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Room: A novel by Emma Donoghue
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The Help by Kathryn Stockett
"Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."
Questions courtesy of my favorite talk show host- Oprah!
- How much of a person's character would you say is shaped by the times in which they live?
I think that character is made up from many different facets. The time in which you live is certainly a piece of the puzzle; however, so is your family dynamic, setting, and relationships. The time in which you live may make up a pretty large part of your puzzle, though. Growing up in a time of such racism and hate in a city that was so accepting and welcoming of these traits, it would not have been easy to turn your back on what the majority of the people around you believed. I was told by my commencement speaker at my college graduation that I am a digital native. I wonder how much of the times in which I have lived have given way to my character. When you think about that term "digital native," you may think he meant that I can work an iPod or find a new love interest on Match.com, or type 77 WPM. I am realizing now this is not what the man meant... He meant that I am a product of the time in which I live. I communicate with the greatest number of people possible by sharing my thoughts, feelings, beliefs on a blog for all the world to see. I keep up with old friends and family members and watch babies grow on Facebook. I talk to my mother who is half a world away every day from the little video camera on the top of my screen. With the internet the world is always at your finger tips. You can learn anything, find anything, talk to anybody, raise money, do a job... All of these things have shaped my character. I am lucky to have grown up when I did. There were few times when I had to question a person's morals and opinions of people of another race or religion. There have been even fewer times that I felt compelled to speak out because that person's opinion was harmful to another race. - Do you think that had Aibileen stayed working for Miss Elizabeth, that Mae Mobley would have grown up to be racist like her mother? Do you think racism is inherent, or taught?
If Aibileen had stayed with Mae Mobley, I believe she would not have grown up racist like her mother. Aibileen admitted to taking a different stand when "raising" Mae Mobley. She told her regularly how special she was and she told Mae Mobley secret stories about Martian Luther King and Rosa Parks and the Woolworf's counter. She taught Mae Mobley that racism was wrong which was something she did not directly teach the other children she had raised. I think racism is definitely taught. Children with racist parents are more likely to become racist, but that is not because it is inherited, it is because those parents teach their children negativity towards other races. - What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one hand she is terribly cruel to Aibileen and her own help, as well as to Skeeter once she realizes that she can't control her. Yet she's a wonderful mother. Do you think that one can be a good mother but, at the same time, a deeply flawed person?
I think Hilly craves control and always demands to be the center of attention. From the bits and pieces you learn about her mother, it does not make much sense why Hilly is the way she is. Mrs. Walters does not seem as controlling and mean as Hilly. It was shocking to me how good of a mother Hilly was. There were several times in the story when I felt I actually liked Hilly. Many of these times were when Skeeter was talking because she mentioned how good of a friend she had been. Also because Hilly was very good to Skeeter until she realized Skeeter was not on the same page in life as she was. When Aibileen talked about Hilly's parenting it was even clearer that she was a wonderful mother. She spoke so lovingly of her children and even though she was not happy about not always having a maid around, she never seemed to complain about having to put up with her own kids. I do think someone can be a good mother but still a flawed person. I think if there is enough love in one's heart they can be anything good. That does not mean they are no longer flawed. - Like Hilly, Skeeter's mother is a prime example of someone deeply flawed yet somewhat sympathetic. She seems to care for Skeeter—and she also seems to have very real feelings for Constantine. Yet the ultimatum she gives to Constantine is untenable; and most of her interaction with Skeeter is critical. Do you think Skeeter's mother is a sympathetic or unsympathetic character? Why?
Skeeter's mother was really a tricky one. She really seems to have had a love for Constantine. And in the end, Constantine was never the problem for Mrs. Phelan. The problem was that she was disrespected in her own home. Skeeter's mother did not even really seem deeply flawed to me at all. She was very sure of herself and strong willed. She wanted the best for her children and worried about them frequently just as any mother would. She was very in love with her husband. She spent time getting to know the workers in her house. She had cancer but still never let herself become a burden. I believe she was sympathetic. Had she known what Skeeter had been doing, I believe she would have accepted it. She would not have appreciated the whole town knowing about it, but she would not have disowned Skeeter. - What did you think about Minny's pie for Miss Hilly? Would you have gone as far as Minny did for revenge?
When I read this part of the story I was literally laughing out loud. There were tears in my eyes. I reread the sentence, "I told her to eat shit," probably ten times. I knew exactly what had happened once I read that line. She had already talked about how she would not make a chocolate pie for Miss Celia. The best part of this is that Hilly's mother entered Hilly into the auction for Minny's famous pie. The fact that her own mother thought it was hilarious was hysterical! I would certainly never go this far for revenge... but I would certainly think about it!
I will be interested in hearing your responses! Please post below in the comment section!
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Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
"Dear God. Not only am I unemployed and homeless, but I also have a pregnant woman, bereaved dog, elephant, and eleven horses to take care of."
It only took one day for me to breeze through this heart-pounding, fast-paced, gem of a novel. I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to click over to the next page. The character development was so innate that I felt I was the 93-year-old crotchety man who had lived a life of wonderment, pain, and excitement. I want to dive feet first into my review of this book but first I will post some questions that were in the back of the novel listed for book group discussions. And hey? I think that's kind of what I want to have going here... A book group discussion. So, if you have read or are currently reading Water for Elephants please feel free to comment below! I would love to know your outlook on the story line.
- To what extent do the chapters concerning elderly Jacob enhance the chapters recounting the young Jacob's experience with the Benzini Brothers Circus? In what ways do the chapters about young Jacob contribute to a deeper understanding of the elderly Jacob's life?
