The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer - June 16, 2025

Our last meeting before our summer break was hosted by Colette who was joined with Marg, Carla, Betty and Shirley. In honour of the season, Colette baked and served rhubarb muffins plus rhubarb and strawberry bars to accompany our morning coffee and tea. Delicious.

We discussed Carla’s book choice, The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. Brammer is a writer originally from Tasmania, Australia, who is now based in New York City via France and Spain. This book is her debut novel which she wrote while trying to understand her own anxieties around the topic of death. It was a Book of the Month pick for May 2023, was named a Best Book of Summer 2023 by the New York Times and a Best Book of 2023 by NPR. It was also nominated for the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Debut and Best Fiction. In addition to fiction, Brammer writes about architecture, art, and design for publications including Architectural Digest, Dwell, ELLE Decor, Luxe Interiors + Design, Metropolis, and Surface.

The story begins slowly as Clover’s character is developed. She was witness to the death of her teacher when she was very young followed closely by the death of both of her parents. She is then raised by her grandfather. Clover never seems to fit in so leads a solitary life with no personal friends beyond her grandfather and her grandfather’s friend, Leo. In this book we are introduced to death cafes and Clover as a death doula.

As a death doula, Clover offered emotional, spiritual, and practical assistance, helping people navigate the complexities of death and dying. Death doulas focus on enhancing the quality of life for those nearing death, providing comfort, and helping to create meaningful experiences. Clover kept a record of what she learned from each of her clients divided into three categories: Advice, Confessions and Regrets. As an act of homage to her clients, she tried to fulfil some of the regrets that she heard from her dying clients. The regret that she heard most often was the wish that they had told their families and friends that they loved them and we come to understand the vulnerability in saying ‘I love you’. Clover admits that it wasn’t just the regrets of the dying people she was trying to resolve, it was her own.

Clover learned that each dying client had different needs, and she would ask each one, ‘Would you like to be hugged, helped or heard’. These are wise words that our book club members all agreed would undoubtedly be useful in the future.

Clover’s life changes over the course of the book and for those who like a happy ending, that is to is included. 

Our thanks to Carla for choosing this book. The Collected Regrets of Clover was enjoyed by all our members as it elicited a wide-ranging discussion on death, grief, loneliness and living a beautiful life and, as one of the characters says, ‘to have the wisdom to be cautiously reckless’

Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt

We were 7 members at our September meeting, Betty, Carla, Linda, Marg, Michèle,  Shirley and our newest member, Sharon.  Welcome Sharon!  Michèle had some great vegetable and salmon sushi and a cream cheese dip with veggies.  We also enjoyed a great Mandarin orange cake made with almond flour. Of course wine, coffee and tea were also on offer.

Our book this month presented by Carla was Remarkably Bright Creatures by American author, Shelby Van Pelt.  This is Ms. Van Pelt's first novel.  It was on the New York Times Top 10 list of fictions for several months.  It has been picked up by Netflix and will star Sally Field.

The story is about a developing friendship between a giant octopus Marcellus and a woman, Tova who cleans the aquarium. Ms Van Pelt did a lot of research on octopuses before writing the book.  The main human character, Tova is an older widow who takes a night job at the aquarium after her husband dies, to keep busy.  

Almost all our members enjoyed the book.  They found the writing to be excellent, characters well developed, and the story to be charming, gentle, not a story with extreme drama but it developed well and was easy to read and follow.  Both Tova and Marcellus must deal with the fact that they are ageing and make choices to continue a pleasant life.   Many felt it was a satisfying book to read with a happy ending.  

Thank you Carla for beginning our Fall season with such a pleasant book.  

The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery - September 25, 2023

 

We were a small group again this month, Beth, Betty, Carla, Marg and Michèle.   Michèle had homemade blinis with smoked salmon, a lovely garlicky dip and vegetables and olives.  Dessert was chocolate cupcakes with blue icing.

We discussed Carla's book choice, The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery.   L. M. Montgomery, as she was known in the publishing world wrote 20 novels, almost all for young adults, numerous short stories and poems.  She was best known for her series of books Anne of Green Gables and those that followed all set in Prince Edward Island.  They are still widely read in many countries throughout the World.  The Blue Castle is one of a very few adult novels she wrote.  

The story is set in small town Ontario, one of the only books she wrote not set in P.E.I.  It is about a single woman of 29 years old who lives with her mother and aunt and feels stifled by their criticism.  After receiving a life changing medical diagnosis she decides to free herself of family and we follow her life through work she takes on and love.  Ms. Montgomery also, as in her other books, describes the surrounding nature in a way that we can easily visualize, lush woods and serene lakes.

The novel was unanimously enjoyed by everyone present and those who sent us their comments.  It was felt that it described well the often claustrophobic lives of unmarried women in the early 20th century, and struggles they had to live an independent life when it was possible.  Many felt that this is essentially a romance novel but with an interesting plot and great characters.  Once Valancy breaks from her family, she learns to problem solve on her own, she does not allow others to dominate her and she learns to love.  

It is a well written story, characters are well developed and dramatic.  The story ends well with Valancy finding herself with her favourite author as her lover.   Several of our members especially enjoy a story that ends well.

