March 20, 2017 Meeting at Diane's Campton Home

Submitted by Ann S:

Thanks to the generosity of Diane’s son, The River Run Book Club held another great meetng last Sunday at the house with the view on Orchard Street, Campton, NH.    Stephanie led the discussion on “An Invisible Thread”.  The general consensus was that it was an enjoyable easy read (but with grammatical errors) and that both Laura and Maurice were exceptional people.  While a few believe the story exactly as written, others believe that situations not complimentary to both parties may have been omitted.  It was important to keep in mind that they met in the NYC of the 1970s, so different from today.   As always there was much to discuss – Maurice’s devotion to his mother and grandmother, his ability to escape the family drug business.  And the questions - why would Laura marry a man who will not let Maurice into his home, why didn’t she know before the marriage that he didn’t want additional children. 

Next Meeting:    Sunday, April 24^th

Book:                   Destiny of the Republic (Marilyn will contact library and request books)

Place:                   Carol’s log house, if available.  If not, we will meet at a local restaurant.

May Meeting:     Sunday, May 22 (29^th being Memorial Day)

Book:                   The Last Policeman by Ben Winters

Place:                   Judy has volunteered to host

February 28, 2016, Meeting at Colonel Spencer Inn

Submitted by Ann S.

Last Sunday a small group of vibrant women met at a historic inn in Campton, NH.  After catching up with friends and enjoying good wine and food they retired to the living room in front of a welcoming fire to discuss a story about Fidelis Waldvogel, a member of The Master Butchers Singing Club.

Or did we discuss the story of Delphine Watzka?

The author Louise Erdrich (herself of German and Native American ancestry) gave us much to talk about -  WWI, the European immigrants who settled the west, how singing together can overcome differences, WWII, acrobats, homosexuals, alcoholics, love, death, abandonment, murder, family dynamics (biological and non-).  The symbolism of the characters was noted - i.e. Delphine who starts out as the strong woman in a vaudeville act carries the strength of the novel; Step-and-a-Half's character takes abandoned things and makes them worth something again (rescue of the baby Delphine); Cyprian (a balancing expert) balances his life to hide his sexual preference. 

There were questions - why did people in this small town not wonder how a baby suddenly appears in the home of a single man?  Wouldn't it be nice to know what happened to Clarisse after she leaves for Minneapolis?  Does Erich go back to Germany when he gets out of POW camp?  Where is Cyprian, does he find love?

Thanks MaryJo, it was a wonderful afternoon.  Special thanks to Carol for the amazing appetizer (I'm not telling what, it's description does not do it justice).  And to Claire for the special "digestif" from So. Africa. 

Business:

1.  As Easter is the last Sunday in March, the next meeting is moved to March 20.  The Book for review is "An Invisible Thread".

2.  March 20 meeting will be held at the Devine Diane's previous residence in Campton.  Thanks Diane, it will be great to see it again.

3.  The book chosen for April is "Destiny of the Republic"