Meeting of May 30th 2011

Our host this month was Jolene. Present were Beth, Betty, Carla, Colette, Jane, Janet, Jolene, Linda, Michèle and Shirley. All were present!  Jolene prepared a very nice ham and cheese roll and other great hors d'oeuvres.  We also had a very nice strawberry and whipped cream cake.

The book choice was Jolene's The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.  Ms. Morton is Australian and studied both in England and Australia.  The Forgotten Garden is her second book of three that have been published.  The story is situated in Australia and England and has three main characters in three different time periods.  Ms. Morton drew from parts of her own life in writing this book.  Her grandmother found out at age 21 that she was adopted and kept it to herself until she was an old woman.  Her home in Brisbane is very much like Nell's home, close to Antique shops and tucked into the Paddington hillside. And she heard many stories of family members immigrating to Australia from Europe.

The majority of members very much enjoyed the book, found the characters well developed and were captivated by the story.  Even though the story is situated in three different time periods most found it easy to follow.  All found the fairytales that were inserted into the story, written by The Authoress added another element to the book.  Several members mentioned the connections to Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca and  some to the scenes portrayed by Dickens such as how Eliza was treated by Mrs Swindell, Sammy's death on the streets of London and Eliza's tragic death.

There were some interesting themes, for example a lot about motherhood, the need and desperation to become a mother as Rose felt, surrogate motherhood, the relationships between mothers and daughters, Nell and her daughter Leslie, Nell and her granddaughter Cassandra, Rose and her mother and Eliza's desperate and tragic attempt to take back her daughter after Rose's and Nathaniel's deaths.  

Many of us enjoyed the book and felt it was romantic in its depiction of scenery and characters, especially in England, Cliff Cottage, the walled garden, Nathaniel's drawings that illustrated Eliza's fairytales.  There was a magical environment to the stories and characters, Eliza so tragic, Linus, evil and creepy, Rose, manipulative,  Lady Adeline, uptight and mean.

There was some discussion on our need to know our complete identity and where we come from and how that influenced Nell's whole life and her relationships with her sisters, her daughter and her granddaughter.

Thanks to Jolene for this book, we hope that she may come to enjoy it as much at some point in time

Meeting of April 18th, 2011

Our host this month was Jane at Colette's home.  Present were Beth, Carla, Colette, Jane, Janet, Jolene, Michèle and Shirley. Jane prepared a great snack for us, some wonderful cheese and pork balls with sauces.

The book choice was Janet's In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje.   Mr. Ondaatje is a Canadian citizen born in Sri Lanka.  He arrived as a young man and completed his studies at Bishop's University, University of Toronto and Queen's University.  He has taught at several Canadian universities. He has been awarded 5 Governor General's awards, the Giller prize, the Man Booker prize and France's most prestigious award, the Prix Médicis.

This story is situated in Toronto and some parts of rural Ontario  in the 1930's in settings that are very familiar to people who have lived in Toronto and those who know the Muskoka region well.  This was a part of the novel that many of our members enjoyed because they could visualize the scenes quite easily.  It is a book written of a time when Worker's Unions were beginning to take shape everywhere across the world.  It describes a more seedy and violent side of trade unionists than what we may have witness in our time.

Most members felt that it was certainly not an uplifting story.  However, some felt it reaches through you when you are in pain, and that it takes a particular  frame of mind to enjoy the book and get the most out of the novel.  It is a story of people who living dreadful lives that make them react to events in their life in sometimes inappropriate ways for society.  None of Ondaatje's characters are particularly sympathetic. He  is very descriptive in setting scenes, almost like a script for a play.

Two of the characters in this book come back in Ondaatje's The English Patient, Carravagio and Hana.

Meeting of March 28, 2011

Our host this month was Carla and the book choice was Colette's Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson.  Betty, Carla, Colette, Jane, Jolene and Michèle were present. Carla had prepared a proper English tea for us,  fancy sandwiches, cucumber, radishes, cream cheese and tuna, without crusts and cut round and triangles, wonderful sandwiches and scones with clotted cream and jam. Of course we were also served a proper tea in a proper china tea set.

Before we begin discussion about this month's book, Jolene has a suggestion about the May book The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.  It is a voluminous book with many characters.  For those who will not be reading it in one or two long sittings, she suggests that you keep a record of the characters and their relationships.  This will help in remembering what has previously happened in the story.

Colette gave us some information about the author Bill Bryson.  He is an American writer who lived in Great Britain for several years.  He has written several travelogues such as this month's book, A Walk in the Woods and Down Under and books about science such as A Short History of Nearly Everything.   He is presently living in Great Britain.

