Unputdownables Book Club discussion
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(January) Unbroken
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I will be back in for this one as well. It might be toward the end of the month when I get to it, but it is a definite.
It's got to be later in the month for me too but I'll do the best I can!! I now have the book!
I was kind of "on the fence" about reading this book because of a personal experience. My favorite uncle was a Japanese POW during WWII. When he came back from the war he refused to talk about it except to say that they threw raw potatoes over the fence, into the mud, for the Americans to eat. I heard the talk in our extended family about his refusal to talk to us about what went on, so as a child I never asked him about it but always wondered what really happened. I'm sure it was much more horrible than I want to know and yet I am still curious. I decided to listen to Unbroken on audio book so I ordered it from the library today. My uncle died a couple of years ago. He was in his nineties.
I want to read this, but I am a bit swamped. I will try to participate though if I can get it read in time.
Just finished this a few days ago and I have a feeling it's going to be my favorite book of 2011. Hope everyone gets a chance to read it.
Judith wrote: "I was kind of "on the fence" about reading this book because of a personal experience. My favorite uncle was a Japanese POW during WWII. When he came back from the war he refused to talk about it..."Judith...did you get it yet?
Shelli wrote: "Judith wrote: "I was kind of "on the fence" about reading this book because of a personal experience. My favorite uncle was a Japanese POW during WWII. When he came back from the war he refused t..."Yes. I'm listening to the Cd version and it's great!!! I'm on the fourth disk.
Here are some questions for when you are done...I'm not done yet....*****possible spoilers in the questions below!!!!!******Readers and critics alike have described Unbroken as gripping, almost impossible to put down. Was that your experience as well? How do you account for the page-turning quality given the grim subject material? Also, would your reading experience have been different if you didn't know that Zamperini survived? (Or didn't you know the outcome?)
• How would you describe the style: lyrical, pompous, complex and wordy, easy and straightforward, humorous, or offensive?
What do you admire most about Zamperini? What enables him to survive the plane crash and POW ordeal? Does he possess special strengths—personal or physical? Did his training in track, for instance, make a difference in his resilience?
What do you find most horrifying about Zamperini's captivity?
Unbroken is a classic inspirational story, but it lies somewhat on the surface, offering little in the way of psychological depth. Do you wish there were more instrospection in Zamperini's account? Or do you feel this story is rich enough as it is?
Ok.....just some things to get a discussion going....hope you enjoyed it!!!!
Wow! You're good at this! I'm on disc 4 (CD version) and the group is still in the water after many, many days. I will pay attention to your questions and see if I can come up with answers. On Zamperini's strength to have survived this ordeal, I have already guessed that his sports training contributed to his survival.
Don't feel like you have to answer questions specifically unless you want to...thought it might be good to get the discussion going and remind us of things!!!I agree about Louie being in shape from sports!
I do feel that knowing Zamperini survives gives the book a different feel. I am at the place where they are still in the rafts several days in. What they are dealing with is horrific. In spite of that, he has such strength and determination, but it is easier knowing that whatever they have to contend with - at least he makes it out.
After all he goes through....even though I know it, it seems impossible....really amazing.
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My review....I would start by thanking Louie Zamperini for sharing his story, and Laura Hillenbrand for writing such a readable book about such tough subject matter. What an unbelievable story. I think I've told everyone I know to read this book. So many parts are so amazingly unreal, it reads like fiction. Louie Zamperini is an incredible person with an incredible story. We are given this story as a gift...a gift to learn from. As I read I was amazed at the things I didn't know. Even though the book is filled with statistics....I found myself completely engrossed with the details. Running, airplanes and military information I would have thought I'd never be interested in became captivating to me. I laughed and cried and felt literally sick while reading this story. It is an emotional rollercoaster. This book will really make you stop and think the next time you are having a "bad day." It is a beautiful testament to the human spirit...a very hard look at the world we live in and the extent of human cruelty...but ultimately a story of redemption and forgiveness....it just doesn't get much better than that. 6 STARS!!!
Shelli wrote: "• How would you describe the style: lyrical, pompous, complex and wordy, easy and straightforward, humorous, or offensive?"While I felt it wasn't always "easy" to read, I found the book to be straightforward and very readable.
Shelli wrote: "What do you find most horrifying about Zamperini's captivity?"The "Bird" trying to break him...make him less than human....makes me feel literally ill.
Shelli wrote: "Unbroken is a classic inspirational story, but it lies somewhat on the surface, offering little in the way of psychological depth. Do you wish there were more instrospection in Zamperini's account?..."I wouldn't want any more psycology....he shared so much already...why try to "figure" it all out....most of it was pretty obvious and most people wouldn't have made it out alive.
Shelli will be our leader for this discussion (because she nominated the book). Please let her know here if you are going to be joining the discussion. Thanks and happy new year!