Global Book Selections discussion

This book was the second highest voted book, and as I have mentioned I will throw in the top two votes for us to read. This way everyone has the option between the two which one they would like to read. The summary of this book goes like this:

"One day in early spring, Dorrit Weger is checked into the Second Reserve Bank Unit for biological material. She is promised a nicely furnished apartment inside the Unit, where she will make new friends, enjoy the state of the art recreation facilities, and live the few remaining days of her life in comfort with people who are just like her. Here, women over the age of fifty and men over sixty–single, childless, and without jobs in progressive industries–are sequestered for their final few years; they are considered outsiders. In the Unit they are expected to contribute themselves for drug and psychological testing, and ultimately donate their organs, little by little, until the final donation. Despite the ruthless nature of this practice, the ethos of this near-future society and the Unit is to take care of others, and Dorrit finds herself living under very pleasant conditions: well-housed, well-fed, and well-attended. She is resigned to her fate and discovers her days there to be rather consoling and peaceful. But when she meets a man inside the Unit and falls in love, the extraordinary becomes a reality and life suddenly turns unbearable. Dorrit is faced with compliance or escape, and…well, then what?

THE UNIT is a gripping exploration of a society in the throes of an experiment, in which the “dispensable” ones are convinced under gentle coercion of the importance of sacrificing for the “necessary” ones. Ninni Holmqvist has created a debut novel of humor, sorrow, and rage about love, the close bonds of friendship, and about a cynical, utilitarian way of thinking disguised as care."

Leave any GENERAL comments you'd like in this one (ie. what you think of the book, ideas for discussion, other info, et.) I will make a folder for SCANDINAVIAN LIterature as well where we can post specific discussion about this book.

I'm really excited for both THE BOOK THIEF and THE UNIT for making the top two. They were actually my top two selections, as well. This book, especially, peaked my interest. :)

I am really intrigued by the sound of this book and looking forward to discussing it with you all. :0)

Furny wrote: "I am really intrigued by the sound of this book and looking forward to discussing it with you all. :0)"

I can't wait to read this one too. :)

This one does look intriguing and was one of the few on the list I have never read.
We are going to be reading "Never let me go" in the other book group, which has a similar premise. It will be interesting to compare them.

Yes it will Val.
I just bought my copy online last night of 'The Unit' so as soon as it comes I'll be on with it. :0)

Furny wrote: "Yes it will Val.
I just bought my copy online last night of 'The Unit' so as soon as it comes I'll be on with it. :0)"

I haven't read Never Let Me Go yet, maybe if I get a chance to read that one too this month, I'll join you guys....

This looks really good - I have it somewhere, so I will dig it out!

This looks so intriguing, can't wait to read it. Agree with Val, it will be interesting to compare it to Never Let Me Go. Great choice!

Started it last night and enjoying it so far, although I think Never Let You Go had more tension as to what was happening/going to happen. However, that may not be the point of The Unit and I don't want to pre-judge it.

Well, the library SAYS it available. Hopefully I can get it today.

Hope you got hold of a copy Aida. I'm really into it now, good choice whoever suggested it :)

Susan wrote: "Started it last night and enjoying it so far, although I think Never Let You Go had more tension as to what was happening/going to happen. However, that may not be the point of The Unit and I don't..."

I just got mine yesterday, it is $1.99 on amazon.. :) I'm so excited. I think I'm going to start with this book first this month... I'm also going to get Never Let me Go very soon :)

Susan wrote: "Hope you got hold of a copy Aida. I'm really into it now, good choice whoever suggested it :)"

Aida did you end up getting it? Yea :) Definitely a really great recommendation :) I look forward to more like these :)...

Has anyone started reading The Unit... I mean like 50 or more pages into it? If you get more into the book let us know if you have any discussion suggestions/topics/questions. I am actually going to start a discussion on The Unit and Never Let Me Go since some people will be comparing the two. I wouldn't mind knowing about it even if I have not read Never Let Me Go ( I will in the future.) So please feel free to throw ideas out :).

Elemillia, I received it today and will be reading it this weekend, so I am likely to have some questions for you early next week.

I finished the book. Here are a couple of questions:

Why do you think Dorrit and the others allowed themselves to be taken to the Unit without fighting back, even though they knew what was going to happen?
Do you think you would allow yourself to be taken in such a way if you were in the same circumstances?

The society in which the inhabitants of the book live is often called democratic, but do you think it was really a democracy?

I can think of more if we need them, but I know Val is much better at these things than I am :)

I also received my copy today through the post so I am hoping to start it soon. :0)

Wow, I'm so excited that you guys are so enthusiastic about this book. Susan, congrats! And I think you have a obvious question we might want to discuss.. I'll put it up in a discussion folder. Thanks so much :). Val and Furny, I'm right there with you.

It reminded me a little of a cross between Never Let Me Go and Logan's Run! Have a great weekend everyone.

Elemillia, these are discussion points, if you want to use them.
I have put some in "The Unit" v "Never Let Me Go" discussion as well, which is probably the wrong place, sorry. Would you like me to delete them?

Dorrit has grown up with an idea of how she wants to live her life which does not fit with the changes in society. Her ideas seem very close to 1970s feminist rhetoric: financial dependence on a man is a trap, women need to find themselves, they should feel free not to have children, there are more important things in life than making money, or making babies.
Society seems to have progressed through women CAN have both babies and a career, to being valued only if they DO have both.
Is this a feminist novel? Or a post-feminist novel? Or neither?

A simple question or two (without the social analysis):
What do people think of the ending?
Is that what you would expect Dorrit to do?

When people enter the unit they are effectively forgotten by outside society. Is this realistic?
Where are the investigative journalists checking up on conditions in these units?

No no you're fine Val. I actually read those questions in that forum. Very well thought out ideas to think about. I can't wait to get started on THE UNIT... I'm going to T-O-D-A-Y and that way I'll be able to respond to some of them. I'll post two forums, one on feminism and one on the ending of the novel. Thanks so much Val! You're great at this. :)

Have read both Never Let Me Go and The Unit and very impressed with both, probably most impressed with Ishiguro's quiet style but then I have always liked his writing, which the film has trouble duplicating. Holmqvist is less style or perhaps it is just translation, and more elegiac, more about lost chances, but both are disturbing about our definitions of what it is to be human. Are children human, are elders human, what should we expect from others, do we have natural rights simply because we are human, do we owe others and to what extent, how conditioned are our lives, do we have autonomy... These are all questions. I like to read philosophy texts so it is no surprise I enjoyed this for all the philosophy. I could see this also as a film.

Meant to answer some of Val's questions but I do not want to give out spoilers, though I must say the ending was perfect, the conditioning, the other voices incorporated earlier in her recount of how she had never paid attention to those issues... maybe unrealistic from a North American perspective but the social contract made me think of Rousseau's idea of how we give up all power to the state and only get back what it gives us...

thegift wrote: "Meant to answer some of Val's questions but I do not want to give out spoilers, though I must say the ending was perfect, the conditioning, the other voices incorporated earlier in her recount of h..."

Hmm... Rousseau? I think I will have to reopen my philosophy book for the first time in years since my philosophy course in college. I definitely want to see what you mean. I believe I will also open up a forum for us to discuss this topic, too. Thanks :)

I've just started reading The Unit and for now it's very good and promising.

I'm halfway through The Unit now. Really interested by it.

Alright so I have started reading The Unit. I actually really enjoy the ease of the writing. I like that the book starts with a story of the heart. It brings depth to the story from the beginning. I'm definitely taking my time with this book.... But I enjoy it so far... Very eager to see how it transitions and ends.