Bibliophile Babes Book Club discussion

Hi everyone! I hope you've had a lovely July with lots of reading time :)

The publisher has put together some questions for The Book of Speculation which I thought would be great to start of our discussion this month.

I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on this one as it was very popular in our poll.

1. What part do various languages play in both narratives? Why do you think the author chose to make Amos mute?

2. “Haven’t you ever felt connected to a book?” Churchwarry asks Simon. What do books mean to him and to Simon? Do you have a book that you feel is uniquely yours?

3. Different types of magic are woven throughout the story and individual characters are drawn to specific kinds— water magic, tarot cards, book magic, etc. Which characters resonate with which kinds of magic? Do you have to believe in magic to appreciate this novel?

4. At the end, do you think the curse is broken or does the reappearance of the cards mean that it still lives on?

5. Near the end of the book, Simon observes, “We carry our families like anchors, rooting us in storms, making sure we never drift from where and who we are. We carry our families within us the way we carry our breath underwater, keeping us afloat, keeping us alive. I’ve been lifting anchors since I was eighteen. I’ve been holding my breath since before I was born.” What meaning does this passage have for you?

Sara wrote: "Hi everyone! I hope you've had a lovely July with lots of reading time :)

The publisher has put together some questions for The Book of Speculation which I thought would be great to start of our d..."

I feel like I should preface all my answers to these questions by saying that this book was 100% not for me, because I think my answers might reflect that. I even voted for it I think!

Sara wrote: "2. “Haven’t you ever felt connected to a book?” Churchwarry asks Simon. What do books mean to him and to Simon? Do you have a book that you feel is uniquely yours?"'

I felt as I was reading this, that Simon really became quite obsessed with the book. It consumed his whole life. It seemed to me that this obsession was supposed to arise from his desire to save his sister from the fate of drowning...but really I saw the obsession beginning before he even worked this out. I guess I felt Simon's connection with the book, was similar to him clinging to his ramshackle house- he saw it as a connection to the family he has lost. He seemed quite fixated on physical connections which was different to Enola.

I guess I have never really felt that a book was uniquely mine as such- over the course of my life there are certainly books with which I have felt a strong connection- and have felt that I have had a somewhat superior appreciation of the book than the people in my world...but this is always tempered with an understanding that around the world people are probably having the same reaction or response, I just don't know them.

Sara wrote: "3. Different types of magic are woven throughout the story and individual characters are drawn to specific kinds— water magic, tarot cards, book magic, etc. Which characters resonate with which kin..."

As someone who didn't respond to this novel- I don't think a belief in magic is necessary. I don't have a personal belief in magic, but have read and thoroughly enjoyed many novels that have dealt with magic...The Night Circus I think is a great example which was a 5 star read for me, unlike this one.

In short- I don't really know what you need to appreciate this novel....patience? Willingness to put up with Simon's crap? I look forward to hearing from some of you who did enjoy it hopefully????

Sara wrote: "4. At the end, do you think the curse is broken or does the reappearance of the cards mean that it still lives on?"

Oh preach- I was exhausted by my frustration at the end of this.
I read the reappearance of the tarot cards, and Simon's desire to remake the book as a sign that the curse still existed...but perhaps a signal that the curse only exists for those who believe in it?

Sara wrote: "5. Near the end of the book, Simon observes, “We carry our families like anchors, rooting us in storms, making sure we never drift from where and who we are. We carry our families within us the way..."

I enjoyed the notion that we always carry our families with us, because I definitely believe that too. I found this quite a dark interpretation of that though- which certainly reflects Simon's connection with his family. The concept of the anchor is quite sinister. I like the idea that our families keep us honest to WHO we are, but the idea of being anchored WHERE we are, gave me a sense of entrapment. Simon I thought was definitely trapped in his falling down house by the belief that he had to for his family. For me this passage really reflected Simon's attitude to his family, and his sense of responsibility for it, which I didn't personally feel was very healthy or rewarding for him as a person.
Personally, I feel anchored to my sense of self by my family, but I don't feel anchored to place or feel like I'm "holding my breath"...I read this as quite fatalistic.

hey guys, I'm so sorry about my late response here! July was so busy for me and I never got a chance to pick up our book club read... ahh! I hope you guys enjoyed it though. I'm starting Moonglow as our August read today so I'll be back and active in the next discussion!

Sara wrote: "Hi everyone! I hope you've had a lovely July with lots of reading time :)

The publisher has put together some questions for The Book of Speculation which I thought would be great to start of our d..."

