Chris’s Comments (group member since Jan 07, 2016)

Chris’s comments from the MidCoast Libraries Better Reading Bookclub group.

Good on you Steph. The only probably with the audiobook is when the reader tries an Australian accent. An annoying cross between kiwi, South African and British faux-Australian.
But still a great way to absorb a book.
Cheers Chris

Thanks Louise. That's a great idea. I think the group can use it is a framework for when they review it.

Because I'm reading a different book for my bookclub I'm currently listening to a copy of the book through our borrowbox collection. I'm actually quite enjoying it.

Just a thought for other people as an option to "reading" the book.

Cheers
Chris

Hi Bibliophiles,

Thank you to all of those who read Relativity and also those who read it and posted comment.

I had planned to put a new title up in June but a couple of things occurred (some annual leave and the impact of the amalgamation) so, rather sheepishly (a curious term when you think about it) I'm now proposing our next title - The Last Painting of Sara de Vos. This got very good reviews in the SMH and other sources (Good Reading I think) and it sounds a bit different. I have a box of titles on my desk which has now been issued to our group card. You can collect a title directly from that - just make sure to put your name on the sheet in the box.

Hi Faye,
I really appreciate the depth of your responses to the novel. It always adds something to the reading when you get a fresh perspective and new perceptions. I especially got something out of your observation on Ethan not being able to see bass sounds and the connection there with the absence of a father figure. I think that might be spot on.
I also agree that Ethan did use science as a blanket. It was his strength and his inhibitor, as is so often the case with people.
Anyway, thanks for this review. Well worth the read and the it took me back to the novel again.
If you were to rate it out of 5 what would you give it?
I must chase up a new title when I get back from leave. Might get a chance in the next couple of weeks.
Cheers
Chris

Hi Jenny,
Thanks for that feedback. Bookclub discussions are always better if there's differing viewpoints. In my other bookclub members often review and alter their original rating based on healthy debate. I do agree that where I wanted depth I didn't get is as much as I wanted and did struggle with the adults (but truly enjoyed the children's storyline).
I still liked the presence of the science even if it was fairly superficial at times. That may have been because the suggestion was to keep it more in layperson's terms, but that's just a guess.
I do like the word ridiculous by the way and appreciate your use of it.
Thanks for reading it Jenny, thanks for providing a review and thanks for be honest about it.
Cheers Chris

Thanks John, and I hope you cousin enjoys it.

I must say I did appreciate actually knowing the places described in the novel too. It just shows you how much people who live in cities like London and New York must get extra milage out of so many books set there.

One month to go and then it's a new title.

So, here I go, putting my money where my mouth is:

What elements of the novel worked for you and what didn’t?
I really did like the science flavour. It was done quite accessibly. I also felt a great deal of sympathy for the Ethan and really enjoyed the relationship between Ethan and Alison. Hayes used humour well, in a gentle fashion, and I liked that.
And I did enjoy the plot twists and turns (no comments on details though – don’t want to spoil anything).
I struggled a bit with both the Claire and Mark characters. I guess I haven’t been caught up in the same situation so it’s hard to know how skilfully they were depicted. Perhaps I shouldn’t be too harsh a critic.
I certainly though it was an excellent first novel and worth the commitment of time to read it (which wasn’t that great anyway as it’s a novel that draws you along).

The terms “heart-wrenching” and “heartbreaking” have been used to describe Relativity. Do you think this is a fair description and why?
I’m not convinced I was heart-wrenched or heartbroken. I read books that do that to you – and they leave you feeling like you’ve been steamrollered. I didn’t get this from Relativity at all. What is does do is explore some very sensitive issues relating to family relationships and trust. I’m not actually sure that Hayes fully nails these but it’s a damn tricky goal to set yourself and I think she does make a sterling effort.

