Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Questions for Reflection


Hello B-FABers - sorry for the hiatus...going back to work full-time means less time to post here (Waaaaaaa). So I have finished our first book and have very mixed feelings on it. I am really looking forward to our discussions next week.

I thought I would post some questions to reflect on before we meet, so have a look. They come from the author, Chris Cleave's web site - I chose the ones that I liked, so feel free to check out his site for more questions:

Little Bee tells the reader, “We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived” (p. 9). Which characters in the story are left with physical scars? Emotional scars? Do they embrace them as beautiful? Do you have any scars you’ve come to embrace? Did you feel more connected to Little Bee as a narrator after this pact?How did it affect your reading experience to have two narrators? Did you trust one woman more than the other? Did you prefer the voice of one above the other?

Little Bee credits a small bottle of nail polish for “saving her life” while she was in the detention center (p. 7). Is there any object or act that helps you feel alive and beautiful, even when everything else seems to be falling apart?
Little Bee figures out the best way to kill herself in any given situation, just in case “the men come suddenly.” How do these plans help Little Bee reclaim some power? Were you disturbed by this, or were you able to find the humor in some of the scenarios she imagines?


When Little Bee finds that Andrew has hanged himself she thinks, “Of course I must save him, whatever it costs me, because he is a human being.” And then she thinks, “Of course I must save myself, because I am a human being too” (p. 194). How do the characters in the story decide when to put themselves first and when to offer charity? Is one human life ever more valuable than another? What if one of the lives in question is your own?

Ohhhhh, such good questions - If you can't resist commenting...then please do! I'll share what you wrote at our Club.

For Q & A with the author, click here.

Happy Reading!
xoxo

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Little Bee


Ok, so I have to admit that I have finally started reading our book club selection this week...and at first, I was doubting our choice. Personally, I like to be drawn in from the very very beginning, but here I was thinking I wouldn't be able to handle reading a whole book written in the voice of Little Bee and the girls she lived with at the Immigration Removal Centre - it just kind of annoyed me I guess. And then the on-going Batman costume talk and all the teasers indicating that something sad happened, but that we would find out later (I mean, how many times do you need to write that?)!!!

Anyway, for some reason, I was just unable to put it down last night and am finally getting into it! I wasn't so sure about the love between Sarah and Andrew at first, then the romantic honeymoon story about not noticing the colour of the sea drew me in a little. I have a feeling that once we finally learn of the incident that occured on the beach, we may become more engaged with them as a couple.

I am also beginning to notice just how much depth there is to Little Bee, so much wisdom in her young mind. Me go to Queens U and me not so wise! I am not far enough into the novel to know just what the horror is yet (maybe we don't find out until the end since the author just loves teasing), but both women sound like incredible survivors.

I'm really looking forward to talking this one out with the ladies next month...

Here are some favourite quotes of mine, thus far:

"a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived." (9)

"No, not Jesus. Mummy." (29)

"...my Andrew, dead? It still seemed physically impossible. At one point he had covered more than seven tenths of the earth's surface." (39)

"when I say that I am a refugee, you must understand that there is no refuge." (46)

Let me know what yours are, without spoilers of course! Give me a few more days to finish!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Novel idea...



Just doing some late night Etsy browsing and came across these super cute confetti pieces. The hearts are cut from Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" and the snowflakes are punched right out of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"

Where do people come up with these ideas? I love it...so romantic! The seller will do custom orders and will use books that are dear to your heart, if requested.

I wonder if they have shirtless werewolf cutouts for Twilight??? hhhmmmmmm...

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Pictures help!


BIG NEWS!!! Guess who I caught reading for the first time in 12 years...Rob! Seriously, he never reads (Maxim, Fishing Ontario and the Ikea Catalogue do not count!) So now, of course, I have to fill you in on what he had in his hands. The book is a Canadian History collection "The Museum called Canada: 25 Rooms of Wonder" by Charlotte Gray, dubbed as "the ultimate guide to Canada's rich material culture." What he loves about this book is that there are many different stories and facts accompanied by pictures and timelines - I am so excited for him. I feel so close to my ultimate fantasy...spending lazy afternoons ready TOGETHER!!! hahaha...ok ok, it's one book. But you know, it really only takes one to peek your interest. You all know I am heading to the history section of Chapters tomorrow!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Happy 9-02-10 Day!




FUN! Thanks Katie for the lovely wake-up text this morning reminding me to celebrate this once in a lifetime day. In honour of this special day, enjoy these pics of Donna & David's wedding and the most gorgeous prom dresses you've ever seen.

You can further enjoy the day by supporting the phenomenal books that have come out of the show:

*mommywood, unchartered terriTORI, or sTORItelling by Tori Spelling
*Badass by Shannen Doherty (avail Nov 2 only I believe)

Anyway, cherish your inner Kelly, Donna, Andrea, Brenda (or Valerie!) today.

xoxo

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Long Weekend Fun...



Hey B-FABers...our last hoorah to summer is this weekend, so I hope you're all setting aside some time to have lazy afternoons reading and lazier evenings drinking!!! What I wouldn't give to have no plans and plunk myself in a hammock or adirondack chair....so nice. Instead, we'll be driving 9 hours to attend a wedding - what are the chances that Rob lets me read quietly in the car while he drives with one good arm?

In two weeks, I'll start posting some questions to get us thinking about our selection. I have to admit that I still haven't started "Little Bee," but am almost on the third and final Hunger Games book...damn! Why did I start this series? One of you out there better join me in this new addiction so that we can discuss!

Anyway, I fear searching for questions regarding our selected book in case they spoil it for me. So if I work hard enough, I'll finish the series this weekend and be ready to start L B next week.

Sending warm wishes for a safe journey to our ladies in Bali!

xoxo