tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42584198815600504742024-03-14T10:27:30.437+01:00The Barga Book ClubKerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-7070197147958006892016-08-09T18:32:00.003+02:002016-08-09T18:36:14.216+02:00The New Barga Book ClubI pass the Gavel to Helen.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">General Discussion.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">In general we all agreed that the book club offers the opportunity to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">read and discuss books that we may not normally choose for ourselves</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">and enjoy different types of writing. It can extend your reading list</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">and this we felt is one of the real benefits of the club.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The discussion about the book is a key part of our meetings and it is</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">important for all members to have equal opportunity to contribute.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We all enjoy the social aspect of the club and want the meals to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">continue but feel that meals could be more modest.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">In summary, we agreed that the book club should continue, but there</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">were some aspects that we should change or reaffirm.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The conclusions are as below.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Ground Rules</b></span><br />
<b><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" /></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">1. Meetings will be chaired, Helen and Boo have agreed to do this but</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">any member is free to offer.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">2. For Meetings with 10 or less members present, each person may speak</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">for 5 minutes without interruption. When more than 10 are present the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">time will be reduced and agreed at the beginning of the meeting. Once</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">all members have spoken It will be opened to a general discussion.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">3. Whenever possible all members will read the book and be in a</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">position to contribute to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">the discussion.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">4. Hosting will rotate.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">5. The host will manage the menu asking for specific contributions of</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">food or wine.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">6. Meeting reminder emails will be sent about 10 days before each</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">meeting. (Helen) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">7. Members will reply to the host 1 week before the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">meeting.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">8. The blog will continue. (Helen and Boo have agreed to do this)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Discussed and agreed 31 July 2016</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Dr Thorne: Anthony Trollope.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">When Dr Thorne was suggested to the book club, many members groaned</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">with the thought of another “English classic” or “old fashioned book”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">but nevertheless once reading began, immediately drawn drawn into the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">victorian life of 1858 when the book was first published. Everybody</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">seemed to conclude that they enjoyed the book and talked</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">enthusiastically at out meeting.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Several themes where drawn out during the discussion with most of book</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">club recognising that while the book was essentially a love story, it</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">is a social period piece analysing people and society, clearly</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">describing the aristocratic attitudes and behaviour of the day. In</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">particular we drew out the morality, the importance of status, birth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">and manners and probably over and above all other things the need for</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">money to sustain the aristocratic pride and position in society.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We all felt that a strength of Trollope’s writing was his ability to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">portray the characters with honesty and as well as describing their</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">strengths he also exposed their weaknesses, perhaps with the exception</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">of Mary, the main female character, who seemed almost saintly and for</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">some of us too good to be true.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">We felt that some characters seemed more progressive for the period,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">particularly Frank as he fought against the traditional view of his</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">aristocratic family. Frank was determined to marry Mary the woman he</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">loved, even with her low birth and assumed lack of money. He would not</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">be persuaded that he should “marry for money” to restore the family</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">estate and hence pride. He was willing to “work” rather than give way</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">to that pressure. However there was a feeling that Trollope avoided</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">exploring or developing the idea of the “work ethic” to any great</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">extent. Although in the case of Lord Scatcherd , it was clear that for</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">some hard work paid, and while Trollope showed the strength of his</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">character as he rose from a poor stone mason to a very rich business</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">man, he was then lost as the flaw or weakness in his character took</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">over as he drank himself to death. Thus proving that it was only the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">aristocracy who have the moral fibre to hold such a position in</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">society.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Many members commented that Trollope described the hypocrisy of the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">aristocrats very well, particularly their ability to sweep aside a</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">troublesome problem when convenient, as Lady Arabella did on the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">discovery that Mary had inherited a great deal of money and that by</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">marriage to Frank would save the face of the “Greshams of</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Greshambury.” It mattered not that it was the “new money” of Lord</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Scatherd or that Mary was of low birth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">For Trollope it seemed that writing came easily and the story flowed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">with simple language, maybe sometimes over wordy but not convoluted</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">and perhaps with a hint of Dickens.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The author was ever present as the narrator of the book as he</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">interacted with the reader, almost as though he invited you to “open a</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">window and look into other lives” referencing what might come in the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">future of this story or books to come, leaving the reader with the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">impression they were somehow privy to some private information.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Trollope’s humour was evident through the names he gave his</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">characters, for example Dr Fillgrave, the lawyers Mr Slow and</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Bideawhile, the scrutiniser of accounts Mr Gazebee and of course Lord</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">and Lady Scatcherd’s son Louis-Phillippe. Some thought that Dr</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Thorne was possibly the “thorn in the side “ for many of the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">characters as the principled, honest Doctor and confidante who maybe</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">on occasion was a bit above his station.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Towards the end of our discussion we had some debate about how, or if,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">society has really changed and whether the same issues are pertinent</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">to modern day. We agreed that the gap between the rich and poor is</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">getting bigger and while the aristocratic class still exists the</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">social structure of today has changed with the emergence of the “new</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">rich” who sometimes have adopted aristocratic characteristics but that</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">they appear to display them differently.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">In conclusion this was a book we all enjoyed which raised a number of</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">very topical issues.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Thank you to Janet and Elliot for hosting the meeting and to everyone</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">for their contributions.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The future meetings are agreed as:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tuesday 20 September 7pm</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hosts Barbara and Steve.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Book; The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton proposed by Helen.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wednesday 19 October 7pm</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Host Boo</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Book; Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. proposed by Steve.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Thursday 17 November 7pm</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Host Liz</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Book; Revolution Russell Brand proposed by Liz.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Friday 16 December 7pm</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Host Salene</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Book; Bird of Passage by Berenice Rubin proposed by Helen/Salene.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-59286931636757899232016-06-23T12:44:00.004+02:002016-06-23T12:44:44.907+02:00Book Club newsThe Barga Book Club is disbanded. Thank you to everyone for your dedicated participation.Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-80054401937653255942016-05-29T10:38:00.002+02:002016-05-29T10:38:33.438+02:00The White Tiger<div class="p1">
On a mild May evening with the Duomo silhouetted against the sky at sunset an almost unprecedented number of Book Club members met at Localita’ Serra. After a sumptuous supper, but before an equally delicious dessert, the book up for discussion was The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
