Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Bloggy Book Club. Also Known as The BBC.

I was so excited when I posted about my craft project on Monday. So excited.

And now, 3 full days after I started the craft project - it's still not complete!!

It will not dry. Will. not.

For the love. And now I have nothing else to blog about because I keep thinking about a stupid craft project. It's maddening.

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Well, if you've read anything on this old blog you know that I love to read. Love it.

So when the lovely Rachel and Erin started a book club on the internet? You know I was into it.



Somehow I missed the first book because I was too tired to order it off Amazon.

This month's selection is Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan.

It's about four girls who attend an all-girls college - something I know alll about. In fact, I fancy myself a bit of an expert on the topic. Take that.

I'm not going to go into details on this post with my thoughts because in the BBC (Blog Book Club, officially known as Book Beginnings and Bookends), they are breaking the book into 2 parts. Which is handy cause the book is broken into two parts. Smart!

Part 1 focuses on life during college (I think). I actually read part 2 last night so of course I'm gonna start confusing the two.

And now I'm just gonna answer the BBC questions for part 1.

1. Which girl do you identify the most with?
Ohh, this is tough. Well, I'm definitely not an April. That leaves Celia, Sally, and Bree. Celia, to me, is the every-girl. For some reason, her major traits don't jump out at me. Bree is the girl who came to college engaged, so I can relate to her a bit there. Not that I was engaged, but I was in a serious relationship all through college - so I know where she's coming from; however, I didn't go on to become a lesbian. And then there is Sally - the girl who's mom died. I can definitely identify with her since my mom died my sophomore year of college. I remember girls (strangers) walking up to me in the hallways at school and telling me that I was living their worst nightmare and they didn't know how I made it through every day.

So which girl do I identify with? Sally and Bree. Minus the lesbian thing.

2. If you're a college student or graduate, what similarities or differences do you see between this story to your own college experience?

I just had to read this book because of the fact that I went to an all-girls, Catholic college. It was a weird choice for me that caused many freak-outs before I arrived... but I loved it from the moment I stepped foot on campus.

On one hand, the book does a great job portraying this college setting. Girls in PJs at all hours of the day. Feeling comfortable enough to know your professors outside of class. Being 100% in your element on campus. All true.

Even the "lesbians until graduation" thing has a tiny bit of truth. On one hand, I can most definitely say I knew of maybe half a dozen girls in my four years who were out-and-out lesbians on campus. Knew of, not knew personally. So I felt like that was a bit overblown... but then again, the college I attended was predominately Catholic... and we know how the Catholic church officially feels about gays.

So - what I'm saying is - no, there were not lesbians lurking around every corner (that I know of). But I have also attended enough 21st birthday parties to know that plenty of kisses have been exchanged. True story.

The thing about an all-girls campus is that it's a sisterhood. Not having been in an actual sorority - I can only imagine that my college experience was like a 24/7 sorority. Borrowing dresses and jewelry, sharing clothes, stealing snacks (read: booze), Bachelor-TV watch parties, movie nights.... and on and on and on.

Having a giant campus family is a once-in-a-lifetime experience... and I'm sure if you've read around here for any length of time while I was at school you can see that I wouldn't trade it for a thing.

3. Which girl do you think has changed the most since her time in college? In what ways has she changed?

To me, they have all changed - and this is something my friends and I have gone through in the past year. The part that I feel differs from the book is this: my friends and I might go months without speaking. Over a year in some cases. But - you put us in a room back together and it will feel like nothing has changed. Several of my friends are married - but none of us have passed the baby test so maybe that will be a definitive change.

Anyway. That got a bit ramble-y.... but if you haven't picked up Commencement yet - you totally should! It is not at ALL what I expected... stay tuned for Part 2!

Happy Wednesday!


5 Classy Comments:

Sweet Simplicity said...

I read this about a month ago and thought about you while reading it. I think you are the only person I know who attended an all girls school. It was a good book, but I hate the ending. It made me throw my book across the room. :)

Meg @ write meg! said...

Ooh, Commencement sounds good -- I've had it on my wishlist for a while, and now I'm even more eager to read it!

Tess said...

Such a cute idea....BUT wouldn't be my style. Book clubs for me is less about the book chat and waaaaayyy more about the wine and snacks!


hahah ;)

Enjoy - and I've heard great things about Commencment. Let me know what you think!

Unknown said...

LOVE...love...LOVE to read!!!

Jen said...

I an really enjoying this book, and participating in the book club. It's interesting to hear your point of view since you went to an all girls college. I went to a non-traditional school and lived off-campus, so it's fun to hear about everyone's college experiences.

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