The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry - June CC Book Club Selection

[Mary13]

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@Caraid

there is a new market out there for albums and artists are now making and selling records again.

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<p>My daughter is taking a turntable back to college with her. “Mom,” she said, “Vinyl is the only way to listen to music.”</p>

<p>I laughed and thought wistfully of my warped and scratched Red Album (which was not black, but actually red, the epitome of cool). Those were the days. What next, the return of the 8-track tape? :)</p>

[Mary13]

<p>Today I was reading about “New Criticism,” which argues that “authorial intent is irrelevant to understanding a work of literature… it successfully makes the reader or the consumer of the story the only authority on its meaning as opposed to the author or creator of the work.” <a href=“Authorial intent - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorial_intent&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This reminded me of something Richard Bausch said in the interview posted earlier, about “What Feels Like the World”:</p>

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It was after it had been in the magazine, and sometime just before it appeared in my first book of stories, that I was visiting a class my friend the poet Roland Flint was teaching and he pointed out what the story was really about: “It is soaked in grief,” he said. “And of course grief, the thing you can’t get over, is that vaulting horse.” I did not know this in the writing of it and this is why I talk so much about trying to let go of what you think and just feel your way through it like a child making that drawing, seeing it directly and without attitudes or opinions or, really, beliefs, either.

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[mathmom]

<p>Hmm, I can see it both ways. Of course if the audience can’t grasp what the author’s intent was, then the author’s intent is sort of pointless. If the author’s intent lies at least partly in his unconscious I think it’s a plus when a reader or reviewer can communicate that back to the author. Or just enjoy the story on a deeper level than the author intended. On the other hand, I think that sometimes readers (and especially teachers of high school English!) can insert symbolism and meaning where it really doesn’t belong. Hemingway said about The Old Man and the Sea

“No good book has ever been written that has in it symbols arrived at beforehand and stuck in,” says Hemingway. “That kind of symbol sticks out like raisins in raisin bread. Raisin bread is all right, but plain bread is better.” He opens two bottles of beer and continues: “I tried to make a real old man, a real boy, a real sea and a real fish and real sharks. But if I made them good and true enough they would mean many things. The hardest thing is to make something really true and sometimes truer than true.”

But people have been writing about its religious symbolism since it was published (and honestly it does seem pretty obvious to me that it’s there and intentional whatever he says.)</p>

<p>I disliked the Flannery O’Connor story when I read it. My six word summary: “Unpleasant family. Everyone dies. Grandma’s fault.” But it does stay with you. I’ve read a number of explanations of what she was thinking about and the sort of religious explanation, that somehow this self centered woman almost connects, almost finds grace right before being killed along with all the rest of her family, seems as plausible an explanation for what was going on as anything.</p>

[Mary13]

<p>

“No good book has ever been written that has in it symbols arrived at beforehand and stuck in,” says Hemingway. “That kind of symbol sticks out like raisins in raisin bread. Raisin bread is all right, but plain bread is better.”

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<p>This is fun (see opening paragraph below): <a href=“The Paris Review - Document: The Symbolism Survey - The Paris Review”>http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2011/12/05/document-the-symbolism-survey/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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In 1963, a sixteen-year-old San Diego high school student named Bruce McAllister sent a four-question mimeographed survey to 150 well-known authors of literary, commercial, and science fiction. Did they consciously plant symbols in their work? he asked. Who noticed symbols appearing from their subconscious, and who saw them arrive in their text, unbidden, created in the minds of their readers? When this happened, did the authors mind?

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[PlantMom]

<p>Now I like Ralph Ellison’s response:

“Yes, readers often infer there is symbolism in my work, which I do not intend. My reaction is sometimes annoyance. It is sometimes humurous. It is sometimes even pleasant, indicating that the reader’s mind has collaborated in a creative way with what I have written.”

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<p>It seems complementary to his readers!</p>

[NJTheatreMOM]

<p>It was interesting seeing the different authors’ handwriting, or in the case of some like Norman Mailer, their typing.</p>

[Mary13]

<p>

It is sometimes even pleasant, indicating that the reader’s mind has collaborated in a creative way with what I have written."

