Lively two plus hour discussion of the book "Pope Joan". Almost all of us liked the book....but, after it stimulated so much discussion, I believe that we all agreed that it was an excellent book. We see so much more through each other's eyes. Feel free to add comments to this posting. Click down below.
Previous posting listed the books suggested by Judy for our November book. It was a close vote between "Olive Kitteridge" and "The Housekeeper and the Professor" by Yoko Ogowa http://www.amazon.com/Housekeeper-Professor-Novel-Yoko-Ogawa/dp/0312427808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254105396&sr=1-1 "The H and P" won. Kathy will request the books from the Thornton Library.
We welcome back Beverly O'Bryon who was part of our original book group. Also, happy to have Judy Hart with us. Judy lives in Washington State and joins us each year for our September meeting. Soon Celia will be off to Florida and we will not see her until late next Spring.
Our next meeting will be at Mary Jo's "Colonel Spencer Inn" on Sunday, October 25. The book to be discussed is "The Scapel and the Silver Bear". It will be Margarita time.... Contact Mary Jo to volunteer to bring a Mexican dish, appetizer, or dessert. She can also use tequila and Margarita Mix. Shall we dress creatively for the Mexican theme???
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Suggestions for our November Book
List of Books, by Judy Siegel
The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff
This sweeping epic is a compelling and original work set in 1875, when one woman attempts to rid America of polygamy. Ebershoff intertwines his tale with that of a 20th century murder mystery in Utah, allowing the two stories to twist and turn.
Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout
Thirteen linked tales present a heart-wrenching, penetrating portrait of ordinary coastal Mainers living lives of quiet grief intermingled with flashes of human connection. This is a novel told in stories, covering 30-odd years, most featuring Olive, a 7th grade math teacher in Crosby, Maine. These stories include gentle humor and a nourishing dose of hope.
The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga (Man Booker Prize)
In this darkly comic debut novel set in India, a chauffeur murders his employer. He recounts his background from an honest, hardworking boy growing up in rural India where education and electricity are equally scarce. Crooked and feudally powerful landlords control the village. His acute observations of the social order are both winning and unsettling. The caste system at work has only two groups: those who are eaten, and those who eat, or prey and predators.
How Green Was My Valley, by Richard Llewellyn
This bittersweet tale of a young man’s coming-of-age in a small Welsh mining town is a beautiful story told in words, which have Welsh music in them. The story itself (told through the eyes of a boy) is gripping as it carries us through the hardships and triumphs that bring a family closer together and at times, tear it apart. It’s a classic, which will leave a long lasting impression.
The Duchess, by Amanda Foreman
The Duchess of Devonshire, was born in the eighteenth century and died in the early nineteenth century, but her life was very modern in many ways. She was an open activist at a time when women were supposed to stay behind the scenes. She was a bold and flamboyant hostess who used her social prestige to advance her political agenda, and a beautiful but ultimately self-destructive woman whose emotions helped shape British history. This recently was made into a movie starring Keira Knightley.
The Housekeeper and the Professor: A Novel, by Yoko Ogawa
This was first published in Japanese in 2003 and won the prestigious 2004 Yomiuri Prize. Ogawa weaves a poignant tale of beauty, heart and sorrow. It is narrated by the Housekeeper and the characters are known only as the Professor and Root, the Housekeeper’s 10 year old son. A brilliant mathematician, the Professor was injured in a car accident and his short-term memory only lasts 80 minutes. He can remember his theorems and his favorite baseball players, but the Housekeeper must reintroduce herself every morning, sometimes several times a day. Ogawa lifts the window shade to allow readers to observe the characters for a short while, then closes the shade.
The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff
This sweeping epic is a compelling and original work set in 1875, when one woman attempts to rid America of polygamy. Ebershoff intertwines his tale with that of a 20th century murder mystery in Utah, allowing the two stories to twist and turn.
Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout
Thirteen linked tales present a heart-wrenching, penetrating portrait of ordinary coastal Mainers living lives of quiet grief intermingled with flashes of human connection. This is a novel told in stories, covering 30-odd years, most featuring Olive, a 7th grade math teacher in Crosby, Maine. These stories include gentle humor and a nourishing dose of hope.
The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga (Man Booker Prize)
In this darkly comic debut novel set in India, a chauffeur murders his employer. He recounts his background from an honest, hardworking boy growing up in rural India where education and electricity are equally scarce. Crooked and feudally powerful landlords control the village. His acute observations of the social order are both winning and unsettling. The caste system at work has only two groups: those who are eaten, and those who eat, or prey and predators.
How Green Was My Valley, by Richard Llewellyn
This bittersweet tale of a young man’s coming-of-age in a small Welsh mining town is a beautiful story told in words, which have Welsh music in them. The story itself (told through the eyes of a boy) is gripping as it carries us through the hardships and triumphs that bring a family closer together and at times, tear it apart. It’s a classic, which will leave a long lasting impression.
The Duchess, by Amanda Foreman
The Duchess of Devonshire, was born in the eighteenth century and died in the early nineteenth century, but her life was very modern in many ways. She was an open activist at a time when women were supposed to stay behind the scenes. She was a bold and flamboyant hostess who used her social prestige to advance her political agenda, and a beautiful but ultimately self-destructive woman whose emotions helped shape British history. This recently was made into a movie starring Keira Knightley.
The Housekeeper and the Professor: A Novel, by Yoko Ogawa
This was first published in Japanese in 2003 and won the prestigious 2004 Yomiuri Prize. Ogawa weaves a poignant tale of beauty, heart and sorrow. It is narrated by the Housekeeper and the characters are known only as the Professor and Root, the Housekeeper’s 10 year old son. A brilliant mathematician, the Professor was injured in a car accident and his short-term memory only lasts 80 minutes. He can remember his theorems and his favorite baseball players, but the Housekeeper must reintroduce herself every morning, sometimes several times a day. Ogawa lifts the window shade to allow readers to observe the characters for a short while, then closes the shade.
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