Playground Book Club!

[Dribble]

One sees what they want to see...even if it isnt real. So many reasons for this but i think it is largely driven by a need for protection.

What is a painting? Or a song? Or a poem? Avenues into psyche? The person has a motive. But the viewer sees something different. Is either any less real?

Reality is a funny thing. If you have a room full of 20 people and i intermix with those people for a half hour...then i do something totally unexpected. You immediately separate those 20 people and ask them what happened...you get 20 different stories biased by my interaction w them. Here is the crux...is any one reality less real?

I went through a divorce when i was in grad school. I talked w my advisor. He said we can randomly pick 10 people from the street and if you invest the time you can have healthy relationships w 8 of them. So why is it so hard when intimacy becomes involved?

Risk...of love...can only happen when we open ourselves up. Show our true colors. And even then...it can fail cause it takes 2. Everything else is less than...but that doesnt mean it in itself is less. We see what we want to see. The reality we create only exists for us.

People will say...what the fuck dribble...none of this answers the question. Depends. I dont look at a painting looking for what the painter intended...but in what it says to me.

 

[LostGirlTink]

Indie and I aren't great at managing this book club, so we decided to allow for extra time.

Timeline for Home Fire:

Book in hand by June 13th (Hopefully)
Discussion start:
June 18th (1st section)
June 27th (2nd section)
July 6 (3rd sectiion)
July 15th (final section)

Come read with us

 

[ToPleaseHim]

I used to be such an avid reader, but over the last few years I have rarely picked up a new book and finished it. I’m going to grab a copy and see if virtual book club is the answer. This book sounds intriguing!

 

[LostGirlTink]

I used to be such an avid reader, but over the last few years I have rarely picked up a new book and finished it. I’m going to grab a copy and see if virtual book club is the answer. This book sounds intriguing!

Oh good! It does sound good doesn't it?

 

[Karabare]

Ok so questions!!!

An Ocean of Women is a painting born out of a comment made by Irmina. What was your interpretation of this painting?
Do you think this relates to Jim's treatment of women?

I think he just feels overwhelmed by all the different types of women in his life. He is adrift in them. And there are so many different personalities within the sea of women in which he swims.

Good question.

I really would have liked to see an artists rendering of that painting.

 

[LostGirlTink]

I fixed her post because Tink seemed to have had too much wine when she posted the timelines.

Tink likes wine. Deal with it

 

[LostGirlTink]

The airport interrogation sets the tone for the rest of the book. It takes something most people take for granted and puts you into the shoes of what many others struggle with day to day. The prejudices Isma and her family have to face are gut-wrenching. I get that countries need to be vigilant in protecting itself from acts of terrorism, but how far do we go?

I'm behind on the book and going to catch up today but this right here tells me that it's going to be very relevant with some many issues that are on my mind right now.

 

[Karabare]

It's incredibly relevant given the political climate we're living in today.

Its gut churning to read. Do these interrogations help? Have they stopped anything? Isma is brave to raise her siblings, leave her home country and to deal with the biases that she does.

 

[Icy1]

Reading that first part of the book about Isma I felt terrible that she had such fear about not being allowed to leave the country. Also that she was delayed so much she missed her flight.
But after having read the rest of the book I could see why she may have been being watched more closely.

 

[Karabare]

What do you think of Isma and Eaamon Lone's relationship? Do you believe they have a genuine connection?

I think there was a genuine connection but both people had different views of it. I'm sorry for her loss of him that day.

 

[Icy1]

I thought Eamonn and Isma had a genuine connection but he was infatuated with Aneeka from the time he saw her photo.
I felt like Eamonn hand delivered the package because he wanted to find out more about Isma but then when he met Aneeka that was all forgotten.

 

[LostGirlTink]

I’m mid catching up... because I’ve sucked at staying up to date on this one.

 

[shmily]

just found this thread, will see about downloading from Kindle and try to get caught up.
Sounds interesting so far from the discussion above.

 

[Emboldened1]

Let's talk about Parvaiz and his quest to honor his father. What kind of man was his father? Do you wonder how Parvaiz could have been so easily misled?

Woah... brains on top of all that incredible beauty... you’re an amazing woman.