Are we all alone this month Sara??

Nope I read the book too, finished it in the second week last month :). I don't know about all the questions, but I like the book, well most of it. I think the ending was really preditable (all the characters coming together, and Simon that was the obsessed one). Also, I found the middle of the book kind of hard to get through, but when the bookshop owner got back in the story, it got interesting for me again. This is my kind of genre though so overall I would recommend the book to others as well!

Claire wrote: "Sara wrote: "Hi everyone! I hope you've had a lovely July with lots of reading time :)

The publisher has put together some questions for The Book of Speculation which I thought would be great to s..."

Sorry! I've been meaning to get back to the discussion but kept getting tied up.

Claire wrote: "Sara wrote: "2. “Haven’t you ever felt connected to a book?” Churchwarry asks Simon. What do books mean to him and to Simon? Do you have a book that you feel is uniquely yours?"'

I felt as I was r..."

Yes, Simon definitely developed an obsession before he discovered his sister may be at risk. To me it really felt like he was trying to find his mother in the book as it seems he didn't really know all that much about her. And then through Frank he finds he *really* didn't know everything about her.

The only book that is 'uniquely' mine is my bullet journal lol

Claire wrote: "Sara wrote: "3. Different types of magic are woven throughout the story and individual characters are drawn to specific kinds— water magic, tarot cards, book magic, etc. Which characters resonate w..."

I think the question is better phrased as 'what *do* you have to believe in to appriciate this novel?'

I don't believe in magic and still found The Night Circus to be a wonderful novel. I really wish publishers would stop describing any other book with a vague circus theme as 'for lovers of The Night Circus'.

Claire wrote: "Sara wrote: "4. At the end, do you think the curse is broken or does the reappearance of the cards mean that it still lives on?"

Oh preach- I was exhausted by my frustration at the end of this.
I ..."

This bit was a little silly. 'I'll just drown the cards'
The obsession certainly lived on but I honestly can't imagine either character having children to pass it onto.

S. wrote: "Nope I read the book too, finished it in the second week last month :). I don't know about all the questions, but I like the book, well most of it. I think the ending was really preditable (all the..."

I'm glad to hear you liked the book, especially if this was your first read for our bookclub :)
My copy will end up being donated so hopefully someone else can pick it up and enjoy it. The copy I have has such a fun little illustration on the cover.

Sara wrote: "S. wrote: "Nope I read the book too, finished it in the second week last month :). I don't know about all the questions, but I like the book, well most of it. I think the ending was really preditab..."

Me too- mine is going in the "little free library" in my neighbourhood. I also had a copy with a gorgeous cover.

Sara wrote: "Claire wrote: "Sara wrote: "3. Different types of magic are woven throughout the story and individual characters are drawn to specific kinds— water magic, tarot cards, book magic, etc. Which charac..."

YES this is my pet peeve with publishing. Once some kind of wonderful book is published, they then sell everything with even the slightest similarity as "The next..." and they ALWAYS underdeliver for me!

Sara wrote: "Claire wrote: "Sara wrote: "2. “Haven’t you ever felt connected to a book?” Churchwarry asks Simon. What do books mean to him and to Simon? Do you have a book that you feel is uniquely yours?"'

I ..."

This is a good point Sara- I guess he was trying to find his mother in the book. I found the early point of his obsession with the book was a bit of a sticking point for me. It felt, weird, not justified, or explained...like the author had accidentally plotted it too early...it just didn't work for me, that he became so quickly obsessed with it, and seemed like a really unrealistic response.

Sara wrote: "S. wrote: "Nope I read the book too, finished it in the second week last month :). I don't know about all the questions, but I like the book, well most of it. I think the ending was really preditab..."

Nice! I love having books around in the house too much to ever give them away. Someone even told me to get a library subscription because it's such an expensive hobby when you read this much. But no :p

S. wrote: "Sara wrote: "S. wrote: "Nope I read the book too, finished it in the second week last month :). I don't know about all the questions, but I like the book, well most of it. I think the ending was re..."

I always dreamed of having a massive home library but in an effort not to let books overwhelm my modest sized house I prefer to donate the ones I don't see myself reading again.
My public library mostly always has a wait list (if they even have the book at all) so borrowing doesn't really work for bookclub reads.

You're right about it being an expensive hobby! But as my favourite bookmark says: books are the only things you buy that make you richer ;)