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Buzz Book Club: The Conclusion of Love Will Tear Us Apart

BuzzSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:30:43 PDT

Welcome back, Buzz Book Club readers. This week, we wrapped up the final section of Love Will Tear Us Apart by Sarah Rainone. Lea and Dan are married now, and I feel like I've been on quite the emotional journey with our characters through some tough memories of adolescence. I'm excited to hear your thoughts about this section and the book as a whole.

But first, here's a recap of how the Book Club goes: every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, have gone up every Friday in June). In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few questions to prompt discussion in the comments section.

After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section. Stay tuned to find out what's next for book club! Now, to discuss the final section of Love Will Tear Us Apart, in which we read from "Lover Lay Down" to the end, just

"Lover Lay Down" was a powerful section, and I thought Rainone handled the story deftly - and the song she chose added so much to the story. Having read the whole book, which song and section hit you hardest? Another that clicked for me was "Smells Like Teen Spirit," with Shawn learning of Kurt Cobain's death on his birthday.
Dan and Lea's wedding ended up seeming like an afterthought to me; the stories of these characters' pasts are so much more intense and high stakes than what happens at the wedding itself. Do you wish we could have seen more present-day action? Or is all the drama and appeal in the flashbacks? Are you glad there was no big "I object!" moment at the wedding or reception?
Do you have more sympathy (or less) for Alex now about her feelings for Dan? And do you wish we'd ever heard from Dan and Lea? Do you want to know if Lea knew what happened with Dan and Alex?
Which character's story ended in the most satisfying way for you? I cheered a little at the thought of Cort riding off into the sunset with a guy who shares her values and appreciates her.
More than a lot of books I read, I could see Love Will Tear Us Apart becoming a movie - between the music and Rainone's quick, immediate descriptions and dialogue, it's a very sensory read. Do you think it could work on the big screen? Any thoughts on casting?

Buzz Book Club: Love Will Tear Us Apart, Section Two

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:30:52 PDT

Welcome back, Buzz Book Club readers. This month we're reading Love Will Tear Us Apart by Sarah Rainone. Much of the story takes place at a wedding and now that we've read through the second section it's getting a little stressful - this wedding is quickly going downhill! We'll discuss this section after the break.

Here's a recap of how the Book Club goes: Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, will go up every Friday in June). 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 section: Read from "Lover Lay Down" through to the end of the book! We'll chat about the conclusion a week from today, June 26.

To discuss last week's section of Love Will Tear Us Apart, in which we read through the section marked "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (stopping before "Lover Lay Down"),

I didn't care for Ben's character at first, but I'm warming to him. Does knowing about his experiences with missing the Little League World Series (and seeing Dan get all the praise there) and encountering the attack on Shawn make you feel sympathetic toward him at all? Or do you think he should have just sucked it up and gotten off the bike to help Shawn?
Speaking of Dan and the Little League World Series, I was so curious to know what Dan was feeling during that time. And I continue to be curious about Lea's point of view, like what she was thinking during that game of Spin the Bottle. Do you still want to hear from Dan and Lea? Or do you agree with Rainone's decision to keep their perspectives out of the narrative so far?
I also wonder about Lea's motivation for inviting Alex to be a bridesmaid. These two seem more like frenemies than friends. Why do you think Lea asked Alex to be in the wedding party? Was it a deliberate jab? Or maybe after her mother's death she wanted to be reminded of how things used to be? Do you think it was a genuine gesture of friendship, or was it mean-spirited?
In "Blasphemous Rumours," Alex describes how she very deliberately crafted her image as a mean girl: "I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I would never be the good girl, but I could be the next best thing: the bitch who in real life would have beaten her every time, stealing her boyfriend with a smile on her face, consoling her with backhanded compliments in bad times while plotting her demise in good." Do you relate to this section at all? It made me cringe with embarrassment to think that there was a period of time in which I wanted badly (and tried my best) to be just like Brenda on 90210.

