BENEFITS OF JOINING A BOOK CLUB

I was just checking to see how long we have been writing this blog, and it's already been 5 years! Not too shabby :)

How are you enjoying the book club experience this year? I love the format we are following, discussing the book half-way through and then meeting again once we finish the novel. Thanks for proposing the idea, I think it is enriching and it adds more to the reading experience. It's hard to stop at a certain point, but it builds suspense too, it helps create some expectations, and it keeps us guessing! I think it has definitely been an improvement.

I have been thinking and reading some articles about the benefits of joining a book club, like this one or this other one. I am going to write the ones I share and some of my own:

1. The people factor. Some of you are regulars of our book club, and I love that. We have moved from a teacher gathering with students to discuss a book to a group of friends exchanging impressions about a text. Love that dimension!

2. An enriched reading experience. It seems you always notice some details that have escaped me, some lines, some aspect of the character, or a different interpretation of some aspects of the plot.

3. A wonderful linguistic workout. I can't but feel proud of all the processes that come together each time you express your opinion, summarize an extract or judge a character. And it fills me with joy to see your fluency, the variety of structures and vocabulary you have, and how you seem to enjoy the reading experience more and more without being so concerned about understanding every single word.

4. A path intersecting with so many others. I am thinking of the connections books have led us to make: with other books, movies, songs, personal experiences. 

5. It has forced me to read slowly. Let me bring in this quotation by Sir Francis Bacon, which I love: "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention". It felt like lately I was kind of gulping down books. I got so excited I tended to read in bouts until I finished it! Book club has forced me to take it slowly, to "taste" and "digest" again.

6. Let's not forget the sheer enjoyment and the nerdiness of just being able to get together with a group to discuss books, drink tea and eat cake. Love Tuesdays at 8pm in Room 101! :) 

What about you all? What have the benefits of our book club been for you? Feel free to comment!

Finally, what do you think of the idea of having a rotating roster of leaders in our book club, maybe next year?

SCOUT AS AN ADULT. Harper Lee to publish new book, Go Set a Watchman

Last year we read the novel To Kill a Mockingbird in our book club and I think most of you liked it, so what do you think of this piece of news? Apparently Harper Lee wrote this novel before To Kill a Mockingbird, but it is set 20 years later, when Scout is already an adult.

Penguin Random House said that the new novel sees Scout “forced to grapple with issues both personal and political as she tries to understand both her father’s attitude toward society, and her own feelings about the place where she was born and spent her childhood”.

It will definitely be in my reading list!

THE HUNDRED "FOOD" JOURNEY

So, this is the first book we are reading for book club this year, and ain't it interesting? The first part of the book takes us to India. You can feel the pungent smells, the spicy scent of cinammon, curry and cardamom...

The expeditions to the markets with Hassan's mom and dad (and how different those trips are). I thoroughly enjoyed this first part, and it is also a fast historical overview of the British Empire losing grip of India.

I must say this first part made me think of a Hindi movie I watched some time ago, The Lunchbox, mostly at the beginning when they talk about the dabbawala business. The Lunchbox is an epistolary romantic movie, but I think it also taps into many different issues in Indian society, such as loneliness, unhappy marriages or women's emancipation.

I have only just started the second part, which moves to London.

I am actually quite enjoying the book, especially the graphic images Morais uses, like the one about the octopus which appears at the beginning of the second part. You'll know what I'm talking about when you get to it :) or if you have already read it, I am sure it's made an impression on you too.

I certainly hope you book clubbers are also having a good time whilst reading the book. In Ribeira we will be meeting on DECEMBER 9th to discuss just half of the book so that will certainly be exciting. Can't wait!

UPCOMING MEETING: 2014 Food Book Club starting!

Can't wait to start this year's book club! Remember to vote for your favorite books on the right after you've read the info on the previous post.

Our first meetings will take place in Ordes 29th October and in Ribeira November 4th (THIS DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED, REMEMBER!) both days at 8pm. Looking forward to seeing you!

To Kill a Mockingbird and Censorship

Remember we were talking about this book being censored in some states? Here's a website with some details on the subject.

Even though it has been deemed classic literature, “To Kill a Mockingbird” still finds itself on the banned books list. The racial content, profanity, and references to rape have caused many to challenge the book and have the novel removed from school libraries and classrooms.

Throughout the novel, vulgar language is used causing many to disagree with the use of “To Kill a Mockingbird” in classrooms. Words such as “damn” and “nigger” are used over and over which many find offensive. The fact that the young children characters are the one’s using this profanity causes many to question the novel and don’t want their children using that type of language because children in the book do.

Race is a constant theme in “To Kill a Mockingbird” which parents find as an excellent example to challenge the book. The Tom Robinson rape case shows that even though he is innocent, he is convicted because of his race. It’s stated several times throughout the book a black person will always be convicted if it’s a white person accusing them. Colored women are depicted as the “help” because they cook, clean, and take care of children for the white families. Racial slurs such as “nigger lover” are used which many find offensive and promotes racism and inequality of the races. This term is a main reason for challenging and banning “To Kill a Mockingbird”.

While Lee presents the idea and concept of rape in a mature way, many find the discussion of rape inappropriate for their children to read. The entire second half of the book is dedicated to telling the story of Tom Robinsons’ rape case and the trial which most find unsuitable and use against schools to ban the book.

I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE...

I am thrilled that this is the first book we are going to read!

 The three of us, Ana, Paul and myself, hope you ENJOY reading it and that it makes you think about a lot of different issues. 

To whet your appetite, here is a series of links related to the book:

A podcast where Lionel Shriver discusses some aspects of the book and its story.

An article where Lionel Shriver (she's actually a woman, I was surprised!) discusses the difficulties she faced to get her book published.

A review. And here's the way it opens (which I love and it also provides a fair warning!): 

"If you are already a parent, this book will make you count your blessings but if you have yet to become one, beware…this book will scare the hell out of you and could quite possibly reduce your egg/sperm supply just by reading it"

BOOK CLUB 2012-13

We are looking forward to starting book club with you again. We can't wait to hear all about your summer readings, your wishes for our book club this year, proposals for this year's readings... Keep your eyes open, we'll be posting info shortly about meeting days and times!