This book is filled with "quotable" quotes and this is one that is particularly popular:

‘”John Foster says,” quoted Valancy, “If you can sit in silence with a person for half an hour and yet be entirely comfortable, you and that person can be friends. If you cannot, friends you’ll never be and you need not waste time in trying.'”

Thank you Carla for proposing this wonderful summer read. 

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett - January 24th 2022

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - January 25, 2021

As we begin 2021, we have become quite good at holding our Zoom meetings, being quite respectful,  waiting our turn to speak and sometimes even holding up our hand when we have something to say! However, we all miss  seeing each other in person every month and of course the food and wine! Present at this evening's meeting were Beth, Betty, Carla, Colette, Janet, Linda, Marg, Michèle and Shirley. 

Our first task this evening was to name the Book of the Year 2020.  We had several excellent books this year and it was obvious in the votes we received. However, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens was the narrow favourite, Carla's book choice in 2020.  

This evening we discussed Carla's book choice The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michèle Richardson.  Ms. Richardson was born in Kentucky and grew up at the Saint Thomas-Saint Vincent Orphan Asylum.  Her memoir The Unbreakable Child chronicles her experiences at the orphanage and why she along with her sisters and 40 other children who lived at the orphanage, sued the Sisters of Charity in 2004 for the abuse they endured.  Ms. Richardson has written 4 novels along with the memoir.  

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a historical novel set in the Appalachian Hills of Kentucky. The heroine, Cussy Mary Carter is one of the last females of the Blue-skinned people of Kentucky. The story takes place during the depression of the 1930's.  The Pack Horse Library Project was a work project to deliver books to remote areas of Kentucky.  Cussy Mary was hired as a book woman and she and her mule Junia travelled her treacherous routes  delivering books, magazines, newspapers and other reading materials to her patrons.  We learned their stories and difficult life in depression era Kentucky. Cussy Mary's strength of character and determination showed in her belief that books and any reading material helped people dream and believe in a better life. 

There was no debate about the merits of this book.  Everyone loved the book and it is a definite page turner.  The writing is excellent, the characters are well-developed. The description of the Appalachian area of Kentucky brought alive the harshness of the terrain, the mountains and the deep connection people had to their part of the world . As a historical novel we learned about the blue people of Kentucky and many of us took the time to read more about this genetic condition.  The Pack Horse Library Project highlighted the desire and thirst people had to read and learn about the outside world.  We were all moved by the drama of arranged marriages, starving children, bigotry and discrimination.  

We were all intrigued by the use of  a "courting candle" by Cussy Mary's father and Carla showed us a photo of one she had found.  It is a Colonial candle holder used as a time-keeper marking the length of time a suitor could visit.  

Thank you Carla for selecting such a beautiful descriptive historical novel that we all enjoyed. 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - January 27th, 2020

On January 27, 2020, our club met at Marg Bisch's home to discuss Carla’s book choice, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. In attendance were Marg, Shirley, Carla, Colette, Betty and Beth. As there were four members missing from our group this month, it was decided that the announcement of the Muse & Views Academy Award for the 2019 book of the year would be postponed until April when attendance would be back to normal.

For her debut as a host, our newest member received rave reviews for preparing a delectable buffet of foods that appear in the novel: shrimp with sauce, hush puppies and corn fritters, tiny chicken pot pies, and finally, a marvelous buttery peach cobbler. Marg added to the ambiance with a display of feathers, shells and 'fireflies', evoking Kya's collections from the marsh!

Where the Crawdads Sing has been a bestseller for over a year. It is written by a woman whose first career was as a zoologist (PhD) who spent 23 years living in remote areas of Africa with her husband, observing and writing about the social behaviour of lions, elephants and hyenas.

Owens says she grew up in South Georgia as an ‘outdoors girl’, whose mother encouraged her to venture into wild places and learn about them, often using the phrase, "go out where the crawdads sing". Her family regularly vacationed in the outer marshes and swamps off the North Carolina coast, the setting she chose for this novel.

When she was planning the book, Owens says she was intrigued by the idea of a character who combines some of her own experiences and interests: living alone without one's group; living closely attuned to the land and wildlife and learning their secrets; trying to adapt and survive with the knowledge and instincts we have. The book has elements of several genres: orphaned child; coming of age; survival in the wild; love story; murder mystery; courtroom drama; social criticism, etc.

The novel moves back and forth between the present, a mysterious death in a small town on the North Carolina coast, and the past, where we follow the story of a six year-old girl who lives in a shack in a remote part of the coastal marshes and has to fend for herself after her dysfunctional family abandons her. These two plot lines converge in a suspenseful courtroom drama and shocking conclusion.

