STV Book Club

Theresa · **Thu May 14, 2009 1:51 pm**

Well, it was meant to be from the perspective of a nine year old. And he couldn't exactly tell you where he was and what happened to him since he died. (I'm assuming I can say that since it seems that everyone who wanted to read this book has, yes?)

IntrepidIsMe · **Thu May 14, 2009 2:19 pm**

I felt like maybe his friend could have stopped coming and then he figured it out blah blah blah.

Puck · The Texan Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 5596

Thomas · **Fri May 15, 2009 10:40 am**

IntrepidIsMe · **Fri May 15, 2009 11:50 am**

I really don't see the connection with the father. Were we supposed to assume that he was evil for what he and hundreds of others did and that it was karma that his son died the same way that he killed thousands of others? It didn't seem like any sort of justice. Both his and his son's lives were ruined. In the end it says that he was lead away by his peers because of his failing abilities after his son's death (correct me if I'm wrong, I thought that part was oddly written). If the author intends for us to assume that justice is through the suffering of people that "deserve" it through the deaths of innocent loved ones, that goes against the nature of the rest of the book. There wasn't any implication in the novel that the father felt any sort of remorse for what he had done, merely that he was upset about the loss of his son.

If his death was supposed to signify that we are all human and all deserve equal treatment with rights to life, liberty, and property, then I fail to see how his death accomplished that. There was no catharsis or denouement regarding his character, at least. I understand that he was child and so much of either would be unlikely, but at least the realization of what was occurring would lead to the satisfaction that he finally understood what had been perplexing him for so long.

What I got from the book was that as children we are in our most vulnerable states and haven't been corrupted by the evils of society and hence we look upon others as equals if we do not have the ability to look on them as our inferiors. That makes sense, but the point of the story I felt was some sort of resolution towards his understanding of what was going on around him and him coming up with differing views than his father as a result of his experiences, neither of which happened. Unless, of course, the book is intended to be more existential and we are to assume that as an audience we cannot always expect resolutions and sometimes characters merely die without reaching those sames resolutions which we ourselves hope to achieve. Therefore, we need to accept merely what happens as truth and not look beyond it. I doubt that was the author's intention, though.

B'Elanna Torres 7 of 9 · **Fri May 15, 2009 8:08 pm**

So Phantom of the Opera it is then for our next book

!

Theresa · **Sat May 16, 2009 8:06 am**

Last call! Are we all good with this? I can make a poll if you'd like.

IntrepidIsMe · **Sat May 16, 2009 12:45 pm**

Do it!

Theresa · **Sat May 16, 2009 5:37 pm**

Done it!

B'Elanna Torres 7 of 9 · **Sun May 17, 2009 12:26 am**

which ever comes in 2nd, we can read after the 1st one!

Theresa · **Sun May 17, 2009 3:46 pm**

Agreed!

Theresa · **Mon May 18, 2009 9:55 pm**

Ok, so I'll check this in the morning, and whichever is ahead is the one we'll go with. And like Grace said, we'll read the runner up after.

Theresa · **Tue May 19, 2009 9:36 am**

So, we're starting with Pride and Prejudice.

B'Elanna Torres 7 of 9 · **Tue May 19, 2009 12:32 pm**

gosh that was a close one

!

IntrepidIsMe · **Thu May 21, 2009 8:28 pm**

So who is going to be reading the Pride and Prejudice?

I started yesterday, myself.

Puck · The Texan Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 5596

I am on chapter 15.

Theresa · **Thu May 21, 2009 9:06 pm**

I'm on chapter 5.

Theresa · **Tue May 26, 2009 9:12 pm**

IMO, so far, the Bingley/Hurst girls are total biotches,

B'Elanna Torres 7 of 9 · **Fri May 29, 2009 12:46 pm**

You can take the poll down T

Theresa · **Fri May 29, 2009 1:22 pm**

Gosh, that's going to be hard, emotionally,

How far are you in Pride & Prejudice?

B'Elanna Torres 7 of 9 · **Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:48 pm**

I have a different idea, instead of Phantom... I just got the book "Stardust" yesterday at the bookstore. I remember seeing the movie a couple years ago. I can't remember exactly what it's about, but it'll be a quick easy read. Anyway - i was reading reviews about it online last night, and many adults really enjoyed it. Lots of positive reviews. Anyway, just a thought if we wanted to do this before Phantom. Let me know!

Theresa · **Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:15 pm**

I'll read whatever, nearly.

As for Pride & Prejudice, good thing it was something I "had" to read or I'd never have done it. I'm a little over half way through, and didn't actually like the book until around chapter 30. Now, though, it's good!

IntrepidIsMe · **Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:58 am**

It seems like all of Austin's works are like that, to me at least.

Well, I haven't really had a chance to read this still, and probably won't for at least two weeks. Feel free to move on without me if everybody ends up finishing before I do,

Although I'll try to catch up eventually!

Theresa · **Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:30 am**

I finished the book last night! Which prompted me to order the movie from Amazon,

I don't know how far Kevin is, I know he was listening to it on his iPod.

Puck · The Texan Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 5596