Chicks On Lit discussion
This topic is about
The Executioner's Song
Archive 08-19 GR Discussions
>
Executioner's Song with Reading Schedule-discussion starts Oct 20th
I want to read this one with you all but can't until Don Quixote is finished. Two tomes is over the limit for the time I have available. I think this is an interesting choice.
I am interested. I can lead if you need a break or will co lead with you whatever works for you.
I would love a break Rebecca, thank you! Do you want me to do the reading schedule? I was thinking we should start the third week in October, how does that sound?
October sounds good to me. I would love for you to do the schedule. Thanks Meg.
READING SCHEDULERead up to Page 157 for October 20
October 20 - Discuss through page 157 read to page 263
October 27 - Discuss through page 263 read to page Part XI page 374
November 3 Discuss through Part XI read to page 478
November 10 Discuss through page 478 read to Part Two Exclusive Rights page 577
November 17 Discuss through page 577 read to page 679
November 24 Discuss through page 679 read to page 794
December 8 Discuss through page 794 read to page 886
December 15 Discuss through page 886 read to 996
December 22 Discuss through 996 Finish book
January 5 Discuss end of book
Happy Reading
Rebecca will be our discussion leader. Thank you Rebecca!
Well I hope I do you all proud. It should be fun. I haven't done a discussion in a while so I am looking forward to it.
I am sure you will be great
I must be crazy but I'm going to try this. I don't know if I can keep up but I'll do my best. The end of October might be doable.
Mod
I am glad Sheila. Welcome.
I am also going to try this one. Don Q is a fast read, so I think I may be able to do both at the same time. However, please be patient if I write about Sancho Panza in this thread. At my age, things are easily confused.
My class that requires intensive reading will be over, I have the book on hold for me at the library, I'm in! This sounds like a fascinating book!
Mod
I agree. I am excited.
Mod
Norman MailerFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(
Norman Kingsley Mailer (January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007) was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright, film maker, actor and political candidate. His first novel was The Naked and the Dead published in 1948. His best work was widely considered to be The Executioner's Song, which was published in 1979, and for which he won one of his two Pulitzer Prizes. In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Mailer's book Armies of the Night was awarded the National Book Award.
Along with the likes of Truman Capote, Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe, Mailer is considered an innovator of creative nonfiction, a genre sometimes called New Journalism, which superimposes the style and devices of literary fiction onto fact-based journalism.
Mailer was also known for his essays, the most renowned of which was The White Negro. He was a major cultural commentator and critic, both through his novels, his journalism, his essays and his frequent media appearances.
In 1955, Mailer and three others founded The Village Voice, an arts and politics oriented weekly newspaper distributed in Greenwich Village.
Just a FYI. The murders took place in Utah, my home state once again at a Sinclair gas station. The Sinclair station was behind the house my ex husband grew up in. I remember his father telling me about it. The Sinclair was there for quite sometime until they expanded the road. I have never read about it so I am excited. I found it interesting that our library carries most of Mailer's books but not this one. Hmmm. I am curious to ask the librarians why. I am starting the book tonight. If I can steal it away from my mom who got interested in reading it too. :)
Welcome everyone. I think there will be alot to discuss with this one. I know we will enjoy it together.
This sounds really good. I haven't done an active book discussion with the group for a while. I will try to join in this time.
Well I started reading and I must say I am loving it already. I can't wait for the discussion!
Mod
Looking forward to this one! I started reading this book not too long ago and put it down without really giving it a chance. I am very interested in it and am happy you have chosen it for a group read.
Just checking in to see where we are at. Does everyone have the book? Who is reading? I am well on my way to the assigned reading. I am intrigued for sure. What an interesting cast of characters so far. I have some starter questions to post on Wednesday. I hope that gives people a chance to get the book and to get a handle on the reading so far. I am jottting down thoughts and questions. I sure do have a lot. I hope others do too. Enjoy we have a great group. and I will check back on Wednesday. Meg thank you so much for starting us off with background information as well as putting the reading schedule together.
