Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2

[Steph]

This is the place to talk about the works of fiction you are reading, whether they are new or old, and share your own opinions and reviews with interested readers. Every week the new bestseller lists come out brimming with enticing looking books and rave reviews. How to choose?

Discussion Leader:  Judy Laird

Actually once upon a time Coach was just fine.. Comfortable..friendly...made for humans. Now it seems to be some sort of zoo and the stewards are not even remotely human.. I know.. they are too too busy, but it does make it hard to cope. They are mostly salesmen now.

[ginny]

As I have just  completed 8 flights in the last couple of weeks, both domestically and in Europe, I will timidly  venture an opinion here. (I love first class trains, Rosemary, you enjoy every minute!!),  and I think the airliner  coach experience  may depend on the carrier and the length of flight. For instance the little Embrayers which they use here to get you to a large hub are wonderful, I think, the single leather seats (in coach),  (the entire airplane is coach), United (formerly Continental) and anybody's  policy of online check in and  allowing you to choose your seats  or change them even the night before, allowing you to have the first or second single seat in the plane is lovely.

I like Virgin Atlantic for overseas flights because they fly over to London in the daytime and you have no jet lag when you land. But this time to go to Europe from London  instead of Alitalia I took  British Air to Rome and back and was very impressed with their coach. I figured 2 1/2 hours or 2 hours how bad could it be? It  was cheap, too.

It was nice! The seats were large, and the arm rests stayed in position (so Tubby next to you did too) and the best part was your stuff DID go under the seat in front of you which is new to me and much better than Alitalia where nothing including your feet fits under the seat. Even tho we were three on each side it was still pleasant and British Air insists upon feeding you and they even did free bottles of wine (I don't drink) but my two seat mates from Australia sure did, they each had 4 free little bottles and they weren't particularly mini, about 10 oz I'd say of Pinot. They were very nice people and quite interesting. They did hot  panini for free, and tea or a soft drink, whatever you wanted. I was impressed, you don't get that domestically. I like their coach.

The worst problem for me on any flight is the people who have bags big enough to put gramdma in because they don't want to pay for a second bag and they either (1) get tagged, as they embark upon the plane and their bags are taken under the plane at that point,  thus escaping the charge but having to wait for their bag to be brought to them at exiting the plane, or (2) they hog all the overhead bins so when you get on yours is full. I think they should be made to pay for any oversize bag going inside a plane, that would stop that.

[Steph]

I guess I assumed they would have to pay for that second bag if it didnt fit.. An amazing way to be cheap.. Brit Air.. I have flown it internationally and love it.. In England, I used the little cheap planes.. but now I understand they are charging for the first bag there. I did not mind getting back to London on them, since that airport has a wonderful easy train to London..
Eight Planes. Oh Ginny.. that would do me in.

[BarbStAubrey]

Looks like there was no choice with money available for shopping - would have been nice but here is the skinny from BBC.

The Japan Football Association said the women had their flights upgraded because they won the silver medal.

The men's team came home empty-handed.

The Associated Press news agency quoted the JFA as saying the men's team had flown business class to London because they were professionals.

But after both teams arrived in London, members of the women's squad had complained they had been treated unequally.

Japan are the current women's football World Cup champions, having beaten the US in July 2011 in Germany, and were strong contenders for gold. The men were not expected to win a medal.

Star player Homare Sawa told Japanese media that her team had been given business class seats last year, but only after they won the World Cup.

Japan's Olympic Committee allocated most of its athletes economy class seats.

The Japan Football Association has been funding male footballers to fly business class since 1996. The women's plane tickets to London for the Olympics had also been upgraded, but only to premium economy.

[JoanK]

Sigh!

I wonder about the US men's and women's basketball teams. I can't imagine all those male NBA prima Donnas flying anything but first class. I wonder how the women flew?

[Steph]

I honestly thought the athletes would go charter.Seemed like a simply solution to a big problem, but I guess not.

[mabel1015j]

I just finished a little book, a first novel by Katie Crouch, Girls in Trucks. I don't know quite how to describe it. The protagonist starts as a 12 yr old in Charleston, SC - yes another Carolina book, but she doesn't stay there. Her mother and grandmother had been Camellias, the name of girls who go thru the cotillion process. The story takes her thru to age 45 in a Sex in the City kind of way. Altho i was not a fan of Sex in the City, i liked this little story. It's sort of a stream of conscious story about/by "Sarah" and her Camellia friends.

Jean

[Steph]

I read Girls in Trucks, but did notlike it that much. It is different for sure.

