Welcome to July’s last discussion over Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand! Any and all are welcome to contribute!

I will say that I was sad to see the book end.  I ended up liking it far more than I thought I was going to like it.  The last part of the book was full of action and it ended up all the loose ends, which sometimes annoys me but I don’t think it was done in a bad way.  I  think only the storyline of Gertrude and Ferguson seemed a bit rushed/not quite right. Kudos to the author, as this was her first novel!

Something that really irked me was the way that Mrs. Ali’s family treated her.  While I know culturally this is acceptable and done I just can’t wrap my mind around it.  I also can’t believe how Mrs. Ali put up with it.  She was a very intelligent independent woman.  It’s amazing what cultural/familial duties will push even those who don’t abide by all the customs anymore.  And it was quite amazing what she was willing to give up for Abdul Wahid and Amina.  I don’t think I could do that for a nephew of mine.  Especially one so obtuse.  But I guess she did it more for George.

Speaking of obtusness.  Roger.  Wow.  One would wonder how he came from the Major and is wife whom the Major kept saying was a sweet doting mother.  But then, even as the Major would point out, Roger said some of the same things the Major did.  However, the Major never said things with the same feeling/greed that Roger did.  He also understood love, maybe not how to always act on it but he did understand it.  Roger, is a freaking lost cause.

1. If you could be friends with one of the characters, which one would you be friends with and why?
2. What do you think was the Major’s Last Stand?
3. Do you think Amina made the right choice? Do you think she and Abdul Wahid will eventually get together?
4. What role did obligations play in this book?
5. How do you think the Golf Club will react to the marriage?

Thanks for reading and responding! If you would like to write a post for August’s Group Read let me know! Fresh perspectives are always wanted!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Discussion 3

Welcome back to Discussion #3 over Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.  We are talking about chapters 14-18 or basically anything that has happened so far in the book.

I think the book has gotten better as it has gone on.  In the beginning I was worried it was going to be too dull for my sleep deprived mind to handle.  But minus a couple rambles of scenery it has moved along pretty fast and the Major’s dry humor has come out more and more.

I kinda wish this was a movie, just because I would have loved to have seen the scene at the Golf Club’s dance!

It is very interesting to see the differing degrees of prejudices that the different characters in the book have.  And the fact that they just say things that are incredibly offensive aloud! But I think that does have something to do with British culture/attitude.  Still, it amazes me how many of them were so very rude to Mrs. Ali’s face or would say mean things about her just because of her skin color.  Even the Vicar from the church was horrid.  Honestly, I wouldn’t want to spend time with any of them if I were the Major.  Mean people all around!

1. Would you ever make the sacrifice for your family like Mrs. Ali made for her nephew and Amina?

2. Do you think the reaction that the Major and Mrs. Ali got from their respective friends and family were typical? Do you see this ype of prejudice happen? Has it happened to you?

3. Speaking of prejudice.. small mindness comes up a lot.  Who is small minded? How is it shown in the book?

4. What is your opinion of Ferguson and Lord Dagenham’s idea for the village?

5. If you were to attend the Golf Club’s dinner/dance what would your costume look like?

Next week will be our last discussion over Major Pettigrew! Don’t forget to vote for August’s read.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Discussion 2

Welcome to the second discussion of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand! This covers up to Chapter 13.  Any and all are welcome to partake in conversation, the more the merrier!

Okay, so I first have to say.. Major Pettigrews sister-in-law and niece are HORRID people.  Seriously.  He has much more couth than I.  I would have blown my cool and never gotten the gun out of their house because I would have been it damn clear I had no intentions of selling it and who cares how much it is worth! And may I say his old-fashioned manners are endearing but also so freaking aggravating!

