Educated by Tara Westover - February 24th, 2020

Our February meeting was hosted by Janet.  Present were Beth, Betty, Colette, Janet, Marg, Michèle and Shirley. Janet had some excellent Canadian cheese,  sausage pastry rolls, vegetable pastry rolls and olives, wine and tea was served with a delicious dessert.

We discussed Betty's book choice Educated by Tara Westover.  This is a memoir of a young woman raised in Idaho in a survivalist family who shunned public schools, hospitals, doctors and anything governmental.  She was the youngest of 7 children and was partly home-schooled, learning to read from an older brother and then teaching herself, reading anything she could find.  The home environment was difficult and often violent.  Having managed to pass ACT exams, she was admitted to Bringham Young University left home and went on to complete a PhD.

In Educated Ms. Westover describes her family life detailing the abuse she endured from her older brother, the denial from her parents and her efforts to educate herself.  All thought the memoir was well written we all felt that it is not a pleasant read.  Besides her description of the land, there is little hope and light in her relay of family life.   It is a story of resilience and of conflict, of abusive ignorant parents who offered little or no support, love or affection.  She does sometimes question her recollection of events, comparing her memory to those of her siblings who are still talking to her.

There was some discussion of the similarities and differences with the novel we read in January Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens that for some of us did not seem based on reality. However, this memoir Educated has had some of use re-think our view of Delia Owens'  novel.  Some of us who read Jeannette Walls' memoir The Glass Castle see some similarities, parental neglect for example.

Ms Westover did a good job of moving forward in her story keeping the narrative a lot like a novel the place, the house, the community, very well written.  She describes how she kept going back, hoping to re-connect with family.  It shows how strong family ties can be no matter the circumstances.

Despite her difficult life and struggle to educate herself she has become a confident, bold assertive person. Her memoir essentially shows that she had to choose between her education and the life that it has opened up for her and her family.   Thank you Betty for suggesting this book that generated a good discussion.

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.

A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay - November 25th, 2019

Our November meeting was hosted by Beth. Present were Beth, Betty, Carla, Colette, Jane, Janet, Linda, Michèle and Shirley.  Beth had some very nice cheese, olives and a pâté.

This month we discussed Shirley's book A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay.  Mr. Kay is a Canadian author born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. He worked a year with Christopher Tolkien to help edit J.R.R. Tolkien's unpublished works.  He also worked as a writer for the CBC radio series The Scales of Justice.  His first book, The Summer Tree, was published in 1984. He is considered a fantasy fiction writer of novels that have a historical aspect.  They are usually in fictional settings  that resemble real places such as in China, Italy, Spain or Turkey taking place during real historical periods.

A Brightness Long Ago tells the story of a power struggle between mercenaries to take over the Court in fictional Batiara after the murder of its brutal ruler by a young strong woman, Adria.  The Beast as he is called, has young women brought to him that he rapes and kills.  Adria has decided to end his rule by posing as his next victim and kills him by poison from her lips.  The story is told by a merchant of the Court, Danio Cerra who helps Adria escape after she poisons the Beast and finds himself in the middle of the struggle to take over the Court.

For several of our members this was their first fantasy novel and many found it very interesting.  We all found the characters to be well developed and the writing lyrical and poetic at times.  There were several characters both major and minor, all well described and developed.  The only character some thought we did not get to know was the narrator Danio. Some thought there were too many descriptions of battles and the slaughter of people.  We also had a discussion about how and when the story should have ended, some of us thinking that the death of Adria should have been the end.  One of our members, who is an avid reader of Guy Gavriel Kay, felt that ending the story at that point would be too devastating and dramatic.  We agreed, whatever our opinions of the book, that Mr. Kay is an excellent storyteller.

As with many books where opinions differ, we had a great discussion.  Thank you Shirley for introducing us to this very interesting Canadian author.

Books and Meetings 2020

This list will be updated as members choose their books.

Monday January 27th - Carla's choice, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Marg hosting.

