Things Fall Apart – June CC Book Club Selection

Parents Forum Parent Cafe
101

<p>That’s true. As far as our own culture is concerned, I couldn’t really think of a parallel for the Chielo scenario – except perhaps psychics or mediums, but they aren’t generally accepted as legitimate in the way Chielo is. However, reverence for and dependence upon the wisdom of one’s ancestors made me think of our Founding Fathers, who are sometimes given godlike status. Here is an interesting (and occasionally amusing) discussion on the topic from an online forum: </p>

<p><a href="http://www./r/AskHistorians/comments/z6mqy/why_the_reverence_for_the_founding_fathers/%5B/url%5D">http://www./r/AskHistorians/comments/z6mqy/why_the_reverence_for_the_founding_fathers/</a></p>

<p>Hmmm…I don’t know why CC doesn’t like that site. If you’re interested, google “why the reverence for the founding fathers ask historians” (reddit)</p>

102

<p>We had a small group this time, but we covered a lot of ground over the past 10 days, touching on nearly every discussion question. As things wind down, I thought it might be nice to read the wonderful William Butler Yeats poem referenced in question #17. There is more here that applies to Achebe’s story than just the “things fall apart” line:</p>

<p>The Second Coming</p>

<p>Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.</p>

<p>Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? </p>

<p>…</p>

<p>We can start anytime to talk about an August selection, if everyone is game.</p>

103

<p>The poem really captures a sense of dread during changing times: great choice for this book. Once again, Achebe takes something simple (title of the book) and gives it depth.</p>

<p>Thanks, all, for the illuminating discussion once again…onto a new beginning (minus the dread)!</p>

104

<p>I’m glad this book is so often required in school. It is a great book on many levels-psychological character study, a different cultural perspective. The poem ties together so many feelings-a sense of foreboding. No culture can know the future and none of us can be completely comfortable with what the future might bring.</p>

105

<p>I read Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life and liked it. She’s a good writer, and one of her books might be an appropriate book club pick.</p>

<p>Only two arguments against Life After Life: It may still be hard to get hold of, and there are big chunks of the book that take place during the Blitz in London in WWII and are pretty unnerving.</p>

<p>I’d be interested in trying something else by Atkinson, maybe Behind the Scenes at the Museum or Human Croquet.</p>

106

<p>I’ve always loved that poem, thanks for posting it.</p>

<p>While the village might not have a government, it reminded me of New England town meetings where you try to get a consensus and not just a majority vote.</p>

107

<p>Behind the Scenes at the Museum looks interesting. I would consider it. I bought Life After Life and haven’t read it yet, so I am willing to add that book to this month’s list. I would also like to put The Stockholm Octavo on the list again.</p>

108

<p>The Stockholm Octavio interests me as well!</p>

109

<p>So far:</p>

<p>Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann</p>

<p>I’m happy with any of the above. My only requirement at this point is nothing by Robert Goolrick. Ever. I just finished A Reliable Wife and thought it was terrible. I got a perverse pleasure out of reading the titles of the one-star reviews on Amazon: “Horrible from start to finish,” “Overwrought mess,” “Really, really awful,” and my personal favorite, “I wanted someone to stab my eyes.”</p>

110

<p>^ mary13 sad when the best thing about a book, is getting enjoyment out of reading Amazon readers negative reviews. </p>

<p>also, Mary13 good post #99.
Am 1/2 through Life after Life… Have to reserve opinion at this point. I keep thinking of Groundhog Day.</p>

111

<p>I am happy with any of the three listed above. Just for the record, the only one available through my library system: The Stockholm Octavo. Life after Life has quite a few on the wait list. *Behind the Scenes at the Museum<a href=“published%20Jan.%201996”>/i</a> just isn’t there - anymore. That said, I don’t mind buying our book club choices.</p>

<p>I’ll add three titles, all of which are so new that they too would be a purchase. Still, some of our most popular choices have been books I’ve had to buy. The Help comes to mind.</p>

<p>Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie<br>
Americanah would turn Things Fall Apart into the first in a duet for us. I’m suggesting it for that reason. Truthfully, few joined us in the discussion of Things Fall Apart, so take that into consideration … and personally, I still plan to read the last in The African Trilogy, so may or may not be in the mood. Americanah is getting some good, good reviews though, so thought it should be considered.</p>

<p>The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker<br>
Seen some book buzz about this one too and you have to admit we haven’t read anything like it. :wink: I’m throwing the title out in case we want to consider something different.</p>

<p>*The Silver Star * - Jeannette Walls<br>
I think a lot of people will be picking this one up so it might be a good one for discussion. I never read The Glass Castle or Half-Broke Horses, but I remember seeing them mentioned on the Best Books Thread.</p>