[Tomereader1]

I'm going to go w-a-a-y out on a limb here and recommend a book; a novel by Chris Bohjalian, "The Sandcastle Girls".  I'm sure some of you have read one or more of his books.  I am sorry to say I hadn't, until now.  This man can WRITE.  This is about the best book I've read all year, maybe even since last year.  Warning:  It is a searing, almost painful book to read, intertwined with a beautiful love story (secondary to the tale itself).  One of the lines in the book:  "The Slaughter You Know Next To Nothing About".  I had no idea about the Armenian Genocide of 1915, can't think I ever saw it mentioned in any book.   All through history there has been genocide, most as an accompaniment to whichever war was ramping up or actually being fought.  This one WWI, WWII's holocaust, The Killing Fields of Cambodia, Africa's several; even now in Syria.  The essence of hate is simply staggering, and it goes on and on.  As the folk song says, "when will we ever learn?"

Read this book if you think you can handle it, or find another of Bohjalian's books which I'm sure will be every bit as beautifully written as this one.

[marjifay]

The Sandcastle Girls sounds very good, Tomereader.  I'll add it to my list.

I've only read one book by Bohjalian, Double Bind (2007), but I wouldn't recommend it.  Found it long-winded and boring.  Am alway willing, tho,' to give an author a second chance. 

Marj

[Steph]

I like him and have read several of his books.. Loved The Midwife.. Will look for the Armenian. I have knownabout that all of my life.. Had friends who were Armenian.. friends of the family, I should say.

[pedln]

I liked The Midwife, read several years ago, but have not read any of his others.  Don't know if I'm ready for painful right now, in either books or films.

I'm currently reading Michael Ondaatje's  (English Patient)  The Cat's Table, set on an ocean liner in 1954.  11-year-old Michael is travelling alone from Ceylon to England, to meet his mother (after 4 years) and to go to school.  At the Cat's table, the one farthest from the Captain's, he meets two other boys travelling solo, and a host of other interesting characters, who are introduced during the 21-day journey, some who greatly impacted his life.  I know nothing about Ondaatje's life, but am beginning to wonder if the novel is perhaps autobiographical in parts.  One thing I do know -- the Captain was blind-sided.  Who in their right mind would allow three young boys to travel alone on a 21-day journey?

[Tomereader1]

Yes, pedlin, The Cat's Table is as quoted by Ondaatje, autobiographical in parts.  I was supposed to have moderated this book for f2f book club, but after reading it, I did not enjoy the book at all, rather dull (to me) and I didn't think our f2f group would like it either.  Since I had plenty of time before my turn to choose and moderate, I opted for "Run" by Ann Patchett, which I liked very much and the group did too.  A lively discussion ensued!

I think, after "The English Patient" I was expecting too much from this book by Ondaatje.

[salan]

I read The Cat's Table and did not care for it.  I was very disappointed as I expected more from the author.
Sally

[Steph]

If you liked Patchetts Run,,, do race out and find State of Wonder. She really outdid herself on that one. It was like being on a roller coaster. I loved it. Second only to her first .. Patron Saint of Liars..

[Tomereader1]

Steph, I liked Patchett's "Run", but was not that bowled over by "State of Wonder".  Strange story.   I liked the ending though.

[ginny]

Oh the ending was the one thing I did not like about State of Wonder!

 I "wonder" how we could talk about it and not spoil it (and it would be spoiled) for a new reader?

In this book it would be a crime to reveal the ending!!! I will say I was very disappointed in the main characters and their actions. I'll just leave it at that, without revealing anything.

[Tomereader1]

That's why I only said "I liked the ending though", so I wouldn't spoil anything for anyone who hadn't read it! 

[mabel1015j]

I'm reading Stephanie Cowell's Marrying Mozart and liking it much more than Claude and Camille (Monet). That may be because i had already read about the impressionists and have not read about Mozart, so it's new to me. There is also more narrative about the interaction among the characters. There is a family of four daughters, the Webers, father and daughters are musical and hold a Thursday night musical salon. Young Mozart appears one night and thus the beginning of a long history of friendship among them.

Jean

[JoanK]

Have you seen the movie "Amadeus"? In it, Mozart's odd personality is emphasized. There's some thought now that he might have had Tourette's Syndrome.

[jane]

Has anyone read the Australian writer, Kate Morton?  B&N was listing her House at Riverton as a sort of feature.  The ebook is just $3.99. 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/house-at-riverton-kate-morton/1100364360?ean=9781439152676

jane

[JoanR]

I read "The Forgotten Garden" quite some time ago - It was a good "summer on the porch" read and I did enjoy it.  I should really try some of her other work before summer leaves and while our porch is still so pleasant on a lazy day!  Thanks for the reminder!

