BookBrowse BookTalk : Conference : 2014 Book Club DiscussionsConference : 2014 Book Club Discussions : Book club discussions of some of 2014's best books
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RE: Did you anticipate Etienne's AIDS diagnosis? Is a sense of invisible crisis a feeling you associate with this period?Once I found out that he was gay, I thought that perhaps he had AIDS as it seems that he was sickly.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=444F485C-5056-A34B-6262BA1703BA9072&r=1
2014-12-10T14:29:58-05:00Did you anticipate Etienne's AIDS diagnosis? Is a sense of invisible crisis a feeling you associate with this period?RE: Overall, what were your feelings about the book. Did you like it?I didn't like the idea that a baby would have thoughts like Frank, supposedly, did. As I read the book, I became even more disappointed in it, and I think I'll have to try to read it again, when I have more time. I skipped some chapters, but that didn't help, either. Of course, that may be why the book couldn't keep my attention. Others have said it got more interesting about the time I was getting less interested, which is why I will try to read it again.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0805B5F4-5056-A34B-624A34EDFF1F77D9&r=2
2014-12-06T14:55:58-05:00Overall, what were your feelings about the book. Did you like it?RE: Overall, what were your feelings about the book. Did you like it?I put this book aside awhile before finishing. Just could not feel engaged, even after a break. Would not recommend to any booklovers I know.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0805B5F4-5056-A34B-624A34EDFF1F77D9&r=3
2014-12-06T04:17:37-05:00Overall, what were your feelings about the book. Did you like it?RE: Is death more accepted on a farm than in the city?I have only lived on my parent's "gentleman's farm" where the 2 llamas grazed with the 10 sheep -- and no crops were grown. So, I was surprised by the statement that death is more accepted on the farm. Perhaps it is because in the city you can be killed by a bus, or a rampant killer with a gun. Killed by totally random chance and city-madness. On the farm, you might be killed by your tractor, or by your bull. That would be my guess. In a farming community - most neighbors helped one another, so you really KNEW your neighbors or their kids who helped you. Plus, it's a slower pace, with less chance for people to "just move on" because "life moves on." Plus, in a city, there are 1000's or millions of people you don't know, at all.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=E443D479-5056-A34B-62ED950425B6D84B&r=4
2014-12-04T15:43:16-05:00Is death more accepted on a farm than in the city?RE: Overall, what were your feelings about the book. Did you like it?I was so excited to get this book because of how her other books made me feel. When reading it -- which I did like -- I was disappointed (and very surprised) that my interest flagged in several parts of the book. I made sure I read the book in long sittings so I didn't exacerbate my lack-of-interest. I didn't feel the warm feelings, as I did with her other books.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0805B5F4-5056-A34B-624A34EDFF1F77D9&r=5
2014-12-04T15:38:05-05:00Overall, what were your feelings about the book. Did you like it?RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?absolutely. There was this oedipal quality to Olivier's dependence on his girl-friend's mom.
She epitomized all the things that Olivier did not have and yet wished for, I think.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=69DE4D1C-5056-A34B-62EBEB819B042654&r=6
2014-12-04T09:58:20-05:00Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?RE: Do you think Kate's voice rings true for a young woman of her age and era?I think her voice is mostly true for her age and the era. I think she was an interesting mix of sometimes pretty naive vs. sometimes displaying a bit more of a worldly view.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=37BF739C-5056-A34B-623FF009E9F27AF4&r=7
2014-12-03T20:08:44-05:00Do you think Kate's voice rings true for a young woman of her age and era?RE: Did you anticipate Etienne's AIDS diagnosis? Is a sense of invisible crisis a feeling you associate with this period?The time period and his being thin were clues. I didn't think about those clues much, but his diagnosis wasn't really a surprise.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=444F485C-5056-A34B-6262BA1703BA9072&r=8
2014-12-03T20:05:54-05:00Did you anticipate Etienne's AIDS diagnosis? Is a sense of invisible crisis a feeling you associate with this period?RE: Did you anticipate Etienne's AIDS diagnosis? Is a sense of invisible crisis a feeling you associate with this period?Didn't see it coming...nor did I suspect Etienne was gay..maybe I need to read more closely!
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=444F485C-5056-A34B-6262BA1703BA9072&r=9
2014-12-03T10:49:46-05:00Did you anticipate Etienne's AIDS diagnosis? Is a sense of invisible crisis a feeling you associate with this period?RE: What did you think of the working relationship between Lydia and Kate. Have you ever had experience with a similarly fraught employer-employee dynamic?Fortunately I never had to work for anyone like Lydia. Kate was the perfect person for Lydia to manipulate....young...alone...away from home...needy....
