"The Keep" by Jennifer Egan - Rereading Gothic Fiction

We rounded out "Rereading the Past" tonight with our discussion of Jennifer Egan's "The Keep." This was a great discussion and a wonderful note to end on. The first thing to be brought up was how Jennifer Egan leaves so many loose ends open by the end of the novel...and it doesn't matter! She somehow makes it work. Usually that kind of move would be frustrating, but the fact that there is so much to be interpreted or imagined adds to the genius of the novel. The readers loved the ending. The symbolism of baptism and starting anew was not lost on anyone.

One reader cleverly tied this novel to the last book we read, American Gods, by noting the cell phone worship that occurs in this novel. One of the central characters cannot stay away from his cell phone for too long. Much like the god of tech in American Gods is worshiped, his cell phone is an object of attention and devotion.

In talking about the Gothic nature of the novel, one reader said it reminded him of Wuthering Heights, but he wasn't sure why. I think that's cool he picked up on those vibes, even if he couldn't pin point the reason why. This led him to comment on the "emotional" keeps the characters have in contrast with the physical keep of the novel. Danny, the teacher, and Ray all hold something secret.

Perhaps the most remarked-upon aspect of the novel were, not surprisingly, the scenes that took place in prison. The readers kept looking at the author picture of Egan and wondering if she did time. They were blown away by the realistic language, the attention to detail, and the description of behaviors. They really, really want to know how Jennifer Egan pulled this off.

There was a lot of talking about the craft of the novel, and how slyly and smartly it is written. Not only is the story-within-a-story mode of writing difficult to achieve, but giving two very distinct styles and voices to two different sections is really tough. Most readers said it took them 50-70 pages to get into it, but after that, they cruised until the end. We thought this was mostly due to the shift in narrative tone and voice between stories, since one is meant to not be written so well.

We liked this book a lot, and we loved discussing it. The openness of possibilities, the commentary on the act of writing, and the themes throughout make The Keep a book that will not easily be forgotten. One reader said he appreciated it more than he enjoyed it. And that's what drove our conversation a lot of the time--just how much we appreciate what Egan has done with "The Keep."

Well, this ends this reading group. We're on to the next one in a month, where we'll be reading "Political Science Fiction." Should be fun. Thanks for following along!

Stay tuned for updates regarding our third reading group coming soon!

Here is an essay on image culture and "The Keep." You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman - Rereading Norse mythology and American culture

For our 7th book, we dove into "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. The first thing someone said was "This book has everything: humor, sex, violence, drama, gods." He really enjoyed it. One thing that stood out to everyone was immigration and what happens when one leaves their homeland goes somewhere foreign. What do people bring with them? What do they forget? What fades over time? And when do they wear different hats? In the novel, the gods are feeling forsaken. One reader related it to his grandparents who would come visit him growing up from Mexico. They were sad to see they were speaking English in the home, and that they were not doing their best to preserve the cultures of their family.

The status of being an outsider was also a big theme here. Shadow is an outsider in many ways, and the Norse gods have come to America, so they are feeling like an outsider as well. The outsiders look at those being prioritized and favored (new gods) and call them fat and foolish because they are taking their attention and worship for granted.

There were some similar sentiments in Atwood's "Penelopiad" that showed up in "American Gods." The old gods see people worshiping new things. Freeways, phones, television, internet. All these things are where people spend A LOT of time. Thus, the older gods and characters don't have a lot of time with newer generations. Both Atwood and Gaiman see the internet and TV as a "shrine" of sorts, where people sit transfixed for hours on end.

The readers called this book an epic, not only because of its length, but because of its complex themes and ideas. There are a lot of different ideas that Gaiman puts forth, and he lands most of them with grace. The readers kept bouncing around the book, pointing to different passages and explanations of this world. For example, with the dead Laura making multiple appearances, she talks of how her time as a mortal is now like a "photograph" to her. What a fascinating way to put our mortal experience into the perspective of a dead person. Another example is how the gods participate in different worldly things to get attention (casino, prostitution, etc.), much like in "Penelopiad."

