The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor

Our next book is The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor.  If you finish this book with time left for more reading before our book club weekend, my 2nd choice is Ru by Kim Thuy which is relatively short.  Looking forward to our weekend getaway!

Discussion Questions:

1. The Story of Lucy Gault is as much about what doesn't happen, or what almost happens, as what does. Lahardane is almost set afire, Lucy comes close to marrying Ralph, Everard writes letters to Ireland but does not send them. What other instances reveal the significance of things not happening? Is the novel saying that what we do not do shapes our lives as much as what we do do?
2. What role does chance play in the novel? What crucial turning points are brought about by chance occurrences? Does this preponderance of chance events suggest the hand of fate directing the characters' lives, or rather a meaningless randomness, the absence of fate?
3. Lucy blames herself, her rash decision to run away, for her parents' leaving; her parents blame themselves for not being more sensitive and honest with their daughter. "We told her lies," Everard says (p. 31). How should the blame be apportioned between Lucy and her parents? To what extent are larger historical and political forces to blame for what happens to the Gault family?
4. Lucy's mother and father conclude that Lucy is dead when they find some of her clothes along the ocean's shore. What are the tragic consequences of this misreading? Why aren't they able to search the woods, to think of other possibilities? What is the novel saying about the role of misinterpretation in our lives?
5. Why does Lucy reject Ralph's impassioned marriage proposals? What are the consequences of this rejection, for her and for Ralph? Was she mistaken to turn Ralph down, or was her rejection her only real option, given her peculiar history, her character, and the circumstances of her life?
6. Heloise Gault imagines uncovering her feelings to her husband: "She heard her voice apologizing, and talking then of all she didn't want to talk about; before she closed her eyes she found the sentences came quite easily. But when she slept, and woke after a few minutes, she heard herself saying she couldn't have that conversation and knew that she was right" (p. 84). Why can't she have that conversation? How might it have helped her? Where else in the novel does the inability to communicate openly and directly have disastrous consequences?
7. Why does Lucy visit Horahan, the man who as a boy helped set in motion the events that caused so much pain, after he's gone insane and been confined to the asylum? Are her visits an act of forgiveness? What effect do these visits have on Horahan? On Lucy herself?
8. In retelling the story of the Gault family, travelers and people in the surrounding towns embellish the narrative. "In talk inspired by what was told, the subtleties that clogged the narrative were smudged away. The spare reality of what had happened was coloured and enriched, and altogether made better. The journey the stricken parents had set out upon became a pilgrimage, absolution sought for sins that varied in the telling" (p. 70). What are the subtleties that clog the narrative? Is the parents' journey a kind of pilgrimage? Have they sinned? Why are subtleties so important in truly understanding a story?
9. Compared to much contemporary fiction, The Story of Lucy Gault is an uneventful, quiet book. How does it achieve such power in the absence of dramatic action? How does Trevor draw out the spiritual implications of his story? What are those implications?
10. At the end of the novel, the nuns visit Lucy, drawn by her extraordinary peacefulness. "Her tranquility is their astonishment... Calamity shaped a life when, long ago, chance was so cruel. Calamity shapes the story that is told, and is the reason for its being: is what they know, besides, the gentle fruit of such misfortunes' harvest? They like to think so...." (p. 224). Are the nuns right in sensing a transcendent calm in Lucy? If so, how has she achieved this peace? Can her life be said to have been, on balance, a good life?

Summer 2016 Update

I hope you’re all enjoying this beautiful summer, and I’m looking forward to seeing you at our meeting next Friday at Sherri’s place! We can also officially welcome Tanya to our book club – she is no stranger to most of us, and we’re looking forward to sharing everything that is amazing about “Books, Wine And A Few Good Women” (affectionately known as BookSwine).

