Maureen

My goodness Paula, sometimes you read a book a day. You really amaze me!

So his brother's pull was greater than Rebecca's and Claire's? He could not find it in himself to join the world of the living?

I cannot understand why Bobby did not want to go with Claire and Rebecca...they could have been a family together....Bobby was not in love with Jon or Erich - so why not leave and go with Claire and Rebecca?.

I agree - Bobby is the most likable of the lot. Although I found it hard to identify with some of the decisions he makes, he is an eternally selfless being. Having gone through such a turbulent childhood/adoloscence, dealing with the loss of his family and taking drugs through most of his teenage years could have easily made a different person out of him. I am so glad that he was able to lead a the life he did.

I must say I would not have chosen it either, but I am glad I read it. It is also quite easy to miss if browsing in a book store - the cover is very insipid. 7. Did you enjoy the book? Will you be reading any more books by Michael Cunningham? However, as a reply to question 7 above - I enjoyed the book, although it left me with mixed feelings about the whole thing, and I shall read more Cunningham in the not so distant future. In fact I have By Nightfall, The Hours, Flesh and Blood, and Land's End on my never ending tbr pile.

I am really enjoying Modern Family - it is very good.

2. Any particular parts that you liked or disliked a lot? That shocked you or that you had to read more than once? The first time that Alice went into Jonathan's room while they were smoking and she joined them. I did not think she would really do it - so I had to read it twice to make sure. When Alice caught Jon and Bobby having sex in the car. It has to be a really embarrasing situation for any mother, to walk in on your children having sex. There are all sorts of issues that go along with that - age, safety, feelings. Apart from that Alice had to deal with finally acknowledging that Jon was gay - and her thoughts that part of the reason of Jon being gay had to be her fault. I read the bit when Claire and Rebecca left twice as well. I could not believe that Bobby knew what would happen and just do nothing. What kind of person would be capable of that? I hated the bit when earlier Jon left Claire and Bobby without any real explanation. It made me angry and I resented his treatment of them. I enjoyed the bit when Bobby and Jon met again in New York, and that they were a bit embarrassed about how to deal with their sexual past.

1. What do you think of the main characters? How would you describe them? Bobby - he loved to feel useful. He was unselfish to the extreme. The first memory he describes is of helping his father pull down Carlton (his brother) when he stands up on the front car seat. His role model when he was younger was his brother, who introduced him to drugs, and to the dream of going to Woodstock. After his brother’s death he was never the same again - his whole family is never the same again. This tragedy in fact robbed him of a family and he substituted his family with Jonathan’s family. In a sense Jon filled Carlton’s place, and Jon’s parents, filled the void left by the loss of his parents. On some level he connected with Alice - both were trying to fit in a place where they felt different and foreign. Bobby was afraid of change - he was ‘pushed out of the nest’ by Alice when they were moving, and he turned back to Jon - his ‘older brother’. All through the book, Bobby’s life is about wanting to please his family. Even when he ‘made a kind of love’ with Jon, he did so more for Jon’s benefit, because he loved him and because Jon wanted to than for his own pleasure. In fact he was not really into sex - neither with a man nor with a woman - he had his first straight sexual relationship at thirty. With either sex Bobby was not the one who started it. When Erich came to visit them in the country Bobby could not sleep, he was thinking about him all the time. When he realised that Clare was leaving with Rebecca, he did not join them as he felt it his job? duty? to look after Erich. Jonathan was the eternally lost person - he always needed to be told what to do - perhaps this was a consequence of having been so close to his mother when young. He talks of his father, whom he loved, the eternal cheerful person who never had a bad word to say about anyone, but with whom he did not have a very strong relationship. His relationship with his mother was very complex - he was her lifeboat, keeping her sane when the world around her did not make sense to her, she used him to fill her social void. She was his main influence - she kept him with her at all times when he was not at school - ‘they kept each other company’. He tried to imitate her - both in speech and manners, and once even by using her makeup. There he realised that he was ‘not ladylike, but neither was he manly‘. In his opinion there were different ways to be a beauty. He felt different to other kids. When he demanded a doll to play with, his parents bought it for him, and when his father explained that other kids might not understand this, he felt foolish and embarrassed. Claire was the one who did not want to grow old. She had Peter Pan syndrome. Bobby’s first impression of Claire was that she had a wife like relationship with Jon. However she could not have a sexual relationship with Jon, so she had one with Bobby. In her eyes, if Bobby and Jon were mixed into one person , they would have been perfect. She also enjoyed being totally in charge of their sexual relationship. She was in her late thirties and her biological clock was ticking loudly. She was not sure what she wanted in her life. She married in her early twenties and when that did not work out, she started on a relationship with a woman. However she had arrived at a point where she felt she should have a child. This was also apparent when they played the Henderson game - she was the mother. One strange thing that came out later - she was the eternal hippie - but she did not trust a hippie with her daughter (the doctor - Doctor Glass. Jon also mentioned that he did Tai Chi, which he did not think a suitable past time - he would have preferred him to play golf.) Bobby is the only one to like a person for what they could be, not for how he looks. Appearances never effected him much. I consider Alice as quite a major figure in the book. Her relationship with Jon shaped his character for the rest of his life. She was quite an influence on Bobby as well - she inspired him to start cooking, and he found the necessary strength to open his own restaurant. Her decision to ‘push Bobby out of the nest’ gave him the necessary shove to try to build his own life. She was quite a character - she influenced both boys quite a lot. For some reason or another, I kept waiting for her and Bobby to have a sexual relationship....