Almost everyone loved this book. Many members described their intense sympathy and awe for the main character, Kya, and her intelligence, resourcefulness and resilience in a hostile world. Other characters who help and care for Kya (Jumpin', Tate) were felt to be well-rounded and memorable. While a couple of readers found parts of the scenario unbelievable, one admitted that there are some real-life examples and all felt it is well-written and easy to read. Members commented on how vividly the writer brought the marsh region to life, especially because it's not a typically ‘beautiful’ landscape for many. The descriptions of the sky, lagoons and the insects' behaviour are all poetically, and sometimes disturbingly, drawn for us. Most of us liked the clever plot line and compelling suspense of the murder trial with its push and pull as we are expecting one verdict and one answer, but are surprised by the eventual outcome. However, a couple of us picked up subtle clues Owens leaves early on. Our lawyer member said she enjoyed the crime story aspect but we all found much to enjoy and ponder - most movingly, the theme of loneliness and the long-term effects of living in such pain and isolation, looking for something to love and trust.

Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris - May 27th 2019

Our May meeting was hosted by Betty.  Present were Betty, Carla, Colette, Jane, Linda, Marg, Michèle and Shirley.  Betty served a nice array of cheese and crackers, olives, pepperettes and of course wine, coffee and tea.

We discussed Carla's book choice, a memoir, Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris.  Ms. Harris is a young Canadian writer and "wanderer" as she calls herself.  She is originally from Ontario and presently lives off the grid on the border between the Yukon and British Columbia.  She studied sciences and the history of science in Canada, Great Britain as a Rhodes Scholar and in the United States.  She abandoned her Ph.D. studies at M.I.T. to cycle the Silk Road with a childhood friend Mel Yule. The book chronicles their voyage that lasted almost a year.  Beginning in Turkey they travelled through Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China, Nepal and India.  At the beginning of the book she describes her childhood with her family and her goal to eventually visit Mars.  She is well read, quotes philosophers and well-known writers and historians.

She received many honours and prizes for Lands of Lost Borders including the most prestigious Canadian prize for non-fiction the RBC-Taylor Prize in 2019.  She was a Rhodes scholar and a recipient of the Morehead-Cain Scholarship, an American version of the Rhodes Scholarship.

The reviews were definitely mixed.  Many found that her writing, descriptions and stories of this adventure were very introspective.  She wrote a lot about how she felt, how she experienced the journey.  Though she rode with her childhood friend Mel Yule, we do not come to know Mel well.  She does not go into great detail in describing the families that helped them along the way, those who allowed them to pitch their tent on their property or actually sleep and eat with them.

However her descriptions of how she lived this adventure, her descriptions of the terrain, the problems they encountered are very vivid and easy to understand.  Certainly for us as women of a certain age and family status, the adventures she described and her enthusiasm for them is very foreign to us.  Not many if any of us have dreamt of an adventure of this magnitude!

There are lots of photos and videos on her website Kate Harris that help us visualize what she described.

Meeting of February 26, 2018

We met this evening at Janet's home to discuss Carla's choice, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.  Present were Beth, Betty, Carla, Colette, Jane, Janet, Shirley and Michèle via Skype from sunny Florida.  As the book is set in France, Janet had some wonderful French cheese, pâté, French wine and for dessert, tarte aux pommes with crème chantilly.

Everyone enjoyed The Nightingale. This is the second book we have read by Kristin Hannah, so those who would like some information on this author can click on the link.  This story is about two sisters in France during World War II and how each coped with the tragedy and events of war.  Vianne, married and living with her daughter in a small village while her husband is fighting endures the humiliation of Nazis living in her home and overtaking the village. Isabelle, the younger single sister who lives in Paris with her father, eventually finds her calling helping those of the resistance escape from France once they are denounced.

The character development of the two sisters is excellent.  We really get know each sister and understand in each of their circumstances how and why they react to events in their life.  Vianne, a mother, will do anything to protect her own child and finds a way to protect and keep her best friend Rachel's, son.  Though her sister Isabelle does not understand how Vianne can allow a Nazi to live under her roof, Vianne knows the consequences of refusing and finds ways to live with it and protect her daughter. She accepts the food and gifts from the first officer so her daughter can eat properly and she endures repetitive rape by the second officer to protect her daughter from the same fate.  Isabelle, younger more of a rebel and without the responsibilities of a family, finds a way to help her countrymen in the Résistence.

Many of us enjoy historical novels that allow us to learn and this novel packs it in. We learn about how the Nazis with the help of some French collaborators rounded up Jews not only in big cities such as Paris and Lyon but also in small villages.  Though we did learn about the the French fleeing Paris in Suite Française by Irène Nemirovsky, there are different aspects and details in this book. In All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr we learned about the Résistence and in The Nightingale, Isabelle's involvement gives us more information.   Kristin Hannah's research for this book was extensive.

Thank you Carla for choosing this book and Shirley for recommending it.

Meeting of February 27, 2017

We met at Janet's home to discuss Carla's choice The Wonder by Emma Donoghue.  Present were Betty, Carla, Colette, Janet, Jolene, Michèle and Shirley.   Janet was tempted to serve us just 2 teaspoons of water and porridge but lucky for us relented and served some wonderful cheese including an irish  cheddar,  sausage rolls and a quite wonderful Irish whisky cheese cake.  Of course wine, coffee and tea were also served.

Carla gave us a short biography of Emma Donoghue who is the author of the very popular novel Room.  She was born in Ireland and lived in England and has settled in London, Ontario.  Ms. Donoghue has written several books and will publish this coming Spring her first YA book.