Buzz Book Club: Love Will Tear Us Apart, Section One

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:30:32 PDT

Welcome back, Buzz Book Club readers. Are you enjoying Love Will Tear Us Apart by Sarah Rainone so far? In this first section there are already several interesting characters to get to know. I'm intrigued by their early friendships and I'm having an easy time turning the pages. We'll talk more about this section in a moment.

First, a recap of how the Book Club goes: Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, will go up every Friday in June). 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 section: Read through the section marked "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (stop before "Lover Lay Down"). We'll chat about this section a week from today, June 19.

To discuss last week's section of Love Will Tear Us Apart, in which we read from the beginning of the book to the end of the chapter titled "Born in the U.S.A." (stopping before "Blasphemous Rumours" begins),

We've now gotten first-person narratives from several very different characters: the macho "bros before hos"-type guy Ben, coke-fiend city girl Alex, all-natural hippie Cort, and sensitive gay musician Shawn. I like how real they are in the sense that I feel sympathetic toward them but also sometimes repulsed. Is there a character you relate to more than the others? Is there one you like more than the others?
Notably, we haven't heard from the actual bride and groom, Dan and Lea. Are you curious to see things from their perspectives? What is your opinion of the happy couple so far, just from the bits we've heard from the other characters?
I love that, because these are characters from my age group, I know every single one of the pop culture references - intimately. I especially enjoy the way Rainone uses music. What do you think of the way she weaves music into the narrative? Do you think it's cool? Or trying too hard to be hip?
Like our last Book Club book, My Sister's Keeper, here we have a female author writing from a few different male characters' perspectives. Do you think she's successful at this? I find the character of Ben to be particularly painful to read at times, which makes me wonder if it's because she's writing as a guy (and such a "guy's guy" at that) or because the character himself is simply painful to read.

Buzz Book Club: Love Will Tear Us Apart

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:30:32 PDT

Welcome back, Buzz Book Club readers! I'm excited for my June selection, which appears to be a heartfelt and nostalgic Summer read.

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Sarah Rainone initially caught my attention simply by having song lyrics for a title. But as I read more of the description, the book sounded almost too good to be true - especially for music lovers like me. Many who have read the book compare Rainone to the likes of Nick Hornby in the way she uses her awesome musical taste - Nirvana, The Geto Boys, Madonna, and more - as a tool to tell her story.

For those of you new to my book club format, here's how it works: I'll announce a new book each month. Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, will go up every Friday in June). In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few discussion-provoking questions for you to respond to in the comments section.

To find out what Love Will Tear Us Apart is about and get the first assignment,

The synopsis for Love Will Tear Us Apart reads:

High school sweethearts Lea and Dan are getting married - and no one’s surprised. After all, they’re both perfect - so perfect that their "friends" can’t help but be reminded how screwed up they are in comparison. As an awkward night wears on, and getting wasted is the only way to make it through, a killer soundtrack - from Madonna to Nirvana, the Geto Boys to the Grateful Dead - takes us back to the first cracks in their friendships, their shaky transitions into adulthood, and the few moments of love and connection that have defined them through the years.

The first assignment: Read from the beginning of the book until the end of the chapter titled "Born in the U.S.A." (Stop before "Blasphemous Rumours" begins). We'll chat about this first section a week from today, June 12.

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End, The End

BuzzSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:30:08 PDT

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! This week my June selection, Then We Came to the End, came to an end - and what an ending it was! This final section combined things that I'm frightened of (scary clowns) with a little bit of hope and some sharp final insights into the fear, apathy, and intimacy that make up modern work life. Plus, this was hands-down the funniest section of the book despite (or because of?) how twisted it was.

If you're new to the Book Club, this is how it goes: Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post. In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few questions to prompt discussion in the comments section.

After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section.

And stay tuned for the announcement of my July book club selection!