Hayes writes that “secrets were like scars: they faded and softened, but as much as you tried to camouflage them, they didn’t completely disappear” (pg. 85) Do you think Hayes is right about this? And what about the consequences of keeping these secrets?
I like it as quote. Maybe it does apply to all secrets, though I reckon that some secrets aren’t the kind that lead to significant scarring in the first place, and perhaps there are secrets, even between friends and family that really should stay secret for all concerned.
I’m reminded of a species in the hitch-hiker’s guide to the galaxy that, for their punishment in being just way to smart (as judged by other species), had all their thoughts projected to everybody around them. In the end all they could do was gabble on about trivial matters. So perhaps we need some privacy and some secrets.
Still like the quote though and still think it shows a fair old understanding of human relationships.

An appreciation of science is woven throughout the novel (even the chapter names have a physics flavour). Did this affect your appreciation of the novel (positive or negative)?
I really liked it. I must confess to having a science background but I think it works well (and maybe even better for all I know) for all readers. I think it gave it a rhythm and a unique flavour.

Hayes also writes “Clean slates had invisible consequences” (pg. 198). Do you agree? Mark moves to the other side of the country in order to restart his life with a clean slate. Is his effort successful?
I think this is a powerful observation on human behaviour. Who doesn’t want to leave behind their errors, their mistakes, their shames? So the whole idea of starting with a clean slate is appealing to the person whose slate is far from clean.
The problem is that maybe people don’t wanted to cleaned off the slate. Maybe the others that have been injured need another solution. I think Mark’s desire to start with a clean slate is more about the flight mechanism kicking in. Ultimately, the best solution is often the hardest and for Mark the best thing he can is be present until the right solution can be found.

The novel is centred around family relationships and what causes them to fail. Did Antonia Hayes’s handling of this this complex issue succeed? And did she capture the nature of Ethan as a gifted child?
I think she really got Ethan right (from a layperson’s perspective – I can’t say I’ve had first-hand experience in this area). Or, at least, she made him a fascinating and appealing character.
I’m not sure Hayes got all the other elements right in the family relationships. I found both Claire and Mark fairly frustrating at times. Maybe, though, this is not atypical when there’s a family breakdown, particularly of such a challenging nature.

What sort of rating would you give to the novel? (you can give a score or a general assessment). Would you recommend Relativity to others? Do you think it works as a bookclub novel?
As far as a score goes – 3.75 maybe.
I’d be happy to recommend Relativity to others. I think it’s got enough good points and its sufficiently different to make it worth the time and effort.
Yes, I do think it would work as a bookclub novel. It’s got those complex family issues that are usually great for discussion and it's accessibly, quick to read and not too long. Ticks plenty of the boxes.

Faye wrote: "I think that's a good starting place, thanks Chris. I find t easier to have some questions to work with after reading a book. "

No worries Faye. I've been rather caught up at the moment so I haven't even run the questions passed myself yet. Might think about it soon hey?

Totally agree Ellen. It's actually made me lift my reading game. I was mortified to discover a book I'd read wasn't on Goodreads. I might have to investigate adding a whole new review.
The diversity is certainly fascinating.
And we've now got 50 members. How cool is that? Maybe the 500 book challenge is a challenge (though that's what challenges should be about I guess), but having new members adding books to the group bookshelf can only make it more achievable.

Now that we've chosen the book we need to figure out how to "discuss" it. As we don't have a model we're making it up as we go along. So, here's what I'm proposing. Below are a series of questions. You can ignore than or work with them and post your responses.

In conjunction with this why not consider posting a brief review of the novel. Try to avoid spoilers if possible. I know this means that those who start reading it a little later may feel like they've already encountered the novel a few times but I can't think of any easy way to avoid this (and getting people to hold off posting anything might mean it goes off the boil).

I will post my review a little later (only because I'm a little caught up this week).

Here are the discussion questions:

What elements of the novel worked for you and what didn’t?

The terms “heart-wrenching” and “heartbreaking” have been used to describe Relativity. Do you think this is a fair description and why?

