May Meeting Notes

Dear Books ‘n’ Wine Club,

A huge thank you to our new member Amy for hosting Allison’s book pick last night. Amy provided a delicious meal of grilled chicken and steak with two fantastic salads! The 7 layer salad will be posted shortly. Oh, and let’s not forget the yummy cookies from Golden Harvest in Kittery. Thank you Amy for opening your lovely home, we truly had a wonderful evening. We missed Sara and look forward to her return next month…..darn those work deadlines!!!

Now on to the book….Little Bee proved to be a good read although there were mixed feelings on the ‘got to shout it from the roof tops’. Mainly our discussion centered on the main characters of Little Bee and Sarah. It was agreed that Little Bee had such a humanistic quality that one wanted to strive to be so insightful and compassionate like her. We appreciated Little Bee’s view on the world. She was well beyond her young years, but understandable so with all that she had endured. Little Bee was resourceful; due to what I assume was survival instinct. Simple things like learning the Queen’s English helped her navigate in a foreign country. Ellen pointed out how she loved Little Bee’s almost cynical (?) look on ‘just tell them it’s a proverb from your home country and they’ll believe you’. Of course there are no wolves in Nigeria, just lots of monkeys! Karin like how Little Bee points out that scars always tell a story and because they show you are a survivor.

Much time was spent dissecting Sarah’s character. She was flawed in so many ways and her development was not as succinct as Little Bee’s. Amy pointed out that Sarah was not only linear but would change her convictions on a whim. She was easily distracted from her goals. Sarah tries to do good, as Susan noted with her love of her son and helping Little Bee, however, she seems to mess up along the way. Marrie commented on her lack of emotional connection with the character (in fact other than Bee she had little connection to any of them). Moving on to the vacation to Nigeria---as Ellen asked---who the hell would go there? So, moving on to the finger scene…. Amy really didn’t think that she had the character to do so. Karin felt it was to show up the husband and Marrie dittoed that sentiment. Marrie left us wondering if it were the husband instead of Little Bee would Sarah thought of him as “finger worthy”?

Then there is Charlie’s character, Sarah’s little boy who plays the role of Batman throughout the book. I found him the most endearing and likable character above all the others. Perhaps because I am living with a five year old that I could easily relate to his character and quirky behavior. It so irritated me though when his mom kept correcting his language. I suppose there was the connection between his language development and that of Little Bee’s.

So what about the title change? Charli pointed out that the book was originally printed in England under the title of The Other Hand. Karin said that she’d wouldn’t have been drawn to that title as Little Bee is much more intriguing.

We also spent some time discussing other books we are currently reading or had just read. Coming soon to the blog will be a ‘What are you reading now?’ corner. I am working on it. Of course we couldn’t end the evening without a quick revisit to P&P. And the quote of the evening goes to Ellen….”P&P is not an airplane book it’s an around the world book.”

Next up is Little Heathens by Mildred Kalish. We’ll be travelling to Marrie’s lovely scenic home to dine and dish on this upcoming novel.

Until next month I bide you all happy reading.
Jenn