Meeting 3: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

August 13, 2008

9:00 start time--Naitch is not present (work, but read book)

--Eric passes out paper of 6 questions. Time is given to write responses.

--Eric grabs a handful of candy to use throughout the meeting as incentives.

--Last question is ripped-off and passed to Eric to use as discussion points.

(Food on table: 1) veggie pizza; 2) chicken fingers with honey mustard; 3) salami rolls with cream cheese)

1. Andrea volunteers to read question 1--receives candy
--"creative nonfiction"
---appealing, interesting, annoying, misleading? debated
---enjoyed literary devices-creative elements made you less empathetic
---feelings not made up

2. Sarah volunteers to read question 2--receives candy
--blunt/open
---he sensationalized everything, couldn't come to get a grip on his own life
---double standard: wanted people to feel bad, but then didn't like it when they did
---characitured himself
---he is very self-aware

9:18pm (An has not commented; Andrea draws a picture of Eric)
3. Eric appoints An to read question 3-receives candy
--An: everyone needs to improve
---generational-"out for himself" to make others do the same
---as he reflects on the book/experiences he might not think so highly of himself
---magazine=symbol?
---can be viewed as a douchebag
---don't we all have insane thoughts? --easy to relate to; doesn't want to be like his parents; doesn't want his brother to be taken away...

4. Adam volunteers to read question 4-grabs his own candy
--feelings about mom/dad
---loves his mom more
---book is an "f" you to his dad
---cathartic act for grief of mom
---tangent--ashes of mom-do siblings care about his parents?
---Bill worse than sister? Dave chose to take Toph
---Whishes he could talk to an adult

5. Courtney reads question 5-no candy
--wants to be selfless, but he thinks selfishly
Friends with David: Courntey, Adam, An (but not close)
Not David's Friends: Andrea, Eric, Sarah (would want to be)

--Eric reads our questions...

Courtney: what will Toph be like as an adult?
-"f"ed up (emotional obstacles)
-Toph doesn't know anything else
-Toph is now 23

Andrea: Did Dave have Toph's interest in mind? Did he fill mom's shoes?
-parents can say 100% effort
-Dave still needed his brother
-He felt best suited to take Toph
-Tries to protect Toph
-Tried to be like his father on X-Mas
-He missed out on his life

An: What do you think about sister Beth?
-hard to tell-through his eyes
-serious

Sarah: If a friend was reading the book, what would you say to them?
-hot/cold read
-preface--funny or not?

--Would you have your parents read it?

9:55pm-Adam Todd calls; Comments: Doesn't act on things he gets passionate about

--Heavily editing would lose some charm
(Andrea gives her drawing of Eric a body)

STARS
Courtney: 4.5
An: 4.25
ABT: 5 (proved doubters wrong)
Eric: 5
Sarah: 4
Adam: 3.5
Andrea: 3

10:03pm--Next book: Meet 1st week of October
An: Friday Night Lights

10:08pm--Meeting close