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=44185ED5-5056-A34B-6297C0F7FEBB3896&r=10
2014-12-03T10:44:36-05:00What did you think of the working relationship between Lydia and Kate. Have you ever had experience with a similarly fraught employer-employee dynamic?RE: Why was Kate so reluctant to visit Solange and JacquesI agree with everything that's been said but I also wonder if going back to visit them would bring back unhappy memories of why she was sent there in the first place.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=7DE3715F-5056-A34B-6276723C45217123&r=11
2014-12-03T10:37:22-05:00Why was Kate so reluctant to visit Solange and JacquesRE: Kate's time in Paris was before cell phones and social media. How do you think this affects her experience? How has technology affected your own experience of travel or living abroad?I find even a camera can start pulling me away from the experience. And she definitely had to complete her tasks in a much more involved way.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=4401A116-5056-A34B-621470E8ABF82BE6&r=12
2014-12-02T01:41:32-05:00Kate's time in Paris was before cell phones and social media. How do you think this affects her experience? How has technology affected your own experience of travel or living abroad?RE: Discuss the roll of family in Lessons in FrenchThe family provided the Lessons in French throughout the book. Sadly, all of the families were dysfunctional from Kate and her mother, the Schells, Olivier, Eteinne and his parents, and Kate and her aunt and uncle. In some ways, Clarence and Claudia also created a "family" with Kate. No one actually dealt with the dysfunctions, lack of communication and no one really interacted/spoke to other family members effectively, nor did they listen to their family members.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=44355004-5056-A34B-623D1C6022535E69&r=13
2014-11-29T17:13:24-05:00Discuss the roll of family in Lessons in FrenchRE: Do you think Kate's voice rings true for a young woman of her age and era?I think that her voice rings true for a young woman just out of college. However, I do think she was naïve and wondered how she could choose to go from her sheltered protected life to live in Paris because even though she lived there as a child, she was with relatives and probably never had to go through the city alone or have the responsibility of coping alone. The author did a good job of describing her dilemmas, and her mental processes to resolve her conflicts - yes, they did seem genuine for a new college grad.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=37BF739C-5056-A34B-623FF009E9F27AF4&r=14
2014-11-29T17:01:27-05:00Do you think Kate's voice rings true for a young woman of her age and era?RE: Kate's time in Paris was before cell phones and social media. How do you think this affects her experience? How has technology affected your own experience of travel or living abroad?I think that the lack of cell phones and current technology made Kate's experience richer as she had to interact with people on a daily basis rather than just texting or calling them. It enabled the story and characters to unfold without having all their secrets bared up front. In my trips to Europe, I find myself savoring the experiences of the moment rather than worrying about connecting to the folks back in the US and my life there takes on an unhurried pace as I get into the rhythm of the place and the people of the area.
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2014-11-29T16:55:25-05:00Kate's time in Paris was before cell phones and social media. How do you think this affects her experience? How has technology affected your own experience of travel or living abroad?RE: ClarenceI'm not so sure that Lydia cared about his having an affair.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=69A6D4F4-5056-A34B-62CCB46E9F09048A&r=16
2014-11-21T12:22:43-05:00ClarenceRE: Why was Kate so reluctant to visit Solange and JacquesThis warm.loving, stable couple was "boring" and our immature Kate wanted excitement. She grew during the novel's course.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=7DE3715F-5056-A34B-6276723C45217123&r=17
2014-11-21T12:21:25-05:00Why was Kate so reluctant to visit Solange and JacquesRE: Did the city of Paris come alive for you in the novel? Was the sense of place an important aspect for you in your reading?Yes, it did and I enjoyed this aspect of this book so much. I have never traveled to France, it is on my bucket list.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=43F23B86-5056-A34B-6297E0B6B9BFA9AA&r=18
2014-11-20T16:05:40-05:00Did the city of Paris come alive for you in the novel? Was the sense of place an important aspect for you in your reading?RE: Why was Kate so reluctant to visit Solange and JacquesI felt like Kate was trying so hard to be grown up and didn't want to given suggestions as to what she should be doing with her life. I kind of felt like she brushed her mother off at times well. Then again, I can't imagine sending your young child away for two years.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=7DE3715F-5056-A34B-6276723C45217123&r=19
2014-11-19T18:49:47-05:00Why was Kate so reluctant to visit Solange and JacquesRE: Kate's time in Paris was before cell phones and social media. How do you think this affects her experience? How has technology affected your own experience of travel or living abroad?Having only one foot in the "wonderful world of technology" I enjoyed reading a story that happened before all the "constant connection" of being tethered to technology changed our lives. People moved around and went places and interacted without looking for a place to charge their cellphones. However, I must confess that I conformed when my husband went to visit his family in France and we were separated. He showed me the wonders of SKYPE, which was lovley though it meant living a month in two different time zones. However, I can't see how our technology would have improved this story because it was engrossing and held my interest just as it was.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=4401A116-5056-A34B-621470E8ABF82BE6&r=20
2014-11-19T18:01:45-05:00Kate's time in Paris was before cell phones and social media. How do you think this affects her experience? How has technology affected your own experience of travel or living abroad?