Book Challenge: What's in a Name: Life Stage (Old & Girl)
Polly Milton first visits her “city” cousins when she is an adolescent. Often teased for her “country” and old fashioned ways, Polly must maintain her sense of self even in the midst of relatives and their unfamiliar, sophisticated ways.
Many years later, Polly returns to her urban setting, this time as a music teacher. Her relatives still consider her old fashioned, but her standards, maturity and independence prepare her for the trials she will face, and endear her to a certain beau – but not the one the reader expects!
Louisa May Alcott, in spite of writing during the 19th century – explores very modern and timeless topics: unemployment, economic discrepancy, physical separation from loved ones, family, and romance. She also writes fluidly, without the denseness of writes of her time.
Polly was such kind, selfless, and genuinely real character. A young woman determined to maintain her ideals, her morals, and use them to attain her dreams.
The only disappointing part of this book was the ending. After a marvelously crafted family saga and romance, the author short changed us on Polly’s romantic future.
There is a caveat to my statement...although I had an original reading list, I must admit that it changed over the course of the year as new books were released. I was also tempted by offerings at the library.
My original selections for the Suffragette level (5 fiction, 3 non-fiction) were:
NON FICTION: Nine Parts of Desire, by Geraldine Brooks A Thousand Sisters by Lisa Shannon Wildflower by Mark Seal
FICTION: Sugar by Bernice McFadden Glorious by Bernice McFadden My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
This was a great challenge -- I would gladly do it again if it is offered next year!
I plan on committing to ONE challenge next year -- any suggestions?
November is the last month of the year for our book club meeting – we take December off for the holidays and regroup in January. We usually have a “feast” where we splurge on our post discussion treats – but I was forgetful this week and forgot to take the butter out to soften for my chocolate cranberry bars, so I had to bake “pre made” cookies instead. They were awful. Luckily the other members took it more seriously and we had a lovely spread of salads, cakes and confections.
Our final book of 2010 was Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, a fictional account of the relationship between Mamah Borthwick Cheney and legendary architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. After Mamah and her husband Ed commission FLW to design and build their home, Mamah and FLW begin a lurid affair that scandalizes their Chicago neighborhood community. Mamah ultimately leaves her husband and children and travels with FLW to Europe for a period of nearly two years. When they return, FLW builds a hideaway for them in Wisconsin – Taliesin – where they retreat from the vengeful eyes of the press and their respective families, but at Taliesin, they do not live happily ever after.
This was an emotionally conflicting book. On one hand you have a woman who seems completely content with her role as mother and wife. She is highly educated and is able to express her thoughts and intellect with others via her social clubs…which seemed appropriate for the turn of the century. On the other hand, you have a woman who has completely abandoned her family, absconded with her lover to Europe and continues an internal debate with herself throughout the entire novel as to whether or not she has done the right thing.
I wanted to cheer Mamah for her “independent – feminist spirit” – but the whole time my gut kept telling me how wrong it was for her to leave the way she did, and to forsake her children altogether. I certainly have bad days, and think I would like to take a long break from motherhood (cabin for a week with lots of books and food) but to leave her kids for TWO YEARS when they are but 3 and 7 – was abhorrent to me! As Lucy from Life is a spasm who flow said in her review, “is a selfish act ever the BEST act?”
In spite of all the inconsistent feelings I had towards her – I really did enjoy this book. I thought it did a great job at giving life to a relationship that has been lost to history. I loved learning about FLW’s early years as an architect. It seemed that Ms. Horan’s research was thorough and well done. And for a book group discussion, it provided LOTS of interesting discussion topics. The majority of those who were there, thought Mamah was selfish and unredeemable. But we also had harsh words for FLW who left his wife and 6 children in the process and couldn’t seem to manage his business life very well.
This was a fun book to research – I obtained from the library some of the massive picture books that contain the works of FLW. It was great to look at the places described – the Cheney home (which is now a B&B), FLW’s studio and Taliesin – while engaged in our discussion.
Ultimately, Loving Frank is a great book group discussion about a couple who made choices that had long term, disastrous, domino affects on themselves and nearly everyone around them.
For a great perspective from the author, check out this related video:
Our book club reading choices for 2011 are as follows:
After I posted my new CHALLENGE last week, I decided I needed to reevaluate my Everything Austen Challenge. I'm not a quitter or an abondoner -- and I really want to accomplish this challenge -- but with the holidays looming, I realized trying to read Persuasion at nearly 400pgs and Jane Austen: A Life at 400+pgs before the New Year's deadline, well, it just wasn't going to happen. So, I've substituted this (I bought it used for $3):
Jane and His Lordship's Legacy is historical suspense writing at its very finest, graced with insight, perception, and uncommon intelligence of its singular heroine in a mystery that will test the mettle of her mind and heart.
