The author, Meg Wolitzer, was born in 1959 in Brooklyn, NY, studied creative writing at Smith University and graduated from Brown University in 1981. She grew up around books. Her mother was an author and weekly trips to the library were part of growing up. Meg loves anything to do with words, e.g. writing, Scrabble, Anagrams, Crosswords, etc. Her first book, Sleep Walking, was published just one year after she graduated from Brown University.
Missy picked the book because 1) she loved the cover (paint splatters/blotches) and 2) after reading the description, she loved that it was a character-driven book. Not everyone read the book after it was declared "optional," so our typical book club question format was not chosen. Instead, thought-inspiring quotes from the book, followed by discussion relating to the book, but applying to real life, ensued.
The Ten-Year Nap was about four New York friends and their choices made 10 years ago which has defined them in marriage and motherhood. The choices made then were meant to be temporary, but now ten years later, they are beginning to feel like there needs to be more to their lives.
Those who read the book agreed that the list of characters (more than just the main four) was a long one and as a result, the book seemed disjointed and confusing at times. There didn't seem to be a plot! We did agree, though, that the book got more interesting in the second half.
Quotes were read and the discussions which followed had to do with life, the choices we make, how we deal with those choices, and how we react when something changes our choices/life paths. Whether the decisions we make to stay at home with our children, work outside the home, retire, etc., when change happens, there's a void - a void from missing what we were used to doing before the change. Our life heads in a different direction, sometimes leaving us feeling like we lack direction. Society treasures "busy-ness" and equates it to being/feeling valuable. With change, we have to reimagine our life purpose, reimagine our "busy-ness." Sometimes when we feel "lost in the woods," we must remember that this feeling, this time "here and now" is just a chapter in our life book...there are more chapters yet to be written.
We should:
- Learn from the past.
- Live in the present/the moment (mindfulness).
- Look forward to the future.
Author's website: http://www.megwolitzer.com/index.htm
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