I thought I’d just take a moment on here to re-post the reading schedule for our group read of Mary McCarthy’s The Group, and to make another proposal for anyone who’s going to the S-USIH conference in Indianapolis this October.
Since we’ll be finished with The Group by that date, if anyone would like to read another novel and get together some time during the off-hours of the conference, I thought we could have a face-to-face discussion over drinks or dinner. My suggestion, although I am certainly open to suggestions (please comment below), is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s recent novel Americanah. From what I’ve read about it, it should provide ample material for a lively tête-à-tête.
Now, the schedule for the remaining weeks of our group read of The Group:
- August 29 (this Friday): Chapters 6 and 7 (pages 150-230)
- September 5: Chapters 8-10 (pages 231-316)
- September 12: Chapters 11 and 12 (pages 317-393)
- September 19: Chapters 13-15 (pages 394-487)
Also, while I’m at it, I thought I’d share with you this interesting episode of the Jack Paar Tonight Show in which Mary McCarthy promotes The Group. I won’t say much about it other than that the banter is, as you’d expect, lively. McCarthy comes on right at the 9-minute mark.
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I won’t spoil the video for those who haven’t watched it yet, but — wow. From Paar’s segue/intro to the end of the interview — wow, that is one heck of a text.
Americanah sounds like a great choice for October — I think that title got a lot of votes in your initial poll. And maybe after that The Signature of All Things?
I’m second on board with “Americanah”. Wonderful read—and I WILL participate in the next round of “The Group.”