At only 280pgs -- I think I can manage it. Also, I've been intrigued by this series since I first spotted it on the shelf above M.C. Beaton mysteries. It's not the 1st in the series -- I hope I'm not spoiling anything.
The last thing I need is a reading challenge -- especially since I'm failing miserably at the Everything Austen Challenge I started this summer (only 1 of 6 books/movies read or viewed -- however I have until Jan 1, 2010 to finish -- surely I can squeeze in reading Persuasion and Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin AND watching P&P with Colin Firth, S&S with Emma Thompson/Kate Winslet, and Emma w/Gwyneth Paltrow, by then).
However, the Women Unbound Reading Challenge, really intrigues me. I love reading about women, whether fiction or non-fiction. So, I think I'm going to take the plunge. The general rule is:
"Participants are encouraged to read nonfiction and fiction books related to the rather broad idea of 'women’s studies.’"
There are three levels of participation: (you can count books for other challenges as well):
Philogynist: read at least two books, including at least one nonfiction one. Bluestocking: read at least five books, including at least two nonfiction ones. Suffragette: read at least eight books, including at least three nonfiction ones.
I'm going all out and becoming a Suffragette!
My own stipulation for this challenge: my book choices MUST currently reside on my bookshelves!! No library checkouts, no Barnes and Noble purchases, no Amazon orders, no used bookstores. They all must be in my possession and haven't been read before! (That should be a challenge in and of itself -- the "Clearing Off Your Bookshelf Challenge!")
Here is my reading list (I hope they all qualify as women studies!):
NON-FICTION:
West with the Night, by Beryl Markham Born in England in 1902, Markham was taken by her father to East Africa in 1906. She spent her childhood playing with native Maruni children and apprenticing with her father as a trainer and breeder of racehorses. In the 1930s, she became an African bush pilot, and in September 1936, became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west.
Nine Parts of Desire, by Geraldine Brooks In this captivating book, award-winning journalist Geraldine Brooks offers an intimate, often shocking portrait of the lives of modern Muslim women, and shows how male pride and power have warped the original message of a once-liberating faith. "A valid, entertaining account of women in the Muslim world."--The New York Times Book Review
Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History, by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich In this engrossing volume, Laurel Ulrich goes far beyond the slogan she inadvertently created and explores what it means to make history. Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History celebrates a renaissance in history inspired by amateurs, activists, and professional historians. It is a tribute to history and to those who make it.
FICTION:
The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. ...through the novel The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., not only do we learn of the many differences between Robespierre and Rousseau, but we gain insight into the marriage of one of history's greatest political couples: Napoleon and Josephine. The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton, by Jane Smiley The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton is a Little House on the Prairie for grownups. Lidie's accounts of homesteading, from buying a new stove to coming upon the finest horse in the territory (and among the finest in literature), combine character, charm, and social history.
A Woman of Independent Means, by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey At the turn of the century, a time when women had few choices, Bess Steed Garner inherits a legacy--not only of wealth but of determination and desire, making her truly a woman of independent means. From the early 1900s through the 1960s, we accompany Bess as she endures life's trials and triumphs with unfailing courage and indomitable spirit: the sacrifices love sometimes requires of the heart, the flaws and rewards of marriage, the often-tested bond between mother and child, and the will to defy a society that demands conformity.
The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard, by Erin McGraw Trapped in Kansas at the turn of the twentieth century, Nell Plat is seventeen, unhappily married, and the mother of two baby girls. No reality could be further from her secret dreams of glamour and excitement, dreams that will tempt her to do the unthinkable and run away to the glittering wonderland of Los Angeles and the burgeoning motion picture industry.
A Short History of Women, by Kate Walbert From National Book Award nominee Kate Walbert, a provocative and beautiful novel about five generations of women.
The challenge runs from Nov 1, 2009 -- Nov 30, 2010.
I’m a self confessed bibliophile and book blog stalker. I enter to win free books (I’ve won two already!) and I leave comments all the time about my favorite reads. One I follow is Stephanie’s Written Word. Stephanie has issued a challenge – a Jane Austen challenge – that is. Over the next 6 months (July 1, 2009 – Jan 1, 2010) you Jane Austen addicts are to imbibe yourself on SIX Jane Austen themed items – her original novels, movies, biographies, Austen-knock off lit – it’s up to you. You can read her original post for all the details and ideas.
I have many challenges going on this summer – Artist’s Challenge, Knitting Challenge – why not add a Jane Austen challenge to the mix.
My 6 challenge items are:
Books: Persuasion, by Jane Austen Austenland by Shannon Hale Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin Movies: P&P with Colin Firth S&S with Emma Thompson/Kate Winslet Emma w/Gwyneth Paltrow
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