To discuss the final section of Then We Came to the End

Tom really falls apart in this section, and yet what he does (shooting people with a paintball gun) is sort of hilarious. His conversation with Joe in jail seems like a pivotal moment: Tom tried so hard to be apart from the group by being outrageous, and it landed him in a bad spot; Joe, meanwhile, also stood apart from the group but just by being his normal self. What do you think is the book's ultimate message about group-think, individuality, and the workplace?
In this section, we learn the fates of most of the characters - Benny and Marcia are engaged, Jim is now a boss, etc. Which surprised you, and which seemed perfectly in line with what you were expecting?
Speaking of the characters: The book starts with the word "we" and ends with the words "you and me" - and we still don't know the identity of either the "you" or the "me." And yet, I feel like I know the character of the narrator so well. What do you make of that choice?
There's so much that's poignant about Hank's scenes at the end of the book, from the fact that none of his old coworkers remember him to the revelation that his book includes the chapter about Lynn that we read earlier. I found this to be moving and brilliant on Ferris' part. What did you think?
I could totally see this working as a movie (with the right director, perhaps). Could you see this being adapted for film? Who could you see playing Karen Woo, Benny, Joe Pope, Genevieve, Lynn Mason, Tom and the others?

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End, Section Three

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:30:16 PDT

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! This week my June selection, Then We Came to the End, continues to be a potent mix of hilarious insights into the American working life and sad moments of souls being crushed. It's easy to see why this has been such a critically successful book: The tone is so spot-on.

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 June). 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: Finish the book! We'll discuss the end next Friday, June 27.

To discuss the third part of Then We Came to the End (in which we read the chapter titled "The Thing to Do and the Place to Be" and the first two chapters of the section called "Returns and Departures."),

In "The Thing to Do and the Place to Be," the narration suddenly switches from the collective "we" of the office workers to the mind of Lynn Mason. Why do you think Ferris wanted to tell Lynn's story in that way? Did the change in style work for you?
By this point, it's pretty clear that the book is far more character-driven than plot-driven. Some action does happen (Yop tossing the chair into the river, etc.), but for the most part, it takes a backseat to the new things we're learning about the characters. Are there particular characters whose stories are keeping you engaged with the book? Are you having a hard time caring about any of them?
This section taught us a lot about Joe, especially through his story about why he strives not to be a part of any group. Do you think that helps or hinders him in his office relations? And do you think, as Genevieve says, that "everybody's part of a group"?
I was struck by this passage: "Even with the best of intentions, it was impossible not to offend one another. We fretted over the many insignificant exchanges we found ourselves in from day to day . . . and next we knew, we had offended someone with an offhand and innocent remark." That seemed to sum up so much of the overly polite but subtext-laden conversation that takes place in offices everywhere. Could you relate to that - from your office work or otherwise?
As we are easing into the final section of the book, do you have any theories or ideas about what the title, Then We Came to the End, might mean?

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End, Section Two

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:30:51 PDT

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! This week, my June selection, Then We Came to the End, took a turn for the dark. At the start of the book, I spent most of my time laughing, but in this section, I found myself doing a lot more cringing. If last week I thought it was "equal parts devastating and hilarious," this part was a bit more devastating - but I'm still completely hooked on the story.

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 the chapter titled "The Thing to Do and the Place to Be" and the first two chapters of the section called "Returns and Departures." We'll discuss this section next Friday, June 20.

To discuss the second part of Then We Came to the End (in which we read to the end of the section titled "You Don't Know What's In My Heart"),

This section had a lot of disheartening things in it - from the way Tom talked to Marilynn in the hospital to the horrid things someone is doing to Joe Pope. The first week, I laughed maybe 85 percent of the time and cringed the other 15 percent; this week, the ratio was nearly reversed. Did you find this section more awkward, or were you still chuckling?
The characters seem like insatiable gossips, so obsessed with knowing everything about the details of everyone's lives. But as we saw numerous times - from Carl's depression to Janine's lunchtime trips to the McDonald's - knowing a lot about someone is not the same as knowing them. Why do you think the characters need to know so much about people they might not care much about on any real level? And have you been in situations similar to that?
On a similar note, why do you think the "we" characters are so obsessed with picking apart Lynn and Joe (who, for the most part, seem relatively sane and well-adjusted)? Is it just an attempt to pick out weaknesses with anyone in a position of power?
The characters get worked up not just about people but about things - like the serial numbers on the chairs. What do you think is behind that obsession? Have you ever encountered similar obsessions in your office lives?

