"We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck."

I love this first line! It sets the tone for the novel right away. Without reading any further we know:

1. this must be sci-fi;
2. our narrator is sort of disenchanted and surly, most likely young, and will be addressing us with a conversational tone; and
3. when we add the title of the chapter, "your face is not an organ," into the mix, we get the feeling things might get dark. Or sarcastic. Or both. 

So yeah, great first line. And actually, M.T. Anderson does a lot of great things in Feed. The narrator's voice is just one of them.

Published in 2001, Feed gives us a look at a world that's not all that far into the future, a world in which internet connections and IM apps stream directly through our consciousness. If you look around, it's easy to see that we've quickly become a society of people more or less attached to our devices, but what if those devices were internal?

Google Glass is definitely a step in that direction, and people are excited about it. But should they be?


How much technology is too much technology?

Is there even such a thing as too much technology?

When technology allows us to do so many cool things, how can we determine where to draw lines or create boundaries?


It's a brave new world, indeed, and Feed certainly pays homage to our last title. It is, however, a YA book, and you'll recall (or maybe you won't, but I'll remind you) that in one of our first meetings I said that one of the qualities of a YA novel is that it tends to be more hopeful than other adult or classic literature. So that's one thing I want you to think about for our next meeting:

• Is Feed a hopeful book? 

• Does it have a hopeful ending? Why or why not? 

• Between Feed and Brave New World, which book do you think has a more hopeful ending? 

Come ready to discuss - and possibly even debate - the statements, "Feed is ultimately a hopeful novel," and, "Feed ends on a more hopeful note than Brave New World."

See you on December 16th! Happy reading. 

Brave New Blog

 Our next meeting is on November 18th, and we'll be discussing Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. 

First Edition, Chatto & Windus, 1932

One thing you're going to notice right away about Brave New World is that there's a lot of sex. 

Okay, not a lot of sex, exactly, but a lot of sex talk. In fact, that's the way the book starts--with a sex talk to new students touring the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. And this sex talk? It's not your mother's version of the birds and the bees.

In the society of Brave New World, children are neither conceived nor born in the ways we're used to, and as for how they're raised, well, let's just say "family" is a foreign concept for the Londoners of A.F. 632. It's a foreign world, for sure, but it's inspired by ours, and you're sure to see some practices and attitudes that resemble aspects of our society taken to the extreme. Casual sex is one. Consumerism is another. And yes, there are more.

Harper Perennial Classics Edition, 1998

Brave New Understanding

In order to help you better understand the reading, check out the Definitions and Clarifications on the right. Then consider the topics and questions below so you'll be ready for our discussion.

As usual: write, take notes, store ideas in your mental file cabinet--whatever works best for you. Just come ready to talk about this stuff. And feel free to bring some questions of your own for discussion.

For Your Consideration

1. Castes - There's a rigidly structured caste system in A.F. 632. What are the castes, how are they defined, and how is this social separation accomplished? What purpose does it serve? Is it effective? Do we have a caste system in the United States? 
2. Sex - Why is there such a focus on sex in this novel? What role does sex play in the society of A.F. 632? How is that different from the roles sex and sexuality play in our society?
3. Simple Lifers - These folks are briefly mentioned in Chapter Three. Who were they, and what happened to them?
4. Soma - What is this magic drug? How is it used? Why is it used? Do you see any parallels to soma in our society?
5. Ford - What's all this business with Ford? What role does Ford play in this society, and why do you think Huxley chose Ford in particular? 

Vintage Canada Edition, 2007

All right. 

There are about a million more things to discuss in this book ... 

... but we'll keep this list short so as not to overwhelm. If anything jumps out at you while you're reading--anything you don't get or want to discuss--write it down and bring it with you! We'll get through as much as we can. 

Happy reading. 

See you on the 18th.

Pride and Prejudice ... and Zombies?

Absolutely Not
There are no zombies in this book. In fact, if your copy has this first line:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." 

... you've grabbed the wrong book.


The Right Book
Our P&P, the original  P&P, has no mention of the undead (or, for that matter, brains) in its first sentence. And that first sentence? It's one of the most well-known first lines in literature. For confirmation of that fact, check these:

• The 20 Best Opening Lines from Books
• Famous First Lines of Novels
• 30 Great Opening Lines in Literature

See? I'm not making it up. Nor did I make up that spoof of P&P's first line featuring zombies (and brains). It's the first line of a book titled--you guessed it--Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which came out in 2008 and was quickly followed by Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters, Mansfield Park and Mummies, and Emma and the Vampires. 

