Welcome back, Buzz Book Club readers! Sammy's Hill by Kristin Gore is getting exciting, and Sammy keeps making me laugh out loud.
Here's a recap of how the Book Club goes if you're new: Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, will go up every Friday in October). In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few questions to prompt discussion in the comments section.
Of course, you are always welcome to read beyond the weekly chapters, but please don't spoil anything in the comments! After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section.
The next assignment: Read from the chapter titled "Hey Buster" up to the one titled "Breathe in Deep, It's All Fresh Air." We'll chat about this section a week from today, Oct. 24.
To discuss this second section of Sammy's Hill, in which we read from the chapter titled "Roadshow" up to the one titled "Hey Buster," read more.
- Oh, the accidental "reply-all" e-mail — the quintessential work-related disaster. My heart just breaks for Sammy in this section, even while I'm laughing out loud at her "whipped-cream summit." Do you think she handled the damage control appropriately? Was Charlie overly harsh in his Post story, or was he just doing his job? And have you ever sent a reply-all message when you didn't mean to?
- Speaking of "have you ever" situations, Sammy hiding the Us Weekly inside The Economist is totally something I would do. Are there any magazines you're embarrassed for others to know you read? Have you ever faked your reading material so strangers would think you're smarter than you are? (I've done it on public transportation, more than once!)
- Do you trust Aaron? Why or why not? Sometimes he's totally sweet; other times it seems like there's something really shady going on.
- I've noticed that Sammy (or, Kristin Gore, I guess) never outright mentions specific party affiliations when discussing the political figures in the book. She never comes out and says RG is a Republican or Democrat or anything else, and the same goes for Bramen, Spearam and the rest. This seems like a careful decision. Is it so that readers don't form opinions about the characters based on their own personal political views? Do you think it's a good tactic?
Jil Sander
Prada
Alexander McQueen
I laughed at the reply-all incident. I felt bad for her. I think she handled it rather well. I do think Charlie was very harsh in the article, but he did have a point. It was done with company property. I haven't sent a reply-all on accident, but I have had my fair share of e-mail mishaps, like sending the e-mail to Sally instead of Samantha.
No, I don't trust Aaron. He seems like a great guy, but his whole problem with the blackberry battery dying seems shady.
I think it is an excellent choice of Kristin to not say the party affiliations.
1I definitely do not trust Aaron. And I'm not sure that Sammy does either. I'll be happy to be proven wrong since I really like Sammy and want her to have a great personal relationship, but right now I'm suspicious. I, too, laughed out loud at her email mishap and think she handled it as well as she could. While I've never done anything like this, I do take guilty pleasure when someone I really don't like sends out "reply all" responses. I didn't take pleasure in Sammy's mistake, however, but I just couldn't help laughing! Charlie's article pushed the limits. From the start, he wasn't quite honest with Sammy about his intent. Journalism at its best? I don't think so. But this is political Washington after all. I also like Gore's choice to not identify the politicians' party affiliations. And I especially like how she has drawn Sammy as a character. I love her passion and enjoy her personal stories about her quirks and missteps. She's the go to friend you can count on for a good story; I trust her as a narrator and want to learn more about her and her insights into Washington politics. Great Book Club choice, Buzz.
2as i read, i see a lot of politicians who seem to be similar to (or based on) real politicians. considering her dad's political affiliations and the health care issues, she's definitely working for a dem. the president pile as a complete eff-up? totally like bush.
i've read ahead in the book, so i don't want to say much about the other points. i'm almost done.
so next time, buzz, let's pick a harder read.
this book is great, but it's so light
and easy to read, i feel like i'm getting dumber. i REALLY like the story, though, so much so i sat up reading until midnight!
3* I felt so bad about the reply-all e-mail! Luckily I have never sent a reply all message, but probably because I am so worried, that I quadruple check!
4* I never hide my magazines or my books on public transportation. I don't feel ashamed, but I recently rode a train with a man who was reading Playboy across from me - he should have probably hidden it!
* I don't trust Aaron at all! I can't pinpoint it, but there is something off.
* I noticed that the party affiliations are never mentioned as well. It is kind of odd, but I think it is a good tactic so that readers can identify with the politicians based on their own beliefs.
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