![[Werking Title] Book Club Blog](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tjITn6mUVxeGBWbf_5oMvkM_v8IgyrNoN-L0Q0o1NpQe3Hyy83mhfi7ezOiJamtqUHOraZZud9qnns82YOysOxhjs1SojF3yTpI4B5OJcEnKuLtKcpIBHMhA_aK1ch7njbRPFw/s1600-r/bookbanner04.jpg)
ok so i'm almost done the book and some things are starting to make sense about the books style and length. it........... is ........... all........... intentional!
i'll tell u more about it later ;-)
Monday, October 23, 2006
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Henry's to Hemingway's
Henry's is where I work, and Hemingway's is where we met last night to talk about Love in the Time of Cholera. I just like the way it sounds. Henry's to Hemingway's. Like a song!
The discussion went well, I think, and everyone had fun answering the quiz questions I had printed out. Some of them were too easy, and some of them were a bit ambiguous- but I didn't have the answer sheet, so it didn't really matter! I think my favourite question was...
The song Florentino writes and plays for Fermina is called:
(A) Crowned Goddess
(B) Rockabye, Sweet Fermina
(C) Like A Virgin
(D) Share Your Love With Me
Haha... Like a Virgin... There were many instances of weird, quirky, and dare I say, illegal sexual encounters in this book, but since it was set around 1900, I don't think it really mattered. I was grossed out by the affair between the protagonist and his teenage lover, but I understand the value of the relationship within the story. The old people sex scene was a little unnerving, but funny at the same time. LOL
My personal opinion on this book? I think it could've been much shorter. And at time, it felt like a chore for me to read. I'm not sure if this had to do with the fact that it was translated from Spanish, or if it's because it written in a very classical language (as opposed to pop lit, or something closer to a soap opera, although the premise of the story would've fit nicely into say, The Young and the Restless). I know that the book was supposed to be humourous in places, too, but only a couple of times did I actually laugh out loud.
The story was interesting, though, the themes (suffering from love/cholera, and the fear of death) were relevant, and the characters were developed nicely. Nestor pointed out that he liked the way the author would time travel, to inform the reader of the character's past. Sometimes I found this a bit confusing, but I was thankful for it. I also found the names of the characters a bit confusing (see my previous post).
Ultimately, I think we all enjoyed the book. It was also great to see Daniella (our newest member), and her seeing eye dog Roger, who was super cute (especially when he licked Julia's knee)! John didn't make it out (even though he was the one who chose the book), because he was sick. Feel better John!!
Next book- The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger. Nestor's pick. Meeting date: November 22. Venue TBA.
The discussion went well, I think, and everyone had fun answering the quiz questions I had printed out. Some of them were too easy, and some of them were a bit ambiguous- but I didn't have the answer sheet, so it didn't really matter! I think my favourite question was...
The song Florentino writes and plays for Fermina is called:
(A) Crowned Goddess
(B) Rockabye, Sweet Fermina
(C) Like A Virgin
(D) Share Your Love With Me
Haha... Like a Virgin... There were many instances of weird, quirky, and dare I say, illegal sexual encounters in this book, but since it was set around 1900, I don't think it really mattered. I was grossed out by the affair between the protagonist and his teenage lover, but I understand the value of the relationship within the story. The old people sex scene was a little unnerving, but funny at the same time. LOL
My personal opinion on this book? I think it could've been much shorter. And at time, it felt like a chore for me to read. I'm not sure if this had to do with the fact that it was translated from Spanish, or if it's because it written in a very classical language (as opposed to pop lit, or something closer to a soap opera, although the premise of the story would've fit nicely into say, The Young and the Restless). I know that the book was supposed to be humourous in places, too, but only a couple of times did I actually laugh out loud.
The story was interesting, though, the themes (suffering from love/cholera, and the fear of death) were relevant, and the characters were developed nicely. Nestor pointed out that he liked the way the author would time travel, to inform the reader of the character's past. Sometimes I found this a bit confusing, but I was thankful for it. I also found the names of the characters a bit confusing (see my previous post).
