The Master Butchers Singing Club-Chapter 2-SPOILERS

[Curmudgeoness]

This thread is set up for discussion of the book by Louise Erdrich, and will be posted chapter by chapter (as I finish them or if you want to participate, you can post an OP for the next chapter). This way, we can see how our opinions of the book and characters change or not over time. If you are joining the discussion, stop after each chapter and post before going on so you don't have more information than anyone else reading this.


Chapter 2

The only thing that comes to mind is

Delphine and Cyprian are a very odd couple indeed. I keep reading and wondering what is drawing them to each other. Although Delphine seems to be too willing to be in love, seeming to naively crave it, she certainly held up well and with poise when everyone in the street was appalled by Cyprian's exhibition at the window, as well as when she saw what was happening between Cyprian and his lover. In fact, I really liked her when she nonchalantly sat and started talking to them. That was such a hilarious scene---I could just imagine it.

Cyprian is a balancer who does not seem to be entirely balanced, and Delphine is the tough rock under his, but I am not sure that she is so tough. These are two characters who I can't wait to find more information about.

[fadedrose]

1. I think it was sad...she was a real champ to sit down with them....

Chyprian - I go along with not "entirely balanced." You can't through life doing handstands without seeing eveything upside-down and peoples knees...

The trouble would start, if they marry, when he meets someone he really falls for, very likely, too. He and his lover on the park bench, unclothed, must have been shocking to her. This was probably one of many casual lovers.

You know, I think I might go back and read again about his military service now that I'm thinking about it..

Oh, who are the two characters you're curious about?

I just can wait till the butchers get together for the first time. Am looking forward to it...

Onto Chapter 3.......

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I am very curious about Cyprian and Delphine....

they are so improbable together, except for the performances. Of course, it is apparent now that a marriage would be just a matter of convenience for them both. But Delphine seems to have her head together and although she seemed to have no idea that men had sex with other men, I think she figured that all out. I would not be surprised that she no longer expects a lover from Cyprian. But I was quite impressed with her behavior when she saw them----because this was all new to her and she was so nonchalant, or was it cruel and meant to humiliate Cyprian?

We will have to wait to see how their story unfolds.

[fadedrose]

2. Guess what!! My discussion of Chapter 2 got lost when I got jury notification

After I got notified, I was pulled anyway and didn't have to serve, but couldn't retrieve the originial post. Didn't have time to post it to your OP.

From memory, it went something like this (I usually edit 4 o 5 times till it makes sense, this one doesn't):

Oh no, Ed Sullivan, acrobats, the part I hated most...

Cyprian and Delphine are in a hotel room to do their thing, she hopes, and instead he does a handstand stunt with the windows open, curtains blowing, where the whole street sees him doing handstands naked from the window. Delphine tells the purple landlady it's war damage. They drew a big crowd that night...

Delphine's mom died when she was young leaving her dad so full of self-pity he does not recognize her needs or appreciate the things she does to try to make him happy. She joins a town theatre group and meets Cyprian. He was in the service, he's an Ojibwe indian, and I forget something in the chapter that talked about citizenship. This was WWII before some laws were changed, I think.

There's a bar scene in another town where Delphine sits with another woman with ugly lips and lipstick. Cyprian isn't there. Later she sees 2 men on a bench, unclothed, in peculair positions, and one of them is Cyprian. She goes to the bench and chats with them. How sad I felt for her. She thought that since they had sex ONCE that everything would be cool, but that didn't happen. He apparently liked her and her strong stomach (to hold chairs) and he needed her for protection. He treated her very kindly, bought her things, worried about her, etc.,. but he wasn't a lover.

A benefit for a group if gays were allowed to marry would be that group of straights who were not truly spouses, just have a marriage license.

If they marry, it won't last. He'll find someone else soon because it seems he's always looking...

Was relieved to see Fidelis name coming up in Chapter 3...Onward!!

[Curmudgeoness]

4. I know all about how a jury summons will mess with everything.

If I am in the middle of a post, I just ignore it completely----I don't even say I pass, I just go on like the blue banner isn't there.

I also feel sorry for Delphine since it is obvious that she will not find what she wants and needs in Cyprian. But you are right, he does seem to like her very much----and I think it is more than just her acrobatic ability and the protection having a woman in his life will afford. I think that he genuinely likes her, or maybe even loves her---just not in the sexual way. But he does try, and that is saying a lot about his feelings for her.

Do you think that he is always looking for a love like a marriage kind of love? Or do you think that he is always looking for a lover---a casual lover? I could see him staying with her as long as she accepts what he is, and is not. I don't know if she would be happy to be loved but not made love to.