The Wednesday Book Club

All things must come to an...

2010-10-21T15:52:00.000-06:00

Looks like we're all headed off in different directions! Don't even know if anyone checks the blog anymore. But congratulations to Katie and her new husband. :) I've been accepted to the Washington Seminar, so I'm headed off to D.C. in January. Just wanted to invite members to share what's going on in their lives before the good times we had as the Wednesday Book Group are too far gone.
"I thought: pity the poor in spirit who know neither the enchantment nor the beauty of language."
Muriel Barbery in "Elegance of the Hedgehog"

What Britt has been reading...

2010-05-16T09:30:00.002-06:00

I just have one word for you all: Shakespeare.
I'm here in London and I get to live and breathe Shakespeare (well, most of the time anyway). Besides seeing his plays and wandering around the site of the Globe, I have read Macbeth, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Antony and Cleopatra, and about to embark on The Tempest before delving into Romeo and Juliet. Makes me think that perhaps we may try reading one of Will's plays this next year... Just something to think about. Hope everyone is having a great summer!

what matt has read so far.

2010-05-10T00:30:00.000-06:00

So guys.

I had to read Catching Fire. Which I suppose we could talk about, but mostly it's just kind of a fun thriller. But I read it and really enjoyed it. Now my dad just finished reading it and he thinks it's really good.

More interesting perhaps is the fact that I have begun listening to "A Pair of Blue Eyes" by Hardy at work, and I've also read the first few pages of "Jude the Obscure." Yes, I am starting my Thomas Hardy summer reading. Hopefully Moscow won't interfere too much with it, and hopefully Thomas Hardy won't interfere too much with my Russian. We'll just see what happens I guess.

Guys... what's next???

2010-04-04T00:02:00.001-06:00

Seriously, everyone. I wanna see some comments. What summer reading are we looking at? Who's gonna read what?

Anybody doing anything special for Poetry Month?

Share.

come tomorrow

2010-03-30T18:01:00.001-06:00

BOOK CLUB gathering at 8.15 pm on Wednesday the 31st. It will be splendid.

photographic documentation

2010-03-18T17:00:00.011-06:00

Well. Here's the crew from last night's discussion of James Joyce's "The Dead." Wasn't it brilliant, guys? I came away with new insights and perspectives, especially on its role as a modern text and its examination of Irish identity. Book Club gatherings like this? Happiness.

Britt is exemplifying thoughtfully considering someone else's contribution. Amanda is exemplifying smirking. (Amanda, I love you. You know that, right? You win the coveted Best Photographed Expression Award.)

Parker, clearly modeling how to evidence textual specifics as support for a genius comment.

I wish we could retrace exactly what was being said. Can anyone provide a speech bubble here?

Yes, I seem to be fairly convinced that what I'm arguing is accurate, but (based on expression) I'm pretty sure that Matt thinks whatever I'm arguing is semi-ridiculous. Probable.

Way to wear green, all.

yes, I did just send out an email saying exactly this

2010-03-15T21:05:00.002-06:00

(but I lack the creativity to rephrase it)

good evening, one and all,

Hope your Monday has been pleasant, that you had a fabulous fhe this evening, and are now sitting down to read a book club email (and then do something else far more exciting).
This is when we pretend that I planned to read an Irish author's short story for an Irish holiday [James Joyce, St Patrick's Day....both Irish]. And while the me-planning-the-Irish-

connections part of this is (in fact) a lie, we'll go with it. So. This Wednesday, come 'round at 8:15 for some book club cheer. It will be cheery.

We'll chit-chat about James Joyce's short story "The Dead." And if no one else feels like volunteering to make festive treats, we'll have Lucky Charms.

wear green or talk in limericks,
katie

remember, remember

2010-03-08T19:26:00.002-07:00

No Book Club this week, but see you on the 17th for "The Dead."

Short Story Month!

2010-02-27T15:34:00.003-07:00

March is (almost) here, and that means one month of short stories and general happiness in Book Group.

note. the month of march reminds me of umbrellas. I don't actually believe in using umbrellas, but I think they're cute.....and that adds to the reasons I like that March is almost here.