It is a rags to riches story set in India. The low caste son works and then murders his way to success, destroying, literally, his family in the process. In epistolary form as unsent instructional letters to the Chinese premier, its satiric premise is that India and China are the new frontier and will prevail over the west.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Many readers have first person experience in India and comments were insightful.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Elliot found it vivid at all levels, the primitive vs. flash city life, grinding ahead you could smell India coming out of every page. Themes exploited, extraordinary contrast of poverty and privilege, no recognition as to the dichotomy on the part of the elite, strong sense of exploitation even within the family, exemplified by old crone grandmother with an 18th C. sense of morality. Was the protagonist a hero, likable? But he gets away with murder, conscience? Clever, smart, adept, lucky, beat the system. Good story, well told; Janet enjoyed its insights, it was vivid. Marijke, fascinating, written well, well told recognized Granny, she makes the rules, murder justified?; Cynthia, can’t say she liked it, it has opened her eyes to the situation in India which she knows well, chauffeur had a sense of humor, motivated by ambition, met pity in the eyes of the master, an epiphany; Pietro, realistic, two worlds, injustice, corruption, cycle, is killing justified? Retribution, sympathy.; Bill, have you improved your soul in any way? Knows in southern India you accept your lot in life, descriptive; Krysia, initially didn’t like it, didn’t identify, but ultimately found it a brilliant social, political statement. A completely different reality, sucked into that mentality, why wouldn’t they rebel?; Isobel enjoyed the book until the murder by which integrity was lost; Helen recognized the corruption, money never getting where it was going, invisibility. Brilliantly described but his moral code was unacceptable, unforgivable. Salene, Irritated by 1st person narrative, stirred strong emotions, distrust, loyalty. The chandelier image of gaudy light verses the ‘darkness’; Steve, clever story about the ills of India, painted a picture clearly of nepotism, corruption, a social statement on a larger scale, same thing happening vis a vis Brazil, Africa, inequality; Barbara, character’s sense of morality changes, justifies killing, corruption manipulating the system, but only helping him; Boo, recognized the business corruption element, author captured the essence very well, turned when he was accused of murder, is unconscionable; Brian, cleverly constructed, likable villain, entrepreneurialism vs heavy socialism, complex, astonishing, conflict, fear, physical cowardice, vulnerability, betrayal.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
All in all a stirring read.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Books worth mentioning for the reading list: </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
A Question of Loyalties, Allan Massie</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The Reader on the 6.27, Jean-Paul Didierlaurent</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The Buried Giant, Kazuo Ishiguro</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The upcoming meetings are as follows:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
June 15 The Writing on My Forehead, Nafisa Haji, at Bill and Cynthia's</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Sunday Lunch, July 24 at Janet and Elliot's, Doctor Thorne, Anthony Trollope</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
September, The Miniturist, Jessie Burton</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Thank you to everyone who contributed.</div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-74177518261203781032016-04-14T09:19:00.000+02:002016-05-29T03:32:10.246+02:00Va Dove Ti Porta Il CuoreFollow Your Heart, by Susanna Tamaro<br />
<br />
Witnessing another spectacular sunset as its rays splayed out from under the lone long cloud and lit the Pania, book club members gathered in the warm contemporary atmosphere in Tiglio Basso. Continuing to perfect the combined recipe of serious dining and serious literature discussion, we lit into both with gusto.<br />
<br />
Follow Your Heart is an epistolary novel of a grandmother's musings as she lives out the late years of her life left alone after suicide, accidental and natural death, and abandonment by the granddaughter she'd raised.<br />
<br />
The book resonated strongly with readers who had experienced similar tragedies and or its more poignant circumstances. Otherwise many felt it was irritating and didn't follow a preconceived predictable pattern. <br />
<br />
Kerry read it as philosophical musings on an imperfect life, at times spun out of control, but lived to the best of the main character's knowledge and circumstances. Isobel also enjoyed it without over analysing it, and found it interesting with personal associations. Margaret thought it was extremely irritating, saccarine, overly sentimental, contrived, trendy, and overly metaphorical and objected to an extremely bigoted young catholic writing as an 80 year old woman. Boo found it depressing, written through self gratification and misery. Cynthia found it a reflection on one's life with parallels to her own life and experience, a bit whiny and preachy but made her want to speak to her own grandchildren now. She also appreciated its references to Greek and Roman literature. Anne found it an annoying and lost respect for the protagonist's life's choices lost. Bill also found it annoying, martyrlike, full of cliches and crappy metaphors. Helen didn't feel it came across as an Italian novel in the translation, but that the protagonist didn't learn the lessons she might have and didn't take what she should have from her life.<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed.<br />
<br />
The next meetings are as follows:<br />
<br style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;" />
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">May 18 The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, at Pietro and Marijke's</span><br />
<br />
June 15 The Writing on My Forehead, Nafisa Haji, at Bill and Cynthia's<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">July at Janet and Elliot's, Doctor Thorne, Anthony Trollope</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">August or September, The Miniturist, Jessie Burton</span>Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-26861520439792729322016-03-27T13:50:00.002+02:002016-03-27T14:29:17.502+02:00A Painted HouseA small but dedicated group of Book Club members met in the exquisite rustic elegance of Le Trine to discuss A Painted House by John Grisham. It is the story of a family's struggle with its cotton farm narrated by its 7 year old protagonist. The book was suggested and selected as something of a departure from Grisham's usual oeuvre, and that it was. Most members present enjoyed its description of Arkansan cotton farming in the early '50's. Boo felt it had emotional intensity and appreciated Grisham's refreshingly different writing style. Janet cited its tension and manner of breaking down assumptions, the portrayal of American class conflict, thought it was a good read, a good portrayal of making the best of a bad lot, and noted its reference of the transition to industrial methods. Elliot felt it was efficiently written in characterization but didn't get under the skin, however it was authentic and realistically horrible. Helen enjoyed its imagery and descriptiveness and felt she was right there in the cotton field at times. It gave her sympathy with their situation. It was a good read overall.<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who came, contributed and participated.<br />
<br />
The upcoming meetings are as follows:<br />
<br />
April 13 at Helen's, Follow Your Heart by Susanna Tamaro<br />
<br />
May 18 The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, venue to be announced<br />
<br />
July 24 at Janet and Elliot's Doctor Thorne, Anthony Trollope<br />
<br />
Other suggested titles were:<br />
<br />
God in the Ruins by Kate Atkinson<br />
<br />
The Miniaturist by Jesse BurtonKerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-6408820768840997472016-02-19T17:14:00.000+01:002016-02-20T10:17:00.765+01:00Catching UpThe second half of 2015 got away from me and although we did meet and have interesting discussions of a number of books of remarkable diversity I'll pick up the thread with our November meeting which found us cosseted once again in the warm cozy atmosphere of Anne and Rigo Capanni's hillside home with the lights of Barga and its surroundings twinkling in the distance.<br />
<br />
After a delicious meal offered by hosts and guests we got down to discussing Miss Garnet's Angel by Salley Vickers. It is the story of a committed spinster who has inherited a small fortune from her close friend and longtime housemate and decides to travel for an extended stay in Venice, and resultant adventures. Throughout the story is woven the biblical legend of Tobias and the Angel, inspired by an intrigue surrounding the painted panels in a church and their disappearance.<br />
<br />
Isobel enjoyed it overall, mentioning that the two disconcertingly disparate parts, modern and historical, eventually came together. Helen did not enjoy it at all, found the writing disjointed, laborious but it did spur an interest in Venice. To our delight, founding member Julie Flynn joined us after a too long absence, and while she compared it to Enchanted April, she felt she liked the process and it represented a good mechanism. Salene felt it represented a personal journey for the protagonist, loved the description of Venice, loved the way it was interwoven with the story of Tobias, and liked the whole book about change developed through friendships. Margaret wondered when it was set, thought the language archaic, there were flashes of a 1920's woman in Liberty bodice, etc., it was overall anachronistic. Kerry felt it was a little like a Nancy Drew mystery. Rigo was bored and put it down immediately. Anne knew this woman. She was credible and she could understand how she got that way. Anne found the descriptions of Venice backstreets interesting and then left us with a delightful anecdote of her own childhood experience when, having always felt she had a guardian angel on her shoulder, she mentioned to her little girl friend that she must have one too, the girl was appalled and tried to brush it away.<br />
<br />
As is often the case, opinions diverged but we all enjoyed meeting to discuss them in the warmth of the Capanni home and Anne kindly provided these photos.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvhuY_Mer6X16SEJQfXrWuRRNEytjaXmg8X8aaqjIhqEiXrQbZrcN3vnPFi6xEEOt3QenzLLKvmd23gVgKI8iF2rOHQ3PII8x2pTn21k77fbLV2hkVvP2sSho_muO0GVIpYxPQvs_2WYI/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvhuY_Mer6X16SEJQfXrWuRRNEytjaXmg8X8aaqjIhqEiXrQbZrcN3vnPFi6xEEOt3QenzLLKvmd23gVgKI8iF2rOHQ3PII8x2pTn21k77fbLV2hkVvP2sSho_muO0GVIpYxPQvs_2WYI/s320/IMG_0535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPT2DpZcTZOU0DqXL48os2OQdg8TYe6UHF62uyb9_AFZj23umhPTizKpQZ5DZ606MaGUfJYCPtEmu2haFyAiV7Aeulz29YSf8Ldxyr5z5e-joFwBdOJFOYTrJaa1f4Gh3g-PYSfDNSj_P/s1600/IMG_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPT2DpZcTZOU0DqXL48os2OQdg8TYe6UHF62uyb9_AFZj23umhPTizKpQZ5DZ606MaGUfJYCPtEmu2haFyAiV7Aeulz29YSf8Ldxyr5z5e-joFwBdOJFOYTrJaa1f4Gh3g-PYSfDNSj_P/s320/IMG_0538.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu6_9jw7OjIx5Lo7zEn0xJi8GrPktoeL5im4mwtni8-8fwvdYG5q_gNbUkOt0yzrvsZQ-MIyzjIwYM1Ag99wHS3UPf_RxR8F8aFkJIUqhj1TspDJXsZq7XdES9SnANZBQWkgPhY9jadZT/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu6_9jw7OjIx5Lo7zEn0xJi8GrPktoeL5im4mwtni8-8fwvdYG5q_gNbUkOt0yzrvsZQ-MIyzjIwYM1Ag99wHS3UPf_RxR8F8aFkJIUqhj1TspDJXsZq7XdES9SnANZBQWkgPhY9jadZT/s320/IMG_0539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The next meeting was graciously hosted by Salene where we discussed The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan. It is an account of the meeting between a young Palestinian activist and a young Israeli woman in the home from which he was evicted years before and now which she calls home. The book details their personal journeys and the conflicts' facts leading up to the present.<br />
<br />