Ultimately, I think we all enjoyed the book. It was also great to see Daniella (our newest member), and her seeing eye dog Roger, who was super cute (especially when he licked Julia's knee)! John didn't make it out (even though he was the one who chose the book), because he was sick. Feel better John!!
Next book- The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger. Nestor's pick. Meeting date: November 22. Venue TBA.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
I don't know if it's just cause I'm an idiot, or because it's been so long since I've read anything that wouldn't be considered "pop lit"... but this Love in the Time of Cholera book is really making me rack my brain.
All the names sounds the same, and some people even have the same name! Or perhaps the name "Fermina" is an honorific, like Mister or Madame. And the book would be a heck of a lot shorter if the author truncated the names slightly. Instead of typing out Florentina Ariza 5000 times, he could've just called him Flor!
I'm also baffled about the geographical location. From what I understand, the book takes place in the Dominican Republic? But the treasure that Flor looks for just before Fermina returns from her fathers exile is located in the Sotavento Archipelago, which is off the coast of Africa!
It is turning out to be a good story, though. I am glad that we pushed back the date of the meeting (Oct. 11), which will definitely allow me enough time to finish the book.
All the names sounds the same, and some people even have the same name! Or perhaps the name "Fermina" is an honorific, like Mister or Madame. And the book would be a heck of a lot shorter if the author truncated the names slightly. Instead of typing out Florentina Ariza 5000 times, he could've just called him Flor!
I'm also baffled about the geographical location. From what I understand, the book takes place in the Dominican Republic? But the treasure that Flor looks for just before Fermina returns from her fathers exile is located in the Sotavento Archipelago, which is off the coast of Africa!
It is turning out to be a good story, though. I am glad that we pushed back the date of the meeting (Oct. 11), which will definitely allow me enough time to finish the book.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Away from Home
Last night was our first meeting in a public place in a while (since the book club became known as "The Book Club", instead of"The Indigo Book Club", where we met in the book store). I think it went well! We met at The Victory Cafe, in Mirvish Village. What a great place. I enjoyed the food, and the service was good (even though the bartender kept saying, "Very good...").
All in all, we thought the book was fair. I liked it the most out of the four of us, I think. Then probably Maria (who choose the book). Then it's probably a tie between Julia and Gab, who both liked the language used in the book and the way the author wrote it (first person, told directly to the reader with lots of personal pronouns- I's and you's and us's), but didn't really think the premise of the story was all that interesting. Gab kept waiting for some kind of rebellion by the characters. I'd have to agree, the book did lack emotion and a serious climax. I said maybe the author's intention was to keep things fairly sterile, since it is a book about clones, and one of the themes was the question of morality in scientific progress and the spirituality (if any) of a cloned human.
Other themes included the value of friendship, the teenager's struggle to be accepted by their peers, and the importance of art and creativity in a child's development.
We discussed the book almost the entire time (which is rare for us), besides the odd Star Wars debate and of course, talk of my brithday! LOL... Julia had printed out some discussion questions from bookclubs.ca, and we used those as a guide.
I think this was my favourite book club meeting in a while... besides the one I planned at my house, that is! It's the new guy's turn to pick a book this month, so I'm not sure what we're reading next. Hopefully something good! I have no doubts, since he also works at Indigo!
All in all, we thought the book was fair. I liked it the most out of the four of us, I think. Then probably Maria (who choose the book). Then it's probably a tie between Julia and Gab, who both liked the language used in the book and the way the author wrote it (first person, told directly to the reader with lots of personal pronouns- I's and you's and us's), but didn't really think the premise of the story was all that interesting. Gab kept waiting for some kind of rebellion by the characters. I'd have to agree, the book did lack emotion and a serious climax. I said maybe the author's intention was to keep things fairly sterile, since it is a book about clones, and one of the themes was the question of morality in scientific progress and the spirituality (if any) of a cloned human.
