October 2010 Selection

Lisa has selected Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez as the October selection from the world literature genre.

Shelfari says "In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is devastated, but he is a romantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs--yet he reserves his heart for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, he will do so again. With humorous sagacity and consummate craft, García Márquez traces an exceptional half-century story of unrequited love. Though it seems never to be conveniently contained, love flows through the novel in many wonderful guises--joyful, melancholy, enriching, ever surprising."

The Book Snobs Gathering

The Snobs gathered at Lisa's home on Tuesday, October 26. The Snobs enjoyed dinner of salad and King Ranch Casserole accompanied by a variety of wines. Dessert was delicious banana cream pie.

Most of the Snobs did not actually finish reading Love in the Time of Cholera. Discussion centered around the obsessive love of Florentino Ariza for Fermina Daza and his long series of affairs. We also discussed how he described himself as faithful to her in spite of those affairs. We all wondered what Oprah was thinking when she selected this as one of her favorite books. Most, if not all of the Snobs, strongly disagreed.

September 2010 Selection

Marta has selected the Education of Harriet Hatfield from the Banned Books genre.

Wild Rumpus Books summarizes, "Harriet Hatfield begins a new life at the age of 60 after her lover of 30 years has died and left her comfortably well off. But when Harriet opens a bookstore for women in a blue-collar neighborhood of Boston, she is viciously attacked for her lesbianism. Ms. Sarton's powerful portrayal of the shy, reserved woman's battle becomes a moving statement about the place of the outsider in our world-and the necessity of following the human heart."

The Book Snobs Gathering

Marta hosted the Snobs gathering on Monday, September 27. She served sandwich wraps, pasta salad and a variety of cheeses followed by yummy peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

The Education of Harriet Hatfield was an excellent book for discussion. The book was banned from high schools because of it's frank portrayal of homosexuality and the widespread AIDS paranoia of the 1980's. We discussed the changes in societal perceptions of homosexuality. We also talked about the characters in this book and the role that each of them played in developing Harriet's character. One of the final questions of the evening was whether we would allow or teenagers to read this book and whether we would also want it banned. The consensus was that we would definitely allow our own teens to read it, but would need to be ready to answer questions and guide discussions with them.