Once again after a wonderful meal we got down to the discussion. Helen, who had recommended the book, said that she'd wanted to read it to help understand the history of the conflict with the interesting approach of its being presented through the eyes of two families. The history and detail were sometimes dense and reading hard going but it did help challenge the notion that the conflict is unsolvable. Isobel found it difficult but it made her think deeply about how these people lived and survived. Liz, who has traveled to Israel and found it very interesting, enjoyed the story yet felt it was about a battlefield, intrenched and intransigent. Salene, although the pull was "home" didn't think the two stories linked. Krysia who also didn't feel the two stories linked well was shocked at the way the Palestinians were treated as reported in the book. Boo found it fascinating and highly educational. Helen closed by saying that she had recommended the book thinking everyone would hate it and was relieved that, though reviews were mixed, it seemed that everyone got something from it.<br />
<br />
Krysia brought a most appreciated, extensive list for recommended reading which you will find at the end of this post.<br />
<br />
The book selected for March is A Painted House by John Grisham. These photos are from my archive of classic unpainted tin roofed houses in this part of the southern U.S. for image reference.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFELIcKxO2WMlxQdFaShVVKFb4xikbuVPGzuktQM4-uk9x2oRLOvHv5XRXl1yQNboH1ukLrG7hCdpAx_UrVAseWNVUdCv904-A-zCAe3d5RwqVBo7wqoG5TfUFwWH53JLWWjQ-eWaPQu6B/s1600/House%252C+Sevierville%252C+Tenn.+.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFELIcKxO2WMlxQdFaShVVKFb4xikbuVPGzuktQM4-uk9x2oRLOvHv5XRXl1yQNboH1ukLrG7hCdpAx_UrVAseWNVUdCv904-A-zCAe3d5RwqVBo7wqoG5TfUFwWH53JLWWjQ-eWaPQu6B/s320/House%252C+Sevierville%252C+Tenn.+.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFY0fkDBdnROHlC8Eodl1oxp-m2PKcO3X27hqmX4zv6cA20FdGov_9MkQ5aNZpEsxNNcB-52p2K_4YAoOvAdVljURTVeDxZKEFF7NkTQ4y4jFmggxQcDvrlVMgOhJf0vROj7kJB1POWuV/s1600/Porch%252C+Sevierville%252C+Tenn.+.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFY0fkDBdnROHlC8Eodl1oxp-m2PKcO3X27hqmX4zv6cA20FdGov_9MkQ5aNZpEsxNNcB-52p2K_4YAoOvAdVljURTVeDxZKEFF7NkTQ4y4jFmggxQcDvrlVMgOhJf0vROj7kJB1POWuV/s320/Porch%252C+Sevierville%252C+Tenn.+.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The next meetings are as follows:<br />
<br />
March 16 at Boo's, A Painted House by John Grisham<br />
<br />
April 13 at Isobel's Follow Your Heart by Susanna Tamaro (Va' Dove Ti Porta Il Cuore)<br />
<br />
Thank you so much to everyone who participated and contributed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtq-WlTPtbbF9XbrGdspjziAe2Cnnc4T9NO97ZT73z3SLJ5PPfOkm_6yIaHz_-4zHzQvcWLCcUbX1FBknQARDu1enN-DJUbz5iYxFsQqQHWPtB9FGiQat8NTS1lFqwwKhtRiClLEOOdMF/s1600/Krysia%2527s+reading+list+.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtq-WlTPtbbF9XbrGdspjziAe2Cnnc4T9NO97ZT73z3SLJ5PPfOkm_6yIaHz_-4zHzQvcWLCcUbX1FBknQARDu1enN-DJUbz5iYxFsQqQHWPtB9FGiQat8NTS1lFqwwKhtRiClLEOOdMF/s320/Krysia%2527s+reading+list+.jpeg" width="294" /></a></div>
<br />Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-69020145992131918562015-06-07T18:52:00.001+02:002015-06-07T18:52:33.289+02:00Bel Canto<div class="p1">
A numerous group of members of The Book Club were graciously welcomed on a lovely May evening into the warm spacious home in the countryside to discuss Bel Canto by Ann Pachette. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The book was variously described as historical fiction, based on The Lima Crisis, which evoked scenes of the history of the ruthless women of The Shining Path, (Kerry), the Stockholm Syndrome (Cynthia) or just a lovely old fashioned love story (Janet). Reviews were mixed but we all took something away from the reading even if it was an almost immediate passionate rejection! (Liz). </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Among the books we're reading, was recommended Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed. The food and hosting, as always, were superb. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The next meetings are as follows:</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4" style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">
June 17th, At Pietro and Marijke's, White Masai, Corinne Hofmann</div>
<div class="p5" style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<br style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /></div>
<div class="p4" style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">
July 22nd, at Fabiana's, The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri</div>
<div class="p4" style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4" style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">
September, On Writing, by Stephen King</div>
<div class="p4" style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4" style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">
October, Miss Garnet's Angel, Sally Vickers</div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-12432892856377887212015-05-04T11:00:00.000+02:002015-05-04T20:04:20.868+02:00My Brilliant Friend<div class="p1">
<br />
<br />
On a mild fragrant spring evening a large group of Book Club members<br />
were welcomed into the charming courtyard and then the intimate<br />
interior of the legendary home on the via dell'Acquedotto<br />
to discuss Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend.<br />
<br />
The novel is set near Naples in the years just after WWII but opens</div>
<div class="p1">
with the reflections of one of the two main characters, who are now in</div>
<div class="p1">
their sixties, who has been contacted by the son of the other,</div>
<div class="p1">
revealing that his mother has disappeared without a trace.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Knowing the recent outcome of their lives solves one question but</div>
<div class="p1">
leaves many others open.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The novel is about escape and obviously they have both achieved it.</div>
<div class="p1">
One is living in Turin and the other is no where to be found, yet. The</div>
<div class="p1">
novel is the first of three and to learn the the outcome one would</div>
<div class="p1">
need to read them all.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Elena and 'Lila' grew up in very traditional homes in a poor area of</div>
<div class="p1">
Naples during a period which experienced great social change. Italian</div>
<div class="p1">
life, particularly in the south was restrained, strongly influenced by</div>
<div class="p1">
the church, tradition, ritual and even superstition. In addition, the effects</div>
<div class="p1">
of the war were still felt and fear influenced much social discourse.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
As the girls were growing up there was a great cultural shift toward</div>
<div class="p1">
more humanistic self determination. Elena and Lila began to excel in</div>
<div class="p1">
school, often in competition, they led each other on. Ultimately they</div>
<div class="p1">
had to choose, to pursue the academic path or the traditional. There</div>
<div class="p1">
is conjecture as to whether it is autobiographical.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Most found the girls' story either deeply moving or deeply</div>
<div class="p1">
disturbing. It was both. Over and above their personal stories, it is</div>
<div class="p1">
the image of great social upheaval. It represents a pivotal moment in</div>
<div class="p1">
cultural history when the traditions of Church, home and family, and</div>
<div class="p1">
women's roles began to change forever.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Margaret, who had suggested the book, loved the poignant portrayal of</div>
<div class="p1">
the friendship and cited the comparison with moving post war novels such as</div>
<div class="p1">
'Cristo Si è Fermato a Eboli, by Carlo Levi. She will read the rest</div>
<div class="p1">
of the novels and hopefully report back to us; Krysia found it badly</div>
<div class="p1">
translated, if not just badly written, but loved the sense of place;</div>
<div class="p1">
Helen was enjoying the fantastical atmosphere; Isobel found it</div>
<div class="p1">
difficult but could identify with the familial rivalries of Naples;</div>
<div class="p1">
Barbara found it depressing, almost moved to tears; Salene said though</div>
<div class="p1">
it wasn't a page turner, it did make you want to know how it would</div>
<div class="p1">
continue and end; Bill puzzled over the glimpse into girldom that it</div>
<div class="p1">
represented and though enjoyed it felt there were many things unexplained; </div>
<div class="p1">
Cynthia found it an account of someone looking back, trying to be objective, </div>
<div class="p1">
a case of one being locked in and the other moving on; Boo, did not enjoy it</div>
<div class="p1">
but was fascinated by the theme of escape; Anne found it a sad book,</div>
<div class="p1">
but a commendable insight into post war life in Naples; Elliot thought</div>
<div class="p1">
it was a good, very vivid account of life in Naples, relationships</div>
<div class="p1">
handled deftly, sensitively, odd in an interesting way, suggestive,</div>
<div class="p1">
hidden sides to the characters and it read well; Janet enjoyed the</div>
<div class="p1">
series of pictures painted, the portrayal of deprivation, ritualistic extreme</div>
<div class="p1">
versions of life presented with subtle balance.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Thank you to our hosts for so graciously fitting us all in. As always the</div>
<div class="p1">
food was superb and company delightful. Thank you to everyone who</div>
<div class="p1">
participated and contributed.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
We welcomed a new member Barbara, who recommended Sally Vickers, <span class="s1">Miss Garnet's Angel to add to our on going reading list.</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
The next meetings are as follows:</div>
<div class="p5">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
Wednesday May 27 Bel Canto, Anne Pachette at Boo’s</div>
<div class="p5">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
June, White Masai, Corinne Hofmann</div>
<div class="p5">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p4">
July, The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri</div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-66335247825530144672015-04-09T19:16:00.000+02:002015-04-09T19:16:12.898+02:00The Garden of Evening Mists<div class="p1">
The Barga Book Club met on a cool spring evening in a warm intimate art filled home just outside Barga to discuss, The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The story, set in the area now known as Malaysia in the years after the Japanese occupation, in which the protagonist and narrator, an ethnic Chinese, who was the only survivor of a Japanese internment camp, and is now a Supreme Court Judge, describes in depth the history, clash of Asian cultures, discrimination, war and her will to survive, and commemorate her sister’s life and love of Japanese gardens, in an intricate intimate relationship with a gardener who would have been the enemy. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The descriptions are sublime. The story transports one fully to another world. For perhaps the first time, The Book Club’s opinion was unanimous. This was a compelling and beautiful story.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Salene summed it up with: A Garden A Woman and A Man. The Garden represents everything, the calmness, spiritual meaning, extremes of beauty and suffering. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Liz, the story which covers three periods, a relationship transition. had beautiful descriptions but sometimes bland or just understated. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Helen, tranquil, calming, atmospheric, reflective, pond reflections offering different perspectives, therapeutic. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Isobel, appreciated the book in a personal way as it reminded her of a family member with similar experiences and she could identify with the wartime memories.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Krysia enjoyed the historical context, the gentleness, beauty, but found little joy, and felt the writing was sad and joyless. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Boo felt its joy in the moment , not focusing on the past elements.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
We welcomed two new Book Club members and look forward to seeing them and everyone again. As always the meal was stupendous and thank you to all who participated and contributed. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The next meetings are as follows:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
April 22 My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante at Helen’s</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Wednesday May 27 Bel Canto, Anne Pachette at Boo’s</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
June White Masai, Corinne Hofmann</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
July The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri</div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-40985319942720124232015-03-17T10:28:00.001+01:002015-03-17T10:28:32.307+01:00Gone, Girl.
