The invitations have been sent out concerning this blog to all members of the book club. I do believe I have set it up to allow you all to get involved in molding the Blog. Let me know if you have any difficulties!
AL
When the English Bookshop closed with the passing of Philida, books in English became a rare commodity. If you didn't travel you didn't read and my trips home resulted in my boy's backpacks loaded to a crippling capacity with books for mummy. But it wasn't enough, we couldn't get enough books. We begged and borrowed books and introduced each other to new authors. But it still wasn't enough, we wanted to discuss the books and share our views. What option did we have but to create a book club?
Book worm
The Book Club 2009
Getting the books...
If you have copies of any of the books listed for this year let us know and we can arrange for the books to rotate through the members otherwise family or friends travelling or the very convenient Amazons. I am sure if we make an effort to read and pass on the books as quickly as possible there is no need for each person to acquire a copy. We will endeavour to have a list of books for 2010 chosen before the Christmas holidays so everyone can pick up a few books and even get some advance reading done.
Book returns
2010 Suggestions List
Please don't hesitate to access this to put down your suggestions for books for 2010. We will try and define at least the first few months of books for next year.
18th March: "The Guernsey literary and potatoe peel society" (at either Angelique's or Andrea's)
22nd April: "The slap" Christos Tsoikas
20th May: "Snow" Pamuk
17th June: An Emile Zola's book of our choice
15th July: "Half of a yellow sun" Chimamanda Adichie
19th August: "The botany of desire" Michaël Pollan
16th September: "The bookthief" Markus Kusak
21st October: "The dancer upstairs" Nicholas Shakespeare
18th November: "Ulysse" J.Joyce
October Book choice
Brodeck's Report
Review of the Brodeck Report -October Book Chez Angelique
Things Fall Apart
November Book
Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart was written in 1958 and is considered Achebe’s best-known novel. The story centers on the traditions of the Umofian society and the character of Okonkwo, a rich and headstrong elder.
Things Fall Apart Summary
Okonkwo and his people rely on a harmony between beings and spirits that is preserved by precise rituals and beliefs. Okonkwo wins the respect of his tribe and works hard as a farmer, all the while demonstrating his love for his land and people. When Okonkwo accidentally kills a relative, he is sent away for seven years as punishment.
When Okonkwo returns he discovers that the Christian missionaries have come and are threatening to compromise the Umofian way of life. They speak through interpreters, understand nothing of the people’s beliefs and are followed by white commissioners who laws destroy the society they were devised to ‘civilize.’ Okonkwo cannot accept these changes, even though the Umofian society does, and thus he suffers a tragic death in the end.
Political or Social Commentary
Many people believe that this book was written as a way to demonstrate how appalling the British settlers treated the African communities. Achebe’s political points are blunt; however, Achebe insists that the book is actually a social commentary on the need to be able to change and be flexible in life. He admits that change is inevitable and it was Okonkwo’s inability to change that caused his downfall.
Choice of books...
For those of you who were not there at the inaugural meeting.
Wow...we would have to meet every week to get through the books that were suggested at the initial meeting and we didn't dig very deep. There was some lobbying for books but primarily availability was an important factor for the first few books and then it became a balance of finding something lighter to wedge in between months with books dealing with some pretty heavy issues. Claudel had been recommended to Andrea by an Australian book shop and in deference to the French culture and it's impressive reviews, it made the list. Obviously not enough reverence to the French culture to read it in the original version but I quote from one review "...not only very well written but also impressively translated,..." Kris firmly believes that everyone should read 'Things fall apart' and seemed to be shocked that most of us had not. It is also the 50th Anniversary of the first edition of the book. 'The White Tiger' had received a few votes was available to circulate and received some interesting reviews. I lobbied for 'In Cold Blood' along with Kris. I am not a big reader of non-fiction, I have not read this and I have not seen the film but feel compelled to do so and am now inflicting that on everyone. 'The curious incident...' is a curious book, very readable, likely to generate an interesting discussion AND available and therefore met the criteria required for our first book. When looking for lighter but interesting books Michael lobbied for Michael C and was unanimously supported and Robin came up with one that looks to be a little gem called 'Happiness' which we will save for the Christmas meeting.Good reading
Book List and Dates 2009
The Book Schedule
| DATE BOOK & AUTHOR Available copies Venue/Presenter 1 June 11 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time' by Mark Haddon Annette 1 Kris 1 Chez Michael/ Michael 2 July 9 'The White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga Annette 1 Kris 1 Anne-Marie Chez Heather/Heather 3 August 13 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote Michael + DVD Annette Susan Chez Annette/Annette 4 Sept 3 'Next' by Michael Crichton Annette 1 Michael 1 ? Chez Michael/Susan 5 Oct 8 'Brodeck's Report' by Philippe Claudel Annette 1 Michael 1 Heather 1 Chez Angelique 6 Nov 12 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe Annette 1 Kris 1 ? Chez Kris/Kris 7 Dec 3 'Happiness' by Will Ferguson Annette 1 ? Robin? 8 Jan/Feb Food Books/Organic Food Blood type foods/Eating local/Food crisis/Origins of foods etc Choose your own book Everyone when we resume the 1st meeting 2010 |
Good luck with the Blog, you've done a great job.
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
ReplyDeleteI'll bring along a few books tonight that I have on the shelf and still have not read and that could be on the list for next year: Paul Auster's "The Brooklyn follies", Dennis Lehane's "The given day", Jonathan coe's "The rain before it falls", Yu Hua's "Brothers"... and I also have a copy of "breath"...
Beautiful blog!
ReplyDeleteI'm up for anything that will help this American girl understand you aussi girls. I really like the idea of reading a few authors from AU, NZ or other Pacific islands.
I don't have any specific ideas for now...
Great blog! Thanks for setting it up Annette. I have a copy of Breath if we decide to do it next year. I have also been reading as many books as I can set in the Pacific, so could suggest a few on that theme for consideration. I would also like to read one French novel per book club year translated into English, but I do not know where to start. For this reason I really enjoyed the Claudel book. I have just finished Things Fall Apart - thanks Kris. It was a great read. Bye for now, Narelle
ReplyDeletehello all, how are you
ReplyDeleteIt was a shame that none of you could make it last saturday as it would have been lovely to see you all again. I really enjoyed the book club, I thought it was great fun and I am glad to have met you even if it was only briefly.
Me and my girls are in NZ now and my husband is staying in NC until he gets his NZ residency and sorts out our house>
I have to say it was really tough to leave NC and all the fantastic people we knew there, but life is an adventure and circumstances called for a decision to be made. Pascal and I had always wanted to move back to NZ and now that I am ready to start studying or working again, it just seemed right.
As for making comments on the books, I have already read Breath and Revolutionary road> Both are excellent books, very well written and I am sure that you will have une belle soiree discussing them.
Thanks for all of your well wishes, it was just too hectic in those 3 weeks to respond to you, but I thoroughly enjoyed your company those thursday nights, these last few months and I wish you all the best>
Leanne