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November 22 Late againWell, I was overwhelmed by my life again.
I got busy and didn't enter close enough to the event to keep all the details of the interactions. The further into the past the less I recall. Sorry.
The second to last book was People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. We met at Maggie & Jim's. All was as it always is at our meetings: good talk about the book, and food and drink. Bob H. picked a good one, which blended history and imaginary filling in the facts with what the author made up. The end was a bit implausible, but it made a good story out of dry history.
The last book was in a caboodle Judy discovered at the library. She got us a book bag filled with copies for everyone.
The details are on the Pima library website. Purple Hibiscus, by Chimanda Ngozi Adichie was the book. We had a small group at Dave and Jackie's. They made a great variety of foods, and drink available. As usual the UA game was competing for most of our member's attention. Most of us enjoyed the story. The characters were complex enough to make some cliche' plotting almost work. Abusive father, African political coups, comparison of tribal religion with catholicism, revenge of the abused, innocent taking the heat, good vs. evil, family dynamics... We should ask why we pick our books more, and who didn't like the book before the end of the meeting. One of those questions was answered in time to talk about it during this meeting. Sometimes a lot can be gained from someone who is reluctant to talk about a book if he didn't like it. We enjoy our get togethers, but sometimes we need to engage in confronting what is going on in the book, and more than whether we like it, but why. This relates to why we choose a book and how good a book it is.
Sure we need to read fluff once in a while, but for the book club let's get a signifigant book that makes a difference.
Both of the books here meet the criteria, We need to step up too in our discussion. I'm just sayin... And I should be up to reporting the meetings better too.
That tripe said, our next book, Phantom of the Opera, was around for so long that we can get it online at Project Gutenberg if we want to get an online version instead of a book. Of course we can print it out, or find a print version.
I think Google has the entire Signet version copied online. And with our guest present we should have a great meeting at Bob and Carol's December 12.
September 20 This is Your Mind on Music This is a tough book about music. If you want to know everything about music this is for you. We discussed Little Pink House...at Deanna's. Perhaps, as Jim said it was too long, but it was fleshed out so as to make a dry story a personal one. We saw what happens when someone brings home a book and her husband picks it up, and likes it enough to make it his recommendation to the club. I think we all liked the skillful job of work done on the eminent domain subject. Deanna put on a skillful job of work on the snacks, including a cheesecake. Pat said she was dropping out, and maybe we will consider it a sabattical. This was a good choice for us, thanks Dave, and we learned from the book, and enjoyed our fraternity as discussors of books, and the fun of it was a reminder of the best of our what our group can be. Sue' already into People of the Book, an we have Phantom ready to go too.
I just finished Fanon on CD. It's a very different style of book which blends biography, and a personal memoir with poetry. I recommend it. August 30 Who cares about a 'Little Pink House'?I do. However, I didn't at first. This book is very meticulously researched, as the author pointed out. Initially I bought into the right of eminent domain. The supporters were the right wing gun nuts... but as the book continued to reveal the situation, and the players, I saw the abuses in eminent domain for economic reasons-to get a higher tax paying taxpayer, or for economically depressed jurisdictions. There are many examples of the abuses nationwide, and hopefully government abuses will get reined in, no credit to the supreme court, by concerned citizens. Regarding the local New London situation what made the book a rewarding experience was that the author helped me get to know the characters, on both sides. The knowing made even the 'villians' into known quantities who could be booed, just as we cheer for the 'good guys'. The issue of eminent domain gradually became intelligible, and relevant. It is like we react to a car accident, differently depending on whether we are involved in it, or driving by. Yet we need to consider car accidents as an issue, because we might be involved in one. It spills over into health care, and lawer reform, enforcement, and legislation. The same applies to eminent domain. My point is the author of Little Pink House, Jeff Benedict, wrote this book in such a way as to engage me in the issue. I believe the sub title, "A True Story of Defiance and Courage" also explains why I liked it-I like stories that are about challenging tough situations. The characters in the story were revealed in details as multi dimensional with positive and negative sides. There was no attempt to eqivalency-some characters were revealed as bozos by their actions, or words, but I feel the author tried to be fair He let the chips fall, and stay where they landed. August 27 The Number, and John WellsI just finished 'The Number' by Alex Berenson. It's all about the financial crash before the last one. We might have seen the last one coming if we read this book. Since writing 'The Number' Berenson has written novels, which is how I learned of him. I like the novels too. Currently I'm reading his 'The Faithful Spy'. It would be easy to say his main character could hold his own with Crais' Joe Pike. And not for the reasons you may guess-check it out. August 10 After ThisBob chose a frustrating book. It was not a fun read, and most of the club didn't like it contrary to the reputation of the author, and the reviews.