Every reader commented on how this novel brings up many questions within the reader. It's hard to read this and ask yourself questions like what do I worship? Why do I worship this way? Where am I spending my time? What am I forgetting that I inherited?

Gaiman is great at "closing the loops," or in other words, he mentions something early in the book and it comes back around towards the end and is explained or resolved. One reader commented that, with Gaiman being British, perhaps he was more "gentle" than an American author would have been. He wasn't angry and wasn't picking a side. Not sure what that's saying about American authors, but I get their point. They really enjoyed this one, much more than I thought they would.

Next week, we are reading our last book for this group, Jennifer Egan's "The Keep."

Here is a link to an essay talking about "American Gods" as a postmodern American epic. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"Home Fire" by Kamila Shamsie - Rereading Antigone

We had a fiery discussion sparked by Home Fire (pun intended). This novel put a lot of things in perspective for us. Our conversation was all over the place, but I'll do my best to present the ideas clearly and convey what what talked about in an organized way.

Being Muslim in a western country in the 21st-century is complex. Shamsie mentioned an acronym that we had never heard before: "GWM" or "Googling while Muslim," referring to the fact that Muslims may think twice what they Google in case they are being monitored. One reader related it to DWB, or driving while black. Groups have their own lexicon to communicate more fluidly with each other; they have shorthand for phrases and ideas.

We then got on to the "non-person"-ism aspect of this novel. The Muslim characters have different ways of navigating and expressing their faith and culture. Some are loud and proud, some believe it should be private. Some Muslims feel uneasy about expressing it in certain public places, and we talked about how this can be applied to many different social situations. For example, one gay reader talked about how he sometimes acted more flamboyant when he sensed that someone might be homophobic. Another reader brought in his identity as a felon, and how when he gets out, he really doesn't want have that be known.

This led into a conversation about the consequences of actions. Parvaiz's actions have immense consequences on him and his family. It was going to be hard for him to reintegrate into society; there would be certain limitations. The readers commented they feel the same way as felons. They're going to have to work twice as hard and to shed that stigma, or at least get past it in a way that allows them to be a participating member in society. There's tension with many identities between sticking out and blending in.

We talked a lot about what to do with the dead body in the novel (spoiler, but don't worry, I won't say whose). The Shamsie navigates political and family relations is effortless. She draws the reader so easily into a complex world, but it's an "easy" read, in that many of the readers they would sit down to read and be surprised at how much they read. As readers of this novel, we learn so much about the background, thoughts, and nuance of each of these characters. And then Shamsie also shows us how "the world" or "the media" sees them, and it's frustrating because we know what's going on and we see them as three-dimensional characters! We talked about refugees, immigration, and terrorism...three hot button topics! I had to steer the conversation back to the novel at hand.

There's a passage about grief on page 187 that is moving. One reader mentioned how he lost someone in a car crash a few weeks ago. He read this paragraph out loud and to be honest, it was one of the more moving moments of the reading group to date. Shamsie is gracious, yet economical in her writing. This novel is succinct, yet it envelopes so much. The way she structured the novel allowed us to become more intimately acquainted with the main characters. I grew to like this novel more after talking with everyone about it.

Next week, we are reading "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Shamsie, her work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is an interview with Kamila Shamsie. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"Till We Have Faces" by C. S. Lewis - Rereading the myth of Cupid & Psyche

Right off the bat, readers were confused as to why Cupid didn't really make an appearance in the novel. His name is never mentioned, his presence is referenced, but it's as close as we get. At first, some readers were a little frustrated because they were told this is a rewriting of the myth of Cupid & Psyche. But in our discussion, we were reminded that Orual wrote the novel. She reminds us quite a bit that she wrote it. And in the traditional story of Cupid and Psyche, Orual is a minor character. Well now that she has a pen to write her own story, she has made Cupid a minor character in her story. One reader said it was like writing an entire Star Wars story based on R2D2's bathroom break. Another reader said it's like when you go to see a rockstar in concert--you only see this glorified version of them, not the mundane parts of their life. There is another side to the story.