Gaining a new member is a perfect time to review how our book club operates, or should operate. Here are 12 things you should know about Books, Wine and a Few Good Women:

1. We try not to be too rigid, but the basic idea is that we take turns choosing a book to discuss, and also hosting the meeting at which our choice is discussed. The order for our upcoming meetings is (with room for switching, of course): Sherri, Lois, Joanna, Julia, Elsa, Hannah, Rachel, Sue, Tara. Normally a new member would be inserted at the end of this order (i.e. before Sherri’s next turn), and there is also room to add Patti and Sarah back into the rotation if they are in a position to become active members.
2. You are expected to let us know your book choice at the meeting before yours, which means you probably need to start thinking about it two meetings back. (For example, given the order above in point #1, I would start thinking about book choices after Hannah’s meeting and present my choice at Rachel’s meeting.) When choosing a book, please look into its availability at the library (HPL and BPL if possible), and how recently it was published. Many members, myself included, are trying to cut back on book purchases so it’s helpful if it is not a new release (especially not so new that it is only available in hardcover). Please also note: it’s not necessary that you have read the book, but it’s helpful to make sure that the book is not absolutely horrible or offensive before making us all read it! Checking ratings and reviews – e.g. on GoodReads, Amazon or Indigo/Chapters – can be helpful!
3. We tend to meet every 5-7 weeks, on Friday evenings (starting at 8:00). This, and the fact that we are all busy people, also means that you should not pick books that are excessively long.
4. We have experimented with different ways of scheduling meetings over the decade-plus that this book club has been in existence. Our current practice is that the person who is hosting the next meeting sends out a Doodle poll immediately after the meeting of their Big Reveal (where they tell us which book they picked – I don’t want Tanya thinking we are revealing anything else!). The Doodle poll should give the members a few Friday evening dates that would work for the host. After every member looks at her personal calendar and replies (promptly, of course!), the host picks the date preferred by most and sends out an email to let everyone know. This email should also include the title and author of the book, for the benefit of members who weren’t at the previous meeting, and others who can’t remember the Big Reveal!
5. The host is responsible for hosting all of us lovely women, which seems obvious. If, however, you can’t host “your” meeting because of lack of space or for any other reason, there are many others who would be happy to host while you lead – just let us know! Usually the leader sends out a reminder email around a week before her meeting.
6. The host is also responsible for leading the meeting. We haven’t been too official about this lately, but I think that we do need to step it up a bit, because I find that with so many members – some of whom have not read the book – it is very easy to get sidetracked. The leader should consider sending out some thought-provoking discussion questions, or at least bring a list of discussion questions/topics to the meeting to assist her in guiding the discussion. (Side-note: sometimes we all hate the book, which often makes for a great discussion! Don’t take it personally … unless you wrote the book – that would be awkward!)
7. The other members are responsible for:
• reading the book – while it is understandable that circumstances sometimes arise that prevent us from finishing the book, this should be the exception rather than the rule;
• attending the meeting – especially if you committed to attending by indicating your availability on the date that ended up being chosen by the host. Please put the meeting dates into your calendar like you would any other important event that you have committed to, so that you can avoid double-booking and also make whatever arrangements are necessary in order for you to attend (e.g. child care). Unavoidable last-minute conflicts do of course arise, but cancelling a few days before the meeting because you just realized that you double-booked is inconsiderate to others who kept the meeting date clear and made our meeting their priority;
• having an opinion on the book;
• being prepared (possibly by looking up discussion questions online; having thought about the book’s themes, characters, writing style; bookmarking specific quotes that you found interesting, etc.); and
• not engaging in side conversations out of respect for the leader and the person who is speaking, because …
8. There will be plenty of time to catch up after we are done discussing the book! Don’t worry, we always end up just socializing and chatting about many things that are completely unrelated to the book we are discussing, and that is an important part of who we are as a book club! (Interestingly, the conversations sometimes veer back to the book and we start all over again … or we discuss other books, or recommend books we’ve read!) The goal is to try to discuss the book together in earnest when we are discussing the book, and leave the side conversations and unrelated chatting until later.
9. At some point towards the end of the meeting, it is time for The Big Reveal. Some of us like to make the members choose between two or three books, some of us have chosen one of a few (or many!) books but tell us about all the books they ended up rejecting (great for our want-to-read lists!), and the most decisive of us just present the one book. All approaches are fine (assuming you have checked that all the books we are considering pass the availability test).
10. We also have a closed Facebook group and a private blog, because we’re exclusive like that. If you are reading this, you have obviously found our blog!
11. Speaking of the blog … anyone want to write a book review? Anyone?? We’d love to hear from you if you would like to contribute to the blog!
12. I can’t send out a list of guiding principles or whatever this list is, and not mention the best thing ever: our annual weekend getaways! We have made an annual tradition of renting a cottage and spending a weekend together (usually in the fall, but our most recent getaway was in January) to eat delicious foods (delicious doesn’t even begin to describe the food we make for each other!), enjoy lots of coffee and an extra glass of wine or two, spend some time outdoors, play games, read, knit, talk, talk, talk some more, and of course have a book club meeting! Now I am getting really excited about planning another getaway – let’s do it!!

