Barney's version book club discussion

The sense of an ending what do people think of the ending. Both are excellent even though i enjoyed the book more than its cinematic version. Readers may never love barney panofsky, the selfdestructive, selfloathing, derisive, womanizing, hottempered antihero of richlers latest novel. I read mordecai s barney s version and i saw the movie. In flashbacks we see a young barney and friends in rome, where an early affair ends in. Barney s version of events may be viewed as that of two unreliable narrators, in that his recollections are told from varying mental states and then posthumously edited by his son. A good, at times better, canadian cover version of an american favorite. Read an excerpt author interviews more about this book.

The questions, discussion topics, and reading list that follow are intended to enhance your reading groups discussion of mordecai richlers hilarious novel, barneys version, which is soon to be a major motion picture. Barney panofsky the main character in the book who is the most dramatic and entertaining. He has two grown children and an exwife, now in new york city with her second husband. Charged with comic energy and a steely disregard for any pieties whatsoever, barney s version is a major richler novel, the most personal and feeling book of a long and distinguished career.

I must note that it is not difficult to notice the similarity between mordecai s barney s version and bellow s masterpiece herzog, both in terms of the protagonist and in terms of the writing style. The story of barney panofsky, mordecai richlers mercurial comic creation, sets an astringent standard of political incorrectness in present. We drop right into a scene of barney s tv show, the long running soap omalley of the north. There is the lingering question of a certain murder, which barney may or may not have committed, but thats not as big a deal as it sounds. Barneys version by mordecai richler the pluviophile writer. He later said of the debate between canadian federalism and quebec separatism. Barneys version won the 1997 scotiabank giller prize and was a canada reads 2004 finalist.

Barney s version is a narrative, where the protagonist gives a summary of his life and what he has achieved so far. Jul 04, 2009 just a reminder that the barneys online book club discussion of the late, lamented molly marx will take place on monday, july 27th. I must note that it is not difficult to notice the similarity between mordecais barney s version and bellows masterpiece herzog, both in terms of the protagonist and in terms of the writing style. Sep 23, 2009 mordecai richler 19312001 enjoys a welldeserved international reputation. If you would like to take part in the online book discussion, please send us an email. In montreal, barney panofsky produces a longrunning soap. Barneys online book club july 2009 discussion date reminder just a reminder that the barneys online book club discussion of the late, lamented molly marx will. The most interesting thing barnes tried to do was show the inconsistencies of memory that we all experience. Barneys version, by mordecai richler kevinfromcanada.

Barney s version is a 2010 canadian comedydrama film directed by richard j. Barneys version covers a wide, seemingly unfocused swath of time and space. To ask other readers questions about barneys version, please sign up. Barney panofsky is a hard living, curmudgeonly television producer, and barneys version is the story of his lifes successes and failures, professional and personal. Barneys version by michael konyves based on the novel by. Barneys version is his 10th novel, his first since 1989s solomon gursky was here, and. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. The author of 10 adult novels and numerous other works including three childrens books, he has come to be regarded as a voice who captured the jewish and indeed, nonfrancophone experience in quebec most particularly with duddy kravitz, but also solomon gursky in a way. Barney s version is richlers giller prize winning version of saul bellows national book award winning classic, herzog. Taking place in montreal, barney is a hard drinking, hard smoking, foul mouthed, confused writer and producer, who is given up life struggles with numerous obstacles as the story goes on and nothing seems to be going his way. I will send participants a link shortly before the start of the group.

Based on mordecai richler s award winning novel his last and, arguably, best barney s version is the warm, wise and witty story of the politically incorrect life of barney panofsky. Mordecai richler 19312001 enjoys a welldeserved international reputation. All are welcome to join in the discussion and anyone who would like me to send them an email when the discussion questions are posted can leave their email address in the comments section. You can rquest your kit in person at the informationreference desk or by calling 7808750877. Based on mordecai richlers award winning novel his last and, arguably, best barneys version is the warm, wise and witty story of the politically incorrect life of barney panofsky. Barneys version is his 10th novel, his first since 1989s solomon gursky was here, and while it is attracting richlers usual share of automatic fans and detractors, there also seems to be. Barneys version is based on a 1997 novel by mordecai richler, whose the apprenticeship of duddy kravitz 1959 is also the life story of a flawed but lovable jewish character from montreal. Lewis, based on the novel of the same name by mordecai richler. Mordecai richler booklist mordecai richler message board. I had read recently that a film adaptation of barneys version by. Gary clement kicks off his summer book tour with richlers last workclick image below to enlargerelateda full archive of gary clements cartoons and portraits.