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<p>Reminds me of Ann Patchett’s quote: “I believe literature takes place between the writer and the reader. You bring your imagination, they bring theirs, and together you make a book.” </p>

[Mary13]

<p>Moving on to August…</p>

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@ignatius

I love love love Lonesome Dove and am up for it as a book club choice.

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@NJTheatreMOM

I have not read Lonesome Dove but I’d certainly be willing to do so.

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@mathmom

I’d be up for Lonesome Dove, I bought it years ago when it was new, intending to read it, but never got around to it.

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@PlantMom

I’ve never read Lonesome Dove, but I’d like to.

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@buenavista

I’ve never read Lonesome Dove either! I wouldn’t mind reading a western; it’s not a genre I’d read on my own.

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@CBBBlinker

Haven’t read Lonesome Dove, so would also be up for that as a next/future pick here.

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<p>What do you say, my friends? Shall we dispense with the usual formalities and call it for Lonesome Dove? </p>

<p>Book Club By-laws Article III, Section 5, Clause 2 states that we can alter the method by which we select a book at any time, for any reason, with such amendment contingent upon majority consent. :-B </p>

<p>Let me know what you think!</p>

[SouthJerseyChessMom]

<p>I hadn’t read many of the short stories ( although I read about them) and will select the top ones from your lists and will read them.
**Ignatius **great idea to ask people to list their favorites! </p>

<p>Love the idea of Lonesome Dove a book endorsed by so many, especially you, **mary13! **</p>

<p>Do want to add, that one of my favorite short stories, is Many Moons, written by James Thurber, and about how we all see the world differently. While, I agree with **NJTheatermom’s **perspective on The storied Life, I have expanded my appreciation of the book, with thanks to eveyone’s varying " perspectives" ! Good discussion, ya all. </p>

[CBBBlinker]

<p>LOL, Mary13! I mean, if it’s in the Bylaws, it’s fine with me!</p>

[NJTheatreMOM]

<p>I’m fine with Lonesome Dove. Looking forward to reading a book that is pretty much a “sure thing”!</p>

[NJTheatreMOM]

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@SouthJerseyChessMom

Do want to add, that one of my favorite short stories, is Many Moons, written by James Thurber, and about how we all see the world differently.

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<p>I should check that one out. I remember thinking that Thurber’s story “More Alarms at Night” was one of the funniest things I ever read.</p>

[ignatius]

<p>

“Well, here’s where we find out if we was meant to be cowboys […]” p 258 Lonesome Dove

Couldn’t resist </p>

<p>Well, my summer reading just got easier. I’m on page 551 of Lonesome Dove as of today. The book reads quickly so don’t worry about its length.</p>

<p>My older sister read it when it first published. She had a conference to attend in San Antonio and took it with her. She wasn’t a fan of westerns but planned to read this one because of the buzz about it. She started it the night before the conference, picked it up again the next afternoon … and then never went back to conference. She stayed in her hotel room and read till finished. We were all surprised (including her) because she’s the last person who’d plan to attend something and then just skip it.</p>

<p>SJCM: If you’re reading posters’ favorite short stories, approach mine with caution. I listed “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” but I like it in the same way I like Poe. Don’t think of it as a warm fuzzy read.</p>

<p>And please list the books you’re reading now or in the next few weeks. It’s always interesting to see what’s on that bedside table. Mine:</p>

<p>Lonesome Dove - have to finish … yeah
The Hound of the Baskervilles - real life book club in six days. I’m halfway through … no problem
Willful Creatures - Aimee Bender - short stories - I got it to read “Ironhead” and plan to read the rest. Have read another one “Death Watch” and it had the same mix of weird but good as “Ironhead”.</p>

<p>I also picked up two from the library which have to be read and returned within two weeks (wait list). Doubtful I get both read.
The Husband’s Secret - Liane Moriarty
Midnight Crossroad - Charlaine Harris (New trilogy from the author of the Southern Vampire series - think HBO’s True Blood) </p>

[Mary13]

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@SouthJerseyChessMom

Do want to add, that one of my favorite short stories, is Many Moons, written by James Thurber, and about how we all see the world differently.

