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Monday, January 5, 2009

Breathing Lessons Question #2

What parts of the book have made you laugh?

Scroll down the blog for more discussion questions.

Request: When you reference something in the book, please let us know where it is so we can all read along. Include the chapter number, page number, and the paragraph number. Like this: (C3, P245, G3) Thanks!

19 comments:

Rissalee said...

The conversation between Ira and Maggie (C1,P7). I especially love Ira's point of view..."They'd announce a thing like that on the radio?" "That seems kind of...self-important, if you want my honest opinion." "Well, I don't know why everyone has to go spilling their guts in public these days." Made me chuckle!

Unknown said...

Since I am only in Part 1, I was wondering IF indeed that was Maggie's daughter on the phone-in radio show, or if Maggie just thought it was... I don't know if it will reveal it later on, but I'm not sold on whether it was really the daughter or not.

Rissalee said...

fth: Hmm...good thoughts...especially given Maggie's tendency to "embellish" and to see/hear things how she *wants* to see/hear them.

Rissalee said...

"She shook the map with a crackle. He always talked like that about her girlfriends. He acted downright jealous of them. She suspected he thought women got together on the sly and gossiped about their husbands. Typical: He was so self-centered. Although sometimes it did happen, of course." (C1, P27, G5)

Rissalee said...

(P74, G2)

"The blond children in front were tittering. They probably found this whole event hilarious. Maggie had an urge to slam the nearest one flat over the head with a hymnbook."

Rissalee said...

I laughed so hard at the scene between Serena and Max as they walked down the aisle at their wedding's end. OMG. So funny. (P121,G5)

Rissalee said...

OMG, the whole scene with Maggie trying to get even with the motorist and then feeling so guilty about it and then having to rectify it and then the way she goes about it. I was exhausted just reading about it all!! (P138...)

Rissalee said...

(P199) When Maggie got "twig" and "stick" mixed up and called Fiona a "twick."

Rissalee said...

(P244)

"Maggie laughed when she repeated the story to Ira, but Ira hadn't seen the humor. He took offense first on Dorrie's account (he didn't like the word 'retarded') and then on his own. Why was it the father who was retarded? Why not the mother, was probably what he meant...much more realistic, given Maggie's shortcomings. Or maybe he didn't mean that at all, but Maggie imagined he did, and it developed into a quarrel."

Rissalee said...

(P26) Fiona screaming "I don't want Daddy. I want Grandma!"

And Maggie's thoughts on the magazines tips for "How to Keep the Zing in Your Marriage." ("Ira would think she had lost her mind.")

(P274) Junie feeling faint at the horse races and spreading out on the bleachers with her parasol and Dorrie with her endless row of marshmallows.

Rissalee said...

(P308) When Maggie hands the young cashier her coupon and he hands it back and says thanks. LOL!

Rissalee said...

(P315) Maggie trying to master the answering machine.

(P321) Ira's line: "All he sleeps with that I've ever heard of is an auto greeter."

gigi said...

c1, p4 "another problem was that the crotch of her panty hose had somehow slipped to about the middle of her thighs, so she had to take shortened, unnaturally level steps like a chunky little wind-up toy wheeling along the sidewalk'.
funny mental scenario and i've actually had this happen to me, so it made me lol!

Rissalee said...

Gigi: That's a good one! So easy to imagine! And now after your confessing comment, I can try to imagine it happening to YOU! Just kidding!!! :o)

Unknown said...

The whole scene with Maggie backing out of Fiona's driveway... "She swung onto the packed dirt yard and around the Maverick, proceeding perhaps a bit too fast but still in control. Then she reached with her foot for the brake. There wasn't one. Or there was, but it was positioned wrong, closer than she expected, considering that the seat was moved back. Her foot hit the shaft instead of the pedal and the car raced on unimpeded. Ira shouted, "What the ---?" Maggie, with her gaze still fixed on the rearview mirror, saw the blur as he dove for cover. Whap! the mailbox said when she hit it. Leroy said, "Golly!" (PIII, C3, P303).

Maybe it was the anticipation of what was about to happen and that only an imbecile would hit the mailbox... but I was laughing out loud during this scene! And probably can relate since I am not the best backer-upper! Poor Fiona... if she only knew then what she was getting herself into! I think idiotic car wrecks/problems must be a motif in the book!

Unknown said...

RISSALEE: I also laughed about the coupon... Again, maybe a motif!? It made me realize how long of a DAY this must have been for them. And if this is just one glimpse of one day in their lives, then their life must be full of "HUMOR!" (Though I don't think Ira would agree!)

Rissalee said...

fth: that second car crash scene had me ROLLING! I just KNEW she was going to hit that thing. I was stunned Fiona didn't just get out of the car right then and there.

Susan said...

The funniest parts of the book chronicled Maggie's driving ability. She's definitely dangerous when she gets behind the wheel.

I also enjoyed the part with the old man and the loose wheel. It was funny how their guilt got the best of them and they stayed with him so long.

Rissalee said...

Susan: I agree with you. I was rolling at the second car crash (mailbox). When it comes to driving, I think I know a few people like Maggie, the people you wish would let everyone know when they're going to be on the road, so the rest of us can stay off it!