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No Obligation Book Club
A Gate at the Stairs: Lorrie Moore Answers Your Questions
Posted on Nov 9, 2009 4:33:45 PM  |  By SimplyStatedAdmin

Hello, book clubbers: There was a lot of discussion about the perceived themes of the book: gates and stairs and death and...snakes. And readers were curious about author Lorrie Moore’s writing process. Discussion leader Gary Ryan even wondered to what extent Moore embroiders her writing with themes once she has written a first draft, to which Moore replied: “To some extent. That is, one often discovers metaphors and motifs after reading what one has initially written. Then one can remove, emphasize, or refine them.” Read on for more answers to a selection of your questions. Question for the author: Does Tassie's costume at the farm have any additional meaning other than her desire to escape/fly from her life? Posted by: VaniSan| Monday, November 02, 2009 at 01:50 PM Though it is actually literally useful for chasing rodents out of lettuces, I suppose her get-up also emphasizes her eccentricity and isolation....

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No Obligation Book Club
A Gate at the Stairs: Chapters 5 and 6, Plus Questions for the Author
Posted on Nov 2, 2009 12:19:30 PM  |  By SimplyStatedAdmin

While I knew something was up in the Thornwood-Brink house, I was completely floored by the story of Gabriel. I have been both the passenger and the driver in cars that have been pulled off the road due to a child’s unruly behavior, but leaving him? What?!? I could not believe that John/Edward drove away and that Susan/Sarah didn’t open the door and get out, even if the car was moving. I am still dumbfounded when I reread this passage, and want to know, did Moore make this up out of whole cloth or did she actually hear of such an incident in real life? As a parent, I cannot stomach John/Edward’s actions and reaction and just think he is the devil incarnate. A wave of sad understanding (briefly) washed over me for Sarah, because now I understand she is just crazy—crazy with guilt and regret. Witness to and responsible...

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No Obligation Book Club
A Question for You: What’s the Best Love Story You’ve Ever Read?
Posted on Oct 27, 2009 10:30:00 AM  |  By SimplyStatedAdmin

Hello, book clubbers: Valentine’s Day being all about romance, we’d love to know for the February issue of Real Simple: What’s your favorite love story? Were you enthralled with the passionate affair between Almasy and Katherine Clifton in Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient? Did your heart break when Romeo and Juliet fell victim to their star-crossed love? Tell us below: Post the title and author, and little bit about why you were so touched by the love story, and your answer may appear in an upcoming issue of Real Simple magazine.

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No Obligation Book Club
And the November Winner?
Posted on Oct 26, 2009 9:00:00 AM  |  By SimplyStatedAdmin

The Art of Racing in the Rain took off from the start as if, well, it were in a race to the finish line, winning the November poll handily. RealSimple.com Executive Editor Kathleen Murray Harris will lead the discussion of Garth Stein’s sweet, funny, offbeat novel, and she‘ll introduce herself and talk a little bit about the book later this week. Join her!

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No Obligation Book Club
A Gate at the Stairs: Chapter 4
Posted on Oct 23, 2009 12:00:32 PM  |  By SimplyStatedAdmin

For me, Chapter 4 was all about Tassie and men. She has multiple awkward encounters with Edward. She meets and falls in love with Reynaldo. Edward is downright creepy, from him staring at her while she cradles Mary Emma bare-breasted (ok, this is weird in my book: that Sarah would recommend it, and that Tassie would oblige) to his repeatedly leering at her (“His eyes were trying to do something with mine, but I wasn’t sure what. He seemed too old for our eyes to be doing anything”). Tassie’s alarm bells go off when Edward is near. She knows to keep her distance. The moth in the microwave incident confirms for her that something is really amiss with him: “The penchant for torture, in the guise of curiosity, was the same sick experimentation of certain doctors, bored boys, of lunatics, and it was in Edward, too.” The hairs on the...

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No Obligation Book Club
A Note for Our Fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife
Posted on Oct 22, 2009 6:02:04 PM  |  By SimplyStatedAdmin

Hello, book clubbers: Well, we just got some news: Unfortunately, Audrey Niffenegger will not be able to participate in our Q&A. She is currently promoting her new book, and though initially she thought she would be able to fit in answering the club’s questions, that has proved to be a challenge. We’re so sorry to disappoint you. But in the good-news department, it does look as though Lorrie Moore is onboard to discuss A Gate at the Stairs when reading concludes, so keep thinking about questions you would like to ask her.

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