May 31, 2020.....Zoom Meeting, Carol's Book.....Pompeii

submitted by Ann

 Our meeting Sunday was coordinated by Lori who continues to be our contact for zoom and virus information.  We’ve all said it before but will say it again – THANKS LORI, it’s really helpful to have these discussions.  

Carol did a great job leading the review of this month’s selection – Pompeii.  Our group deemed the romance between Attilius and Corelia as not worthy of much discussion.  There was, however, much to be said about volcanoes, aqueducts and history.   Before the A.D. 79 eruption, the aqueduct system supplied the city of Rome with more water than was supplied to NY City in 1985.  

Pliney (the elder) wrote volumes on diverse subjects which exist to this day.  Pliney (the younger, who survived the eruption) vividly described the event in his letters which were discovered about 1495.  Harris’s descriptions of the eruption were accurate as described by Pliney.  Some of our group have been to Pompeii (not surprising) and were happy to share their experience.  We also got to view photos from Roz’s 2011 trip.  

The meeting continued with discussion regarding Covid 19.  Thankfully we are all well! Hopefully Lori we didn’t overdo with our questions.  Your knowledge and views are important to those of us who are at home getting mixed information from various media. 

One last thing:  While looking up additional information on Pompeii, I found a 2016 article stating that 1,800 ancient papyri scrolls found in a private library in Herculaneum (that Pliney tried to save?) were not totally destroyed and may eventually be read using high energy x-rays.

BUSINESS:

The book chosen for July discussion: 

     Run by Ann Patchett

The book for June 28 discussion (Zoom Mtg):

     The Engineer’s Wife

     by Tracey Emerson Wood

Diane has submitted her list for voting on at June meeting.

Please let Diane know if you did not receive it.

Cathy and Judy have exchanged dates – noted below:

                          Submit             Discuss

Ann S.............. Jan.................. Apr.

Carol............... Feb................. May

No mtg. March

Celia............... Apr.................. June

Claire.............. May................. July

Diane.............. June................ Aug

Joy.................. July................. Sept.

Judy (Cathy).... Aug................. Oct.

Kathy.............. Sept................ Dec.

Cathy (Judy).... Oct.................. Jan ‘21

No mtg. Nov.

Lori................. Dec................. Feb. ‘21

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