Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Sept 5, 2013

Jane Austen, born December 16, 1775 in England, was the daughter of a minister.  She lived a fairly middle class life despite her family's descriptions of themselves as farmers.  Jane had a busy social life but appears to have had very little romantic experience herself.   She fell ill and  died at the age of 41.  (too young!)   Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice 200 years ago this year.  Her novel offers a glimpse of life back then and seems timeless even today.


Here we are at book club:  Emily, Pat, Mary Margaret, Nan, 
Cheryl, Susan, Janna, Michelle, Pam (hostess)

No, wait.  That was then.  This is now:

Susan and Janna.  Looking lovely.

We laughed and enjoyed a lively conversation which revolved a lot around the class system, what women did all day back then (singing, piano, "netting" a purse) and how much freedom women have today.  We got on a very interesting tangent about girls today:  their sexual freedom, "exercise," friends with benefits, relationship commitment (and not), the lack of dating, and how cell phones have drastically changed the lives of young people today.  The book challenged us with the vocabulary and dialogue.  We agreed the book is still relevant even 200 years after it was written.

We explored some of the novel's themes with the controversial letter written by the Princeton alum mom who urged undergraduates to "find a husband."  Sounds like Mrs. Bennett.  The article about the female students at University of Pennsylvania who didn't have time for real relationships (but scheduled their physical relationships) also generated a lot of dialogue.

Mary Margaret shared a humorous video which pretty much sums up our discussion visually:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINa46HeWg8

~We agreed the novel challenged us with the vocabulary/dialogue of the period.

 ~The book seems to be timeless.  

Emily's quote of the night:  "just go find a hole in the wall!"  

Rating:  solid 4.5 stars 

Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly - July 11, 2013

One family’s epic journey captures both the tragedy and triumph of the Irish-American experience—and echoes the myths and legends of Ireland herself …in a hidden Ireland where fishermen and tenant farmers find solace in their ancient faith, songs, stories, and communal celebrations, young Honora Keeley and Michael Kelly wed and start a family. Because they and their countrymen must sell both their catch and their crops to pay exorbitant rents, potatoes have become their only staple food.

But when blight destroys the potatoes three times in four years, a callous government and uncaring landlords turn a natural disaster into The Great Starvation that will kill one million. Honora and Michael vow their children will live. The family joins two million other Irish refugees—victims saving themselves—in the emigration from Ireland.

Danger and hardship await them in America. Honora, her unconventional sister Máire, and their children help transform Chicago from a frontier town to the “City of the Century.” The boys go on to fight in the Civil War and enlist in the cause of Ireland’s freedom.

Spanning six generations and filled with joy, sadness, and heroism, GALWAY BAY sheds brilliant light on the ancestors of today’s forty-four million Irish Americans—and is a universal story you will never forget.

    
hostess:       Betty Rose Gibbs
attendees:   Pat, Lori, Cheryl, Janna

Rating:  4 stars

~ No one remembered studying about the history of Ireland

~ We were amazed at the number of countries that were oppressed
    by the British 

~ Rather slow beginning 

~Learned about Irish history

~Cheryl:  "enjoyed reading about the resilience of the Irish people"

~Good questions for bookclub in the back of the book.

~Overall good discussion