Book #3: Middlesex
NEXT BOOK Middlesex by
Jeffrey EugenidesNEXT MEETINGFebruary 17th OR 18th, 2006
FUN FACTS* Eugenides won the
Pulitzer Prize in 2003 for Middlesex
* Eugenides has published two books in his career,
Middlesex and
The Virgin Suicides, with a notable 10-year gap between the two.
...A deeply affecting portrait of one family's tumultuous engagement with the American twentieth century.--
The New York Times
Atonement: Comments & Another Reading Guide
To frame our discussion, I think we should all think about what
Atonement means to us personally and in the context of McEwan's story.
BACKGROUNDThe origin of the word
atonement is Christian, representing the reconciliation between man/woman with God. After confessing sins, one is
saved and elevated toward God.
McEWAN'S ATONEMENTIn McEwan's novel, the idea of atonement is secular and more personal. There is a focus on reconciliation with oneself and asking for forgiveness from others. Unlike the Christian context, we're left wondering if a McEwan's characters were truly
saved and whether atonement was achieved.
ANOTHER READING GUIDEA more detailed discussion guide can be found here: Reading Guide
Atonement: Meeting Cont...
If you get a chance, here are some of the discussion questions we'll be reviewing:
STARTING POINTS FOR YOUR DISCUSSION 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 harboured 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 harbours delusions of adulthood. These delusions are challenged both by the homecoming of her newly graduated sister and the arrival of her glamourous 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?
Black Dogs
Between
Atonement &
Middlesex, I've decided to read
Black Dogs -- one of
McEwan's earlier novels. Apparently his earlier work is a lot darker, which earned him the nickname
Ian Macabre.
I'm only 25 pages into
Black Dogs, but I'm already hooked. The story is written in first person by Jeremy, a man who lost his parents in a car accident when he was young. As an adult, Jeremy takes on the task of writing his mother-in-law's memoirs, in which he examines why her marriage dissolved. Central to her story is a devastating encounter with black dogs...I have yet to discover whether this encounter is figuritive or literal. I'll soon find out.
So far so good. I'll keep you posted!
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