<div class="p1">
The Barga book Club met on a cold February evening in a cozy firelit home at Canale, Tiglio, to discuss Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. As always, the food, provided by members new and continuing, was fabulous.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Kerry initiated the conversation. Gone Girl, which had come extremely highly recommended was a proportionate disappointment. A Thriller? she remarked, more like a yawner. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The convoluted story obsessed about a purportedly brilliant and famous young woman’s disappearance and possible murder. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Others were more generous. <b>Isobel</b> said, and rightly so, although it was about a strange relationship, manufactured, controlled and getting stranger, without getting overly analytical, it was a good easy read, to take you out of yourself. <b>Helen</b> felt it was an entertaining romp about multiple, flawed but genuine characters. An easy read. <b>Boo</b>, who we happily welcomed to the book club for the first time, also mentioned that it was an easy read that could have been better, and referred to the passive aggressive dynamics of typical dysfunctional relationships. <b>Margaret</b> found it unpleasant, the voices indistinct, author’s voice not credible, not funny, unpleasant, nothing rang true, the book missed its point, ending was revolting. <b>Liz</b> refused to read it after a couple of pages. <b>Krysia</b>, had seen the movie and didn’t like either, and felt it was a post modern fantasy mystery. The characters were stories not people, whom she didn’t care about, it was a parody of 30 year olds. Some were amusing, she liked that the author wrote the male perspective from inside his head. It was too long. <b>Salene:</b> the supposedly perfect NY marriage collapses, Amy was a plotting and manipulative, weak character, who spots weakness and exploits everyone. Everyone was just too perfect. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Once again it was a great meeting with fascinating feedback. We also mentioned a few other books to recommend, Boo opened with The White Massai by Corrine Hoffman; The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri; <span class="s1">Married to a Bedouin by Marguerite van Geldermalsen; The Magus by John Fowles. </span></div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed. We look very forward to seeing you all at the next meetings, which are as follows:</div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
Thursday, March 26th at Krysia’s, The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng</div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
Wednesday April 22, at Helen’s, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante</div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
May date and venue to be announced Bel Canto by Ann Patchette</div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-46852481532427247982015-01-29T20:23:00.000+01:002015-01-29T20:59:25.709+01:00The Prague Cemetery<div class="p1">
On a cold January evening just days before merely 300 survivors and a few thousand others gathered at the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps in Poland to commemorate its liberation 70 years ago by Soviet troops in the last months of WWII, the Barga Book Club met to discuss The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The novel’s complex, convoluted, even contrived, historically based plot revolves around a fictitious document forger who seems to be everywhere and a party to or witness of most major events during the late 19th c., and promulgates the idea that the seeds of WWII were sown in a late 19th c. conflict between Catholicism, Judaism, and Free-masonery. It has been compared to a picaresque novel and Dan Brown’s fiction but to a large degree it read more like Woody Allen’s mockumentary: Zelig.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Is it satire, is it postmodern irony? Is it to be taken seriously? The historical elements rejigged to foster conspiracy theories? The trivialization of events bordering on sensationalization? Erudite Eco thumbing his nose at the contrived historical fiction genre, antisemitism, anti-everythingism? The protagonist was presented at very least as unscrupulous, in the extreme, a monstrous creature who abetted atrocities. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Everyone in the book club agreed, it was a difficult read, most didn’t finish it. Liz compared the translation in part to the original and mentioned that the original was beautifully written, and the translation was not good, but it had a great start, but when it seemed to devolve into racism she lost it. Helen felt it was completely incoherent, questioned whether the convoluted plot and contrived main character and its fictionalization, its main theme distressing, no positives, no scruples, no morals, it trivialized the actual events and said that this would put her off any other books by Eco. Margaret, loathed it, although she had enjoyed Il Nome della Rosa, the protagonist, a schizoid double dealing character was cold blooded with nothing to identify with and no redeeming value. Isobel was irked by it and agreed with all of these comments. Salene was bored to tears with this romp through the 19th century. Kerry felt that it wasn’t boredom which drove one to tears and had another perspective to add.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Today, particularly in film, we seem to be glossing over the atrocities of the Holocaust with poignance and quasi sympathetic characters, the uber sexy Ralph Fiennes as an SS officer in Schindler’s list, to name only one. Eco has created an insipid, deceitful, despicable, unredeemable but seemingly feckless monster involved in the bureaucratic and philosophical machinery that resulted in the most horrific man-made event in current history. Were not most guilty of not taking the build up to the Hitler’s final solution seriously enough? Didn’t most believe that these characters, these events were too horrific to be happening at the time. Six million Jews were not the only victims, there were also Romani, homosexuals, communists, and the mentally and physically disabled, who were not only murdered but experimented on first, to total up to 11 million perished, each one cherished by at least one other. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
So, should it be taken seriously? Absolutely, lest we ever forget.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Thank you to everyone who contributed and participated. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The next meetings are as follows:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
February, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn at Isobel’s.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
March, The Garden of Evening Mists, by Tan Twan Eng</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
April, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
May, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-70899804066895967182014-12-22T17:33:00.000+01:002014-12-22T17:38:15.165+01:00Dombey and Son<div class="p1">
A small group of Book Club members met on Thursday to discuss Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The narrative is set primarily in London with side trips to Brighton. The main character is a wealthy Bank owner and the story opens as his first wife dies after bearing his much desired son and the only heir he recognizes although they also have a daughter, whom he all but ignores throughout her life. The son dies young and Dombey eventually remarries and this is where the plot thickens. Dombey’s second wife is a force to be reckoned with and nothing goes as planned.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Most felt it was overly descriptive and verbose, but agreed that that was due to the nature of its original serialization.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Helen had recommended it to fulfill our classic selection challenge, as a true classic, but one of Dickens’ lesser known novels. She felt it was typical Dickens in societal theme, addressing power, patriarchy, wealth, control, dominance, pride and cruelty. The characters hierarchical positions changed from time to time in the power struggle but Helen didn’t feel she came away with a better understanding of Dickens’ own belief systems although he did always seem to be sympathetic of the poor and suffering and tended to ridicule wealth. Dickens’ typical confrontation between good and evil once again resolves somewhat happily ever after. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Krysia was disappointed that this novel really did not live up to his others. She cited research which confirmed her own sense that the characters and circumstances were not plausible. The characters turned into caricature using inappropriately elaborate language in convoluted circumstances. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Kerry enjoyed its complexity, the elaborate plot and often comic circumstances, the fascinating descriptions of the character’s motivations, reasoning and interaction.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Isobel, in the true spirit of the Book Club, just enjoyed the book, which is really what it is all about.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Very best wishes for the holidays and thank you to everyone for participating in and contributing to a year of fascinating reads. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
January 22 at Salene’s The Prague Cemetery, Umberto Eco</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
February at Isobel’s Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn</div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-30619405361738258292014-12-12T14:29:00.002+01:002014-12-12T14:29:49.648+01:00The Following Story<div class="p1">
To chase the damp chill of a late November evening The Barga Book Club met in the warm, intimate, fire lit sitting room in Albiano to discuss The Following Story by the well known Dutch author Cees Nooteboom. As usual reviews were mixed. Marijke, whose favorite Dutch author he is, and who will have read it in its original language, loved the book citing it included everything a writer needs in a novel, history, past and present, realism, existentialism and fable. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The story is somewhat autobiographical. It opens when the protagonist, a former Latin and ‘dead languages’ scholar and teacher, then travel writer, finds himself inexplicably in Lisbon, thinking that he had gone to sleep in Amsterdam, in a hotel room in which he had an affair 20 years ago. He is disoriented and the story unfolds in flashbacks and reminiscences of the period since the affair and its, and therefor his, history. It is a complex narrative, shifting back and forth in time and place.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Pietro found the translation too literal, which was perhaps why he felt so-so about the book. He thought it started well but had too many flashbacks. He drew a reference to Kafka’s Metamorphosis, but felt it was too dispersive and missing something. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Anne was disappointed initially but eventually found interesting aspects, in the teaching and the text itself. As with Margaret, she felt she would like to read it again. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Margaret loved the idea, the beginning, themes of precision, order, constraint, rigid confined rituals, obsessiveness, not going outside certain boundaries, how sex was an intrusion after his downfall, nomadism, the concept of time and our perception of it, how it is not linear. The ‘now’. In short a book that raises questions, but was ultimately a little depressing, but there was something of Coetze’s, Disgrace about it, which made it fascinating.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Helen thought it didn’t flow, was a difficult read, cynical, the cynicism came through as fundamentally self criticism. The references to the classics he seemed to be hiding behind to not show himself. Pretentious, provocative, snobbishness, couldn’t get to the heart of what he was about, flipping between time and place, the classics vs. the now, fantasy of travel. Death is a woman and he was dying. The ending had hallucinogenic qualities.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Isobel also found it difficult, the theme of death was upsetting, latin references and 2nd part she found weird, all past tenses. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Kerry found the philosophical aspects interesting, including a brief allusion to Zen in the concept of I. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
