Marg.

Marg,
I'm sorry to hear you won't be joining us. The book is $25 full price here, but is on line at Barnes and Noble 18.16. Do you have access to ordering from American companies on the web?

Justme
Jo

CCF questions 1 & 2

I am not enjoying this book. I have finished about half the book in hopes it would improve. I still am not enjoying it. I will probably finish it because it is a group read. I understand from the prologue that this book is intended to funny, but I haven't found the humor as yet. I find it to be more satirical than humorous.

1. What do you think of Flora Poste?
Not much. She is supercilious and egotistical.

2. What do you think of the other characters?
They seem one dimensional for the most part. I find little to endear me to Adam except for the small mystery he brings with his musings about Elfine. She seems a free spirit wrapped in what little mystery the book contains so far. Judith seems like a very sad soul and Amos revels in the negative. Seth is useless and Reuben is wrapped up in farming the land no matter how poor.

First four questions

1.The relationship between Bruno and Gretel was consistent with that between most preteens and teenagers and their younger siblings. Gretel felt more mature and better about herself when she could put Bruno down for being "stupid" because he was "only nine." She was that between age, not quite a child, but not yet a young adult. A very difficult time. Bruno's defense was typical. Classifying her as an "hopeless case" gave him a shield against her barbs. I believe the one dimensional aspect of the children is intentional. We don't need them fully fleshed out. It is only their part in the "fable" that is relevant. (B're rabbit was one dimensional also... grin) That is why our knowledge of them is limited.

2. I believe Gretel is not in the League of young Girls because of her father's position. There is a lot of opportunity for over hearing sensitive conversations that a child might innocently repeat to her father's disadvantage.

3.Bruno has many reasons to feel a chill in the house at "out with." There are many underlying currents in the house. His mother does not approve of her husband dragging his family, especially the children, along in the interest of his ambitions. The view of the camp and the people outside his window, even though he dose not understand it. The whole place is steeped in bad vibrations. Lt.Kotler's angst, Pavel's fall from doctor to kitchen help and waiter. All of it is just below the surface, just beyond Bruno's grasp.

4.Bruno stared at the people in the striped pajamas because he was confused. He did not understand, but he was questioning their differences or lack of them, as the story goes on. He is very naive and that curiosity and and naivety foreshadows the behavior that precipitates his fate.

Jo

Started BSP

I have about the first 25% of BSP read. I am also reading "The Book Thief." They both take place in Germany in the same time period. I must say it is an upsetting time. They are both classified as young adult books and are very good reads. I'm wondering why I didn't have books like this when I was a "young adult" a very long time ago. I remember mostly romances and classics being available in our local neighborhood library. I have read a lot of good young adult books in the last few years.

Jo

Checking in

Hi
Just checking in. I returned from a trip to New Mexico to visit my friend of 30 years. The trip was great. I finished OSB and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was also not surprised that Ian became a doctor and returned home. I felt all along that he was well suited to the profession and he "doth protest to much." My question was how Laura could even think about Jake knowing what and who he was and how faithful and loving a husband she had in Arthur.

OSB-DQ 10-12

10. Have you ever said something impulsively that you later regretted? How was it decided where you would go to school or what work you would do? Has irritation ever gotten you into trouble?

Have I ever sad something impulsive that I have regretted? So often, that I can't think of one time in particular right now. I ran away and got married (at 17 1/2) after an argument with my dad over the date. Is that impulsive enough? I ended up taking many years to finish college between raising children, a divorce and life in general. My work decided on me. I took a job in an industrial lab because the money was decent. I kept moving to different labs to make better money. I had three children to support. I guess you could say necessity decided my career.

11. Is luck that important? Does determinations and hard work matter? Is the author saying being sensible or smart doesn't make much difference if your luck runs out?

There is an element of luck to life. Unfortunately, often being lucky enough or unlucky enough, to be born a member of a particular race or group makes a large difference in how much hard work and determination one must expend. Being in the right place at the right time can be a matter of luck. Taking advantage of the opportunities presented us is not a matter of luck. Determination and hard work do matter, but as I stated above in some circumstances (such as birth group) one can get along without much of it or need to expend great amounts of both and to get anywhere at all.

13. What happens when we assume everyone thinks the way we do? Can you think of an example?

We all know what assuming makes out of us. I have made this mistake in reference to politics and found myself in an uncomfortable situation.

Jo

Finished OSB

Like scamper and Margreet I also have finished OSB and am waiting for more discussion questions. I hope I can participate without being influenced by the rest of the book.

