Prologue & Caroline
Glen Ivy Book Club reads Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister
As the book opens, we meet Kate, a survivor of breast cancer who is finding her way back to a “normal” life. Kate and her close knit band of friends are gathering for a “victory dinner” to recognize and celebrate her victory over cancer and the start of her “new” life. In this chapter, we see the staunch support given freely and without reservation from a circle of women who continue to stand by her as she reclaims her life. Did you find it significant that Kate’s friends insisted on a potluck? What were your thoughts on Kate undertaking such a dangerous adventure after just surviving cancer?
As we move in to the next chapter of the book we meet Caroline. Although not through disease, Caroline has also faced the ending of her life as she knew it. After the end of her marriage, Caroline must find a new set point in life – a new way of being and defining herself. In challenging Caroline to release her ex-husband’s books, Kate is charging Caroline with releasing the past. Although the first few sentences of this chapter tell us that Caroline is not good at holding on to things, she finds releasing the books a daunting task. Has life ever taken you to this point? If so, did you find that discarding a physical object associated with the memory of how life used to be helped you to release and move on? What did you think of the revelation of Jack’s medical tests? Was Caroline perhaps too involved with her friend’s health to notice that of her husband’s?
I have just begun to read “Joy for Beginners” and I am hooked. I am looking forward to be able to read what my fellow readers were thinking after reading the same chapters that I just finished. I found it very realistic that Kate’s friends insisted on doing a potluck for her victory dinner. Kate had been through so much and I feel true friends wouldnt want to have Kate prepare so much food for everyone. I love potlucks because it brings a sense of community and closeness when everyone comes together where they can share a piece of themselves including their culture with a group of people.
When I read that Kate’s adventure was to go rafting in the Grand Canyon my reaction was “You go girl! I wish I could go with you”. For Kate to go through the intense cancer treatments, doctor visits, the emotional and physical pain while in treatment must have been so hard. Kate deserves this adeventurous trip to celebrate her life and to live life to it’s fullest. Going to the Grand Canyon has always been my dream to visit. I have seen pictures and it looks fabulous.
I completedly related to how Caroline felt when she was struggling to get rid of Jack’s books. Years ago I went through a difficult breakup where I knew I needed to get rid of his clothes, old pictures and concert ticket stubs, and even his cell phone charger was hard to let go. For me I knew that once I threw out all those tangible things away that that relationship was officially over… and at that time I wasn’t ready. But as soon as I invited my closest girlfriend over and “cleansed my house” of my ex’s things I felt FREE AND ALIVE again. I am so thankful that I did get rid of those tangible things that held me down to the horrible past because now I am engaged to a beautiful man that is the love of my life.
I cant wait to keep reading and hear everyone else’s thoughts/feelings of the “Caroline” chapter.
- Michelle
I’ve got to go get my copy in the spa shop! I am already behind, but it sure sounds like a wonderful book.