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Lunch Time Book Discussion Group|
Join us for this lunch time book discussion group on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m. in the library's 2nd floor conference room. We discuss the books we've been reading and share ideas about what to read next. December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 These are the books we discussed inMarch 2005:
Before the Frost: A Linda Wallander Mystery and The Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell M F Man This mystery series is set in Sweden and follows a police detective and his daughter in their dealing with crime. The author has a knack for incorporating current issues, such as fundamentalism, in an insightful yet non-lecturing manner. Linda Adams: “These are thinking man’s mysteries, and the Swedish humor is delightful.”
The Box Garden by Carol Shields F Shi, LP F Shi A poet returns home for her mother’s wedding. The experience clarifies past relationships and helps the poet commit to her current boyfriend. Elinor Riddle: “This is a light novel; it has good characters, but is not as well written as The Stone Diaries by the same author.” A Complicated Kindness: A Novel by Miriam Toews F Toe, CD F Toe Set during the 1970’s in a Mennonite community in Canada, this novel describes the dichotomy between the traditional Mennonite culture presented to tourists and the rebelliousness of the teenagers within the community. Carolyn Barnshaw: “Toews’ style reminds me of Joyce Carol Oates. The narrator is a 16-year-old girl so it has some elements of young adult fiction.” A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell F Pow, Audio Tape F Pow This is the first book in a series of nine; it begins with the 16-year-old hero at boarding school in England in the 1920’s and continues through World War II. Jane Brown: “This book is very long but kept my interest. The author will describe one scene with incredible detail and then skip ahead three years.” Elizabeth Costello by J.M. Coetzee F Coe This Nobel Prize winner sets his novel about a complex mother and son relationship in South Africa. It follows their life, difficulties and disagreements as the son assists his mother in her work as a philosopher. Lucy Mackenzie: “A wonderful, but difficult story.”
The Grandmothers: Four Short Novels by Doris Lessing F Les These four novellas set are England. The first is about two grandmothers who are friends and how each becomes romantically involved with the other’s son. Lucy Mackenzie: “This is a superb and sophisticated novel.” Jack Fish: A Novel by J. Milligan F Mil A hard-boiled novel with a film noir feel and a fantasy twist, this thriller follows the adventures of a spy from Atlantis in NYC. Janie Hermann: “I don’t usually enjoy this genre, but I thought this book was fun.” The Line of Beauty: A Novel by Alan Hollinghurst F Hol This novel presents a clear picture of upper-class British society. The hero is a gay man who lives with the family of the man he loves in secret. It chronicles both the lives of his adopted family and his relationships with other men. Mary Stevens: “Beautifully written with wonderful ambience and excellent characters; it is a delightful read.” Loot, and Other Stories by Nadine Gordimer F Gor A collection of short stories set in Africa. The best story describes the relationship between a professional woman and her new boss whom she takes as a lover. He asks her to become a “kept woman” in place of his native lover. Lucy Mackenzie: “Nadine Gordimer is fabulously talented.” Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding F Fie Janie Hermann: “This is a good beach read, but otherwise isn’t very stimulating. Helen Fielding is still trying to recreate her success with Bridget Jones’ Diary.” The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble F Nob This light novel follows the lives of five women in a book club. Each faces a crisis, but overcomes her troubles with the support of her friends. Kristin Pehnke: “This book is good treadmill reading.” Seven Days of Possibilities: One Teacher, 24 Kids, and the Music That Changed Their Lives Forever by Anemona Hartocollis Non-F 372.87 Har This is the true story of a Finnish jazz singer who becomes a music teacher in the Bronx. She takes “bad kids” and turns them into a beautiful choir that eventually makes a journey to her village in Finland. Janie Hermann: “This portrait also offers interesting insight into the politics of the NY school system.” The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor F Tre, Audio Tape F Tre Due to a misunderstanding during the Irish Troubles a family is forced by the IRA to flee their homestead. Lucy, who is nine years old, is accidentally left behind. The novel tells Lucy’s story and follows her family through their moves and hardships. Mary Stevens: “This book had good character development and the descriptions of place and scenery are wonderful.”
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