Joy for Beginners, Daria
Welcome to week two of the Glen Ivy Autumn Book Club.
This week we meet Daria, the youngest in Kate’s circle of friends. In reading this chapter and learning more about this character, I kept waiting for her self-described unpredictability to reveal itself. It seemed to me that Daria was perhaps predictable in her unpredictability. She was reliable in her care for Kate; this doesn’t seem like a characteristic that would be held by someone who was genuinely rebellious and unpredictable. Is it perhaps that Daria is actually craving the things she claims to be averting? Henry seems to be truly unpredictable in his lifestyle, but do you think that he maintains a groundedness that is missing from Daria’s life? Why might this be?
Daria’s challenge was to learn to bake bread. When I think of baking bread it brings to mind feelings of warmth, stability and the comforts of home – was Daria’s real challenge to embrace these qualities within herself?
I look forward to reading your thoughts on Daria. In the upcoming week we’ll be posting details about our Book Club Spa Day…stay tuned! Happy reading!
What I found significant in this chapter was the parallell of how clay and bread, or the starters, can be originated and molded from so many different places and can withstand the test of time. One of Daria’s love of clay was that there was nothing common about it or where it came from. Pieces of clay could have been floating down many different rivers. The pieces of clay were forgiving, because until it was put in the kiln, the clay could be undone and remade into something brand new. The bread starts and divides and lives on and on. As it moves around from place to place, or beginning to beginning, one breathes in the all the places it has been: passed on from locations, people and generations.
I love this insight, Debbie. It seemed funny to me that Daria so loved clay, but it took her a while to find her love for bread; both are so similar in their raw form, yet she resisted the bread – I think because of its connection to home and family.
I thought it was interesting that Henry, who has the unorthodox traveling lifestyle, is so anchored to the traditional ritual of baking bread. With him, Daria discovers how comforting it can be to bake bread. Bread and clay, like the raw ingredients that life hands us, don’t always seem promising or even attractive in their “starter” states. But as we work them carefully and with loving attention we can form them into something beautiful, useful and meaningful…as we can with our lives.
Hello Everyone,
My name is Kathy and I am just starting the second book and joining in on the blog.
After reading “Daria” and getting to know her character I do believe she was craving the things she had been averting, her mother, baking, and dating that special someone. I also think that Henry gave her insite that she may have not seen, whether it be in baking bread or finally talking to her mother. By Henry allowing Daria to see these things from another persons point of view, she was able to embrace herself. Bye for now! Kathy
Often at a book event, someone will ask me “what would you do?” My answers have always reached for the obvious — I’d sky dive, or get that tattoo. The other day someone asked “what would Kate have you do?” Well, that is something else entirely. For me, voice lessons (I am tone deaf, and it’s been a family joke all my life. Had no idea how much it hurt until it became the answer to the question).
So, now I throw that out to you– what would Kate assign to you?
Often at a book event, someone will ask me “what would you do?” My answers have always reached for the obvious — I’d sky dive, or get that tattoo. The other day someone asked “what would Kate have you do?” Well, that is something else entirely. For me, voice lessons (I am tone deaf, and it’s been a family joke all my life. Had no idea how much it hurt until it became the answer to the question).
So, now I throw that out to you– what would Kate assign to you?
I like the whole idea of choosing what the other person challenge should be. A lot of us talk to our friends about what our dreams are and what we want to do. Sometimes, it takes a friend to push us to face our fears and know in the end we will be better for it.
Hi Everyone,
I am just checking in. For some reason I could not read the previous invitation to the book club and kept getting an error message when I tried to go there. I am so happy Seraphina chose this book. I bought my copy right after the summer book club luncheon with Erica.
I know what my friends would select for me to do and it fits in with the previous chapter. My Mom and mother-in-law both passed away in the last couple years and I have their belongings in boxes in my house. It is so difficult to get rid of their things, yet they add an uneasy clutter to my life. My friends would challenge me to pack it up and let go and perhaps I would feel the release Caroline felt when she boxed up Jack’s books.
But if Kate is my true friend she would know that I have always wanted to own a motorcycle and she would challenge me to complete the license, buy a bike and ride carefree on quiet back roads.
I am looking forward to the book club and hope Erica can make it to our next meeting. Thanks for selecting this book Seraphina!
So, Erica’s challenge to us…what would Kate assign to each of us? That’s a tough one, but, like Susan, I have always wanted a motorcycle. I dream of taking roadtrips on a pink Harley… I don’t have the confidence to pursue this fantasy; thoughts of “what if” pop up in my mind too easily. Maybe someday…