ITS A WRAP!
Friday, December 22
Friday, December 8
It took a few date adjustments, but we all finally made it to the last meeting for 2023 on Wednesday 6 December, at Fox Street, for Wifedom by Anna Funder (Julie), and Mick Herron's The Secret Hours (Sue).
But first there was important chatter about Christmas golf and Barbies - both the pink one (Margy) and the charred one (Moggy) - after which we lined up in our trenches to discuss the first book, Wifedom. Julie introduced the book (here is a link to her notes from the Guardian: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TXUTkV0g2XsM94UBEsBFw5KOnrnkC8J50dHR7KswuIE/edit and then we all took off with a LOT of discussion but not so much resolution.
Anna's own orbit of 'wifedom' was described in the early chapters along with her respect for Orwell's books and essays. She then launched into the core drivers for the book - patriarchy and Orwell's misogyny. We were told this explained Eileen's invisibility in Orwell's biographies. But there was certainly a mixture of takes on this proposition around the book club room. Perhaps this was because it was unclear whether it was a book of fiction (answer: sometimes), or a history (sometimes), or a biography (sometimes); and was it a biography of Eileen or George - (answer: sometimes both but more George than Eileen because it was with George and his earlier male biographers that the patriarchy could be found - according to Anna).
Eileen's 'wifedom' centred on her role in the household and relationship with George, yet Eileen the person was hard to find in the book. We were presented with her 6 letters to her friend Nora, along with Anna's interpretation of the letters, as well as the fiction Anna created around Eileen and to a lesser extent, George. We were left to ponder what made Eileen tick, and wonder what was true and what was fiction. The book pointed out that at times Orwell copied Eileen's edits, or used similar phrasing in his books/essays, giving strength to the argument that Eileen was much more than an editor, but for some of us, in the absence of a more coherent narrative, how to interpret all this was the BIG question.
And this leads to the inescapable conclusion that Anna's sense of and experience of 'wifedom' was/is entirely different to Eileen's experience. So why did the author bring in her own experience and scatter it throughout the book? It was a complex, post modern book in so many ways - leaving some of us more convinced than others. It was all very puzzling.
But there were some things on which we did all agree - that a lot of research went into the book; that the historical background on the times during the Spanish Civil War and WWII were well constructed; that George (aka Eric) didn't come out very well, and we all wondered why Eileen stuck by him given his philanderings, apparent misogyny, the impoverishness that he seemed to relish, his illness, and his obsession with his own self (quite a list really!). No doubt this was one of the outcomes Anna was after, wanting us to put all these traits together with his writings to get to the sum of George's parts, as well as acknowledge and recognise the extent of Eileen's work not only in supporting him, but also her unsung contribution to his becoming a highly respected author and commentator.
If you want to hear Anna talking about her book and perhaps shed some light on the puzzles, try this (from The Monthly podcast, Read this)
https://podcasts.apple.com/pg/podcast/anna-funder-is-her-own-wife/id1691035626?i=1000620919508
(or you could just have another quiet chat to Cherrie!);
or there is this more general discussion on George Orwell, and what he was for, as opposed to what he was against (which was a lot!).
https://shows.acast.com/londonreviewpodcasts/episodes/what-was-orwell-for
Banjo was getting restless, signalling it was time to move on to The Secret Hours (link to the very brief summary of the spy novel genre here) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e4cuBRpNlmsjb3jnxEuBiDiBOY1KMTZlCX_jTzMCwKY/edit
Discussion about this book was not as robust as the first, with only two bookclubbers giving it the thumbs up, citing its dry, cynical humour, fascinating characterisations, along with its rattling and complex yet coherent plot line (yes indeed - that's what Cherilyn and I thought!). Most everyone else were not so convinced - the main issues were that it bogged down after the first chapter's chase (which started with some sentence - The worst smell in the world is dead badger); and it didn't resonate with the much vaunted TV series 'Slow Horses'.