Jim said the style of well criticized books currently is minimalist. We didn't get engaged by the characters, so few cared what they did or thought or felt. Maybe we learned a bit more about the author, and the literary world's tastes from reading Alice McDermott. I had to leave early since I was working Sunday, which was a pity since I was enjoying the snacks Judy put out, and the company. I'm looking forward to Little Pink House. Books I was reading: Parallel Worlds, by Michio Kaku, and The Number, by Alex Berenson. July 12 L. A. RequiemLeslie hosted. Yellowtail Merlot and Pino Grigio? with the quiche and crackers + Jana's rhubarb, veggies, and dip went with the more serious Elvis Cole, and Joe Pike story. Robert Crais has found his mealticket big time. His writing is developing, and we liked his characters even if Joe is a bit superhuman. The main characters are looking for relationships, and the difficulties are many. Some stories are plot, others are feelings, and Crais is blending the difficulties of law enforcement with relationships, and that's why he is emerging into a better writer.He will get better if he keeps trying to get both those areas covered. He can get dreamily sentimental, but that's the way we feel at times. June 03 ThemI just wanted to enter the newest URL of the Bookclub Web Page in case anyone else needed to have it. I tried Bing, and Google and the closest I got was the older URL. So here it is-you found it!
Them was a good read. Yes Sue, and I read it already. Not always fun, but good in the it hurts kind of way, as in 'the truth hurts'. Maybe we can't all get along. Or only in the extremes, as in the army, or when we have to at work. Maybe someday. More comments AFTER the next meeting, like usual. April 06 Dashiell Hammett's Lost StoriesDashiell Hammett wrote the Maltese Falcon, which we read in bookclub, and I looked for something on him. This book, edited by Vince Emery, has a lot of history of early 20th century America besides the works of Hammett, and a lot about the author. If you want to know how someone clawed his way out of illness, and poverty to wealth and fame, and crawled back to die after a riotous life read this book. It's not a pretty story, but quite a story none the less. This book goes into the literary business , as well as the Movie business. The depression is a major character, as is WW2, and American politics right and left. I enjoyed it enough to not only like Hammett more, but want to read more about him. March 29 Wandering in the desert, with dessertWe gathered at the appointed time, Sue prepared some veggies, chips and dip, after the talk about the book, Secret Knowledge of Water, by Craig Childs,
we had some homemade carrot cake, washed down with beverages. Our author told a tale of his wanderings in search of water, in water, avoiding murderous water, witnessing the after effects of floods, and thinking about the wet stuff. Sometimes he was new age poet, other times he was scientest, and always he was in the desert experiencing water, or the lack therof. This bothered some of our readers. Childs did some things in searching for water that would make a skydiver nervous. I'm not talking about driving through sand 3 feet at a time either. Who would risk hypothermia in a flooded canyon, or walk toward a flash flood?
Certainly not most people, and even most risk lovers. Given the close knowledge of desert floods, such behavior was asking for it. There was a mystical quality around Childs searching for water cisterns in arid lands. Sad about the poisoning of the 'trash' native fish to usher in the more desirable sport fish. Things were different then, and the perpetrators didn't know what we know now. Carol and Bob heard Childs at the Book Fair at the U of A. We heard him through his web site reading about the Peregrine falcon. After hashing around the details about the next meetings and books we broke up. Another book, some memorable scenes, and an author who may be too much in love with death.
March 19 Interpreter of MaladiesWhat a good time we had talking about the finely written stories in Maladies. While they were not earth shattering they were not totally forgettable either. Some of us had trouble remembering all the stories, but a few of them came to mind. Memoirs? Imaginings of what might have happened to an acquaintance? Characters from a group we worked with once? People we met on vacation? Childhood friends, or their parents? Bob and Jackie made us welcome, and we did our thing.
I'm listening to the CD version of Blasphemy by Douglas Preston-what a romp! From the sleepy beginning to the riotous encounter with G-d! What is going on, and who is doing what? It's a conspiracy mystery with a filling of science vs. revelation inside.
The two books I'm still reading are The man with the Iron Heart by Turtledove, and the Lost Stories of D. Hammet, are still going well, but it's hard to find time. (Same old excuse!) January 11 Book club meets, eats talks books
Maltese falcon was the dingus the book described. Clear moonlight lit the white hybrid at the keypad. It moved on, and we went to it's space, keyed the number, and drove through the gate. Talk was good, damn good, better have been good. Devilish v of lips parted and food moved in. Food on crackers, sweet, chypre, washed down with red and white wine, fruit too. Hard boiled detectives wore out shoe leather before Samuel Spade, but future generations of gumshoes nodded back to Mr. Spade. In the bookclub we have laid the paver to the foundation for future mysteries we read. Yeah, we'll read 'serious' fiction, and other stuff, but now we will be able to compare new reads to Hammett's book. There is a part which describes where the bird came from, which sounded like the best of Dan Brown's Templar history. Of course for this enthusiastic scholarly tale the teller of choice was Gutman, who searched for the falcon almost 2 decades before running upon SS in San Fran. After a bit of reminiscing about books discussed in the past we looked forward to new challenges: after next month we'll read Secret Knowledge of Water, by Craig Childs, selected by Pat at Larry and Sue's 3/28. And I picked Robert Crais' LA Requiem for September, since Leslie, and Jana agree it's a good read.(I copied Bob's web page because he said the website might go away. If it does I'll carry on here to keep a webpresence for us until something else develops.) One thing I was curious about was if Spade put the guns into the hall closet, why didn't the kid try to get them when he left?.... December 15 Chi Newman and RichardThere was a packed house at Bob & Carol's for FAREWELL, MY BEIJING, Chi's memoir. After we all got there Chi rose and recapped her story, with Richard participating.
