Bram Stoker's Dracula Discussion

We had a lively, interesting discussion of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Those who read it found they were pleasantly surprised by the frightening story as well as Stoker's writing--most of us said we wouldn't have read it had not been a Book Club book.

Next Book Club meeting will be at Marijke's house on Tuesday Nov. 11 at 1:00 pm. Our November book is The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones. As I think you know, I will not be attending that meeting. I have asked Em Tsai, who chose the book, to lead the discussion. Please RSVP to Marijke soon by phone or e-mail.

December meeting will be our poetry/Christmas cookie exchange, which I will be hosting on Wednesday, December 3 at 1:00 pm. If you recall from last year, our December meeting is a delightful and festive occasion: we each bring a favorite poem to read aloud to the group as well as a plate of cookies to share. More details to follow!

Finally, I feel I must ask those of you who have not been coming to our meetings to decide if you have the time to continue with the group. I do have a waiting list of people who would love to join the Book Club. If you know that you will be missing meetings in the future, please consider giving up your spot so someone else can join.


THE SCORE WAS 3.8

By Diane VanKoughnett

Announcement

A
For our discussion, please consider the following question:

1. Dracula relies on journal fragments, letters, and newspaper clippings to tell its story. Why might Stoker have chosen to narrate the story in this way?
2. Likewise, discuss the significance that many of the male protagonists are doctors (Dr. Seward) or men of science (Dr. Van Helsing). Why is this important to the story?

B
Also, Marijke, who will be the host of our November meeting, has asked to change the meeting from November 4, to November 11, so please change the date on your calendars.

SIWA Book Club: Member Directory

Diane VanKoughnett (coordinator)
Yongsan-gu

Miren Ciganda-Apaolaza
Dongbu Ichon dong

Jeanne Frasse
Songbuk-dong

Raheleh Gelpke
Hanam-dong

Karine Gorham
Itaewon-dong

Marijke Heider
Dongbu Ichon dong


Doreen Jones
Hanam-dong

Uma Manikantan
Songbuk-dong

Nazli Moller
Hanam-dong

Roseann Rhoda
Itaewon-dong

Nancy Stevenson
Itaewon-dong

Valerie Valkenburgh
Gagnam-dong

Lily Joenoes van Bunnik


Karine Texier
Seocho-gu

ENGLEBY Sebastian Faulks

“I must have stayed in London on the way, but I have no memory of it. My memory’s odd like that. I’m big on detail, but there are holes in the fabric.”

—Mike Engleby

For our September meeting, we discussed Engleby by British author Sebastian Faulks. With his use of the first person narrator, Faulks provides the reader with a fascinating and disturbing first-hand view of the story of Mike Engleby, a brilliant yet clearly odd Cambridge college student. And yes, he has a memory problem.

Most of the group agreed that Engleby was a well-written, darkly intriguing story with a sometimes uncomfortable insight into the British public school system and university days at Cambridge in the 1970s. Although some found the numerous British references to be somewhat unclear, overall the book was positively received and generated much discussion.

Other books by Sebastian Faulks include, Birdsong, Charlotte Gray, On Green Dolphin Street, and Faulks’ most recent book, Devil May Care, a James Bond novel written in the manner of Ian Fleming.

THE SCORE WAS 3.3

Doreen with Dracula

Anyway directions to my house for the next meeting.


UN 63
1-225 Hannam -dong

If you are driving, come in to UN Village and turn right and take the one way system, keep going around and when you get to the playground at the top go straight ahead (so the playground is on your Left), keep going straight, after Koverhaus which is on the right, go around to the left, this is a very deep turn, keep going down the hill ,my house is the red brick wall, first house on the left, with the green and yellow number 109.

Parking isn't very easy, so if you see a space, just park.


On foot. Come into UN village and turn left, walk up the hill straight ahead, do not take any turns, the house is the on the right with the red brick wall after the Egyptian residence and guard hut (on your left)


Call me if you are lost.

SIWA Book Club I: Member Directory

Diane VanKoughnett (coordinator) vanknett4@hotmail.com

02/793-4598 (home) 010-8687-7618 (mobile)

Yongsan

Miren Ciganda-Apaolaza telmomom@gmail.com

02/63924292(home) 01191454292(mobile)

Dongbingo dong

Jeanne Frasse jfrasse@mac.com

02/765-6675 (home) 010-5567-4890(mobile)

Songbuk-dong

Raheleh Gelpke raheleh_gelpke@yahoo.com

Karine Gorham k.texier@voila.fr

010-9001-7901 (mobile)

Gagnam

Marijke Heider marijke.heider@yahoo.com

Dongbing dong

Doreen Jones danielanddoreen@hotmailjavascript:void(0)
Publish Post.co.uk

02/749-1701 (home) 010-4732-2292 (mobile)

Hanam Dong

Uma Manikantan uma_manikantan@yahoo.com

02/744 5774 (home) 010- 3156 -1210 (mobile)

Songbuk dong

Nazli Moller mollernazli@hotmail.com

02/749-3696 (home) 010-9115-8713 (mobile)

Hanam dong

Roseann Rhoda rrhoda@mac.com

02/790-2122 (home) 010-9482-0089 (mobile)

Itaewon

Nancy Stevenson nstevenson@hotmail.com

02/796-4336 (home) 010-8769-2535 (mobile)

Itaewon

Em Tsai em.tsai@gmail.com

02/792-3240 (home) 010-2038-3240 (mobile)

Dongbingo dong

Valerie Valkenburgh vvalkenburgh@yahoo.fr

Gagnam

Lily Joenoes van Bunnik lilyjvb@gmail.com


Kyungmee Yoon kymyoon@hotmail.com

Mapo gu

Engleby

We will be discussing Engelby by Sebastian Faulks. Please consider the following questions (from the Random House Reading Guide) as starting points for our discussion: (Don't worry--they don't give anything away.)


1. ‘I must have stayed in London on the way, but I have no memory of it. My memory’s odd like that. I’m big on detail, but there are holes in the fabric.’ (p.2) How important are the blanks in Mike Engleby's memory? Why do you think this is highlighted so early in the book?


2. Engleby is Faulks’ first novel in the first person narrative. Why do you think he chose tell the story from Engleby’s point of view rather than from the all-seeing third perspective?