Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

[Guest]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Sunshine,
I agree with while reading "waiting in Vain" you begin to care about Fire & Sylvia (if they ever finaly get together). They were more likeable (to me) than Carey & Frances.

I think the reason I pushed on & finished was because of waiting in vain. I kept reading thinking eventually enough of the characters would come to light for me to like them. I hated the ending.

Magic & BND,
I wasn't sure how Carey died. It explained Kwabena & Nazia's deaths. But (at least for me ) It wasn't clear about Carey.

[Magician]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

You know what. What I read the book initially I was under the impression that when Carey ran outside Kwabena was still alive and he shut him. But I just reread that part now and it it says the Carey took the gun with him when he ran outside and the last thing he remembers was the cold of teh metal agains his head, which makes me think he shot himself.

Who knows. That ending was stupid.

[rayna]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Good Day Folks. I’m here. I know a little late. But anyway, here are some thoughts on Satisfy My Soul by Colin Channer.

Whereas SMS wouldn’t rank as one of my favorites. WIV would for the love story. I did get something out of SMS. I found the book to be a little soul searching and sometime confusing. It seemed to me that Carey was searching for peace. Never did find it until he died (so he thinks). To kill oneself, in my belief, doesn’t qualify for an eternal life. Channer spoke on religion quite a lot. Frances was a lost soul. Carey found his destiny in her. It was like she was the kiss of death. Carey wasn’t living too peaceful before he hooked up with Frances and it was all downhill from there. Kwabena, a good soul, despaired and gave up. What’s with the names? Carey, the guy. And Frances Carey. I missed something here. Also the initials SMS, remind me of the mutilation sex thing. Nazia seemed the sanest. Crazy stuff in this book. Kind of morbid too. But it did make me reflect on my innermost thoughts and feelings. That was a good thing.

On the night you’re set to go to the gallows you get a set of choices.
A last book.
A last song.
A last meal with any writer living or dead.
The chance to sleep with anyone in the whole wide world.

My favorite part is when Carey was with Amaranta. And she says “ride all over me” and “find water." I thought that was reeeeal sexy.

Can’t say I could keep up with this book 100% but I can give it a C+ also.

[BND1999]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Rayna. some good thoughts.. I'd have to agree with you about the characters.. but I didn't get the feeling Carey found peace in his death.. no souls were satisfied here.. just lost souls... and the line you remembered about "find water" that stuck in my head a long time..

[rayna]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Hey BND1999: On Carey finding peace I wrote:
It seemed to me that Carey was searching for peace. Never did find it until he died (so he thinks). I don't think he found it either. He was left searching still. He wrote I cannot find my father. I cannot find Frances. I cannot see my children.

I liked when he wrote: You, who have read the story of my life, what have you learned from my mistakes?

[BND1999]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Very good points Rayna.. I read this book a month ago and I forgot some of the finer details you mentioned.. Thanks for your insights..

[weezie]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Glad I'm not the only one who had trouble with this selection. Found the book difficult to follow, very disjointed, and generally unrealistic.

I tried to draw themes out, anyway. What was the lesson or theme? Was Carey a victim in the sense that he never had anyone to trust, even his best friend betrayed him with his jealousy?

Was it unrequited love? From his search for "the last woman" to his struggle with his friend to his eventual death and the spirits not reunited once again?

Was it betrayal? His betrayal of his friend with his wife, his betrayal of Frances when she falls for him and his fleeing from her once she makes her love known, his friend's betrayal of jealousy in the "friendship", the friend's adultery....

I don't know. This whole book seemed like a house of mirrors. Nothing was what it seemed. Was that the point? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Guest]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Because I read & enjoyed waiting in Vain I kept reading / thinking things would improve. I kept thinking that things would eventually work out. I was very disapointed at the ending.

[sunshinegal]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Since I didn't finish it (yet, I have this thing about finishing stuff that I start.... maybe not for a long time, but eventually) I was wondering about the theme of Frances and Carey having been together in another life - did Channer ever elaborate on that? I thought that it was interesting but not fully developed, at least up to the point I got.

I do have one good thing to say about this book - and his other novel and short story - which is that he can write some pretty deep and steamy erotic scenes. It is too bad that the characters were not believable to me...

[Pepper]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Hi All,

I am still struggling through this book. Not enjoying this read at all. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] I don't really care for Channer's writing style. Just like in Waiting in Vain, it seems like he is making too much effort trying to be sensual and/or erotic. Thus far, like most of you, I could care less what really happens in this book.

I skimmed through some of the posts, trying not to read too much because I am deterimined to finish. Will return to this thread when I am done.

[yardgal]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

When I read Waiting in Vain, I thought that it was great a description of the Jamaican lifestyle,i.e. laidback. I thought it was a great book. In this book,Satisfy My Soul I really wonder if Colin Channer was on this planet. The story was confusing. I read it real fast hoping it would eventually get good. I have reread it since then and I could not quite grasp it. The characters were not real. The relationships are not real.

[yardgal]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

When I read Waiting in Vain, I thought that it was a great description of the Jamaican lifestyle,i.e. laidback. I thought it was a great book. In this book,Satisfy My Soul I really wonder if Colin Channer was on this planet. The story was confusing. I read it real fast hoping it would eventually get good. I have reread it since then and I could not quite grasp it. The characters were not real. The relationships are not real.

[Pepper]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

OK, one week later I finally finished the book.

I skimmed through the last scene where Carey and Frnaces were together. Did he storm out only because she would not get baptised? How rediculous is that?

Then he goes and kotches at his friends house. Why would he stay there, I thought he had his own place. He stayed with his friend but did not talk to anyone in the family. Was it because he was lonely? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

One would expect a man like Carey to go out on a woman binge after he finally falls in love and it does not work out. Instead he goes into solitude. Something along the lines of woman chasing and then realizing that with Frances he had the real thing; run back to her and make compromises. That would have been more realistic.

In the end, like Magic said, who cares who really killed him. The whole thing was stupid.

[Pepper]

Re: Book Club Discussion #1 - Satisfy My Soul

Sunshine, it's a good thing you were not able to secure Channer for this discussion.

He was in my area last night for a book reading. Did not think this book was worth the 30 minute drive.