spoko’s Comments (group member since Mar 05, 2021)

spoko’s comments from the EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club group.

I second The Women.

I nominate Babel by R.F. Kuang (544 p., pub. 2022).

I nominate La Dame aux Camélias (The Lady of the Camellias) by Alexandre Dumas fils (256 p., pub. 1848). It’s the novel that inspired the opera La Traviata, if you’re familiar.

Craig wrote: “I’m putting Chapter 14 in my list of top 10 best chapters in literature!”

Yes! That chapter was so fun to read. I’ve come to really enjoy her as a character anyway—she simply knows her own mind, and is firm in her convictions. But that exchange sealed the deal for me. She’s my hero in this story, from what I’ve seen so far.

Silver wrote: “I think it was intended to give us an inside look at who he really was as a person and the fact that he truly was in fact a bad person. . . . I also think it is meant to show the complexities of people and the fact that they have many sides.”

Further, and sort of combining those two ideas, I think it clearly demonstrates how impacted he was by the depth & authenticity of his feelings for Sunja. After all, she was his mistress—on paper, not so different from this woman. But he never came close to treating Sunja that way, and this scene reminds us that it’s not because he was incapable of doing so. He just never behaved that way with Sunja, because in his way I think he actually loved her.

Thanks everyone—nominations are now closed, and the polls are open! Help us pick the next Catch-Up read by casting your vote here.

Thanks everyone—nominations are now closed, and the polls are open! Help us pick the next Classic read by casting your vote here.

Thanks everyone—nominations are now closed, and the polls are open! Help us pick the next Modern read by casting your vote here.

I also really enjoyed the book; I am impressed with how well the character ensemble was handled. I see from the earlier discussion that many people lost some interest/attachment in the second half, but I didn’t find that. The tone did shift, I guess—with Sunja’s kids the pace is quicker and the story a bit less intimate—but I remained engaged & interested right to the end. I’m also not bothered by the loose ends on other characters. I do think Kyunghee deserved more of a conclusion, because she was really a member of the family by the end. But with more minor characters, I think tying up those ends would have needlessly bogged down the last part of the book.
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On a more specific note (again from the earlier discussions), Nora mentioned: “Did anyone notice that Noa had the same gentle spirit as Isak and Mozasu was similar to Hansu?” I did notice that; in fact I kept noticing it over & over. That irony was one of my favorite aspects of the second half. Such an interesting twist.

Taz wrote: “I had to share his aunt’s reaction to Copperfield’s birth with my little brother. It was hilarious.”

Yes, I loved that as well. Dickens is great for moments like that, occasionally. I don’t know if she ever pops back up in the book (I doubt it), but she certainly left her mark.

Some questions for thought in September:

⟡ Have you read any of Dickens’ other works? What do you expect from this one?
⟡ In the opening chapters, did you feel drawn into David’s world?
⟡ Do you particularly enjoy any of the characters? David, his mother, Pegotty, Murdstone, maybe the coach driver?
⟡ Any predictions, at this point, about how David’s future will play out?

Welcome to the Read-A-Long discussion for David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, nominated by Pony.

This discussion will be full of SPOILERS.

THE SCHEDULE

September
Early Childhood and Yarmouth, sections I–III
Ch. 1. I am born – Ch. 9 I have a memorable Birthday

October
Murdstone and Grinby’s, sections IV–VII
Ch. 10 I become neglected... – Ch. 21 Little Em’ly

November
Dover and Canterbury, sections VIII–X
Ch. 22 Some old Scenes... – Ch. 31 A greater Loss

December
Young Adulthood in London, sections XI–XIV
Ch. 32 The Beginning of a long Journey – Ch. 43 Another Retrospect

January
Trials and Losses, sections XV–XVII
Ch. 44 Our Housekeeping – Ch. 53 Another Retrospect

February
Resolutions and New Beginnings, sections XVIII–XX
Ch. 54 Mr. Micawber’s Transactions – Ch. 64 A last Retrospect

This begins our group discussion of our Modern book selection, Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry, nominated by Quinty (Taylor’s Version).

This discussion will be full of SPOILERS.

Did you enjoy the book? What stood out to you? Did Fry’s interpretation of the Greek myths challenge or reinforce your preconceived notions? Did his humor enhance or detract from the myths? What questions were you left with?

This begins our group discussion of our Classics book selection, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, nominated by Adrienne.

This discussion will be full of SPOILERS.

Did you enjoy the book? What stood out to you? How did you like spending time in Crusoe's isolated world? How do you think his time on the island affected Crusoe's character? What questions were you left with?

Pachinko has been selected as the Catch-Up title for September 2024. Please feel free to continue with points from previous discussion, or bring up something new!

Do remember that this is the SPOILER thread, in case you would prefer to finish reading before proceeding here.

I second The Master and Margarita.

Taz wrote: “One thing funny to me: Because they repeatedly called him Grace, I visualized Ryland Grace as a woman.”

I hadn’t really thought about his name, somehow. So I only just now got the joke—“Hail Mary, full of Grace.” Har.

Thanks everyone—nominations are now closed, and the polls are open! Help us pick the next Catch-Up read by casting your vote here.

Thanks everyone—nominations are now closed, and the polls are open! Help us pick the next Classic read by casting your vote here.

Thanks everyone—nominations are now closed, and the polls are open! Help us pick the next Modern read by casting your vote here.