The History Book Club discussion

Hello Everyone,

For the week of June 10, 2013 - June 16, 2013, we are reading Chapters 21 and 22 of House of Stone.

The eleventh week's reading assignment is:

WEEK ELEVEN: June 10, 2013 - June 16, 2013 (pp 259-277)
Chapter 21 - In The Name Of The Father (pp 259-268)
Chapter 22 - Coming Home (pp 269-277)


We will open up a thread for each week's reading. Please make sure to post in the particular thread dedicated to those specific chapters and page numbers to avoid spoilers. We will also open up supplemental threads as we did for other spotlighted books.

This book is being kicked off on April 1,2013.. We look forward to your participation. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders and other noted on line booksellers do have copies of the book and shipment can be expedited. The book can also be obtained easily at your local library, or on your Kindle. This weekly thread will be opened up today, April 1, 2013.

There is no rush and we are thrilled to have you join us. It is never too late to get started and/or to post.

Jill will be moderating this discussion.

Welcome,

~Bentley


TO ALWAYS SEE ALL WEEKS' THREADS SELECT VIEW ALL

by Anthony Shadid

REMEMBER NO SPOILERS ON THE WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREADS - ON EACH WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREAD - WE ONLY DISCUSS THE PAGES ASSIGNED OR THE PAGES WHICH WERE COVERED IN PREVIOUS WEEKS. IF YOU GO AHEAD OR WANT TO ENGAGE IN MORE EXPANSIVE DISCUSSION - POST THOSE COMMENTS IN ONE OF THE SPOILER THREADS. THESE CHAPTERS ARE EXTREMELY DENSE SO WHEN IN DOUBT CHECK WITH THE CHAPTER OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY TO RECALL WHETHER YOUR COMMENTS ARE ASSIGNMENT SPECIFIC. EXAMPLES OF SPOILER THREADS ARE THE GLOSSARY, THE BIBLIOGRAPHY, THE INTRODUCTION AND THE BOOK AS A WHOLE THREADS.

Notes:

It is always a tremendous help when you quote specifically from the book itself and reference the chapter and page numbers when responding. The text itself helps folks know what you are referencing and makes things clear.

Citations

If an author or book is mentioned other than the book and author being discussed, citations must be included according to our guidelines. Also, when citing other sources, please provide credit where credit is due and/or the link. There is no need to re-cite the author and the book we are discussing however.

If you need help - here is a thread called the Mechanics of the Board which will show you how:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2.....................

Glossary

Remember there is a glossary thread where ancillary information is placed by the moderator. This is also a thread where additional information can be placed by the group members regarding the subject matter being discussed.

goodreads.com/topic/show/1263001-hous...

Bibliography

There is a Bibliography where books cited in the text are posted with proper citations and reviews. We also post the books that the author used in her research or in her notes. Please also feel free to add to the Bibliography thread any related books, etc with proper citations. No self promotion, please.

goodreads.com/topic/show/1262982-hous...

TOC and the Syllabus

The following is a link to the table of contents for the book and the weekly syllabus:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1............

Book as a Whole Thread
The following is a link to the Final Thoughts and Book as a Whole.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1............

by Anthony Shadid

Chapter Overviews and Summaries

In The Name Of The Father (pp 259-268)

Shadid attends the baptism of Hikmat's beloved daughter at he Mar Elias church which was built in 1872. It takes him back in memory to his church in America, where even there the chants rang with Byzantine, Arab and Persian rhythms. The Orthodox ceremony was elaborate and beautiful.

In the weeks before the baptism, Hikmat had shared his code of behavior inherited from his family....be respectful, don't be aggressive, help people through your support. Show them care and one day they will return you respect." Hikmat's father George was his role model and before the civil war, he was one of the leaders of society in Marjayoun. When the war came and Hikmat wanted to fight his father forbade him, saying "this is not our war." He tells Shidad, "Marjayoun is my father". (pg 261)

Shidad receives a bill from the water company, addressed to his cousins, for service from 2002-2008, in the amount of $1,030. The house was in ruins during this time with no water service. He and Hikmat go to the water company and try to work out a deal but know that in the end he will have to pay. Hikmat says it is his welcome to Marjayoun.

Coming Home (pp. 269-277)

Things begin to pick up in the house renovation which revives Shadid's spirit. A few mundane things need to be done such as installing the kitchen counter and cabinets but he can see the end in sight. He and Abu Jean drive to a nearby town to buy tiles and Shadid asks him about the inhabitants. Abu Jean tells him an insulting anecdote and they laugh together. Shadid knows that at last he haa become a Marjayouni as he has learned hous to insult the neighbors.

Shadid and Shibil go to the local souk (market) and it represents the diversity of the population.....pictures of the Holy Mother next to a charity box for Hezbollah. It is a true mix of the culture of Marjayoun and the surrounding area.

While visiting Cecil, Sahdid tells him he is really worried about what's ahead but Cecil says that anxiety is pointless. He avoids watching the news as he is tired of the rumors. he says,"At the moment, it is the worst situation". (pg.277)

It is a bit ironic to hear Hikmat's code which is basically, "be respectful and helpful". Thus far, no one in Marjayoun seems to be respectful (except Dr. Khairalla) and are only helpful if money is involved. Or am I being cynical?

Couldn't agree more, Libby. This is not the Lebanon that Shadid expected; he had romanticized the land of his ancestors which is not an unusual reaction in most people. You may have had such an experience or have been told of one when a person returned to the family farm/house/neighborhood that they had left as a child. It usually turns out to be nothing like you remember. In the case of Shadid, the country is in such flux politically, that it is not surprising that he is beginning to grasp the changes that have occurred over the years; changes which are not positive.

The $1,000+ water bill!!!!! Although it didn't say it in the chapter, I don't think there was even water service to the house during that time (2002-2008). And the bill is in the name of one of the relatives who seem to lurk in the background. Hikmat believes that "Now the morals of the people are to be a crook" (pg 267). I think I am beginning to agree with him.

How true!! And when Hikmat tried to help, he felt humiliated by "a small piece of s**t in the government". He opinions seem to be validated by the attitudes of most of the citizens and Hikmat and other of Shadid's friends can only talk about the "old days" when things were better. But although the situation in Lebanon is more dire, the talk of the "good old days" is common around the world, isn't it?

Shibil visits and talks about his brother who has cancer. He adores him and he is the only one of his siblings that Shibil likes. Then he tells Shadid that his brother shelled out money to him since Shibil was in the eighth grade and paid for everything. Seems to me that may be one of the reasons why he loves him so much.

Jill wrote: "The $1,000+ water bill!!!!! Although it didn't say it in the chapter, I don't think there was even water service to the house during that time (2002-2008). And the bill is in the name of one of th..."

Ridiculous isn't it.