Pachinko is a sort of slotpinball game played throughout japan, and its arcades are also a way for foreigners to. The kind of read that sticks with me long after ive read the final page. Rather, it seemed like a good thing to read after john williams stoner. I am not sure why i bought this book as it is outside my normal reading material. Filth is a 1998 novel by scottish writer irvine welsh. Discussion questions well add publisher questions if and when theyre available. Sir edward feathers has had a brilliant career, from his early days as a lawyer in southeast asia, where he earned the nickname old filth filth being an acronym for failed in london try hong kong to his final working days. May 23, 20 and anyone who has not read gardam she is responsible for more than 20 books is encouraged to read old filth and the man in the wooden hat, the first two novels of this wonderfully. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this old filth study guide and get instant access to the following analysis.
Old filth old filth trilogy kindle edition by gardam. We discussed how these raj orphans often faced the same perils of. Lets just say the things they left out in the movie that were in the book really did deserve to have the title filth. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. The haunting first novel was the story of a decadeslong marriage that stretched from the.
Pachinko is a sort of slotpinball game played throughout japan, and. Book club discussion questions october 20, 2015 by sheila 7 comments while its always helpful if you can find reading guides for the precise title your book club is. The novel moves back and forth in time, revisiting his childhood and formative years as well as focussing on his last attempts in the present to deal with the past after the death of his wife. The central character, 80yearold former judge sir edward feathers, is not in the least filthy. He was raised in wales with other orphans by a vicious foster mother. Old filth book ottawa public library bibliocommons. Old filth or dear old filth, when the story starts is sir edward feathers, a wealthy old englishman. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Published in 2004 to much critical acclaim, the book centers on an elderly man looking back on his life and trying to make sense of the past. His father was a district head in malaysia and had baby edward raised by the malay nanny in the next village, as edwards mother died when delivering his son. I love filth s obsessive quest for order in our world of chaos. Now in its 22nd year, the book discussion group carries on a lively discussion of each months book and a week later shows the movie of the same title. Filth is an acronym failed in london, try hong kong and the affectionate nickname for sir edward feathers, whose distinguished career, as an advocate and judge, began in hong kong in 1947.
Old filth is the first book of jane gardams trilogy about a retired, successful man who is dealing with his difficult past. Old filth by jane gardam reading guidebook club discussion. There are various other examples i cant recall right now. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Jane gardams 15th novel, which came out in 2004 the uk and 2006 stateside. Oh no, his development and mannerisms were pretty spoton. And its title provokes both curiosity and an irresistible social opportunity. Talk about the thematic significance of the books title. So i walked into boswell on tuesday and jane, no sooner than i arrived at the store, greeted me, and said, well, what did they think. Old filth begins with a short scene, in which four benchers discuss an absent character by the name old filth we later learn his name is actually edward feathers. Her diamondlike prose, her understanding of the human heart, her formal inventiveness and her sense of what it is to be alive young, old, lonely, in love never fades amanda craig i love jane gardam, especially old filth nina stibbe her.
These questions may be used for classroom discussions about this novel. If old filth was eddie featherss book, and the man in the wooden hat was bettys, last friends belongs largely to terry veneering, detailing, as much of it. Several jurists discuss the departed figure, who looked familiar. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading old filth old filth trilogy. What does the sentence mean, and what expectations might it establish for the reader. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Old filth old filth trilogy kindle edition by gardam, jane.
Filth, in his heyday, was an international lawyer with a practice in the far east. Sir edward feathers has had a brilliant career, from his early days as a lawyer in southeast asia, where he earned the nickname old filth filth being an acronym for failed in london try hong kong to his. Old filth have just reread this to preclude reading of the man in the wooden hat. Oct 20, 2015 book club discussion questions october 20, 2015 by sheila 7 comments while its always helpful if you can find reading guides for the precise title your book club is reading, sometimes theyre not available. In her new novel she brings to life an inner temple legend. This mordantly funny novel examines the life of sir edward feathers, a desiccated barrister known to colleagues and friends as old filth the nickname stands for failed in london try hong kong.
Old filth is the nickname for sir edward feathers, a very old judge as the novel opens. Her new novel, the man in the wooden hat, showcases the regrets of a. They discussed her debut novel a long way from verona. If you want to read another book by jane gardam about old filth, the man in the wooden hat tells the story of old filth s marriage, but from the point of view of his wife.
Martin levin is the former books editor of the globe and mail. Have just reread this to preclude reading of the man in the wooden hat. The novel begins with a conversation between four court membersthe queens remembrancer, a junior judge, a senior. I bought old filth way back in 2008, when i only had a few hundred books in my library, when that library only increased by a few books each month, and when i had only been on goodreads for a year or so and hadnt met most of you fine people and your shelves yet. Long ago, old filth was a raj orphan one of the many young children sent home from the east to be fostered and educated in england.