Everyone agreed that Lewis has a great way with words. One reader said that Lewis makes sure each word "lives" at the right spot in the sentence. Two others mentioned how Lewis carefully builds a world by populating it with small details that subtly build a world for us to live in as we read it. From the politics of the Kingdom of Glome to superstitions to relationships and customs, it's a lived in, grounded world that doesn't detract from the story.

And yes, we did get into the "subtext" or the meta qualities of the novel. Knowing Lewis was a Christian apologist, many readers read into scenes where a Lord of the gods were referenced. A reader remarked that Lewis was at one point an agnostic, and came around to Christianity again later in life. Part 1 ends with Orual being bitter towards the gods, challenging them to answer for themselves. Part II ends with Orual recognizing that she had been shortsighted and proud, not acknowledging the gods presence in her life and realizing the mercy she had received in her life.

The meta quality of the novel is fascinating. Orual is writing part I to set the story straight and how things happened, as she didn't get a lot of air time in previous tellings of the myth. But in part II, she realizes that her memory is faulty, she has been subject to her own passions and emotions. In thinking back over part I, Orual believes that, through her writing, the gods are calling her to remembrance and causing her to reconcile her memory with what may have actually happened.

There's a scene where Orual is before some gods and is asked to read her book (part I) to voice her complaint. In her mind, she has written this big beautiful novel that succinctly sums up how she has been wronged and she is such a good person. But in picking up the book, she sees that it's a small, ugly, tattered book. The readers shared experiences how they saw themselves in this scene: when you're young and proud, your complaints are huge and seemingly valid. It's not only you have some maturity and perspective that you are able to trim that book down and see that it was somewhat petty and didn't amount to much. Is Lewis wrestling with his past in these pages?

There was a lot to wrestle with in this novel, not just in terms of theology (how does Lewis navigate a world of Greek gods), but philosophically. There's a lot of unrequited love in this novel. What does that do to a person? What are we to do when we feel the gods have gone silent? Who is to blame, and how do we move forward? "Till We Have Faces" is a rich and resonating text. We loved it. There is something in here for everyone.

Next week, we are reading "Home Fire" by Kamila Shamsie.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Lewis, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is an essay on C.S. Lewis and the transformation of love in this novel. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"The Penelopiad" by Margaret Atwood - Rereading Penelope from Homer's epics

To be honest, I was a little concerned we wouldn't have a whole lot to talk about. Taking up 90 minutes discussing this book seemed like it might take some stretching in my mind. Well, shame on me. I had to cut the conversation short! We had plenty to talk about regarding "The Penelopiad."

We started the discussion with a preface from the publisher. There's a line that reads, "Myths are universal and timeless stories that reflect and shape our lives--they explore our desires, our fears, our longings, and provide narratives that remind us what it means to be human." So far in this reading groups, we have read some texts that reinterpret and riff on old stories, and they resonate in profound ways. Atwood tells the story of Penelope from her point-of-view AND through a 21st-century lens. We agreed that it was a bold move, but she is sharp, playful, and adept. She pulls it off.

In many ways, Atwood is punching some holes in myths and stories that are perpetuated through the ages and are told from a patriarchal slant. She gives a voice (a funny one, at that) to Penelope and fleshes out her thoughts and emotions. Like Patroclus in "Song of Achilles," a previously minor and somewhat voiceless character is given the chance to narrate their own story. We talked about whether this makes the novel "feminist" or not. Atwood has come out and said that she does not write feminist novels. And one reader appreciated how this novel does not hate on men, like some aspects of some feminist movements.

The readers all had different ways of imagining the story, especially the interludes with the chorus and the court room. One mentioned it reminded him of Monty Python while another imagined it as a Tim Burton film. It was all over, which I think says as much about the readers as it does the text. It's a funny novel, and almost every reader had lines from the book they wanted to share. Atwood has some astute observations about the relationships between men and women. For example, Penelope knows how much Odysseus likes it when she listens to his stories. She said listening to a man's story is an underrated talent of a woman.