 

[Icy1]

I've learned through personal experience that just because you are capable of understanding and emphasizing, and would likely even take the same actions yourself, that does not make it right. What Aneeka did to Eamonn is not right, but I can understand why, when presented with the opportunity literally on her doorstep, she did what she did. There is little that I would not do to protect my family.

I do wonder if Aneeka would have tried to contact Eamonn if he hadn’t turned up on her doorstep himself.

It’s easy to say it’s wrong to do what Aneeka did but when your own family is involved it becomes different.

 

[tinglebliss]

Hi Tink and everyone. I'm poppping in and then out again.

Tink asked me to recommend a book to read and sorry it's late but here is it:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behind-Sce...TF8&qid=1530639953&sr=8-4&keywords=katy+swann

This author is a kinky friend who writes about her own experiences and I couldn't put it down and Mindfondler is reading it as well.

If you do read this book, then you will have an insight of what types of scenes we do, it was like she was writing about us!

Signing off now. Byeee *Waves*

 

[Karabare]

Let's talk about Parvaiz and his quest to honor his father. What kind of man was his father? Do you wonder how Parvaiz could have been so easily misled?

It wasn't done easily, it was done using the same methods used on prisoners everyday. He was mislead but i believe his father knew better and Farooq knew how pliant Parvaiz was. Its so easy to see how it happens. Its also easy to see how both sides feel they are right.

 

[LostGirlTink]

Hi Tink and everyone. I'm poppping in and then out again.

Tink asked me to recommend a book to read and sorry it's late but here is it:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behind-Sce...TF8&qid=1530639953&sr=8-4&keywords=katy+swann

This author is a kinky friend who writes about her own experiences and I couldn't put it down and Mindfondler is reading it as well.

If you do read this book, then you will have an insight of what types of scenes we do, it was like she was writing about us!

Signing off now. Byeee *Waves*

Thanks beautiful!!! I appreciate you popping in with the recommendation, it was lovely to see you.

 

[LostGirlTink]

Next Book in the reading list!

The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that is now a major motion picture, Markus Zusak's unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul.


https://images.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9780739337288

Kindle version


Paperback


Audio on Audible

 

[barefootgirl69]

Next Book in the reading list!

The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that is now a major motion picture, Markus Zusak's unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul.


https://images.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9780739337288

Kindle version


Paperback


Audio on Audible

I'm reading this one now... I didn't know, sorry!

 

[LostGirlTink]

I'm reading this one now... I didn't know, sorry!

Well cool! You can join in our discussion then!

 

[Karabare]

Were you surprised to learn how the jihadi targeted young men? Or to learn that these weren't all boys who were drawn to violence or hated women and their country, etc?

I was shocked at the method but shouldn't be. Its just not something I've ever thought about. I didn't realize how it was done. We all think our way of thinking is correct. It pained me to read about the young woman who wouldn't be helped because her scarf came off. In that scene at least, i know my thinking is correct.

 

[Icy1]

I was shocked at the method but shouldn't be. Its just not something I've ever thought about. I didn't realize how it was done. We all think our way of thinking is correct. It pained me to read about the young woman who wouldn't be helped because her scarf came off. In that scene at least, i know my thinking is correct.

I hadn’t thought about that young woman again but yes that was shocking and terribly sad.
The way the jihadi recruited didn’t shock me at all. It is horrible but not surprising.

 

[tolyk]

Subscribing and will join in next month hopefully.

I had started a book club a while back, but it never gained traction.

 

[Karabare]

Final week: Let's talk about Aneeka & Karamat and any final thoughts on this tragic story.

Kamila Shamsie has drawn inspiration from the ancient playwright Sophocles and his drama Antigone. Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, was prohibited by law from burying her brother. You may wish to do a little research in order to better understand Shamsie's conception — her modern take on the Sophoclean tragedy.

Let's talk about the relevance of Home Fire to today's world. What do you see in the novel that illuminates and/or resonates with current concerns?

I'm just going to blurt this; i hated the ending. I understand it can't always be a HEA but damn it!!!
Muslim-phobia is still very real. Sometimes there are valid reasons for it but as someone who's liberal minded i like to think better of people. Maybe I'm foolish. I worry for Isma and the legacy this will leave for her. All of them "good Muslims" tarnished by the bad. It was an eye opening book, looking in from outside.