Madame Bovary Discussion

We had our 74th book group discussion over the book Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. 

I decided to inter-library loan my copy since our library didn't have a copy. While I waited I decided to find a podcast to listen to. I listened on and off while reading the first half of the book and then committed to solely read the last half . When I finished the book I went to Sparknotes.com and took a quiz and I was able to get more answers correct over the second half that I actually read. It is too easy to have my mind wonder while listening to a book. Still the names were hard to keep straight. I found this book to be somewhat similar to a few other books I was familiar with or have read in our book group. 

We talked a bit about how Emma's desire for a better level of lifestyle and desire to rise to a higher class of society was the temptation and path to her financial and moral downfall.

I didn't really like Emma after she married Charles. She seemed immature and vain. There weren't too many characters that were very likable. They did represent various faults in people and often manipulative behaviors. A lot of villainous characters are master manipulators.

As usual we Busy Gal Classic Reading Society members enjoyed some lovely food to eat over our opportunity to catch up on our lives and book discussion. Kris made some yummy creamy chili and tortilla chips, there was a delicious Pear Salad with fancy cheese, lasagna, rolls, cream cheese with pepper jelly and crackers, Faux Chocolate cake made without sugar - very good - tasted like brownie, Lazy Day cake made with lots of sugar and butter, rice crispy treats and mini cheese cakes. Members that attended were Kris (host) Lorraine, Stefanie, Karen, Stephanie, PeggyAnn and myself.

I made the Lazy Day cake and the Gals seemed to like it. Here is a Taste of Home recipe but not the one I used Lazy Day Cake. I trust it is just as good.

We watched the movie Madame Bovary. I needed to get up early the next day and left about halfway through the movie. I'm not a late night person. I don't really think I ever was one. 

We decided as a group that our next book will be The Witches by Roald Dahl.

Once again the Busy Gals Classic Reading Society book group met to discuss our most recent selection which was The African Queen by C. S. Forester.

The summer, being a busy time for many group members makes reading a little harder and with school starting for our Busy Gal teaching members getting this book read was a challenge. For myself, the book I ordered came after we planned the date to meet to discuss. So, I carried the book everywhere I went and read at the dentist and on a four hour trip home. It does feel satisfying to finish reading a book.

Of course we always have very nice food. Peggy Ann's Chicken bundles, wraps, veggies and dip, crackers and pepper jelly cream cheese, Key lime pies, island pudding, warm peach cobbler, zucchini bread and zucchini chips. Forgive me if I forget something. Each lady puts so much effort into the special dishes they bring. It's awesome!

Our discussion about the book was a little brief since several had not finished the book. We did what we could but didn't get in too deep in the discussion. Some members didn't mind discussing and said it was the natural consequence of not finishing the book.

After eating we enjoyed the movie with Humphry Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. After reading the book and being many years older than the last time I watched the movie or part of it. I was able to follow and understand the story line better. Almost all the time the movie is different from the book and this was no different. The movie was relatively close to the book and discreet as you would expect a movie from the 1950's to be. And a variant of the ending.

Our group included Kris who hosted - thanks Kris! Lorraine, Stefanie, Karen, Stephanie, Peggy Ann, Merri, Sierra and myself.

I have missed several summaries from the last few book selections but we have discussed Tuck Everlasting and The Princess Bride. Which included a bonus gathering since summer schedules couldn't always line up.

Stay tuned to see what we read next.

Keep Reading the Classics!

Sharon 

Call of the Wild

 The Call of the Wild book discussion was very nice. Thanks, Lorraine, for hosting. 

We started with some very good food again! Veggies and dip, deviled eggs - delicious, lasagna soup and bread, a great salad, gnocchi and some great desserts that included a black forest trifle, cheesecake and cookies. Should have taken a picture. Enough about food, but to be honest our book group meetings wouldn't be so great without the great food, right? We try to bring our best.

The Call of the Wild was about a dog and from his perspective. The biggest issue came from our dog training expert Peggy Ann who has firsthand experience with dogs and was able to throw some realistic light on the nature of dogs. Now, this seemed to be an unusual circumstance in the book that one might not have with the average domesticated dog. 

The time is during the gold rush of the Klondike and rustic travel in Alaska was sleds driven by dogs. Buck, a domestic dog is snatched and sold from his first family in California to be shipped to Alaska and violently broken to serve as a member of a dog sled team. He goes through several very bad and some good human interactions until the very last John Thornton who he seems to bond with and love. 

The call of the wild has some violent dog fights and develops his predatory survive instincts.

Our group had a good discussion that included talking about dogs and the violence in the book and we seemed to bring in current events to our discussion.

One of the humorous moments involved the pronunciation of the word 'pianist'. One word that needs to be pronounced correctly or you end up with something completely inappropriate to the conversation. You can look up the pronunciation for yourself since I like to keep this blog family friendly.

After the discussion we watched the movie Call of the Wild that stared Harrison Ford. We shared several comments on the artistic license of the movie maker. There was only a small percentage of violence in the movie that was in the book. And of course, another movie that is not true to the book either. So, if you didn’t finish reading the book and watching that movie won’t ruin the book for you. Just don’t take any tests on the book after watching that movie.

Our next book will be The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré.

Sharon