The relationship of Penelope and Helen was discussed. Penelope is obviously jealous of Helen, and often times feels insecure. It's important to remember that she is 15 years old! She is shy and growing into her own. It's only from a distance of thousands of years and being dead that she is now given a voice. The readers (all men) talked about how hard Helen and Penelope are on each other. Helen is seen as putting Penelope beneath her and tries to belittle her. They wondered if women are harder on other women than men are, especially in a feminist context. Atwood, again, has made the novel relevant to the aughts. By exploring what is said (and not said) in the relationships of these ancient characters, she is exploring our modern relationships. What was important in Homer's time shows up in his epics, while what is important in Atwood's time shows up in her novels.

We talked a lot about Penelope's maids. They made the best with what they were given. One reader noticed how they like to irk Penelope at the end, perhaps in response to Penelope's lack of responsibility in their death? They too were given more of a voice, adding to the depth of relationships explored.

Lastly, we talked about the role of Gods in this, and how cleverly Atwood portrays the afterlife and the relationships of Gods to mortals. In the novel, there's a passage about wanting to be humble and give credit to the gods when things go right. People still do that! And it's dangerous to take all the credit (hubris).

Oh, and before I forget, one reader talked about his experience thus far in prison. He talks about how he is separated from the world, and he can deal with things in a different way (for example, he gets out of his comfort zone by dealing with homophobia, or reading about feminism, things he wasn't exposed to on the outside). Prison is somewhat of a controlled environment, and moves a bit slower in some ways. He has a lot of time to think and digest, much like Penelope in the underworld. They both have a lot of time that they hope is instructive.

Next week, we are reading C.S Lewis' "Till We Have Faces."

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Atwood, her work, and anything else related in the comments!

You can buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck - Rereading Genesis

What is there to say about East of Eden? It's one of those novels that everyone knows about and people believe they should read. And many people have! It can just be intimidating to start a conversation with, "Alright, what'd you think of East of Eden"?

The first thing we talked about was the first chapter. Steinbeck lovingly and gently places the reader right in the Salinas Valley. He transports the reader there with what seems like little effort. We all noted how astounding it is. It is not wasteful, but does a lot for painting a picture. One reader said, "This is great. If you just want a quick story, go and read a James Patterson novel or something."

The conversation quickly jumped to Cathy and what a scary and frankly evil character she is. She was the character who we had the most difficulty sussing out their motivations. What drove her? After a certain point, it was revenge, but what about before that? Was it all about power? We couldn't quite come to a conclusion. Is her pregnancy the catalyst of of much of the story? We also talked about her being a mixture of Cain and Eve. She has a scar, or a mark on her forehead. And like Eve, she is the reason for the fall of some men, or at the very least a driving factor. One reader said he has a lot of familiarity with FLDS communities, and noted that they believe the apple in the Garden of Eden is symbolic for adultery, which lines up nicely with the novel, as Cathy's profession profits from adultery.

Abra and Cathy are two characters that different men (Aron and Adam) view through rose-colored glasses. They see what they want to see, for better or worse. And they are being fooled, they have a false perspective of these women. Their curated views lead them astray.

Knowing that the novel is based on Cain & Abel (or Genesis more broadly), it was tempting to seek a corollary in each character and name. Abra Bacon (or Abra-HAM), Cal & Aron the brothers, and of course, Adam. The people with C-names tend to be more flawed and filled with sin, where the people with A-names are more favored. The readers didn't seem to think it was too on-the-nose. Steinbeck earns his prose and takes his time to write a beautiful novel. Had the novel been okay or more flawed, perhaps it would have irked the readers more. For example, Steinbeck was clear that the mark of Cain might be viewed as an act of love. It sets him apart from society, allowing him to live and work out his own path and sort through what he did.

We closed the conversation on how universally resonant this novel is. Anyone that has a family, especially brothers, will find some parts of this novel ringing true. In talking about the word "Timshel" and its role in the novel, some readers talked about how it is up to every individual to deal with what they are dealt. We have to carve out our own paths. Everyone chooses their way and how they react to different situations.

At the end of the group, one reader said, "Please tell me that the next book doesn't make me cry. After East of Eden and Song of Achilles, I don't know that I can cry while reading again." I don't think The Penelopiad will summon tears, but I could be wrong.

Next week, we are reading Margaret Atwood's "The Penelopiad."

