AAUW CAOnline Book Group

Brava, Jumpa Lahiri! Your novels and stories are s...

2009-05-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Brava, Jumpa Lahiri! Your novels and stories are so true, they make me weep. I can't wait to read your new collection.

I love short stories! One of the things that make...

2009-05-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

I love short stories! One of the things that make these stories remarkable is that the characters are dealing with the problems of their daily lives, not because they are Indian. They are simply people from India who happen to have problems in their daily lives.
Harriet

I loved the quick wit of the movie "Juno," but fre...

2008-12-01T21:06:00.000-08:00

I loved the quick wit of the movie "Juno," but fretted about how it seemed an unrealistically rosy picture of teen pregnancy. Here's a book that looks at another era altogether. The title character in the fictitious movie "Juno" only has a few brief moments of adults judging her, yet here Fessler depicts an era when everything about being an unwed pregnant woman was enormously, endlessly shameful.

No, I haven't read the book yet, but I was so intrigued by the subtitle and summary here that I looked up the NY Times Book Review and also listened to a NPR interview of Fessler. Very interesting! I'm looking forward to reading this one.

I haven't read this one (yet!), but since this mon...

2008-11-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

I haven't read this one (yet!), but since this month's "diversity" theme is about Native Americans, I also recommend Louise Erdrich's novel, "The Plague of Doves." It looks at the interwoven relationships between whites and Native Americans through several generations in a small North Dakota community. Erdrich is a gifted author -- well worth reading!

This sneak-peek makes me want to run out and get a...

2008-11-07T16:08:00.000-08:00

This sneak-peek makes me want to run out and get a copy! Thanks for posting it -

As Nancy says, it sure is "dense" but fascinating ...

2008-10-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

As Nancy says, it sure is "dense" but fascinating to scan text and look at the charts and graphs. If you do, notice the lack of information about AAUW except its listing in the time chart on pages 386-7. GFWC, similar and nearly as old, receives more notice. Hmmm....
Mary Rack

Thanks! I'll check the library today for Bowling A...

2008-10-16T05:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks! I'll check the library today for Bowling Alone.
To paraphrase and/or expand on Sandy's question: Do e-social connections help people fill the social gaps in their "off-line lives"? People differ so there are multiple answers. In my case they enable experiments with untested personality facets and provide opportunity to exchange views with people who would otherwise be out of reach. That fills my desire for the stimulation of interaction with rare and special people. But the process is slow and I start wanting the added dimension of in-person contact. That leads me to travel across the country which in turn limits my availability for involvement in my new home state and community.
In a word, it's just one more way I can broaden my life experience.

Hmm...The online communities are very important to...

2008-10-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

Hmm...

The online communities are very important to me personally - helping me learn, offering opportunities to teach, and connecting me with new and interesting people. On the other hand, we've seen that it's pretty difficult to do "projects" that affect the community from within the online realm.

My hope is that the online connections have some overlap in keeping people connected and part of the conversation-- and when a community-based opportunity arises, they are more ready to take advantage of it.

This is part of what we're trying to build with the NC Branch without Borders. As a branch, it's not much more than a "roster" -- but folks can connect with each other on an ad hoc basis (perhaps there's a burning issue in front of the school board -- or maybe it's just someone new moving to town). On the other hand, if there's nothing to drive the connection, the branch itself is very "light weight" -- no "work" that needs a dozen or so people to keep going.

Is this a good model? or is it not much better than bowling alone? Time will tell...

Nancy, how do you think options like the Online br...

2008-10-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

Nancy, how do you think options like the Online branch of AAUW or Facebook social connections contribute to building community? In other words, are the electronic connections helping to alleviate the challenges of people working together in their busy lives?

In 2001, Ruth Sweetser (then the chair of the Asso...

2008-10-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

In 2001, Ruth Sweetser (then the chair of the Association College/University relations committee) was the leader-on-loan to the AAUW NC convention. In the course of our conversations, she recommended this book.

I read it over the next year (some parts are fairly dense social science prose) and it has been one of the most important influences in my AAUW life.

The message I took away was that organizations like AAUW branches build social capital and connectedness -- and those translate to marked benefits in society -- from health to happiness.

But if that message doesn't resonate, at least pull the book off the library shelf and check out the graphs at the back. We are not alone in the dramatic drop in membership -- which has only gotten worse since the book was published in 2000.

I recommend this book as background for the enormous changes we're facing as we continue to break through barriers to advance equity for women and girls.

On a personal note... I picked up this book and st...

2008-10-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

On a personal note... I picked up this book and started reading it just as the market meltdown became screaming headlines and the Congress considered legislation for a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. I couldn't help wondering what Malkiel would have to say about all this in his NEXT edition of this excellent book!

This is a fine introduction to a compelling book. ...

2008-08-31T04:55:00.000-07:00

This is a fine introduction to a compelling book. If I hadn't read it I'd get a copy at once! Fact, skillfully presented, can indeed be stranger than fiction. I recommend it equally to lovers of biography and lovers of mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this biographical novel. I've...

2008-07-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

I thoroughly enjoyed this biographical novel. I've read a number of biographies about Wright and books about his work. We visited Talesin on one of our Wisconsin trips a few years ago. The book perfectly described this beautiful area of Wisconsin. I did not remember all the details of Wright's affair. As the ladies were giving their talks in Oak Park, they reminded me of AAUW section meetings! An excellently researched first novel; I'll look forward to reading subsequent books as time goes by. Loving Frank--a perfect title. No one loved Frank more than Frank himself as this tale was spun.

Sandy H

I had the same question as Mary -- wondering why B...

2008-06-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

I had the same question as Mary -- wondering why BJ shot Jacky. I hadn't considered the possibility of Icy being the shooter, but I think Harriet is right that that is the likeliest possibility.

