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Author Topic: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)  (Read 8602 times)

Clovis8

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The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« on: March 01, 2010, 12:45:11 PM »


Discuss away.

Clovis8

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Re: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2010, 12:44:09 AM »
FCM suggest I write a brief intro to help kick start the discussion.

First let me recommend that you but the physical book and not audio book as there are maps and photographs which add a lot. 

Why did I choose this book?

I have not read it and wanted to.

There are a number of reasons I was curious about this book. First, it is about the obsessive search for a lost culture something I share. I have spent too much of my life in search of the remains of the first people to inhabit the Americas, called the Clovis people (which is where I get my username).

Second, I am a big fan of explorer literature, especially Victorian era. I have read all about Shakelton's attempts to find the South Pole, Franklin's to find the North Pole, Darwins voyages, and various others. The story of The Lost City of Z and Fawcett's attempt to find it is legendary among this group. He was a real life Indiana Jones.

Third, the book was on many top 10 of the years lists when it first came out.

What are some of the interesting things we can chat about?

I am hoping the book touches on how native people were and are viewed including the idea of the noble savage that is so common. I think there is a chance for a discussion of genius and obsession. Finally, we can discuss what drives exploration when there is no financial gain.




Clovis8

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Re: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2010, 02:06:06 PM »
Here is an image of the location of Dead Horse Camp (the starting point of Fawcett's expedition) and a link so you can explore the area in google maps if you like. You can see it has been altered by humans a lot since Fawcett's time.

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=-11.652236,-54.624023&spn=0.930723,1.234589&z=10

« Last Edit: March 02, 2010, 03:18:01 PM by Clovis8 »

Clovis8

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Re: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2010, 03:16:45 PM »
I am only 4 chapters in but it is pretty amazing that his brother wrote a novel that basically predicted his expedition. Truth is stranger than ficiton! If they leave that in the movie people will think it is made up.

Also, here is another google link to the source of the Amazon.

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&q=-15.518056,-71.765278&ie=UTF8&ll=-15.518056,-71.765278&spn=0.228918,0.308647&z=12

smirnoff

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Re: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2010, 03:44:56 PM »
I'm avoiding looking at the cast list for the Lost City of Z until I finish the book. I don't want to know who plays fawcett until I'm done.

Clovis8

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Re: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2010, 10:33:52 PM »
Damn this book is good. I cant put it down.

Abomination

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Re: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2010, 12:21:49 AM »
I bought it and started reading it a bit, but I want to finish The Year of Living Biblically before I really focus on it. 

I should be able to finish it with plenty of time to discuss it though.

Colleen

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Re: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2010, 09:46:43 AM »
Status:  In transit 
Ship Carrier: UPS
Tracking ID: 1ZA7228W0378282567
Latest Event:  Forest Park GA
Out for delivery - Mar 03, 2010 6:28:00 AM 


Amazon orders make me giddy for some reason.

ses

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Re: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« Reply #8 on: March 03, 2010, 03:05:19 PM »
Mine came in the mail today!
"It's a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart"

http://sarahskitchenadventures.blogspot.com/

Colleen

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Re: The Lost City of Z (March Book Club)
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2010, 03:19:22 PM »
Mine will be there when I get home...in the next 10 minutes.

 

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