"He had a vague idea that it was not manly to fuss over the details as he had been doing and that making finger sandwiches would be dubious."......  "And yet there was that fine line across which one might be betrayed into womanish fretting over details. " pg. 99

So very true.  Only a woman (mostly) would pay mind of what is going on the table for tea.  Guys? Oh I invited some people over for drinks and to watch football.  They simply will drink and watch football.  Women? Will provide snacks and worry about if there will be enough. Just go with the over generalization.

"The Internet? I think you'd better be very careful Roger.  I hear there is nothing but con games and pornography on that thing." pg. `102

bahahahaha. he is funny. And Roger? He is a wanker.

Something I noticed in the book that I notice in real life, what is it with old people and landscape and flowers? Is it a trait one learns when older or does the older generation just have that many more people that are obsessed with it? My grandparents/their peers seem to go on and on about nature.  Me? I will notice if something looks pretty, but I do not need to oooh and ahh over plants and peoples gardens.  And half the time when people point out gorgeous views? I think oh well that's nice, but nothing out of the ordinary.  I think the most beautiful things I've seen have been in the Upper Peninsula or in Jamaica. But for the most part, wildlife is wildlife and not that "pretty."

"As they shook hands, and promised  to meet again, he did not express his conviction that Daisy Green might represent a greater menace to the Mughal Empire than the conquering Rajput princes and the East India Company combined." - pg. 113 (hahaha proof he has a sense of humor)

"Oh, it's simple pragmatism, Dad.  It's called the real world.  If we refused to do business with the morally questionable, the deal volume would drop in half and the good guys like us would end up poor.  Then where would we all be?"
"On a nice dry spit of land known as the moral high ground?" suggested the Major. pg. 175

Oh my the Major kills me with his zingers! And wtf Roger? You are NOT one of the good guys.  I also liked Rogers dig at foreigners who take advantage of the elderly and the Major asking if Americans were not foreign as well because he had one in his sights. hahaha he is too much!

1. Do you think Roger and Abdul Wahid will both sleep in the same house? (no fair if you are are ahead and know!)

2. Do you think Sandy will ditch Roger for being a twit and side with the Major? (I kind of do.)

3. The Major seems to be evaluating his relationships with different people.  Marjorie brought up how Bertie felt like the inferior brother.  Roger comments on how the Major never sides with him.  Do you think the Major has been oblivious to how things have been all these years or do you think his manner of brushing unfortunate subjects away has made the discrepancies in how people see their relationships?

4. What do you think will happen with Abdul Wahid and Amina?


5. How do you see the gun drama ending?

Next Friday we will discuss chapters 14-18.  Don't forget to go to yesterday's post and suggest something for August!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Discussion 1

Welcome all to the Discussion 1 over July's Read, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. Please forgive me because I have not read the full selection (Chap 1-7).  Umm something about a newborn, the 4th of July and being tired comes to mind.  Oh and I have to think about this! So please, if you did not slack like me, please please discuss and add a question or two! Oh and I apologize if this is random and all over the place, I kept editing this post as I was able to read some more throughout Thursday night! ;)

So far, I can tell that I like Major Pettigrew and Mrs. Ali.  They seem like quirky semi-older people who have more to them than most realize or care to know. I like that they both enjoy semi obscure books.  His son? Roger? A twat.  The girlfriend? A little much.

Englishism's I adore or notice
- cottages
- biscuits
- villages
- solicitor

What Englishism's did you notice? Like or hate them?

Best line ever??

"Oh go to hell, " whispered the Major into the translucent bottom of his teacup and covered his muttering with a cough. pg. 34

Questions shamelessly taken from litlovers.com

1. Major Pettigrew and Mrs. Ali have known one another for a time. What is it about this one moment, when he opens the door to her at the story's onset, that makes him fall in love with her?

2. How would you describe Major Pettigrew? In what way do we see him as "typically English"?

and the baby is waking up! Crapola.. I promise to be better next week! Sorry loves! Welcome to all the newcomers, and if any of you are in love with the book or want to write a guest post for one of the discussions let me know! Next Friday, we will cover Chapters 8-13!