Harriet asked about the role of Tuscany telling the story. When I got to the end and read her closing comments, I had to go back to the beginning and read it again to remind myself of the relationships she alludes to (i.e., Daddy being a "she"). My gut tells me that was Lee Smith having some fun. Honestly, I didn't think it added much to the story, because it was too separate from the story itself. But it sure made me laugh -- what a character!

Smith's style of writing is very engaging, with vividly drawn characters and many creative touches. I enjoyed this book, although not as much as her "Fair and Tender Ladies," which I thought was brilliant.

As a longtime Lee Smith fan, I really enjoyed this...

2008-06-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

As a longtime Lee Smith fan, I really enjoyed this book. Smith has a wonderful sense of voice and place with her characters; they are so authentic. Although she usually writes in a more modern setting, this historical novel is as good as anything she has written.
Mary asked why BJ shot Jacky. I am not entirely convinced that he did. Isn't it possible that Icy was the first shooter? If it was BJ, he most certainly did it so that Molly would be become his woman, not understanding that she would deny him that role in her life.
I would like to ask the group about the significance of Tuscany in the telling of the story.

Thank you all so much for these astute comments. I...

2008-06-04T03:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you all so much for these astute comments. I am sorry we were not all in a room together having this discussion.

Mary said the Esther-Rebecca-George triangle was t...

2008-05-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

Mary said the Esther-Rebecca-George triangle was the most powerful to her, and I agree it was certainly the central one in the story. But I also thought the triangle from 1911 of the 2 sisters and the one's fiance was the pivotal one, in that the loss of the two left the surviving sister taking on the identity of her sibling (fiance and all!). And part of the beauty of the ending was seeing that broken triangle relationship restored and repaired... like a musical dissonance that needs a resolution to feel complete.

I noticed the 1911-9/11 connection, too. So clever! Two NYC tragedies linked in remarkable ways.

I am enjoying this! The fact that Weber's book has...

2008-05-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying this! The fact that Weber's book has inspired such a great discussion in our group makes me want to read her other books. "Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear", "The Music Lesson" and "The Little Women" all preceded this book. From the blurbs I have read, I think she employs these interesting themes of inter-connection, perception and interpretation in all of them.

It just hit me--1911--09/11! We should be sitting ...

2008-05-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

It just hit me--1911--09/11! We should be sitting around over coffee--good discussion! Yes I'd love to hear the music.

Sandy H

More on the music: The book would be a good movie ...

2008-05-19T05:28:00.000-07:00

More on the music: The book would be a good movie with George's music in background as key. I once saw an interview with composers competing to write the score for a film. This would be a dandy. If nothing else I can hear the magic fire music from Gotterdammerung at the end!

More about triangles: For me the most powerful was Esther-Rebecca-George. The death of Esther's son leads to a bond between her and Rebecca, but a third person is needed for a triangle. Then George enters their lives. The triangle is complete when they unite in the embrace that enables her to end her life in peace. What symbolism! I wonder if the author had that in mind.

Yes Harriet, that was one of the sets of triangles...

2008-05-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

Yes Harriet, that was one of the sets of triangles I identified. Also--3 main female characters--Esther, Ruth, and Rebecca; 3 male characters--George, Jacobs and Gottesfeld (book went back to library--can't remember first names); Both George and Rebecca were only children--so they were both in 3-person families--as well as their own at the end--the list goes on. I almost felt that 9/11 was the completion of the triangle with the fire and the music. Did anyone else?

George's device for creating music--and the emphasis placed on it reminded me of the music theory I had when I pursued a minor--might have been difficult for someone who had little experience with music.

As to Ruth the HerStorian. She certainly came on strong and focused and was often insensitive. Yet she brought Rebecca and George to learn many things about their backgrounds that never would have been learned.

As to Sandy K's query re Huntington's I did not make that connection--though it's certainly plausible.

I'm glad this was accepted by Association for their booklist. It was an interesting read.

Sandy H

It just occured to me that the Star of David is an...

2008-05-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

It just occured to me that the Star of David is an intersection of two triangles. Probably doesn't mean anything, but . . .

It has been a long time since I read this book, bu...

2008-05-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I read this book, but I remember that Weber repeatedly uses triangles throughout the story. I think I read an interview where she talked about how she uses connections and themes in her books.
Ruth Zion triangulates -- finding various facts and then making her best guess at the truth.
George uses DNA, his feeling for music and his knowledge of the person to "triangulate" a composition.
To answer Mary, I don't know that it adds anything to the story other than being another contrivance used by the author.

I hadn't even thought about the triangle relations...

2008-05-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

I hadn't even thought about the triangle relationship in this story -- what a fascinating observation, Sandy H! Don't know the answer to your question about the significance of the number 3 in Jewish tradition, in particular, but the number 3 is certainly the "magic" number in much of folklore and storytelling.

Mary's question about the extensive details of George's linking chemistry to music was intriguing. I never thought of it as a device for a potential sequel. Instead, I found the music to be the artistic device that ultimately "told" the story, in the voice of his grand composition about the fire tragedy. Music seemed to be the voice for so much of what George felt and thought -- about his fascination with the world on its most basic, atomic level; as well as his fear of a gruesome disease and death.

Anyone have some thoughts about my questions? Sorry if I was greedy and had three instead of just one, but the book IS the "Triangle" after all...

I loved this book for its lesson in the value of r...

2008-05-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

I loved this book for its lesson in the value of relationships the importance of keeping faith with them and nurturing them.
Now I have a quesion: I enjoyed the details of George's ingenious linkage of chemistry and musical composition but I can't figure out why it occupied so much of the book. I thought it added nothing to this story but I could easily see it as the basis for another novel. A sequel, perhaps? Can anyone explain its relevance in this book to me? I'd appreciate it.