So, because I can't recall any detail about other criticisms, I am here and now unapologetically suggesting you continue with it if it remains unfinished, if only to enjoy the witty, wry and wonderful writing - such as
the PM, as events had so frequently demonstrated, didn't have favourites, he had human shields (p 52).
Not for the first time she wondered about the fetishism of the upper classes: about their clinging on to the ways of childhood - the nannies and the school dinner menus; the club ties - and about the wisdom of putting those mired in their own pasts in charge of all our futures. (p 70). (Ed note: George O would have agreed, and probably gone further).
The events she is recalling took place years, decades, ago, but there is no statute of limitations on remembered damage (p326)
The clock on his bedside table silently threw another minute to the floor. (p 377). (Ed note: my fave!)
The spy novel genre and the importance of reality was talked about, with the TV series The Bureau given as a classic example (a must watch 5 series maybe still on SBS On Demand; and then there is the Director's earlier film Les Patriotes - which is available from Apple TV)
Les Patriotes (1994 spy film by Eric Rochant, of The Bureau fame).
Over refreshments from Mr Nicks and elsewhere, we reminisced about the fabulous haberdashery department at Demasius and the stores sad ultimate demise in the name of progress, shop theft and checkout counters, and a history podcast that featured on the Drum recently (which I think is this one)
We also realised 2024 is closing in so here is a tentative list:
Wednesday 13 March 2024 - Barb and Cherilyn
Barb's book: Balcony over Jerusalem by John Lyons
Cherilyn's selection to come - UPDATE: selection is Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
Wednesday 8 May - Cherrie and Mog (venue to be decided)
Wednesday 10 July - Megan and Kathy
Wednesday 11 September - Margy and McLassie
Wednesday 13 November - Julie and Sue
So thats it for 2023 - roll on 2024.
Friday, September 29
Troubles everywhere
Rosie greeted us all at McLassie's gate with a big smile as, after a longer than usual wait, it was a full house on 27th September 2023, with tanned travellers from the deep north and all the southside stayers able to join Margie P and McLassie to talk about their book choices - Best of Friends and Trespasses. The pre-book chat natter took us down a few paths including bodgy car servicing and the benefits of RAA plus membership - which it seems you never have when you need it.
McLassie called order and introduced us to author Louise Kennedy and her first novel, Trespasses. Set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland it was a story of forbidden love between the older, married Protestant lawyer Michael Agnew, and a young Catholic primary school teacher, Cushla - with all the secrecy and survival mechanisms needed for affairs of that kind, at that time, in that place. We were close up and personal with the well drawn characters and the realism jumped off the pages, so there was no getting away from the violence and conflicts - though there were different views about Michael. Some considered he was a sleaze-bag (no apologies - it was the word used) while others thought maybe not so much given his schtick was defending the young Catholic protestors. We weren't surprised by the ending however, which didn't go well for Michael, and left Cushla in a world of no-woman's land. Fortunately Davy appeared in the last chapter set some years later, and helped turn the page for her.
Conversations turned to half eaten meat pies for lunch on Fridays (throwing away the other half when the priest appeared), Ulster Orange men marches, Belfast's no-go areas, and other experiences of the Catholic/Protestant division when growing up in the 1960's-70's - so the book elicited memories from many of us.
Despite the lack of quotation marks for dialogue (yes, a minor problem for a few of us), it was a good read about how difficult normal life can be during troubled times in troubled places.
Margie then sent us off to Pakistan and on to London with her book choice, Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie. Home Fire it wasn't, but it did create a lot of discussion about many things, including
- the time gap between growing up in Karachi and their adult lives in London - for some the cutaway via journalist's articles was too drastic and a big narrative leap, while for others it didn't have much of an impact on the storyline
- who was ultimately responsible for the car ride in Karachi that changed Maryam and Zahra's lives - much less Jimmy's later on (quite some discussion on this question with Maryam, Zahra and Hammad all in the frame, and then there was Jimmy who was actually controlling the situation)
- whose adult moral compass was more askew - Zahra's or Maryam's - or were they not askew but just human and a product of their upbringing
- how were they best of friends when, except for both being successful in later life, they didn't have a lot in common as adults - and
- were they ever besties? (and if not, why the title you can't help but ask?)
