Va Dove Ti Porta Il Cuore

Follow Your Heart, by Susanna Tamaro

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed.

The next meetings are as follows:

May 18  The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, at Pietro and Marijke's

June 15 The Writing on My Forehead, Nafisa Haji, at Bill and Cynthia's

July  at Janet and Elliot's,  Doctor Thorne, Anthony Trollope

August or September, The Miniturist, Jessie Burton

A Painted House

A 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.

Thank you to everyone who came, contributed and participated.

 The upcoming meetings are as follows:

April 13 at Helen's, Follow Your Heart by Susanna Tamaro

May 18 The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, venue to be announced

July 24 at Janet and Elliot's Doctor Thorne, Anthony Trollope

Other suggested titles were:

God in the Ruins by Kate Atkinson

The Miniaturist by Jesse Burton

Catching Up

The 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Krysia brought a most appreciated, extensive list for recommended reading which you will find at the end of this post.

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.

The next meetings are as follows:

March 16 at Boo's, A Painted House by John Grisham

April 13 at Isobel's Follow Your Heart by Susanna Tamaro (Va' Dove Ti Porta Il Cuore)

Thank you so much to everyone who participated and contributed.

Bel Canto

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. 

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). 

Among the books we're reading, was recommended Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed. The food and hosting, as always, were superb. 

The next meetings are as follows:

June 17th, At Pietro and Marijke's,  White Masai, Corinne Hofmann

July 22nd, at Fabiana's, The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri

September, On Writing, by Stephen King

October, Miss Garnet's Angel, Sally Vickers

My Brilliant Friend

On a mild fragrant spring evening a large group of Book Club members
were welcomed into the charming courtyard and then the intimate
interior of the legendary home on the via dell'Acquedotto
to discuss Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend.

The novel is set near Naples in the years just after WWII but opens

with the reflections of one of the two main characters, who are now in

their sixties, who has been contacted by the son of the other,

revealing that his mother has disappeared without a trace.

Knowing the recent outcome of their lives solves one question but

leaves many others open.

The novel is about escape and obviously they have both achieved it.

One is living in Turin and the other is no where to be found, yet. The

novel is the first of three and to learn the the outcome one would

need to read them all.

Elena and 'Lila' grew up in very traditional homes in a poor area of

Naples during a period which experienced great social change. Italian

life, particularly in the south was restrained, strongly influenced by

the church, tradition, ritual and even superstition. In addition, the effects

of the war were still felt and fear influenced much social discourse.

As the girls were growing up there was a great cultural shift toward

more humanistic self determination. Elena and Lila began to excel in

school, often in competition, they led each other on. Ultimately they

had to choose, to pursue the academic path or the traditional. There

is conjecture as to whether it is autobiographical.

Most found the girls' story either deeply moving or deeply

disturbing. It was both. Over and above their personal stories, it is

the image of great social upheaval.  It represents a pivotal moment in

cultural history when the traditions of Church, home and family, and

women's roles began to change forever.

Margaret, who had suggested the book, loved the poignant portrayal of

the friendship and cited the comparison with moving post war novels such as

'Cristo  Si è Fermato a Eboli, by Carlo Levi. She will read the rest

of the novels and hopefully report back to us; Krysia found it badly

translated, if not just badly written, but loved the sense of place;

Helen was enjoying the fantastical atmosphere; Isobel found it

difficult but could identify with the familial rivalries of Naples;

Barbara found it depressing, almost moved to tears; Salene said though

it wasn't a page turner, it did make you want to know how it would

continue and end; Bill puzzled over the glimpse into girldom that it

represented and though enjoyed it felt there were many things unexplained; 

Cynthia found it an account of someone looking back, trying to be objective, 

a case of one being locked in and the other moving on; Boo, did not enjoy it

but was fascinated by the theme of escape; Anne found it a sad book,

but a commendable insight into post war life in Naples; Elliot thought

it was a good, very vivid account of life in Naples, relationships

handled deftly, sensitively, odd in an interesting way, suggestive,

hidden sides to the characters and it read well; Janet enjoyed the

series of pictures painted, the portrayal of deprivation, ritualistic extreme

versions of life presented with subtle balance.

Thank you to our hosts for so graciously fitting us all in. As always the

food was superb and company delightful. Thank you to everyone who

participated and contributed.

We welcomed a new member Barbara, who recommended Sally Vickers, Miss Garnet's Angel to add to our on going reading list.

The next meetings are as follows:

Wednesday May 27 Bel Canto, Anne Pachette at Boo’s

June, White Masai, Corinne Hofmann

July, The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri

The Garden of Evening Mists

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. 

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. 

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.

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.  

Liz, the story which covers three periods, a relationship transition. had beautiful descriptions but sometimes bland or just understated. 

Helen, tranquil, calming, atmospheric, reflective, pond reflections offering different perspectives, therapeutic. 

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.

Krysia enjoyed the historical context, the gentleness, beauty, but found little joy, and felt the writing was sad and joyless. 

Boo felt its joy in the moment , not focusing on the past elements.

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. 

The next meetings are as follows:

April 22  My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante at Helen’s

Wednesday May 27 Bel Canto, Anne Pachette at Boo’s

June White Masai, Corinne Hofmann

July The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri

Gone, Girl.

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.

Kerry initiated the conversation. Gone Girl, which had come extremely highly recommended was a proportionate disappointment. A Thriller? she remarked, more like a yawner. 

The convoluted story obsessed about a purportedly brilliant and famous young woman’s disappearance and possible murder. 

Others were more generous. Isobel 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. Helen felt it was an entertaining romp about multiple, flawed but genuine characters. An easy read. Boo, 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. Margaret 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. Liz refused to read it after a couple of pages. Krysia, 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. Salene: 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. 

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;  Married to a Bedouin by Marguerite van Geldermalsen; The Magus by John Fowles. 

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed. We look very forward to seeing you all at the next meetings, which are as follows:

Thursday, March 26th at Krysia’s, The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng

Wednesday April 22, at Helen’s, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

May date and venue to be announced Bel Canto by Ann Patchette