For this week? Read "The Dead" by James Joyce, then come 'round at 8:15 on Wednesday.

Like the email said, we'll be meeting on the 17th and 31st to chat about short stories as well. All three of these gatherings would be great ones to bring a friend to (since the reading will be fairly approachable). They'll also be great ones for other reasons too: excellent short stories, good chit-chat about those stories, usual book club joy and happiness.

See you Wednesday----

that's right, a POETRY reading

2010-02-08T09:31:00.002-07:00

On Wednesday at 8:15, let's read some poetry. Love poetry.

Bring a favorite (or least favorite) love poem to read in an informal (could we seriously make it anything but informal?) reading.

(and.....we'll finish up To the Lighthouse the following week, Feb. 17)

the 27th

2010-01-25T12:10:00.001-07:00

Let's meet at 8:15 to spend some time with Virginia Woolf.

See you on Wednesday----

Seriously...

2010-01-21T22:14:00.003-07:00

I motion that we officially change the title of the blog from "The Wednesday Book Club" to "The Bloomsbury Group Reborn." We can even take on the personas of the original Bloomsbury group. I call not E.M. Forster.

yes or no: Should We Change our Name to the "Bloomsbury Group"?

2010-01-13T22:26:00.001-07:00

Virginia Woolf. 1882-1941

Growing up with a father (who's a critic, biographer, scholar, and philosopher) in a large and talented family like Virginia Woolf's lends itself to learning Greek, meeting famous Victorians of the day, and naturally leaning toward intellectualism and writing. But a quick glimpse at any biography of Virginia Woolf (erm.....that's what this blog post is all about: me quick glimpsing) shows that her life wasn't ideal: her mother died in 1895, her half-sister died in childbirth in 1897, her father died of cancer, and her brother died of typhoid in 1906.

(This is not the time or place, but sometime we'll talk about how I prefer a happy, calm life to a writer's life. They might be incompatible....)

After this 11-year span of deaths in the family, Virginia Woolf settled in Bloomsbury--a district in London that would later be the namesake for an intellectual group frequented by some of the great thinkers of the early 20th century. That group--including artists, writers, and critics with names like EM Forster and John Maynard Keynes--quickly made its name for its sharp wit, its frankness, and its intellectual sparkle.

Virginia Woolf's own engaging writing exemplifies those qualities that Bloomsbury held highest. In her essays, Woolf proved a powerful proponent for women, arguing for androgynous appeal in writing. In her reviews, Woolf' showed her masterful sense of criticism. (Woolf published around 500 essays and reviews for contemporary periodicals). In her fiction, Woolf probed consciousness for the truth of human experience. Her style privileges playfulness, experimentation, and spontaneity. Yet her flair for wit and intellectualism in her writing are perhaps off-set by own life's exacting perfectionism and periods of severe depression.

And, if you think like me, the name Virginia Woolf welds itself to stream of consciousness. In her novels, Woolf abandoned the traditional linear narratives for her own style of interior monologues and stream of consciousness narration. One biographer describes Woolf's unique writing as"intensely psychological and interior" and also as "a carefully modulated flow that brought into prose fiction into something of the rhythms of and imagery of lyric poetry." Lovely.

Great reading experience coming our way.

end notes.
(1) we can't call ourselves anything associated with Bloomsbury--far too elitist.
(2) I drew my facts, some phrasing, and that quote from the Norton Anthology of English Literature.

new year, new book, new time

2010-01-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

Wednesday (tomorrow). At Wellington II #33. At 8:15.

I can promise (a) a good time, (b) a book decision, (c) something palatable. Come if you can.

We'll also talk about when to meet on a regular basis. We have a few group conflicts with our normal time (thus the 8:15 randomness).

does this relate to book club?

2009-12-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

I think you should know:

Masterpiece Classic........
new film adaption of Jane Austen's Emma
airing on PBS in January

Just so you know.

It looks quite good: Looky Looky

happy new year, friends

And yeah....does anyone especially want to read a specific book in January?

