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[Announcement] Evergreen: Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges

Hi everyone!

An Evergreen is a reading category that includes any book that has already been read on r/bookclub, as long as they were last read no less than five years ago.

Another Evergreen lined up for September is the enigmatic and labyrinthine Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges.

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Fun fact: Borges is film director Christopher Nolan's favourite author!

Blurb adapted from Storygraph:

Through seventeen short pieces, Borges sends us on a journey into a compelling, bizarre, and profoundly resonant realm; we enter the fearful sphere of Pascal's abyss, the surreal and literal labyrinth of books, and the iconography of eternal return. To enter the worlds in Ficciones is to enter the mind of Jorge Luis Borges, wherein lies Heaven, Hell, and everything in between.

A great book to explore with a bookclub to get guidance on references and discuss interpretations!

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The wonderful u/Less_Tumbleweed_3217 and I will be leading discussions on Ficciones around mid-September, so you’re in time to get a copy of the book.

Look out for another Evergreen that will be discussed at the beginning of September before this one: The Vegetarian by Han Kang!

So... will you join us for Ficciones?

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u/toomanytequieros — 4 days ago
▲ 8 r/bookclub

[Discussion 2/4] Discovery Read | Flesh by David Szalay | Chapters 4 & 5

Welcome to our second discussion of Flesh by Hungarian writer David Szalay.

Schedule | Marginalia

Links:

Summaries:

Chapter 4

>!István has been living in London for two years. He works as a security guard at a nudie show, but reflects on how different his life is from what he had imagined when he moved to England.!<

>!One night, while walking home from work, he saves a man from a stabbing. The man later contacts him and introduces himself as Mervyn, the owner of a private security company. Mervyn takes an interest in István, asking about his background, including his military service and his criminal record. István tells him about his criminal record. Mervyn is not put off by this and offers to pay for an SIA security training course, giving István the opportunity to improve his career prospects.!<

>!Over the following months, Mervyn becomes a mentor to István. He buys him an expensive suit and insists that he wear it until it feels natural. He also teaches him how to present himself: to move slowly and confidently, speak more formally, eat with restraint, and project calm authority. They regularly meet in expensive restaurants, where Mervyn continues this informal training.!<

>!The end of the chapter fast forwards. As István receives more work, his financial situation improves considerably. WIthin months, he repays Mervyn for the cost of the course, the suit, and the meals, and is able to move out of his shared accommodation into his own flat in Stratford.!<

Chapter 5

>!István has gone on to work as a security driver for a wealthy family. He lives in a flat at the top of their large house on Cheyne Walk. His main responsibility is driving Helen, the wife, to social events and dropping their son Thomas off to school. Karl, Helen's husband, rarely requires his services, as he usually travels by helicopter to his country estate.!<

>!Helen eventually tells István that she is attracted to him, and although he initially hesitates, they begin an affair that lasts for more than a year. At some point, Helen mentions that she attends therapy, prompting István to speak about his own experience. Through this conversation, it becomes clear that he has stopped both his therapy and his antidepressant medication since leaving Hungary.!<

>!During this time, Helen falls in love with him and openly tells him so. István, however, remains emotionally distant. He admits that he was not especially attracted to her at first and reflects that he does not really understand romantic commitment, feeling that relationships seem almost interchangeable. He limits himself to saying that he misses her or is thinking about her.!<

>!The affair is almost discovered when Thomas catches them together, but he does not appear to tell his father.!<

>!The situation changes when Karl's cancer returns. He travels to Germany for treatment, hoping to repeat the success of an earlier operation, but the surgery is unsuccessful and chemotherapy becomes necessary. According to his doctor, Karl seems to lack the will to fight the illness.!<

>!At Helen's request, István joins her in Germany. Helen admits that she feels deeply guilty about the affair and is torn between her husband and István, yet the relationship continues. Thomas also visits Germany, appearing subdued and questioning why István is there.!<

>!Spring has arrived when Mathilde, Karl's sister, comes to visit. After seeing Istvan’s clothes in Helen’s suite, she appears to realise that Helen and István are having an affair, although the lovers seem to believe that nothing will come of it.!<

Questions below!

u/toomanytequieros — 23 days ago
▲ 9 r/bookclub

[Discussion 4/5] LGBTQ2+ | The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai | Chapters 26-34

Welcome to the penultimate discussion of The Great Believers.

