June's club will be held chez MA on 4th June. We're reading "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer.
The key belonged to his father, he's sure of that. But which of New York's 162 million locks does it open? So begins a quest that takes Oskar - inventor, letter-writer and amateur detective - across New York's five boroughs and into the jumbled lives of friends, relatives and complete strangers. He gets heavy boots, he gives himself little bruises and he inches ever nearer to the heart of a family mystery that stretches back fifty years. But will it take him any closer to, or even further from, his lost father?
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- Thursday, May. 22, 2008 @ 19:07:15
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- Saturday, Jun. 07, 2008 @ 18:37:54
I believe we all felt the boy not to be a real person but a literary creation based on a.o. Oskar from Der Blechtrommel. Another comment most of us shared: all the graphics were irritating and did not add to the story, even distracted (Dresden bombing text corrections). Personally I found the story the grandfather told far more touching, emotionally true than any of the writing about 9/11. Would this have to do with time, the distance between the moment of the event and the moment of writing? Does such a drama have to be collectively digested? Interesting if so, as writing is such an individual thing.
Finally, the book was too much: too many weird characters, too many graphics, colours, stories, hard to follow dialogues: less is more (or the other way around). Promising writer though if he gets rid of these mannerisms.
MS -
- Sunday, Jul. 06, 2008 @ 14:40:48
Laurie Graham The Future Homemakers of America.
I quite enjoyed reading this but did get bored towards the end.
I liked the memories of that period in time at Drampton and of life as an airforce wife.I thought the lead character /narrator Peggy was a bit of a drip and why did'nt she get another fella!
I wondered if she was gay for a while with out her knowing what 'gay' was.
Thought it was well written and liked the hidden twist of parentage of Kirk till near the end .Although I think we all quessed at that quite early on.
Hope this does not upset Iga mentioning but this book was totally overshadowed for me by the next book on the list
Don't let's go to the Dogs to-night which I loved ,loved loved.
Happy reding
Val
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- Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 @ 10:54:03
hi Val
I just read Your comment re:,,the future home makers of America,,,well commented ,totaly agree with You,though it was not my choice ,it was Margaret,s!!!My book proposal was ,,don,t let,s go to the dogs tonight,,!!!!
thank You for the compliment,I loved the book too.
Looking at the book and the format and general design,I was not sure if I wanted to read it.But I did.Of course I did.
And of course I have no regrets.We will talk about the book at the meeting,but at the moment I wander...
Having had two boys myself and I thing they are rather smart,the book boy is miles ,miles,miles smarter.
Is it possible to be like that at the age of 9?