In other words, it might very well be worth re-reading.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Thank you to everyone who participated and to Anne and Rigo for the warm welcome into their cozy home. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The next books are as follows:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Thursday December 18th at Kerry’s, Barga: Domby and Son, Charles Dickens</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
January, date and venue to be announced: Cemetery of Prague, Umberto Eco</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
February, date and venue to be announced: Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn</div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-71084984721784418562014-11-04T15:43:00.000+01:002014-11-04T15:43:36.927+01:00Canada, etc.<div class="p1">
On a chilly but star filled autumn evening a surprising and gratifying number of book club members and esteemed guest gathered at the warm, lovely, contemporary and Art filled home in Tiglio to discuss the novel Canada, by Richard Ford. The meal was magnificent as always.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The story is told by the twin son of parents who have robbed a bank, their individual histories, lives in a small north western town and the lead up to the bank robbery, after which his parents are jailed, his twin sister disappears and he is secretly exiled to, yes, Canada. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Salene led the comments with her impression that it seemed of two contradictory stories, one, of the lonely miserable detached but intact family unit and then: the robbery. It was heavy going, she reported. At times, lonely, desperate but yet the writing was unfeeling, lacked emotional charge. Isobel found it easy to read, but voiced what others did, she had a sense it was two girl twins, which spoke to the lack of connection engendered by the writing. Helen found it frustrating, she had little patience for the characters, found them naive, not plausible. Margaret was unable to engage with the story, nothing was described in color, it had no redeeming feature, it seemed pedestrian. Anne found it depressing. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
On the positive side, Pietro Bianchessi kindly forwarded his thoughts by email:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>I loved the book from the start.</i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>THE PLOT:</i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>the story of a bank robbery told from one of the children of the robbers. How it could happen that a "normal" middle class couple would gradually be pulled into committing a robbery, in order to sort out their financial problems. I identified strongly with the 15 year old boy, who in one second sees his certainties (his mum and dad, his family) disintegrate. I felt his fears, I thought his thoughts.</i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>THE CHARACTERS:</i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>such a perfect, accurate description of the characters. The father, the happy-go-around, not a bad guy, certainly not a bank robber, but someone who cant accept to show the world he's a looser.</i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>The mother, I can see her, petite, glasses, jewish, teacher, with moral principles, and practical common sense. How could she have been drawn into this? A bank robbery?</i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>The twin sister, with the usual brother sister love-hate situation. I can see her running away from the family troubles with the first boy who's paying attention to her, even if he's a bad guy.</i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>THE LANGUAGE:</i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>Beautiful prose, beautiful English writing, and yet easy to understand even for a non English native speaker like myself.</i></div>
<div class="p4">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>I found the second part of the book, up in Canada, in a wooden shed, in a small place in the middle of nowhere, a bit less convincing, yet I still loved the story and went quickly to the end of the book.</i></div>
<div class="p4">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>I'd give it 8/10 or even 9/10!</i></div>
<div class="p4">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="p3">
<i>Pietro</i></div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Much appreciated Pietro.</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
So, as is often the case, opinion was divided, which is what makes for interesting book club meetings.</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
After discussion of which classic we should read next, the suggestions ranging from Kafka, Dickens, Austen, and others, we settled on Domby and Son, by Charles Dickens. But also worth mention were some of the other titles suggested for general reading: Under the Volcano, by Malcolm Lowry, a must read for its description of the effects of alcoholism on family members; Play it Again, by Alan Rusbridger; Honorary Counsel, Graham Greene; The Lie, Helen Dunmore; and finally we settled on Umberto Eco’s The Prague Cemetery, for our January meeting. Somehow the discussion also included a mention of Zeffirelli’s Tea with Mussolini. Another interesting divergence. </div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
The next meetings are as follows:</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
November 20th: The Following Story by <span class="s1">Cees Nooteboom, at Anne Capanni’s</span></div>
<div class="p5">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">December: </span>Domby and Son, by Charles Dickens, date and venue to be announced</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
January: The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco, date and venue to be announced</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p3">
Thank you very much to all who participated and to Helen for superb hosting.</div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-41475066473685112962014-08-01T10:21:00.001+02:002014-08-01T12:54:04.052+02:00The Tin Ring<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t3Owru6wk4Xxlc_MuAkPYTgQ9y7yAgeHezIr6KwWKj2Qfy1WuGlw0_rvtdVLtc3nVWKIwtM8UpR_MDncRFCaGfaN8zRqVS4YRao0x1Wsx5l220HJDWhnOrhNLoKhjbaSrxStvOuYK-Q9/s1600/IMG_4290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t3Owru6wk4Xxlc_MuAkPYTgQ9y7yAgeHezIr6KwWKj2Qfy1WuGlw0_rvtdVLtc3nVWKIwtM8UpR_MDncRFCaGfaN8zRqVS4YRao0x1Wsx5l220HJDWhnOrhNLoKhjbaSrxStvOuYK-Q9/s1600/IMG_4290.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Book Club convened to see the sun set from the beautiful terrace at La Serra on what seemed to be the first evening of summer here, albeit the end of July. The small but enthusiastic group discussed Zdenka Fantlova’s powerful memoir of the years she endured 6 concentration camps and how she survived with determination, hope and creativity. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Always, and especially now, a controversial subject, Holocaust stories, as suggested by Salene who highly recommended the book, are timely in that in a few years there will no longer be survivors to recount their first hand experiences as the 90- plus year old Ms. Fantlova still does in London and as has the recently deceased oldest lived survivor, the distinguished Czech pianist Alice Herz-Sommer. Both Ms. Fantlova and Ms. Herz-Sommer experienced the power of creativity and self expression to transcend the horrific. Salene cited the story as one of courage, determination, hope and luck.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
This holocaust story was unique for its straight forward recount of events. Krysia pointed out and we all agreed it was not ‘well written’ in the sense that it seemed merely informative to begin with but then developed into an engaging story. Krysia appreciated the elements of contrast in the description of Ms. Fantlova’s quasi privilege, freedom, her perfect assimilation in society with the eventual disbelief that anything could possibly go so wrong and the gradual disintegration of their lives. Isobel poignantly recounted her visit to Bergen-Belsen. Helen acknowledged what started out as a seemingly light read, a somewhat perfunctory description of early life, but then gradually progressed through the horrific stages of internment, at which point Krysia made reference to Primo Levy, and how things go from bad to worse. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Marijke in an email mentioned that although the book was difficult to read at first, she appreciated the detailed descriptions and was eventually absorbed in the story. Pietro agreed and cited this as a unique testimony, speaking to the truth, and its tangible proof. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The book was different in its approach in that it was not a dramatization or fictionalization of what happened but a real recount of the horrors of the camps and forced marches and most of all survival. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Thank you to everyone who contributed thoughtfully and to the delicious spread.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Other books we’re reading worth recommending include as Helen mentioned the novel ‘Orange is the New Black’ By Piper Kerman, Krysia recommends the new John LeCarre, and “Infatuations” by Javier Marias, and Kerry mentioned “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Please correct me if I’m wrong but the next meetings are as follows:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
September: Dear Life by Alice Munroe, Thursday September 11th venue to be announced</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
October: Canada by Richard Ford, date and venue to be announced</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
November: The Following Story by Cees Nooteboom date and venue to be announced</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-7177294175802436992014-07-07T14:09:00.000+02:002014-07-10T07:44:39.953+02:00Harvest<div class="p1">
The Barga Book Club met in June in a home of significant recent historical value. Memories were made here at a large table on long fragrant summer evenings. One member recalled wistfully their many children laughing and splashing in the small pool in the courtyard and hours spent in intense discussion. To her solace the home has been preserved almost as it was by the next owners right down to the beautifully stenciled walls and wood stoves. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
And thus began another evening of intense discussion amongst the Book Club members as we discussed the novel Harvest by Jim Crace. The story, set in a generic rural English area at an undefined period of historical value marked by the Enclosure Act, begins with fire and ends in fire, both arson, the first possibly unintentional the second clearly retribution. Smoke and fire themes throughout included the concept that when a squatter made a fire and the smoke was seen he or she had the right to stay on the land.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