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End, Section One

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:30:07 PDT

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! I'm really loving (and relating to!) my June selection, Then We Came to the End. Author Joshua Ferris' observations about working life in America are so sharp, and I'm really impressed with his ability to capture the essence of this world that most of us know so well. I'm finding it equal parts devastating and hilarious, which makes for a read I hate to put down.

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 start of chapter three until the completion of the section titled "You Don't Know What's In my Heart." (Stop before you read the chapter titled "The Thing to Do and the Place to Be" - that will be part of the following assignment.) We'll chat about this second section a week from today, Friday, June 13.

To discuss the first section of Then We Came to the End (in which we read from the start of the book until the end of chapter two of the section titled "You Don't Know What's In my Heart"),

First of all, how are you taking to the first person plural narration of the story (otherwise known as the "we" voice)? Do you find it at all jarring? Or did it make sense to you right off the bat? Have been at all preoccupied with trying to figure out who is, or is not, part of the “we”? Or do you think that’s utterly beside the point?
Already, there is so much to relate to in this book. I found this passage captured a certain mindset I'm certainly familiar with: "We believed that downturns had been rendered obsolete by the ingenious technology of the new economy. We thought ourselves immune from things like plant closings in Iowa and Nebraska, where remote Americans struggled against falling-in roofs and credit card debt." What about you? What passages so far nailed the way your office works or the way you view your job?
The book has a lot of obvious similarities to other office-related literature, film, etc. (The Office and Douglas Coupland books come to mind for me), but one thing that stands out is that the characters actually do like their jobs, at least sometimes. The “we” narrator reminds us in the midst of stories of corporate power trips and sushi rolls on walls that most of the time, the work is fulfilling and they’re happy to put in long hours to get something done. Is that a more accurate representation of work in the 21st century than the paper-pushing drudgery of something like The Office? Which work situation do you relate to more - or is yours somewhere in between?
It's probably fair to describe Tom Mota as "disturbed," but regardless, I can't help but crack up at his crazy antics. He's just so ridiculous! Which characters so far are you really enjoying, and why?

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End

BuzzSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:45:13 PDT

Hello Buzz Book Club readers! Between covering the ins and outs of the Sex and the City movie and reading Four Blondes as my last book club selection, I'm a little spent on the fabulous lives of women in New York City.

And while I'm excited for summertime, the truth is that many of us are stuck in an office during these sunny days. So, I thought a fun way to get us through the doldrums of gazing longingly out the window would be to commiserate with a hilarious book about life on the cubicle farm.

Introducing my June selection: Then We Came to the End: A Novel by Joshua Ferris.

The book has received all kinds of buzz and critical acclaim, so I've been excited to read it. Stephen King called it "hilarious" and the New York Times named it one of the best books of 2007.

To find out what Then We Came to the End is all about and to get the first assignment,

The synopsis for Then We Came to the End reads:
"It's 2001. The dot-com bubble has burst and rolling layoffs have hit an unnamed Chicago advertising firm sending employees into an escalating siege mentality as their numbers dwindle. As a parade of employees depart, bankers boxes filled with their personal effects, those left behind raid their fallen comrades' offices, sifting through the detritus for the errant desk lamp or Aeron chair. Written with confidence in the tricky-to-pull-off first-person plural, the collective fishbowl perspective of the 'we' voice nails the dynamics of cubicle culture - the deadlines, the gossip, the elaborate pranks to break the boredom, the joy of discovering free food in the breakroom. Arch, achingly funny, and surprisingly heartfelt, it's a view of how your work becomes a symbiotic part of your life. A dysfunctional family of misfits forced together and fondly remembered as it falls apart. Praised as 'the Catch-22 of the business world' and 'The Office meets Kafka,' I'm happy to report that Joshua Ferris's brilliant debut lives up to every ounce of pre-publication hype and instantly became one of my favorite books of the year." (Brad Thomas Parsons)

The first assignment: Read from the start of the story until the end of chapter two of the section titled, "You Don't Know What's In my Heart." We'll chat about this first section a week from today, June 6.