They brought the book back to life, and added a lot to the memories she shared. I'm glad her family pulled it out of her. Like she said about her son goading her into Tennis the book wasn't her idea. With so much travel, and a difficult journey it was, there were many interactions, and difficulties, it seemed like a very interesting life.
Chi even brought a new recipe for some cookies. It was fun to talk to her, and Richard. She even signed my copy of the book. Bob & Carol hosted us like royalty, with goodies, Sparkling wine, and Red and white wine too!
 (I intend to return to blog about the last few books we read in the club, which I have neglected. Probably the best book I listened to on CD recently was L.A. Requiem, by Robert Crais.) September 07 Who's on first...Latest movement in the Bookclub besides fast turning pages in Heart Seisure. Thanks to Carol, who sent a note to Susan Vreeland about her call in.
(Some names & details were changed to protect innocence in general):
Bob: Hello All, The server for the bookclub web site crashed and we have been migr...
Sep 6 (2 days ago) Bob: Loading...Sep 6 (2 days ago)
Larry - Hi Bob, I put the next 4 books/hosts/dates in my blog after checking with som... Sep 6 (2 days ago) Bob to show details Sep 6 (1 day ago) Reply OK, I have updated the site with the information from Larry’s blog. Please check to make sure I have everything right. We now have 11 hosts and 16 selectors in our illustrious group. Here is my initial suggestion for the 2009 year and start of 2010. I would like to suggest we keep this order and cycle through and switch out on an as needed (or as wanted) basis. Date Host(s) Selector Jan-09 Jackie & Dave Jana Feb-09 Pat Jim Mar-09 Sue & Larry Jackie Apr-09 Susan C. Leslie May-09 Jana Pat Jun-09 Leslie Susan C. Jul-09 Jan Dave Aug-09 Judy & Bob Bob A. Sep-09 Maggie & Jim Larry Oct-09 Deanna Bob H. Nov-09 Carol & Bob Deanna Dec-09 Jackie & Dave Judy Jan-10 Pat Sue Atilla Feb-10 Sue & Larry Jan Mar-10 Susan C. Maggie Apr-10 Jana Carol May-10 Leslie Jana Jun-10 Jan Jim Comments and suggestion are welcome. Bob (it was a lot of fun moving everyone to the right after cutting and pasting the program clumped everyone to the left side. Sue, my wife, however could not be moved further to the right since Atilla was there. ;-) August 29 Next booksOK the website seems to be down so I'll enter the next books as a service to the many who read this blog :-):
September 20 Heart Seisure Bill Fitzhugh Bob & Judy
October 18 Suite Francaise Irene Nemirovsky Maggie & Jim
November 15 Garden of Last Days Andre Dubus III Deanna
December 13 Farewell My Beijing Chi Newman Bob & Carol
Any corrections and/or additions will be appreciated, so let me know. Next booksOK the website seems to be down so I'll enter the next books as a service to the many who read this blog :-):
September 20 Heart Seisure Bob & Judy
October 18 Suite Francaise Maggie & Jim
November 15 Garden.... Deanna
December 13 Farewell My Beijing ?
Any corrections and/or additions will be appreciated, so let me know. Next booksOK the website seems to be down so I'll enter the next books as a service to the many who read this blog :-):
September 20 Heart Seisure Bob & Judy
October 18 Suite Francaise Maggie & Jim
November 15 Garden.... Deanna
December 13 Farewell My Beijing ?
Any corrections and/or additions will be appreciated, so let me know. August 25 Luncheon of the book clubYes I see our bookclub a bit like the group that was imortalized in Luncheon of the Boating Party. (OK we met in the evening and it wasn't a luncheon!) But we create an experience together by our input with the books we talk about together. Anyway we talked about the book, then we called the author and talked about it with her, and then we talked about it some more. Some liked it, others were not impressed by the characterization, or some other factors. For me, the book took me to the post Franco-Prussian war world which the Impressionists helped heal, and reflected a nation in change. I got to see a famous painter and his world. Most thought the scholarship was impressive. Susan Vreeland told us about her next book and would let us know about it's publication if we send her our emails.
Then we discussed the membership issues. It was difficult for our hostess to ask the recent and proposed guest to not attend since we were discussing membership, but their presence would have been a trial too. Jana prepared ballots for the issues and Pat was voted in, with a maximum upper limit of 16 for practical reasons-we can't accomodate more in our homes, and besides we would lose the closeness which we value in our group if it got too big. We planned a few more books, and picked some dates. Bob is having some issues with the website which should be up soon , so I'll referain from going there for a bit. Good choices, more community to close out 2008 - long live the art we are! August 22 Less than a day
I'll be waiting, Susan LAWRENCE NEWMAN wrote: Dear Susan, |
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