Hi everyone! My book pick is The Wars by Timothy Findley. Here are some questions to consider when you're ready:

The Wars Essay Questions

1. 1
   Examine the character arcs of Mrs. Ross and Robert Ross. Events in the novel seem to affect both characters simultaneously and in a similar fashion. Why?

   
   

   2. Examine Robert Ross's actions at the end of the novel. Has he lost his mind when he frees the horses and kills Captain Leather and Private Cassles, or is he simply doing what he feels is just and rational in the face of an insane situation?
2. 
   
3. 3
   What significance do the animals in the novel have when juxtaposed against the brutality of war? What do they symbolize?
   
   
4. 4
   Examine the title of the novel. Though the novel takes place during World War I, the word "war" is pluralized for the novel's title. What was Findley referring to?
   
   
5. 5
   When offered an assisted suicide by Marian Turner, Robert replies, "Not yet." Why is this significant and what is Findley suggesting by having Robert cling to his life?
   
   
6. 6
   Consider the final photograph of Robert, Rowena, and Meg the pony, with which Findley leaves us. What does he mean when he points out that one can see the characters' breath in the photograph? What does it signify?
   
   
7. 7
   Why does Robert treasure his privacy so much? What is it about the war that forces him to be exposed?
   
   
8. 8
   Examine the notion of private vs. public in the novel. How does a war usher a private matter into the public sphere?
   
   
9. 9
   Examine the use of the Four Classic Elements in the novel: fire, water, air, and earth. How are these elements represented and what do they signify?
   
   
10. 10
    Compare and contrast the sexual encounters Robert Ross and Lady Juliet witness in the novel. How do they affect each character?
    
    
11. 11
    Examine Findley's use of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person narrative styles in the book. Why does he use these unusual methods to tell the story?
    
    

Post-Weekend Stuff

Hi everyone! Thanks for a great weekend away - it was definitely one to remember for all the right reasons, including great food! Before I get to the recipes, here's a pretty good picture that's NOT a selfie!

Here are my recipes - I'm looking forward to seeing yours too!

SLOW COOKER GRANOLA

6 cups large flake oats
1 cup coconut (any kind)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup liquid honey
1 tsp vanilla

Mix dry ingredients in slow cooker; add remaining ingredients and stir to coat. With lid slightly ajar, cook on low for 5 hours (or 3, if you have a not-very-slow-cooker like I do), stirring occasionally. Granola is done when it is browned and crunchy. Add extras like raisins, almonds, dried cranberries, etc. afterward ... or not. I like mine plain, served over plain yogurt and berries.

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ASIAN CHICKEN NOODLE STIR FRY (From Pampered Chef)

1 medium red bell pepper, cut in 2" strips
4 green onions, cut in 1" pieces
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, snipped into small pieces
12 oz (350g) chicken tenders, cut into 1" pieces (I used 2 chicken breasts, cut while partially frozen)
2 tbsp canola oil, divided
3 tbsp Asian seasoning mix, divided (Pampered Chef sells it, but I used Club House)
12 oz (~1 package) uncooked angel hair pasta, broken into thirds
4 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (I used smooth)
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fresh broccoli florets

Mix chicken with 1 tbsp of the oil and 2 tbsp of the Asian seasoning mix.

Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet (preferably not a shallow one) over medium high heat for 3-5 minutes or until shimmering. Add chicken; cook 3-4 minutes or until browned on all sides, turning occasionally with tongs. Remove chicken and set aside.

Add pasta to skillet. Toast 5-7 minutes or until pasta starts to brown, gently stirring and turning over frequently with tongs. Watch carefully to avoid over-toasting.

Push pasta to one side. Add stock, peanut butter, soy sauce and garlic. Stir until peanut butter is incorporated. Mix pasta into sauce.

Add bell pepper, green onions, remaining 1 tbsp seasoning mix, and broccoli. Stir gently.
Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer vigorously 2-3 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.

Stir in chicken and cook about 1 minute or until heated through. Sprinkle with basil, toss, and serve.

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BAKED ZUCCHINI NOODLES

Get yourself a spiralizer (the good kind that Lois has, not the thumb-murdering kind that I have), or use a vegetable peeler or a mandolin to make noodles out of your zucchini. Pat the noodles with paper towels to remove some of the liquid; sprinkling with salt helps too, if you have time to wait for it to draw out the water.

Mix some olive oil and some seasoning mix that sounds good to you (I used about 2 tbsp oil, 1 tbsp Club House salmon seasoning, which was less odd than it sounds!). Toss the noodles in the oil/seasoning mix, and bake at 400F for 20 minutes, tossing halfway to prevent burning. It's all very vague and barely qualifies as a recipe - you can really do whatever you want! Just remember that if you want to give, say, 9 people more than just a taste, you will need more than the 4 mini-zucchinis I used!

2016 Update

With some new/returning members since our last administrative/update post, it's time for another update! First of all, here's the list of books we have read since I posted the first ten years' worth of books on September 27, 2014.

2014
"Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson (Elsa)


2015
"Burial Rites" by Hannah Kent (Hannah)
"The Orenda" by Joseph Boyden (Rachel)
"The Giver" by Lois Lowry (Sue)
"The Sisters Brothers" by Patrick DeWitt (Tara)
"How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia" by Mohsin Hamid (Lois)
"Requiem" by Frances Itani (Joanna)
"Counting by Sevens" by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Julia)
"11/22/63" by Stephen King (Elsa)

2016
"The Bone Clocks" by David Mitchell (Hannah)

That leads to the order of book selectors. Based on our 2015 order, we are looking at Rachel, Sue, Tara, Lois, Joanna, Julia and Elsa. There is also the option to add in Patti, Sherri and Sarah at some point if it makes sense, and of course you are free to swap spots with anyone if it works for both of you. I hope I didn't miss anyone!

I think that's it - see you at the cottage!

March meeting: The Orenda by Joseph Boyden

1. The Orenda is told from the alternating perspective of three narrators, but is periodically punctuated by the voice of an omniscient narrator. Discuss the significance of this voice. Who or what does this represent? Compare the passage that begins the book with the one at the end of the novel. What do these passages assert about the legacy of the Huron people? The influence of the Jesuits?

2.  Discuss the Jesuit’s mission to bring Christianity to the New World. Are Christophe’s intentions pure? Would you classify his attempts at converting the Hurons as successful? What tensions arose in the community because of his efforts?

3. How does the Jesuit’s mission to bring Christianity to the New World coincide with Champlain’s vision for conquering the area? How does it conflict?

4. The relationship between Bird and Snow Falls fully evolves over the course of The Orenda. When it begins, Snow Falls’s hatred of Bird is unabashed, yet by the end of the novel she thinks of him as her father. How does this change occur? What challenges did their relationship face before Snow Falls came to terms with her role as daughter?

