26. The song-singing and mythology did not work in this short, linear plot line. I truly wish this book was more widespread and well-known. But on the third try I was enthralled. And beyond comprehension. While the characters were given human-like abilities to communicate and think, the larger part of their behavior was just elephant-like and how much can you talk about an elephant? Switch gears. It is a novel about great sadness and I think that is what makes it stand out the most in my mind. Book Club Discussion Questions for Fiction. … This novel is beyond impressive! It follows the story of a certain group of elephants in Africa and their way of life and their hardships, of which there are plenty of. This is a work of fiction that is told from an elephant’s point of view, as it follows African elephant, Mud, and her family as they navigate perils that befall elephants, including drought and poaching, while they try to find someplace safe. How does this comparison help combat the pervasive myth that racism has been eradicated in America? The setting is a time of severe drought and human poaching which seems endless and that is the part that I found quite depressing. If so, which ones? What did you think of the writing? What would your Heaven be like? Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. I wonder if perhaps it would have been better to stick with anthropomorphic behaviors instead of this disparate sharing of traits. Bull elephants are kicked out of the herd at adolescence and invited back when the females are in heat, or as Gowdy calls it, “the delirium.” At that point, it becomes a bit more Sex and the City than Golden Girls. Gowdy did a good job imagining the world from an elephant's perspective (I think!) I strongly suggest you use the glossary at the beginning of the book to keep track of elephantese. I am a natural history fan and an unmitigated species geek, so appreciated the level of detail and accuracy in terms of elephant life history and behaviour. It is probably an important read, but is deeply triggering for animals lovers. It all blurs together. Finish the book before reading on. When She-Screams slapped Mud, it was Date Bed who squealed”, Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize Nominee (1998), 78 New Paperbacks for Your Summer Reading List. Now, she’s teaching her own calf how to get there.’’. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Ivory’s more valuable than wisdom, than matriarchy, than peaceful coexistence. When Date Bed is separated from her family, she discovers that the Domain has been warped by the violence of man. Avoid the use of toxic and offensive language. 13. by Barbara Gowdy. Book questions and reading guides/discussion guides for book clubs - more than 500 printable reading guides for exceptional books. There were far too many characters, only a few of which were developed and really only one or two that were of any interest at all. What I actually came away with was "These big beautiful animals are actually kind of gross. The author has obviously taken a lot of artistic license as well, but it fit well with the story. They are incredibly amazing, complex, extremely intelligent creatures, but this book is so beautifully written with such a compelling story that anyone who appreciates good literary ficton will enjoy this a great deal. Massacre is the commonest death. When the matriarch’s biological GPS finally leads them to the watering hole, it is dry. It all. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter . Barbara Gowdy is the author of seven books, including, “She and Mud were calves then. Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn? 2. Is it surprising that in Susie's inward, personal version of the hereafter there is no God or larger being that presides? How does the main character change throughout the book? Chose to read this for our uni assignment. This book is horribly sad and will infuriate you. Globe Book Club: Ask Barbara Gowdy and Margaret Atwood your questions on The White Bone and the craft of writing Throughout the novel, you the reader are travelling along with these different elephant characters through their daily lives (and all that that encompasses) and what a ride it is. Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. 23. You may not need to read them, but I suspect afterwards you will want to read them. Canadian author Barbara Gowdy's The White Bone might be the perfect book to read for Mother’s Day, says Elizabeth Renzetti. And as mothers always feared, no one is actually listening to them. They were so devoted to each other that they walked with Date Bed grasping Mud’s tail, and they said ‘we’ instead of ‘I’--’we are tired,’ ‘we want,’ ‘we can’t’--as if they were a single calf. Thank you for your patience. Through the years I have often thought back on that book and while I couldn't remember precisely what it was about, I knew it involved elephants and for some reason had captivated me. I love elephants but I really don't think (or believe) that they can get visions when their calf will be born (after a calf tunnel being dug?!) Did this book seem realistic? Are there any standout sentences? Don't be put off by that if you are not an animal lover or have a particular affinity for elephants, like I do. Using elephants as main characters was a nifty idea, but I did not think it was done well. 10. One of my favorite books ever. There is also a family tree for all the different families that can be referred to to help the reader along. 