Schedule | Marginalia

Next week, u/miriel41 will lead the last discussion.

Links:

Summaries:

2015 - >!Fiona reflects on Claire’s childhood and birth. Claire’s first days flooded Fiona with negative feelings and difficulted the bonding. We learn more about an affair she had when Claire was eight and which may have then deepened the abyss between them.!<

1986 - >!Yale moves into a 58th floor apartment at the Marina Towers, courtesy of the Sharps. Yale watches the days get crossed off his calendar with a sense of doom. Sunday February 2nd, he bumps into Julian at Treasure Island. Julian says he is going to leave the city, but he needs a new place to crash first and ends up staying with Yale who craves company after being dissed by Charlie’s friends. Julian tells him about his first gay sexual encounter in a PeopleMover at Disney World. On Monday 3rd he decides he needs some help to tackle the testing and Fiona feels like his only hope. He joins her on a babysitting outing to the zoo and spills all his beans. They soon realize that Nico’s cat Roscoe was left alone at Terrence’s and go save him. After a visit at the vet, they head to Dr Cheng’s consultation after Fiona encourages Yale to seek the physician who also helped her brother. Dr Cheng recommends getting the test done already.!<

2015 - >!Fiona finally sees her daughter. She has a revelation. She leaves Damian's number and they agree to meet again.!<

1986 - >!Yale wants Julian out. He picks up Roscoe from the vet and sets him up at the flat. Asher offers his legal help. Yale lies to Teddy about Julian’s whereabouts. Julian tells him Charlie was way more promiscuous than he thought and Yale spirals about his potential test results. Fortunately, Dr Cheng reveals his negative result the very next morning, and suggests therapy nonetheless. Yale declines. Uplifted but a bit guilt-ridden, he decides to go out on the town and sees Charlie from afar. Yale thinks about the future and how he will remember this time. He feels lonely and dazed after Julian leaves, but he reflects on his resilience. Chaos at the gallery as Chuck Donovan makes his outrage known - another consequence of Yale revealing the worth of Nora’s estate. Yale takes the fall despite Bill’s attempt. Yale visits Nora (one last time?) along with Roman and Fiona. He and Roman are victims of a homophobic assault. Nora tells them the whole story of the tragic ending of three Parisian artists. Roman makes advances.!<

2015 - >!Cecily Pearce decides to head to Paris. The terrorist attack at the Bataclan happens. Serge panics, fearing that events will eventually lead to a slippery slope towards fascism.!<

1986 - >!Roman sneaks into Yale life, but aloof. Yale worries about going to the Pride parade, about being seen or spotting familiar faces, about homophobia. We hear about the KKK rallies still happening. Yale bumps into Teddy. Teddy recognizes Roman. Roman admits something to Yale…!<

2015 - >!Cecily arrives in Paris.!<

17th July 1986 - …

Discussion questions:

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u/toomanytequieros — 2 months ago
▲ 9 r/bookclub

[Discussion 4/4] Evergreen: Beloved by Toni Morrison | From Chapter 21 to the End

Hi book friends, welcome to the last discussion on Beloved.

One of the most important books I've read this year, for sure. I'm grateful for the discussions that enriched my understanding of it.

Summaries of the last few chapters:

Chapters 20-23 >!are stream-of-consciousness POV chapters. In chapter 21, the start of this week's seciton, Denver reveals she's always feared Sethe might one day turn on her living children as she did Beloved. She seems not to understand what motivated Sethe to act. She sees Beloved's return as a gift: someone to wait with her for angel-daddy Halle, and someone she must protect from Sethe. Beloved's monologue is very fragmented. She is crouching, searching for a face, crossing a bridge... Chapter 23 brings the three voices together in a swirling chorus of desires and pain.!<

Chapters 24 & 25. >!Paul D is sleeping in a church basement, drinking and spiralling. Stamp Paid finds him there, and the two talk. Paul D revisits the failed escape plan, Sixo's defiant death, and the moment he learned his own price: $900. Stamp shares that he renamed himself after suppressing the urge to kill his wife Vashti's abuser, channelling his rage into a new identity free of debt, and a life of service to others. He defends Sethe's actions to Paul D, saying she only wanted to "outhurt the hurter." Paul D admits Sethe scares him, but Beloved scares him more. They wonder who Beloved really is… and how much pain they can take.!<