We all found some parts of the book amusing, some of us more than others.  There is a theme of love of the country and its people throughout the book that is obvious.  His powers of observation are excellent that lead him to describe many anecdotes with detail that may seem trivial but end up by becoming important in the story. He describes his encounters in scottish pubs that reminded some of us of similar encounters with people in Scotland, an accent and expressions so particular to the Scots that it was very difficult to follow any conversation or answer their questions!  He comments that the British would make good communists, not because they would want other than a democracy but rather that they tend to accept what cannot be changed, what they have no choice but to endure without protest such as line-ups for the train or traffic on the highways.

In general most enjoyed the book and its anecdotes that made them laugh.

Meeting of February 28, 2011

Our host was Betty and this month's book was Michèle's choice, Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.  All members were present including Linda via Skype.  Betty provided lovely hors d'oeuvres mini egg rolls and mini spanakopitas.  We were also treated to a lovely cake with strawberries and blueberries.

Half of a Yellow Sun is a story of several persons of the christian Igbo group in Nigeria, a young servant boy named Ugwu, Odenigbo a mathematics professor, twin sisters Olanna who lives with Odenigbo and Kainene and her white lover Richard.  There are also many other characters in the tale. Their stories become intertwined as the civil war evolves.

Many members found the story a difficult read, and some felt a sense of dread as they read it. As the story progresses we find out more and more about the cruelty and conflict that caused death and famine.  Several members pointed out the difference between the Igbo people represented by the young servant boy Ugwu and the "elite" represented by Odenigbo and his university friends.   The contrast is very evident and the naivety of the educated stands out in the discussions about independence in Odenigbo's dinner parties with friends, and the reality of civil war as it takes its toll .

We discussed how Ms. Adichie is good at describing the atmosphere and the importance of food whether it is in Odenigbo's home and his dinner parties or in Ugwu's mother's home in his home village.  We noted the importance that food has in the story from the abundance available before the war began to the famine the lack of food created.  She created in both circumstances a sense of place and what life was about in both worlds.

We also discussed Kainene and Richard's relationship and all felt that Richard was a weak man.  There was consensus that Kainene was a strong woman who had chosen a weak man.  We also discussed why Richard was in Nigeria, why had he moved there and many felt that we don't find out much about his political views or thoughts.

 Despite the difficult background of the Nigerian civil war members  enjoyed the book and as with several books this year, the historical side of the story was much appreciated. In North America, we knew this war as the Biafran war and it was associated to famine.  This book has given us the chance to learn more about the conflict and its impact on Africa.

Those who would like to read more from Ms. Adichie, can read her first novel, Purple Hibiscus or her book of short stories, The Thing Around Your Neck. 

Meeting of January 24, 2011

The Muse and Views Book Club met at Michèle home to discuss Betty's choice Where the River Ends by Charles Martin.  Present were Betty, Carla, Jane, Janet, Jolene, Michèle & Shirley.  Feeling nostalgic, Michèle made her mother's recipe for a dip with vegetables among other hors d'oeuvres and her mother's recipe for Tarte Fleur de Lys.

Before beginning the discussion on this month's book, the "Academy Award" of 2010 was announced.  Each member had the opportunity to vote.  The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill recommended by Shirley received 5 of the 10 votes. The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown recommended by our newest member Jane, came in second with 3 votes.  Congratulations Shirley!

Charles Martin is an American author who lives in Florida.  He has several degrees including a Ph.D. in communications.  He has written 7 novels; Where the River Ends is his 6th book.  He was inspired to write the book when he met the parents of a young woman whose husband served her with divorce papers in the hospital.  As he paddled down St. Mary's River in his kayak, the story of Abbie and Doss developed in his mind, thinking about the spouse who stays through the journey while his wife slowly dies.

Generally everyone enjoyed the book except for one person who found the story too incredulous to be believable.  Most of us have known someone who has died or is living with cancer and in many ways the story touched us as we thought of the persons we knew.

Many saw a correlation between the journey down the St. Mary's River and the journey cancer victims take through the many treatments as they strive to beat the disease.  As Abbie began treatments, she lost her breast, her hair because of the chemo.  She lost all her physical beauty, all hope of a cure or treatment that would allow her to survive and she is left with only the will to continue.  At the beginning of their voyage down the river they are robbed of everything they brought with them except for one canoe, a paddle and Abbie's medication, the bare minimum needed to continue the journey. Only their will to finish the journey survives. Several of us, however, grew tired of the river descriptions and some skimmed the descriptions of the river banks, the bends in the river and the vegetation.  Many of us liked the end of the book and the connection Doss finally achieved with his father-in-law.

The discussion turned to coping with illness and how hope is necessary to have the will to continue when faced with an illness such as cancer.  Several of us relayed experiences we had witnessed.  It was for several of us, the opportunity to share.  Thank you Betty for a good choice.

Those who chose not to read the book because you knew you would not attend this meeting might want to pick up the book.