[Frybabe]

I've read House on Riverton and enjoyed it. The Forgotten Garden is in my rather large TBR pile.

[salan]

I read Forgotten Garden and The House at Riverton.  I really enjoyed both books.  Must look and see if she's written more.  Thanks for reminding me about her.
Sally

[Frybabe]

Catch up time: The Distant Hours, 2011 (I think someone mentioned this before) and a new one to be released in October, The Secret Keeper.

[salan]

Oops, I just realized that I read The Distant Hours.  Another good book by Kate Morton.  While looking up Morton on Amazon; I came across a FREE book for Kindle by Kate Morton and Alice Hoffman (both favorite authors of mine).  It is a book sampler featuring a number of books by different authors outlining the premise of these books/authors plus book club discussion questions on these books.  I just ordered it.
Sally

[Babi]

I did enjoy "State of Wonder".  My only complaint was that our protagonist was held up in
that little port city for so long. The delay seemed tedious and pointless in furthering the
story. Then it occurred to me that if it was Patchett's intent to convey her heroine's tedium
and irritation, she did an excellent job!

 Reading on the porch! That brings back memories, JOAN. I remember visiting one summer with
a great-aunt and uncle. (My folks managed to farm out my brother for those two weeks, too.
I'm sure they had a lovely rest.)  Anyway, there wasn't much to do so I spent most of my
visit on the front porch swing, reading Costain.

 SALLY, you will, of course, fill us in on any goodies you find in your book sampler.  I'm curious
to know what you find.

[Steph]

Costain.. ah now there was a lovely writer. He gave you such great characters and stories. Summer or winter, but he was a great writer to curl up in the cold under a blanket and not come up for air.
The ending.. State of Wonder.. Hmm, dont know how we could discuss it, but would love to give it a try.. There is so much that bewildered me.. And one last thing that I hated...Oh well..

[mabel1015j]

Could there be a temporary page opened so you can discuss the ending of the book?

[marjifay]

I've been intending to read some Costain.  Have his BELOW THE SALT on my TBR list, recommended by Jean and Babi.  As soon as I fiinish the Ken Follett book I'm reading: FALL OF GIANTS; A NOVEL OF WORLD WAR 1.  Great book.  I'm finally learning how all those European countries got into the war.  Next up is his  World Without End, sequel to Pillars of the Earth.  I love Follett's writing!

Marj

[marjifay]

Oh, sitting on the porch...   Reminds me of when as a young girl I'd go to visit my grandma in Omaha.  We'd sit out on the big porch of her boarding house and watch the people and cars go by on busy Cumming Street.  Me, grandma, and her boarder and secret lover Mr. Clotz.  "Clotzy" as she called him was a married Catholic, separated but divorce apparently prohibited.  But married and living with your girlfriend was okay, I guess. LOL.

Marj

[BarbStAubrey]

But married and living with your girlfriend was okay, I guess. LOL

Yep, LOL the law, as in church law has to do with property rights and all that stuff not this new fangled thing called love between a husband and wife that came along in the Eleventh Century...Once the church horned in on this marriage thing taking over from the traditional role of a father in around 600AD they were not going to let go and include progress, which moves more slowly in Rome than a snail, by acknowledging the moral values of the twentieth century, 1300 years after their takeover of overseeing the marital rights.

As a good friend attorney in Houston says - there nothing moral about the law.

My astonishment that turns to inner sarcasm, that I also read in your post Marj, abounds as I learn this stuff...and yea, I am still a Catholic - it is a mixed bag but then there is as much wonderment as depravity. It's like Penn State - what do you do - close down the University - sell off the property and library - let the kids go find another college to attend -

[BarbStAubrey]

ha ha putting it all in perspective - this just came in my email

[JeanneP]

Rules in both the Catholic and the Anglican Church in UK were about the same when I was growing up. ( I of the Anglican). Many people (Not the young). lived together because of the Rulings. Had it in my family. First my grandmother who was widowed twice by age 27. I know that the man in her house was not husband. He was a married Catholic from Scotland. Her last daughter was his. She was 6 when she met him.  When it came time for her marriage he could not give her away at the Church on the day. They had to go and get my father to do it. My mother was a widow at 42 and at about 60 her and a friend of years could not marry because he was not able to get a church annulment even though had been seperated  20 years. Mother only believed in High Church marriages. No living together. His wife died when mother was 72 So could marry now in HIgh Church.   Had to post banns in 3 different churches. Go through all this what I called "Stupid stuff for 30 days"  I am sure that a few changes have been made now what with all the divorces in UK.

