Our Next Book is Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

Equal parts philosophical quest and screwball comedy, Infinite Jest bends every rule of fiction without sacrificing for a moment its own entertainment value. The world was shocked by author's death in 2008, come discuss the first half of his masterwork. We discuss the second half in March.

We want some entertainment value! I'm about to file for entertainment bankruptcy!

Come discuss this book Saturday January 16th at the Main Library in Conference Rm 3 at 11am. Feel free to bring food and drink.

Some thoughts about If on a winter's night a traveler

- What were Calvino's intentions when writing this book? Why not just write a series of essays about reading and writing? Why not just write several beginnings of novels as a collection of short stories without the Reader and the Other Reader tying them together?

- The notion of an Other Reader seems intrinsic to the concept of book clubs. Why do you come to a book club? What do you get out of it?

- If you found out a book you loved was actually written by a counterfeit author or a computer program would it matter to you?

- In many ways If on a winter's night... is a homage to reading. Do you have any rituals when you read? Places you love to read in / at? Conditions that have to met: certain light, certain time of day?

- Kindle?

Come discuss this book Saturday November 21st at the Main Library in Conference Rm 2 (a one time change) at 11am. Feel free to bring food and drink.

Our next book is If On a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino

Calvino shows that the novel, far from being a dead form, is capable of endless mutations. If on a winter’s night a traveler turns out to be not one novel but ten, each with a different plot, style, ambience, and author.

Come discuss this book Saturday November 21st at the Main Library in Conference Rm 3 at 11am. Feel free to bring food and drink.

Some thoughts about Louis Riel

- Are any of Riel's actions legally justified? What about morally so? Do you think he received a fair trial?

- When William McDougall forges the Queen's signature, is that not a treasonable offense?

- The parts about MacDonald deliberately instigating a rebellion were troubling to me. I wanted to know if they those sections of the book were factual. Do you think Brown has a bias, or is he fair?

- How do you know if you are really a prophet or not?

Here's the full transcript of Riel's final statement at his trial.

Come discuss this book Saturday September 19th at the Main Library in Conference Rm 3 at 11am. Feel free to bring food and drink.

Ex Lit Book Club: Our next book is Louis Riel by Chester Brown

Legendary cartoonist Chester Brown reveals in the dusty closet of Canadian history there are some skeletons that won't stop rattling. To some Louis Riel was one of the founding fathers of a nation but to others he was a murderer who nearly tore a country apart. A man so charismatic he was elected to government twice while in exile with a prize on his head--but so impassioned his dramatic behavior cast serious doubts on his sanity. Riel took on the army, the government, the Queen, and even the Church in the name of freedom. Will Riel's visionary democracy ever be enough to defend him from the verdict of history?

More importantly, what will our verdict be? Come discuss this book Saturday September 19th at the Main Library in Conference Rm 3 at 11am. Feel free to bring food and drink.

[this blog is feeding into my twitter, so that's why I keep putting Ex Lit Book Club in the titles of posts. In case anyone was wondering.]

Ex-Lit Book Club: some thoughts about Illuminatus!

- Does this book have a political agenda? If so, what is that agenda?

- Does this book have a protagonist? Who, if anyone, are we supposed to root for?

- Conspiracy theories are an integral part of the plot. What role do conspiracy theories play in our culture, in our history? Is their influence positive or negative?

- Another plot premise is that minds can be altered (reprogrammed) with or without the knowledge the subject. Is this true? Do the government, or corporations, or any other body for that matter try to unconsciously alter our minds? Can someone be driven insane against their will, or be convinced to commit a crime against there will?

- What is the role of religion within the book?

- Can you think of any historical or fictional models that Hagbard Celine might be based on?

We'll be meeting to discuss this book discuss this book SATURDAY July 18th at the Main Library in Conference Rm 3 at 11am. Feel free to bring food and drink. This will be our first meeting on Saturday. I'm sure it will be a fun one.

Ex-Lit Book Club meeting and reading schedule 2009-10

I’ve played it safe and went ahead booked Saturday morning times (11am) as staff have been instructed to expect a Metro budget cut. We'll stay in conference room 3 at the Main Library. Here are this year’s winners:

Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea - July 18th

Louis Riel: A Comic Strip Biography by Chester Brown – Sept. 19th

If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino – Nov. 21st

Infinite Jest (first half) by David F. Wallace – Jan. 16th

Infinite Jest (second half) by David F. Wallace – March 20th

Collected Works of Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje – May 15th

Blood & Guts in High School by Kathy Acker – July 17th

New people continue to come to each meeting and maybe new people can come now on Saturdays too. Thanks everyone for your continued support. This is an amazing reading list.