I was actually surprised by how often elderly Jacob was in the novel. Because I had already seen the movie, I was not expecting to see so much of elderly Jacob. He had me laughing out loud by his shrewd remarks and callous outlook on his new world. I think old Jacob enhanced the chapters about young Jacob because it showed me that although Jacob did not always fight back, he was certainly still strong-willed and courageous. I kind of found young Jacob to be a bit hopeless and defenseless in the beginning. I believe that came with the fact that he was brought up decently and attended ivy league college. It was nice to hear old Jacob's mannerisms because it gave young Jacob a bit more gusto for me. Young Jacob's chapters contributed a deeper understanding of old Jacob because they let me see all of the pieces of the man's life fit together. He started off as this clean cut, virgin, college boy and ended up an old man fantasizing about women and picking fights in the cafeteria with a man in a wheelchair. Young Jacob showed me exactly why old Jacob had become this person. He started off as someone who accepted the way he was treated and did not disregard it but after his time with Benzini Brothers he realized he had to defend himself against all odds.
- In connection with Jacob's formal dinner with August and Marlena in the stateroom, Jacob remarks, "August is gracious, charming, and mischievous." To what extent is this an adequate characterization of August? How would you expand upon Jacob's observation? How would you characterize August? Which situations in the novel reveal his true character?
I believe this was an adequate characterization of August. When August was behaving as a civilized human being he was all of these things and more. He was a man who knew how to phrase his words accordingly and he was, yes, very charming. August definitely knew how to put on a show for his guest, Jacob. I think August was a little jealous of Jacob for having gone to college and worked (almost) successfully towards a degree. He certainly brought it up more times than really necessary. But he almost seemed to bring it up as if to prove that Jacob's ivy league education did not make him a better man or match for his wife. During the times when August was having his fits of rage, I would characterize him as being vengeful, harsh, and devilish. Gruen used her words perfectly when describing August during his worst times. I could see the rage on his face. I could smell the sweat and hear his growling voice. The imagery was perfection. I think August was almost a lost soul. I believe he did want to be good for Marlena but his disease made that impossible. The fact that he would beg Marlena to come back to him in front of crowds of his people prove that he was not shy about his feelings towards her. I believe he really did love her, he was just not able to control himself around her.
- In what ways and in what degree do Uncle Al's maneuvers and practices regarding the defunct Fox Brothers circus reflect traditional American business practices? How would you compare his behavior with that of major businessmen and financiers of today? What alternative actions would you prefer?
Uncle Al had kind of made it a sport to swoop in over fallen circuses and take any scraps remaining that he could. This reflects America's big business honchos who are constantly coming in behind small business and buying them out or planting themselves next door and waiting for them to crash. You always hear of companies that are going under but then, poof!, some multi-million dollar industry comes in a "reconfigures" them and takes them under their wing. However, maybe it is competition at its finest?
Three Cups of Tea by David Oliver Relin and Greg Mortenson
"If we try to resolve terrorism with military might and nothing else, then we will be no safer than we were before 9/11. If we truly want a legacy of peace for our children, we need to understand that this is a war that will ultimately be won with books, not with bombs."
This is a totally inspiring read. If I thought I was doing anything for education, it proves to me that my efforts are but a lone stride compared to Dr. Greg's leaps and bounds that he is making in Pakistan and Afghanistan. After failing to summit the world's second highest peak, K2, Greg Mortenson stumbled into a small Pakistani village, Korphe, on accident. He stayed in Korphe while he regained his strength after his failed journey up K2. He became close with the village elders and considered their cheif, Haji Ali, a great mentor and friend. When he witnessed Korphe's children practicing lessons in the dirt with sticks because they were lacking a school and teacher he vowed to raise enough money to return to the village and build them a school. Greg has spent the past 18 years doing just that. He finds villages in need and through the foundation he started in America, The Central Asia Institute, he has been able to build schools across Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Mortenson's work is nothing short of miraculous. His passion for educating children in the world who otherwise would have no education at all makes me want to dream as big as I possibly can. He proves that one person is able to make a change in the world. He proves that no matter what it is you want, nothing is impossible.
The book is written from third person's point of view. I would have enjoyed the read even more if it was written solely by Mortenson. I had wished for many parts that I had heard the story directly from the man in the scenes. Some of the stories do seem a little lavish and parts of the book are hard to believe as being reality; however, no matter how real it all sounds on paper, I am positive that Mortenson is leaving is mark in the world and making educational history. I am looking forward to reading Mortenson's newest novel, Stones into Schools.
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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
"Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun."
This is a thrilling and heart pounding story that is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat! You will be biting your nails as you read the terror that Panem's chosen teenagers face as they are thrown into an arena to battle to the death. The rules are that the last one standing wins!
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world called Panem, once known as North America. The all-powerful government proves to its people each year that they are in charge and should not be crossed by having the annual Hunger Games. A boy and girl are chosen from each district in the country to serve as tributes. They are then placed in an unknown location and have to kill each other off until only one person remains.
I was reminded of reading Orwell's 1984 while the reoccurring themes of Big Brother, government control, and personal independence came roaring back to life in this 21st century novel. As I am living in a Communist country I have been increasingly interested in a government controlled society. The horrors of Panem do not seem so unrealistic when you know the realities of what some officials have forced their followers into doing.
This is a quick and easy read as it was originally published by Scholastic and is marketed to the teenage reader. It is sure to leave you breathless and wanting more. I am already plotting how to get the next two novels in the trilogy so I can start reading them shortly.
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Interested in joining a book club? Or... have you read one these books that I have mentioned? Well tell me about it in the comment section below! If I have a lot of interested readers then perhaps we will start a real book club with discussions and questions and everything!
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