Second Time is Not the Charm

February 26, 2010

The Yummy Mummy Book Club is a virtual book club that meets, or more appropiately, tweets on Twitter. In the last few months we've picked our selections from monthly lists of random book suggestions from book club members. The last book we read was Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat and Obsession by Julie Powell. Powell's first published book Julie and Julia led to the movie, based in part on her book and Julia Child's memoir My Life in France. When Cleaving was released, fans of Julie and Julia were chomping at the bit to read more juicy tales of her life and marriage. In a short period of time, Julie experienced a meteroic rise from struggling writer and relatively unknown blogger to famous bestselling author. I can imagine it was hard for Julie's to resist the personal temptation and public urging to publish her next book. Unfortuately, her book Cleaving is a big disappointment after the charming and heartwarming Julie and Julia.

The Yummy Mummy Club members gave Cleaving a unanimous thumbs down.

I thought you might enjoy a tasty tidbit of the tweets from the Twitter #YMBC chat on Cleaving. If you read the book and have an opinion to share, just let us know in the comments below. If you wonder what's next for #YMBC then check out our next selection at the end of this blog post!

 
@YMCbookalicious:

- "Cleaving" by Julie Powell. She also wrote "Julie & Julia"

- K, now what did everyone think of Cleaving? Thumbs up or down?

- Liked the writing but not her so much plus the adultery
 

- do you think Julie rushed into writing her 2nd novel after her first bit of success? She set up the 6 month apprenticeship just for material maybe?

 
- was this book just an excuse for Julie to give herself permission to have a midlife crisis & write about it?

- Oh, that reminds me - TOO MANY DETAILS!!!
 

- I skimmed through most of the meaty parts if you know what I mean

- both guilty (of adultery) but Julie is responsible for butchering their marriage

- I'm going to try the simple ones (recipes) like the liver one. MAYBE SHE SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN A COOK BOOK INSTEAD? 

- got the impression they wanted to live separate lives but afraid 2 actually separate as in divorce. (They) liked the head games

- sort of like friends with benefits but on a hiatus from sex :-p

- feeling a bit catty & judgemental myself but she let us in right? author Julie Powell -Cleaving

- I actually liked the author's writing but not the story or her for that matter :-S 

- I think Eric was seeing his GF on the side all along. Julie was so self absorbed she didn't care

- nice scene when a fan recognizes her & she's making out with "D" (lover)

- I seriously doubt this book "Cleaving" will be made into a movie but don't quote me on that, sheesh.

- If this woman was your friend (yah right) or family member what advice would you give her husband if he asked your opinion? 

 - if Julie was a mom she wouldn't have the time to be so self indulgent

- Wonder about his side of things though. Think he needs to grow some & write his own book.
 
 

@Mom2Michael:

- I soldiered thru but did not enjoy it. I'm stubborn tho ;-) 

- I like the writing. Enjoyed the language and the way she put things together
 

- I couldn't visualise the butchering stuff. Couldn't get my head around what she was describing.
 

- Really didn't enjoy the book, as I couldn't like her. Just wanted her to grow up and decide to be w dh or not
 

- I wanted to smack her
 

- I just didn't like her. And it is bugging me that she's a real person & this is a real story

- "Self-absorbed" is perfect for her.
 

- I know she brought this on herself by writing the book, but I feel like we're gossiping abt an acquaintance

- Do you think they were just together too young & so too dependent on each other?

- If an open marriage is what they both want, who am I to judge. But not convinced it's his choice. Who knows
 

- I wonder how nonchalant hubs really was/is.
 

- I think I'd have to tell him (Julie's husband) he'd be better off w/out her
Do you think she'll do another??
 

 

@RachaelMc:

- So, Cleaving. Did anyone actually like it?

- We all disliked our last book "Cleaving"

- oh, it was waaay too graphic
 

- she'd be talking about butchering in a way that actually made me salivate & then boom graphic TMI. Ugh.

- I liked the butchering part but was disgusted the other. Way TMI and just no interest.

- in real life, where's her "beloved" husband in all this?

