July 20, 2005

Virtual Book Club Meeting #2

Welcome back to the Virtual Book Club! Have a seat in my spotless virtual living room and settle in for some thoughts on more books. If you missed our first meeting, please click here and see what you missed.

Does everyone have some munchies and a beverage? Good! Then we’re ready.

1. Enthusiastic Recommendation

Am I living in a cultural wasteland? Has no one discovered Never Let Me Go** by Kazuo Ishiguro?

I picked it up on the new releases shelf at the local library and finished it in two days. It was stunningly beautiful and I cannot figure out why it’s not on the “reserve” list with a long wait. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

**Important

I do NOT think you should click the link to the book– just go get it and read it. If you MUST click the link, read only the Amazon.com review, but STOP before you get to the Publisher’s Weekly review, because it will spoil everything for you.

This is the author who wrote The Remains of the Day. If you read it, please let me know what you thought!

2. Divided Thoughts on Bees

Even though I never mentioned The Secret Life of Bees during the last meeting, a number of readers wrote in to talk about it. Two readers loved it and four hated it with a passion. I am pretty neutral on the book myself.

3. Readers on My Wavelength

As I said at the first meeting, I have barely scraped the surface of my list of beloved books. However, a number of readers chimed in to recommend books that I really love, and I will list them here:

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, which tells the story of Jacob and his wives.

(I also loved a quick read: The Preservationist by David Maine, which fills in the details of Noah’s family as they build the ark and ride out the flood. It’s a kick to listen to his daughters-in-law question his sanity!)

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It took me a while to figure out how the book worked and to grasp the way the past, present and future were presented in the context of this love story. It is extremely hard to describe to other people. A local columnist here in town found the book creepy, because the main character meets her husband at different times in both their lives (she might be 6, while he is 36, for that moment at least) but I thought it was delightful. And if you did not understand the last sentence, well, that just illustrates my point that you have to read the book for yourself to understand it.

One reader mentioned several books that I love: Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner, anything by Anne Lamott ( I am partial to Operating Instructions, which I plugged at the last meeting, but I also enjoyed her latest, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith) and The Annunciation by Ellen Gilchrist. My sisters and I are all big fans of Ellen Gilchrist.

I must say that Crossing to Safety made me a little uneasy, however. I think I saw a little too much of myself in Charity when I read this in the mid-90’s. Maybe I should re-read it and see if I compare more favorably now.

Someone pointed out that Anna Quindlen is always good (she suggested Loud and Clear).

4. Historical and Historical-ish Books

I recently read the biography of Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson and found it very interesting. I am eying 1776 by David McCullough for my next foray into history. Anyone have an opinion on it?

As for historical-ish books, I am sure everyone has heard of the following books, but some are great and if you missed them, you should check them out:

The Josephine Bonaparte Collection: The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, and The Last Great Dance on Earth by Sandra Gulland (for an extra helping of history, when you finish them you can re-read Desiree by Annemarie Selinko and get the story from another point of view - just don’t confuse this Desiree (Josephine’s sister-in-law?) with Josephine’s Aunt Desiree who is a main character in the trilogy.

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

Lots of people liked The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, and I wanted to like it, because I am all about Elizabethan history. The story was good, but there was something the author kept having the characters say that got on my nerves so bad I could hardly make it through the book. I lent the book to my mom so I cannot remember what it was, which is just as well, because I would hate to spoil your enjoyment of the book by revealing what is probably a personal idiosyncrasy on my part.

5. Alienist Update

Bill did pack The Alienist and took it on our recent trip out west. This time he did not even open it. The streak is intact!

6. It’s Growing Late

Is that your husband calling again, asking when you are coming home? The meeting has run on a while, so I must politely collect your beer cans and wine glasses and usher you out of the house. I’ll save my other comments for the next meeting.

I hope Lewis Perdue will drop by again, this time to talk about his book Slatewiper. I did read it, at his suggestion, but I still enjoyed Daughter of God much more. This is a good book to take to the beach.

TTFN,

Anne Glamore, Virtual Book Club Queen

Posted by Anne Glamore @ 9:58 am • Book Reviews

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18 Responses to “Virtual Book Club Meeting #2”

July 20th, 2005 at 5:51 pm, Michelle Says:

Since you liked the Red Tent, I think you would also like Sarah : A Novel by Marek Halter and The Gilded Chamber by REBECCA KOHN. Sarah is based on the story of Abraham and Sarah and starts with Sarah as a teenager just as she’s meeting Abraham for the first time. The Gilded Ghamber is the based on the story of Queen Esther starting when she was first orphaned.
July 20th, 2005 at 9:55 pm, dollymama Says:

Thanks for more recommendations! I read The Kite Runner last week per your comments and am still digesting it. I’m not sure if I can say I “enjoyed” it since it is a rough story, but I couldn’t stay away from it for long and finished it within a few days while on a trip and extremely busy. Lots of good food for thought there. Thanks (I think) for telling us about it.

