At the end of every book club year, the members choose their most
and least favourite reads. We don't call it 'best' and 'worst'
book- we're kinder than that. We call it "Book I enjoyed reading
the most" and "Book I enjoyed reading the least". That way, we
assume, there will be no hurt feelings. Of course, the way our book
club works, we're not allowed to choose our most favourite book of
all time as our pick, anyway. Ten years later, no one has left in a
huff because the rest of the group didn't love a book with quite
the same fervor as the person who picked it did. Still, as each
member only picks one book a year everyone is highly aware that if
their book's a flop they might be the recipint of " the poopie
prize."
I deliberate endlessly over my book club choice. I read reviews and
I spend a lot of time ruminating over my choice. Although I've had
a few excellent choices over the years, I've only ever won
favourite book once (with last year's choice Fingersmith by Sarah
Waters) I was afraid that I might win this year's poopie award with
At A Loss For Words. I think I was saved by providing a fabulous
dessert on the night I hosted. Also, despite the book's limited
scope, I had really great questions that generated excellent
discussion.
Tonight we meet to discuss Joan Barfoot's novel Charlotte and
Claudia Keeping in Touch. While reading this book I couldn't help
but think, "well, at least I won't win the booby prize this year."
The novel plods along without momentum and consists mainly of
ruminations on the loss of youth, spouses, lovers, children, and
perky boobs. I hated the title. I mostly disliked the two main
characters: Charlotte an unmarried 70 -year -old retired social
worker and Claudia, a 70 -year -old home maker whose philandering
husband has just died of cancer. Their life-long friendship seems
contrived especially given that we see it through the filter of
their own personal stories and not much else.
And yet - I found the story strangely affecting. I mean, I'm not
anywhere near 70, but I could somehow relate to these women. What
have you got a the end of your life? Your children, in Claudia's
case, are grown with their own families and concerns. Your husband,
(also in Claudia's case) lying cheat that he is, is by turns loving
and nasty as he dies a slow painful death in the bed you once
shared. As for Charlotte, she's taken to hiding in the hedge next
to the house of her former, married lover. Former as in they parted
ways 30 years ago. So there's poor Charlotte wedged in the cedar
trying to make sense of her feelings for this guy, who stayed with
his wife and children after all.
The novel's plot- such as it is- turns on a huge secret Claudia
wants to reveal to Charlotte. It's not really that great a secret
and hardly worth the wait and the whole tidy ending is just sort of
dull. Still.
So, while I have a feeling that I won't be taking home any plastic
flowers this year, I bet we'll have lots to talk about tonight.