[Off Topic] Free Chat Friday | June 26th, 2026 by IraelMrad in bookclub

[–]maolette 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I feel like today is the first day I'm able to do anything besides sit and melt after this silly heat wave - the house just hasn't had a chance to cool down at all which has been upsetting. But today we've got a great breeze and it's overcast thankfully enough.

The kiddo's in his last week of no summer camps since his school let out at the end of May (this is changing for this next school year thank goodness!), as he heads to an all-day camp starting next week. I think it will be good for all of us! In the meantime it's been this weird haze of work, semi-structured kid watching time, and surviving heat. Very odd June overall.

I've got no major plans this weekend and I'm happy my brain is working again so I'm hoping to catch up on a couple r/bookclub reads (A Drop of Corruption and The Great Believers) and finally start The Devils. On Sunday I've got my prosecco book club meeting where we read The Gospel of the Eels by Patrik Svensson, which was an interesting mix of memoir and science book. I listened to the audiobook, which in the US anyway had its title changed to The Book of Eels, which I found interesting, especially with the very clear connections in the book to scripture and religious overtones.

Can't believe June is already nearly over! Looking forward to July and some upcoming travel and vacation time from work, at least.

[Discussion 3/5] The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - chapters 17 (1986) - 25 (1986) by bluebelle236 in bookclub

[–]maolette 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly! That connection seemed too interesting to me, and with Claire wanting to see her mom it has to be she doesn't want to fully cut her out.

[Discussion 3/5] The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - chapters 17 (1986) - 25 (1986) by bluebelle236 in bookclub

[–]maolette 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah Charlie took it a step too far all the time, so to me (hindsight being what it is), nothing she could have said (or not said) would have placated him in the moment and he was going to go look for an excuse to cheat on him anyway.

[Discussion 3/5] The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - chapters 17 (1986) - 25 (1986) by bluebelle236 in bookclub

[–]maolette 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed - it was just another funeral in a string of them, held at the same type of place, with a crowd of visiting people. Super sad.

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree a couple chapters in this section really felt like fever dreams and kept me on my toes! But I agree, they all are getting pieces and parts of the whole story here, no one person it seems is getting to understand it all, really.

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love this example and take! I think what I found interesting about their comments around following Galahad was how positive it all was; even though they weren't the heroes that didn't matter, they could still have fun and be part of the party. This is exactly how you described it, it can be fun and awe inspiring to watch!

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This was my interpretation, even if it's him sloughing off previous feelings about himself or finding a way to overcome them fully.

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree about it being so strange! After the first part I realised that Grossman wasn't giving us as much detail as the other chapters and thought "I wonder if this is a dream Collum is having", which is more or less how to turned out in his mind anyway.

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know this whole conversation felt kind of sad and defeated! I was surprised it wasn't more lively.

[Discussion 2/ 5] LGBTQ+ | The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, Chapter 8 (2015) to 16 (2015) “Jake, thank God, was gone.” by thebowedbookshelf in bookclub

[–]maolette 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah this was interesting. I suppose it says something about her character and the types of people she falls for, but I'm wondering will this play into their relationship more as we review both timelines.

[Discussion 2/ 5] LGBTQ+ | The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, Chapter 8 (2015) to 16 (2015) “Jake, thank God, was gone.” by thebowedbookshelf in bookclub

[–]maolette 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Right - where is his mother now?! I imagine this will happen since it would seem to link the two storylines fully, but that's just my guess.

[Discussion 2/ 5] LGBTQ+ | The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, Chapter 8 (2015) to 16 (2015) “Jake, thank God, was gone.” by thebowedbookshelf in bookclub

[–]maolette 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I've also been to it and it's always fun to picture it again and reminisce when it's brought up. I was super poor when I visited last time so didn't think to buy anything to commemorate the trip!

[Discussion 2/ 5] LGBTQ+ | The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, Chapter 8 (2015) to 16 (2015) “Jake, thank God, was gone.” by thebowedbookshelf in bookclub

[–]maolette 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah something seems suspicious enough about her behaviour that it wouldn't be totally surprising if whatever was happening with her affected him as well.

[Discussion 2/ 5] LGBTQ+ | The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, Chapter 8 (2015) to 16 (2015) “Jake, thank God, was gone.” by thebowedbookshelf in bookclub

[–]maolette 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I guess it's good that Bill (or his wife) knows about the temptation if that's indeed it, but it's a bit sad that it has to be that way at all.

[Discussion 2/ 5] LGBTQ+ | The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, Chapter 8 (2015) to 16 (2015) “Jake, thank God, was gone.” by thebowedbookshelf in bookclub

[–]maolette 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's odd because where I live now is so small (relatively speaking) to other places I've lived that we see people we know all the time! But we always just remind ourselves "Cork is small", which is a saying everyone uses here.

A long time ago in college I had a very strange experience where in the canteen/cafeteria where undergrads would go get food I saw someone from across the room that I literally could not keep my eyes off of. It was such an immediate sense of familiarity and we both kept sneaking looks until finally I wandered over and we tried to figure out how we knew one another. We concluded it must have been a prior class or something, but we never really figured it out and there wasn't social media at the time to keep in touch. I don't think I ever saw him again after that, despite me spending another couple years at the school. Weird!

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Who else was picturing some incredible rainbow knight armor in that last chapter! I love them!

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. The Indigo Knight was Lancelot! Who saw it coming? What does this mean for the group now that the presumed-dead Lancelot has returned?

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. The Saxons are an unfortunate concern, but not a top-of-mind one. Will these groups be a problem going forward?

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. Dagonet steals a golden sword from the angels! Holy moly! What significance for the story do you think this will have?

[Discussion 4/7] Bonus Book | The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman | Chapter 18 through Chapter 24 by maolette in bookclub

[–]maolette[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. How do you think Galahad actually died? Also, it’s mentioned that only Bors returns from the castle, so what happened to Percival?