Other themes included the value of friendship, the teenager's struggle to be accepted by their peers, and the importance of art and creativity in a child's development.
We discussed the book almost the entire time (which is rare for us), besides the odd Star Wars debate and of course, talk of my brithday! LOL... Julia had printed out some discussion questions from bookclubs.ca, and we used those as a guide.
I think this was my favourite book club meeting in a while... besides the one I planned at my house, that is! It's the new guy's turn to pick a book this month, so I'm not sure what we're reading next. Hopefully something good! I have no doubts, since he also works at Indigo!
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006
Finished!
I finished Never Let Me Go last night before I went to bed. Veeeeeeeeery interesting! But very good... I thoroughly enjoyed it (with only a couple of irks). I thought about the characters like they were my friends, and said to myself on more than one occasion, "I wonder how Kathy, Ruth and Tommy are doing?" LOL
Maria- you just picked this book cause there's so much talk about sex in it!!!
I know the meeting's not for a couple of weeks, but where are we meeting??
Maria- you just picked this book cause there's so much talk about sex in it!!!
I know the meeting's not for a couple of weeks, but where are we meeting??
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Subway reading
On my way to work this morning I was reading Never Let Me Go, and there was a cute boy (believe me, he was a boy, like 19) and when he got up he said something to me, I didn't quite understand because it caught me by surprise (and because I really don't speak any English). Anyway, he was reading the same book. It was funny.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
New Pick...
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro... chosen by Maria. The meeting will be at her place (again! it seems like we've been meeting there alot lately!)... on Monday the 21st, if that's cool with everybody.
The next day is my berfday!
The next day is my berfday!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Finished the book
I finished The Long Walk last night. I.did.not.get.it.
I hope book club can help me tonight to figure out the "meaning" of the book.
Yep, I'm THAT thick!
I hope book club can help me tonight to figure out the "meaning" of the book.
Yep, I'm THAT thick!
Monday, July 17, 2006
The Meeting is Tomorrow...
... and I'm only on page 131!!! Jesus. I though this story was WAY shorter... ah well- I'll just be reading 'til the wee hours tonight... Nobody call me or message me! I'll be busy!!!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
New Pick!
The Long Walk, by Richard Bachman, AKA Stephen King.
This is a GOOD story. I read it years and years ago (like, 15!!) and I still remember it.
Classic, intelligent, scary = Richard Bachman.
As opposed to some of King's more recent work.
Meeting up for a good ole' fashioned BBQ at Julia's on July 18th.
As opposed to some of King's more recent work.
Meeting up for a good ole' fashioned BBQ at Julia's on July 18th.
I can't wait!
Monday, June 26, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
River of the Borderline Retarded and YouTube.com
We had our June book club meeting last night, the book in question being River of the Brokenhearted, by David Adams Richards. We didn't really discuss the book too much, but we had some awesome movie theatre inspired snacks and some fun up on Maria's roof-top patio.
We always try to eat food related to the book somehow, but it was difficult with this one. The only food I remember being mentioned was pie and fries. So Gab made a lemon meringue pie and Julia picked up some frites from the chipwagon in front of City Hall (MMMmmmm). Maria made popcorn, and I decided to bring some nachos and cheese, like the kind you get at the theatre today. Nestor was a poohead and didn't bring anything... The book was about a Maritime family troubled by alcoholism; needless to say, we had the booze bit down pat. We were drinking martinis and gin and juice.
We hashed out the novel for a couple hours, and then attention wandered to Maria's computer, and youtube.com. That site is DANGEROUSLY ADDICTIVE. Here are some links to our favourite clips:
The Ten Things I Hate About Commandments (discovered by Julia)
The Shining Re-Cut (brought to us by Nestor)
Ah, Bibliotheque (a favourite of Maria's)
VW GTi MkV Unpimp My Ride I (Gab's pick)
Funny DUI (shown to me by a co-worker today)
TOO FUNNY!!
Anyways- here are a couple other pics, taken on Maria's rooftop.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
