Reading the Chunksters discussion
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I read the chapters a week ago, but the impression is quite strong. Poor Klara, she sacrificed so much - her career, her motherland, her loyalty to a person she loved once and who is dead now only to raise a child, whose father is unknown. But because she is so bulky and huge, we might assume that she has been sired by the antisemitic murderer. And I actually find quite enjoyable the 'waltz' of two lovebirds - they are either apart or close or back again to their lovesick lifestyle.
The feeling of disaster is virtually brewing in the air with Hitler annexing parts of Czechoslovakia and all Austria while the European leaders are trying to placate the monster ...
I felt that learning Klara's secret made her character much more sympathetic. Previously I was sometimes annoyed with her, simply because she would just close up and leave Andras reeling. I expect that sort of behavior from him because he is so young, and simply inexperienced. No I realize the lifelong burden and pain, and truthfully, can we say that Klara has really had a chance to grow? She wa still just a child when she was raped, and then subsequently exiled and cast aside by her own Father. She obviously has had the same chances to mature into an emotionally healthy adult.And poor Elisabet. Klara is obviously convinced that Elisabet was a product of the rape, and even if Klara love's her, you have to wonder if there is some linger malignancy or sadness when Klara looks at Elisabet, and those are the types of things that children pick up on. I know that Klara also wants the best for Elisabet, I really hope that she able to make it to America before the war breaks out.
I literally tore through the chapters, heart wrenched. What an impact.
... I dont know if I can handle a break :)
I hate to be a naysayer but while I love how the author paints each scene, I feel I'm missing some crucial character development. Andras just doesn't feel three dimensional to me. I get the sense that Klara is somewhat enigmatic - and who could blame her - but I would like to see more of how that impacts him emotionally, other than when she just ups and leaves. Or I'd like to see how he's intrigued by her. In contrast, the relationship between Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler was much more clearly delineated. I just need a little more to bring these characters to life for me.That said, I think the author's ability to create each scene is so masterful, each one reminds me of an impressionist painting. And she has created a good story that is keeping me intrigued. I just would find it much more moving if I had a better sense of their characters and not just their life stories and actions.
Becky wrote: "... I dont know if I can handle a break :)"I concur Becky. It's hard to stop! LOL
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think we have already discussed this week's section, and the break has been scheduled for this week. Ellen, you are right, the setting and the historic ambiance and the 'promise' of bad things to come are wonderfully written and the flow of her writing is spuriously easy, but the characters do not develop. Well, we have learned something about Klara, but has she matured or changed or worsened during our reading experience? No. The same is true about Andreas. And we know next to nothing about his parents. I am really enjoying the novel, but I also hope that we shall deal more with the character development when it comes to crunch time of the second world war. Sadly, I believe this will be a catalyst that will precipitate the most dramatic changes not only the plot, but it will also be a character-molding period.
Week 7 (10/20-10/26): BreakYep...it's a break week! So that we can either read ahead or catch up.
Hey guys, between Sandy knocking the internet out at our house, and our impending move, I will probably be off of Goodreads until late November when we will be back in Nebraska with the computers set up! I cant wait to catch up on reading then!
Hi. Has anyone answered the common discussion questions for this book? Please see http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/The-In...
Thank you, QueenAmidala28. That's great! I have read this week's section and I am looking forward to discussing it. Becky, a smooth move.
Hi Everyone. I'm using question three from Oprah's website: "3. Andras and Klara's love blossoms against the background of uncertainties and fear. Is Klara's initial lack of openness about her background justified by her situation? Why does she eventually begin an affair with Andras? Are they equally responsible for the arguments, break-ups, and reconciliations that characterize their courtship? Do Klara's revelations (pp. 214–34) change your opinion of her and the way she has behaved?Read more: http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/The-In..."
Please respond. I am really enjoying this book but I would like to have deeper discussion if possible. I know many people are still without power so for those who are able, please respond. I have my own thoughts about Klara but I would like to see how others respond to this question first before I answer. Thanks.
QueenAmidala28 wrote: "Hi Everyone. I'm using question three from Oprah's website: ..."The revelations about Klara's past did explain a lot about her - and made her more sympathetic to me - but I still find her character sorely lacking in development. I get that she is reserved and rightly so. But I still don't understand any of her feelings for Andras. Other than the fact that he adores her - which strikes me as sort of a puppy love - I don't get at all what she sees in him.
Don't get me wrong, there's plenty she could see in him - he's such a kind, caring person and they share a language and other cultural similarities. But we never see how this matters to her. Or at least I don't. In fact, I don't know what moves her besides dance and even that seems like just a part of her life, not part of her soul in any way I can feel. And if she's emotionally shut down in some way, I don't quite "see" that in a three-dimensional way either.
I was especially annoyed at the party scene where she kept dancing with the married man who's her former lover (I'm suddenly drawing a blank on his name). Supposedly the affair is over, the ex's wife who found out about the affair is there and Andras is there, too, yet those two can't stop dancing with each other? It seemed ridiculous to me.
As I've said before, the author does a beautiful job of setting and describing each scene. And I feel like I have a fairly good handle on Andras. But that just makes the lack of development of Klara all the more frustrating to me.
My post covers the previous section (chapters 21-23). First, chapters are really getting chunkier. But it is more like a side-observation. I am more concerned with the side-plots. These plot lines do get a serious development in this section, and Andras and Klara are somewhat sidelined in these chapters. It is actually quite good that the emotional vacuum is being filled in. I do feel sorry for Ilana and Tibor - they might end up being together after this horrendous ordeal of losing a baby and an experiment of a marriage because of fickle Ben Yakov, but knowing the historical development in Italy in particular and in Europe in general as well as their ethnicity, their chances are bleak. Ellen, an excellent observation about Klara.
