August 2020 Zoom Meeting

The Riverrun Book Club Meeting Review

 

For the August meeting we discussed The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende.  Marilyn led the lengthy discussion.  We’re sorry you missed this meeting Diane as it was your book suggestion and we would love to have heard your opinion.  This book tops the list for wide-ranging views.  Some felt it had humor, others felt it was spiritual, others considered it depressing, some felt it was not cohesive, some enjoyed it, many did not.  Some members read the book, some read part of the book, some chose not to even start the book, some watched the movie, and there were some who read the book and also watched the movie. 

 

OK, I didn’t read the book.  As I understand it the main characters were Esteban who rapes a local woman (Pancha Garcia) who has his illegitimate son.  Esteban marries Clara who gives birth to Blanca and twin boys.  Blanca falls in love with Pedro (son of the farm foreman).  She is forced to marry a count but gives birth to Pedro’s daughter who she names Alba.  Alba is tortured and raped by Esteban’s illegitimate son during the revolution thereby completing the circle.  There were many more intriguing characters and situations discussed but sorry I got lost.

 

Joy gave us some background noting that the book is based on fact and some of the characters are based on actual people.  And also that all the female names had significance to the characters (i.e. Alba is Spanish for dawn).  

 

The movie differed greatly from the book totally eliminating some characters (like the twin boys) and moving the action to two generations instead of three.  

 

BUSINESS:

 

Book Chosen for October (Cathy):

      Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova

 

Book for September Meeting (Joy):  

      The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Richardson

 

     

                

                        Submit............. Discuss

Joy                   July................. Sept.

Judy (Cathy)     Aug................ Oct.

Kathy               Sept................ Dec.

Cathy (Judy)     Oct.................. Jan ‘21

No mtg. Nov.

Lori                  Dec................. Feb. ‘21

 

Thanks as always to Lori for adding us to her busy schedule 👍.