My book group will discuss Forrest Carter’s The Education of Little Tree in Sept. I read it awhile back and recall it as a great book that evoked the widest range of emotions of any book I have read. Great laughs, great sadness, great wisdom and love.
July 21st, 2005 at 6:44 am, Dances With Minivans Says:

I really enjoyed your book club update! I’ve always wanted to join a book club, by the ones my friends are in always read really depressing books (The Corrections for one…) Have you read the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series? I loved it.
July 21st, 2005 at 6:49 am, Laurie Says:

My mom and I have been devouring Janet Evanovich’s books about Stephanie Plum. They’re fictional and hilarious. Each book I’ve read in one night, relaxing in my tub, while my child is sleeping. What? Doesn’t every 20-month old go to sleep at 7:30 and sleep for 12 hours?

I also just finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Yes, I am a Harry Potter fanatic. I didn’t find it as good as Book 5, but still thoroughly enjoyed it.

I’m going to have to take down your recommendations and read, read, read! I’m just now finishing up The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H.W. Brands.

‘Til next time!
July 21st, 2005 at 8:22 pm, Sandra Miller Says:

Hello,

Saw your link over at Herman’s Head and thought I’d check it out…

A virtual book club, eh? Fantastic idea! I’ve had the same issues with the live variety that you describe here.

Anyhow, to chime in late– I LOVED The Remains of the Day. It is one of my favorite books (in fact, I refuse to see the movie because I’m afraid it will ruin the book for me!). It’s not a thick volume, but it is certainly a powerful one. Absolutely no filler.

Now, my husband picked up Never Let Me Go from the library about two months ago and just couldn’t get into it. However, after reading your comments here I think I need to check this one out for myself.

Well, I’ve got to go. The kids are up way too late, and I’m exhausted.

I look forward to the next meeting. I’ll bring the snacks!

Sandra
July 21st, 2005 at 9:30 pm, dollymama Says:

I wanted to mention that I started reading Outlander yesterday. Wasn’t it last time around that you mentioned it? So, anyhow, your influence goes far beyond your tiny kingdom after all!
July 22nd, 2005 at 3:35 pm, SMA Says:

D’ you remember what bothered you about the Other Boleyn Girl?
July 22nd, 2005 at 8:18 pm, pba Says:

Haven’t had much time to pleasure read as I am constantly reading and studying for school, however, I must recommend What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt. I picked it up based on a review in the New York Review of Books and loved it. It was heartbreaking and at times a challenging read but very worth it. Someday perhaps I will be able to read the other recs!

PS - My 8 year old son recommends Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo.
July 24th, 2005 at 4:58 am, MistressMary Says:

I read Remains of the Day about 10 years ago, and it is still on my list of Best Books I Ever Read. The narrator’s voice is so humble and plain, yet the story builds to such a climax — a moral realization that is truly moving.

I just finished The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Just go get it and read it. I will be reading it again.
July 25th, 2005 at 6:52 pm, JustAshley Says:

Two opposite ends of the spectrum, but both excellent books: “Middlesex” and “The Starter Wife”. The first is a Pulitzer Prize winner that is historical, informative, funny, sad, fascinating and disturbing. The second is just hilarious and reminds me of myself and my “girls night out” group of friends. Both are what I call “laundry” books - I carried them around the house and read them while attempting to fold clothes, cook dinner, etc.
July 26th, 2005 at 5:29 pm, dollymama Says:

I finished Overlander–could NOT put that baby down! Stayed up til 2am every night reading it, dreamt about it all night, started reading again when I woke up, and carried it around all day reading all I could. My house suffered, but I am still reeling from the story line and can’t wait to get my hands on the second in the series. THANKS for telling about it!
July 28th, 2005 at 12:55 pm, LewisPerdue Says:

I’d be delighted to discuss Slatewiper. Is there any particular part that you’d like to start with?
July 29th, 2005 at 5:41 am, MetroDad Says:

Just came over to visit from the comment you left on my site. I’m glad I did! Anyway, great post. I’m somewhat of a speed-reading insomniac and have been on a bit of tear the past few weeks. Here are some thoughts:

Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go”: Strange departure from his previous works but beautifully written. Pick any paragraph or sentenceout of the book and marvel at how well it’s crafted.

Ian McEwan’s “Saturday”: Brilliant. One of his finest. I liked it far better than “Atonement”

Haruki Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore”: Not as great as “Wind-up Bird Chronicles” but Murakami fans will not be disappointed.

Nick Hornby’s “A Long Way Down”: Very quick and light read. Feels like Hornby wrote it in about a week. Somewhat disappointing.

James Frey’s “My Friend Leonard”: Haunting yet beautiful memoir regarding a man’s friendship and savior.