The novel is set in the Irish midlands in the 1860's not long after the potato famine in a village steeped in superstitions and the mysteries of the catholic faith. A young 11 year old girl, Anna O'Donnell, has stopped eating and after four months the curious and believers have begun to visit to witness this "miracle" or "medical anomaly" since she seems in good health.  The notable men of the village, the priest, the doctor and others decide that there needs to be proof that she is not eating and hire an English Nightingale trained nurse Elizabeth Wright and a nun to watch Anna over a two week period.  Lib, the nurse decides immediately that this is a hoax and in a couple of days she will be able to discover how Anna is secretly fed.

It is safe to say that this is not the most popular book we have read as a group.  Only two of our members present actually enjoyed the book.  It was for these two members a page turner, a suspense novel with an interesting plot line and believable characters.  The bleakness of the countryside and the difficult lives of the poor in villages just coming out of the potato famine were well described.

However, the majority were more critical of the book.  Many felt that there was too much of the book described Lib, the Nightingale trained nurse, watching Anna O'Donnell the 11 year old child who refuses to eat.  They felt that it was very repetitive and that not much happened until the last third of the book when we discover why Anna is fasting and what Lib does to save Anna.  All of us found the ending unbelievable.  Could Anna really get her health both physical and mental back and live a happy life with these new parents in a new country?  Some also criticized the writing style using a third person narrative but allowing only the thoughts of Lib to be described.

Carla did some research on catholicism and purgatory and how you could get someone out of purgatory.  Anna prayed to get her brother to heaven and she envisioned them both in heaven together.  She repeats 33 times the same prayer hoping it will be enough to get her brother Patrick out of purgatory.

As is usual with a book that our members have mixed opinions, the discussion was lively and interesting.

Meeting of February 22, 2016

We met at Janet's for a discussion of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Carla's choice. In honour of the Swedish setting of the book, Janet served smoked salmon, Rye-King crackers, and Swedish apple pie, along with a lovely selection of cheeses and hummus. In attendance were Shirley, Janet, Jane, Colette, Jolene, Beth, and Carla, along with Michèle for part of the evening via Skype. Oh, and canine Angel attended to see if she could snag some salmon. Blackie, the Cat Annoyance, put in only a brief appearance.

Carla gave us background on the writer, who has been at various times a truck driver, journalist, blogger, and Sweden's most successful author (according to a vote taken in 2013). Backman's sense of humour is evident in interviews. About his move to writing, Carla quoted him as saying, "I write things. Before I did that I had a real job, but then I happened to come across some information saying that there were people out there willing to pay people to write things about other people, and I thought, 'Surely this must be better than working.'...Not to mention the fact that I can sit down for a living now, which has been great for my major interest in cheese eating." See JPL's Book-in-a-Blog

In addition to A Man Called Ove, Backman has written My Grandmother Sent Me to Tell You She's Sorry and a non-fiction book called Things My Son Needs to Know about the World. In May 2016, Britt Marie Was Here is scheduled for publication, and a movie based on Ove is apparently to be released in December. 

Everyone in the group loved the book, though title character Ove would not care about our opinions since we are not Saab drivers. The novel's appeal lies in its relatability-- we all know people like Ove, who appear unsympathetic at first but can later turn out to be neighbourly "superheroes" when the layers are peeled back. Even when we fail to find redeeming qualities in our curmudgeonly acquaintances, the book reminds us that human beings are complicated, and grumpiness may have its roots in personal tragedy. 

Some in our club found the beginning of the novel a bit tedious and the epilogue unrealistic (wouldn't wife Sonja have found a use for personal wealth in her life time, perhaps helping needy school children?), but we all agreed that Backman has an uncanny knack for dealing with heavy topics, then at just the right moment, adding comic relief to make us laugh out loud. 

The character Ove was first created in a blog, as the author thought about interactions with his own father. Backman says Ove is consistent from beginning to end, a man of rigid principle, and it is the readers' opinions of him that tend to change. Backman explains that comedy arises from Ove's disproportionate reaction to everyday situations. (You might consult the Laurie Grassi interview found here: Fredrik Backman on his best.)

Despite the book's light-hearted tone, our group was prompted to discuss such heavy topics as physician-assisted suicide (an issue current in Canadian politics) and Alzheimer's disease. In the novel, Ove's one-time friend Rune is being forced from his home by White Coats, and Ove will have none of it. 

Thanks, Carla, for a wonderful read. A warm relief as we work our way through this February weather.

Meeting of February 23, 2015

The February meeting of Muse and Views was held at Janet’s home to discuss Nadia Hashimi’s The Pearl that Broke Its Shell, Carla’s choice.  Janet served delicacies to celebrate the Afghanistan setting of the book—dates and pistachios, chicken kabobs with a smoked paprika marinade, Afghani spinach dip, and rosewater cookies for dessert.  In attendance were Carla, Colette, Beth, Shirley, Jane, Betty, Jolene and Janet.