OSB Answers to questions 6-9

6. How are the characters shaped by the novel’s setting? What do the natural surroundings of the town mean to them? What separates those who want to escape from those who bask in the town’s familiarity?

Arthur, quiet and shy, slow witted and not good at book learning, took comfort in knowing everyone in the small town atmosphere and found contentment in working the farm. Jake was not suited to either. He was quick witted, easily bored, had an easy way with people and was good looking enough to get his way with girls. The small town and farming life made him feel penned in and trapped.

7. Take a look at the men's relationships with their mothers. As a pre-schooler, Arthur "already knew that his mother's happiness depended on Jake's well-being" (p. 28), while school-boy Jake "had great confidence in his mother's ability to win arguments on his behalf" (p. 36). Ian's opinion of his mother shortly before she left was that she "had two moods nowadays, absent or annoyed, and whichever one she was in he invariably found he preferred the other" (p. 13). What do these relationships look like to you?

All these relationships between mother and son leave much to be desired. I don't see anything even resembling a healthy Mother, son, relationship among them. How is it that we women raise these boys into men and so often cripple their future relationships with women?

9. Can you relate to any of the characters? In what way?

I can relate to Jake a bit in his not able to please his dad and really not understanding why his dad cannot appreciate his talents for what they are rather than what he wished they were. I had and still do have a lot of that with my mother. We are nothing alike in personality and to this day I am in often in trouble for something I said, or didn't say, or did or didn't do with no clue to what I did or why she is upset.

Jo

Question 5 OSB

5. How were Jake and Arthur affected by their family dynamic? Did their mother pamper Jake too much? Did their father favor Arthur because he was easier to manage, or was Jake difficult to manage because of his father’s favoritism?

Arthur was very much like his father in temperament. He was a good person and a plodder. He could be depended on to work hard and take care of responsibilities. He also was very much like his father in that he could not bear to see his mother disappointed, even when keeping her happy meant he suffered. In the end he was protecting Jake from himself and his father, all to please his mother. Their father didn't as much "favor" Arthur, though it must have seemed that way to Jake, as he just didn't understand Jake. Jake on the other hand, tried hard to get his dad to notice him, albeit in all the wrong ways. His mother only made the gulf between Jake and his father and brother wider.

OSB Answers to questions

1. How were you affected by the novel’s prologue?
I felt the theme for the main characters was well set up. I thought Jake was a spoiled brat from the beginning and that Arthur, with the best of motives helped to encourage Jake's outrageous behavior, despite himself.

What did you discover about Arthur and Jake in this scene?2. How would you answer the questions that conclude the prologue?

a. Was Jake surprised because he had never considered the possibility that he might be a less-than-perfect shot? Did he have that much confidence in himself, that little self-doubt?b. Or was he merely surprised at how easy it was to give in to an impulse, and carry through the thought that lay in your mind?

I don't think Jake could answer the questions himself. I'm not sure he gave the outcome much thought. Therefore I think the answer is all of the above.

Simply to do whatever you wanted to do, and damn the consequences.3. What accounts for the differences between those who follow the rules, like Arthur, and those who defy them?4. Which came more easily for you as an adolescent: obedience or defiance?

I believe the difference in innate personalities makes a large difference. Birth order has some impact also (I was the oldest, with one younger brother). I think I was born with an in dependent streak that increased as I hit adolescents. It was not too difficult to follow rules that made sense to me, even if I didn't totally agree with them. I had a very difficult time following rules I felt were "stupid" My parents were strict and thought "because I said so" was reason enough for any rule. To me, no explanation meant it was up to me to decide if it was logical or not. I felt "stupid" rules were meant to be broken. I 'm afraid I'm not much different today. The only improvement is I have a much better grasp on what constitutes "Stupid." I hope!!! LOL

Jo

Hello

Whew, I am glad I found you all here, but it wasn't easy. My name is Jo, I am an eclectic reader. I have 9 grandchildren and a great grandson that I baby sit 5 days a week. (I retired a year ago, so I guess my family thought I needed a new job) I am an old time Book Buddy, who has been away for quite awhile. I went to the Oprah site to find BBs but what a mess. I found Esscensia (I was around when we created Esscensia on one of virtual vacations) Saw Anne's post that Bonnie had started a new site, but the PM was not working. Fortunately I was able to goggle it and here I am. I have not started the new selection yet, but I will pick it up and catch up.
It was great to see a few familiar people around, Margreet and Caboose Hi.

Till later
Just me
JO