Book Club Takes a Modern Twist with Eligible

Welcome back to book club, friends! Thanks for hanging out with us last month as we did a fun celebration of all the hot summer reads. Hopefully you’re still digging deep into that list while enjoying the sunshiny days of August. We’re now circling back to Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and my book club partner, Carrie of Normal Level of Crazy is here to give us the scoop. I love the smart, witty perspective she brings to the book–read on, friends!

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“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.”

–from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Dig in and read with us!

*sighhhhh*  How I love me some Pride and Prejudice!  Maybe I’m in the minority here, but I will ashamedly admit that reading it in 10th grade was not the easiest.  Maybe because it was more of an academic assignment than a pleasure read.  In all fairness to me and my 16 year old classmates who were equally frustrated, it was first published in 1813!  Writing styles and speech patterns have clearly changed a lot since then.  So, luckily for us, we’ve been given the opportunity to read a modern retelling of this classically romantic tale for pleasure this time.  And what a fun read it was!

I really did find myself cracking up at Curtis Sittenfeld’s version of this story … in the best possible way!  Reality TV, trangenders, CrossFit obsessions, Cincinnati bashing, hate sex!  Sittenfeld packed it all in and in such a way that it all really did seem to match up pretty closely the the original novel.

I found a definite enjoyment in comparing the two books.  I was in awe of the way Sittenfeld turned 18th century issues into 21st century issues.

Questions that has our book club buzzing about Eligible:

What did you think about the similarities?  Did you find yourself comparing the two novels?  In a good way or a bad way?  Do you think it’s better to view it as a stand alone novel?

I needed a little time to warm up to the book, but once I got into it, I blew through it.  Liz, I thought, was a great character and Jasper, as the villainous Wickam, was perfect.

How did you feel about Jasper and the “contemporary” relationship he was in with Liz?  Did you feel like it seemed realistic or contrived?

And how about that hate sex?!  Who hasn’t wanted to read about Darcy and Liz getting it on??  I loved that they added this in!  I thought it was fitting and appropriate for the 21st century world.  Plus, Liz and Darcy together in bed?  Yes, please!

I’m curious how you all feel about the character of Ham? 

I understand Sittenfeld needed to find a contemporary version of parents being upset about a marriage, but it felt a little forced and bizarre to me.  Although I did laugh a lot at some of Lydia’s comments in relation to it (i.e. the 9 inch dildo).  Thoughts?

I also got frustrated at the end when there were obvious misunderstandings and miscommunications – especially in relation to Georgie’s text.  But then that drives me crazy in general.  Did that annoy you as well?  It felt similar to a rom com movie … like, let’s find a way to keep Darcy and Liz apart a little longer even though a normal person would just have texted back to Georgie something like, “oh, are Darcy and Caroline dating now?” or some such thing.

Honestly, though, I am in complete awe of Sittenfeld for writing this book.  I could not imagine taking this on and she really did an amazing job!  Writing a contemporary version of a beloved, often sacred, novel?  NO THANKS!  Kuddos to Ms. Sittenfeld!!

Lots more I could write on this … would love to hear from you all!

And, as usual, we will be giving away a free copy of our next book club pick (see below)! Just leave a comment on this post for an entry to win.

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Grab your copy HERE!

AHHHHHHH!!!!  Liane Moriarty has a new book out!!  Excitement abounds.  (Yes, I need to get a life).  But seriously, OBVIOUSLY, we picked it for our next book club read…

Here is Amazon’s description of Truly, Madly, Guilty:

Six responsible adults. Three cute kids. One small dog. It’s just a normal weekend. What could possibly go wrong?

In Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty turns her unique, razor-sharp eye towards three seemingly happy families.

Sam and Clementine have a wonderful, albeit, busy life: they have two little girls, Sam has just started a new dream job, and Clementine, a cellist, is busy preparing for the audition of a lifetime. If there’s anything they can count on, it’s each other.

Clementine and Erika are each other’s oldest friends. A single look between them can convey an entire conversation. But theirs is a complicated relationship, so when Erika mentions a last minute invitation to a barbecue with her neighbors, Tiffany and Vid, Clementine and Sam don’t hesitate. Having Tiffany and Vid’s larger than life personalities there will be a welcome respite.

Two months later, it won’t stop raining, and Clementine and Sam can’t stop asking themselves the question: What if we hadn’t gone?

In Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty takes on the foundations of our lives: marriage, sex, parenthood, and friendship. She shows how guilt can expose the fault lines in the most seemingly strong relationships, how what we don’t say can be more powerful than what we do, and how sometimes it is the most innocent of moments that can do the greatest harm.

Don’t forget to leave a comment before August 12, 2016 at 5:30am ET so you can be entered to win a copy of Truly, Madly, Guilty!! As long as you are 18 or older and live in the continental U.S., you are eligible. The winner will be picked August 12th!

Happy Reading!!

****This is not a sponsored post, but thanks to Flatiron Books for providing copies of Truly, Madly, Guilty for us to read and give away to one of our readers!***

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Meredith

Meredith blogs at The Mom of the Year, where she dedicatedly earns her title one epic parenting fail at a time, offering quick, relatable laughs for fellow parents and all their empathizers. She has been part of several best-selling anthologies, featured on prominent sites such as Huffington Post, In the Powder Room and BlogHer, and loves her role as the Executive VP/Operations Manager of The BlogU Conference. When she's not breaking up fights over Legos and juice boxes, she remains fully committed to sharing a less serious look at the world of parenting.

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