Carla introduced the author as an American pediatrician of Afghani descent, with a degree in Middle Eastern studies and biology.  Ms. Hashimi’s parents left Afghanistan in the 1970’s.  Her mother pursued a Master's degree in civil engineering in Europe while her father sought the American dream.  This book is the author’s first novel.  Her second is entitled When the Moon is Low, again about issues in Afghanistan, this time following the story of people who flee the Taliban and end up in the dark world of the undocumented.

The Pearl that Broke Its Shell deals with gender identity and a male-dominated society.  Ms. Hashimi introduces the notion of the bacha posh, a cultural tradition in which young girls dress like boys in order to help their mothers with marketing and other responsibilities.  Only as boys do these girls seem to achieve a degree of freedom and education in villages dominated by oppressive warlords who routinely take young brides and beat them into submission (often with several older wives already under their control, who may choose to augment the abuse).

Club reviews were mixed.  All were appalled by the violence suffered by women, particularly in smaller settlements.  Even in the capital city, the book depicted democracy as a veneer, with puppet wives in Parliament often voting only as their husbands command.  While many felt the story riveting, others were disappointed with the writing style, where western expressions and unrealistic plot twists to move the story along seemed to betray the author’s lack of experience.  Possibly due to translation difficulties, no one was able to satisfactorily interpret the poem that inspired the book’s title.  We did enjoy the fact that the central character, Rahima, was finally able to courageously break out of her shell and escape, helped by a western woman and two other modern thinkers.  Interestingly, Janet added insights from her travels to Hawaii, where pearls in broken shells are often better than those drawn from in-tact oysters. 

Several noted connections to previous reads.  Annabel dealt with gender identity, and books such as The Kite Runner, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and 1000 Splendid Suns addressed related cultural themes.  Lest we feel morally superior in the West, we also commented on our own society’s issue of objectifying women through pornography.  All in all, we had a very interesting discussion of a book with educational value about a culture often in the news. 

Meeting of November 25, 2013

We had a lovely time discussing Carla’s choice, Little Bee by Chris Cleave. In honour of the Nigerian theme, Beth treated us to African cassava and plantain chips, samosas, banana cake and coconut macaroons, along with Canadian cheeses and Mediterranean olives. The house was decorated with African photos, including one of a beach, so important to the story. Carla, Betty, Colette, Jane, Linda, Janet, Jolene, and Beth were in attendance.

Carla explained that Chris Cleave is 38 years old and works as a journalist in London, England. The character Charlie was loosely based on Cleave’s young son. Incendiary was Cleave’s award-winning first novel. Little Bee was published under the title The Other Hand in the UK. Cleave’s writing is based on real-life events that have impacted him personally, including the story of an Angolan refugee who hanged himself to save his son from deportation from England in 2001, and also Cleave’s student work in a detention camp. He explains that he tries to write about serious matters in an accessible way, incorporating humour when possible. He is not trying to treat dark subjects lightly, but hopes instead to expose darkness to the light.  

Almost all the ladies said that they would not have picked this book up originally had it not been a club choice, but in the end most appreciated it for its educational value. The “Greek chorus” of girls back home in Nigeria was one interesting aspect of the author’s writing style. On the other hand, the beach scenes were very disturbing, even causing nightmares. The book did provide insight into the plight of many refugees and caused us to think about how insulated we are in our democratic society, where environmental issues are discussed long before people and natural resources are severely impacted. We also commented on the contrasts: two worlds, two English dialects, two points of view.  Sarah and Lawrence were unpopular, though the moral choices of all of the characters made for interesting discussion. There was disagreement over the ending. Most felt that Little Bee would not survive, though the author (and Carla and Jolene) were more optimistic.

For homework, we decided to try an idea from the author himself. He suggests that we make up proverbs of our own, and come prepared to recite them gravely next book club. As Little Bee says, “I have noticed, in your country, I can say anything so long as I say that is the proverb in my country.”  (page 180)

January will also be our “Academy Awards” night, so get your votes to Michèle, using the list at the side of this blog. While you’re looking at the 2013 titles, be aware that the order of 2014 choices and houses is under review. One other assignment:  Beth suggests discussing the first line of every book club choice in the coming year. Good ones should generally not begin with a discussion of weather (the “dark and stormy night” idea).  

Merry Christmas, and happy reading.

Meeting of November 26, 2012

The meeting was hosted by Beth.  She had some wonderful cheese, pâté and crackers including a lactose-free cheese along with olives and a date and amond cake.  With tea and coffee we had a very nice stollen and quite decadent cupcakes.  

The book discussed this month, Carla's choice is Unorthodox - The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman.  This is a memoir in which Ms. Feldman describes her life in the Hasidic community of Williamsburg in Brooklyn NY.  She was born in Williamsburg and raised mostly by her grandparents after her mother left the community.  Her father was the mentally disturbed son of her grandparents. 

Hasidic Judaism is a Jewish religious movement that originated in Eastern Europe in the 18th century. The Hasidic tradition is a constant striving for an intimate give and take relationship with God in every moment of human life. (see link above).  Satmar Hasidism is a Hasidic movement composed mostly of Hungarian and Romanian Holocaust survivors and their descendants. They believe that the Holocaust was punishment from God because Jews had become too secular and that the state of Israel was blasphemy because Jews had to wait for God to create the Holy Land.  Most of the Jews praticing Satmar Hasidism are in the Brooklyn community, Williamsburg and Kiryas Joel, New York.  There is a small community in Montreal and some scattered elsewhere in the state of New York. 

