Ep #20: LitClubs to Lit Songs

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How can you get teenagers to enjoy the classics? Jeane and Karena interview Ali Dent about her book The LitClub in which she describes the literature club she created to get her kids and other kids into reading. Then they spotlight fellow CWAtCer Martin Waterhouse's musical take on Brave New World (which the gang talked about  back in May).


Where's My Bookmark (and other books we mention):

• The LitClub
• Beloved
• The Color Purple
• Brave New World
• The Handmaid's Tale
• Schindler's List
• Inferno
• A Wrinkle in Time
• The Bronze Bow
• Seanan McGuire 

Websites we mention

• Oyster
• Brave New World by Martin Waterhouse

Ep #11 Brave New World

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Episode 11 starts off with Tators Karena, Jeane and Jared chattering about crepes and burping garlic then move on to forum news and chat about databases, the Harper Lee lawsuit and weird things customers say to booksellers. They share their bookmarks before jumping into the discussion of Brave New World and Aldous Huxley. Wrapping up the podcast is the announcement of July's book as well as setting up the selections for August.

Source: Jared Fagan

Where's My Bookmark?

• Anna Karenina
• Room
• The Astonishing Adventures of Fan Boy and Goth Girl
• Click
• Atlas Shrugged
• The Langauge of Flowers
• Lamb

Websites we Mention:

• 10 Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores
• Book Riot's Start Here Volume 2 on Kickstarter

Friday @ the Forums

For our last Friday of April, here are the most popular threads on the forums.

Source: Jared Fagan

Brave New World Threads - We are almost done with BNW, now's your chance to get on the forums and tell us what you think.

CWAtC Catch Up and Mustard Challenge - New to the group and missed out on our previous reads? Gametator Laura has just the challenge for you. Sign up here for the buddy reads that are going on.

Formative Reading - Frederick, one of our CWAtCers, wants to know what books of your youth has helped shaped your life. 

July's book pick - We're running out of time to pick July's book. The Phantom of the Opera is in the lead, but The Scarlet Letter isn't that far behind. 

Book Association: Brave New World & Hypocritical Characters

This week, I decided to focus our Book Association on characters in books that are too fearful to act on their beliefs, and are, therefore, hypocrites. 

While reading Brave New World, it eventually becomes apparent that Bernard Marx is not the great character he first seems to be. Although he initially seems like an honorable character that believes in a better society, it later becomes clear that he merely has an inferiority complex and is unable to act on the system of beliefs about women and society that he earlier claims he believes in. Instead, he rides his wave to popularity and fame, and falls right into place with the behaviors and societal norms he so harshly criticizes earlier in the novel. Not only that, but Bernard's lust for Lenina and the limelight indirectly lead to the death of an innocent man, John.

As I was reading, I suddenly became reminiscent of a character from a novel we had read a few months back: Newland Archer from The Age of Innocence. Like Bernard, Newland claims to believe that women get a bad wrap. He says he believes women should have every option men should have and should be respected in every way a man should. However, when he realizes he truly loves Ellen Olenska, and not May, he is unable to act on his feelings. He wants to have both Ellen and May. He expects May to act like a traditional, respectable wife, but wants Ellen to be willing to wait for him on the side. Instead of owning up to his beliefs and trying to further the advances of women by supporting an abused woman that he loves, he is paralyzed by fear and decides to continue to support the patriarchal system he seemed so against in the beginning.






Another character I came across recently that reminds me immensely of Bernard is John Proctor from The Crucible. Even though Proctor redeems his actions to his wife at the end of this play, it is Proctor's inaction throughout the Salem witch trials that allows the accusations to go as far as they did. Had Proctor admitted to his affair with Abigail to the town minister in the beginning, Abigail would never have gained as much power, which would have saved the lives of many Salemites, including his own. Proctor expects everyone in town to admit to their own sins, but does not expect the same of himself. Unfortunately, by the time he realizes he must come clean, it is too late. Sadly, his inaction and hypocritical nature is indirectly responsible for the accusations, and deaths, of innocent men and women. 