Who knew there was this whole genre of literature--classic/horror/sci-fi mashups--waiting to be discovered? 

Probably not Jane Austen 200 years ago when Pride and Prejudice was first published (1813). But judging by the humor she exhibits in this novel and others, it seems like Austen would probably get a kick out of these adaptations of her classic novels. 

Wait A Minute--Did You Say Humor?  

Yep. If you haven't noticed it yet you've probably just been a little thrown off by the vocabulary and sentence structure, but Pride and Prejudice is actually a pretty funny book. For an example, let's check out that first line--the real first line--again:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

Uh, no it's not. Not now, and not then. See what Austen's doing there? She's mocking the societal expectations of her generation--particularly the expectations of busybodies like Mrs. Bennet who are wholly obsessed with marrying off their daughters. The conversation that follows between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet confirms the mockery as we see that Mrs. Bennet is so preoccupied with getting one of her daughters hitched to the new bachelor in town (without ever having met, or even seen, him) that she can't tell her husband is toying with her. 

The novel is full of this sort of satirical writing--as well as a healthy dose of romance, feminism, scandal, and melodrama--and that's part of what makes it a classic, a book that has withstood the test of time. At least, I think it has, but we'll see what you think about its relevance in today's world (and today's high school lit classes) when we meet on October 28th. 

And Now, The Questions

You knew they were coming, and here they are. Please take a moment to read them all, and then choose one (or more) to really focus in on prior to our discussion so you'll be ready to offer some deep thoughts when it comes up in the group. 

Just like last time, you can do this in writing (compose an essay, construct a paragraph, jot down some notes or bullet points), or you can do it in another format: create a collage, illustrate or sculpt your answer, keep a mental list in your steel trap of a mind--whatever works best for you. Got it? Okay, go!

1. What does "love" mean in this novel? Is it the same emotion we talk about today? Which characters think that love is a necessary part of adult life? Which don't? What does that say about them?
   
2. What does Austen’s take on marriage seem to be? Which marriages in the novel are “successful” marriages and why? Are there any “unsuccessful” marriages? What makes a marriage good or bad in the context of Pride and Prejudice? Which marriage, in your opinion, represents the best match?
   
3. Let’s talk money. Which plot elements in this novel involve some kind of monetary transaction? Which plotlines don’t involve money at all? Consider your answers to these two questions and explain why you think money is—or isn’t—an important part of the overall plot of Pride and Prejudice.
   
4. Look at the male and female characters in Pride and Prejudice. Which ones do you think Austen wants us to like and approve of, and which ones does she want us to dislike or find questionable? What does this say about Jane Austen’s ideas of gender roles? How are her views similar or different from the views expressed in Graceling? How are they similar or different to your views?
   
5. How are the lives of the poor gentry (the Bennet girls, Charlotte) different from the lives of the rich gentry (Miss Bingley, Miss Darcy, etc.)? How do their options in life compare? How might their approaches to courtship and marriage compare?
   
6. What are the various ways that women relate to each other in this novel? Does the novel give us examples of female friendship, or does it mostly set women up as competitors? What is the difference between sisterhood and friendship?
   
7. Who always says what he/she means? Who never says what he/she means? Which is more effective at getting others to do what the character wants? Explain your answer.
   
8. The novel is titled Pride and Prejudice, so which characters represent pride, and which ones represent prejudice? Explain.
   
9. What similarities and differences do you see between Elizabeth Bennet and Katsa (of Graceling)? What about between Mr. Darcy and Po? Are there any other characters that seem to have matches between books? Who do you think is the stronger female lead character--Elizabeth Bennet or Katsa? Why? And who’s the better man, Darcy or Po? Why?
   
10. Is Pride and Prejudice still relevant in today’s world? Should it be taught as part of high school English classes or are there other books, like Graceling, that tackle similar themes in a more socially relevant way? 

2013 - 2014: Let's Get Started!

Our first book this year is Graceling by Kristin Cashore--a tale filled with action, espionage, secrecy, and a sassy female protagonist who is pretty much a medieval fantasy version of Jason Bourne.

But don't be fooled. Just because it's thriller-esque doesn't mean it's not literary. Graceling deals with plenty of complex themes as the book's main character, Katsa, tries to make her way in the world. There's also a fair amount of symbolism: Katsa's workroom, Katsa's fights with Po, the changing seasons, that mortar cracking in a window frame, and the long and winding road--they all have something to say in this narrative.