5. The Orenda takes place over the course of several years, showcasing Snow Falls’s development from pre-pubescence to motherhood. How is womanhood marked in the Huron culture? How do other women in the village help to guide her?

6. How does the relationship between Bird and Christophe evolve over time? Do you think the men respect each other, despite their differences?

7. On page 123, Christophe admits that he wrestles with “the grave worry that our work is being exploited by those who wish not for the souls of the sauvages but for the riches of the land.” Relate this statement to the scene in which Christophe and the Huron journey to Champlain’s settlement. How do Champlain and his people take advantage of the Huron?

8. Death is a constant theme throughout The Orenda. How does the Huron culture approach death? How do they honor their deceased relatives? Compare their attitudes toward death as opposed to that of the “charcoal.” How do their differing attitudes about spirituality affect the way they perceive the afterlife?

9. The acquisition of power is a central theme throughout The Orenda, and it manifests itself in various ways throughout the plot. How does Christophe try to obtain power over the natives? How does Bird try to maintain a position of power over his enemies? How is rape and torture used as a means of obtaining power?

10. Discuss the concept of the “oki.” How does this belief differ from the tenets of Christianity? How are these differences in beliefs reflected in both cultures’ approach to living, dying, nature, and family?

11. Though undeniably brutal, the process of torturing one’s enemies in the native cultures serves an almost ritualistic function. Discuss the various means in which captives are “caressed,” and the spiritual element to this process. Why do you think the torturers provide food and water to their captives? What is the expectation of captives in facing their fate? Explore the natives’ approach to death by torture in comparison to the Christian idea of martyrdom.

12. As the novel progresses, illnesses play an increasingly significant role, wreaking havoc on the social structure of the villages. How do illnesses affect how the community functions? Explore the role of “healers” in the Huron community.

13. What are the expected roles of males compared to females in the Huron community? In what respects do women have power? Explore the relationship between Bird and Gosling. How would you characterize their coupling?

14. Throughout the novel, Christophe oscillates between being shocked and appalled about the natives’ way of living and showing curiosity about their traditions. What does he admire about their culture? And does he participate in it? Would you say that his participation comes out of respect or out of obligation?

15. Did it shock you when Isaac murdered Snow Falls? Why do you think he chose to take others’ lives in addition to his own?

Looking Forward ... and Backward (a.k.a. List of Books We've Read)

It looks like the order of upcoming meetings (based on those in the order below who are currently active) is: Elsa, Hannah, Rachel, Sue, Tara, Lois. We can insert/add anyone who reactivates :) The next scheduled meeting is November 28 - not sure how many people the conflict with the Keith/Kristyn Getty concert will affect. Lois? Anyone else? We could consider moving it to Nov. 21, but December is probably not an option. We'll have to discuss this and our 2015 schedule at the cottage, but meanwhile, Elsa is slated to pick the next book!

Here is a complete list of the books that we have read and discussed since this book club started almost 10 years ago! (Happy anniversary, Hannah and Rachel :))

2004
Clara Callan (Richard B. Wright) - Hannah
The World According to Garp (John Irving) - Rachel

2005
No Logo (Naomi Klein) - Jenn B

Reading Lolita in Tehran (Azar Nafisi) - Sue
The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold) - Shelley
Boy's Life (Robert McCammon) - Jill
The Blind Assassin (Margaret Atwood) - Tanya
The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck) - Julia
Crow Lake (Mary Lawson) - Hannah
Birds Without Wings (Louis de Bernieres) - Rachel

2006
Cloud Atlas (David Mitchell) - Jenn L
Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden) - Sue
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (Susanna Clarke) - Shelley
Time Traveler's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger) - Jill
Glass Castle (Jeannette Walls) - Tanya
The Girls (Lori Lansens) - Julia
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Mark Haddon) - Hannah
The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi (Jacqueline Park) - Rachel
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (Rebecca Wells) - Sue

