New June title is finally here

[Sarah]

Come in and pick up our June title. Sorry for the delay but our books got lost in the library mail.

[Sarah]

I didn't know very much about this book before it arrived. Here is a book review to peek your interest.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/boo...

[Sarah]

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics...

[Sarah]

Here are your first questions! How are you liking it?

How do the propaganda chapters, written as if spoken from a loudspeaker, play into your reading of the novel?

What do you feel the first-person narrative contributed to the story? Did you feel more or less removed from a world so closely guarded?

[Kalpana]

Hi all (this is my first time posting!),

Ok so I originally thought I'd read this book from cover to cover in a matter of days, especially given the NYT review, but alas I'm only on page 70. It's dragging y'all...and to be quite honest, I don't really feel any connection towards the main character (except anger when he snatched those strangers off the beaches).

The only propaganda chapter I came across was the first one. While the context was a bit random, I do realize that it was introduced in the very beginning to set the tone. I don't know if that becomes integrated later on.

I will continue to trudge through in the hopes that it gets much better!

[Sarah]

Great! I was feeling the same way! I just keep wondering if this is really what it is like to be from North Korea and how sad it is. Not really a great motivator to get through a story. At any rate I am going to keep on trudging and hope for some lighter fare next month.

[Sarah]

If you are looking for inspiration to keep reading this title perhaps this author interview will help.
http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/rc/20...

[Sarah]

How do you feel about the treatment of women in this novel? Specifically the fate of beautiful women or women who are born in the country?

[Sarah]

The book is disjointed as it shifts perspective, time periods, and even genres. Did you find the structure confusing? The author has described his book as a "trauma narrative." What does he mean?

[Sarah]

What do you think of the relationship between Jun Do/ Commander Da and their interrogator? How does their loyalty and attitudes toward the state reflect in their relationship?

[Kalpana]

So, sadly, I threw the towel in on this one (which is saying a lot because I've never completely stopped reading a book mmid-way before)!

Although Sarah, the new article you published encouraged me to read about 30 more pages. I'm ready for the next one though; already picked it up!

[Sarah]

I did too! I tried and tried again on vacation and I just couldn't get into it. Look at the Good Reads reviews and you will see we are not alone. Looks like you either love it or leave it! Time to move on to the next one. Life is too short!