And the characters! Katsa, Po, Bitterblue, Randa, Leck, Raffin, Bann, Captain Faun, Ror, Oll, Giddon--they're all pretty well developed and complex. There's not a flat character in the bunch. 

Lots to Talk About, So Come Prepared

We'll be talking about all of these things (and more) when we get together on Monday, September 30th, but just to get you warmed up, here are a few things for you to consider in advance. Go ahead and read all of the questions below. Then choose one (or one set--some of them contain follow-ups) and formulate a really good response. 

You can write out your response and be ready to read it aloud, or you can just make some notes so you won't forget what you wanted to say. OR . . . you can create some kind of illustration to answer one of the questions. Or a song. You get the idea. Just be ready to really dive into at least one of these when we get together. 

And Now, The Questions

1. Why do you think Graceling is divided into three parts: The Lady Killer, The Twisted King, and The Shifting World?
2. It’s been said that in Graceling, Kristin Cashore completely subverts traditional gender roles. What evidence do you see of this over the course of the book?
3. Some people have claimed that Graceling has an anti-marriage message. Do you think that’s true? Why or why not? What elements of the book could cause people to believe it’s anti-marriage? How about passages, events, or characters  that may be pro-marriage? Can you find any of those?
4. Katsa is born with a Grace, but is she also born with an identity? What is it that ultimately determines who Katsa is and what she will become? Is her nature—her identity—something she was born with or something that has evolved over time based on her experiences in life?
5. Both Graceling by Kristin Cashore and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins were published in 2008. Aside from the fact that they are both the first book in a trilogy, what other similarities do you see between the two books? And what do you make of the fact that these books came out at the same time and both became instant bestsellers? What does their appeal say about society and pop culture in the early 21^st Century? Could these two books have been bestsellers in 1950? 1960? 1970? Why or why not?

See you on the 30th! Happy reading (and thinking).

Shrew: Sexist Scenario or Sassy Satire?

Forget "to be or not to be." That (above) is the question when it comes to the title we'll be discussing on June 7th, The Taming of the Shrew by Will.i.am.

Okay. Not Will.i.am. William. Shakespeare.
But anyway . . .

It's a Man's World
One thing you'll find as you read this play is that the women aren't treated very well. The premise of the whole thing, after all, is that a wealthy man named Baptista won't let his beautiful and much sought after younger daughter (Bianca) get married until someone agrees to take his shrewish older daughter (Kate) off his hands. (We can only hope that Kate stiffed Baptista every time Father's Day rolled around.)

Two buddies hatch a plan whereby one of them will "take one for the team" and court Kate so the other can make a play for Bianca. Of course, Petrucchio, the team player in this scenario, won't come out empty handed. Since Baptista is rich, Kate's hand in marriage will be accompanied by a nice dowry. Plus, Petrucchio fancies himself a bit of a shrew-tamer and relishes the challenge. (Hm. Does that make him a good sport or a domestic abuse enthusiast? Tough call.)

Or Is It?
It's all pretty despicable . . . unless, of course, you view it as a satire. But like I said before, that's the million dollar question here:

Is The Taming of the Shrew a satire, or is it sexist?

As You Read
Try to find clues that indicate one interpretation or the other--either that Shrew is sexism at its finest, or that it's a satire, suggesting that treating women as chattel to be domesticated and sold off (ahem, married) is a ludicrous manner in which to approach romance and matrimony. Make a note of anything you see that sways you in one direction or the other. 

It's also important to note that the way a particular director decides to stage specific action and scenes could have a great effect on the audience's interpretation of the play, so . . .

As You Read: Part 2
Be on the lookout for lines that could be delivered in a particular way--or actions that could be carried out at various points--to indicate whether the play is serious or satirical in its depiction of male-female relations. Essentially, think about how you--if you were the director--would direct your cast in order to communicate either sexism or satire in particular scenes. Again, make a note of your ideas so we can discuss them when we meet.

Bring your observations with you--in writing, or noted in your text--to our next (and last!) lit group for 2012-2013.

See you on the 7th!

Big Brother is Watching . . .

. . . and Little Brother is rebelling. 
Our next title is (you guessed it) Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. We'll be meeting on May 10th to discuss it.

The title is obviously an homage to Orwell's classic, 1984, but as you can see from the cover, this book has more of a "Take Back the Night" feel to it . . .  or at least it would, if "Take Back the Night" involved tech gadgets, hoodies, and a whole lot of stomping. But you know what I mean.

