We had a lively discussion about the book, also about despotic regimes today, about the intolerance shown towards 'others' - that rise and fall throughout history - and we acknowledged that much of this type of cruelty and persecution continues as we speak. We also talked about the societal responses towards liberalism and increasing freedoms that swing away from true democracy towards more right-wing oppressive regimes. Just look at Europe today.......Look beyond....Look across the pond....

Regarding 'Perfectly Ordinary People' we agreed that the content of the book was intriguing - and a story well-worth exploring - but found a few aspects of the writing more difficult to get to grips with. For example the style was in part a bit clunky and contrived. The narrator, Ruth, came over as naive and not as interesting as her French 'grandparents'. (Was this a deliberate ploy to illustrate the generational divide?). The sections 'on cassette' were the main plot device upon which the entire story of Ruth's father, Guillaume/Billy's, life was explained. The focus on the homosexual community was a different slant on the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis upon this minority group and made for some gruelling reading. 

Even though we had a number of different opinions about the structure of the story telling, we concurred that the appalling treatment of outsiders within different communities and of Man's potential for extreme cruelty to suppress, control or eradicate those who they deem 'less human' was truly tragic. Notwithstanding, several members of the group 'enjoyed' this book and will recommend it to others.