I'm going to do my best to keep up with the book schedule. I have it and I'm really interested in reading it!
I am almost done with the first reading and I am really enjoying it. Can't wait to begin the discussion.
Still waiting for a copy of the book. Should be here this week sometime.
It sounds like a challenge to read a 1100 page book! The subject matter of the real life murders and the subsequent court battles are alluring SO I am going to order from the library and see how I go. Will do my best.
I would love to join in on this one, but I don't think I can start this month. I will try to catch up early or mid-November!Would it be possible for someone to please add chapter names/numbers or the smaller section numbers within chapters to the reading schedule? (I have a different edition so the page numbers aren't matching up.)
I have my copy of the book and I haven't started reading yet, but hoping to tonight!
Stacie wrote: "I would love to join in on this one, but I don't think I can start this month. I will try to catch up early or mid-November!Would it be possible for someone to please add chapter names/numbers or..."
Book One
Western Voices
Part One - Gary Chapters 1- 3 starts which chapter heading "The First Day"ends on "The First Month"
Part two - Nicole Chapters 4-6"The House in Spanish Fork ends on "Nicole on the River
Part three - Gary and Nicole Chapters 7-9 "Gary and Pete' ends on In Trouble with the Law (which goes a bit more past the 157 pages in my book.
I dont know if that is confusing or helpful. Let me know Stacie and if not I will work at it.
I am using this version
Curious to know what impression you have so far of the book and of the characters?Why do you think Brenda and her family are so willing to bring Gary in?
Is there anyone at this point that you feel sees that Gary will be trouble?
Why do people feel sorry for Gary? and why is he able to steal and borrow money with ease?
What do you think is meant by the line "In the morning, it was the Mustang. His car would not start. It was as if something in Gary's makeup killed off the electrical system every morning?
Rebecca wrote: "I dont know if that is confusing or helpful. Let me know Stacie and if not I will work at it."Thanks Rebecca, that is helpful! (My page numbers are off by 20 pages or more sometimes - but I think now I've gotten the gist of where to be when!)
My biggest question is why was Brenda and her family willing to sponsor him? The only thing I thought of was that they were extremely religious but you don't get that in the reading. So I can't understand it. I certainly wouldn't put myself on the line like that. I just can't understand why they would do it.I think Gary was trouble all along. He delighted in telling his prison stories, absolutely no remorse. His view of women is awful. He seems to always be on a power trip.
I read this book many years ago... I can't join the discussion here this time, but I just wanted to add that at the time I read it, it had a great impact on my life. It is a powerful story. I would say "enjoy the journey" but enjoy isn't exactly the right word.
Mod
I honestly don't know much about this true event, other than Gary is going to get executed for murdering someone. I am tempted to Google and read the Wikipedia article on what happens, but I think I will maybe just experience this through the book instead, the wiki it afterwards.
Why Brenda and her family were so willing to sponsor him, I have no idea. Brenda seems to have been almost infatuated with Gary. Maybe she really looked up to him as a child, and still idolized her childhood way of looking at him?
I think that Brenda was willing to take him in because he was able to present as a changed man and was really nice and polite when corresponding with her from prison. Gary was first was locked up at a young age and that makes it really challenging for him to "change" when back in the community. I am really enjoying this book so far!
I just started reading the book tonight and can not put it down . Gary has been out of prison for five weeks and does not seem to have any redeeming qualities. Brenda and family are very nice people to take Gary into their home .
Does anyone feel empathy for Gary?
Mod
I guess I am thinking creep too. What was their for Brenda to idolize about him? I dont think I like Gary or any of the other characters although Nicole's abuse has messed her up and I feel for her for that. I need to start reading the next section.
At this point, I do not feel any empathy towards Gary. But this may change if we find out more about his parents and upbringing.
So am I reading that you have some compassion for Nicole?
Yes Meg I do feel compassion.
Mod
Reading schedule will be posted soon as well as start date.