Happy New Year!

I hope everyone is well and happy. The year is new and hopes are high around here in our corner of paradise. In making my annual 43 Things List, I wanted to include a reading goal so I included, " Read 3 'Top 100' Books." My intention had been to choose from that Modern Library's Top 100 Novels List that was published a few years ago, but Erica thinks we should use my goal in the book club and she doesn't want to be limited entirely by that list. I can be flexible (sometimes). We looked at some lists this morning and agreed to read 3 books together and, as always I invite anyone who wishes to join us and comment here in this blog.

We have chosen:

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather - #61 on the Modern Library List
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - # 5 on the Modern Library List
The Picture of Dorian Gray - by Oscar Wilde

Willa Cather is up first. My personal goal is to finish this book by the end of February. Hope to see you here.

Cath 22- Final thoughts

I have always wanted to read Catch-22, and so it was my suggestion for the book club. Many people have told me that I would really like/enjoy this book. I am not sure like or enjoy is quite the right word. Unlike Laura, my experience with war vets are from my grandparents and thus a little removed. Of course, they were both World War II vets. Because of this, most stories of the "good war" are all very positive. I enjoyed the unique perspective of this dark comedy. I found it amusing, and I can only imagine the outrage when the book was first published. It may be my slightly cynical nature, but the description of bureaucracy and weariness was very refreshing. Yossarian's belief that everyone is trying to kill him,the major with no known first name, and the god awful parades all paint a picture of the futility, selfishness, and the humor of war. There were no pure heroes or even heroic figures, and people did the right things for the wrong reasons. Finally, the phrase "it's a Catch-22" means so much more to me now. It is part of our everyday vernacular, but reading the full origins makes it mean so much more. OK, I am going to have to say it----I guess I did enjoy the book.

I can't wait for the next book.

Catch-22 Wrap up

I have now read more books about war than I ever dreamed. Through this book club I have read War & Peace, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Catch-22, and for my Adult Book Discussion I have read Season of Betrayal, Three Day Road and Resistance: A Novel.

War, the portrayal of war, and the perception of war through the "entertainment" media are all very personal. My father was in Vietnam between my 3rd and 4th birthdays and my impression of that time was my mother constantly crying. I'm sure that wasn't true, but when he walked through the gate into the Ultra 70s purple-painted waiting room of the airport on Easter Sunday to come home to us, I knew everything would finally be okay for our family. Over time, however, I couldn't help but be influenced by my experience of other vets and shattered families. We were fortunate that my father weathered his experience and came home with a Bronze Star, a volleyball scar, and photographs he readily shared with us. When I watch Vietnam movies, however, I feel anguish. The filmakers are able to tap into that part of me that knows I am the happy product of a successful Vietnam return that easily could have gone the other way.

Until recently, my only exposure to war-related "entertainment" had been film and TV shows, not books. I wasn't sure I could be moved by books. After All Quiet we commented on the power such a tiny book held. While there were some highly comical moments in Catch-22, I find I am mostly just saddened by the futility of the war effort and the death. I couldn't find it funny even though I know it's a black comedy. The scenario seems too believable, too current, perhaps that's the problem. I appreciated the absurdity of the Syndicate and Milo's complex distribution schemes and Major Major's refusal to see anyone. I look forward to seeing how the book translates into film, it's in my Netflix queue.

Ulysses

I finished Joyce's "masterpiece" a few weeks ago, and I finally put some thoughts together. I did not like the book, and it was not only because it was very difficult to read. I mean, yes, I needed spark notes and annotations. I found the book to be quite boring (except for the last 40 pages). More importantly, I did not like any of the characters. It turns out that I am like the tv station USA- characters welcome! I am proud that I read it, but I would not recommend the book. War and Peace was soooo much better. I may write more later, but for now, I am looking forward to Catch-22.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, Book Club enthusiasts. The deal was Ulysses and then Catch-22. Well, we successfully completed the task of reading Joyce by Christmas so with the new year comes Heller. Next week we start Catch-22. Please join us.

Mission Accomplished

Last night I finished the book. I wasn't sure I could do it, but Ulysses by Christmas is a reality. I feel good for having made it through the book, but I recognize that as soon as I finished I immediately turned to the annotations and 2 different books of notes for clues. My ability to pronounce all of the words far exceeded my ability to understand them as grouped. In the end, however, I achieved the goal of reading Ulysses, all of it.

The End is in Sight

If you ever want to put off doing something just say, 'let me finish this sentence..." and then pick up Ulysses for the last sentence. I'm there now and will be for 40+ more pages. This last sentencesection (I can be Joycean, too) is devoid of punctuation, including apostrophes and periods. Jeepers Thats all I can say about that you can believe it you sure can Oh my goodness

I expect to finish the book tonight and then read the notes to learn what the book was about. Did I really read the book or pronounce words to myself in my head? I'll let you know once I finish the notes.