Loving the Memory Keeper's Daughter

I am reading the book and really enjoying it. I have to admit that I have really enjoyed reading the post from Amy and Anita about the History of Love. I think it is really neat that each one of us takes something different from a book. What a gift it is to share with each other what moved us and what didn't.

It has taken me all week to absorb and reflect upon the surprise Birthday dinner last week. I am totally amazed that the family was able to pull it off without me suspecting anything. I am a very blessed woman.

I hope all of you enjoy our books and will continue to support each other in our growth.The Lalonde women are dynamic

Look forward to all your posts.

Carla

The Little Moments

I've been reading The Memory Keeper's Daughter and I am really enjoying it. But...I keep thinking about The History of Love. I keep thinking of those little moments that I talked about before. Moments like Leo forgetting to put on his underwear, his spongebaths, and when he bought his suit for his son's funeral. I can't exactly say why, but reading that book and hobbling around with my knee has really, really made me think and connect to Grandma Lalonde. I am sure it has something to do with Urban passing. The book made everyday moments really beautiful. And I liked Leo more than Alma. Alma's mother kind of irritated me and her brother fascinated me. I liked her Uncle too. I loved the part of the book where Alma makes up things about her Dad to keep him close to Bird. But none of the quirkiness of that story line compared to that of Leo, which is odd due to the author being a woman. If I were to compare this book to a movie of similar tone it would be As Good As It Gets. Did anyone else have the same connection?/Users/jeffgurich/Pictures/iPhoto Library/2007/01/02/DSCF0028.JPG

I'm Back

It was so wonderful to see everyone in good ol' SoCal. Loved surprising mom, spending time with the family, and catching up with my sista who I had not seen in nearly a year! So about the History of Love...Yes, Yes, Yes to all of Amy's comments. I also thought that including the relationship between Zvi and Leo shows the reader that we all "plagiarize" the story of love. We all have or need or want what Alma represents. Mom, you are not allowed to quit the blog and thanks for keeping us all on top of things.

I Love The Blog!

Mom-don't give up, it's only the 6Th, some people just started reading. And as far as understanding, you get it. You just don't know that you get it. When the lines between Alma and Leo blur, it's on purpose. I think the point is that it doesn't matter who is narrating, we are all telling a story about the History of Love. Our lives are defined by our relationships, the search and hunger for love. For me what resonated with the book, were the small moments, when Alma and Leo were really venerable and taking a risk to find love...also, I liked how things seemed to come full circle. I thought it was good, like a movie that gets you thinking after it's over. You just can't forget the book and that's something. I joined the membership at B&N too.

New Books

What's with this. Am I the only one looking at our Blog page. I am the only one posting. I would love to see input from the rest of you ladies. I bought two new books from Barnes N Noble. I joined their club for $25 and then I went online and bought the next two books The Memory Keeper's Daughter and My Sister's Keeper. I can't wait to start reading. Anyway, joining that club really cuts the cost of the books. I paid $7.00 or $8.00 for each book. In the store they are $14.00 so I think it pays to join the club.

I finished the book!!

O.K. ladies, I finished this book and found it very confusing. I am not sure I have a handle on the book. To me it seemed fragmented and hard to follow the narrative. I enjoyed reading it but found it difficult to follow, one minute I thought Leo was narrating, only to find out it was Alma. In fact, like Amy mentioned in her blog, I feel like I need to go back and read the book again to fully understand it. I am wondering if I am slow because when I read the questions for dicussion, I really could not answer most of them. Is it just me, or did any one else have a hard time following the flow of the book?

Carla

I am 100 pages in

Okay, so I started reading yesterday and I could not put this book down. Frankly, I am IN LOVE with the History of Love. I love Alma Singer, Leo Gursky, Bruno, and so much more about this book. I marked this quote, as it seems to sum up the new feelings and thoughts I had after reading the first 100 pages: "Even now, all possible feelings do not yet exist. There are still those that lie beyond our capacity and our imagination. From time to time, when a piece of music no one has ever written, or a painting no one has ever painted, or something else impossible to predict, fathom, or yet describes takes place, a new feeling enters the world." This is a powerful book! It has the ability to evoke new feelings and curiosity. Amy, congrats on finishing the book. I am so sorry about the knee. Miss you all. Kiss, Kiss, Anita