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Steinbeck, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

You can buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller - Rereading Homer's "Illiad"

One reader was very interested in the discussion around this novel. He had glasses (which he hadn't worn in the past) and a marked up copy of The Illiad. He was ready! The first thing we dove into was the way relationships are portrayed in this novel. In The Illiad, there's no explicit hint at a romantic/sexual relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. This novel paints some beautiful pictures in between the lines that the Illiad did not detail.

On that note, some readers commented how the author is trying to address 21st-century audiences through reworking an ancient story. In Homer's story, Patroclus is older than Achilles, where he is younger in The Song of Achilles. Even in TSoA, there is some shame and secrecy surrounding the relationship between the two. This stood out to the readers, because from what we know, homosexual relationships were not the taboo that they are in modern western civilization. The readers didn't love the move the author made by switching this around, but they understood that it adds some weight to their relationship and raises the stakes. She knows her audience.

We dissected Achilles from many different angles. He is the greatest warrior of his time. Half-man, half-god, he is the one many prophesy about. But that does not mean he doesn't have any downfalls. One reader talked about how Achilles gets too focused on revenge, and that's partly because he has a big heart. In some ways, this reader stated, this is his undoing. He was unable to see options that might be greater for others because his heart hurt too much. He cared too much about Patroclus. But as the novel shows, there is more to life than revenge and ego...love is what is important.

The "crush" aspect of the novel was something everyone could relate to. The way Patroclus admires and fawns over Achilles is something anyone who has ever had a crush can relate to. Some readers were admittedly a little uncomfortable reading the gay sex scene. They understood they were in love before that scene, but they said it didn't get too much in the way of their enjoyment of the novel and the development of the relationship. There's an emotional intimacy in the novel that draws the reader in and helps make the relationship believable.

This novel is able to make the themes and experiences of these mythical stories relatable to us humans today. One of the readers talked about the soldier-world aspect of the novel and related it to prison. He talked about it being a male society that is dripping in ego, pride, and spite. And this allows for a lot of blindspots in times both ancient and modern. One interesting correlation is the blind rage of Achilles. Once he learns Patroclus is dead, he goes into battle in a frenzy, not wearing any armor, indulging in self-destructive behavior. One reader likened this to the way some people deal with pain and grief--they might go on a drug binge or lash out at those around them.

The way Achilles carries the expectations others have for him was something we talked about. Achilles has not been the one to go out and proclaim himself as the best warrior, for that is left up to gods, oracles, and others. Achilles has this weight placed on him. But what about what he wants? Is he obligated to these duties? The readers talked about how they have shouldered different expectations others have for them at different times in their life.

We rounded out the conversation with linking the Trojan War to modern geopolitics. How have our perceptions of heroes changed? We went from the Greatest Generation to Vietnam (with draft dodgers) to the 21st-century soldier. How are soldiers treated? And if someone doesn't want to fight in war, how are they treated? It was difficult for us to imagine how Greek or Trojan defectors would have been treated anyway but unfavorably. One reader related the way Achilles pumps up other soldiers to a scene in Space Jam. Michael Jordan gives his team a special sports drink to help them play better. It was actually water, but the team believed it to be a powerful potion. Achilles and his armor provides people with a similar motivation and effect.

Mortality gives us a desire for honor and for some kind of legacy. The gods of mythology don't have to worry about it. But the mortals know they have a limited allotment of time and want to make the most of it. They want honor, or to be remembered in a good way. The readers related to this, as they have obviously done something that makes them viewed as less favorably. But from here on out, they aren't looking for honor or fame; they are simply looking to be good citizens. Their ideas of honor and their legacy have changed, and they are adapting to that.

The readers loved this novel. Many of them wanted to keep a copy for themselves or send it to a friend. A few of them admitted to shedding some tears in the final few pages. I'm glad we read it. It resonated in many ways with the group.

Next week, we are reading a classic (that I'm embarrassed to say I hadn't read up until this point): John Steinbeck's magnum opus East of Eden.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Miller, her work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a reader's guide to the novel, which also shares some background information on the novel. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot