the second meeting of book club went wonderfully. the house was clean, the light was streaming, the bubbles were flowing, and there was plenty of bread and cheese (which as i sit here writing this now i'm doing everything i can to keep myself from going to the fridge for more. i'm also doing all i can to keep my eyes open--i.am.pooped).
and then there was the company. and the discussion.
i feel so lucky. right now. at this very moment. i met a fantastic group of new friends friday night, i went to work saturday where i'm surrounded by strong and beautiful women, and then today: moving and generous, these girls really got me thinking and talking--in fact the discussion didn't really end until 8:30 tonight when my two roommates and i decided it was probably time to wind it down.
for those who couldn't be with us we spent a lot of time talking about the social pressures and expectations of that time period. (for those who don't know the book chronicles the marriage of earnest hemmingway and his first wife hadley. the story is told from her perspective and much of it takes place in paris). we spoke of the difference in age between earnest and hadley and how that manifested in their relationship (he was 21 to her 28).
and while others praised her strength i was particularly struck by how in her desperation to keep earnest, hadley seemed to temper so much of what made her unique and vibrant--the very things earnest was drawn to. she became a shell of herself--willingly catered to his shadow.
it really got me thinking that often the way to deal with what we fear is to head into it--not to do all we can to avoid it. we have to be willing to lose everything if we're actually going to get what we want.
and while others praised her strength i was particularly struck by how in her desperation to keep earnest, hadley seemed to temper so much of what made her unique and vibrant--the very things earnest was drawn to. she became a shell of herself--willingly catered to his shadow.
it really got me thinking that often the way to deal with what we fear is to head into it--not to do all we can to avoid it. we have to be willing to lose everything if we're actually going to get what we want.
just a thought.
in other news: our giveaway winner!! congrats to heldredg (and many thanks for the kind comment about my little blog here).
for those who didn't win there's hope yet: you can get 10% off your Shabby Apple order by entering wilybrunette10off at the time of purchase. i'm thinking i might just get the dress myself, i love it so!
here's hoping everyone's week get's off to a great start.
on tap for me: noah and the whale tuesday night and home to texas wednesday morning.
it's gonna be a good week, indeed.
14 comments:
What a fun club!
Your week sounds lovely! Enjoy that show!
I needed that last thought. I'm heading into some unchartered waters this week and I want to run, really I do, but I know I must buckle down and face it. No rescheduling--just do it.
I'd like to read the book, too!
xx, Cassie
Still so envious of the book-club so thank-you so much for the little re-cap. I will refer back to it when I finally have the time to read it. (I have just finished a book called Being Dead by Jim Crace---it was very good but now essays sadly divide my time).
And you are so right about the fear. It is something I am trying, every day, to bear in mind.
Oh, how lovely! I'm trying to just read and participate vicariously, instead of wishing so badly I lived in NYC :( Looks like a ball! (PS Noah and the Whale--yay! Have fun!)
Meg! We have the same rug!!
I like your thoughts on how Hadley changed for Earnest... We do have to be willing to lose everything to get what we want. but such a part of my heart says to stay true to yourself and keep the fires alive within your own soul/spirit. Being a wife, there are times when you have to let go of things that you want, and let go of things that you would like to do. I have to lay things down often. But I've held strong to what keeps me alive, like what I'm passionate about. If the fire within me died, I wouldn't be a very good lover....
this is all just my thoughts on the matter. I'm not trying to preach here. {I really did go off an a rant! sorry}
So fun to have a book club! A friend and I get together each week and are working on writing a book. We discuss characters and plots, but as the writers rather than readers :)
again, sorry for my ranting. I'm glad you had a fun evening with the ladies.
Oh my goodness! I'm so excited--I've never won anything before! Thank you so much!
I am seriously going to have to check out that book. It sounds amazing! I'm glad you had a lovely weekend!
~Ariel at http://adreamersdaze.blogspot.com
I'm so envious.
Book club.
New friends.
Throwing smashing weekend parties.
@happy wife: that's precisely what i meant. i'm so glad you took the time to rant. what i meant was...hadley needed to stay true to herself--even if that meant saying things that would potentially upset earnest and therefore put their relationship on the rocks. i so wanted her to become even more herself the worse things got--it seemed like the only solution. but alas!
OK I'm moving to New York this summer...please say the book club will still be going then. I'm dying to join!
@ The Mister and The Missus: I sure hope it will be--we'd love to have you!
"it really got me thinking that often the way to deal with what we fear is to head into it--not to do all we can to avoid it. we have to be willing to lose everything if we're actually going to get what we want" -I may have to post this on my mirror so I can look at it everyday to give me courage! I always feel so pumped and poetic after reading your blog! Thank you for your beautiful words dear friend.
it was so lovely meeting everyone - thank you for this!
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