The initial comments from the group were divided.  Some of us found the book to be very interesting and a page turner and a couple of us found it boring and difficult to finish.  However, the discussion was quite animated and all of us enjoyed an excellent discussion.  Many enjoyed her narrative of life growing up with her grandparents her ability to remember childhood memories in such detail. It is a coming of age story.  We learned a lot about the rules and regulations and traditions of Orthodox Jews and more specifically about the Hasidic Community.  Some such as the demeaning treatment of women and the blame that was put on women for men's weaknesses were upsetting.  Ms. Feldman describes an insular community with its own police and paramedics that allow crimes such as sexual abuse and maybe murder to be hidden.   

From articles and reviews that have been written about this memoir it is very evident that Ms. Feldman wrote her own perception of life as a Hasidic Jew and left out details of her life that she believes were not relevant to her story.  For example, we learn from articles that she had a younger sister and that she lived some time with her mother and attended a public secular school for the first few years of elementary school.  Some of us questioned the veracity of her story. How could a young teenager who was curious enough about life to sneak off to the library and enjoyed reading in English as much as she did not be curious enough about her own body to know she had a vagina?  Had she really not consulted a biology book at the library to satisfy her questions about the first night of mariage?  It is also evident that she is very young and in writing about some of the incidents may not have thought through the impact on her family and community.  She changes all the names but puts in the book photos of her family allowing easy identification of who is her family.   She is surprised by the negative reaction of the community. However a more mature person would have known that no community likes to publicize its dirty laundry.  

There is an article in the Jewish Week written by Samuel Katz, a young man who also left the community that gives some credibility to her story.  However, Mr. Katz's hope that her book would begin an open discussion about the community has not happened because of the doubts about her story.   

Beth read a poem Autobiograhical by the Canadian poet A.M. Klein  who grew up in Montreal's Orthodox Jewish community that paints a much more positive picture of growing up in an Orthodox community.  

So though not all members of the group enjoyed the book, we certainly had an excellent discussion.  Thank you Carla for this choice of book.  

Meeting of November 28 2011

Our host this month was Beth.  Present were Beth, Betty, Carla, Colette, Jane, Janet, Jolene, Linda, Michèle and Shirley. All were present for this last meeting of 2011!  To put us in the mood of an English countryside in this novel, Beth served some wonderful english cheeses and a great ginger chutney.  She also prepared a delicious English trifle. Thank you Beth.

The book choice this month presented by Carla was Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks.  Ms Brooks was originally an Australian journalist who worked as a foreign journalist for both Australian newspapers and eventually also American newspapers including the Wall Street Journal.  She worked principally in the Middle East.  She eventually became an American citizen.   Ms. Brooks has written 6 books, the last four are fiction.  She won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2006 for her novel March about the March girls' from Little Women absent father, gone to fight in the American Civil War.

Year of Wonders is a historical novel, taking place in the village of Eyam in Derbyshire in 1665-1666.  When the plague arrived in the village, the Rector convinced the community to quarantine itself and contain the plague within their community avoiding it from becoming widespread in England.  The story is narrated by Anna Frith, the housekeeper of the Rectory.  The other main characters are the Rector Michael Mompellion and his wife Elinor.  They together, work tirelessly to tend to the needs of the sick and help those still healthy.  There are several other characters including Anna's father Josiah Bont a miserable, mean person, his wife Aphra, Anna's selfish step-mother; Anys Gowdie and her mother Mem, the village herbalists and midwives and Anna's boarder, George Viccars.  All members felt that there was some excellent character development by Ms. Brooks,  both for the major persons such as Anna, the Rector and his wife Elinor and the more minor characters that were complex and interesting.

All members agreed that Ms. Brooks described very well the atmosphere of 17th century village life, of a mining and agricultural community.  She wrote in a language of the time and did not shrink from describing the realities of life in that time, the fragility of new borns, the filth, the never ending chores and work of both men and women, the belief in the wrath of God and also the superstitions and panic that can spread because of ignorance.  Some of us found parts of the story wrenching and difficult to read.  When Anna descends into the lead mine, the tension that is created can raise your blood pressure and even though you know that Anna is a main character and narrator you wonder if she will come out of the mine alive.  The lynching of Anys Gowdie is extremely well described. The hatred and desperation leaps off the page.

All members enjoyed the book but several of us were surprised by the ending, the last 50 pages.  Michèle read a review taken from Goodreads that gives the book 4 stars for the first 255 pages and one star for the last 50 pages.  Though some were pleased by the "happy" ending many of us felt that there was a definite disconnect with the story itself and that the description of how Anna turns her life around and where she finds herself is not at all true to the realities of the time in which the story is situated and so well described in the first 255 pages.

Beth read a part of a hymn written by Martin Rinkart in the 16th century that she feels describes the message that Rector Mompellion tried to pass on to his flock.

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.


Historical novels always allow us to acquire knowledge of a past events and places and we have all enjoyed Year of Wonders for this reason.  Thank you to Carla for a good choice.

