Book #11 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Book #10 Tomorrow when the war began

This novel is certainly written with the younger reader in mind, but nevertheless the first wives couldn't resist diving in. A real page turner, it was easy to devour this story in a matter of hours.

It seemed that we could all relate to some if not all of the characters in this first instalment of the 'Tomorrow' series. We remarked that in teenage fiction there is never a dull moment. The gang of central characters rampaged through this novel, moving from one nail-biting scenario to the next. There was little pause for reflection - even the quieter moments were livened up with some romance.

I read this book on a quiet Saturday spent lazing about at my Dad's beach house, and couldn't have been happier!

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Book #9 Breath

I studied a Tim Winton novel in year 11, and read a couple of others over the years. Breath is the first Winton novel I have picked up in a really long time, and I enjoyed reading it. Many of the first wives felt the main character Pikelet turned out to be a bit um, 'soft' in the end.

I loved the way there were references to breath threaded through the storyline. A didgeridoo, a paramedic, surfing BIG waves, kids holding 'underwater competitions' in the river.

Reading Tim Winton's work feels effortless. His voice is right there in the room with you as you turn the pages.

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Book #8 The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood

This is a catch up post - no time for chit chat. None of the first wives loved this book, or even liked it much. Let's move on!

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Book #7 - The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

The First Wives all have high hopes for our latest book club read:

Discussion Questions:


1. Why do you think Niffenegger used the title The Time Traveler's Wife instead of just The Time Traveler?

2. The story is sometimes told by Clare, sometimes by Henry. Did you like how it was organized? How did their different perspectives help you understand their love?

3. For Clare, there is always a sense of waiting. Discuss the different ways she is waiting throughout the story. What roles do longing, anticipation and absence play?

4. Who is your favorite character?

5. How does their desire for a child affect their relationship?

6. Do you believe Alba will have a better life than Henry? How is her perspective on time travel different than his?

7. How is their relationship changed by the fact that they experience events at different times--I.E. Clare experiences in her childhood what Henry will not experience for decades?
8. Is this story fatalistic?

9. Do you agree with Henry's rule of keeping the future a secret from himself so he can live as normal a life as possible? Discuss the times that he breaks this rule and whether you think those are good decisions.

10. Did you like the ending?

11. Rate this book on a scale of one to five.

Happy reading everyone!

Book #6 - The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant

Congratulations First Wives, we have our first book club read for 2010!

Discussion Questions:

1. Discuss the marital dynamics of Jacob's family. He has four wives; compare his relationship with each woman?

2. What do you make of the relationships among the four wives?

3. Dinah is rich in "mothers." Discuss the differences or similarities in her relationship with each woman.

4. Childbearing and childbirth are central to The Red Tent. How do the fertility childbearing and birthing practices differ from contemporary life? How are they similar? How do they compare with your own experiences as a mother?

5. Discuss Jacob's role as a father. Does he treat Dinah differently from his sons? Does he feel differently about her? If so, how?

6. Female relationships figure largely in The Red Tent. Discuss the importance of Inna, Tabea, Werenro, and Meryt.

7. Dinah's point of view is often one of an outsider, an observer. What effect does this have on the narrative? What effect does this have on the reader?

8. In The Red Tent, we see Dinah grow from childhood to old age. Discuss how she changes and matures. What lessons does she learn from life? If you had to pick a single word to describe the sum of her life, what word would you choose? How would Dinah describe her own life experience?
(Questions issued by publisher.)

Happy reading!

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False start

Okay, okay, it was going to be Tuesday 9th February - cancel that!!

Instead, write on your calendar in PERMANENT MARKER Tuesday 16th February.

We can do this girls!!!