Meeting of November 22, 2010

The Muse and Views Bookclub met at Beth's home to discuss Linda's choice Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. Present were Beth, Betty, Carla, Colette, Janet, Jolene, Linda, Michèle and Shirley.  Beth had some delicious cheeses and in honour of France,  "deux petits gateaux".  Thank you Beth.

The novel tells the story of a young girl, Sarah and her family who are caught in the roundup of Jews in Paris in July 1942 into a Vélodrome and then to camps outside of Paris.  The second story of the novel is about an American journalist, Julia who researches the roundup of Jews and discovers a connection to her husband's family.

There was consensus about the worth of this novel, all enjoyed the book and this has not been the case in the books read this year.  Several of us found it very compelling and read it in one sitting. We all felt that despite the tragedy that is exposed in this story, the book is well written and was easy to read.  The flow between the past and the present is well done and many felt that the author timed the change from the Sarah's story during World War II and Julia's story in the present to be excellent.

Another consensus was that a novel that reveals a historical event that none of us had read or heard of previously adds to our knowledge and many enjoyed the book because of this. A Case Study about the Vélodrome d'hiver Round-up on "The Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence" reveals the horror of this event and shows that Ms. De Rosnay's account is quite accurate.  Many were surprised by the active participation of the French government and police in the horrendous activities of the Nazis.

We all felt that the characters were well developed, we could visualize them, even those that did not come up often in the story such as Julia's sisters-in-law.  Michèle even described an image of Bertrand, Julia's french husband, head held high, white scarf draped around his shoulders, hair a bit long with a lock of hair on his forehead, charismatic but also haughty.

The only negative comments about the novel is that many of us felt that some incidences were too contrived, coincidences too frequent and unnatural.  For example, her abortion was schedule on the anniversary of the Vel'hiv roundup, July 16th. Some of us felt that the ending when she meets with Sarah's son, George in New York and the obvious attraction was too much of a coincidence that they would both find themselves in New York, both divorced.

This was one of several novels we have read in the past two years that take place during World War II, Suite française,  Those Who Save Us, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and La's Orchestra Saves the World.  

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, 2010

Our Muse & Views Book Club met at Shirley's home to discuss Jane's choice The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown. Present were, Betty, Colette, Jane, Jolene, Linda, Michèle and Shirley of course. Shirley had spent the day cooking and we had some wonderful hors d'oeuvres, Jamaican patties, a great dip with veggies and a lovely pumpkin cake.

Ian Brown is a Canadian journalist who works for the Globe & Mail. This book is a recount of his struggle in searching for the best possible life for his severely disabled boy Walker. It is also a journey through the evolving genetic research going on in many labs across North America that Mr. Brown takes us through as he strives to learn as much as possible about this rare disease that Walker has, called cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (CFC). He won for this book, the B.C. National Award for Canadian non-fiction, the Charles Taylor Prize and the Trillium Book Award in 2009. Jane said that she hesitated before recommending this book but felt that the book was so well written and had touched her so much she wanted to share it.

All members present felt the book was certainly worth reading but some had difficulty getting through it because it was for them, so very emotional. One member commented that Mr. Brown is heart wrenchingly honest and compassionate in his description of his son Walker. The love he feels for his son is indisputable and present on every page of the book. He is also not afraid to show frustration and anger in dealing with the health system and the provincial welfare system. Though there is no description of impatient tirades with doctors or government administrators, it is easy to understand, by his description of waits in hospitals to see specialists for example, that he is a tad cynical.

We had a discussion about how society treats those who are disabled, the need to integrate them and accept them as they are and for who they are. The teachers in our group talked about integration in the classroom and how other children come to accept them and include them in activities much more easily than we do as adults. However, all agreed that not all disabled children can integrate into the educational system as it exists with its limited resources.

All said that the book was uplifting even though the despair he sometimes felt at night for example came out in his description of events. This book describes almost uniquely, Mr. Brown's experience, emotions and journey he has had with his son. There is very little about Ms. Johanna Schneller's experience, his wife and Walker's mother. It is however, very evident that both love their son unconditionally but experience the journey with Walker very differently.

Mr. Brown wrote several chapters about his visits in France to meet Jean Vanier the founder of l'Arche, an international organization that supports intellectually disabled adults. A exchange by correspondence between Mr. Brown and Jean Vanier, published in the Globe and Mail is very much worth reading.

Many of us thanked Jane for recommending "The Boy in the Moon". It was a book for some, difficult to read but very much worthwhile that made us think seriously about how society treats the disabled. Ian Brown referred to Robert Latimer who asphyxiated his severely disabled daughter in 1993. "The big remaining question for me is, why isn't our province on trial? ..... That family wasn't getting the support they needed...." Isn't that true across the country, the disabled are often an afterthought.