Anybody out there?

This blog has been put on the back burner for a while, and I am trying to decide if I should resurrect it or not. So, leave a comment if you would like the blog to stay active (and by so doing you will be committing to participate). If there are enough people who want to continue then I'll keep it going, otherwise I'm shutting it down.

Hiatus

Unseen Readers will be on hiatus for the summer. We'll start back up for the month of September. The book is yet to be determined, stay tuned for the selection. If you have any ideas or demands, leave the title in the comments.

The Count of Monte Cristo Discussion

I borrowed the discussion questions from here and here.

1. Edmond Dantès assumes a number of aliases during the course of the novel, and many other characters have a variety of different names as well. What do you consider to be the significance of names in The Count of Monte Cristo? What do you think is the significance of each of Edmond Dantès's assumed names?

2. What is the effect of Haydée's love for Monte Cristo?

3. Dumas often writes of Edmond Dantès's time in prison as if it were a death. What do you think is the significance of this choice of language?

4. The central issue in The Count of Monte Cristo is the question of revenge. In the case of this book, is Dantes' quest for vengeance morally just? Can vengeance ever stand in for justice?

5. Discuss Villefort's decision to imprison Dantes. He believes Dantes has been unfairly accused, but at the same time he fears for his own father's life.

6. Talk about the role that the Abbe Faria plays in Dante's development. Why does Dantes consider him a second father?

7. Why does Dantes treat Caderrouse more lightly than he does Danglars and Mondego?

8. What truths do Julie and Emmanuel reveal to Dantes? What does he learn from them?

9. As he takes his leave from Maximillian, Dantes claims that "there is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more.” What does that statement mean—in the context of the story and in real life—and how does it reverberate throughout the novel?

10. Talk about Dantes' profound alienation when he escapes from prison and his gradual movement back into reconciliation with humanity. How does that development take place: what and the plot benchmarks who are characters who help him regain his humanity.

Because two, or three, heads are better than one

It is that time again. We need to set up the reading schedule for the summer. I would like to choose some books that embody the summer spirit. Light and carefree. If you have any ideas, post them. I would like to set out June, July and August but that will all depend on if anyone else actually puts out some ideas... (that is a hint to you cyber stalkers out there to join in to the fun...pick a book, read it and then come back to discuss!)

Come on now, leave a comment. I know you want to.

May 2009: The Count of Monte Cristo

May 2009's book will be The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.

I am giving you a heads up on this one because it is a bit of a long. My copy is 591 pages. So it will technically be May's book, but we'll start it now, which means you'll have to read about 100 pages a week.

The summary from the back of my book reads:

Dashing young Edmund Dantes has everything. He is engaged to a beautiful woman, is about to become the captain of a ship, and is well liked by almost everyone. But his perfect life is shattered when he is frames by a jealous rival and thrown into a dark prison cell for fourteen years.

Written in Dumas' oft-imitates style of adventure and suspense and filled with vivid details of post-Napoleonic France, The Count of Monte Cristo continues to dazzle readers with its thrilling and memorable scenes, including Dantes' miraculous escape from the deadful chateau d'If, his amazing discovery of a vast hidden treasure, and his transformation into a man whose astonishing thirst for vengence is as cruel as it is just.

I read this once in Junior High as I think everyone did, although I think it was an abridged version. I loved the movie that came out a few years back and I have wanted to re-read the book for a while. I found my copy at Barnes & Noble. They have a Barnes & Noble Classics collection in which they have copies of great classics at incredible prices. You can get a paperback copy here for under $6! (In store they often have deals on the classics, like buy 2 get 1 free)

We'll meet back here at the end of May to discuss the book. Also, we'll be deciding on reading selections for the summer. Watch for the voting post.

Atonement Discussion

Sorry this is a bit late...a cross country trip will do that to ya!

I borrowed the following questions from this website.

1. Robbie is treated like a member of the Tallis household. He has had a Cambridge education and is considering going to Medical College, however, he is still the housekeeper’s son. What bearing does this have on his and Cecilia’s relationship and the reaction he receives after the allegations?
   
   
2. Robbie writes Cecilia a sexually explicit love letter that she never should have read. How do the events that result from this letter compare with the romantic ideals of love as harbored by young Briony in her play?
   
   
3. Leon and Cecilia are adults in an adult world whilst Briony is thirteen and still a child trying to impress her siblings. How does being the youngest sibling affect Briony’s actions throughout the novel?
   
   
4. Briony is precocious and harbors delusions of adulthood. These delusions are challenged both by the homecoming of her newly graduated sister and the arrival of her glamorous cousin, Lola. To what extent do her feelings of inferiority brought on by these events drive Briony to make the rape allegations? Why does she substitute Cecilia and Robbie as the victim and the assailant?
   
   
5. Robbie witnesses many horrific sights in France. How does his experience of the war compare with those of the sisters? How realistic do you think McEwan’s descriptions of the horrors of war are?
   
