Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The World Below Review
During an early spring storm that brought lightning and icy streets, the book group members met in a cozy warm room to discuss The World Below. The novel, which felt like a collection of short stories or a "story-boarded" "potboiler" had illogical gaps for many of the group. Why, for example, didn't the mental illness of the woman who linked the two main characters--Georgia and Cath--play a more dominant role in the characters' narratives? After all such a devastating illness would have had a major impact on the mother and the daughter of the victim.
The sections of the book that took place in Georgia's life up to and including the T.B. sanatorium were the most popular. The theme--that there is a world below contained inside each of us resonated with one member--reading a book about an immigrant's life helped her uncover the world below her own mother's life. The strong bonds between grandparents and grandchildren in the novel, led to talk about grandparent-hood. Loosely remembered: It's like being in love! It's what makes growing old bearable.
Several members talked about leaving a diary or other writing behind for grandchildren so that they could know how we saw them...how we felt about them...how they changed our lives...
Not a must read for many...but a good discussion.
The sections of the book that took place in Georgia's life up to and including the T.B. sanatorium were the most popular. The theme--that there is a world below contained inside each of us resonated with one member--reading a book about an immigrant's life helped her uncover the world below her own mother's life. The strong bonds between grandparents and grandchildren in the novel, led to talk about grandparent-hood. Loosely remembered: It's like being in love! It's what makes growing old bearable.
Several members talked about leaving a diary or other writing behind for grandchildren so that they could know how we saw them...how we felt about them...how they changed our lives...
Not a must read for many...but a good discussion.
Friday, March 11, 2011
NPR Follows in Sixth Street Book Group's Tracks!
It seems that NPR has a book group...and the March book is Cutting for Stone!
How cool!
Click on this link to read discussion.
Submitted by Book Group member R.K.
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