Edmonton Lesbian+ Book Club

We're reading "The Quilt" by Ismat Chugtai. a review.

1. Lilly was awarded the German Federal Service Cross in 1981 for “her heroic efforts” to conceal and protect Felice. Did you find Lilly “heroic”? 2. Was this a memoir? 3. Did you find their affair passionate? Do you think the circumstances of the war heightened their affair? 4. Did you find Lilly self-serving? 5. Do you think Felice regretted not leaving Germany when she had the chance? 6. Did the relationship come across as obsession to you? 7. “It is not an introspection on being or becoming lesbian. It is not the reminiscence of a woman who regrets not doing enough to save her lover from the Holocaust. It is not an inspirational memoir by an ordinary Berliner who learned great lessons from her experiences. Neither is it a compelling account of that dreadful time nor even much of a love story.” Do you agree? What is it, if not a love story?

I'm just posting our discussion questions from the following two books, in case you missed the weekend, but read the books... Questions for He Drown She in the Sea (Shani Mootoo) 1. Why did Mootoo set this novel in a fictional island instead of Trinidad? 2. What is the effect of the skipping through time? 3. What role do class divisions play in the story? What about race? 4. How did you feel about Rose’s father’s reaction when he discovered the children sleeping together? 5. Reviewers describe the patois her characters speak as lyrical and sensuous. Do you agree? 6. An important scene happens when Rose and her mother visit Dolly and Harry at their seaside shack. She says to him “They are not our friends. Maybe I myself mislead you.” What impact did this scene have? 7. The book takes quite a plot twist at the end. Did it feel real to you? Note: Click here to hear Shani Mootoo read from her book. Questions for Venous Hum (Suzette Mayr) 1. The publisher calls this novel “magic realis...

For August we're reading "Aimée and Jaguar" by Erica Fischer, and may be watching the movie too! Some reviews of the book here! Don't forget about the weekend getaway in late August, where we're reading "Venous Hum" by Suzette Mayr (publisher's description) and "He Drown She in the Sea" by Shani Mootoo (publisher's description) . See earlier post for details. And in September, it's "The Quilt and other stories" by Ismat Chugtai. (Read a review. )