   
6. As an old lady Briony reveals that much of what she has told the reader is not true. Is this atonement of the title for her benefit or for ours? Is it too late for her to be asking for forgiveness?

As always, if you want to discuss anything else...please do.

March 2009: Atonement by Ian McEwan

The book for the month of March is Atonement by Ian McEwan.  You can find the book here on Amazon.  Here is a review from their site:

The interwar, upper-middle class setting of the book's long, masterfully sustained opening section might recall Virginia Woolf or Henry Green, but as we move forward-eventually to the turn of the 21st century--the novel;s central concerns emerge, and McEwan's voice becomes clear, even personal.  For at heart, Atonement is about the pleasures, pains and dangers of writing, and perhaps even more, about the challenge of controlling what readers make of your writing.  McEwan shouldn't have any doubts about readers of Atonement: this is a thoughtful, provocative, and at times moving book that will have readers applauding. 

Skeletons at the Feast Discussion

I borrowed the discussion questions for this book from here.

1 - Do you know–or are you yourself–a veteran of World War II? Discuss what you know of the war and any reminiscences that veterans may have shared.

2 - While arguing with Anna about what is really happening to Jews, Callum says, “Suppose my government in England just decided to ‘resettle’ the Catholics–to take away their homes, their animals, their possessions, and just send them away?” What if this was happening where you live? What actions would you be willing to take to protect your friends and neighbors? At what point would the risks have been too great?

3 - On page 178, Callum is thinking about bringing Anna home with him to Scotland after the war. How does he think she will be received? Why is he troubled?

4 - Discuss the importance of hope in survival. Which character is the most hopeful? Which character is the most defeated? What moments at the end of the novel symbolize hope most poignantly?

February 2009: Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian

Skeletons at the Feast

by Chris Bohjalian

From Publisher's Weekly (copied off amazon.com):

 In his 12th novel, Bohjalian (The Double Bind) paints the brutal landscape of Nazi Germany as German Refugees struggle westward ahead of the advancing Russian army.  Inspired by the unpublished diary of a Prussian woman who fled west in 1945, this novel exhumes the ruin of spirit, flesh and faith that accompanied thousands of such desperate journeys.  Prussian aristocrat Rolf Emmerich and his two elder sons are sent into battle, while his wife flees with their other children and a Scottish POW who has been working on their estate.  Before long, they meet up with Uri Singer, a Jewish escapee from an Auschwitz-bound train, who becomes the group's protector.  In a parallel story line, hundreds of Jewish women shuffle west on a gruesome death march from a concentration camp.  

You can get the book here on ebay or here on amazon.

The Secret Discussion

I thought reading The Secret at the first of the year would be good seeing as how most of the people I know make New Year's Resolutions and how most the people I know break those resolutions by the end of January.  

This month will be a bit different as there will be no specific questions given to spur discussion, rather just post a comment with your impressions, opinions, etc. 

It is that time again

Ok, e need to add a few more books to our list for upcoming months.  I would like to have enough to get us to June so I won't have to think about it during our move :), so that means we need four more books.  So throw them out.  Come on, I know you want to. 

January 2009: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

January's book will be The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Here is the excerpt from Amazon:

Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it.

In this book, you'll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life -- money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You'll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that's within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life.

The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers -- men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible.

You can find the book here on Amazon for as little as $9.90. Or here on ebay.

Keep an eye on the site - around the middle of the month we will be adding more books to our reading list.

Finding Noel Discussion

I borrowed some of the questions from the Barnes & Noble online bookgroup discussion...there are lots more questions there if you want to check it out and bring another back here.


#1 - In Mark's first encounter with Macy, she says, "We always tell our deepest secrets to strangers." (Pg. 12) Do you agree with her reasoning for this? How does Mark's initial honesty create a foundation for his relationship with Macy? In what ways does this contrast with the other relationships in his life? Why do you think Mark believes people will use his secrets against him?


#2 - In Macy's Christmas poem (pg. 73), she describes the responsibility of Christmas as being "called, to leave our troubled lives of care,/To set aside our burdened minds, with God and man our hearts to share." In what ways is the gift of Christmas also a responsibility? How does Mark step up to the challenge in this novel? In what ways is this a Christmas story?


#3 - How does Tennys's personality contrast with Macy's? What do you think Mark got out of his relationship with Tennys? Mark describes Tennys as a "sure thing." What makes her less of a challenge than Macy? How have Mark's strong emotions for Macy complicated his relationship with her, in addition to validating it? What sort of life do you imagine Mark would have with Tennys?


#4 - Why did Macy react so negatively to Mark's proposal? Was it inappropriate for him to propose after so short a time? Was Macy's anger at Mark's running from his past justified, or was it an easy defense mechanism? How could Macy's past affect her present relationships?


#5 - Adoption is discussed in the book and you see the outcome of Macy's as well as Noel's adoption. Did the story impact your opinions on adoption?  How?  

