Genie’s Comments (group member since Nov 21, 2020)

Genie’s comments from the 3CS Book Club CDA group.

Deb, I agree with your overview here. Thanks for joining in!

The backdrop happily reminded me of family roadtrips cross-country in the 50s, different routes but similar, Georgia to Montana .

Because TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY offered the educated wit of an author, I found his first-hand interactions and observations more enjoyable. In contrast, Annie's interactions, although emotional, seemed repetitive.

In our discussion led by Kat Gilmore, we talked about the author's extensive research on conditions of roads and highways in the mid 1950s. The use of such information, along with addition of cultural events, accounted for as much text as the story of Annie's journey itself. I think this set the book apart from the other travel books mentioned.

In the recent past, we have read several books that relate personal treks. WEST WITH GIRAFFES, TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY, THE SALT PATH. (I also read THE JOURNEY TO THE EAST which I'm adding to my own contemplation of the question here.)

What do you think distinguishes THE RIDE OF HER LIFE from the other travel related works we've discussed?

Yes, I latched onto that also. How profound. And the conversations that come from reading can be invaluable.

However, in a situation or two when I was young, I told myself at the time, "never forget!" It was about how I was begin treated so that I could be a better parent.
I believe I can see those few past experiences thru both my teen eyes and my adult eyes.

I might start by noting that the characters in Patchett's stories always ring so true. I feel as if I have known them somewhere along the way. She depicts emotions and reactions so simply and powerfully that I am affected by the outcome of each situation.
In this book, the first person narrative pulls me right in.
You'd be correct to say, I'm drawn to coming-of-age and teen novels.

In what ways is this novel like or unlike other books you have read by Ann Patchett?

Our group addressed the situation of homelessness with varied responses. Some felt compassion for the plight of the couple who had no landing place, and kept walking with seemingly no other recourse. Others stated it is survival of the fittest at play. Interesting to note, the characters in the memoir finally gained traction when a stranger took a chance and offered them a rental.

I was moved when she finally accepted the lack of material possessions. Again she felt at one with Nature. She remembers so vividly a time when her ewe lambed and she was outside lying in the grass looking at the sky and feeling whole.

One of the book's central themes was uncertainty, a pulse of Yes, or No. A few of the examples I found:

YES, she has to get married now despite her pleading/NO she can wait thanks to Sophia's subterfuge

NO she can't see Sophia to say good bye/YES Sophia runs out to the carriage

YES Alfonso is sweet and thoughtful (gifts and letters)/ NO Alfonso is a brute, he shoves her down in carriage as they depart for no reason. and abandons her during the travel with no warning.

YES, she's sure Alfonso is going to kill her at the Fortezza/ NO she's not sure, how can anyone so caring possibly do that?

YES as the duchess she assumes she can have a say in certain matters/ NO Leonoello and Alfonso can be as cruel as they wish and she must accept it.

I'm sure there are many more instances! Did you spot any?

I think this conclusion, from a NYT reviewer, describes the novella wonderfully:
“The Child and the River” is in fact a gentle, meta-fairy-tale about the imagination’s capacity to bring about the very realities it craves, whether we need friendship, adventure, salvation or love."

Hey, that's cool!
Hoping you and other readers will tag a favorite passage or two to read. Having passages read aloud is part of the experience with a book like this, I think.

I also enjoy the reader's comment, Kim. I think the book asks us to slow down and luxuriate in beingness. The destination isn't really known..either in the story or in our life....

Kim, I agree. This is a significant passage. So much wisdom could be gathered from the little episode. I especially liked the odd assortment of cups, glasses, and jars, creatively utilized so all might enjoy the prized beverage!

I'm barely into this book and already finding foretelling moments—such as, his finding trash circles around cities. He's observing that the French would repurpose things, but Americans were less inclined... even then.

Perhaps some foreshadowing. It was forewarning the change to come in Joan's relationship with the Dauphine, spoken by Yolande. (page 180) "Either a woman must be raised high, higher than the heads of men, otherwise she will be crushed beneath their feet....We must raise you to the height of the heavens themselves." And so the notable armor and banner were created—costume! Given this persona she was allowed by the King to raise siege. But~with her first failure, despite many victories, she fell from Heaven and we see what happened. She was completely crushed by the men who had befriended her.

Readers are noting that this Joan is quite different from the Joan of Arc previously pictured in legend and film.
Do you agree?
If so, in what way is she different?

What are your feelings about Heathcliff? Do you despise? Feel compassion?
Think, "all's well that ends well?'

What is most memorable for you after reading this historical account of significant players in a important diplomatic situation?

Here we have a classic meme: Character goes on a journey. Think all the way back to the Odyssey, step forward to Kidnapped, by R. L. Stephenson. Our own group reading of West with Giraffes, Rutledge, qualifies also.
Grey Bees, a deceptively simple story, percolates after the reading. What aspects of it linger with You? Conditions in Ukraine. Serge himself and his experiences. The comparisons of human society to that of bees. Or somethIng else? See you Wednesday for the discussion!

I found humor and fun characters, but nothing to rave about. I read it during two airplane flights and found it a nice diversion.

The book seemed cliche, outdated, possibly because of my age! ha ha
Yes, we women have had to push through barriers, maybe the author wants younger readers to understand this?

I might say it aligns with themes accounting for the popularity of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING.
It hits the selling points, FEMALE LONELINESS, A TOUGH STANCE DESPITE ODDS, VICTORY AGAINST MALES.