So, based on the first 1/3 of the novel or so, I was thinking it might be interesting for those of us who also read Age of Innocence to think about the two books side by side a little.
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I think that is a great comparison, especially with the theme of the inevitable slide into modernity
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Finishing this up (hopefully tonight or tomorrow) and this should be a real interesting discussion. Will edit this with my thoughts (in spoiler mode) once I’m done.
Finished! Will we be able to discuss next week?
Thoughts
This was initially published as a serial from 1943-1945. Interesting to think of how it would read piece by piece. I also wonder if an audiobook would have helped or how it would change things. I will admit that for a while it was very hard for me to keep track of which character was married to who, etc.
The war only starts to be a plot element in the very last of the book but what is interesting (and shouldn’t be surprising) is how the perspectives of the German and Japanese is in the just cause of their countries wars.
What a weird fucking last line of this novel. What does it mean? Is she ill? Is Tokyo cursed? Or is she following Sachiko and will have a happy marriage?
What happens to Taeko now? Do we think she’s a BAD person, or perhaps just a more modern one? (If she really was taking advantage and bilking her boyfriend out of money, then … yeah she might be bad.)
The book is primarily about Yukiko and yet we never have the story told from her perspective, ever! (I thought it would happen at the end but no.) why? Do we think Yukiko will be happy? The last line really leaves one wondering but she seemed amenable to it, she was going to live around the area she wanted to, etc. Mostly it’s hard to know because we don’t KNOW Yukiko really at all. Which is a super weird thing to say after so long.
The Wikipedia entry is full of spoilers, but useful. Also there’s a movie made from this I’m trying to track down.
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I don’t know about everyone else but I think I’ll need more time than the 10th? Was late starting…
Would we be okay moving back a week or two?
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This was no doubt a “challenging read”. I need the group discussion to determine if I absolutely LOVED it or it simply beat me into submission and I actually disliked it considerably.
Just finished, but assume the consensus will be more time, which is fully understandable. I’d say Nov 17th or leap frog past US-Thanksgiving travels to Dec 1?
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Love your thoughts here…. Gives me some things to chew on. Really am looking forward to the discussion… this helps.
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I’d be good with Dec 1 - I assume we’ll only have this book before Christmas SZN so I’m happy to space it out (sorry that I was a slacker on this one!)
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December 1 is fine with me. I wrote my thoughts down because I assumed it would be a bit before we discussed as this book takes some work.
Just started reading Cloud Cuckoo Land, a mere 620 page book or so. By Anthony Doerr, author of “All The Light We Cannot See”…so far it seems phenomenal
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I am so happy I’m not the only one. No chance I finish in the next week. I was ready to throw in the towel but felt bad leaving my Osaka girls behind.
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Dec 1 works for me— I will get to the business of jotting down thoughts.
AWARD winner updates: 2021 Newberry “When You Trap A Tiger” (Tae Keller) was a one day read yesterday. Tears were shed. So good. Don’t overlook YA (perhaps younger) for a feel good read.
2021 Booker — less than an hour from ceremony start. (Or whatever 7:15 GMT is). A good list of finalists.
2021 National— November 17 Greebs current read “Cloud Cuckoo Land” a strong favorite.
I bring these up as you all know my “Pulitzer” goals, and you guis have showed me the awards above are often the better annual reads.
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I likely can’t do December 1 but seems like that works best for everyone, no worries. I’ll hopefully contribute some thoughts in the thread.
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I think I might need another week, I can push this weekend if people are ready, but this one is taking me a while
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I’ll hop on the slacker train. Got to me late, took me a while to pick it up, taking me a while to get sucked in.
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I thought we were pushing to the first Wednesday in December? I finished but I’d guess the night before Thanksgiving is gonna be tough for some folks. I’ll go with the flow.
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Right! Sorry I’ve been going through a hectic work situation and have been a bit distracted. Also American thanksgiving doesn’t register for me…
Dec 1 is perfect.
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mod help pls @OffTheDole
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Powered through just in time! Found it a frustrating read but still excited to discuss with everyone!
I figure next we’ll want a book to read over the holidays and discuss afterwards so if anyone has suggestions that would be awesome! (Personally would recommend something fairly light hearted 
)
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Just finished as well, this one took a little more time and motivation than previous selections but it was an interesting change of pace. Completely agree that the next selection should be on the lighter side.
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Life and work were both absolutely bucking over the last couple months and I wasn’t able to read this, but I’m so ready to get back into some book club reads and discussion. I’ve missed youse guis.
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Some of the books from the recent Trap Draw sounded interesting, would it be too on the nose for us to read a golf book?
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