Meeting of October 25, 2010

Our Muses & Views Book Club met at Colette's home to discuss Carla's choice The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Benyon Rees.  Present were Betty, Carla, Colette, Jane, Jolene, Linda, Michèle and Shirley. Colette Colette prepared wonderful mini-quiches, humus with vegetables and wonderful cheese blintze with blueberry sauce.

We were quite divided in our opinions of this book.  Some found it an interesting and intriguing murder mystery and some of us found it rather boring.

In the preface of the book, the author essentially says "All crimes in this book are based on real events in Bethlehem. Though identities and some circumstances have been changed, the killers really kill this way, and those who died are dead just the same."  So the author gives us right away, an impression of despair and gloom.  From the descriptions, we get the impression of corruption and constant fighting not just between the Palestinians and Israel but also between factions within Bethlehem.  The general population is just trying to continue with their lives, heads down.  The author gives a very effective description of life for the residents of Bethlehem.  The story quite effectively shows the impact of raising one's head in an atmosphere such as reigns in Bethlehem when Omar Yussef, the quiet teacher decides to find out who murdered his christian friend George.  Everyone he speaks to is affected.

As it is in Palestinian families, the men are the more important characters in this book, there is little development of women characters such as Omar's wife, his young former female student or George's wife.  The fighting is amongst the men and the women work to try, despite the turmoil, to raise their children and care for their household.  It is a bleak story.

Colette invited her friend René who worked at the Canadian Embassy in Israel to come to speak to us about Israel.  He presented a very interesting slide show and his comments helped us understand the atmosphere in the region, Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza strip.  Thank you to René and to Colette for inviting him.

Meeting of September 27, 2009

This month's meeting was a Colette's home. All members were present, Beth, Betty, Carla, Colette, Janet, Joan, Jolene, Linda, Michèle and Shirley. We also welcomed a new member Jane. We had not met since June, and we had a good chat about our summer activities, weddings being the major subject of discussion. Colette and Jane provided us with wonderful Chinese hors d'oeuvres, pot stickers and small egg rolls. We were also treated to a wonderful blueberry pie made by Colette's husband.

This month's book, recommended by Carla was Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. Carla's son married this summer, a woman of Chinese heritage. She described the parts of the wedding ceremony that were very similar to the customs described in the novel when Lily marries; the groom and his entourage go to the bride's home to bring her to the wedding and the bride's family and entourage let her go with reluctance; the Tea Ceremony performed by the groom; the red envelopes with money offerings.

The majority enjoyed the book, especially getting insight into another culture , the value of women in the household, how her family's place in society controlled her life, the requirements on her from childhood to old age. If a girl did not realize a good marriage, she had little value to her family. The story also told us about foot binding and Nu Shu that is women's writing, sworn sisters and Laotong or old sames.

Beth discussed the writing style. She felt that it had a formal melodramatic quality to it but was very readable. Many members felt that the book was sad. Beth also pointed out that many themes in the book are universal, the relationship of women friends, the difference between our relationships with women friends and our relationship with our husbands; the often tenuous relationship with in-laws. She also talked about how Lily refused to see the pain and hurt she had caused her Laotong Snowflower, until she was bluntly told by the sworn sisters and how she tried repent for her actions after Snowflower's death. It showed how our interpretation of the importance of our place in society can make us blind to the impact of our actions and words.

The book generated a lively discussion about the foot binding, women's place in society depending in what society you are born, family ties and how little or how much they have changed depending on your culture. An example is how we treat our elders. Many older societies such as the Chinese do not tend to leave their elders in seniors homes as western society does.

The book was a good read, interesting with a good flow and informative giving us insight into another culture. Thank you Carla!

Meeting of September 29, 2008

We met at Colette's home. Thank you Colette for great hors d'oeuvres and a great choice of wines! Thanks to Dan for a wonderful wild blueberry pie. Members present were Beth, Carla, Colette, Janet, Jolene, Linda, Michèle and Shirley.

The book discussed, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger was Carla's choice. 

Ms. Niffenegger is a professor in Fine Arts at Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts. This is her first novel that took her 4.5 years to write.  

Reaction to the book was mixed. Some members very much enjoyed the book and others much less. Some had difficulty following the timeline of the story with Henry moving back and forth in time.  One member felt like she was reading a textbook.  

Carla and others felt that there is significant character development. We know what type of music they enjoy, what food they prefer. There is considerable description of their environment, where they live, the decor, etc. 

Janet liked that it portrayed a feeling of longing. We often have feelings of longing for past experiences and emotions. It also reminded her of dreaming and dreams we may have of close family members who are no longer with us. 

Colette felt that there was portrayal of "loss of love". Ingrid cannot deal with the loss of Henry's love and commits suicide. Henry's father Richard is unable to move on after the death of his wife.  Colette felt the book did not portray a message of hope, that ultimately all love is lost in the end. 

However, Michèle pointed out that the ending gives the impression that Henry comes to get Clare to continue their life and love in the afterlife. 