2009-12-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

january book

2009-12-13T17:35:00.001-07:00

any ideas?

comment on this post with your suggestions. do it.

But mostly, good luck with finals. Do your very best.

I think it makes things more official to post about them on our blog

2009-12-02T19:12:00.001-07:00

This Sunday, December 6th at 3 pm, we'll be reading portions of Charles Dickens' classic novella, A Christmas Carol, aloud. We'll follow up this festive reading with a Christmas-y dinner, starting around 4 pm. (acknowledging end of semester busyness, let me know if you'll be able to attend)

Then on Wednesday, we have tickets to see A Christmas Carol performed at the Hale Center Theater in Orem. Great fun. Let's plan on leaving from number 33 at twenty after seven on the ninth.

And let's start musing on a good book for January so I can put it on my Christmas list. Think about it. Is Wednesday night going to work for everyone next semester?

I love this time of year. All is merry and bright.

WHAT WOULD OLIVE DO?

2009-11-18T23:16:00.001-07:00

november 18th? that's tomorrow

2009-11-17T18:49:00.000-07:00

Come at 7pm.

This is going to be a good one.

oh, Wednesday Book Club.

2009-11-02T15:34:00.000-07:00

expression of gladness: Why it's time for a gathering!

details: 7 pm Wednesday, November 4th at Wellington II #33.
preview: Look forward to a sampling of Parker leading a no-doubt-will-be-scintillating conversation and Amanda dishing out edibles.

katie's request: (This writing is chalk-full of beautiful imagery, artful expression.) Why not dog-ear your favorite moment of pretty polished prose.

warning: while reading our 140 pages, I ran across some language that wasn't promoting my happiness, so I just skimmed/jumped ahead. Sorry....I didn't foresee that one coming in this book.

à bientôt: See you Wednesday.

Wednesday the 4th

2009-10-28T22:12:00.001-06:00

Dear Book-loving Friends,

Let's meet in just under a week's time. Wednesday at say...7 pm, the 4th of November. (I am shocked by this change in months.)

Amanda has volunteered to provide goodness of food. Parker volunteered (or I think I volunteered him) to provide goodness in directing our conversation.

Reminder: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (not Stout OR Trout) Page 140

Much Love,
KLH

PS. I have yet to purchase or begin reading. How are those endeavors treating everyone else?

Enumclaw reader finishes Book Thief

2009-10-28T14:54:00.000-06:00

I finished reading the Book Thief today; a little later than the rest of you.

I enjoyed the book. The characters were well developed. What a difference literacy made for Liesel. But receiving and giving love really impacted her character.

The book painted a picture of what life in war torn Germany was like for everyday people.

Even though the book was at times through Death's somewhat negative view, the goodness of a such a variety of people was clearly evident.

I'm looking forward to reading the next Wednesday Book Group selection. Although my copy is on hold with the King County Library System and my hold is 220 of 248 holds on 67 copies. It could be awhile.

And the winner...........

2009-10-21T21:29:00.000-06:00

OLIVE KITTERIDGE, by Elizabeth Strout.

This book looks like a delightful read. We're going to love it, I just know. After only a cursory glance at the back cover and first chapter (way to own the book already, Parker), I'm up-and-ready to read it.

the plan: read the first half by two-Wednesdays. I don't remember the page number right now. Josh? A little help? Oh I just found my scribble:

Be on page 140 on Wednesday November 4.

as a PS: I'm in a floral design class. I made some boutonnieres this week. Boys of book group, if you have anything fancy coming up in your lives, let me know. I have a boutonniere for you to wear.

VOTE on the right side of this page. Here are the options, described:

2009-10-19T19:55:00.000-06:00

(WARNING. I tried to keep this short, but.....failed.)

Here's a glimpse at the options. Why not be an educated voter?

Please pick two on the poll on the right of this page. That should narrow down our options. By the way, these look great. Way to pick out some fabulous literature. Several....well I'll just have to read them, whether or not we get to them in book group or not.