I think you're going to really enjoy this book, and it will give you a lot to think about in terms of the choices you make every day when you log on to Facebook and Tumblr, use a cell phone, or click "Agree" at the end of a Terms and Services screen (that you haven't read) for the seventh time in a single day.

As you devour this book, consider the various ways in which it is tied to 1984. After all, Doctorow wouldn't have titled his novel "Little Brother" if Orwell hadn't been on his mind. You also might want to check out BoingBoing, the blog Doctorow co-edits. The front page is great, and the TECH section in particular often links to interesting articles such as this one from Wired magazine: Siri Remembers Your Secrets, But for How Long?

For our discussion . . . Complete one of the following, please:

• Is it real or is it make-believe? Doctorow mentions several technological gadgets that are employed either by Marcus or by the DHS: arphids, gait recognition software, Paranoid XBox, the homemade LED-ringed-toilet-paper-roll-spycam-locator, and about two thousand more. Which ones exist and are in use now (or can be made and used), and which ones are purely fictional? You don't have to find every last one. Just get a decent list going and tell us what's what.
  
  
• Ponder the fine line between providing reasonable national security and infringing upon people's Civil Rights. What challenges do we face as a nation in terms of maintaining security for our citizen's while ensuring basic freedoms? Where do we currently stand on this continuum? What do we, as citizens, need to do to ensure that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness continue to be perceived as unalienable rights? Write a short essay in which you discuss any of these questions or variations on this topic.
  
  
• Locate a news article (or two, or several) describing a security measure currently in use that could be seen as infringing upon basic rights--or that seems like a step in that direction. We already talked about the school that got in trouble for activating the webcams on its students' laptops (and yes, it was in Pennsylvania; I really have to stop trying to pin everything on Alabama), so steer clear of that one. Rest assured, there are still plenty of instances of covert surveillance out there. Find one (or two, or several) and bring it (or them) to share.
  
  
• As always, if you are inspired in some other way by this novel--to paint, draw, sketch, program, write, build, or create something--do it. And bring your results for everyone to contemplate. 

That's it. See you on May 10th.

1984 in 2013

War is peace.

Freedom is slavery.

Ignorance is strength.

These are the slogans of The Party -- the governmental entity that's running the show in George Orwell's novel 1984.


We'll be meeting on April 12th to discuss Orwell's prophetic book, and it was prophetic indeed. Originally published in 1949, the novel remains startlingly relevant today.

Incidentally, if it was published in 1949, that probably means he was finishing it up in 1948. Can you guess how he came up with the date for his title? 

Of course, it's now 2013 (nearly 30 years AFTER the ominous title date and almost 65 years after Orwell wrote it), but as I said, this novel remains a stern warning of the kind of society that can be produced by a totalitarian government. Of course, the best way to see what 1984 is all about is to read it.

As you read, consider the following questions: 

1. What role does technology play in the book? How does the Party use it? Do you see any "real life" examples of technology being used in this way today?
   
2. How does the Party control language, and why do they do it?

And when you've finished reading, complete one of the assignments below and bring it to our discussion on the 12th:

• Answer  one of the questions above in writing.
  
• Identify a major theme of the book and be ready to explain why you think it is a major theme (you should be able to offer evidence from the book as support). For example, if you decided that one of the major themes of the book was "Allowing goats to drive will surely bring about the end of civilization," you ought to be able to point to a few quotes that demonstrate the ill effects of granting drivers' licenses to our caprine friends.
  
• Find a current news article that seems to be telling the truth, and rewrite it in Newspeak. Or, find a current news article that seems to employ a bit of Newspeak and explain how it does so.
  
• Complete an assignment of your own design. Did reading this book make you want to write, draw, make a collage, take a few photos, paint, blog, research a modern society that resembles Oceania (there are a few)? Go ahead. And bring your 1984-inspired creation to our discussion. 

Questions? Post them here. I'll see you on the 12th. Until then, happy reading!

March 8th: The House on Mango Street

March brings many things:

• the NCAA basketball tournament (almost time to fill out your bracket). 
• the first day of spring (in name if not in deed).
  
  And, for us:
  
• The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

I'll tell you up front: this book is very short--only 107 pages--and yet it has 44 chapters. Forty four.  You know what that means: short chapters. Some are only a paragraph long.

Yep, you could probably read this whole thing in one 45-minute sitting, and if you want to, super. Just be aware that these chapters, while small, pack a lot of punch, so there are a few things it will be useful to know going in. 