December 2008: Finding Noel

Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans. Amazon.com gives a brief description of the book:

On the night that Mark Smart has decided will be his last, his car dies in a blizzard. He enters a closing coffee shop and finds Macy Wood, who literally offers him a shoulder to cry on. The two forge a deep friendship, and after three weeks, Mark proposes marriage. She declines, but waitress Joette, who has taken care of Macy since she was 13, orchestrates a reunion as Mark tries to smooth over the rifts dividing what remains of his family. Mark's stepfather's advice—"sometimes it's the fight that makes a thing worth having"—serves as the defining aphorism of Evans's yuletide offering.

You can get the book here on Amazon. It is thirteen dollars and change. You can get it here on ebay. Most are less than ten dollars, and there are a few audio books on it too - in case you don't want to read it.

Be sure to check the side menu too - so you can be watching for the books that are coming up next year.

Skipping Christmas Discussion

I looked online to get some questions to spur discussion but I couldn't find any so we'll have to wing it this month.


1 - As you were reading the book, did you find yourself siding with or against the Kranks as they skipped Christmas?

2 - Do you think it is possible to skip christmas entirely?

3 - If you skipped Christmas, what traditions, etc would you miss the most?

4 - Has this book affected how you will view the Christmas season this year?

November 2008: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

The book for November is Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.  This book was made into a movie a few years back called Christmas with the Kranks. The movie was ok, but the book was better.  It is an easy read, pretty short and I think it is fitting to read it before the holidays.  

Here is the book for sale on Amazon (it is less than $10) and here is the book on ebay (I found a couple on ebay for $0.01!)

Come back to talk about the movie the week after Thanksgiving.  

Also - note the list of books on the side.  We have the list set up through February so you can start watching for the books on ebay or at thrift stores.  

If you have any friends that you think would like to join us, pass the website along...I'd love to get more people participating!

Help!

I want to come up with some book ideas for the December book...I'd like it to have something to do with the holidays...if we get two good ideas we'll do them for November and December. So, drop your ballots in the comment section - and hurry, the end of the month is Friday so we need to have the November book in place by then.

I also want to get the list of books at least through March up soon- so post your suggestions for them too.


So, a comment would look like this:

Nov, Dec: Skipping Christmas
New Year: Moby Dick

Thanks!!

Followers

Hey - Blogger added this new thing a month or so ago - and it allows you to follow a blog. It makes it easy to see when the site has been updated, and it also lets me know that I am not the only Unseen Reader out there.

So what do I want? I want you to follow the blog (see the box on the right)...come on, what are you waiting for?!?

My Sister's Keeper Discussion

Here are some questions to spur discussion. I got these from HERE and AND HERE. There were more questions at these links too - if you're looking for more.

Reread the prologue to My Sister's Keeper. Who is speaking? Is that who you thought was speaking the first time you read it?

What is your opinion of Sara? With her life focused on saving Kate, she sometimes neglects her other children. Jesse is rapidly becoming a juvenile delinquent, and Anna is invisible -- a fact that the little girl knows only too well. What does this say about Sara's role as a mother? What would you have done in her shoes? Has she unwittingly forgotten Jesse and Anna, or do you think she has consciously chosen to neglect them -- either as an attempt to save a little energy for herself, or as some kind of punishment? Does Sara resent her other children for being healthy? Did you find yourself criticizing Sara, empathizing with her, or both?

Why does Jesse burn things? Is Jesse the opposite of his firefighter father or are they similar? In what ways?

During a conversation about Kate, Zanne tells Sara, "No one has to be a martyr 24/7." When she mistakenly hears the word "mother" not "martyr" and is corrected by Zanne, Sara smiles and asks, "Is there a difference?" In what ways does this moment provide insight into Sara's state of mind? Do you think it strange that she sees no difference between motherhood and martyrhood?

The epilogue talks about how the family moved on. How did they grieve? How did they survive? In what ways did Anna give life back to all of them, not just Kate?

Near the end of the novel, Anna describes "Ifspeak" -- the language that all children know, but abandon as they grow older -- remarking that "Kids think with their brains cracked wide open; becoming an adult, I've decided, is only a slow sewing shut." Do you believe this to be true? What might children teach the adults in this novel? Which adults need lessons most?

At one point, Campbell thinks to himself: "There are two reasons not to tell the truth -- because lying will get you what you want, and because lying will keep someone from getting hurt." With this kind of thinking, Campbell gives himself an amazingly wide berth; he effectively frees himself from speaking any semblance of the truth as long as the lie will somehow benefit himself or anyone else. Did it concern you that a lawyer would express an opinion like this? Do you think, by the end of the story, that Campbell still thinks this moral flexibility is okay? In what ways might this kind of thinking actually wind up hurting Campbell?

Let's add some more...

Leave a comment with another book to add to our list. I'll put them all in a hat and draw them out to decide the order.