Big picture issues (such as the influence of social media, surveillance technology, courting political influence) swirled through the second half of the book but Shamsie seemed to consign them to the back seat. We all agreed on some things - that Hammad was very unlikeable, and that the ending was not so well resolved.
Suddenly, it was time for tea and cake as Rosie made her presence felt again wanting a bit of outside air, and we all thanked Barb and Cherrie for being the 'canaries in the coalmine' by getting over Transient global amnesia in our group - which may mean given its unusual occurrence, statistically speaking, we won't see TGA ever again (👍).
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| Marg's fab icing atop her carrot and walnut cake |
For the dairies, the next meeting is rescheduled to Wednesday 22 November 2023 at 7.00 pm, 1 Fox Street Goodwood - unless something blows up before then. UPDATE UPDATE: Now changed to Wednesday 6 December 2023 at Fox Street.
Books are
Julie: Wifedom - by Anna Funder (Zoe Morrison's sister in law)
Sue: The Secret Hours - by Mick Herron (writer of the TV series, Slow Horses). https://tv.apple.com/au/show/slow-horses/umc.cmc.2szz3fdt71tl1ulnbp8utgq5o (a key character is made for Gary Oldman's performance, and Kristen Scott Thomas is also rivetingly cold hearted).
Wednesday, August 9
Report from the Barbie Brigade
Barbie the movie - who would have thought that Mog, Megan, Julie, Kathy, McLassie and Sue were keen? But we were, and from the opening scene when little girls were smashing their baby dolls to smithereens to get the new Barbie (in 1959) it was a wild ride.
We followed Barbie through her day in fantasy Barbieland where Barbies were always happy and in charge of everything, including all the Kens - but it was less than satisfactory for our heroine. Something else was going on, so Barbie and Ken travel through universes to the 'real' world to try and find out. And at this point the social commentary becomes plain for us to see - in the real world, Barbie feels uncomfortable with all eyes ogling her up and down, while Ken revels in all the attention. And so the first social switcheroo begins - in the real world Ken gets to learn about and play in the patriarchy; while Barbie, against her wishes, gets put back in her box (well, almost literally). Somehow, Barbie escapes and along with Ken returns to fantasy Barbieland, followed by all the Mattel men in big offices who want to put her back in her box because there's not so much dosh to be made when she's not a doll. But now Ken has found his patriarchal mojo (in his new Mojo Dojo Casa House) and Ken's takeover of Barbieland is the second switcheroo. Ken rallies all the other Kens using music and dance (interesting!) and bravado, and the testosterone charged patriarchy is dominant in Barbieland, just like we saw in the real world.
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| Weird Barbie |
But then the art of manipulation comes in to play as the Barbies plot their return, led by Barbie and Weird Barbie (short chopped hair and always doing the splits! - it was inspired, and Mattel have just released a doll called Weird Barbie - so more dosh for Mattel!). Yes, we find ourselves at the third switcheroo - Barbies back in control after winning the Presidency and all the Supreme Court positions in Barbieland - but the Ken's have a place now too.
But wait, the film didn't end there! No spoiler but there is a final twist helped along by Barbie's creator (Ruth Handler), and it goes to choosing between Barbieland or being real (unless your take on the film was that Barbie achieved 'agency' and can now reproduce herself in Barbieland).
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| Ruth Handler 40 years on from the first Barbie |
Along with some high kitsch (including lots of horses on screens, and the fabulous image of the 10 Mattel men on a tandem bicycle heading off to Barbieland), Bollywood song and dance numbers, humour, social commentary (including by the narrator, Helen Mirren), and a few swipes at religion, there were some unforgettable scenes. Gloria's monologue on being a woman was one, and you can read it here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-veqmN8Dv5tbCVkLzi7HV4OKg9bddTbYvhqUTMI0_y4/edit?usp=sharing
It was a unique movie in many ways - about a female doll, both a fantasy and set in the real world, targeted (probably) at the 40+ female audience rather than younger girls, with social commentary on gender, all with the glitz of an old fashioned musical and including a gay doll man (Alan) and Weird Barbie who both played a part in the final switcheroo. We all wandered from the cinema a bit glazed over and were still trying to make it out over our pasta, pizza and arancini balls at Dolci afterwards.
