First rule of Book club. Don't talk about book club... well you can talk until you are blue in the face about the book and it is actually highly encouraged to do so, technically that is the actual point of book club; but I cannot tell you about what is actually discussed in detail about the book aka side travels from the questions. All I can say is 'Old Lady' took us on a little time trip.
This evening we had a great location, good food and as always great company. This month we read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. As we mature in our book club routine, I love that we are not just not looking at the book at face value. We have begun to take a deeper look at the book, the story, the writing technique, and the author.
This was Kathryn's first novel. We learned that she received 45 rejection letters for this book prior to it being published. We asked ourselves how this could be, this book is now a national best seller, bet those guys are kicking themselves in the arse now. I think it adds a whole different perspective on the book as a work of art when you learn about the author and the back story to the book. I myself don't want to know too much about the author until the end of the book, I think it would give you a different view of the book if you know too much ahead of time.
The Help is set in 1960's Mississippi..
Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.
Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.
Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town...I gave this book a 4 and the discussion 4. As we progress it's getting harder and harder to rate books. We are being much more critical.. and snooty as you'll read later.
We had a bit of house-keeping (no pun) to do tonight. Our 1st year anniversary is fast approaching and we are trying to decide if we want to do something special to celebrate. Several ideas have been brought up, but this topic has currently been tabled, it's too much to think about November being here. We also discussed a guest policy, that was quickly shot down. The Page Turner Society is also getting snooty (but in the we are way cool kind of way) we updated the by-laws and according to section III paragraph B, line 4 of the update, no new members will be admitted at this time. Sorry to anyone who has the dreams of becoming a Page Turner.
As always you are encouraged to read along with us, comment, blog along, facebook, twitter or craigslist your thoughts, you just won't be able to experience the magic that is book club night and learn the deep dirty secrets.
Next month we are in for a special treat, its a two-for night for our members. Our book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is being made into a movie and we will be discussing the book AND the movie!
Another HUGE announcement... 'Old Lady' has announced our September read and.. drum roll please.... What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love by Carole Radziwill. Also, 'The Page Turner' has in her possession Twilight, will she read and get hooked and going on a vampire love triangle binge (don't hold your breath) but stay tuned to see.
Head on over to "The Page Turner Society" for additional discussion on tonight's read... Happy Reading!
[a note I had this whole thing done once and lost it, cursing and almost tears. The first one I had was awesome, hope this'll do]
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