I finally caught up and I'm not a couple chapters past here, yay! Of course my book is way overdue and I need to return it so I'm hoping to finish it by the weekend. I'm really glad I jumped in on this one though, it's a great story and very easy to discuss. So many great topics! I'm really looking forward to see how things end up for Andras and Klara and their family.
Andrea wrote: "I finally caught up and I'm not a couple chapters past here, yay! Of course my book is way overdue and I need to return it so I'm hoping to finish it by the weekend. I'm really glad I jumped in on ..."Hopefully, it will have at least a bittersweet ending. The tragedy is looming right there, especially with Andras and Klara returning back to Hungary from a relatively tolerant and anti-Nazi country. And families are being split apart - Elizabeth is on her way to the USA. It might be a haven for her, but will she ever see her mother? Questions. questions ...
I know! I keep reading because I don't want to return the book until I know how it ends!
Week 10 (11/10-11/16): Part 4; Ch 28-28
I just finished and it was a very memorable read. I hated to rush ahead but I have to return my copy to the library.
I read a little bit further, and it is engrossing plot-wise. As far as this week's section is concerned, I think all the characters have reached the point of no return. And if the tragedy was only looming in the previous part, now it is palpable - it is in the lives of our characters, distorting and warping their destinies, and breaking their hopes like twigs... I think it is also worth mentioning that though the book was written by a woman, we are not exposed to the feminine world. Neither Klara, no Ilana, nor Elizabeth is a fleshed out character. The world of men, on the other hand, is much deeper psychologically.
Zulfiya wrote: "I think it is also worth mentioning that though the book was written by a woman, we are not exposed to the feminine world. Neither Klara, no Ilana, nor Elizabeth is a fleshed out character. The world of men, on the other hand, is much deeper psychologically."Excellent point, IMO.
Wow, Zulfiya! I never really thought about the heavy male perspective versus the slim womens side of the story. Great observation!
Andrea wrote: "Wow, Zulfiya! I never really thought about the heavy male perspective versus the slim womens side of the story. Great observation!"Thank you, Ellen and Andrea! I also finished the book yesterday, and it is HEART-WRENCHING. I am still going to post and comment every week, I will do my best not to post spoilers ...
I wish we had kept discussing the book. It is a very powerful read, and though I finished the book three weeks ago, it has left a lasting bitter-sweet aftertaste ....
Due to the move I have has almost no time to read, but I cannot wait to finish this book
Sorry about forgetting to post the weeks, I will re-commence if you all want to. Totally my fault.
Kristi wrote: "Sorry about forgetting to post the weeks, I will re-commence if you all want to. Totally my fault.Because Andrea and I have already read the book, will it be possible to start a small thread when we can discuss the book in general? There might be other members who have already read it. But if you re-commence on a weekly basis, I will still be happy to discuss it with others without the spoilers (as much as it is possible :-))
Let's ask who's read the whole book!?! that way if you all have read and finished it we can just turn this thread into the overall book discussion thread...ok?has everyone already finished this book??
I stopped reading it as it just didn't hold my interest enough.
I am still reading it, but please, dont wait for me. I dont think I could possibly have it done by New Years even. I'll just not look at this thread ;)
Lets use this thread for general Discussion then...What were your thoughts about the book????
Just finished. I definitely need time to dwell before I review it. I was absolutely sobbing at the end.
Becky wrote: "Just finished. I definitely need time to dwell before I review it. I was absolutely sobbing at the end."Same here, Becky! The book kept talking to me for some time after I read the last page. The final part is definitely a heart-wrenching experience!
It was a wonderful book. I think what disturbed me most about the proceedings was how slowly the destruction of the Hungarian Jews was ramped up. At first he is just in the labor service, and thinks arent ideal, but things keep getting worse so slowly that you just keep thinking "well, he/I can live through this, its just a bit worse than before" until things have become significantly tragic and you are forced to question what anyone can do in the face of such hatred? It just ripped my heart out over and over.In the end I wondered if it would be a blessing that Tibor died, I cant imagine coming home to find out you are a widower and an orphan, and I think that the author really wanted to stress how entire families were wiped out. Such wanton destruction.
I was grateful that the author jumped ahead in time to let us know that they made it across the border, I think I would have been sick with worry wondering for weeks after I finished the book. As it was I still had nightmares, and I dont think a book has ever given me worry-nightmares before. Her writing was so delicate though that it just crept in.
The book has its flaws, but the final chapter is very emotional and touching. I could not read a book for a day(and it is a lot for an avid reader) because the book was talking to me all the time. I think the book teaches us a lot about the historical responsibility. Glory and war may be compatible in the imaginary world, but for the people who are vulnerable and fragile leaves on the tree of life, war is a devastating experience. The fact that those two (Klara and Andreas)survived is a true serendipity. I am happy that I read this very sad book.
Reading the Chunksters
Books mentioned in this topic
New York Times: The Complete Front Pages: 1851-2008 (other topics)In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin (other topics)
The Invisible Bridge (other topics)
Absolutely. That is the perfectly succinct way of saying how much I love this book. I'm in awe.
I've got the The New York Times: The Complete Front Pages: 1851-2008 With 3 CDROMs and I've been going through the pre-war pages to match up to the storyline, just to see the difference in apprehensions between those in Europe and those in the relatively safer America. Its been illuminiating. This author truly grasps how to capture emotions and tensions.