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!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Book Cover
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.
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.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
On to a new book!
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
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
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Nearing the End
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!
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!
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