Monday February 24th -  Betty's choice, Educated by Tara Westover, Janet hosting.

Monday March 23rd - Janet's choice, Bush Runner: The Adventures of Pierre-Esprit Radisson by Mark Bourrie, Carla hosting.

Monday April 27th -  Marg's choice, And Then There Were Nuns by Jane Christmas, Jane hosting.

Monday May 25th -  Linda's choice, The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman, Shirley hosting.

Monday June 22nd - Beth's choice, The Rosie Result, by Graeme Simseon, Linda hosting.

Monday September 28th - Colette's choice, Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple,  Michèle hosting

Monday October 26th - Jane's choice,  Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice, Betty hosting

Monday November 23rd - Shirley's choice, The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish, Beth hosting.

Starlight by Richard Wagamese - October 28, 2019

Our October meeting was hosted by Shirley. Present were Betty, Colette, Jane, Janet, Linda, Marg, Michèle and of course, Shirley.  As usual we ate very well. Shirley presented us with a menu inspired by the three sisters of the Fall Harvest,  pickled green beans enrobed in prosciutto, a wonderful corn and cheese dip with corn chips, and for dessert, a pumpkin (squash) & carrot cake with a divine cream cheese icing!  Of course wine and tea were also served.

This month we discussed Jane's book choice Starlight by Richard Wagamese.  He was a Canadian Ojibwe author and journalist.  He wrote several novels and books that could be considered as memoirs or books reflecting on life.  His most noted novel is Indian Horse which was adapted to film.  Starlight was his last novel, a continuation of Medicine Walk that we read in 2014.  Richard Wagamese died in March 2017 before finishing Starlight. His literary agent and the publisher McLelland & Stewart, opted to publish with little editing and as is unfinished,  the story ends abruptly, letting the reader wondering what happened.

As Medicine Walk, everyone loved the book.  We found his writing poetic, descriptive and strangely calming and touching.  Many of us did not want the book to end, slowing our reading down so it would last longer.  A continuation of Medicine Walk, the old man has died and left his farm to the young boy he raised, Frank Starlight.  Frank has hired a man, Roth, to help on the farm and they become friends.  We meet Emmy and her daughter Winnie when Frank rescues them in town and brings them home to live with him.

Frank has become a well-known photographer. At the beginning of the book he describes Frank Starlight's night outing to photograph a pack of wolves.  His description of Frank running with the wolves leaves us breathless.

He ran easily. Like a wolf. He bent closer to the ground and loped, the slide of his feet skimming through the low-lying brush without a sound, and when he found the pace of the pack he angled off through the trees and took a parallel tack to them, keep them on his right and dodging the pine and spruce easily, his night eyes sharpened by use. He ran with them, the scuttling pace easy after the first three hundred yards. (page17)

The main characters, Frank himself who we knew from Medicine Walk, Emmy and Roth are well developed, we easily understand the relationship between them.  Cadotte, the man Emmy was running from gives us shivers, "He was a brute and he simmered in a palpable silence and stillness that could fill a room with its sweeping malevolence." (page 11)

None of us found the abrupt ending disappointing.  We could each of us, imagine how it ended and thinking back to Mr. Wagamese's other novels, it is likely that the story ended well.  We are all sad that no other novels will come from this wonderful storyteller and writer.

Macmillan Publishers embargo on eBooks

In response to recent coverage of Macmillan Publishers eBook embargo for libraries, it’s important to recognize the impact on libraries like ours, the Ottawa Public Library, which serves almost 238,000 active members in our community. 

Digital content is fast becoming the preferred - or only - access to books for many readers. A single copy of a new title in eBook format for a period of two months is not sufficient nor is it acceptable. In some instances, this embargo will force readers to wait a year or more to borrow an eBook.  

Readers and other Book Clubs are invited to join us in urging Macmillan to reverse their new policy by joining the #eBooksForAll campaign.  Visit ebooksforall.org to ensure access to information and content for all here in the Ottawa area.

