Great Expectations in Literature and in Life

Title: Great Expectations
Author: Charles Dickens
Host: Lois and Gail

It was the best way to begin -- a celebration of Joanne's 90th birthday, complete with a poem written by Faith and cupcakes that looked like spring flowers. Happy birthday, Joanne. And thank you for your wisdom words:  "Patience and Fortitude."

Insights and Opinions

+ First, of course, we had to compare the different editions we had read. Joanne's small red volume with thin pages was a 1942 edition. Steve's copy was from his college years and contained a long list of all of the characters, with more notes on the inside cover. This is obviously a well-loved book, one that many of us remembered fondly before reading it again and have kept with us through the years.

+ How interesting it is to read later in life a book that we first read in our youth. Many of us found the characters more endearing than we had remembered. There was great appreciation for the humor and irony of the novel and for the complexity of the characters, especially Pip as he matures. Steve suggested it would be a good book to read aloud, chapter by chapter, to savor its beauty and humor. Good idea.

One book, many editions.

+ Since our last book choice was Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch, we discussed the similarities between the two novels. Vicky pointed out the use of metaphor in both works.

+ Dickens' plotting skills are masterful. He does not leave out important details. Characters and details mentioned earlier return. "It all works out in the end," said one group member.

+ We discussed the two endings. The first leaves no hope that Pip and Estella will get together. "I see no shadow of another parting from her," reads Dickens' revised ending, leaving the relationship between the two ambiguous but within the realm of possibility.

+ All in all, the group (at least those who were able to finish it before meeting time) loved this classic.

Oddments and Telling Details

+ Steve's new book, Mastering the Craft of Writing: How to Write with Clarity, Emphasis and Style, has just been published by Writer's Digest Books and is available on Amazon. Congratulations, Steve!

+ We also learned about Linda's visit with Jerod Santek, a staff member at the Loft Literary Center for more than 25 years, who is now director of Write On, Door County. Linda recently led a workshop for Jerod's board of directors.

+ And of course we can't forget the poem Faith wrote and shared on behalf of our beautiful Joanne.


To Dear Darling Joanne on the Occasion of Her 90th Birthday

She is:

She seems pretty excited about that cupcake.

A role model without peer,
More fun than a glass of beer
On a hot summer day. What can I say?
She's an intellect with humor and grace
And a smile that warms the whole damned place.

She wears ninety like a boa of sequins and laces.
In short, we agree that the girl's simply aces.

With much love from the Lofties.

A bit of spring beauty
to fete Joanne.