Our February 2011 read: The Invention of Everything Else

[Tiffani]

I just finished the book. I really enjoyed learning about Tesla (fictionalized of course). The parts about Tesla's life and his interactions with Louisa were my favorite parts.

I have to say I was appalled by Edison's use of the puppies and kittens to "prove" the dangers of AC electricity (I want to believe that that part is fiction).

I also don't really get the connection of Azor and the time machine in the story. I don't see how it fits or how it enhances the story. It seemed like a quirky random story thrown in.

I am not a fan of biographies and nonfiction in general, but I may have to check out something on Tesla. He is fascinating.

[Donna]

I'm so pleased that everyone has liked this book, you have certainly found a lot more detail in the story than I did (I did enjoy it as a story though)!! Great discussions.

[Beth]

Carly wrote: "Gee, I love this book! I open it at every opportunity - yesterday Jeff had to go up to Future Shop about a computer . . . I didn't even bother getting out of the car to have a smoke - just had him ..."

I *love* the Pagan Stone trilogy...not thrilled with one particular twist, thought it was weird, but still loved it overall.

[Cheryl]

Hmm.. trying to remember... I think Azor and the time machine were as important as the reader wanted them to be. I mean, he's Louisa's dad's best friend, so, if you were more interested in Tesla and less interested in Louisa, then Azor would seem less relevant.

But I think the contrast between these two dreamers, these two inventors, is interesting. I wish I still had a copy of the book, but wasn't there a way to compare the goals and strategies of Tesla and Azor? For that matter the other dreamers, too, the ruthlessly pragmatic Edison and also Louisa's father?

Help please - these are not rhetorical questions! :)

Even Sam and Louisa herself had their dreams....

[Cheryl]

The character I remember the least is Louisa's beau. How was he important to the story, please help me remember?

[Carly]

Tiffani wrote: "I just finished the book. I really enjoyed learning about Tesla (fictionalized of course). The parts about Tesla's life and his interactions with Louisa were my favorite parts.

I have to say I wa..."

He's the guy that tells her she'll marry Arthur . . . whether she and Arthur get married because Azor saw it when he was in the future, or whether they get married 'cause they really want to is another matter.

I think that's really Azor's only real purpose in the story.

[Carly]

Beth wrote: "Carly wrote: "Gee, I love this book! I open it at every opportunity - yesterday Jeff had to go up to Future Shop about a computer . . . I didn't even bother getting out of the car to have a smoke -..."

I was surprised Norah Roberts wrote anything that raunchy . . . I find the protag - whatzisname - he's kinda' sexist. And the guy who's reading the audio version I'm using seem to think he needs to speak in a little girl voice when he does the female parts.

Anyway - I'll move on - shouldn't be talking about another book in this thread, I guess - I get annoyed when other people hijack threads, so I shouldn't do it myself.

[Carly]

Donna wrote: "I'm so pleased that everyone has liked this book, you have certainly found a lot more detail in the story than I did (I did enjoy it as a story though)!! Great discussions."

Is there a movie? Is there gonna' be a movie? It oughta' be a movie - it's a riot.

[Becky]

Hey all - Very weird, I was in a book store and saw another fictional book with Edison and Tesla - what are the odds.

Carly - near the end, you see Sam is Samuel Clemens - Mark Twain.

I really loved this book - and I have to say our next read is just as quirky! I'm trying to finish by tonight to be ready for the conversation on the 1st!

[Cheryl]

Becky, what was the other book?

[Carly]

OK - I know who Sam is . . . I've just finished the part where he and Nikki have that conversation in the hotel room - then he realizes Sam's been dead for something like 40 years.

Too much!

I love this book!

I hope to finish up within the next couple of days. Gotta' go to the foot doctor's this morning - booooo! But when I get back, might just dedicate the afternoon to finishing this one.

[Carly]

Carly - near the end, you see Sam is Samuel Clemens - Mark Twain.

Ha ha! You weren't supposed to tell me, but it's ok - I already know.

[Carly]

Yeah - c'mon Becky - what IS the other book? I wanna' read it!

[Carly]

Cheryl wrote: "The character I remember the least is Louisa's beau. How was he important to the story, please help me remember?"

Poor Arthur - he gets so little attention. Maybe his author might give him a better role in something else she writes.

(I just did this recently - in a collection of short stories I'm working on, there's a character who didn't really seem that important - I went looking for a character to throw a POV on when I started up another segment and started using my lovely Irishwoman, Evelyn Fagan - I'd written about 2 pages when I realized this woman IS the whole story! The whole darn thing can circle 'round her and it will work.

I've been having a grand time with her for about a month now.

If you wanna' see some of it, click here . . .

http://www.writersbbs.com/cgi-bin/for...

[Becky]

Sorry! Didn't check in for awhile. It was The Witches of Chiswick by Robert Rankin. It's funny - took me awhile to find it! I was surprised to see another book with Tesla - and briefly gave it a look, but it didn't grab me. What's even odder is in looking for it Wikipedia has a list of the many times Tesla has shown up as a character in fiction, comics, movies, TV. Fascinating!

[Cheryl]

Funny, my library system has Rankin's novel on cassettes. Only. No book.

[Becky]

OK - This is hysterical. In another book club I'm in, somebody is starting a Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn and our buddy, Tesla, is on the Titanic where one of his inventions dooms the ship.

Little odd - but there he is again!

[Cheryl]

Tesla is an interesting person that's for sure. I've added to my to-read.

[Carly]

Ahhhh ... yeah - now I remember reading this one. I really liked it, eh?

I might even do it again, just for the hell of it.

[Heather]

Just this weekend, a year after I read this book. There was an hour long story on Tesla on NPR. Studio 360 to be exact. The author Samantha Hunt was on also. Very interesting story. I have to say that without reading the book last year I would have been hearing the story for the first time. Great listen if anyone has time.