Despite missing some of the other book club members, I could easily vote last night's book club as the funnest and feistiest evening we've had over the past two years. (I'm sure this was influenced by Vicki's attentive bartending and our awareness that most of us didn't have to work the next day!)
We were eager to discuss Catfish and Mandala - and amazingly everyone but one person read the book! While we inhaled yummy spring roles, green papaya salad, soba noodles and lychee sake, our conversation quickly took off. Our discussion was all over the place - Vietnam Vets; gross incidents in the book; our frustration about the author's never ending dysentery; whether or not we would want to go to Vietnam; the challenge an immigrant faces due to experiencing prejudice in the home country and
in the US; the marvel of a catfish to survive living on sewage; the cultural aspects child discipline; the definition of poverty and our curiosity about just how many prostitutes the author slept with...There seemed to be consensus that we all wanted to hear more about the childhood experiences and the struggles once the family arrived in the US, we could've done without the doggie death scene, and we still aren't clear on the meaning behind "mandala" in the title - But all in all, this was a great pick.
THANK YOU, MR. MCLAUGHLIN, FOR A GREAT RECOMMENDATION!
(You should consult for Oprah's book club!)
I'm hoping someone else can attempt a post that captures the fun context amongst all this rigorous intellectual exchange...goofy gigglin' girls, not afraid to risk vulnerability or break social taboos...
1 comment:
hmmm... what on earth am I thinking about??? fish sauce?? nic pic, em!!
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