Though feelings about the book were decidedly mixed, all felt that it was an interesting concept.  For those who enjoy Time Travel stories, Beth suggested, the movie, Somewhere in Time with Jayne Seymour and Christopher Reeves and the book by Robert Nathan or movie directed by David O. Selznick Portrait of Jennie. 

Books read in 2007 - Choose your favorite!

BOOK CLUB - 2007

January – City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre

The story concerns a polish priest living in West Bengal, India, Stephan Kovalski, who is trying to help and understand life in a Howrah slum (across the Hooghly river from Kolkata) called Anandnagar (City of Joy). Among its various protagonists is the rickshaw puller, Hasari Pal who becomes a central figure in the novel. Despite the abject poverty and injustice, the inhabitants of Anandnagar display an inscrutable acceptance and celebration of life - an attitude that humbles fate and dignifies life.

February - Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley

Come home to Harmony, Indiana, a peaceful slice of small-town America, as Sam Gardner, Harmony-born and raised, begins his inaugural year as pastor to a new flock of old friends, family members, and outrageous eccentrics -- in this unforgettable place where earth-shattering events rarely occur, but small life-altering ones happen daily.

March - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

The book is the story of a 14-year-old girl who is raped and murdered. She tells her story from her personalized Heaven looking down as her family tries to cope with her death and her killer escapes the police.

April – State of Fear by Michael Crichton

State of Fear is a 2004 novel by Michael Crichton published by HarperCollins on December 7, 2004. Like most of his novels it is a techno-thriller, this time concerning eco-terrorists who attempt mass murder to support their views. The book contains many graphs and footnotes as well as two appendices and a twenty page bibliography.
Crichton, who spent 3 years studying the theme, included a statement of his own views on global climate change at the end of the book, saying that the cause, extent, and threat of climate change is largely unknown and unknowable. This has resulted in criticism by scientists as being inaccurate and misleading. He warns both sides of the global warming debate against the politicization of science. He provides an example of the disastrous combination of pseudo-science and good intentions, in the early 20th-century idea of eugenics. He finishes by endorsing the management of wilderness and the continuation of research into all aspects of the Earth's environment.

May - The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Wide Sargasso Sea is a 1966 postcolonial parallel novel by Caribbean-born author Jean Rhys. After many years of living in obscurity since her last work, Good Morning, Midnight, was published in 1939, Wide Sargasso Sea put Rhys into the limelight once more and became her most successful novel.
The novel acts as a prequel to Charlotte Brontë's famous 1847 novel Jane Eyre. It is the story of the first Mrs Rochester, Antoinette (Bertha) Mason, a white Creole heiress, from the time of her youth in the Caribbean to her unhappy marriage and relocation to England. Caught in an oppressive patriarchal society in which she belongs neither to the white Europeans nor the black Jamaicans, Rhys' novel re-imagines Brontë's devilish madwoman in the attic. As with many postcolonial works, the novel deals largely with the themes of racial inequality and the harshness of displacement and assimilation.

June - Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures by Vincent  Lam

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures welcomes readers into a world where the most mundane events can quickly become life or death. By following four young medical students and physicians – Ming, Fitz, Sri and Chen – this debut collection from 2006 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Vincent Lam is a riveting, eye-opening account of what it means to be a doctor. Deftly navigating his way through 12 interwoven short stories, the author explores the characters’ relationships with each other, their patients, and their careers. Lam draws on his own experience as an emergency room physician and shares an insider’s perspective on the fears, frustrations, and responsibilities linked with one of society’s most highly regarded occupations.

September – The Memory Keepers daughter by Kim Edwards

Award-winning writer Kim Edwards's The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a brilliantly crafted family drama that explores every mother's silent fear: what would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you?

On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by David Henry's fateful decision that long-ago winter night.
October - Perfume--the Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind,

An international bestseller, set in 18th century France, Perfume relates the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, "one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages".
Born lacking a personal odour (a fact other people find disquieting) but endowed with an incomparable sense of smell, he apprentices himself to a perfumer and becomes obsessed with procuring the perfect scent that will make him fully human. In the process, he creates perfumes—presumably based on pheromones—that powerfully manipulate human emotions, murdering 25 girls to take their scent.
The book features detailed descriptions of the techniques of scent extraction such as maceration and enfleurage.

November - Charles the Bold: the Dog Years by Yves Beauchemin,

Charles the Bold: The Dog Years is the first in a series of four novels that chronicle the life of Charles Thibodeau, a youngster from Montreal’s notorious east end. In this first volume, Yves Beauchemin takes us from Charles’ premature birth in October 1966 to his first term in secondary school. In the first pages the reader realizes that Charles is a special child and that his life is going to be far from ordinary. Although he is “born with a natural gift for happiness,” Charles’ childhood is overshadowed by tragic events. His mother never fully recovers from the birth of his younger sister Madeleine and both sister and mother die before Charles reaches the age of four. Left with his alcoholic father, Charles suffers from the domestic violence Wilfrid Thibodeau repeatedly inflicts upon him. One night the carpenter even attempts to murder his son, who then seeks refuge with the Fafard family.

References:

Wikipedia.com

Amazon.ca

Chapters.ca

Canlit.ca

Mdextras

2007-12-29