Life is full of contradictions, and its not easy being a real human (but worth it) were possibly take home messages, but the jury is still out on whether everyone enjoyed the film and agreed on its take on life. However, we could probably all agree that its unlikely we will see the likes of this film again, unless there is the Hollywood sequel (maybe Ken the real Man?).
And yes pleased to report that after an overnight soaking in Vanish, Sard spray and 2 washes, the chocolate came out (mostly) - ready for the next Choctop.
Thursday, July 6
The O's have it - Valetto and Jericho (and pussycato)
Five happy bookclubbers arrived at Kathy's place on 5 July to talk about many things including books, and were joined by a very relaxed pussycat who didn't join in the conversation but purred along quietly to the rhythm of the meeting. Those who weren't able to hum along with us that evening were Cherrie, Barb, McLassie and Cherilyn - all separately tied up elsewhere with family matters. After forgetting that we hadn't talked about transient global amnesia - we did. And particularly Barb's recent experience which then reminded us about Cherrie's earlier encounter with such an odd medical event. After audible sighs of relief that TGA, though scary, is pretty much an unusual one-off event, with no predictive features for future forgetful experiences, we then speculated that Megan's second opinion ENT guy might also have had a TGA episode and hoped he would get over it and finally make contact with her the next day.
So on to the books. After his earlier forays into the art world with The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, and the film world with Electric Hotel, we went to Italy with Dominic Smith this time around, via 'Return to Valetto'. Though it ended well for Hugh and Elissa, we conjectured whether it was a book about abandonment? or grief? or inherited grievance? or even a twist on Cinderella? or ends justify means?, or something else? Told through its narrator, historian Hugh Fisher, the story was grounded in family history, but it seemed to have a few loose threads for some, and too much Italian lingo for others (where is Cherrie when her bookclub needs her fabulouso italian pronunciation?).
Despite not finding out why Aldo never returned to Valetto, the story held attention - with the secret events of WW2 and reflections on the Italian partisans and Nazi collaborators quickly overtaking the thorny question of property inheritance. In this world of instant communication, it was perhaps a nod to the past that this secret was revealed through previously unknown private letters between the mothers of our main characters, Hugh and Elissa. And who doesn't like a good secret to drive a book? Whether the final denunciation, coming after Ida's big 100th birthday party, was well conceived and a good way to end (the book that is, not Silvio R) was conjectured by all - and the general consensus was that it was perhaps an untidy end to a light but interesting read.
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| A very comfortable el pussycato |
You can read Megan's take on Dominic here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RnCse35oVHE3AM1Oj0P1cRzXZbsMjFNPCXoQ7pb7svw/edit?usp=sharing
As we moved on to Kathy's selection 'The Bookbinder of Jericho', el pussycato found her place curled up in her sleeping cushion and a few wondered if they might join her, though as Kathy launched us into Pip Williams' latest - not quite a sequel to her earlier 'Dictionary of Lost Words' - any chance to smooch with le petit chat was left well behind.
You can find Kathy's comments on Pip and the book here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qEcIRv6fP5gYPoIM7N_ByelxXpGlV86OPGtuXup00kQ/edit?usp=sharing
Our evening finished with delicious Apple Strawberry crumble cake and talk about America, Trump, Biden, Putin and Prigozhin. But the lasting image for the evening was of Jeremy in his undies and socks, as described by Mog, when he enthusiastically emerged to proclaim that he could now pull on both his socks and undies despite his dislocated shoulder. What an ever-lasting vision we were left with!
Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 5th September 2023, at McLassie's place with book selections:
McLassie: Trespasses, by Louise Kennedy
Margy: Best of Friends, by Kamila Shamsie
However, we agreed that with possible absences in September, this date may be reviewed, so stay tuned.
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