An Unusual Format

First off, instead of telling a story with a distinct beginning, middle, and end, this book contains a series of vignettes that paint a picture of life on Mango Street from the point of view of our narrator, Esperanza. 

The House on Mango Street doesn't have a typical story arc. It's more like a series of blog entries that bring you into Esperanza's world and let you see it through her eyes. 

A Unique Use of Language

Secondly, in places you may find the language challenging, although not in the same way that Their Eyes Were Watching God was challenging; the narrative isn't written in a dialect. Phew, right? The words will be easy enough to read, but quite often they only hint at the full meaning of a particular vignette. You will have to really think about, and sometimes reread, sections in order to understand what exactly is being revealed about Esperanza, her family, her friends, and her neighborhood.

Cisneros uses a lot of imagery, which is why at times her prose reads like poetry, and she also frequently employs similes and metaphors.

Sima-whos and Meta-whats?
Both similes and metaphors are figures of speech that are used to compare things, they just do it in slightly different ways.

Similes use the words like or as:

• he's as skinny as a greyhound
• my hands are as cold as ice
• she runs like the wind

Metaphors generally use forms of the verb to be (is, are, am, were, was, etc.):

• my room is a train wreck
• she's a whirlwind
• life is a roller coaster

Now that I've pointed these out, you'll notice them on every page. If you see any that you particularly like, jot them down so you can share them when we meet.

Okay. That's it for information on the front end. Now for your assignment.

Your Assignment
Put your natural talents to work--or step outside your comfort zone and try something new. It's your choice. Complete ONE of the following and bring it with you on the 8th.

1. Illustrate one of the vignettes. Draw, paint, sketch, color, make a collage, use your computer, use your camera--whatever works. Make a visual vignette of a vignette. Capture the scene or mood visually. For fun, don't title it. Just bring it and let us guess which chapter it's from.

2. Write your own vignette. Somewhere between a paragraph and a page or two. Use one of Esperanza's topics (your house, your family, your name, a friend, a really good day, a favorite store or hangout) or come up with one of your own. Remember: it doesn't need to be a story. You're just trying to capture a moment in time, a slice of life.

3. Take one of Esperanza's vignettes and rewrite it as a news brief. Many of them involve incidents that could easily appear in your daily newspaper. Auto theft? Kids playing on the roof when one jumps or falls? Yeah, I'd say those are newsworthy. So are several others. Choose one and rewrite it like a short news article. Don't forget to include the five Ws (who, what, when, where, why). You may have to fill in some of the facts yourself, but that's okay. Just try to keep it plausible.

All right. That's it. Good luck to you all, and I'll see you on the 8th.

Happy reading. 

Feb 15th: Their Eyes Were Watching God

Brrrrrr . . . it's cold out there. Perfect time for a novel set in sunny Florida.

Our next book is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Here are a couple of key facts to get you started:

>> Hurston wrote this novel during seven weeks in Haiti. (Perhaps it was part of her own  NaNoWriMo in the late 1930's . . .)

>> Although published in 1937, it didn't get wide recognition until the mid-1970's, about 15 years after Hurston's death. 

>> Richard Wright, author of Black Boy, was highly critical of Their Eyes Were Watching God. In a 1937 review, he said the book carried "no theme, no message, no thought," and that, "Miss Hurston seems to have no desire whatever to move in the direction of serious fiction."

AND ONE MORE:

>> Hurston died penniless on January 28, 1960 and was buried in an unmarked grave which remained that way until the novelist Alice Walker (The Color Purple, By the Light of My Father's Smile, etc.) located the grave in 1973 and placed a marker on it reading: "A Genius of the South. Novelist. Folklorist. Antrhopologist."

Now, for your assignment . . .

The items below are all used as symbols in this novel. Choose one and make a note each time it is mentioned throughout the novel. Include the quote in which the object is mentioned (or notes about when/why it is mentioned) along with the page number. If you're listening to an audiobook version, you should still write down the quote or context and do your best to note the chapter, track, or just what's going on at that point. 

When you've finished reading the book, you should have more than a few notes or quotes for your object, and by examining them, you may be able to figure out what it represents. Bring your notes with you for the discussion. 

Choose one of the items below to keep track of: 

• hair
• the pear tree
• the horizon
• the hurricane
• the mule
• the sun
  
  OR
  
• something else that you notice and want to examine

Happy reading! See you on the 15th.