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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 in May 2005:
Banishing Verona by Margot Livesey Zeke, a mildly autistic housepainter, has a one-night affair with mysterious Verona. The novel switches between Zeke’s and Verona’s points of view. Nancee Sherman: “A compelling novel.” Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer Set in a Pennsylvania coal-town, beautician Bubbles is a flamboyant dresser and a part-time reporter. She witnesses the wife of a powerful local businessman at a murder scene, and when she writes the story for the local paper trouble ensues. Caroline Wardlaw: “Essentially a light-hearted mystery, but the tension between the unions and the owners of the coal mines is prominent, and unexpectedly dark.”
Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx A collection of short stories about frontier life and social customs in Wyoming. Lucy Mackenzie: “Fabulous.” Crude: The Story of Oil by Sonia Shah The story of oil, beginning with how it replaced coal, and ending with the looming oil crisis. Lucy Mackenzie: “Lyrical and realistic, and the author writes like a dream.” Dating Big Bird by Laura Zigman A thirty-something woman decides to have a baby on her own when her partner, who suffers from depression, won’t help her. Kristin Pehnke: “Annoying, this is not like life.” Desirable Daughters by Bharati Mukherjee A novel set in India that follows three daughters as each chooses a different path. One marries and lives in Bombay, the second marries and moves to the United States, and the third has an illicit affair and a child out of wedlock. Jennifer Melhman: “A wonderful book about Indian culture.” The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson Set in 1892 this book follows the architect who designed the Chicago World’s Fair and a serial killer who preyed on women who traveled to Chicago during that period. Sue Roth: “The opposing viewpoints – the vision that led to modern skyscrapers and the dark underbelly of the city – create tension and make a compelling read. This is non-fiction that reads like fiction.” Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity--and My Journey to Freedom in America by Francis Bok, with Edward Tivnan The story of a young boy from Sudan who was kidnapped and sold into modern-day slavery. Catherine Harper: “A disturbing story, and slavery is more widespread than anyone would think.” He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope He, of the title, has a beautiful wife whom he forbids seeing a male friend with a bad reputation; her refusal to obey causes serious problems. This is one of the four romances traced in this least known of Trollope’s novels. Jane Brown: “A well-written soap-opera.” The Innocent by Ian McEwan A naïve Englishman becomes a spy for his government after WWII. He goes to Berlin to investigate a tunneling scheme and becomes involved with a young German woman with an abusive ex-husband. Catherine Harper: “A lovely study in character; very well done.” In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith The latest in the Precious Ramotswe series, Precious continues to run the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana. Ann Woodrow: “These mysteries are riveting and haunting, but also comforting like a warm cupcake.” Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke In this fantastic version of English history, Mr. Norrell is the last practical magician. Gentlemen study only theoretical magic, but when Napoleon begins to win the war Norrell offers his services to the government, and takes on a powerful apprentice – Jonathan Strange. Caroline Wardlaw: “Even the footnotes are worth reading in this gigantic book.” The Last Crossing by Guy Vanderhaegle A young idealistic Englishman falls under the thrall of a 2-bit revivalist preacher who takes him to the American west to convert the Native Americans. His father sends his twin and older brother to look for him after they disappear. Jane Brown: “The characters they meet during their search are the heart of this novel.” Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers A girl grows up in the South wanting to be part of the larger world, but the dream she latches onto brings terrible sadness. Ann Woodrow: “I didn’t like this novel, but it affected me profoundly.” Persepolis II by Marjane Satrapi An autobiographical graphic novel, Marjane Satrapi continues her story. She leaves Iran for Vienna and then returns to Iran; she finds she does not fit comfortably into either society. Jennifer Melhman: “Details of the subtle rebellion of a woman oppressed by the intolerant religious regime – dangling earrings, lipstick, sunglasses—give the story poignancy.” To Shield the Queen by Fiona Buckley Ursula, a penniless widow with a young daughter, becomes a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth. She becomes an envoy for the Queen and solves mysteries of a political nature, usually involving Mary Queen of Scots. Nancee Sherman: “Real people from the Elizabethan Court are characters in this novel, which makes it especially interesting.” The Wife by Meg Wolitzer Begins with the Wife on a plane to Finland deciding to finally leave her husband, a famous author, and then goes back to the beginning of the relationship to explain why. Kristin Pehnke: “A beautifully written novel – like a breath of fresh air.” |
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