The Post Birthday World

A Book club with those of us without the time for meetings. Take our book suggestion of the month and comment to this blog if you feel like chiming in.

Now Reading: The Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver

"hinging on a single kiss this enchanting work of fiction depicts Irina's alternating futures with tow men temeramentally worlds apart yet equally honorable"

A Thousand Acres - August 2009

A book club for those of us without the time for meetings. Please take the suggestion of the month. Copies are available at the library or reserve yours today by clicking on the title below. Leave your comments about the book.

Now Reading: A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

Straight Man - July 2009

A book club for those of us without the time for meetings. Please take the suggestion of the month. Copies are available at the library or reserve yours today by clicking on the title below. Leave your comments about the book.



Now Reading: Straight Man by Robert Russo

Saint Maybe - June 2009

A book club for those of us without the time for meetings. Please take the suggestion of the month. Copies are available at the library or reserve yours today by clicking on the title below. Leave your comments about the book.

Now Reading: Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler

Palace of Illusions - May 2009

Finally a book club for those of without time to go to meetings. Take our suggestion for the month, read along. Post your comments to this blog.

Now Reading: Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Questions to ask while you read:

http://www.randomhouse.com/doubleday/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385515993&view=rg

The Alchemist's Daughter - April 2009

Now Reading: The Alchemist's Daughter by Katherine McMahon

Questions to Ask while you read: (from the publisher)

1. How do you feel about the way the novel and its characters deal with the issue of slavery? How does the situation of each character color his or her opinion of the slave trade? How do those opinions help define their characters? How would you describe Emilie ’s opinion of the slave trade? Does her point of view change during the course of the book?
2. At the time of their meeting and then marriage, how do you think Aislabie truly feels about Emilie? Is he in love? Does he have other motivations for wanting to marry her? How and why do these feelings change during the course of the book?
3. Why are the Gills so loyal to Selden, despite evidence that they have disagreed with their master and were, at the end of his life, blamed for Emilie ’s fall from grace?
4. Would you describe Emilie as a sentimental person? Considering the purely intellectual education she has received at her father’s hands, how do you make sense of the sentimental attachment she has toward her mother’s possessions?
5. Despite her intelligence, Emilie tends to miss or ignore many signs that point to Aislabie ’s true nature: his involvement in the slave trade; flaunting expensive new ornaments while claiming poverty; undermining his wife ’s wishes about the remodeling of Selden; refusing to consider the concerns of Selden’s tenants. Why do you think it takes infidelity on such a blatant scale for her to see him for what he is? Are there other signs she may have missed?
6. Do you think Emilie will be a better landlord than her father was? Why or why not?
7. Did Emilie fail her father’s parenting “experiment,” as she supposes when she reads his notebooks? What outcome do you think would have satisfied him? Were his hopes realistic? Were they fair?
8. After the discovery of her mother’s true identity, Emilie begins to regard men’s attentions to herself in a new way. What do you make of this change?
9. Do you think that Sarah and Emilie could ever have been friends? Is there any action Emilie could have taken early in her marriage to gain Sarah’s affection? What do you think their relationship might have been like if Emilie had invited Sarah to stay at Selden with her child?
10. Discuss the laboratory explosion. What do you think Emilie expected to happen? What did she hope to accomplish?

Land of Mango Sunsets - March 2009

A book club for those of us without the time to go to meetings. Take our book suggestion for the month and read along. Post your comments or answers to the question below.

Now Reading The Land of the Mango Sunsets by Dorothea Benton Frank Pick up your copy in front of the circulation desk.

Try out recipes from the area http://www.dotfrank.com/Whats_New.html

Questions to Ask while you read:

1. At the beginning of the novel, Miriam is desperate to be accepted among the society set and their opinions mean a great deal to her. Does she care too much about other people's judgments? How has this affected her life?
2. When Miriam needs solace she returns to Sullivans Island—the "land of mango sunsets". What does the place do for her? Do you have a healing retreat? What kind of a special place would you like to have if you don't?
3. The novel's heroine transforms herself from "Miriam Elizabeth Swanson" to "Mellie." How do these two personalities compare and contrast with one another? What do you like about them? Do you see yourself in either?
4. Weather and nature are an important backdrop in the novel. How do they reflect Miriam's transformation?
5. What is the relationship like between Miriam and her mother, Miss Josie? How are the women alike—and how are the different? How do parents impact their children's lives?
6. Friendship and family are the cornerstones of The Land of Mango Sunsets. What makes a good friend? What makes people "family"?
7. When Liz's relationship turns violent and she is terribly hurt, Miriam blames herself. Why does she feel responsible? Was she to blame?
8. Miriam did not know her mother was ill until very late. Why do you think Miss Josie and Harrison didn't tell her?
9. In the prologue, Miriam says "Recognizing yourself in my mistakes won't be pretty, but perhaps it will keep both of us from making the same mistakes again." Can we learn from others' mistakes or do we have to make our own to truly learn life's lessons?
10. Miriam also says "Things happen for a reason." Do you agree?
11. What role Miriam's fling with "Manny the Man" play in the novel? Though it didn't end quite how she expected, was it ultimately good for her?