2007
The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd) - Tanya
Riding the Bus with My Sister (Rachel Simon) - Julia
My Name is Asher Lev (Chaim Potok) - Lois
The Shadow of the Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafon) - Sherri
Special Topics in Calamity Physics (Marisha Pessl) - Shelley
Rockbound (Frank Parker Day) - Hannah
The Big Over-Easy (Jasper Fforde) - Rachel
Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen) - Sue

2008
Midwives (Chris Bohjalian) - Lois
Objects in Mirror are Closer Than They Appear (Katharine Weber) - Julia

The Red Tent (Anita Diamant) - Sherri
No Great Mischief (Alistair MacLeod) - Sarah
Stones from the River (Ursula Hegi) - Tara
Plainsong (Kent Haruf) - Elsa
The Reluctant Fundamentalist (Mohsin Hamid) - Hannah
Refiner's Fire (Mark Helprin) - Rachel

2009
The Lost Garden (Helen Humphreys) - Sue
Eat Pray Love (Elizabeth Gilbert) - Sarah
Belle Falls (Sherri Vanderveen) - Lois
Olive Kitteridge (Elizabeth Strout) - Sherri
Girl with a Pearl Earring (Tracy Chevalier) - Julia

Mutant Message Down Under (Marlo Morgan) - Tara
Persuasion (Jane Austen) - Hannah
Remains of the Day (Kazuo Ishiguro) - Denise
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (Lisa See) - Patti
The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje) - Elsa
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) - Rachel

2010
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows) - Sue
An Unquiet Mind - A Memoir of Moods and Madness (Kay Redfield Jamison) - Sarah
Remembering the Bones (Frances Itani) - Tara
The Book Thief (Marcus Zusak) - Lois
The Namesake (Jhumpa Lahiri) - Julia
That Old Ace in the Hole (Annie Proulx) - Tanya

The Other Side of the Bridge (Mary Lawson) - Elsa

Beatrice and Vergil (Yann Martel) - Denise

Drowning Ruth (Christina Schwarz) - Patti

The Space Between Us (Thrity Umrigar) - Sherri

What They Wanted (Donna Morrissey) - Hannah

2011

The Historian (Elizabeth Kostova) - Rachel

The Housekeeper and the Professor (Yoko Ogawa) - Sue

Sarah’s Key (Tatiana de Rosnay) - Sarah

Mudbound (Hillary Jordan) - Julia

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (Barbara Kingsolver) - Tara

Peace Like a River (Leif Enger) - Lois

The Known World (Edward P. Jones) - Patti

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand (Helen Simonson) - Tanya

Limbo (A. Manette Ansay) - Denise

The Dead Zone (Stephen King) - Elsa

2012

The Kitchen House (Kathleen Grissom) - Sherri

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Alan Bradley) - Rachel

Vaclav and Lena (Haley Tanner) - Hannah

Nothing to Envy (Barbara Demick) - Sue

Little Bee (Chris Cleave) - Julia

Finding Nouf (Zoe Ferraris) - Tanya

Shades of Grey (Jasper Fforde) - Tara

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran Foer) - Lois

We Need to Talk About Kevin (Lionel Shriver) - Denise

2013

Bride of New France (Suzanne Desrochers) - Sarah

Mystic River (Dennis Lehane) - Elsa

The Midwife (Jennifer Worth) - Sherri

People of the Book (Geraldine Brooks) - Patti

A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'Engle) - Hannah

The Day the Falls Stood Still (Cathy Marie Buchanan) - Rachel

Arthur and George (Julian Barnes) - Sue

Maus I & II (Art Spiegelman) - Julia

The Devil in the White City (Erik Larson) - Tara

In the City of Bikes (Pete Jordan) - Lois

2014

Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) - Elsa

The Thirteenth Tale (Diane Setterfield) - Sherri

February (Lisa Moore) - Hannah

The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood) - Rachel

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith) - Sue

The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy) - Tara

The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Neil Gaiman) - Lois

Have fun picking your top 10!

Sue