What characters have you encountered recently that carry the stench of hypocrisy?

Friday @ the Forums

Tax season is officially over so we've seen a little bit of activity pick up at the forums. Here's what's going on!


GameTator Laura has this burning question: Suppose our tax refunds actually came in the form of a gift card good for one book. What book would you get? Answer it here in A Man For All Tax Seasons. 


Finished Brave New World yet? Give your review in Bookshelf, Library Bag or Donation Box. 


We also have a new game with Alphabet Serial. 


If you're an author and want to promote your work, please do so in the new Self Promotion thread. 

Source: Jared Fagan

Book Association: Brave New World - Shakespeare

In addition to reading Brave New World, we decided to offer an optional read for Shakespeare's sonnets and plays. We originally did it because it's the Bard's birthday this month, but strangely enough it turns out that his works are quoted constantly in BNW. So, Bill himself will be our theme this week with some of his works that were mentioned in BNW.

Troilus and Cressida - Shakespeare's darker version of Romeo and Juliet follows two Trojans who fall in love during the War.

Timon of Athens - A tale of rich young man who spends his money on his friends and when he subsequently becomes impoverished, he starts to despise humanity. Not touted as one of the Bard's finest, but worth checking out.

King John - Whenever I think King John, I think of the lion from Disney's Robin Hood. Not fair, but there it is. One of the Bard's lesser recognized plays, this one is said to lack the drama he usually inspires.

A Midsummer Night's Dream - Ok I have to admit, I added this one due to the fact it's my favorite out of the plays I have read and seen by Shakespeare. Is it Puck and his shenanigans ? Nick Bottom running around with a donkey's head while Titania moons over him? All of it!

The Tempest - The very title of Brave New World comes from this play. It's ironic, comparing the experiences of Miranda when she sees people for the first time (The Tempest) with plight of John  (BNW) once he reaches "civilization."

O wonder!

How many goodly creatures are there here!

How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,

That has such people in't. 

 Act V, Scene I, ll. 203–206

Book Association: Brave New World - Modern Library

We're in our second week of Brave New World. Last week's BA was about dystopias and we went pretty obvious. Did you think of more? This week we grabbed 5 of the 100 best novels of the 20th century according to Modern Library.

Ulysses - Often this one gets a bad rap, readers either love it or hate it. I prefer to make my own decisions about books. What did you think?

Catch-22 - The source of the phrase "catch-22," this one has been called a keystone work in American literature as well as an insane journey. What did you think?

To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf marked her place in history with this novel. A story ultimately about change as seen through the eyes of the Ramsay family.

A Handful of Dust - One of the first satirists, Evelyn Waugh describes a society where the inhabitants want for nothing, except maybe morals. What do you do when the characters haven't any redeeming qualities whatsoever?

The Grapes of Wrath - As Steinbeck describes the journey of the migrant workers from the Dust Bowl to California, you can't help to be on the journey with them. The pivotal theme of people coming together no matter how dismal their lives are at the moment rings throughout the story.



Any others on the Modern Library list that you enjoyed? 

Next week we take on William Shakespeare. 

Book Association: A Brave New World - Dystopian

April's book is Brave New World so for our first Book Association, we're going pretty blatant with Dystopian Classics.

1984 - I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to even have a list regarding dystopias without this book on it. Read it. Big Brother is watching.

Fahrenheit 451 - Same goes here. A world where firemen actually set books on fire, this one chills to the bones for all bibliophiles.  

The Handmaid's Tale - This dystopian narrative centers around a society where the birth rate has plummeted and there is a class of women "assigned" to households in hope that they can be impregnated by the head of the household. It is shocking, yet convincing, at the same time. 

A Clockwork Orange - Even if you haven't read this one, you probably have seen the movie or at least a clip or two to be able to say this book is nothing short of complex. Be warned, there is some pretty graphic violence. 

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? A very valid question and this modern classic has plenty of them. Can androids acquire human traits? Do mechanical chickens taste of chicken? Ok, it might not ask that last one, but still a must have on any dystopian list.


There are lots more so I know I left some out. What are some of your favorite dystopian classics?