1) In White Fragility: Reading Group Guide, Robin DiAngelo asks readers, ”In your reading was there a passage that invoked a sense of discomfort?” Where does this come from? 5. The song-singing and mythology did not work in this short, linear plot line. How do the people in power justify their acts of tyranny in the book? What was your least favorite? Not too long ago I remembered the title and knew I had to read it again. I wanted to feel awe-struck, I wanted to learn something while enjoying a story told by a unique narrator. I just finished a second read of the book (first one in 2003). Tell us in the comments how themes of motherhood resonate for you in The White Bone. Some information in it may no longer be current. This is a hard book to review. A worthwhile read and I recommend The White Bone to all and sundry. As the book opens in 2001, it is the evening of sixteen-year-old Melody's coming of age ceremony in her grandparents' Brooklyn brownstone. In the end I’m left feeling powerless to have any effect on changing the circumstances of these incredible creatures. What motivated the main character to act the way they did? The living elephants weep and sing dirges for their lost sisters and mothers: Tuskless cows cannot ascend to paradise and be reunited with the She. by Neil McMahon. That's it. This might be the perfect book to read for Mother’s Day. The characters are complex and convincing and their struggle for survival is heartbreaking. This already is a huge stretch and its incredibly difficult to do it well, and to do it in a way that the reader feels comfortable taking the narrator seriously. There is a watering hole buried in her memory. One of my favorite books ever. ", I read this book when it first came out back in 1998. don't hesitate to post them in the comments section below! It is a unique book - written from the perspective of elephants - and it may not be for everyone. We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner. It sounds too sci-fi until you start reading it and it just seems like you are meeting some interesting people who happen to be elephants. Do you have any thoughts, questions or discussions about The Bones of You by Debbie Howells? Animal lovers, any literary fiction fan who wants a great read. When they have to choose between finding the talisman or the child, the choice is clear. Our protagonists, Mud and Date Bed, are two young female elephants struggling to survive a drought. The Woman in White is considered to be one of the first mystery novels. If you are looking to give feedback on our new site, please send it along to, To view this site properly, enable cookies in your browser. In The White Bone, Barbara Gowdy performs a feat of imagination virtually unparalleled in modern fiction. It was simply too annoying. Throughout the novel, you the reader are travelling along with these different elephant characters through their daily lives (and all that that encompasses) and what a ride it is. Heart-breaking and wise. The following books have printable discussion questions. Start by marking “The White Bone” as Want to Read: Error rating book. 1. “It’s not healthy to know too much about your own future,” Della says. Wow! I just cannot get into books from an animals perspective. and whether or not it will live. The animals are tied together through tradition and family, bound by the belief that they are descended from the She, the first elephant who created them, to whom they will return one day. (Was I reading about real elephants or was I reading a fantasy/fiction story? So as spec/animal-fic I respect this novel a lot. as she created a culture, language and landscape that fit well with her story. While Gowdy imagined the elephants’ distinct personalities, their cosmology and their somewhat salty names for other animals (wildebeest are “lunatics”), she did not invent their social structures. Gowdy worked extremely hard to get out of her own head and into another being's umwelt. This way of living, with one wise old lady in charge and a group of sisters, nieces, mothers and daughters in tow, seems like an excellent model for living. Barbara Gowdy’s The White Bone is Margaret Atwood’s choice for our new Globe and Mail Book Club for subscribers. We are pleased to be able to be part of this conversation with you. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. At the beginning of Caste, author Isabel Wilkerson compares American racial hierarchy to a dormant Siberian virus.What are the strengths of this metaphor? Did the characters seem believable to you? Very moving content. Gowdy attempted the impossible feat of getting into the head of another creature--an elephant. Through the years I have often thought back on that book and while I couldn't remember precisely what it was about, I knew it involved elephants and for some reason had captivated me. And now, there's an online BOOK CLUB group to discuss THE WOMAN IN THE WHITE KIMONO once you've finished reading the novel without fear of leaking spoilers. Then there were the She's - She Snorts, She Screams, She Scavenges, She Distracts, She Sees, She Scares, She Drawls and Drawls ...She S's, She D's, She M's, She B's - heck even She DD's or was it She BB's? 4. The ending is almost reminiscent of the ending of "The Handmaid's Tale", at least in my opinion. After reading again, I can see why I was intrigued by the book, but didn't think it was anything completely spectacular. Spoiler alert: These questions reveal important details about the story. As a member or leader of a book club, you are likely to be reading books on a wide variety of topics, both fiction and nonfiction.No matter the genre, age, notoriety, or length of the book of the moment, book club questions can kickstart or enhance your group discussion.Whether you are discussing characters and their actions, setting, theme, or images, having a guide to questions that … The stars are for her imaginings. Haunting, moving, surreal and incredibly imaginative. I enjoyed reading this book especially through the perspective of elephants something different and quite good. Unlike any other book I've read. 2. The ones in The White Bone certainly do. How an author can think up a novel based on elephants and turn them into characters is simply beyond imagination! I found myself thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it. The author devoted far too many sentences to describing dung sniffing, trunk sucking, urine tasting, and mating behaviors. This is an absolutely fantastic novel. There is also a family tree for all the different families that can be referred to to help the reader.