Some questions to consider: 1. What do you think of the main characters? How would you describe them? 2. Any particular parts that you liked or disliked a lot? That shocked you or that you had to read more than once? 3. What do you think of the different friendships going on? 4. Do you think any events/circumstances played a major part in shaping the boys' lives? 5. Each chapter is narrated by a different 'main' character. Did that work in your opinion? 6. What do you think of the descriptions by the author? 7. Did you enjoy the book? Will you be reading any more books by Michael Cunningham?

It is assumed that you have read the book before reading posts in this thread, as the discussion might give away crucial points, and the continuous use of spoiler tags might hinder fluent reading of posts. A Home at the End of the world by Michael Cunningham : Synopsis: Cunningham's novel focuses on the close friendship of Bobby and Jonathan. As boyhood friends growing up in Cleveland in the late Sixties and Seventies, Bobby and Jonathan form a relationship that is both average and far beyond what most kids would consider "normal." After high school Jonathan moves to New York City, where Bobby soon follows. They become involved with Clare, a slightly older woman who finds each one appealing in his own way. The rest of the novel centers on their unusual life together. This well-written book has lots of good dialog and will appeal to readers who want something other than the tried and true best seller.

Devil Bones - Kathy Reichs. As enjoyable as always - Tempe is so easy to read about Even though the general outline of these books are so similar, I really enjoy them. Might read the next in the series - its on my tbr pile , and the title is intiguing.

Never let me go - Kazuo Ishiguro. A book which I enjoyed greatly, although the story upset me. It is about a dystopian society during our times, and focuses on three young children and the life that is planned out for them, by others who think have the right to do so. Made me mad, sad and glad I read it

I finished this book, early this morning, and have spent all the time since thinking about it. It is definately a great book, one which I will remember for a long time. It made me quite sad, thinking about the fate of these beings, especially the fact that they never questioned their fate, or tried to make a different life than the one which was created for them. I liked Kathy and Tommy, but had rather mixed feelings about Ruth, she was quite cruel at times. Then again a better part of her peeked through from time to time. One thing that really effected me was the use of the word 'completed' when someone died - they had now achieved the goal set out for them. Although a ton of questions are never answered in this book, it did not upset me that much...perhaps because it makes it a bit more improbable that something like this could ever happen. ..... I also wondered what started the idea for the story and shaped it for the author.....

I have developed a liking for Thai food. I have learnt how to do Tom Yum soup and Green Curry.....need to try my hand at Red Curry - perhaps this week.

I enjoyed Labyrinth...although it's been a while since I read it. I have yet to read Sepulchre.....and I think I also have The Winter Ghosts on my tbr pile, which also looks a good read from its synopsis.

Lol Chrissy - they will set your books on fire when they are squabbling

A Mango

My first Karen Rose novel - Don't tell. Was really expecting much more from this author, and was actually disappointed as this glorified Mills & Boon/Barbara Cartland with a dash of wife beating and rape. Certanly not an author I'm in too much of a hurry to read again.

Ok, sounds interesting. Thrillers are a favorite of mine

What are his books like, Kurtz?

Thank you Kurtz. Will talk to you about Chang Mai, perhaps you can give me some useful tips

Finished A Home At The End Of The World, by Michael Cunningham, for April's Reading Circle. An enjoyable read, the author manages to bring the characters to life, with all their imperfections and traits. The story is about two teenaged boys who found friendship and strength in one another, and managed to build an unconventional relationship for the rest of their lives. The book should raise great discussions - hope that a lot of members here will join in

Shiraz