An area of common lands worked by its peasants is the setting for a feud between its noble family owners, the in-law resident owner wishing it to remain as is, is overcome by a blood relative whose claim is stronger and wants to modernize and turn farmland into sheep grazing and wool production in what is to become the beginning of the industrial revolution. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Margaret, who had recommended the book on its strong reviews was very disappointed. She had trouble with the first person narrative and disliked the voice, citing meticulous descriptions which became shopping lists, and a decided lack of emotion. It didn’t make her feel a thing. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Cynthia mentioned its relevant echoes of her own life experience in the main character, Walter Thirsk, who had come from elsewhere and never felt he belonged and the connection that he wasn’t “of the soil” and estranged. She also observed the powerful theme of the veneer of civilized behavior and how quickly it cracks, as violence is never far from the surface. She appreciated its detailed research, and themes of refugees, outsiders, socio-economic class system, and thought of it as a power based allegory. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Elisabeth referred to it as an historical novel but would have preferred more history and less novel. Salene managed to finish it but found it dry, lacking dialogue but the imagery poetic. Marijke loved the descriptions of the countryside, daily life, its environment and the themes of trust and suspicion, and disillusionment, and reality. Pietro found it fantastic, appreciated the inner thought monologue style but found elements unbelievably cruel and unrealistic, yet insightful.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Helen pointed out its capitalist theme. How primitive life was where superstition overrides any kind of rational behavior, but that characters were not well developed, except nature and the environment which was a strong character in itself. In consensus it was felt that the landscape was the deepest, and most beautifully, poetically drawn and moving character, as Salene had pointed out. Bill’s adjectives were: metaphorical and gutless.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Kerry addressed a misogynist undercurrent in that, of two female characters one represented exclusively a sexual utilitarianism and the strongest female character was so because she was primitively and undefinably sexually attractive, although not physically so and, to the men she seemed to beguile, that came down to sorcery. The book seemed an excuse to take a pivotal period theme and develop it but that it ended up as an insensate story, all smoke and no fire.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Thank you to everyone who contributed, to the rousing discussion and delicious dishes.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The next books and meetings are as follows:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
July 31: The Tin Ring by Zdenka Fantlova, date to be announced at Marijke and Pietro’s.</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
September: Dear Life by Alice Munroe, date and venue to be announced</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
October: Canada by Richard Ford, date and venue to be announced</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
November: The Following Story by Cees Nooteboom date and venue to be announced</div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-57922034010406474652014-06-06T09:08:00.000+02:002014-06-06T12:35:10.080+02:00Bitter and Sweet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRkf_wEhPhKHRm2565KRnW2hIohQhYoJj8KHjIp9-G64nq_JXWxM4krsyvFxtl22SFXehxqRDcfXBQ5jslYt5vp-u8g7wPhbUiUuAnmVWhdvOf3pR4jPdu0sPDY_6SC3LXoSEFluumHi7/s1600/BBC+at+Krysia's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRkf_wEhPhKHRm2565KRnW2hIohQhYoJj8KHjIp9-G64nq_JXWxM4krsyvFxtl22SFXehxqRDcfXBQ5jslYt5vp-u8g7wPhbUiUuAnmVWhdvOf3pR4jPdu0sPDY_6SC3LXoSEFluumHi7/s1600/BBC+at+Krysia's.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
As we’ve always held, it’s not about the food, or the setting, but as always, the Book Club last Thursday was regaled with a sumptuous meal in a sublime setting to discuss Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by<span class="s1"> Jamie Ford. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
The novel is the story of two Asian children, a Chinese boy and a Japanese girl, and their families ethnic rivalries during the period of the internment of the Japanese of the pacific coast of the United States during World War II. The story opens with the clearing out of a basement of The Panama Hotel where family possessions of the Japanese relocated to internment camps were stored. It methodically follows the two main characters through their childhood separation, the boy’s father’s deceptive tactics to keep them apart, and their eventual reunion late in life.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Most readers appreciated the story for shedding light on a little known aspect of American history, and some elements introduced which lent the story real texture. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Salene, as always found something positive, in the recurring Jazz theme and the apt title in the real sense of the bitter sweet in the tale. Bill remarked that it was a great portrait of displacement, and with typical understatement, kind of insipid. Helen dubbed it certainly not a classic, but a pleasant easy read. Pietro repeated that as usual he enjoyed reading a book that he would not have chosen himself but that it was not great, filled with cliches, but did trigger other thoughts and reminded us of the horrors of the Japanese camps in Indonesia, an eye opener as to the basis of truth. Marijke agreed and added it was unrealistic, unbelievable and overall unconvincing. Krysia found it superficial and Cynthia thought it was an interesting story, but flat, of the push pull between immigration, integration and assimilation. All felt it too generalized, a missed opportunity to delve deeper into just one or two of the recurring themes. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
In a delightful aside Bill recommended a few of his favorite books to add to our reading list: The Secret of Santa Vittorio by Richard Crichton; A Man Called Intrepid, by <span class="s2">William Stevenson; Kabloona by French adventurer Gontran de Poncins, written in collaboration with Lewis Galantiere. Pietro recommended </span>Canada by Richard Ford and The River Burns by Trevor Ferguson.</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p5">
Thank you to everyone who contributed the delicious fare and participated in the lively discussion.</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p5">
The next books and meetings are as follows:</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p6">
June: Harvest by Jim Crace, TUESDAY 24 June at Bill and Cynthia’s</div>
<div class="p7">
<br /></div>
<div class="p6">
July: The Tin Ring by Zdenka Fantlova, date to be announced at Marijke and Pietro’s.</div>
<div class="p7">
<br /></div>
<div class="p6">
September: Dear Life by Alice Munroe, date and venue to be announced</div>
<div class="p7">
<br /></div>
<span class="s3">October: </span>The Following Story by Cees Nooteboom date and venue to be announcedKerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-21417221233905312792014-04-28T16:41:00.000+02:002014-04-28T19:15:04.106+02:00Stoner<div class="p1">
With a warm fire in the fireplace to cut the slight chill of the late April evening, home made sausage rolls, lasagna and quiche on the table, The Book Club gathered at Margaret's to discuss Stoner by John Williams.<br />
<br />
A survey of great American novelists and dramatists of the early to mid-20th century from Fitzgerald, through Faulkner, Albee, Tennessee Williams, and Eugene O’Neill provides a clue to the background of Stoner. Set at the University of Missouri before, during and after the Great War it is the story of William Stoner, the only son of simple methodist farmers raised working on the farm and sent to University to learn agriculture but where instead he falls in love, with language and literature, and drastically changes course to ultimately teach as an assistant professor in the English department. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The setting in northeastern Missouri reflects the complicated legacy of once fertile but now arid farmland of the hardworking, plain spoken, self reliant people of the midwest and its climate, its French heritage, riverboat romanticism and adventure of Mark Twain and vestiges of the antebellum southern sensibilities in the form of the classic southern mansion of the head of the department replete with slave/servants. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
William Stoner is a stolid student. He excels, understanding the logic of grammar and poetry in literature but grapples with trying to express himself to his classmates, professors and ultimately students. He meets and falls in love with a beautiful young woman from St. Louis visiting a relative, and after an awkward courtship proposes marriage and, though her behavior is indicative of severe dysfunction, she accepts and insists on a fast and informal wedding. Unlike several female characters in the previously mentioned canon of literature, she is neither alcoholic nor drug addict, but is fatalistically disturbed nonetheless and Stoner eventually resigns himself to a failed marriage and quietly plows ahead writing a book, and raising their daughter until his often absent, in mind and spirit if not always body, wife intercedes and Stoner then loses the one thing besides his literature which he loves the most. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
He is embroiled in a serious teacher student disagreement which is in error judged in his disfavor and is then consigned to go back to teaching entry level classes. Nevertheless he takes it under the chin and once again forges ahead as he will continue to for the rest of his life, head down, nose to the grindstone, perhaps with remorse for having left his parents to manage on their own as they claimed they would, or possibly with some guilt for not having even wanted to join the war effort as his close friends and classmates did.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
In the same sense that the setting is evocative of the ever present conflicting essence that is Missouri, not strictly midwestern nor southern but a complex mixture of the two, the characters represent many of the prototypes in literature up until the period. The ill fated tycoon in the person of his father-in-law, the academics once inspired but eventually completely disillusioned and the exquisite representation of the sublime to grotesque in sexuality in the form of the new department chairman, his body hideously misshapen, but with the face of a matinee idol and a full head of wavy blond hair. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Though continuously dejected Stoner eventually mentors a brilliant young co-ed and ultimately they become lovers and he is validated and satisfied professionally and personally in what is a rewarding relationship of the like minded. The relationship ends but they both leave it fulfilled. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The comments of the group were, as always, astute and intuitive. Margaret and others remarked on Stoner’s frustrating passivity, and relentless lack of emotion with regard to almost all but literature, whereas Cynthia translated that as stoicism of the plain spoken, hardworking people. Others saw it as resignation. Janet and Elliot felt it was cleverly, even brilliantly written but could not get past the idea that he was extraordinarily passive to the point of incredulity. Bill observed it as universal, how little we may all feel we have accomplished in life, how we may never be what we want to be. Helen loved it for its understated passion and his discovery of literature. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
With Stoner Williams accomplished a well rounded story, influenced by but never derivative of the great American literary library. In short it is a complex, multidimensional tale which moved us on many levels.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">A warm thank you to our host and everyone who participated and provided the exquisite meal.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" />
