"Second Thursdays: Ladies' Classics Book Club" Kick Off!

Here is the first meeting of  "Second Thursdays: Ladies' Classics Book Club", so called because we meet on the second Thursday of the month to discuss a classic.  Last night was  our first meeting with eight ladies in attendance between the ages of 29-70.  Our first read was the famous classic East of Eden by John Steinbeck.  Though I do agree that Steinbeck was a very talented writer I did not care for this book.  But most of the group really liked it and the book easily provided a few hours worth of discussion.  Of course we enjoyed some treats and wine as well- a few California wines to go with the Salinas Valley theme of the book.

Modern Fascism - Gene Edward Veith, Jr.

This is a very good book on the rise of German Fascism. I was expecting (hoping) that it would be more focused on fascism as it is alive today. The history and defining of fascism was what I found most helpful. I always assumed it was based on hyper-nationalism but found that it is more based on a rejection of transcendence with pagan roots, seeds of environmentalism and grounded in existentialism. I suppose one smarter than myself can make the connection from the environment of the early 20th century that gave rise to fascism and the intellectual climate of today. I'm not going to lie, I was hoping Veith was going to do that for me.

Another interesting part of the story is the development of the phrase "will to power." Power seems to be a major theme of fascist thought and what better basis for it than the autonomous will of man. This of course comes from the rejection of transcendent truth and law (something the Nazis blamed Jewish thought and religion for) and is easily identifiable with Heidegger's existentialism.

Overall a good read, just not what I was expecting.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

"In his journal, John Steinbeck called East of Eden "the first book," and indeed it has the primordial power and simplicity of myth. Set in the rich farmland of California's Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families--the Trasks and the Hamiltons--whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel."

Dana says: This was my first choice for my Ladies' Book Club. Ever since seeing it at the Friends of the Library book sale I was intrigued by it. Its a large book at around 600 pages and I have to admit I hated it until around page 325. After that I found few things to like about it. No doubt about it Steinbeck is a good writer and the story was interesting enough to keep me reading it but if I hadn't been reading it for the book club (of which I am the host) I am not sure I would have finished it. I found all the reading about and the attitude toward prostitution in the book to be almost more than I could bare. Without the relief given by the inclusion of the characters  of Samuel Trask and Lee I am sure I would not have made it through the book. All this being said I will give this book 3 stars, but just barely. Steinbeck is very good at character development and he definitely tackles big issues in this book but I really yearned for some redemption. And even though I am at odds with the Steinbeck's view concerning man and his nature I am glad to have read this and do think it will make for some good Book Club discussion.