<p>Me - I’ve had a rough few weeks (daughter’s wedding, graduation, empty nest refilling - so much stuff in the house!, and my sister passed away :(). The next few (personal choice) books will be all about escapism for me.</p>

<p>Mary: Did you like The Art of Fielding?</p>

<p>Mathmom: I bought *Shards of Honor<a href=“see%20above%20note%20about%20escapism”>/I</a>. I look forward to reading it. I read *Doomsday Book<a href=“have%20you%20read%20it?%20-%20time%20travel”>/I</a> and want more Connie Willis.</p>

<p>SJCM: You’ve been immersed in books … anything good enough to consider for the book club?</p>

112

<p>ignatius, first of all, I am so sorry to hear about your sister. I hope that your daughter’s wedding was a happy and successful event, so that some of the sorrow over the past few months was tempered with joy.</p>

<p>I enjoyed The Art of Fielding, but I wouldn’t recommend it as an escapist read because, for the most part, every character is struggling greatly with personal trauma. In the end it’s uplifting–i.e., how people who are all hurting find ways to help each other–but I don’t think you’d want to go that route if the last couple of months have been rough.</p>

<p>Also, at times I wished for more baseball and less melodrama, but I guess I always have the Cubs if I want to suffer in that way. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>The additional choices you suggested sound interesting. I am going to go look them up and then will make a list for us.</p>

113

<p>I like Connie Willis very much - Doomsday Book though is pretty much of a downer though! I like the ones where she uses her gifts for comedy better.</p>

<p>I’ve always liked movies and TV shows that played with repeating time (there’s a great one in Star Trek: Next Gen when they finally figure out what’s going on via a poker game), but I really want a sci fi explanation. *Groundhog Day *was funny enough that the lack of explanation didn’t matter. From interviews with the author I think *Time after Time *is likely to only annoy me.</p>

<p>No particular suggestions, I’m reading a really stupid fantasy right now, and will probably pick up the last *Game of Thrones *book next. Still have Keith Richard’s book on my bedside table. A friend of mine is suggesting The Art of Getting Lost which she read for her reading group - I’d be game if people wanted to discuss essay instead of fiction.</p>

114

<p>I haven’t weighed in on an August selection, being pretty much overwhelmed right now. I’m just hoping things slow enough in July that I have time to enjoy another selection! </p>

<p>I guess I’m also sort of hoping for some escapist beach read!</p>

115

<p>Ignatius, I’m sorry about the rough passage you’ve been through. Sending warm thoughts.</p>

<p>I like all your suggestions. I, too, saw reviews of Americanah and thought it might be an interesting follow-up to Things Fall Apart.</p>

<p>The Golem and the Jinni and The Silver Star sound good, too.</p>

<p>Of the three, The Golem and the Jinni sounds the most appealing to me.</p>

116

<p>SouthJerseyChessMom recently recommended The Fever Tree to me and I have downloaded it, but not read it yet. It might be an interesting follow-up to Things Fall Apart because it is set in 1880’s colonial Africa, and it also might satisfy the escapist desires of those of us who are feeling a little world-weary at the moment. However, I don’t know whether it would be a good discussion choice. SJCM, what do you think?</p>

117

<p>I really enjoyed Life after Life and would love to see a discussion about it. I am reading The Light Between Oceans now. Has that book been discussed or recommended? I keep using this thread to get book recommendations but one day I’ll be ahead of the curve and be able to discuss instead.</p>

118

<p>Ignatius, I am sorry to hear about your sister.</p>

119

<p>Ignatius, I’m so very sorry to hear about your sister.</p>

<p>I’m glad we read Things Fall Apart. It was required reading for my kids in high school, and my husband read it then, but I never did.</p>

<p>Please don’t hate me, Mary13, but I loved A Reliable Wife! I promise not to suggest Goolrick’s other books, though. :-)</p>

<p>Any of the suggested books would be fine with me. Light Between Oceans is on my list of things to read, but I haven’t gotten to it yet. I think I’m in the minority, but after reading The Glass Castle, I feel about Jeannette Walls like Mary does about Goolrick, so her book would be of least interest to me.</p>

120

<p>Buenavista, what was it you didn’t like about Jeannette Walls? I think I may have some doubts myself, actually.</p>

<p>On Amazon, I looked at the first page of *The Glass Castle<a href=“autobiographical”>/I</a> and it is about her mom rooting in a dumpster.</p>

<p>I looked at the first page of *The Silver Star<a href=“fictional”>/I</a> and it has the narrator telling about a mom placing a baby in a car seat on the roof of a car and driving off without realizing it.</p>

<p>Kind of gives me pause…</p>