- I liked the butchering half of t/book-kinda dug the imagery & metaphores, but hated the adultery & didn't get much from the travels 

 

@justdworld:

- I knew a little about it (the book Cleaving) but did not think of the recipes! Was this a novel/memoir or cookbook?

- not for vegetarians (like me)

- I wonder what would happen if Julie became a mom

 
- It was interesting how the switch of the adulterer was the woman

 

- I should have known this was not for vegetarians or happy marrieds
 

- They better not make this into a movie. She needs to go elswhere.

 

@NS_WDW_Mom:

- Cleaving: metal gloved thumbs down

- My fav parts of the book were her travels abroad... until she spoiled it by mentioning D (lover).

- It was like personal memoir and apprentic memoir were 2 separate books that couldn't stand alone, so they put them together. That didn't work either.

- If Julie was a Mom, she'd probably leave DH & baby to go off on her next "experience".

- do they dare make this one into a movie?

- Advice (for Julie's husband): get a REALLY good divorce attorney!

 

@marcyberg:

- Just wanted to reach into the book and shake her and say "Grow UP!"

- It was her attitude that got my back up - looking for more guilt i think.
 

- I had the same thoughts about her drama queen OCD behavior

- you kow considering we all didn't like the book it sure has made for good discussion.
maybe we need another book that pushes our buttons.
 

 

@JAVAJ9:
 
- (1st book Julie & Julia) yeah, and she should maybe have stopped there!!!

- I could see it being a TV series!!!! God help us!

- I think she prob will have a baby and write again ... Ugh ... hopefully sans adultery!

- I'm glad we tried "Cleaving" ...I just didn't like it personally.

 

@mmehart:

- I was so irritated the entire book!

- relief to see was not the only one who found Cleaving difficult was horrified over the cheating and self-centredness.

- heck after reading Cleaving I'm ready to throw in a suggestion for something silly...

 

@jbatson2:

- thumbs down for me I really did NOT enjoy it ... did not finish it

- The more I read the more frustrated and angry I was getting ...

- not only could I not visualize the butchery part but the nonchalont-ness of the adultery on both sides, just bothered me

 

@nikgore:

- My 2 cents J&J was light & charming. Cleaving bugged me.

- I think Powell got away with not such great writing with J&J because it was cute. Not so with Cleaving.

 

@earnestgirl:

- sometimes the least popular books make the most interesting conversation
 

 

 YUMMY MUMMY BOOK CLUB

For the months of March and April the #YMBC members have decided to read House Rules by Jodi Picoult. We hope to participate in a ginormous book club event with the bestselling author Jodi Picoult. You can follow the author on Twitter: @JodiPicoult

If you want to join us just log in to your Twitter account and follow our tweets with the hash tag #YMBC and join the Yummy Mummy Book Club on Twibes! 

Relish reading,

 Wanda Lynne Young

Twitter: @YMCbookalicious

Facebook: wanda.lynne.young

Facebook: Bookalicious Fan Page

Website: Bookalicious

20 Questions with Author Beth Powning

February 23, 2010

Beth Powning is the author of several books, including The Hatbox Letters, Edge Seasons, Shadow Child, and The Sea Captain’s Wife. She lives in an 1870s farmhouse with extensive gardens in Sussex, New Brunswick, with her husband, artist Peter Powning.

For more information about Beth Powning, please visit her website www.TheSeaCaptainsWife.ca. You can also read an excerpt from The Sea Captain’s Wife, view Beth doing a reading on YouTube and visit her Facebook Fan Page. If you'd like the ebook version, check out The Sea Captain's Wife on Kobo. Oh, and don't forget to enter the Bookalicious Book Grab Giveaway!

 

1. How would you summarize your book in one sentence?

The Sea Captain's Wife takes the reader around the world on a square-rigged sailing ship in the 1860s with a young woman and her captain husband; beneath the dramatic and fast-paced events of the adventure are the small, painful, and subtle moments that constitute a marriage.

2. How long did it take you to write this book?

Three years.

3. Where is your favourite place to write?

In my studio, which is a big room over the kitchen in our 1870s farmhouse. The room has tiny, low doors that even I have to duck to go through. There’s a skylight and narrow east-facing windows overlooking my vegetable gardens, forests and pastures.

