despite the look of the program it was really interesting with far too much to hear. Junot Diaz was articulate, thoughtful and outspoken (lots of swearing and hip hop talk - he loves the music) and also a very attractive boy. Niki and Marjorie how was his closing address?
Jeanette Winterson was amazing. Cath said she spoke on the opening night without reference to any notes and gave an inspirational lecture on the role of imagination and creativity in our lives. I heard her in the questions session where she was one of the best speakers to handle this difficult format. She is extremely well read, articulate, passionate and has a great sense of humour. She said her books were chaotic and either you love or hate them - am inspired to try her latest The Stone Gods. One girl asked if she could have Jeanette's baby!
Other highlights were Heather O'Neill (new Canadian writer who is winning a lot of acclaim - Lullabies for Little Criminals), Bob Carr and his writer Grahame Freudenberg speaking about oratory, Paul McGeogh (SMH) on Iraq war and Don Watson about his new book Travels in America ( a fascinating insight into how he thinks Americans function) - Niki you will have to tell us what you think of his views.
Some interesting fiction writers were, David Davidar on modern India, Imran Ahmad on life in UK as a Pakistani immigrant and Jose Dalisay from Phillipines on the plight of overseas workers.
Ran into Jean Hart who is 80 this year but looks 70 and is as passionate as ever.
Up and running
Well here it is -- our very own BLOG -- Book Lovers Online Group! I'll add a sample post, drawn from Janet's email about the Sydney Writers Festival. Look forward to keeping in touch with you this way.
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