Book suggestion

Dear Ven-nice, Happy Easter!! Hope you are having a lovely time.  The end of your life.. is a book on my list. I heard an interview with the author on the radio last year, liked him and definitely thought it would be a good read.  Their choices are interesting too.

Hi to Jen.

Love bec

A Book We Might Like To Read...

Detail from the BigBookClub website

The End Of Your Life Book Club

By Will Schwalbe

"This a very life affirming book, I found it moving on so many levels. The way the mother lived and died through her books was remarkable. I was inspired and motivated to read many of the books mentioned and also had fond recollections of those I have read myself, knowing how much they have shaped my life as well. The concept of a mother and son deepening their relationship during the cancer diagnosis, treatment and eventually death with the common bond of reading the same book was a simple way of bringing more love and joy into their lives during this very special time. I would recommend this book to everyone". Stephanie, Pharmacist.

 

"The title describes this book very accurately. A son forms a book club with his dying mother and they discuss what they have read while she undergoes treatment. The close relationship between them and his celebration of her life is very moving. The books they read or re-read are listed in an appendix and include classics, children's books, autobiographies, poetry and plays as well as novels. The importance of books in our lives, their necessity, is clearly illustrated. The chapter headings are book titles and the discussions are sometimes surprising, always entertaining. A son's tribute to an extraordinary woman". Marie, Retired.

 

"A journey between mother and son as they face every family's worst fear 'the loss of a family member'. Will Schwalbe has given us a beautiful account of his time with his mother as she battles through the awfulness of her illness. They share a common love which brings them even closer, the love of the written word, how a story can transport, enlighten, sadden and delight. Through their book musings we are allowed to revisit old favourites and share some new delights too. High recommended to all book lovers". Sue, General Manager, TBBC.

April Read - The Importance of Being Earnest

We have all agreed, reading Tolstoy might be a bit of a stretch.  So thank you to Bec, we have had a re-think and agreed to read as our next book, Oscar Wilde's - The Importance of Being Earnest.

The Classic Literature blog page from classiclit.about.com writes,
 " this seemingly frivolous play has a much darker side. Its critique of Victorian society--though delivered in a velvet glove--is every inch a clunking-iron fist. The play is a satire both of the hypocrisies of the society in which Wilde lived, and the damaging effect that these hypocrisies can have on the souls of those live under their rule."

While reading Plays, is not our normal appetite, Oscar Wilde is definitely an author we have all enjoyed in the past.  This piece of work is noted as one of Oscar Wilde's finest.  Looking forward to discussing with you all.

When are we meeting next:  14th April.
Where are we meeting next:  The Spring Hill Deli, Boundary Street, Spring Hill - 8 am.
Who is choosing next:  We didn't discuss - how about ?????? I'll be in touch

Oh and a date for going to the movies - watch your email accounts!

Enjoy Reading!
V

Birdsong - A FlowerShop Club Review of Sorts...

The story of Birdsong, created mixed responses in our readers.  Firstly, thank you to Ruth for choosing a novel which provided a different insight into the suffering and trauma of war on the human spirit and psyche. 

The story which traverses 3 generations, captures within its characters a currency of emotional detachment.  A yearning for closeness and intimacy, yet it seems that the there is an emotional void which is not quite able to be navigated, to allow for true contentment.  The author holds the reader in this emotional neverland only to bring you startling back to a brutal raw awareness of what it means to be vulnerable through his graphic descriptions of the soldiers experience in the trenches. 
My personal reflection is, I appreciated the story, yet the characters' i could not quite connect with.  I could never quite surrender to the voice of the characters and submerge myself in their world.  That was a disappointment for me asafter reading the foreward, where i was mesmorised by the author's story of how he came to write the story, i think it left me wanting.
Ruth noted how she appreciated the new dimension of history provided in relaton to the "tunnelling" as this hadn't been explored as much in other historical fiction pieces she had read on WWI. 
We found ourselves in agreement about not having a strong image of Stephen in our own mind, in spite of the detail provided about his character throughout the book.
We noted how the graphic detail of the warfare was shocking in its detail and at times more than Jen (*wincing as she read) would have preferred to be exposed to, and yet it provided a salient and humbling reminder of the severity of warfare on communities, civilisation and the individual.  The story itself, provided a lot to discuss in terms of the power and impact of war.
The intergenerational story and re-emerging themes related to love and loyalty and the need to be connected, stimulated a great deal of discussion even to discussion about present generations, and what it means to know our history, how it influences and shapes us in the present and future.

A good first read - No regrets!  Although I don't think we are all as positive in our regard for this book as those who have been rating it as "a spectacular...exceptional... best..read".

April Suggestions - From Bec

Hi V, my suggestions for Sunday are

"The importance of being Earnest" - Oscar wild,

"Bleak House" - Charles dickens
"beloved" by toni morrison

Have a nice weekend and hope to talk soon. Enjoy Bookclub chat!