SCPL Online NonFiction Book Club discussion

Thank you for answering the poll I put up earlier this week! (You can still do the poll - it will be open until the end of August)

References to both Shakespeare himself and Romeo and Juliet are woven throughout this memoir, often complimenting and exemplifying the author’s own experiences. For those of you who have read a lot of Shakespeare throughout your life, do you think you read and appreciate his plays differently as an adult than you did as a teenager?

Just like one of Dixon’s students asks in the book, why are we still studying this in school today? This play was written over 400 years ago – how does it still apply? Dixon’s response is that Shakespeare is able to get down to the root of what it means to be a human being and that his perspective on life, love and tragedy is still relevant in our lives today. Do you agree or disagree?

Finally, while reading this book, were there any new revelations for you about Romeo and Juliet?

I'm about 2/3 through the book. I'm not sure if I can add anything of note to the questions about Shakespeare and reading Shakespeare - particularly since your questions made me realize how long it has been since I read any of his plays. I do enjoy occasionally delving into his sonnets.

It was new to me (although it makes complete sense) that the play may be/is based on a much older story; and that, that story may have basis in (some) fact.

Hi Valerie - I found the possible historical aspect to Romeo & Juliet really interesting as well! If it is true that the Juliet's body was eventually removed from its grave because her death was ruled as a suicide - I found that very heartbreaking to read, even so many centuries later!

I also often thought while reading through this book that it must be very trying for some of the residents who live in Verona to have so many tourists milling about searching for evidence of these star-crossed lovers (particularly those who live in, what is named as, Romeo's residence!). But I guess it's the same for those who live near the Anne of Green Gables house on PEI and dealing with tourists who cannot separate fact from fiction!

SCPL wrote: "Hi Valerie - I found the possible historical aspect to Romeo & Juliet really interesting as well! If it is true that the Juliet's body was eventually removed from its grave because her death was ru..."

I'm sure it is annoying at times, but it seems they (Verona folks) use Romeo + Juliet to attract the tourist dollar. I don't mean to sound cynical about it, because I'm not. That is a reality for many towns that tourists provide a great deal of revenue.

That's true too - I'm sure that there's both positives and negatives to living in a place that is so historically significant. I also get the feeling from reading the blunt commentary of some of the Verona residents in the book that they have no problem communicating if they're impressed or annoyed by a situation!

I think the author's answer about why we still read Shakespeare is valid. Shakespeare delves into the core of what is human, what we hope for etc.

Why do we still read Austen? Why do we still go see "chick-flicks" or romantic comedies? We all want the drama that comes with life, and in some ways live vicariously through those characters.

I agree with Dixon's reasoning as well. Themes like love, death, betrayal, power, etc. are part of human nature in every century. I also think the fresh adaptations of Shakespeare keep his stories interesting for the next generations. I still remember the crazy hype about the 1996 (Leonardo DiCaprio) version of Romeo and Juliet when I was in high school! Although I must say, that reminds me...to answer another of your questions, I would probably read some of the plays a lot differently as a cynical adult than I did as an impressionable teenager (particularly Romeo and Juliet).

That's very true - I am a big fan of anything Austen or Bronte myself. It gives me the chance to view the highlights and romanticism of living in that era without having to actually deal with petticoats and outdoor plumbing!