The Bookshelf discussion

I felt like that took me a while to finish (not because it was boring but rather it been a crazy week). There's a lot to unwrap in parts V and VI.
Minna is coming across as an interesting character to me; on one hand, I really dislike her because she's mean, but on the other hand, I pity her. She's very emotionally distant from people, but she purposely distances herself. Near the end of part VI, after the fire, you get a feel for her loneliness and rejection. As the book goes on, I get the feeling that Richard Walker isn't the asshole Caroline and Minna describe him as, but there is something else going on. I think a lot of the animosity and distrust comes from them feeling rejected by Richard. It's apparent that Richard had an affair. I think a lot of this story deals in feeling rejected by the people who we think are inherently supposed to love us. I think Alice may have rejected her own child, Maggie. I do really love the turtle story, though.
I love Sandra's narratives; she lived such an interesting life. Alice is more closed off. I am curious about the significance of the items found in the briefcase.

You're right; despite her emotional distancing, Minna does care about her family. It would be sad if Amy died. I thought it was interesting that Amy expected Katie to smell like dirt, but was surprised that she would smell like flowers. That could be telling of both Amy and Katie's characters. I think Katie does things with a flare as a result of her environment. Generally, at least in my experience, teenagers that act out do so as a result of neglect from their caregivers. Everyone wants someone to notice and care about them and when that need doesn't get met, they act out. This is the feeling I get from Katie; I think the things she does is a result of prior negative experience. It doesn't make her a negative character; I don't think badly about Katie at all. She does make for an interesting character study, though.
I see similarities between Minna and Sandra as far as their sexuality goes; they both slept with married men, but I think Alice did as well. Sandra is more extroverted than Minna, I would say. I think this is what makes Sandra more interesting and likable is she is more open about her experiences whereas Minna and Alice are more closed off and even resentful; we know next to nothing about Alice compared to Sandra. I, too, think Sandra is curious from an introverted person's perspective; most of the things she does, I can't imagine myself doing.

Thank you. I've always wanted to be in a book club, but I always had the idea that book clubs were bored housewives that read about other housewives as long as it was on the NY Bestseller list. I've never been very social anyways. The real reason why I wanted to be in a book club was to gain more insight into what I was reading and to reflect with someone that may have different experiences.
Literature is a big part of my life, but I'm the only person I know that likes books so much. It was late and I was having a pity party and thought it'd be cool to start a book club for unsocial readers, which is kind of like an oxymoron. I figured I can't be the only person that wants someone else to talk to about the amazing book they just read even if they hate socializing about any other topic. I don't even know if I'm making sense. But, I am grateful that someone joined.
That is an interesting thought that Amy attaches a type of smell to a type of person. That's awesome that your mom has a good sense of smell; I'm the opposite. I like that you can make more of a connection with that especially a personal one. I wonder if Katie's different smell is a reflection of her character.
I'm thinking we could just wrap up the book this week. It looks like there's only 85 pages left. Then we can read House of Furies for March. I think there's like 5 copies available at my county library (I don't know where you're at), but let me know if you have any issues or have a different book suggestion.