When did you find
out who you are…or have you?
“In Flanders fields the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row.”
The poppy is a symbol of support for our veterans;
its origin is in this poem written by a Canadian military physician in honor of
those who died in a Belgian field in the Great War. We would love to take
credit for scheduling this wonderful book the day before we celebrate those who
served in the name of freedom, but we “cannot tell a lie”… but coincidences are
often timely.
16 Bookers gathered at the home of Melanie
Prebis to discuss arguably the most universally accepted Bookers’ selection in
our history. One had to look very hard to find fault with Kristin Hannah’s portrayal
of two sisters, each providing a tutorial in survival amongst the German
occupation of France during World War II. We were happy Leslie was able to join
us this month, and a special thank you to Rokhshie Malone for whetting our
taste buds with Scotland’s own Walkers pure butter shortbread.
The cast of Bernie Crudden and Company
including Mary Jacobs, Pat Faherty, and Kay Robinson, with a cameo appearance
from Cherry Fugitt, began the commentary of this novel with Bernie in the voice
of Vianne. She told us about the men in her life beginning with the father who
gave her away, Antoine, the love of her life, the moral German, Captain Beck,
and the vile German, Von Richter, her adopted son, Daniel, and the son
conceived by rape who became the salvation to a marriage, Julien. Mother
Superior Marie-Therese offered Vianne a perspective that saved her life. “Don’t
think about who they are. Think about who you are and what sacrifices you can
live with, and what will break you.” In 1995, when Vianne returned to Paris,
her legacy solidified in how she responded to the question of what would you do
to keep your family safe? Her son, Julien, knew his mother as ordinary, but he
learned how extraordinary she was.
Mary Jacob, in the voice of Isabelle, told
of a young girl orphaned at four, abandoned by her father, who spent her entire
life trying not to feel disposable. Some might say with reckless abandonment,
she defied all odds by championing the message of Charles de Gaulle encouraging
the French Resistance movement to the occupation. Her hero, Edith Cavell, saved
hundreds of lives in the Great War, saying, “patriotism is not enough.”
Following suit, Isabelle adopted the philosophy of being bold rather than meek…
“If you jump off a cliff at least you’ll fly before you fall.” Cherry’s
comments, read by Pat, indicated Isabelle didn’t look at herself as brave or a
hero. She had nothing to lose but herself. Vianne was the epitome of both. She
stood up in the face of losing everything, her home, family, marriage, friends,
respect, and integrity, but sacrificed whatever it took to keep some bit of
normality while staring at despair at every turn.
Kay Robinson asked whom we would identify
with, Vianne, the rule follower, or Isabelle, the rebel? We determined the
world probably needs an equal share of those who go by the book and those who
don’t bother opening it. We shared stories of ancestors and their plights
during the war torn years; the war from Europe’s view, shared by Rokhshie
growing up in London, painted another picture of the devastation, and if you
visit Normandy, the impact of what was lost and gained, is a visual reminder of
the sacrifices of war.
STANDING
OVATION LADIES!!!!!!
This novel told us the story from the
women of the war who looked morality in the eye and endured its destruction.
This was a two Kleenex box for me.
COLOR CODING SYSTEM
WHITE: LIGHT READ
PINK: MODERATELY
CHALLENGING
RED: CHALLENGING
December
8th:
Our
Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
PINK
Holiday Brunch,
Bonnie Magee, Food Czar
Home
of: Jean Alexander
Reviewers:
TBD
January
12, 2016:
The Secret Chord by
Geraldine Brooks
RED
Home
of: Rebecca Brisendine
Reviewer:
Patty Evans
February
9th:
Winter
Garden by Kristin Hannah
PINK
Home
of: Daryl Daniels
Reviewer:
Jean Alexander
March
8th:
TBD
April
12th:
TBD
Home
of Kay Robinson
May 17th Wine
& Cheese evening meeting
Note
later date
A Man
Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
PINK
Home
of: Beverly Dossett
Reviewer:
Jean McSpadden
“A poet is a nightingale who sits in
darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds; his auditors
are as men entranced by the melody of an unseen musician, who feel that they
are moved and softened, yet know not whence or why.” Percy Shelley
Happy Reading,
JoDee