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">The next meetings are as follows:</span><br />
<br />
<br style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" />
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">29 May: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, at Krysia's</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" />
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">June: Harvest by Jim Crace, date and venue to be announced</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" />
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">July: The Tin Ring by Zdenka Fantlova, date and venue to be </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #e8ffd2; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">September: Dear Life by Alice Munroe, date and venue to be announced</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-3792915960910730472014-03-31T20:13:00.000+02:002014-03-31T20:40:07.842+02:00Memoirs of a Survivor<div class="p1">
On a cool evening in late March members of the Barga Book Club stepped into the warm elegant contemporary interior of an ancient stone farmhouse in Tiglio Basso not itself untouched by the winter’s travails, but, a distinct promise of spring was in the air this night as we enjoyed the international flavors of chili con carne, braised chicken with ginger, orange and garlic, a mixed salad with specially imported watercress, and luscious desserts, and discussed Memoirs of A Survivor, by Doris Lessing. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
This book is commonly referred to as a ‘dystopian’ novel but this reference does the story the serious disservice of relegating it to this limiting genre. The poignant story unfolds during a period of governmental decline and degradation. For some time goods have become scarce and services and infrastructure have deteriorated to the extent that most people are in desperate circumstances, a not too distant potential condition even in some first world countries. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The narrator, unnamed, is charged with caring for a girl and her pet during a period of societal decline, when many others are using a large British city as a staging ground and gradually fleeing to find food and shelter elsewhere. Over the period the girl grows into a young woman as the environmental, social and political situation worsens. The narrator watches the girl grow and change and guides her with a very light but firm hand, rarely criticizing or judging, and relates the events thoughtfully and with great insight in a memoir with asides into another dimension which expand and complete the story. The narrator’s tone is that of stoically being watchfully resigned to the situation calling on his or her own coping mechanisms and resourcefulness to survive, as is everyone else. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
In review, Krysia remarked on the powerful imagery which has always stayed with her and Salene felt it was a fantasy fable in which the narrator went from being quite cold to being maternal, and referenced a Lolita quality. Helen aptly pointed out that there is an assumption that the narrator is female but no allusion, and that there were many unspoken assumptions in the descriptions of the narrator’s disturbing, unreal internal reality. Margaret drew parallels with other tales of gradual societal decline such as Roman Polanski’s The Pianist and the individual’s abilities of coping and survival in oppression. One element conjured the human capacity for control and violence akin to another dystopian novel The Lord of the Flies. Lessing was known for her Sufist and Jungian studies, as well as investigation into altered states. All of which are tied into this rich tapestry of a novel.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
So, Ms. Lessing’s book may be set in a dystopian atmosphere filled with anxiety and fear, but most of the characters, dwellers and travelers, are equanimous, kind, cooperative, and mutually beneficent in this, her great tribute to the survival of the human spirit.<br />
<br />
A warm thank you to our host and everyone who participated.<br />
<br />
The next meetings are as follows:<br />
<br />
24 April at Margaret's, Stoner by John Williams<br />
<br />
29 May: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, venue to be announced<br />
<br />
June: Harvest by Jim Crace, date and venue to be announced<br />
<br />
July: The Tin Ring by Zdenka Fantlova, date and venue to be announced<br />
<br />
September: Dear Life by Alice Munroe, date and venue to be announced<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-79514234012249004242014-02-28T17:34:00.001+01:002014-03-02T21:56:52.071+01:00The Gathering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l1XSSqusg1wHXrdl_0R_58GMRrvYWTuGE_aRGnTCdvmx5Z43HA5hhX8fh1UkTuJ6IRtxVNcg0wtUs8OCrF6626zrOeuIn6h6anm17TOphxhYbr3JGuvJL0lbZz2sxRud0KoDRTKJ8Nc6/s1600/feb+bookclb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l1XSSqusg1wHXrdl_0R_58GMRrvYWTuGE_aRGnTCdvmx5Z43HA5hhX8fh1UkTuJ6IRtxVNcg0wtUs8OCrF6626zrOeuIn6h6anm17TOphxhYbr3JGuvJL0lbZz2sxRud0KoDRTKJ8Nc6/s1600/feb+bookclb.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
The members of the Barga Book Club met on Thursday in the serene interior of the one home seemingly untouched by this winter’s liquid destruction or personal hardship. We could leave our troubles outside inasmuch as possible. As usual we were sublimely hosted and treated to a luscious meal provided by those present with even a reminder of those not present with Plum jam from the Bianchessi’s provided by Isobel to accompany her delicious scones. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
The novel up for discussion was The Gathering by Anne Enright. It is a narrative in what Margaret relegated to the Misery Memoir genre and Kerry compared to numerous other funereally set pieces such as The Red House, Last Orders, Amsterdam. All stories around which a death is the continuous point of reference. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
Veronica struggles with memories of her brother Liam, who has committed suicide in the midst of a life defined by his alcoholism. They were two of the twelve children in this Irish catholic family delineated by<span class="st"></span> its lack of connectedness. Veronica also struggles with her own marriage and children and one comes to understand her emptiness through her past, her mother rendered vapid through relentless childbearing. The humiliation of needs having to be met through compromise.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">Krysia loved the writing, the author’s ability to make you remember being a child. The way she describes circumstances with masterful observation, attention to detail. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="s1">The Guardian put it this way: </span><i>strangers meet in a hotel and share the presence of potential nakedness without a touch; Liam's thirst for alcohol rages while Veronica's pads along behind her through insomniac nights; a moustache can barely be noticed before its description moves on to the idea of tickled thighs. Sex - for Enright, as for John Banville - is a kind of gleefully appalling slapstick that dogs humanity and leaves it betrayed. This is a world where fidelity is impossible and sex is absurd, but love is forever, like a scar. </i></div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Salene who also loved it, saying it was about love, remarked on the power in the repetitive use of the word roar, and the disintegration of the family through the father who was a serial adulterer. </div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Margaret and Helen both found the novel frustrating and sad, were irritated with the fecklessness of the characters and post relationship fantasy and way too much description of male genitalia. </div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
The next meeting will be on Thursday March 27 held at Helen’s to discuss The Memoirs of a Survivor by Doris Lessing</div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
The following to be held on Thursday April 24 at Margaret’s to discuss Stoner by John Williams </div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Then Thursday May 29th at Krysia’s to discuss The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford</div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Thank you to everyone and we look forward to seeing you next month.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4vcWHwe2MXCJt87lnxuWRe5d25C7sy2erej-zjes63olJgdmycB4CRvc_J05diXMYyV4h5rz4AljVbsRTOOLQBOF-qpmoH9oe2WWliVI4QZMSq6WxeHEjcNPK9nQD_iKql3gMJxEhNPm/s1600/Feb+Book+club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4vcWHwe2MXCJt87lnxuWRe5d25C7sy2erej-zjes63olJgdmycB4CRvc_J05diXMYyV4h5rz4AljVbsRTOOLQBOF-qpmoH9oe2WWliVI4QZMSq6WxeHEjcNPK9nQD_iKql3gMJxEhNPm/s1600/Feb+Book+club.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-4235717016900081262014-01-23T10:20:00.000+01:002014-01-23T10:28:40.529+01:00Spring Sonata<div class="p1">
Once again the faithful members of the Barga Book Club on Wednesday were cosseted and pampered in the luxurious, warm and cozy ambience of a 17th C. palazzo in Barga Vecchia with the, as always, sumptuous and inventive repast, ostensibly to discuss Spring Sonata by Bernice Rubens. This book polarized the few who read it, in two distinct camps. You either loved it or hated it. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The story is a fantastical tale of absurdist black comedy of foetal passive rebellion and resistance against a seriously dysfunctional family and its destructive designs on his future, as related via a diary kept in the womb and discovered on the decease of the mother and child. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Helen and Margaret thoroughly enjoyed it and in its defense cited its tragic, inventive, comic, extraordinary plot with bizarre absurd story line and imaginative characters becoming stronger as the story unfolds. Conjuring Philip Larkin’s This Be the Verse, They fuck you up, your mum and dad… the bleak sinister elements were justified in flashes of honesty and truth, simultaneously absurd and insightful, surprising, astounding, fascinating and surreal.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Kerry and Krysia in the other camp found it a difficult read, at times revolting, even at times misogynistic, the writer seemly describing the female body in repulsive terms, as though she herself found it distasteful. It could be considered a cautionary tale, a fable like parable in the tradition of extreme exaggeration of absurdist theater but the means of conveyance belittled the poignantly poetic message. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Thank you to everyone who participated! Nothing like a good discussion to make the event memorable. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The next meeting will be held on Thursday February 27th at Selene’s to discuss The Gathering by Anne Enright</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The Books chosen for subsequent months are:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
March: Children of the Sun by Doris Lessing</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
April: Stoner by John Williams</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
May: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
June: Title to be announced, by Michael Ondaatje</div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-46754469072279439502013-11-22T15:15:00.000+01:002013-11-22T15:15:04.198+01:00The Red House<div class="p1">
The Barga Book Club met on Wednesday in Albiano at the home of Anne and Rigo Capanni, still here processing their large olive harvest. The home reminded some of a welcoming gem like crofters dwelling or perhaps the gamekeepers cottage, from our recently reviewed selection Lady Chatterly's Lover, equally hearth warmed, cozy and romantic and decidedly more finely furnished. It was the perfect setting for a rainy November evening.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
