Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage - Family Furnishings

How do you like this story? What about the relationships in it? Alfrida and the father? Alfrida and the main character (I can't think of her name now!)? Conservative versus modern, more open? Have you had any situation that makes you think of this a familiar story? Some person that you knew and admired at a time and that then, you grew to dislike...

Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage - Floating Bridge

This story if build up by very different characters with very different feelings, with Jinny and her condition as the thread that guides all those feelings.

What do you think of the different characters? What do you think is the point of the story? Why do you think the story starts with Jinny's brief escape and ends up with her being driven home by a young stranger?

If you had to choose one word from the title of the book, which one would it be? Hateship? Friendship? Courtship? Loveship? Marriage?

Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage - First story

How did you like the first story of the book?

How did you feel about the different characters?  It is interesting how the point of view in the narrative smoothly changes from one character to the other, allowing us to see how they feel, and making it easier to empathize with them. Were you actually able to feel empathy for the girls? for Mr. McCauley? What about Ken and Johanna? 

Did you see the end coming?

Some critics suggest that the message Munro's work conveys is that the greatest purpose marriage has in a woman's life is to limit it. Do you see that in this story?

As always, looking forward to reading your thoughts on the author, the book, and on such interesting matters as hateship, friendship, courtship, loveship, and marriage. 

Our Summer 2013 Winner is...

Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories 

by Alice Munro

- Wilt, by Tom Sharpe - 3 votes

- Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories, by Alice Munro - 6 votes

Thanks for your fast responses and valuable votes!  We are now officially ready for our summer reading together. 

We look forward to reading your thoughts and feelings on all, or some, of the nine stories that the book compiles.  

Suggested reading schedule, coming soon.

Chapter 4 "April Eighth, 1928"

One week after what we had scheduled, here we are to discuss the last and final chapter of Faulkner's "Sound and fury"... did you already finish it? What did the last part add to the story? Globally, what do you think of the book? Would you read another Faulkner? Which chapter did you like best and why? Who is the main character of the book? Take your time...

Chapter 3 "April Sixth, 1928"

If you have been brave enough to get here, you have been rewarded with a much easier to read chapter, congrats!!! This is Jason's turn, with his point of view of the story and his values. What do you think of him? And about the others? Somehow, Caddie has gone a transformation, from being the sweetest sister (Benjy's point of view) to the fallen one (Jason's), how blurry is that line?
The title of the novel is inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth: 

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Told by an idiot, many say, does not only refer to Benjy, but to all of them with their limited views and acts, do you agree?

Interview with Junot Díaz

Dear NoCookies,

Junot Díaz, the Dominican-American writer and Pulitzer Prize winner read in this bookclub, was recently interviewed by El País (sorry, only in Spanish!). Very interesting and down-to-earth man who gives loads of ideas for future readings!

http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/04/29/eps/1367237169_171617.html

I hope you enjoy it!

The Sound and the Fury: June Second, 1910

In the second chapter we read the voices and memories of Quentin, one of the three brothers of the family and a young student at Harvard. If in the first chapter it was difficult to understand Benjy' story, it is now complicated too to follow Quentin's narrative and the chronological jumps of his thoughts. 

For those of us struggling to understand each one of the pages as well as to keep being motivated to keep reading, it might be helpful to know that we are not alone: in many reviews and analysis of the book it is said that the book requires intense concentration and patience to interpret and understand. 

So, we encourage you to keep reading and sharing your thoughts… and doubts.

The Sound and the Fury: April Seventh, 1928

The first chapter of "The sound and the fury" presents a southern family in 1928. Different topics are touched, family, children, the rich and the poor, death, segregation... from the perspective of the the youngest of all the kids in the family. What did call your attention the most?

Winner!

So William Faulkner made it to the top! Not only in the No Cookies Bookclub... we will be reading "The sound and the fury". Please check our book schedule page for more details to follow the discussion. Go get your copy fast!