We discussed two books since there was quite a gap between this and our last discussion. Some read one and some read the other.
The group was definitely split re A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD. We concluded it was a generational book: the 20-40 age group and the 50 plus age group. (We weren’t going any higher than admitting to 50.)
VFTGS was the 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction. Not determined if it is a novel or collection of short stories. It is described as an inventive investigation of growing up and growing old in the digital age and the cultural change at warp speed. The book spans 40 years, mostly in NY, San Francisco, but also as far as Italy and Africa. We did pleasantly surprise ourselves by being able to answer a ten question quiz about the characters showing that we remember more than we think.
The 50s found the a-chronological sequence of stories difficult to navigate. The 20s to 40s weren’t as disturbed by this. We found the plethora of characters –13 — (not so like-able characters) too many to track, but Erin commented that in our fast-paced digital world, we are so multi-faceted and multi-tasked, again they move quickly from one thing to the next often randomly. We found the freely flung narrative difficult to piece together and found it challenging. The youngers felt the narrative was an exciting challenge and an innovative writing style. Tara commented that the author did bring us full circle, just not chronologically. This is what book club is all about, and we had a very good discussion.
Jennifer Egan’s novel/collection of short stories (undecided) deals with time. She quotes Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time, “we cannot capture the people we were in the past in the places where we were those people, but rather those people exist within always.” Gillian said we are who we are today because of our past, it stays a part of us and who we become. Tara enlightened us explaining that the author’s circuitous route did lead us to learn how the characters did redeem themselves in time. Aunt Moe, of course, had us in stitches with her email / twitter review of the book. So, you decide if you think A Visit from the Goon Squad is for you. We were a delightfully split crowd. (FYI: HBO is going to produce a movie of this book.)
THE YELLOW HOUSE by Patricia Falvey is a story of a young woman’s search for home. Her journey and struggles describe working in the linen mills, the beginning of Ireland’s political troubles spanning 20 years from the early 1900s to WW1. We found that you will not be far into the book before you can’t put it down. Falvey has a cunning approach to presenting opposing political interests in her debut novel. Those who read it, liked it, and we recommend reading. I have since read her second novel, The Linen Queen, and found I couldn’t put it down. The historical portion of this book balances the characters with real life events and figures. Caveat: after reading, you may develop a slight brogue you never thought you had and begin using words like “wee” and “grand” and drinking lots of tea. Falvey, born in Ireland, feels that no matter where you travel, Ireland will always be “home.”
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