So, I've given up on fixing my blogging problems. For now, I'll just have to use the library's internet. But that also means that I might be a bit slow to post or respond--just so you know I'm not ignoring you.
I've been trying to think about what we should read next. I have some ideas, but I thought it might also be a good time to take a step back and evaluate. What do you think of the books we have read so far? Where do you want to go next?
As for me, I like the books we've read so far. Without you, I never would have read them. But, I'm also not so good at finding recent books. I'm just not aware enough, so my thoughts are turning towards classic books that I've had on my list to read for awhile but haven't gotten around to. I'd like to keep reading books that I might not read on my own. And so far, you've been really good at suggesting books.
I found a list of 101 great books. And here are some of my suggestions. Tell me what you think. (I'm sure you've read many of them before.)
Moll Flanders
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Tess of the d'Ubervilles
House of Mirth
The Awakening
Things Fall Apart
Howards End
Nicholas Nickelby
I'd love to hear any suggestions that you might have.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Where Is the Beauty?
I finished the book yesterday. Did you have any final thoughts? BTW: I'm writing this in the library because of my computer problems with blogger.
My initial reaction at the end of the book was disgust. I was proud of Kiki for leaving Howard, because her actions imply acknowledgment of Howard's true character, and I liked the fact that she showed up at his lecture at the close of the book, but everyone else in the book seemed to be so awful. I wasn't really surprised to discover that Monty Kipps was having an affair. He was such a caricature of conservatism that I really wouldn’t expect anything less of him, but it was still heart breaking.
I guess my big question is whether Howard changed at all. He became more attuned to those around him, but did he become any less self-serving and selfish? And why did Smith portray his fling with Veronica in such a way that Howard seemed powerless to resist her? Did she want us to feel sympathetic towards him? And yet, I didn’t get the idea that Howard really was powerless.
But enough of Howard, it’s the women who make this book most interesting. I love the fact that Kiki and Carlene can different backgrounds and different political views and still be drawn together as friends. And what is up with Victoria? In some ways she’s the completely liberated woman, completely free to express her sexuality. Yet, she’s hardly free. Is it too obvious that her sexuality stems from a poor relationship with her father? I guess there’s no evidence that she had a poor relationship with him except the fact that Howard is a sort of father figure and she seems to have rejected her father’s personal philosophy. My simple explanation is that she’s her mother to the extreme. Just as Carlene lived only for her family, Victoria lives only for attracting men. She defines herself by their attraction to her. She tells Howard that all he really knows is her body, but did she ever give him anything else to know her by? Everything she does is physical and when he is overwhelmed by her advances and emails, she gets angry at him for objectifying her. Am I wrong to say that she is partly to blame?
After thinking about the book last night, I didn’t think I had anything to say about beauty. After all, it’s the one subject that doesn’t seem to be talked about, unlike race, class, and gender. On the one hand, I’m not sure it says anything definitive about beauty. On the other hand, after expressing my frustrations with Victoria, it occurred to me that perhaps the only really beautiful woman in the book is the Haitian woman in Carlene’s painting. Her nudity allows her to express her sexuality, but she’s not oversexed and she doesn’t bear the physical flaws that Zora, Kiki, and Carlene have. Personally, I think Carlene and Kiki are beautiful simply because they care about more than themselves, which seems to be an unusual trait for the characters in this book.
My initial reaction at the end of the book was disgust. I was proud of Kiki for leaving Howard, because her actions imply acknowledgment of Howard's true character, and I liked the fact that she showed up at his lecture at the close of the book, but everyone else in the book seemed to be so awful. I wasn't really surprised to discover that Monty Kipps was having an affair. He was such a caricature of conservatism that I really wouldn’t expect anything less of him, but it was still heart breaking.
I guess my big question is whether Howard changed at all. He became more attuned to those around him, but did he become any less self-serving and selfish? And why did Smith portray his fling with Veronica in such a way that Howard seemed powerless to resist her? Did she want us to feel sympathetic towards him? And yet, I didn’t get the idea that Howard really was powerless.
But enough of Howard, it’s the women who make this book most interesting. I love the fact that Kiki and Carlene can different backgrounds and different political views and still be drawn together as friends. And what is up with Victoria? In some ways she’s the completely liberated woman, completely free to express her sexuality. Yet, she’s hardly free. Is it too obvious that her sexuality stems from a poor relationship with her father? I guess there’s no evidence that she had a poor relationship with him except the fact that Howard is a sort of father figure and she seems to have rejected her father’s personal philosophy. My simple explanation is that she’s her mother to the extreme. Just as Carlene lived only for her family, Victoria lives only for attracting men. She defines herself by their attraction to her. She tells Howard that all he really knows is her body, but did she ever give him anything else to know her by? Everything she does is physical and when he is overwhelmed by her advances and emails, she gets angry at him for objectifying her. Am I wrong to say that she is partly to blame?
After thinking about the book last night, I didn’t think I had anything to say about beauty. After all, it’s the one subject that doesn’t seem to be talked about, unlike race, class, and gender. On the one hand, I’m not sure it says anything definitive about beauty. On the other hand, after expressing my frustrations with Victoria, it occurred to me that perhaps the only really beautiful woman in the book is the Haitian woman in Carlene’s painting. Her nudity allows her to express her sexuality, but she’s not oversexed and she doesn’t bear the physical flaws that Zora, Kiki, and Carlene have. Personally, I think Carlene and Kiki are beautiful simply because they care about more than themselves, which seems to be an unusual trait for the characters in this book.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
New Book?
So, what are we going to read next? Thoughts? I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile but the holidays were busy busy. How was your Christmas? Anyway, I really don't have any book ideas, so if you have one you'd like to read then let's do it.
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