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HW Book Club July/August The Fault in Our Stars

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Posted 8/1/2017 12:03 AM (GMT -5)
Hello Book Club participants. August begins the discussion phase of the novel: The Fault in Our Stars. I agreed to lead the discussion, and I aim to do my best to follow through. I spent several sleepless nights reading and highlighting passages while I was up with Gary on those nights when he would "wander", and it was a great to have reading material hit so close to home and was interesting enough to keep me awake until Gary was ready to return to bed.
And so I will post a few passages tomorrow that I think will initiate a good beginning discussion.
Spoiler alert: The topic will be: "life after death....for the living that will be/are left behind after their loved one dies."
Beth
Posted 8/1/2017 10:36 AM (GMT -5)
What a wonderful show of will and commitment that Beth is giving us now, when she could so easily say that she preferred to pass on leading the forum book club this time, which would be so understandable under the circumstances.

But if reading this book when she was helping Gary, as she describes so well in her post, was helpful to her, so much so that she would like to continue associating with this novel here in a book club discussion, then I say let's do it!

I say let's as many of us as can participate in discussion of "The Fault in Our Stars," and make this the best forum book club discussion ever!

One thought. Beth, do you think one thing we might consider doing at this point is to reschedule the discussion time to a few weeks from now, so as to give more of us more time to get and read the novel? I have done so myself, and I agree that it is an insightful, moving story, one worthy of a book club discussion. But maybe reschedule to perhaps enlarge the number of our club participants?

But you're in charge now, and we’ll do it any way you wish.
Posted 8/1/2017 12:58 PM (GMT -5)
Folks,
I'm in, but will need a couple of days to reread the book (which I read soon after it was published). Frequently, when rereading a book I find things I totally missed on the first reading when I'm concentrating on what is happening next. If the group gets started with discussion right away, I'll chirp in when I get caught up.

Beth, my admiration for you has taken another leap for you being willing to moderate the book club after just losing Gary. Grace under pressure!
Beth from VA
Posted 8/1/2017 1:05 PM (GMT -5)
Beth, I'm in too, but need a reread. I am awed by your commitment and dedication here. Hopefully, the discussion will help you with the grieving process. Sue
Posted 8/2/2017 12:34 AM (GMT -5)
Hello and thank you. I was going to post a few passages that I highlighted today, but find myself pretty exhausted this evening. And so yes, let's given it another week or so to begin discussion, with gratitude!
Beth
Posted 8/3/2017 5:33 AM (GMT -5)
I asked my wife to pick the book up at the library, and I started it yesterday evening. The first idea that popped at me is this: That we, as cancer patients are a side effect of the "relentless mutation that made the diversity of life on earth possible." (p. 49)

We're a side effect? This seems to tie in to the idea in an earlier thread here a week or so ago about military metaphors, which referenced an essay by Josh Friedman that was published in TIME (Aug 7 issue). "If cancer wants you, it walks into your room at night and just takes you. It doesn't give a d*** how tough you are."

Anyway...my first thing in the morning thoughts.
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