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time4tea
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| Posted: Jan 27 2006 at 7:35am | IP Logged
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Hi Everyone!
Recently, some of the moms in our homeschool group decided to start a book club, which I am really excited about. The book that was chosen as the first selection was Memoirs of a Geisha. I borrowed a copy from one of the moms who told me the book is fantastic and a must-read, but honestly, after skimming it, I am really disturbed by the content. Like I said, I have only skimmed it - am I missing something with this book? I would love to have others' input here......
God bless,
~Tea
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Rachel May
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| Posted: Jan 27 2006 at 7:59am | IP Logged
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I just finished it for a book club too, and it is not a book I would have picked on my own. I enjoyed it but found it disturbing also. It can be a slow start so if you read futher you may become more interested inteh characters.
In the end I found the main characters interesting, but I never bought into the idea that geisha are not prostitutes. What we talked about was that it is more a book about characters than an accurate portrayal of geisha. At the club meeting, one lady mentioned that the lady who was interviewed for the meat of the book wrote her own book which is accurate, but not as easy a read. Here's a link to it.
What helped me get through it in the end was the fact that this book club is my only social committment, and I chose it as a way to get to know the "partners" of the other students in my husband's MBA program, none of whom is anything like a happy, homeschooling, stay at home mom of 6!
Our next book is Middlesex. From the synopsis I'd say  .
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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Rachel May
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Oh, and there are defintely scenes I glossed over as they were too disturbing for me.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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time4tea
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| Posted: Jan 27 2006 at 12:53pm | IP Logged
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Rachel,
Thank you for your comments. The brief amount of the book that I skimmed was, in my opinion, so disturbing I found myself ruminating about it for a few days thereafter (a bad habit I have when I can't quite get my mind wrapped around something......).
Our book club is made up of other Catholic homeschooling moms only, which I suppose was another reason I have been having a difficult time processing this book selection.
God bless,
~Tea
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Mary G
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| Posted: Jan 27 2006 at 2:19pm | IP Logged
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The rule in our house is 10% before tossing it. But if I skim something and see inapprporate or "disturbing" things -- tht's enough for this censor!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Rachel May
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| Posted: Jan 27 2006 at 3:51pm | IP Logged
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Tea,
Has your group discussed guidelines for picking books? I'd be interested to hear what they are if you have any, especially since you are similar minded people. Ours doesn't have guidelines just random suggestions. So far we've read the Kite Runner, Mistress of Spices (I skipped that one), Memoirs of a Geisha, and now Middlesex. 
I like that 10% idea. I think I'll adopt that in future.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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time4tea
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| Posted: Jan 27 2006 at 4:41pm | IP Logged
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Rachel,
No, it doesn't appear that there are any rules or guidelines for book selections at this point in time. Many of the moms absolutely loved this book, which is why it was selected. I simply cannot understand it. One of the moms said that it was her favorite book next to Gone With the Wind (I have been really trying to see how anybody could even put these two books on the same level).
God bless,
~Tea
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guitarnan
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Rachel,
You really, really won't like Middlesex. (I inherit my mom's book club selections after she doesn't read them.) I truly disliked this book and didn't read all of it. It deals with so many strange things...most of them way beyond any "adult" material I ever read. It was pretty nauseating. OK, totally nauseating.
Here are some ideas for your club (stolen from Mom's book club):
Reading Lolita in Tehran (admittedly Lolita is discussed in the book...but not much...and the insight into Iranian life is just fascinating)
Dream of the Walled City (by Lisa Huang Fleischman, my Catholic high school carpool friend!) This is a book about the Maoist Revolution in China. Lisa went to China and interviewed her grandmother, who knew Mao, and then fictionalized these experiences. While in China, Lisa accidentally witnessed the tragedy of Tiananmen Square. My mom's club loved this book.
Life of Pi...this book is engaging and bizarre. Since it's told from a boy's point of view, there isn't too much in the way of objectionable stuff. It's extremely hard to figure out the real story line of the book, but that's part of its charm, I guess.
Mom's book club also read The Secret Life of Bees, Bee Season, The Sparrow, Stones by the River, House of Sand and Fog, Vanity Fair, and many more, but I didn't really like any of these books enough to recommend them. They were either boring to me or else contained elements that really disturbed me. I can't figure out why authors feel compelled to include a bunch of gratuitous stuff that most people I know don't really want to read. I suppose that is why I stick to nonfiction most of the time! At least if it's disgusting, it's true. (Unless that Frey guy wrote it.)
I'll look forward to the recommendations of others.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Rachel May
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| Posted: Jan 30 2006 at 10:51am | IP Logged
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Nancy,
Thanks for the heads up on Middlesex. Fortunately my husband scheduled his one hosting obligation for his student group on the same day as the book club. He didn't know, and I didn't mind. Now I REALLY don't mind. 
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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guitarnan
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Rachel,
That's what I'd call Divine Intervention!
Let's hope your club's next selection is more enjoyable.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Rachel May
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Me too. I need to make a good suggestion. People have been asking for something funny, and I think they like modern novels. Any ideas?
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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KristinaP
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| Posted: Feb 04 2006 at 5:54pm | IP Logged
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I just finished Memoirs of a Geisha today and although, it wasn't something that I would have normally picked out, I did find it very interesting; from the point of view of learning something totally new.
The training those ladies go through is militarily rigorous and the constant backstabbing and downright meanness really surprised me.
What really impressed me though was how the non-Christian culture had really influenced and pervaded their daily living. There was absolutely no charity, no forgiveness, barely even a thought of it for that matter and all the men thought nothing of keeping a mistress. Definitely no thought of the sacredness of marriage there.
I think the only edifying theme in the book was how one man's moment of generosity gave hope to the main character that there was more to life than what she was doing (from her point of view). Obviously, from a spiritual point of view, she was definitely lacking.
Nonetheless, aside from the negativity, the character development and story itself were an interesting read and really opened my eyes to how much the Eastern cultures are lacking in Christian virtues and made me wonder at how different things would have been had there been any sense of virtue.
I still prefer Michael D. O'Brien's books. 
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abcmommy
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Its interesting to read your perspective on the book. I very much enjoyed it as a good fast paced read and I didnt make any connection between the bad behavior by some of the characters and lack of christianity.
I think its wrong to say that bc asian culture is traditionally devoid of christianity that people will be inclined to be evil as a result. I am not sure that is what is being said here, so forgive me if that comment is out of context. But in any group of people in a time of desperation or in a time of hedonism a number of people will show their lack of good character. this happens in our culture despite our christian roots. I dont know what today is in our society, maybe desperate hedonism? LOL
Anyway, I was thrilled at the end to hear she had escaped. And I enjoyed the book, tho not enough to read it again. I read a lot of fiction.
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4Real Forums : Book Club
Topic: Am I missing something with this book?
