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Best Book Club Questions and Reviews

Elizabeth Strout's Oh William!

31/10/2021

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Book Review of Elizabeth Strout's Oh William!

Elizabeth Strout author
I love this photograph of Elizabeth Strout. I can imagine her shouting Oh William!
I’ve read a few enjoyable and comforting reads in recent weeks, but Elizabeth Strout’s Oh William! is the first book I’ve picked up, in absolutely ages, that I struggled to put down. I read it in two sittings.
 
The strength of Elizabeth Strout’s Oh William! is the connection that the reader makes to Lucy Barton the narrator. She tells the story in first person and focuses on the minutiae of life, which she uses to explore big life questions. The effect that an individual’s childhood has on their present and future self is never far from the surface of the book.
 
In Elizabeth Strout’s Oh William!, Lucy’s second husband has recently died. She finds herself spending time with her first husband, William, and she and he go on an actual and metaphorical journey of reflection. William’s own life is unravelling as his third marriage disintegrates. Lucy and he discover hidden family secrets that create insight and provide them with greater understanding of who they are and why they are as they are. We learn a lot about William’s mother, Catherine and through that see the complexity of son/mother relationships. I’m sure if this were a high school text it would be worth analyzing from a Freudian stance.
 
Oh William! Is a book that focuses hugely on connection. The narrator’s own self-awareness of time passing, the significance of perception and her ability to pinpoint precise emotion is incredible. There is absolutely nothing twee or sentimental in the writing, though it is nostalgic, particularly in relation to their shared grown up children. The sophistication, yet simplicity of the writing in Elizabeth Strout’s Oh William! makes it an utter joy to read.
Book cover Elizabeth Strout's Oh William!
I was lucky to buy a signed copy of Elizabeth Strout's Oh William!

Book Discussion Questions for Elizabeth Strout's Oh William!

  • The theme of free choice appears in the book when William shares an anecdote with Lucy explaining how someone in the Obama administration said that although he was employed to make choices, mostly the administration simply did things. There was no actual choice to make. We do, but we don’t choose. Discuss this statement. Is it completely at odds with a belief in free choice?
  • Lucy Barton is an earlier book written by Elizabeth Strout. In that text we learn about her escape from her abusive childhood. She writes about a time when her mother, from whom she is largely estranged, unexpectedly visits her as an adult in hospital.Oh William! illuminates what we learned in the earlier book about the mother/daughter relationship. If you’ve read Lucy Barton did it enhance your reading of Oh William. Discuss?
  • Discuss how Lucy loves both her husbands in different ways.
  • What significance does Lucy attach to the nursery teacher not picking up William when he cried?
  • Discuss Lucy’s approach to motherhood. Do you think she is a good mum? Why or why not? 
  • Why was it so significant to learn that Catherine came from an impoverished background?
  • How much sympathy do you have for Catherine? Discuss the reasons for your viewpoint. 
  • Oh William! is a snapshot of the life of a family. Family life could be recorded about anyone, so what makes Oh William! a book worth reading? 
  • Sum up Lucy Barton’s character in five or less adjectives.
  • Lucy mentions more than once how different David and William looked. Discuss whether you think David is presented unfavorably to William. What point is Lucy making in comparing the two men?
  • Lucy, the narrator, tells us that she isn’t going tell the reader much about her second husband David. Why do you think she does this?
  • Lucy talks directly to the reader throughout the novel, almost as if they are friends. Yet, she also shows awareness that she is a novelist and that the reader is a stranger. Do you think Elizabeth Strout has created a convincing narrative style? Discuss.
  • Discuss the meeting that Lucy has with William’s third wife in the store. What is the significance of the recording of this conversation?
  • Could you be friends with Lucy Barton? Why or why not? 
  • Lucy said that William was the only person who made her feel safe. This is even though his adulterous behaviour would suggest that wouldn’t be the case. What does this reveal about Lucy? Discuss this, either in relation to the novel Lucy Bartonand/or Oh William!.
  • Book Club Questions for Elizabeth Strout’s Oh William (if you haven’t read the book!)​
  • The book is called Oh William!, but is it really about William? Discuss.

Book Club Questions on Elizabeth Strout's Oh William! (If you haven't read the book).

  • Lucy’s daughters are livid with her when she leaves William, even though they are young adults. They blame her, but don’t know about his many affairs. Lucy didn’t feel it was for her to share that information with her children. Do you think it is important to be completely open when talking to adult children about reasons for a divorce? Discuss your viewpoints.
  • Pam was happy with her second husband but often found herself thinking about her first husband. Discuss the complexities of second and third marriages and family dynamics.
  • Lucy is quite scornful of David’s luxurious house and felt like it was a show home. How important are houses and homes to you? What makes home ‘home’?
  • Lucy went to the stage door to speak to the cellist she admired. Six weeks later she married him. What is the boldest thing that you’ve ever done?​
  • Lucy hates William’s second wife who had been her friend, yet had been having an affair with William throughout the friendship.  Lucy is gracious toward his third wife, who is twenty-three years his junior. Discuss the complexities of accepting a future partner of your ex into your life.