Hayes writes that “secrets were like scars: they faded and softened, but as much as you tried to camouflage them, they didn’t completely disappear” (pg. 85) Do you think Hayes is right about this? And what about the consequences of keeping these secrets?

An appreciation of science is woven throughout the novel (even the chapter names have a physics flavour). Did this affect your appreciation of the novel (positive or negative)?

Hayes also writes “Clean slates had invisible consequences” (pg. 198). Do you agree? Mark moves to the other side of the country in order to restart his life with a clean slate. Is his effort successful?

The novel is centred around family relationships and what causes them to fail. Did Antonia Hayes’s handling of this this complex issue succeed? And did she capture the nature of Ethan as a gifted child?

What sort of rating would you give to the novel? (you can give a score or a general assessment). Would you recommend Relativity to others? Do you think it works as a bookclub novel?

Thanks for the suggestion Melissa. I do like the idea of a café in the civic precinct, though there's a bit of evidence emerging that cafes in libraries may not be financially successful. I do like the idea though.
Maybe if there a café right near the library, with people being able to bring food and drink in. Might work.
Also, at Byron Bay Library they have a coffee cart, which I believes works well (and it's good coffee too).
I think a coffee shop should certainly be in the mix though.

Too true. That fine balance. A busy and quiet place. That's another reason we need the new library. We used to design based on everyone being quiet, now we need to design in quiet places.

I know it’s been a little quiet on the list for a while. I must confess to having a few minor distractions like the Government’s proposed merger of Great Lakes with Greater Taree and Gloucester but it’s time to get our communal book reading rolling again.

As I have mentioned earlier the book will be Relativity by Antonia Hayes. To provide you with access to this title I have now acquired a set of ten copies, which will form part of the wider bookclub collection. BUT because this came out of our corner, we’ve got first run at it.
I have created our own library card and membership to the library and issued the collection to that card. The collection will be housed in my office and if you ask staff at the front counter a copy can be got for you. All that will be required is that we write down your name and which copy you borrowed.

On top of this we have two copies of Relativity in the general collection, another copy as an audiobook and even one as an eBook in our borrowbox collection. So plenty of scope to grab a copy.

I’m suggesting we allow the group until the end of June to read the book. It seems people are happy to share feedback online rather than gather as a group to discuss it, so that’s fine by me.

I’m still wondering what format this feedback should take. Would you like me to post a few discussion points as people, once they’ve read the book can give their own review and a response to the questions? (or not – I don’t want people to feel this is a burden).

A very good idea Helen. and welcome back. We are definitely considering an outdoor area. Though there may be times when it may not be so quiet. We thought it might be nice for the children's storytime session is this could happen outside (where possible) rather than inside.
But totally agree and I may take your exact words (and some of the above comments) to the design table.

Totally agree with you about Secret Chord. I felt I had a better appreciation of the history but that was about it. I reckon her best book is Year Of Wonders.

Totally agree with you about Secret Chord. I felt I had a better appreciation of the history but that was about it. I reckon her best book is Year Of Wonders.

A very reasonable suggestion. Thanks Jenny

Second question - what words would you use to describe how the new library should look/feel? You can use as many or few as you like (or use phrases). I'm not going to give you any examples because I don't want to lead the witness.

Wow - I didn't realise that. Thanks for the tip Jenny. Maybe that's something worth suggesting to Goodreads as a feature. I've also asked them if in future they could set a Group book challenge so that we didn't have to create an artificial system looking the bookshelf (which I like, by the way, but it does make keeping count of the titles read tricky).

NOTE: I decided this was such a good point that I've sent this through to a contact I have at Goodreads as a design suggestion for the App. Thanks Jenny.

Thanks Steph. I should go down and check out the Artspace. We definitely need to think how we can incorporate art into the building. also Council will be considering a "whole of site" civic precinct, so possible something like that could actually be in an adjoining space too.