Barney tells his story after the onset of alzheimer s disease, and then his notes are reedited by his son, so it s hard to know what s 100% accurate. The novel barneys version by mordecai richler is an exquisite illustration of an authors attention to detail in regard to the first person narrative. Jul 05, 2009 barneys online book club july 2009 discussion date reminder just a reminder that the barneys online book club discussion of the late, lamented molly marx will take place on monday, july 27th. American library association book discussion groups a great resource on book clubs and includes a bibliography of resources for further research. I read mordecais barney s version and i saw the movie. Barneys version is an autobiographical account written in old age, and annotated with footnotes by his priggish and obsessive son. So you think kids in the hall and saturday night live. Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about html5. A very unreliable character who is responsible for the narration of the book, leaving readers unsure on whether to trust him not. The bigbudget film adaptation of richlers final novel, barneys version, has brought with it an avalanche of new vintage paperbacks, with paul giamatti smirking wryly from the peak of a stacked. Barney s version won the 1997 scotiabank giller prize and was a canada reads 2004 finalist. During a cbc radio panel discussion, richler was practically canonized. Its no surprise it took years to bring mordecai richlers last novel, barneys version, to the screen.

It showed itself first, as richler himself admitted, in his childrens books, the. This, however, was shown with far more skill and humour by mordecai richler in barney s version. Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about html5 video. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Barney panofsky giamatti is living with his best friend boogie speedman in rome. A nasty cop has just published a book accusing barney of murder some years ago. Gursky was here 1989, and barneys version 1997 satirize the condition and.

H eartfelt and unashamedly sentimental, barneys version is an indulgent comedy based on the 1997 novel by mordechai richler with odd cameos for. What disturbs me most about mordecai richlers 1997 novel, barneys version, now available in a new paperback edition as well as a major motion picture with paul giamatti, is that it took me almost 15 years to get around to reading it. Barney coloring book, barneys birthday surprise, barney birthday party, barney present, 1990s golden coloring book, cute purple dinosaur vintagetoycorner 5. Solange wrapping a bandage how does that feel, omalley.

The book, with its erudite, unreliable narrator, who is justifying his life through a fog. I wanted to know if he was sensing a shift in critical and public reaction to him now that his new book barneys version has been published. The constable, omalley, mid50 s and still handsome, is being tended to by a female nurse played by solange 52, making a house call to the local bar. Barney s version a novel by mordecai richler biographical criticism 19312001 barney mordecai raised on st. Winner of the 1998 commonwealth writers prize for best book canada. Mordecai richler s 1997 novel barney s version which barney s version is based on plays with the idea of the unreliable narrator. Jan 27, 2011 the bigbudget film adaptation of richler s final novel, barney s version, has brought with it an avalanche of new vintage paperbacks, with paul giamatti smirking wryly from the peak of a stacked. The books and folder are packaged in a canvas carrying bag. Barneys version vintage international paperback may 4, 2010. Underlying the story of barney s three marriages is the mysterious disappearance of his friend. The film was nominated for the golden lion at the 67th venice international film festival. Before his brain began to shrink, barney panofsky clung to two cherished beliefs.

The popular reading library has selected titles in sets of 10 copies for an extended loan period of six weeks. It is barneys side of the murder and his life, and it leads up to and devolves from that fateful evening when, far from being angry, he felt joy in a bedroom scene that would be his ticket to live with miriam. In the final chapter with one sentence mike panofsky describes his father with pinpoint accuracy. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Barneys story is told in retrospect, in the form of a response to a book written by a cop who is convinced barney murdered his best friend. Dec 24, 2010 it s no surprise it took years to bring mordecai richler s last novel, barney s version, to the screen. This is a unique story of friendship and love through the eyes of an imperfect man. Book club sets are offered as a service to book club groups. The story is written as if it is an autobiography by barney panofsky recounting his life in varying detail. The ending also offers a jawdropping conclusion, which i wont spoil. But by the end of what he calls this story of my w. I would therefore recommend to anyone considering reading a sense of an ending to just go ahead and read barney s version instead.

Barney panofsky is a hard living, curmudgeonly television producer, and. You could almost call this book a murdermystery as the event of barneys friends death is constantly up for discussion in the book. The questions, discussion topics, and reading list that follow are intended to enhance your reading groups discussion of mordecai richlers hilarious novel. Underlying the story of barney s three marriages is the mysterious disappearance of his friend boogie. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He is wealthy and basically has everything he has ever.

Barney s version is richler s giller prize winning version of saul bellow s national book award winning classic, herzog. An analysis of barneys version by mordecai richler kibin. Barney comes to life reboot magic effect 2020 duration. Barney s version, a 2010 film based on the novel disambiguation page providing links to topics that could be referred to by the same search term this disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title barney s version. It has everything you could want from a novelhumor and poignancy, complexity and passion, eloquence and. Barney panofsky tells his life story, complete with three wives, three children, and a possibly murdered best friend. Barneys version presentation by alana hobson on prezi.