Next pick

Some nonfiction for June 25. (I noticed Christy used a story about this on last Sunday's book page!)

Aftermath

Did it surprise you how Bob Ford's life turned out after he killed Jesse? I suppose the stage re-enactments and dime store photos were that era's version of talk shows and TV movies.

It struck me that the descriptions of Bob after he went to Creede and opened his saloon sounded a little like Jesse. He was hot-headed and jumpy and good with a gun, a local leader and good businessman. But his arrogance and swagger was unpleasant, not charming. People loved Jesse; they hated Bob. It seemed like Bob's dream was always to be Jesse, and he could never quite get there.

Mrs. James

I found Zee's story pretty interesting, especially the way she turned a blind eye to Jesse's criminal activities. What kind of life must that have been for her? It was really sad to me how her life seemed to fizzle out after Jesse's death.

Dirty little coward

What did you think of Robert Ford? Did you sympathize with him? Do you think he deserved to be labeled a coward? Did it surprise you that he went through with Jesse's murder?

Jesse James

What did you think of Jesse, as presented in the novel? He's clearly one of those larger-than-life people who are so charismatic that people are drawn to them no matter what dreadful crimes they commit. I found myself rooting for him in the story, even though obviously I knew he would be killed. I felt let down a bit when he was no longer around. I feel like a dumb American "taking heroes from the criminal classes," as Oscar Wilde said, but I like the guy. I'm guessing the Brad Pitt movie doesn't do much to counter that.

So what did you think? Was Jesse the hero of the novel?

New pick

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" by Ron Hansen
(Now a major motion picture starring Brad Pitt!)

Pick for March

Gloria Naylor wrote "Women of Brewster Place," which I read back in college. This might be a treat for spring.

"Blast Kills People Again"

Vote for your favorite Ruby Zaga headline! (or any other)

The name

And now for the de rigueur title question. Why "The Imperfectionists"? Any thoughts? Is it a comment on the profession of journalism? On this particular group? On people in general?

Deep background

What did you think of the italicized story that made up the end of each chapter? Did knowing how the paper was founded and its decades of history add something to the story?

Rome

Why do you think Rachman set the story in Rome when it's so easy to imagine this basic story unfolding in any number of locales across America? Do you think it's simply because the author himself was a foreign correspondent, or did you perceive an additional reason for the international setting?

Favorite story

Whose story was your favorite? And, as a journalist, whose story resonated most with you?

Characters

All of the stories seemed to have a deeply sad twist, which, even though I loved the book, left me with a faintly bitter aftertaste. I mean, it just felt like every single person connected with this dying newspaper had some kind of deep flaw, weakness, unhappiness, etc. Did that seem realistic to you? Am I missing something?

"The Imperfectionists"

Did you like the book overall? How about the way it was written, with each chapter focusing on a different character (and a different bit of the newspaper's history)? Do you think that was a strong way to tell the story or mainly just a convenient way to manage/organize a kind of sprawling narrative?

Obscurity

Although "The Eighth Day" was a bestseller and won the National Book Award in 1968, it wasn't universally loved. The New Republic called it “a book that means nothing.” Newsweek called it “a worthless bauble.” The New Yorker said that “none of the characters, major or minor, rings credible to the reader."

And it has fallen out of favor in the years since. A new edition was published in 2007, but for most of the past 40 years it's been out of print. I had never heard of it until I saw it on a list of National Book Award winners. When I went to get it from the Wichita Public Library, they had to dig it out of storage.

Do you think the book deserves its fall into obscurity? Why do you think it's not more popular?

The tapestry

The Deacon of the Covenant Church shows Roger a carpet with a woven pattern and points out that from the back, the design can't be seen; it's a jumble of yarn and knots. He implies that there is a hidden pattern to life and that there may be some special role for the Ashley family in the design of the world.

Then the book ends like this:

There is much talk of a design in the arras. Some are certain they see it. Some see what they have been told to see. Some remember that they saw it once but have lost it. Some are strengthened by seeing a pattern wherein the oppressed and exploited of the earth are gradually emerging from their bondage. Some find strength in the conviction that there is nothing to see. Some

What do you think is the message? Why the dangling "some"?

Covenant Church

What did you think about the inclusion of the Covenant Church at the end of the story? Were you surprised to learn they were Ashley's rescuers?

Miss Doubkov

Miss Doubkov may be the most remarkable resident of Coaltown. She's certainly the most perceptive. Early on we learn that she figured out long ago who killed Lansing and who rescued Ashley. She seems to understand everyone's situation, everyone's motives. She's the one who helps Lily run off to be a singer. She's the one who instructs George on how to make his confession and escape to Canada. In fact, she was the inspiration for George's dream of Russia.

I don't have a question, here, and I don't have my book to reference all Miss Doubkov's important scenes, but her character seemed to play a significant role in the story of the two families. Thoughts?

Breckenridge Lansing

The guy was awful, clearly, and there's no excuse for his behavior. But Wilder says he was just reflecting his own father's behavior toward his wife and son. And he knew at some level that he was incompetent and unloved, so he protected himself by using cruelty. And at the end, after his illness, he seemed poised for some kind of redemption. Did you feel any sympathy toward him at all?

John Ashley

My favorite John Ashley moment was when George was having nightmares before his tonsil surgery and John came in to calm him.

"Does the sun go round the earth, George, or does the earth go round the sun?"
"The earth goes round the sun, Mr. Ashley."
"And anything else?"
"The moon, and ... the planets, I think."
"And what's the sun doing all that time?"
"It's going very fast."
"And carrying us with it?"
"Yes."
"It's as though we were on a great ship moving through the skies." Pause. "I often have that feeling just before I fall off to sleep. We're going at that great speed and yet you saw how quiet it is down there in the square. It's a wonderful fact, isn't it?"

I love the gentleness with which he approaches George and the way he talks about life. It was especially touching to me after seeing the cruelty of George's own father.

What did you think of our generous workaholic, simple family man, genius inventor, fugitive murder suspect John Ashley?