Libraries bring together authors, publishers, teachers, and readers for the purpose of boosting knowledge, creativity, literacy, ideas, and imagination.  We need more people reading, not barriers that limit access. 

Muse & Views BookClub

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - September 23rd 2019

Our September meeting was hosted by Linda. We spent a wonderful half hour catching up on our activities over the summer. Present were Beth, Betty, Carla, Colette, Janet, Linda, Marg, Michèle and Shirley.  There was a nice variety of cheese, sausage and crackers along with of course, wine, coffee and tea and Linda had two types of cheesecake!

This month we discussed Colette's book choice, The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett, a classic detective mystery. Dashiell Hammett is often considered as the "dean" of hard-boiled detective fiction. He began writing when he worked for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.  He wrote not only novels, but also short stories and was a screenwriter.  He was a political activist and did prison time for refusing to name members of the communist party.

Most members enjoyed the book.  The Maltese Falcon was originally published as a serial in the magazine The Black Mask.  Sam Spade the main character and detective re-appeared in lesser known novels but became well known when the movie came out and Humphrey Bogart played Sam Spade. The style of the book read very much like a a script.  There is considerable description of the environment, what rooms look like, the style of a car, the clothes characters wore, how they held a cigarette, how they wore a hat.  There is very little about the thoughts or emotions of the characters themselves.

A couple of our members did not enjoy the book as much and though it was published in 1931, felt that women were type cast and not at all equal to the male characters.

Members however, appreciated reading a classic detective story giving us some context for more modern novels of the same nature.  

Requiem by Frances Itani - June 24th, 2019

The June meeting was hosted by Michèle.  Present were Beth, Betty, Colette, Jane, Janet, Linda, Shirley, Marg and Michèle.  Spicy cold cuts, cheese, a fig and walnut spread were served and Michèle made hot cross buns as was served at the family picnic in the novel.  Of course wine, coffee and tea were also offered.

We discussed Linda's book choice Requiem by Frances Itani.  Our meeting began with a FaceTime session with Ms. Itani who lives in Ottawa.  We had a wonderful discussion with her about the research she did for this book.  We were surprised to learn that she interviewed several Japanese Canadians who were forced to leave their homes and businesses on the British Columbia coast but she did not interview her husband's family.  Ms Itani does not allow anyone to read her books until they are sent to her editor.  Walking around her office with her computer she showed us the project boards of the two books that she is presently writing, not enough for us to see much about the books. She did tell us that one is an historical novel and the other is set in the present.  We are looking forward to reading her new books!

We asked why she had chosen Beethoven's music for the novel and she told us she had discussed it with her son who is a member of the Danish Symphony Orchestra.  Since the Japanese internment into camps was complete chaos, the loss of their homes and businesses, the lack of proper shelter in the camps, her son felt that Beethoven music was the best choice.

After our discussion with Ms Itani we shared our opinions of the novel Requiem.  It was well loved. Everyone enjoyed the book and as her other books that we have read, the writing is beautiful.  Itani's descriptions of the camps and how the people coped and survived is very visual. It is easy to imagine the shacks that they built, how they filled in the cracks, the gardens they created to help feed themselves and to give the community some revenue.  The community spirit that lived within the confines of the camp was palatable in her descriptions.

 The main character Bin Okuma is an artist with a love of classical music, especially Beethoven.  After the sudden death of his wife Lena, he decides to drive out to British Columbia to visit the site of the internment camp where he spent a part of his childhood and to visit "first father" with whom he has had little contact since his childhood in the camps.  As he drives, his thoughts go from his childhood in the camp and his life once they are freed with Okuma-san his second father and his adult life as an artist with Lena and their son Greg.  Even though the story alternates from the time period of the camps to the present, it is easy to follow.  The descriptions of the life in the camps are Bin's memories flooding back into his mind as he drives towards the site of the camps and the reunion with "first father".  It is a well crafted book, well worth the read.

Thank you Linda for this wonderful choice.