Book Club: Fiction
Submitted by Ann Behan on July 29, 2006 - 6:15pm.
Book Club: Fiction
"The Dream of Scipio," by Ian Pears. Copyright 2002. Fiction for our times. A compelling, complex feat of storytelling that asks, "What is the obligation of the individual in a society under siege? Is virture to be found in engagement, or in neutrality?" In the final days of the Roman Empire, in the years of the Black Death, and in the darkest days of World War II three Frenchmen, from the same village, but separated in time by hundreds of years, wrestle with the challenge. Each is involved with a strong-willed Jewish woman, each must shape his destiny in chaotic circumstances. Entirely different than Pears's art-history centered detective books. This is a a deep, historical, philosophical prose journey by one of England's finest writers. Hardback and paperback'; should be in larger libraries.
Thanks for the tip. Think I've got it now. My review does seem to have make it into the Book Club site. With this major success, I'll try something under Poetry later in the day.
Well, actually Sybil, I spent close to an hour yesterday battling my way through the various text options. The "enrich" version didn't seem to work for me. When I checked what I'd written on "preview" the results were not encouraging. Perhaps when my more computer-adept husband is home from his travels, he can help me with that, in real time. But thanks for pointing out the possibilities. You Clarkies are very welcoming. I use this site as one of my major news sources. Always so many links to important stories and articles from around the circuit, and filtered for what I find most relevant.
I am not very computer savvy myself...but if you do have any Book Club or basic navigation questions or need any help, you can always contact me by email through the site...Just click on my name and use the form under the "Contact" tab. Of course, you can always just ask here. As you can see, there's pretty much always someone online who can help immediately. :)
Thanks again for participating....
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
I've learned to by-pass 'preview', go ahead and 'submit' and then 'edit' afterwards.
glitchy
What would you do for a Klondike Bar?
This is perfect! Please do add more....I'd love to hear your reviews and suggestions for reading.
Thanks!!!
Carol
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
but this sounds like a good read. I'll have to see if my library can get it for me, thanks.
I loved the book and the movie. The movie was able to capture that quiet tension that rolls throughout the novel until the reader is struck by how sexual an ear piercing can become. I'm trying to remember if I've read anything else by him.
Well, this really sounds great. Two competing and timely concepts that govern our daily decisions both on a personal and world scale: neutrality or engagement. Plus, I love when the element of "time" is manipulated by the author.
Have you read the The Time Traveler's Wife? The oddest use of "time" by a writer that I can remember.
Well, I have three books underway at the moment, but I'll see if I can squeeze this one in.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
Of course you are correct. Now I have to go downstairs and check the book shelves, because I know I've read Ian Pears.
The Instance of the Fingerpost Oh my, a well-written but gastly book.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
the movie isn't going to wreck the book?
Have you read Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks?
What would you do for a Klondike Bar?
The toning of the film, the music, everything was like looking at a moving Vermeer. I also thought the director captured the unspoken sexuality. Excellent. Eye Candy for the visual.
No, I haven't read Birdsong. Is that a recommend?
I'm going out into the sun now, so if I don't answer....I'll be back.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
Birdsong? yes worth a read....can't say MUST read yet, since I haven't reached the conclusion but I doubt it's going to fall apart at this point - it's a fairly long novel. Touted as #1 International Bestseller published 1993. A novel of WW-1.
Frank Conroy said, "Birdsong moved me more profoundly than anything I've read in years. A deeply compassionate, utterly thrilling work by a master of the form." (which is what made me pick it up when I ran across it all these many years later...)
I'm afraid I've gone off topic at this point.
What would you do for a Klondike Bar?
Visually wonderful, but very strange story. Are all his stories this twisted? Maybe that's part of the reason I don't read fiction. Non-fiction is convoluted enough for me. I used to really like John Irving, but even his latest books have been hard for me to keep interested in reading.
I have been slow reading other books and so many are on my list... And this one is quite interesting...
"The Girl With the Pearl Earring," so this book sounds very tempting. I am in need of a book away from the non-fiction list here.
Thank you and WELCOME to CCN! Happy to have you here. :)
This is a different author, but sounds very good.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
Okay, I'm intrigued by this review of Dream of Scipio....available at amazon and at Powell's, new and used
Thanks so much Ann for your review. And again, welcome.