Marilynne Robinson’s “Gilead”: Worth the 20-year wait. Beautiful novel.
August 3rd, 2005 at 10:49 pm, Susan from Montgomery (kingdom with less taxes--but still snobby, ha!) Says:

How could anyone hate The Secret Life of Bees? I don’t get it. Loved it.

I’m reading The Red Tent now. Like it so far. Just finished The Life of Pi, which I couldn’t put down. Has anyone read Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant? It is one of my old favorites. (Anne Tyler)
August 3rd, 2005 at 11:07 pm, Susan from Montgomery Says:

Oh, by the way, I love the virtual book club idea. I think you would like “Machine Dreams” if you didn’t read it in college. I’ll have to write to your “how’d I get here” section and fill you in on that when it isn’t so late… I’m good friends with a girl in your bible study.
August 8th, 2005 at 6:42 pm, LewisPerdue Says:

The Da Vinci Code Decision

Dan Brown won a round, but the case is far from over.

The headlines were wrong that the judge has cleared The Da Vinci Code of copyright infringement issues or that the issue has been settled.

Contrary to the headlines, Judge Daniels did not “acquit” Brown, but quite to the contrary, acknowledged that there were many similarities in the setting, plot and characters, in other words the key ideas making up my books. However, in one of those interesting quirks of law, he found that Brown’s expression of the ideas was different and, therefore, that in the legal meaning of the word he had not plagiarized. We believe the evidence the Judge improperly excluded from consideration proves that my expression was infringed upon, not merely my ideas.

There has been no trial on the issues. What occurred exploits a quirk in American copyright infringement law whereby all facts and expert witness testimony can be excluded from consideration. This quirk is the “lay reader” test which says that the judgement relies on the gut-level response of an average reader as to whether similarity exists or not.

Ironically, the controversy with Da Vinci Code began with average “lay” readers – strangers who sent me unsolicited emails saying they felt I had been plagiarized. While this is a self-selected population, those who feel I have been plagiarized run approximately 10-to-1 in my favor. This indicates there is a substantial legal question to be addressed.

But NONE of those true, average “lay” readers – many of whom were identified in our legal briefs –counted. Only one reader counted in this case: Judge George Daniels who obviously fell into that 1-in-10 category. Because of that, I did not get a trial. Justice demands that a jury hear the evidence.

The summary judgment process has an admirable goal: to keep frivolous lawsuits from clogging up the courts. However, as my legal team amply demonstrated with expert testimony and hundreds of solid examples of fact and similarity, this legal action is well-founded on fact, raises substantial unresolved issues and deserves a trial.

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has been clear on the following issues:

(1) Summary judgement should NOT be granted unless there is “no genuine issue of material fact.”

(2) The Court should, “resolve all ambiguities and draw all inferences in favor of the non-moving party.” I am the “non-moving party.”

(3) A motion of summary judgement should NOT be a decision on whether copyright infringement has taken place. “Clearly, the duty of a court on a motion for summary judgment is to determine whether there are any genuine issues of material fact to be resolved by trial and not to decide factual issues.”

(More details about this as well as the case citation can be accessed at: http://davincicrock.blogspot.com/2005/05/2nd-circuit-appeals-court-decision.html

Thus, I believe Judge Daniels erred in his decision. In addition, item (3), above, makes it clear that the Judge’s decision should not be considered a decision on the merits of whether copyright infringement has taken place.

Furthermore, I have never claimed to have copyrighted a notion, a fact, a plot, a bit of history, an idea or any other nonsense.

This quote from the judge’s decision is totally false:

“Perdue alleged that Brown copied the basic premise of Daughter of
God, including notions that history is controlled by victors, not
losers, and the importance of the Roman Emperor Constantine in
requiring a transition from a female- to a male-dominated religion.”

Just totally incorrect. Take a look for yourself at the original legal papers (including the expert witness reports) filed with the court, at: http://www.davincilegacy.com/Infringement/ and you’ll see that “expression” is what was infringed and what this suit is about.
January 14th, 2007 at 6:05 pm, My Tiny Kingdom » Virtual Book Club Meeting #3 Says:

[...] First, a little feedback. You will recall that last month I oohed and aahed over Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. The Voice of Reason took it on our beach trip and was underwhelmed. I’m not sure she gave it the full attention it deserved, as she was also knitting a fuzzy purple poncho for her youngest daughter and worrying about my tooth fairy ineptitude. Fortunately, I found a fellow book lover in MetroDad, who wrote: “Strange departure from his previous works but beautifully written. Pick any paragraph or sentence out of the book and marvel at how well it’s crafted.” [...]
January 17th, 2007 at 5:53 pm, My Tiny Kingdom » Virtual Book Club #5 Says:

[...] In reading the Top Ten lists, I noticed that two other books I read this year got good reviews: Saturday and Never Let Me Go. I read the former at MetroDad’s suggestion, but I did not enjoy it as much as I enjoyed McEwan’s previous book, Atonement. I loved Never Let Me Go, which I reviewed in Virtual Book Club #2 if you want to check it out. [...]