[Steph]

Two of my cousins married in the catholic church in the late 50's, early 60's.. Neither was catholic, but the husbands were. Amazing how picky the church was, I could not be maid of honor since I was not a catholic.. They could not marry inside some rail or another. About j20 years ago, I spent one summer going to three entirely different, all catholic weddings. How things had changed.

[Babi]

 As a more modern pastor once observed,  if God can forgive all sins, he certainly can forgive
a divorce.  One can regret the failure of a marriage, and still be relieved at the end of it.  

  That's a great quote, BARB.  I've never read it before,  but it certainly puts our grand selves in
our place.

[MaryPage]

I have read 3 Kate Mortons and liked them very much.  She is not TOP NOTCH, but she is quite enjoyable.

Now Thomas Costain, THERE is top notch!  Anything by him is beyond fabulous.

The church has always changed.  I am 83 and have seen ENORMOUS changes right in my lifetime!

Yet the Vatican will swear they never change!

We only have 57,000 nuns left in this country;  not enough to staff our parochial schools, so they have to hire lay.  About 900 of these are defying the Vatican order that they cease to criticize the church!  I think the nuns will refuse, and then the Pope will have to decide whether to excommunicate them or not.  If he does, he loses them all!

They want women priests, birth control, an end to letting the rape of children by priests go unpunished, and lots of other sensible stuff!

But consider this:  After 400 years, the Church just recently admitted they were wrong and Galileo was right!

Scheesch!

[Babi]

But consider this:  After 400 years, the Church just recently admitted they were wrong and Galileo was right!

Scheesch!

 Only 400 years!  My, my. 

[BarbStAubrey]

It isn't about the Nuns wanting to criticize the church - its about Rome wanting the nuns to support more urgently certain doctrine and attitudes that support the older views held by those in the Curia who never did agree with the results of Vatican II. This open clash has been decades in the making.

Not only did the church cut the cord that binds during Vatican II so that the nuns no longer were financially supported (they were expected to finance themselves), each order was required to re-write their rules that were originally written for an enclosed community that was part of a submissive life separating and keeping nuns away from the world. Vatican II did not just open the door to the bird cage so to speak it took away the cage - and a big part of this political fight between the Vatican and the American nuns goes back three of the eight commissions that were not acted upon during Vatican II.

Yes, Pope Paul VI did expand the representation to the Commission on on Population, Family, and Birth-rate. However, he was the one who angrily declared three of the eight would NOT be discussed by the Cardinals during Vatican II. The three included the Commission on Population, Family and Birth-rate, the Commission on the Celibacy of Priests which was expanded to include defining the pastoral role of priests, and the Commission on Reforming the Curia. The other five were set aside by the Cardinals during a work session because of time - they had agreed to a conclave lasting three years and they had to cut some of the work to meet the time limits and so of the original 16 commissions the agreement was to address half.

Now we have the Vatican saying, the Commission on Population, Family and Birth-rate was stacked and other attacks are being made to minimize the conclusions of the three Commissions that the Pope and the conservative members of the Curia find as too forward -

Much of the politics between the nuns and the Vatican is tied to the more liberal views of most of the Cardinals during Vatican II versus, the conservative views of a lessor number but politically powerful in the Curia who are trying to regain control.

What is amazing is that the Pope was one of the youngest of the clergy to assist and have responsibilities during the Conclave of Vatican II. He was the Theology advisor to the most liberal of all the Cardinals from the Alpine group. The Alpine group were mostly German Cardinals who had very forward and what others would label as liberal views and they voted as a block. Now Pope Benedict is turning his back on everything he stood for and advised Cardinal Joseph Frings, Archbishop of Cologne.

Many of the priests and nuns were expecting the changes recommended by the 70 plus members of the Commission that agreed to the use of contraception and when Pope Paul kept the commission's findings from the Vatican II Council they became discouraged - here is one story written by the wife of the American couple on the Commission -

http://www.amazon.com/Turning-Point-Control-Commission-Humanae/dp/0824514580

This is one of the better books describing without political leanings What Happened at Vatican II

http://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-at-Vatican-II/dp/0674047494/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345477893&sr=1-1&keywords=what+happened+at+vatican+ii+by+john+o%27malley+s.j

 

[Babi]

 Thanks for that information, BARB. I have only the vaguest idea of doings of Vatican II;
mostly simply that they were major reforms.  I'm not surprised that the diehards haven't
eased their position; it is a hallmark of the breed.