Babble Book Club: Lynn Coady's The Antagonist final discussion questions?!
Well, we have set an extra special deadline for our latest selection, even thought some have already poured through it, which will be Sunday March 4th 12:00pm PST/3:00pm EST!
There is still lots and lots of time for those who have yet to begin (ahem) or those still working through it, and there is some secret incentive and some instant incentive for those who have already finished!
First the instant incentive:
Through a little tweeting, lovely Canadian author Nathaniel G Moore (@NathanielGMoore) shares his topic suggestions for discussion:
@rabbleca oh that's easy. the entitlement of coady's genuine POV or the legitimacy of coady's voice via male ego. #post subversion
What do you all think? Do you agree with some of Nathaniel's statements here, as well as what are your opinions on Coady's point of view and ability to convincingly voice a male ego?
And as for the secret incentive for both the fully completed, yet to begin and halfway through?! Well, you will have to wait a little bit longer to find out!
Another interesting question is who is the antagonist? Is it the narrator? Might it be his father? Or is it the recipient of the emails?
The main character is a damaged individual. I haven't thought much about the question of believability. I kep wanting some material on the death of his mother and his relationship with her. I didn't find that part of the book believeable at all. I was distracted at times by the fact that the location is clearly Fredericton and I studied there as a student.
Interrupting this conversation to bring some exciting news (and the reveal to the surprise):
Author Lynn Coady will be joining our final discussion on Sunday March 4 12:00 p.m. PST/3:00 p.m. EST to answer your questions about current Babble Book Club selection The Antagonist!
But, the Babble Book Club needs your help! Since the book club is all about you lovely readers and your wonderful critical thinking skills, we want you (!) to discussion, pose and shape questions for Lynn on everything and anything about her novel The Antagonist. I will be compiling a list of your questions on February 26 to send to Lynn Coady before she joins us on March 4 to discuss the answers with you!
So, let's keep this discussion going, no holds bar, keeping in mind that you will receive the actual input from the creator of these words (and not me have repeated conversations with myself about the potential meaning!). Pose your questions on this thread and on February 26 I will select and refine them all!
Let me know of any questions or comments about this event or check out our book blog post for more information our facebook group for additional insight!
Thanks again for being such lovely participants and I look forward to all your questions and comments!
I don't think you have it wrong? This was just a question, or more so a guide, brought forth by Nathaniel G Moore.
Though not too deep into it yet, I started out with the question will Coady's voice be believable as a male counterpart. Sometimes author's cannot make that jump (re: Murakami can't seemingly write the ladies well) and therefore fail miserably, but when they do, it adds another layer to the story.
Michael Christie wrote women completely effectively, with passion and realism, in the Beggar's Garden, and so far, I believe to see Coady doing a great job of creating both Adam and Rank.
How is the reading going everyone?
Our discussion with Lynn Coady is coming up in two weeks! wow! I am still currently powering through the Antagonist -- working late nights is making me feel half-alive these days, so I apologize for my lack of constructive and critical thought so far.
Feel free to conitnue using this forum to start to compose and discuss thoughts on the book and on or around February 26 I will take our main thoughts and questions and send them to Lynn. However, on March 4, definitely ask and answer, response and probe, anything and everything you want to Lynn!
So let it fire with any discussion on the Antagonist you want!
Oh Gaian, you know I always mean the deadline I originally placed -- just trying not to scare off readers who may not be able to meet the Sunday 26 deadline for questions!
Our thread has been a little bare for discussion and I wonder if it is because everyone is waiting for Lynn to discuss? My original idea was to continue discussion like we have before and send her some rough ideas or more solid questions so she can be a bit more prepared then if we just fire random questions; however, she's a pro either way.
So in closing: pose any questions you want on this thread, hopefully it will promote other babblers to talk as well, and then on March 4, we will have Lynn and I can prompt her with some of our questions to get the ball rolling!
Cross-posting some thoughts from our lovely facebook group to provoke and pique your thoughts! Here is a conversation happening on facebook right now:
First question:
Working on some ideas as we speak. I enjoyed this book and thought by the end that the narrator had somewhat overcome his own negative beliefs about himself although undercurrents certainly remained. He seemed to buy into the stereotypes that were manufactured about him according to his size. That's a beginning for me. Still reflecting on this one. The author did a good job writing a male character and the changing nature of friendships.
Response:
Could more than one character be considered the antagonist?
Response:
The character who based his book on Rank could be an Antagonis and many of the characters antagonize each other. Rank's father is always antagonized by someone. There was a great deal of stress and anxiety the lives of these characters as they struggled to carve out their identities.
Thoughts from anyone on this discussion? The latter response definitely proves to be great topical conversation for Lynn!
Can I suggest that future selections have a smaller reading period?
@ Caissa, yes definitely.