After a delicious meal of savory and inventive dishes, and a taste test of the Capanni's rich fresh olive oil processed in two different ways, we discussed The Red House by Mark Haddon. Following on his successful novels A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and A Spot of Bother, some readers were disappointed with this story of an extended family thrown together on holiday and its queer dysfunctionality. When mother dies the wealthy successful elder son invites his estranged sister and her family to join him and his family on holiday in Wales at his expense. Discomfort and irritability are the order of the days and personalities clash, hormones rage and the weather creates havoc. In other words, it ends up a disaster after several major life issues come to the fore and children and adults both have melt downs and serious relational problems surface. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Salene thoroughly enjoyed its readability and page-turner aspect, its believability and the fact that she could identify with the issues of the characters and saw it as an accurate statement on contemporary social issues. Krysia, although she had enjoyed his other titles found this to be confusing and difficult and she was frustrated with the lack of clarity in the writing itself, in the monologues and at times couldn't tell who was speaking, all of which conspired to make it not a good reading experience. Others felt it was too much of a panoply of contemporary social ills and superficial solutions. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Whether we enjoyed it or not, as always, the book inspired lively discussion and had the knock on effect of eliciting references to other authors and titles, which is an objective benefit of the book club. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Thank you to everyone who participated and we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
January 22 at Palazzo Salvi, Spring Sonata by Bernice Rubens</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
February at Salene's a selection by Doris Lessing</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-22744376478232083762013-10-17T08:06:00.000+02:002013-10-17T08:06:08.431+02:00The Deadly Sisterhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-Q96bdE9ztxVPmuDZ_6Gh9PNjBUABz2UXbIdY0PkFWutyPHXeTFi6SPYaWJAqj1hHNS6xTzW87lVXhNgSL9qFjNsRvxfOpExtctQmbE9KpIFXBu7jsARcPNUFtwxsCxbcJxTuCytUgKL/s1600/sunset+10:16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-Q96bdE9ztxVPmuDZ_6Gh9PNjBUABz2UXbIdY0PkFWutyPHXeTFi6SPYaWJAqj1hHNS6xTzW87lVXhNgSL9qFjNsRvxfOpExtctQmbE9KpIFXBu7jsARcPNUFtwxsCxbcJxTuCytUgKL/s320/sunset+10:16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As the sun set for a few members of the Barga Book Club on a balmy mid October evening, we enjoyed a simple repast and discussed The Deadly Sisterhood, A Story of Women, Power and Intrigue in the Italian Renaissance, by Leonie Frieda. While one journalist reviewed it under the title of 'Italy's tiger mothers,' a reference to comparative parenting styles in contemporary society, it wasn't about parenting at all but about political power behind the scenes. <br /><br />The book is a complex narrative of real and conjectured power politics focusing on eight wives or regents of Renaissance rulers. Often weakened by self indulgence or gout the princes risked diminishing dominions and often during or after bearing eight to ten heirs the women took the reins, literally in some cases, and led their families to glory or at least more territory and power. The book opens with Caterina Sforza, the Lady of Forli, and "she wolf of the Romagna" heavily pregnant, her husband Girolamo Riario assassinated, holding forth obscenely and holding down the fort until she was relieved by troops from her native Milan. <br /><br />The book continues with convoluted historical details of Papal intrigues and brutal power plays often exploited by the wives. Machiavelli, a recurrent figure, had nothing on them, the ends justified their means.<br /><br />Most readers felt it was a very interesting and enjoyable but sometimes difficult read keeping track of all of the personages and relationships and needing to cross reference the time line and family trees. Helen mentioned its not flowing as either novel or strictly biography during the period of the stranglehold of the the Papacy, a period of entitlement, self indulgence and privilege in which strong, well educated and politically astute women capitalize on their situations. Selene felt that eight women were a lot to cover in this way and like others felt the need to have more time to finish it and do the history justice. <br /><br />Everyone enjoyed the sense of being able to imagine clearly where and how these women lived practically in our midst. <br /><br />Thank you to everyone who participated and brought delicious food. We were all concerned for those who could not be there and hope to see them at the next meeting.<br /><br />November 20 at Anne Cappani's Albiano, The Red House by Mark Haddon<br /><br />December 18 Spring Sonata by Bernice Rubens venue to be announced<br />Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-29726184483656578232013-09-26T16:32:00.000+02:002013-09-26T16:47:00.565+02:00The Fever TreeA limited group of book club members assembled as the sun set on a mild fragrant fall evening descending subtly lit stone steps bordered by sage and lavender in the gracious surroundings of Helen’s Tiglio home to discuss The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh. <br />
<br />
The Fever Tree, set in late 19th century London and South Africa is the story of a once privileged young woman forced to choose between two unpleasant options and torn between two men, one an idealist and the other an opportunist. The story accurately portrays the real events of the small pox epidemic in South Africa and its effect on the diamond mines and how avarice overrides altruism.<br />
<br />
Margaret led the discussion citing the fascinating background research with reference to real epidemic events in South Africa and their implications in light of colonialization and exploitation. She commended some of descriptive elements but mentioned the overdrawn characterization and the enormous frustration of the missed opportunity of building a great story around the historical events, for she relegated this book to Romantic Fiction, while not quite of the bodice ripping genre, it still leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth, she added. <br />
<br />
Isobel found it an easy read, particularly in pace as the chapters were short and the plot linear and found the characterizations of the Dutch the most believable. <br />
<br />
In absentia, Pietro Bianchessi added, via text message, that he liked it but it was a bit cheap on the romance part.<br />
<br />
Helen felt it was a good easy read and made reference to the South African issues brought to the fore and their repercussions in current society. So, she felt the book was thought provoking though superficial, and the characterizations didn’t ring entirely true. <br />
<br />
The group was all the more indulged for being small, as the food was sumptuous and plenty. Thank you to all who participated and we look forward to seeing everyone at the following meetings:<br />
<br />
The Deadly Sisterhood by Leonie Frieda October 16 at Kerry’s, Barga.<br />
<br />
The Red House by Mark Haddon November 20 at Anne Capanni’s <br />
<br />
Spring Sonata by Bernice Rubens December 18 venue to be announcedKerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258419881560050474.post-85708274794589707382013-08-03T14:45:00.001+02:002013-08-03T18:13:52.775+02:00Love, loss and marriage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6rt0Khywti9oxRZccdIELiXDkcCNAHBGmaXCdZcDMQdJpGmN0id2QgIuUKcJVhenE-WChNonnvh-3Xe7ldjddXKtMLgRN-M0_-G234yfSM9Zpxpi5j5dbaHuic_tSW_w9Wpu-ZNhAgo0/s1600/from+Bianchessis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6rt0Khywti9oxRZccdIELiXDkcCNAHBGmaXCdZcDMQdJpGmN0id2QgIuUKcJVhenE-WChNonnvh-3Xe7ldjddXKtMLgRN-M0_-G234yfSM9Zpxpi5j5dbaHuic_tSW_w9Wpu-ZNhAgo0/s320/from+Bianchessis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As the air cooled on the evening of one of the hottest days of the summer, about 8 members of the Barga Book Club met on Pietro and Marijke’s spacious terrace to discuss A Heart So White, by Javier Marias, with the spectacular view of Monte Forato in the distance. <br />
<br />
A Heart So White, is a love story. It is couched in an intrigue of a tragedy recounted by one who was not directly involved. A narrative in the form of the memory thought process where one goes over and over the minutiae of a heartbreaking event which could never have been prevented, the protagonist wasn’t even born yet, yet he repeats the circumstances which led up to the event and its aftermath again and again, the way one does in one’s mind, in the hope of understanding and coming to terms with them and perhaps to prevent or avoid it happening again. In an effort that the sins of the father are not visited on the son. <br />
<br />
The novel opens with the heart wrenching suicide of a newlywed bride and eventually unravels a story of parallels, sublime clues, and complex relationships. The narrator veers off on seemingly unrelated tangents which eventually clarify or inform the narrative intrigue. It is a love story, as the narrator continuously and repeatedly seeks to put his marriage into perspective as to his expectations and its limitations, to understand how one can grow and continue to love a partner over the long term, and avoid the common pitfalls of disillusion and boredom, which have resulted in tragedy. He exhorts the reader to “‘devote yourself to the marriage itself, as if confronted by the most important structure and task of your life, even if you believe that the task has already been completed and the structure built.” Alas, this is fiction for, in interview, the author says he will never marry. <br />
<br />
Margaret, who had recommended the novel, pointed out the references to Macbeth, both obvious, the title is based on it, and indirect, the suicide of a wife based on her own feeling of complicity, or even culpability, in murder. Margaret referenced the film Sliding Doors for its similar sense of parallel universes. She mentioned the sense of listening to music, where the melody is repeated, and becomes familiar and comforting. How we are effected by circular decisions. <br />
<br />
Isobel, as with several others, was eventually drawn into the story, having had to overcome a sense of tedium with its repetitiveness, but ultimately found it clever and fascinating. <br />
<br />
Salene referenced the feeling that each repetition felt like an embellishment to a painted picture, and confirmed the musical sense of the rondo, with a current running through that something was not quite right. <br />
<br />
Pietro, found it fully engaging but felt that the final mystery was anti-climatic. <br />
<br />
Most members agreed it was one of the best and most complex and moving books we have read. A beautifully constructed story based on universal themes of marriage: love, loss, beauty, pain, betrayal, and secrets.<br />
<br />
Thank you to the Bianchessis for their gracious hosting and to everyone who contributed and participated to the delicious repast and lively discussion.<br />
<br />
Here is the list of upcoming titles:<br />
<br />
The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh September date and venue to be announced.<br />
The Deadly Sisterhood by Leonie Frieda October date and venue to be announced<br />
Title to be announced, November 20, at Anne Capanni's<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxBAKPbY44Twkw_iyGcLrimrVYd7Ch7pF5hBNR1Vl5ik66lKXR1uKymhbS_ka_POBYgsM9Vaoztt1bwadq_vL14wtpnk8qKQ68cXgcmRpieUsf3qT8rqzmg-fkqcxQG603DqlByhYHMDj/s1600/chairart+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxBAKPbY44Twkw_iyGcLrimrVYd7Ch7pF5hBNR1Vl5ik66lKXR1uKymhbS_ka_POBYgsM9Vaoztt1bwadq_vL14wtpnk8qKQ68cXgcmRpieUsf3qT8rqzmg-fkqcxQG603DqlByhYHMDj/s320/chairart+II.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Kerry Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01026081218036025501noreply@blogger.com0