Olive Kitteridge
Elizabeth Strout

Thirteen linked tales in this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel delve into small-town life in coastal Maine, unveiling ordinary people’s lives including retired schoolteacher Olive Kittredge.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Muriel Barbery

“This story of an aging concierge and a 12-year-old girl in an exclusive apartment house in Paris was a huge hit in France. Pithy, erudite, and full of heart, this book should be on everyone’s must-read list”

The Sound and the Fury
William Faulkner

This Faulkner novel is considered one of the key works of the century. It explores loveless family relationships through four (masterfully) fractured narrator voices.

The Trial
Franz Kafka

[opening line] “Someone must have been telling lies about Joseph K., for without having done anything wrong he was arrested one fine morning…”
This psychological novel follows an ordinary man, Joseph. Repeatedly required to appear in court, Joseph grows frustrated and desperately watches his life spiral out of control.

Peace Like a River
Leif Engel

When his older brother is arrested for murder, Rube—an 11-year-old in 1960s Minnesota—and his father and sister take to the road, hoping to find Rube before the law does. In the end it's not Rube who haunts the reader's imagination; it's his father, torn between love for his outlaw son and the duty to do the right, honest thing.

Year of Magical Thinking
Joan Didion

This is a memoir of a year of the author’s life, in which she grapples with the grief of her husband’s sudden heart attack and death that accompanied the coma of their only child. It’s about “Didion's efforts to make sense of a time when nothing made sense.” Tribute to life and marriage.

The Turn of the Screw
Henry James

This terrifying psychological/supernatural(take your pick….seriously. Ambiguity at its finest) tale about follows a (maybe neurotic) narrator, a (mostly crazy) governess, and two innocent little kids.

Tinkers
Paul Harding

Harding's debut unfurls the final thoughts of a dying New England grandfather who made his living repairing clocks. “His deathbed revisits his turbulent childhood as the oldest son of an epileptic smalltime traveling salesman…The real star is Harding's language, which dazzles whether he's describing the workings of clocks, sensory images of nature, the many engaging side characters who populate the book, or even a short passage on how to build a bird nest.”

The Idiot
Fyodor Dostoevsky

Erm. This one is too tricky for me to give a synopsis. Seems like a really innocent sort of figure gets into some tragic mess in his society that’s all about money, power, and manipulation.

Three Cups of Tea
Greg Mortensen

Mortensen fails climbing K2—the world’s second tallest mountain—and ill, is cared for by a small Pakistani village. In return, he promises to build the town’s first school—a project that grew to constructing other schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Cat's Cradle
Kurt Vonnegut

This science fiction thriller (did I just characterize that right?) follows a random mix of characters in search of the world’s most dangerous substance: ice that freezes at room temperature. One review explained its thematic issues as nuclear terror, the complications of science, American imperialism, global capitalism and the role of religion in public life.

Picture This
Joseph Heller

(Here’s what Britt tells us: He also wrote "Catch-22," which was so bizarre and fascinating. A review of "Picture This:" "Mr. Heller treats the whole panorama of history past and present with the bravado of Mark Twain in one of his sassier moods." Aristotle discusses history with Heller's main character.)

WHAT do you think we should read next?

2009-10-14T21:32:00.000-06:00

As discussed at tonight's fabulous gathering, to help pick our next read you need to:

1. post your suggestion(s)*
2. vote on a yet to be set-up poll (on this blog) based on the suggestions
3. come next wednesday where we will vote between the top three or so novels

That would be 7.00 pm, October 21. This will be a quickie---without any pre-reading attached. Be excited.

*A note on suggestions: try to pick widely-likable books that we hopefully haven't read. And if you pick it, be ready to convince us to read it.

one last thought: Wow. Loved the discussion tonight--beautiful contributions and insights.

I'm not convinced anyone looks at this blog, but...

2009-10-13T17:59:00.000-06:00

Just in case someone does take a gander:

BOOK CLUB.
7 PM. TOMORROW. Wellington II # 33 (that's 732 N 800 E #33)
Last thoughts on THE BOOK THIEF
......plus we'll probably end up brewing some hot cocoa (if there's an autumn chill in the air) and munching on pumpkin cookies.
......and we need to talk about our future book (excitement)
Come with all your brilliant thoughts and insights.

