4/17 Book Discussion: The Inheritance of Loss By Kiran Desai

[Jessi]

I bought "The Other Boleyn Girl" last night and have already read almost 100 pages. It is really good. I don't think I know how to read slowly.

[scrappychik]

I am like that, too Jessi!! I read at least one book per week, sometimes more

[skoolmarm729]

When I am enjoying a book, I have to keep reading til I'm done- definitely within a week. If I take longer than a week, it's simply because I'm not enjoying it.

I found that I had to slow down my pace with our last selection so I wouldn't get too far ahead. It would have made discussions rather difficult.

I got my copy in the mail today and look forward to some reading time tonight.

I'm so glad we all came together for this one!

[Jessi]

I am up to pg 200 now. It's very interesting but I will need to look up more on the main characters during their lifetimes. Back tomorrow.

[skoolmarm729]

Wow Jessi! You better start taking notes for our discussions since you're sooooo far ahead of us!

I'm glad you love the book so much. I didn't get started last night like I'd hoped. I joined the penpal thread and made 3 new penpals! I used my time last night to write my first batch of letters! I feel like a kid again! Anyhow, I woke up early, did my WATP, and hopefully I can find an empty room to sneak off to and get some reading done!

Happy reading all!

[skoolmarm729]

I finally got in some reading- and I am so happy! This book is a real treat! It is a definite page turner- not what I expected at all. I honestly never read historical fiction before because I always thought you had to be a history buff or something! I am so happy to find that I was sooo wrong!

I can't wait to dive back in tonight---

[mjais]

Jessi and ScrappyChik:

I'm glad both of you will definitely be joining us for the next book discussion. It's a lot of fun!

I'll post the new thread for 'The Other Boleyn Girl' on Wednesday, along with the pages we will be discussing for the week.

The discussion will last for 5 weeks and each Wednesday, I'll post the pages we'll be reading and discussing for that week. This has worked out very well in the past because it gives us an entire week - from Wednesday 'til Tuesday to read and post our comments.

Anyway, that's a brief outline of the format we've used. If you read back through this thread/discussion it'll give you a good idea of the time frame for the weekly readings.

[mjais]

Originally Posted by skoolmarm729

Although I do think the character's are definitely portrayed as hopeless and in despair, I did appreciate reading a story with this perspective. Stories of redemption and heroic deeds are too common, this was a good change of scenery and pace for me.

It's funny because all the while I was reading "Inheritance" I did think about how the people who actually live in this town had perceived this portrayal. This article definitely shed some light on that question for me. I do think that people are never okay with artists when they put the spotlight on any negativity or challenges that they have faced.

This article also mentioned a few other books that I have heard a lot about--- we may want to consider them for future selections.

I am also still waiting on my copy. But I am sure it will be here sometime next week. Scrappychik- Remember the 21st is simply when the discussion for the first part of our book starts. We actually have all week to post and reply to one another.

Good points. I agree with you about the artists.
**
One last comment I wanted to make on Inheritance before we close this discussion is that I thought the book had more of an autobiographical 'feel' than pure fiction.
Did you get that feeling?

[skoolmarm729]

I guess it didn't feel this way to me simply because I never felt like I truly got to know Sai- or any of the other characters. I think because of the painful and difficult themes covered in this book, I just wished there was more closure or some sense of goodness that will come into their lives.

[skoolmarm729]

Originally Posted by mjais

Jessi and ScrappyChik:

I'm glad both of you will definitely be joining us for the next book discussion. It's a lot of fun!

I'll post the new thread for 'The Other Boleyn Girl' on Wednesday, along with the pages we will be discussing for the week.

The discussion will last for 5 weeks and each Wednesday, I'll post the pages we'll be reading and discussing for that week. This has worked out very well in the past because it gives us an entire week - from Wednesday 'til Tuesday to read and post our comments.

Anyway, that's a brief outline of the format we've used. If you read back through this thread/discussion it'll give you a good idea of the time frame for the weekly readings.

Good thing we all seem to be getting a head start on the reading. This book is pretty long (735 pgs)! I think it comes out to be about 150 pages per week-- luckily this book is so good and that will be easy to do!

[mjais]

I'm still waiting to receive my copy of the book.

I think perhaps it would be better to extend the discussion to 7 weeks - approx 100 pgs per week. Although I have no problem reading 150 pgs per week (especially if the book is good), I don't want the readings to be too much for anyone's schedule. It seems like we all read quickly, though.

Another option is we can start out at 100 pgs per week and increase it to 150 pgs per week, if everyone is comfortable with it.

[scrappychik]

Originally Posted by mjais

I'm still waiting to receive my copy of the book.

I think perhaps it would be better to extend the discussion to 7 weeks - approx 100 pgs per week. Although I have no problem reading 150 pgs per week (especially if the book is good), I don't want the readings to be too much for anyone's schedule. It seems like we all read quickly, though.

Another option is we can start out at 100 pgs per week and increase it to 150 pgs per week, if everyone is comfortable with it.

I am waiting for my copy as well. I think this is a good idea, MJ. Like you said, most of us wont have any trouble reading 150 pages, but it would be nice to start out with fewer pages and see how we do

[skoolmarm729]

Sounds like a plan. You guys won't be disappointed. 100 pages flies by!

[mjais]

Thanks for the feedback - 100 pages it is. We can always adjust the pages as we go along. It's flexible.

I was hoping to hear from Jessi also to get her opinion. I'm assuming she'll be okay with it because the last time she posted, she was already near pg 200.

[scrappychik]

My book arrived today I can't wait to start reading tomorrow

[mjais]

My book finally arrived too. I've only read a little bit of it so far, but I like it.

Just in case you missed it, here's our new discussion thread.
Book Discussion: The Other Boleyn Girl