Download pdf ancient angkor river book guides full pdf download pdf disciplina inteligente. Jun 15, 2006 his time with her will be his second great trauma. Nov 20, 2004 a reader of old filth, despite its unpromising title, will become passionately curious about such matters. Perhaps the only flaw in this otherwise pitchperfect book is the repeated. Its a cliche to compare novelists to jane austen, but in the case of jane gardam it happens to be true. Last friends old filth trilogy by jane gardam reading. Sonja audible has old filth as a downloadable audio book. Imagine being asked at a cocktail party what you are reading and coming up with, oh, a new novel called old. Pachinko by min jin lee book club discussion questions. The title is the nickname and old joke of the central character failed in london, try hong kong a former judge, barrister, and abused child. Long ago, old filth was a raj orphan one of the many young children sent home from the east to. His wife has just died and hes remembering his life, beginning as raj orphan when his mother died during his birth in malaysia. Old filth by jane gardam southfield public library. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors.
Left bank books downtown a portrait of a marriage, with all the bittersweet secrets and surprising fulfillment of the 50year union of two remarkable people, the man in the wooden hat is fiction of a very high order from the author of old filth. A reader of old filth, despite its unpromising title, will become passionately curious about such matters. Euphoria by lily king book club discussion questions. And anyone who has not read gardam she is responsible for more than 20 books is encouraged to read old filth and the man in the wooden hat, the first two novels of this wonderfully. If you are looking to join a new book group, this is the one. Last friends old filth trilogy by jane gardam reading guide. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Literary corner cafe said thank you for all the lovely comments, and im so glad you love old filth. Last friends is the third and concluding novel in the highly praised trilogy that began with old filth and continued with the man in the wooden hat.
Note that there will be some spoilers, though i wouldnt say we give everything away. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of old filth by jane gardam. Old filth old filth trilogy by jane gardam and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The inner life of an imperfect marriage jane gardam has spent her long career writing dry, honest books about british life. Book one in jane gardams old filth trilogy sir edward feathers has had a brilliant career, from his early days as a lawyer in southeast asia, where he earned the nickname old filth filth being an acronym for failed in london try hong kong to his final working days as a respected judge at the english bar. This book also covers the aging process what happens to us as our bodies begin to give out yet we feel as young as ever do you think the author did a good job of painting that picture. Gardam explains the title on the first page, so nothing will be spoiled for potential readers by recounting it. Sep 05, 2009 despite dying at the end of the book, filth popped up again in the title story of the.
If you want to read another book by jane gardam about old filth, the man in the wooden hat tells the story of old filths marriage, but from the point of view of his wife. We try to provide as many as we can an in a timely manner on our discussion questions page, but most of the time discussion questions arent even available for books until it comes out in paperback. Now, only the oldest qcs and silks can remember that his nickname stood for failed in london try hong kong. This study guide consists of approximately 84 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of old filth. Join us for a reading group discussion of the man in the wooden hat by jane gardam. The haunting first novel was the story of a decadeslong marriage that stretched from the immediate postworld war ii period into the opening of the twentyfirst century. If old filth was eddie featherss book, and the man in the wooden. The novels opening sentence reads, history has failed us, but no matter. Futility, or the wreck of the titanthats all one title, or of course dr.
The marvelously versatile gardam faith fox, 2003, etc. Jane gardam the title, first of all, is an acronym, and stands for failed in london, try hong kong. Old filth was followed by the man in the woman hat in 2009 and last. Despite dying at the end of the book, filth popped up again in the title story of the. Old filth is the story of sir edward feathers, a successful lawyer and then judge, now retired. This second book is from the perspective of sir edwards wife, betty elisabeth macintosh. Our july pick for the pbs newshournew york times book club. The title is the nickname and old joke of the central character failed in london, try hong kong a former judge.
They also left out an entire subplot of bruces tapeworm which had its own conscience. Nov 26, 2004 mild, ageing eccentrics are jane gardams forte. The story begins when filth is an old man, living alone in the english countryside, his beloved wife betty recently dead, then alternates fluidly between old age and childhood and youth, which had its bright spots. I havent seen any discussion about this film, and i think it has so much to talk about. It was adapted into a 20 film of the same name, directed by jon s. Jane gardam wrote an incredibly subtle book about the raj orphan edward feathers, a. The man in the wooden hat is the companion piece to jane gardams wonderful novel old filth, about sir edward feathers, a raj orphan who becomes first a highly regarded barrister in hong kong and then an important judge at home england. Discussion questions for pachinko the new york times. The title is jarring to the eye, but, filth is an acronym enjoyed by the law community in britain which means failed in london, try hong kong.