Personal Response to Elizabeth Strout's Oh William!

The phrase Oh William! made me think of a different book Oh David! by David Shannon. It is a text I used to read to Key Stage 1 children when I worked as a librarian. Oh David! features a little boy who does a series of naughty acts from knocking over a vase to running down the street naked. Despite all his misdemeanors his mum loves him anyway.
 
This is, I think, kind of how Lucy feels about William. In life we make mistakes, we don’t understand why people act the way they do, we put faith in individuals when perhaps it isn’t deserved and we can’t ever really understand or explain why we do the things we do.
 
As Lucy observes the actions of her first husband she frequently says Oh William! This sums up the emotions she feels toward him, without perhaps having to overtly articulate or fully understand them. We are all a bundle of complex and contradictory emotions, which leave us baffled, yet alive!

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Matt Haig's The Comfort Book

20/10/2021

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Book Review of Matt Haig's The Comfort Book

The Comfort Book - book cover
Matt Haig's The Comfort Book is a superb resource to dip into when feeling low.
Matt Haig’s The Comfort Book is the perfect read for anyone who has found themselves at a low ebb and needs a message of hope that things can and will get better.
 
Matt Haig begins The Comfort Book by telling the readers that the structure of his writing makes it a messy read. It has both short and long chapters, lists, quotes, case studies and even the occasional recipes. It is quite random in structure, but the theme that runs through The Comfort Book is one of connection. Everything is connected to everything else – hope to despair, pain to joy and so on. It also reminds us repeatedly that the simple fact of our existence is a reason for hope and joy, that we don’t need to try to be anything other than what we are, or meet anyone else’s expectations. Just be!
 
Matt Haig’s The Comfort Book is written in a completely non-judgmental tone. It is friendly and warm and welcoming. Part memoir, with a little bit of philosophy for beginners, for me it is a book of substance. It creates a solid and positive basis for building self-love which can help readers avoid faulty thinking or going down a spiral of negativity. Even if you are not feeling low or needing comfort it is a book of hope and I found it frequently amusing. It is definitely a book that enhancing wellbeing and creates a feeling of positivity. I was delighted to read under the heading Wolf, that “Crying releases stress hormones. Swearing increases pain tolerance. Fury can motivate us into action.”  The book legitimates both activity and inactivity as a means of managing life.
Matt Haig Author
Knowing that Matt Haig has had some really tough times, makes The Comfort Book seem very authentic to me.

Book Discussion Questions for Matt Haig's The Comfort Book

  • “The cure for loneliness is understanding who you are.” Discuss. 
  • Somewhere over the Rainbow by Judy Garland and Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles are among the songs that comforted Matt Haig. What books do you find comforting?​ 
  • Marcus Aurelius, states that if we are distressed by something external “The pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it.” And this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” Discuss whether this is something that you think you could do.
  • “One day this will be over. And we will be grateful for life in ways we never felt possible before.” This is written as a reminder for the tough times.” Discuss.
  • “Forgiving other people is great practice for forgiving yourself when the time comes.” Do you think forgiveness is easier if you have a religious faith?
  • Matt Haig believes that the act of changing our routines is good for us? To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
  • You have possibly only read Matt Haig’s The Comfort Book, because you are part of a book discussion group. Is this the kind of book that you would generally buy? Why or why not?
  • Do think this book will have wider appeal because it was written by a man?
  • Albert Camus said “There is no love of life without despair of life.” Matt Haig said he initially found this quote pretentious. What does it mean to you?
Matt Haig's The Comfort Book Cover
Matt Haig's The Comfort Book can be dipped into at any point.

Book Club Questions on The Comfort Book (If you haven't read the book)

  • “If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail. Aim to be you.” Would you like to share any life instances when you haven’t behaved authentically?
  • Matt Haig also wrote The Midnight Library, which writes about someone’s experiences on the brink of suicide. It is also a feel-good book. Do you like an author to surprise you by writing in different genres, or do you prefer a level of predictability in a writer’s approach to topic and theme?
  • “Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn’t give up.” What gives you hope?
  • One of Matt Haig’s favourite films is The Sound of Music. This is because it shows how love and music and joy can’t be suppressed by the darkest forces of history. What film do you find inspirational and why?

Personal Response to Matt Haig's The Comfort Book

“Feel what you feel,” says Matt Haig. “Sometimes it is good to howl.” What’s not to like? Although written with a lightness of touch, the message of The Comfort Book is profound. Connection is all.
​
Some of the text in The Comfort Book can be viewed as an inspiration for personal activities, such as writing a list of music that is significant or cheer inspiring. I think that this book would be wonderful to dip into as a class tutor, parent or teenager. Obviously, I have no way of knowing if this is true, but my hunch is that this book has helped many people who are in complete despair.

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