It took a bit of time on my end to get all the confirmations with Lynn Coady for the discussion! We had a conflict of dates (unfortunately February 26 was out) and chose to go with March 4 instead of February 19 to allow more time for everyone just in case, but now I know to always pick the closer deadline:)
We will work on the decreasing the time frames here since everyone is so avid! I'll open up a feedback thread after the final discussion as we are still a work-in-progress here and tips and critque are always appreciated!
Again, (always) feel free to get the conversation going early, as stated I am trying to compile a list of potential questions to send to Lynn for preparation and at the moment I don't have too much to go off of!
I just began reading the book and then saw this online forum for discussion yesterday.. I'm only on pg. 70 so don't have any questions that might arise after 'finishing' the whole but.. at this point, what came to mind was the way that Rank's body size influences his perceptions and others perceptions of him. I don't recall many author's really exploring the mind/body connection in this way, especially describing the discontinuity between them, like when his body becomes like a man's body while his age/pysche still feel like a boy's.. and the change in people's behavior and attitudes that he experiences. I'd be interested to know how Lynn came to explore this aspect of being with her character and also let her know how much I'm enjoying reading it. thanks.
I'm glad you joined us, Mariann. Lynn Coady will be coming here and answering questions live on March 4th at 3pm EST, so please come and join us!
Marianne thanks for joining us!
I agree, I like how the author is using his pyhsicality to explain his behaviour and justifications, rather then just commenting on others peceptions. Also, Rank seems so introspective and aware of himself and others, it's almost refreshing, yet strange because of the content. I too am not finished yet and am interested to see how the dichotomy of his physical appearance and knowledge plays out!
And Gaian, we're sad to see you go, unless, are you making a crack at the book club?
I don't believe he was making a crack at the BBC, Kaitlin.
I don't think so either, one just never knows in type. Half the time I think I am hilarious, but no one else does
Looks like I have the house to myself on Sunday. I can join the discussion free from interruption!
Superb! Looking forward to the discussion (even if I haven't ben able to read the book!)
and after you mocked a fellow friend for the same thing.
And your questions so far have been set off to Lynn and I am excited to read all your questions and responses on Sunday!
Here is a blog post about Sunday and any potential information you all might need. I will start off the discussion by posing the questions we have amassed here, but encourage everyone to respond and comment! It is only an hour so we will try to get to everyone's question and encourage everyone to post, but please wait for the appropriate time and respect those other babblers comments as well (as I know you all will)!
I won't be able to attend the online discussion tomorrow but thought that I'd post my current view..
I finished the book last night and felt that the story drew me into it thoroughly..by keeping the reader guessing as to what actually happened and at the same time developing the story (Rank's past) while he's also writing about the present, is very effective.. I liked the way that Rank is changing his perspective as the book goes along.. Also, I was really impressed with the ending and the way things are revealed; even the last line has a lot of insight, explaining Rank's issue with Adam's book. As for Gord's character; I really appreciated the way Lynn turned things inside-out for me. I felt that there was love in the end between Gord and Rank as Rank grows into a place where he has resolved some of his turmoil and can be with Gord's craziness without feeling crazy himself..
Lynn, you're a great storyteller. I loved the book and am interested in other's views on it as there's a lot there to look at.
Thanks Marianne Trench, I will be sure to direct Lynn to your comment tomorrow and ask your previous question above so you can look back at the answers when you have the time! Thanks again for taking the time to write in!
Conversation with Lynn Coady will be starting in 10 minutes!
Hi Lynn! Thanks for joining us!
First question comes from Cassia: Who is the Antagonist? Is it the narrator Rank, father Gord, or friend Adam? Potentially a case can be made for all three?
Hi you guys, thanks for having me to your book club! I just visited a book club in banff on Friday and was asked the same question. The answer is all of the above. For me what makes a great title is exactly that contradictory quality of it feeling dead on and ambiguous at the same time. On the most literal level, 'the antagonist' references Rank--the character Adam creates out of him in his (Adam's) novel. That's Rank's motivating fear--was he the antagonist in that novel and, by extension (assumes Rank), real life? Was he the villan of his own story? No matter how hard he tries to be a good guy, has the universe decided otherwise for him? But then the deeper Rank delves into his own past, via his writing, the more the ambiguity comes into play. Adam becomes, in many ways, the antagonist of the book Rank is writing--this annoying dude who has provoked and betrayed him, yet refuses to engage with him online. And of course then there is Rank's very antagonistic relationship with his father. Finally, there's Rank's theological musings--is god (or the gods) on his side or is he (are they) not? And if god is his antagonist, what does that make Rank?
Any comments out there?
Welcome to babble Lynn!
Next question comes again from Cassia:
Rank is clearly a damaged individual: how does the relationship with his mother and her subsequent death weave into this?
Hi Lynn! Wow, I hadn't counted that many antagonists in the book...but that overall self-destructive, pessimism pervades the book. So many angry dudes! I found myself thinking this must have been a difficult book to write and wondering if these characters were based on real individuals or experiences you've had?