MariReads: Mar/Apr Book Group: Are you Somebody? by Nuala O'Faolain

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Mar/Apr Book Group: Are you Somebody? by Nuala O'Faolain

I have been a little delinquent on these posts. Last one I did was for our Nov/Dec book choice. This was more for me but thought it might be informational for others if considering these books for their own book groups. Here are the books we have read since then:
January- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. (my review)February- The Last Letter from Your Lover by JoJo Moyes (my review)March/April- Are You Somebody? The Accidetal Memoir of a Dublin Woman by Nuala O'FaolainThis wasn't supposed to be a two month book. It was our book choice in honor of St.Patrick's Day. We went with an Irish writer and should have met pretty close to the day. A couple things kept us from meeting until Wednesday.
Thoughts about the book:One, it was a hard book to get through. It wasn't long, the writing wasn't difficult it was more the life this women led and how it is presented. I didn't want to know more about how who she was being mentored by, meeting in the pubs, sleeping with, working with, etc. The list went on and on with writers I am sure I should know, but don't. I lost interest and wasn't the only one.
Funny thing, though, we had a lot to talk about. We talked more about this book, that only half of us finished, more than any other book we've read. It seems a lot of things resonated with us- the treatment of women and her views on it, her relationships or lack there of, her family life, and how things have changed for women everywhere since the 60's. Or have they?
Popular Question:How might this memoir have differed had she written it either earlier or later in life?If earlier, I feel it would have been a much more lighthearted romp through her escapades, rather than an analysis of her life. If later, she may look upon her life with different eyes, eyes that know how short of time she had. It would be interesting if her analysis would be different. Would she see it in such a dark light?
Next Months book: A Million Nightingales by Susan Straight