<p>^^^ Right – and did she (Alice) not have the slightest idea that taking Miss Ruby to the play would tick off Priscilla and raise a few eyebrows?? In some ways I was surprised that Miss Ruby accepted, since I bet she clearly knew Priscilla wouldn’t be pleased.</p>
<p>SJChessMom, I think Alice asked Miss Ruby to the play on a whim. She had no hidden agenda, just a desire for company and a feeling that it would be a kind thing to do. It seems like it only dawned on her that it might be considered inappropriate (by some) when one of the women at the play recognized Miss Ruby and said to her, “Aren’t you Priscilla’s helper?”</p>
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<p>I bet she did, too—maybe that was Miss Ruby’s way of being just a little bit subversive!</p>
<p>One final comment on Sittenfeld’s use of excessive detail in American Wife. I was browsing through the book when I came across the sentence: “…I was lyng in bed, above the covers reading Humboldt’s Gift—and then I looked up from a paragraph on page 402, my certainty disintegrated all at once, and I was left with a feeling of heavy, insistent badness.”</p>
<p>So I reached over to the bookshelves for our copy of *Humboldt’s Gift<a href=“which%20I’ve%20never%20read”>/i</a> and found that the protagonist’s name is Charlie. That’s got to be on purpose, right? I can’t help but think that a gifted author does not just use details to fill pages, but to subtly add a little something extra for readers.</p>
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<p>Is anyone game for another book selection? At one point, we had talked about reading the The Thirteenth Tale or Shadow of the Wind. I’m looking forward to The Help, but should we read it next? It’s not out in paperback yet, and as mom60 pointed out, the wait at the library is long. However, the price for the hardcover is reasonable on Amazon ($13.72).</p>
<p>Any strong feelings one way or the other? If people do want to continue reading, we could proceed with the alternate month system, i.e., read at a leisurely pace in November and begin discussion in December. No pressure though. If you would rather take a break, that’s fine too. I love books, but sometimes when I’m tired, that copy of Tiger Beat my daughter brings home looks pretty darn appealing. :)</p>
<p>Shadow of the Wind is excellent! I’m OK with any book.</p>
<p>Mary, would agree that any reference to literature is quite purposeful! </p>
<p>Regarding the invitation to the play, I also, thought it was on a whim too, and I believed Alice to be a sincerely, nice, kind woman, whose life took some unforeseen turns. </p>
<p>Sittenfeld’s first sentence of the novel says it all
“Have I made a terrible mistake” …</p>
<p>Regarding Humbolt’s Gift reference interesting.
Humbolt’s Gift -
Editorial Reviews
Review
Novel by Saul Bellow, published in 1975. The novel, which won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1976, is a self-described “comic book about death,” whose title character is modeled on the self-destructive lyric poet Delmore Schwartz. Charlie Citrine, an intellectual, middle-aged author of award-winning biographies and plays, contemplates two significant figures and philosophies in his life: Von Humboldt Fleisher, a dead poet who had been his mentor, and Rinaldo Cantabile, a very-much-alive minor mafioso who has been the bane of Humboldt’s existence. Humboldt had taught Charlie that art is powerful and that one should be true to one’s creative spirit. Rinaldo, Charlie’s self-appointed financial adviser, has always urged Charlie to use his art to turn a profit. At the novel’s end, Charlie has managed to set his own course.</p>
<p>I would read. I found this thread by accident, anyway…but, I’ll check back to see what you guys decide to read. Shadow of the Wind sounds interesting, but I’ve read the others and those would be great, for me, too. </p>
<p>That is really interesting about Humboldt’s Gift…So, it does go to prove she does what she does on purpose.</p>
<p>Thirteenth Tale is great- so is Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and the Forgotten Garden- all kind of similar. I do love Cathy Lamb’s books that deal with a woman or family being dysfunctional and getting through it as another suggestion</p>
<p>I’m in favor of reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield first–mostly because I was just able to check it out of the library, but Shadow of the Wind wasn’t available.</p>
<p>I think a lot of people may have already read The Thirteenth Tale, but I hope that those who have will still be open to joining the discussion. I’ll start another thread and make it the December selection. (I’m reading The Brothers K by David James Duncan now, and I suspect that will keep me occupied through most of November.)</p>
<p>Great…thanks.</p>
<p>Haven’t read The Thirteenth Tale, so sounds good to me. Currently reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court for a RL book club – to be coupled with a visit to the Mark Twain house, since we’re in the Hartford area.</p>
<p>Either book works for me. I like the read in November discuss in Dec. plan. My IRL book club went from once a month to every 6 weeks to give people more time to read the book…</p>
<p>I have read The Thirteenth Tale, Shadow of the Wind and The Help…all good books… but The Help is without a doubt one of the most moving stories I have ever read. It is hauntingly smart…and scary…</p>
<p>Another very good read, though quite long is The Power of One…</p>
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<p>Agree about The Help – it’s excellent! I read The Power of One several years ago – also excellent.</p>
<p>Well, I just finished American Wife and our book club meeting is scheduled for tonight!</p>
<p>I’m looking forward to discussing this one with the SIL’s. I thought AW was a good read however I prefer “Prep.” </p>
<p>I think Alice should’ve talked to Ella about the abortion…along with the Sanchez nomination since Ella was very up on current topics. Like someone else said, It’s better that she hear it directly from her mother than in one of Charlie’s off-color, inappropriate jokes.</p>
<p>I’m still trying to figure out WHY she kissed Joe Thayer! :eek: I liked Dena but was unsure of Jadey. Jadey reminded of someone who would spill the beans to Priscilla in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Now, the next selection is The Time Travelers Wife - not looking forward to that one but not sure why.</p>