4. How do you choose your characters’ names?

In various ways: "Azuba" came from a caption under a photograph in a history book. Some of the last names came from looking through a phone book. "Carrie" came from studying names of 19th century children. "Mr. Dennis" came from a friend who is a sailor. I make lists of names and reject ones that don't work.

5. How many drafts do you go through?

With this novel, there was a major first draft. Then about 8 more drafts. Each draft is closer and closer to the final book. At the end, there is one draft that gets repeatedly “tweaked.” Sometimes there are many, many drafts of a particular part, usually the beginning.
 
6. If there was one book you wish you had written what would it be?

Tolkien’s trilogy, “The Lord of the Rings,” a series that I first read in 1965, and have read countless times. It is less a book, to me, than a place to go. What a gift to have given the world!

7. If your book were to become a movie, who would you like to see star in it?

I definitely see “The Sea Captain’s Wife” as a film, and did so even as I was writing it. I don’t remember names, but there are some wonderful young British actors and actresses. Viggo Mortensen is too old for Nathaniel, but he would have to be in it. I was an acting student. I want a bit part as Azuba’s mother.

8. What’s your favourite city in the world?

Toronto.

9. If you could talk to any writer living or dead who would it be, and what would you ask?

I would like to talk about historical fiction with Rose Tremaine. I would ask her about how her books start, what ignites her creative impulse.
 
10. When do you write best, morning or night?

Morning.

11. Who is the first person who gets to read your manuscript?

My agent, Jackie Kaiser.

12. Do you have a guilty pleasure read?

Children’s books at bedtime – like “Swallows and Amazons.” These books don’t get my mind spinning.

13. What’s on your nightstand right now?

Let’s not talk about my nightstand! I always have at least 2 books going, and seldom read the “serious” book before trying to get to sleep. On my coffee table is “The Bishop’s Man” by Linden MacIntyre.

14. What is the first book you remember reading?

I learned to read at such an early age that I can’t remember. I had an older brother who was an avid reader and I adored him, and copied him – therefore, I could read fluently before I started school.

15. Did you always want to be a writer?

I decided to be a writer when I was 8.

16. What do you drink or eat while you write?

Coffee. I never eat while writing.

17. Typewriter, laptop, or pen & paper?

I write my notes with pen and paper. I keep them in a journal. I compose on a laptop, but if I have a complex idea while actually writing, I scribble it with pencil on a scrap of paper next to the computer. I save these scraps in a folder dedicated to each chapter.
 
18. What do you wear when you write?

Jeans, turtleneck sweater, heavy socks and crocs. I take off my rings and bracelets.

19. How do you decide which narrative point of view to write from?

I “live” my writing, so I close my eyes and enter the scene. Originally, I saw some of “The Sea Captain’s Wife” from Carrie’s point of view, but in the end my editor and I decided to keep it all in Azuba’s point of view. This is probably because the 1st draft of the novel was in the 1st person.

20. What is the best gift someone could give a writer?

A beautiful fountain pen with a good supply of cartridges. Writers (me at least) adore the physical act of writing, the feeling of ink flowing into paper, the artistic act of forming letters. It’s as good as eating chocolate cheesecake.

Beth Powning Q & A courtesy of Random House Canada.

Publicity Photo: Peter Powning

 

Bookalicious Book Grab Giveaway

Random House Canada has supplied two copies of The Sea Captain's Wife to give away to two lucky Bookalicious readers! To enter just leave a comment below letting us know why you would like to read The Sea Captain's Wife. The Bookalicious Book Grab Giveaway contest is open to Canadian residents until March 5, 2010. Winners will be chosen using www.random.org and contacted through the email supplied.

Reader reminder: If you enter BBGG contests please check your spam for messages from wanda@yummymummyclub.ca or check the BBGG contest comments for a message to see if you've won a book! 

Relish reading,

Wanda Lynne Young

Twitter: @YMCbookalicious

Facebook: wanda.lynne.young

Facebook: Bookalicious Fan Page

Website: Bookalicious