Chapter 26. >!Beloved drains the life out of Sethe. Denver, pushed to her limit, forces herself out of the house for the first time in twelve years to find help. She lets the community back into their lives and eventually word reaches Ella, who rallies thirty women to march to 124 to intervene. During the commotion, Sethe spots Mr. Bodwin arriving to pick Denver up and mistakes him for schoolteacher, charging at him with an ice pick. Later on, we learn that Denver and the women stop her, and when they look up, Beloved is gone.!<

Chapters 27 & 28. >!Paul D returns to 124 to find Sethe lying in Baby Suggs's bed, hollow and ready to give up. He tells her she is her own "best thing," not her children, and that they have enough "yesterday" and need to build "tomorrow." Then, everyone slowly forgets Beloved.!<

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Marginalia & Schedule

Questions below!

reddit.com
u/toomanytequieros — 2 months ago
▲ 6 r/bookclub

Welcome to the last discussion of Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai, as we leave her world and return to our own.

Useful links: Schedule | Marginalia

Chapters summaries:

>!29 - March 2020. Covid hits. Oxford closes and goes online. Malala mourns all the experiences she thought she still had ahead of her. We are reminded of how naive we were at the start of the crisis - this will get sorted out quickly, surely. She adjusts to being back home under her parents’ wings.!<

>!30 - Malala learns a bit more about her mom’s life in Birmingham and reflects about the mother and woman she is.!<

>!31 - April-July 2020. Final exams loom. Malala is pulled between studying and supporting other students worldwide. Graduation arrives without its usual rituals, so she recreates a chaotic “trashing” celebration at home. She reflects on the value of rites of passage while uncertain about her results. She graduates with a 2:1 in PPE, framing it as a personal and symbolic victory.!<

>!32 - Malala returns to Oxford to pick up her things and has a vision of the past and future.!<

>!33 - Malala reflects on marriage and love. Her options with Asser are limited. Should she marry him or let him go?!<

>!34 - September 2020. Asser comes to the UK and his mom meets Malala’s parents.!<

>!35 - January-June 2021. Malala wants to recenter on her calling, and accepts an interview with British Vogue. Unfortunately, her comments on marriage spark an online outcry.!<

>!36 - July 2021. Malala and Asser meet up in the US. Malala makes up her mind about (her) marriage.!<

>!37 - July-August 2021. Asser’s family comes for a formal proposal; Malala’s father accepts her autonomy while her mother reacts with anger. She undergoes the final surgery for her facial paralysis, meant to restore her smile. At the same time, Kabul falls to the Taliban, and she relives trauma while fearing for Malala Fund partners in Afghanistan. The crisis sharpens her sense of purpose.!<

>!38 - September-November 2021. After a slight postponing, the wedding is in full prep. Malala’s mom is outraged at Asser’s apparent lack of sartorial effort. Malala tries to understand all parties and realizes that most of her life choices have been decided by the opinions of those around her.!<

>!39 - November 2021. The wedding takes place in a blur and Malala shares a photo her mom disapproves of with the world.!<

>!40 - Malala reflects on her new life as a wife, a daughter-in-law, an auntie, and how much independence she really has.!<

>!41 - December 2023. Malala gives a speech at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg. At the hotel, though, she has a new PTSD-induced panic attack.!<

>!42 - Evelyn to the rescue! Malala goes back to therapy, realizing that mental health support can’t just be a pill-sized, once-and-done solution you can sort out quickly. She has to dig and take care of the problem at the root. She establishes a weekly therapy routine and starts exploring new ways to take care of herself.!<

>!43 - March 2025. Malala visits the school she helped build with her Nobel prize money, Khpal Kor Model School in Shangla. She feels like it’s a dream come true. She reflects on her path and the events that have led her to where she is today.!<

Useful links (also found in summaries):

Her British vogue interview

How to understand her exam results!

Her wedding pictures

Her speech at the school she helped build in Shangla

reddit.com
u/toomanytequieros — 4 months ago