NOTE. this book club is all about increasing your life happiness. if coming tomorrow will make your life happier, then come. if it won't, then don't come. (and secret: we'll still be friends. BFFs). hope to see you, all the same, though.

in a week

2009-10-06T20:12:00.000-06:00

Hello All.

I saw Britt today in the HBLL and she has actually finished Book Thief. Which must mean that: (a) I'm.....behind.....in reading and (b) you probably are too and (c) our next successful gathering is approaching.

Final Discussion of Book Thief will be held 7 pm on Wednesday October 14th. (As always, location will be 732 N 800 E #33. And contrary to some book group members' beliefs, the fireplace in that location is fake, so won't be flickering). Anyone want to volunteer to lead our thoughts and musings? Bring a divine eatable?

AND. (What's been keeping everyone from sleeping at night): what book will house our next reading experience?

Here's how we're going to do this:

1. Think of a book you'd like us to read (remember our group, what you think would encourage spritely conversation, something that has some good sort of merit, something we haven't all read)
2. Voice your suggestion as a comment to this blog post. Include the book's title and author
3. We'll assemble the choices and the secret book-choosing committee of the Book Group will hopefully pare them down to 2 or 3 fantastic stand-outs.
4. We'll vote on Wednesday (secret ballots or blind voting or some such no doubt), and start the flow of excitement for our next book.

final thing I'll say: happy TUESDAY. and.......why aren't you all on the first floor of the hbll? it's basically THE place to be. if you're an accounting major.

Come. Tomorrow!

2009-09-29T20:01:00.001-06:00

Oh, wow. It's time for a reminder.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30th--come to Wellington II #33 at 7:00 pm for BOOK GROUP, gathering 2.

I understand that Book Group is probably not your current prioritized reading. I believe in school, so I'd be worried if it was. We can still be friends and you can still be a book-group-member if you (a) didn't read the book at all, (b) read 23 pages, or (c) now think book group is the worst idea you've heard this week. If you've read the 303 pages, brilliant. If not, you're still invited to come and pretend to have read them and talk about the book. (Or not pretend...either way is acceptable.)

If you can't come this week, don't fret. Come when you can.

AND. lastly. I adore this book. I'm giddy with excitement to chit-chat about it with all of you.

Erm, that was a success, I'd say

2009-09-16T22:13:00.000-06:00

Wednesday's gathering convinced me that decisions to start book groups are wise. We are going to have a lovely time filled with great people, good food, brilliant conversation, and some excellent reading.

As a reminder (and for those who couldn't make it to Meeting #1):

We'll be meeting every other week on Wednesdays at 7 pm. And we decided to always make it at Wellington II # 33, so that's where you should come. Next meeting...

Wednesday September the 30th at 7 pm
By then you should be to the end of Section 5 (page 303)*
Chelsea and Britt are bringing some kind of delectable goodness to eat
Katie's "facilitating" the discussion (I think that's the word that we decided best describes that role)

A couple of other things:

A sign of good discussions to come: "I didn't know they thought about the Holocaust in Australia."If you want to read more about the author, Markus Zusak, check out his website.
As you're reading, think about references to color. How do they affect the story? And also consider the narrator's voice: how is it different from other narrators' styles you've read? how does it influence your reading experience?
And Hillary, what a chocolate pie that was.

*The page number is different than we had discussed. Because I can't do math, and no one corrected me at our gathering. Rebecca--our resident math minor--pointed out that half of 550 is not 250. So we're reading to the end of Section 5, which is closer to halfway. Page 303.

wednesday the 16th

2009-09-10T21:16:00.000-06:00

The momentous first gathering:

Come 'round to 732 E 800 N on Wednesday night at 7 pm for some bookly joy.

What's happening: This time, we'll just be getting acquainted with The Book Thief, one another, and the idea of a book group. So no big reading assignments before Wednesday. In fact, no great need to have a book by then. If you know anyone else that wants to join the crew, bring them along.I can promise a good time and some delicious (yet-to-be-determined) food.

Oh, this is going to be jolly.