</p>

<p>Love it! Here it is: <a href=“http://sujith_v.tripod.com/stories/moons.txt”>http://sujith_v.tripod.com/stories/moons.txt</a></p>

<p>It won the Caldecott medal in 1944. Seems like a story A.J. would have enjoyed reading to Maya–a beautiful little girl in a world of silly adults.</p>

[NJTheatreMOM]

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@ignatius

And please list the books you’re reading now or in the next few weeks. It’s always interesting to see what’s on that bedside table.

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<p>I’m currently reading In the Light of What We Know by Zia Haider Rahman.</p>

<p><a href=“The World As We Know It | The New Yorker”>The World As We Know It | The New Yorker;

<p>My other book group is discussing the plays Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill and M Butterfly by David Henry Hwang.</p>

[PlantMom]

<p>I ordered a used paperback copy of Lonesome Dove a few days ago and I look forward to reading it. Great story about your sister, Ignatius. That’s the kind of recommendation that I like!</p>

<p>Currently in progress for me: </p>

<p>Bark by Lorrie Moore–almost done with these short stories
The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz–reading selected parts
Farewell, My Subaru by Doug Fine–almost done
The Collected Works of Samuel Beckett: More Pricks Than Kicks–getting a taste not sure I’ll finish this one
Forgotten Grasslands of the South * by Reed F. Noss slowly working through</p>

<p>In the pile:

• Mr. Penumbra’s 25-Hour Bookstore *by Robin Sloan–recommended because I bought Fikry
  The Little Locksmith by Katharine Butler Hathaway
  A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams–fluff, beach read!</p>

[Mary13]

<p>I don’t know yet what route my summer reading will take. I’m not good at reading books concurrently. As hard as I try to keep them separate, the characters keep wandering out of the pages of one book and into the other. </p>

<p>I may just jump right into those 820 pages of Lonesome Dove. I second ignatius’ comment re not worrying about the length. I mentioned to my husband that I was re-reading Lonesome Dove and he said “You’ll fly right through it–it’s like The Stand in that way.” True! Another lengthy tome that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.</p>

[mathmom]

<p>I’m good with Lonesome Dove.</p>

<p>I’m currently reading one of the Dresden File books - Cold something or other. I am also slowly making my way through Keith Richard’s [i[Life.* I’m on page 250 of Brandon Sanderson’s [iWords of Radiance*, but my younger son snatched it back, so it’s up in Boston. I’ll either go back to it in August when he’ll be back from his summer job, or break down and buy a copy for us, or maybe it will appear at the library.</p>

[NJTheatreMOM]

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@Mary13

I’m not good at reading books concurrently. As hard as I try to keep them separate, the characters keep wandering out of the pages of one book and into the other.

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<p>That’s a funny thought, Mary. If I were a comedy writer, I bet I could come up with some hilarious wanderings!</p>

<p>Maybe I’ll try reading *Lonesome Dove<a href=“didn’t%20realize%20it%20was%20800%20pages!”>/i</a> concurrently with the 500-page book I’m currently reading. It takes place in the present day, in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the UK, New York and Princeton. I doubt there would be much wandering of characters between those settings and the American West of the 1800s.</p>

[ignatius]

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@PlantMom

In the pile:
Mr. Penumbra’s 25-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan–recommended because I bought Fikry

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<p>I read that a year and a half ago or so. Liked the characters (the bookstore being one) … some of the technology drifted over my head … but good book.</p>

<p>I forgot to mention that I seriously plan to read Megan Whalen Turner’s The Queen’s Thief series over the next couple months. I’ve read the first three The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, and The King of Attolia. I have had A Conspiracy of Kings sitting here since it came out. So I’ll happily be spending time wrapped up in that world.</p>