August 2017 Bookclub News

Florence Gordon by Jon Williams

Dear Bookclub,

July has slipped away and summer reads must be of upmost priority as August zooms in. Brian Morton's "Florence Gordon" is a good summer read. Chapters fly - they are about two paragraphs long- and who could be more fun to read about than an 'unlikeable' older woman? When Val suggested this book, I recognized that I had it stashed away in my 'to-read' bookshelf, ok, 'to-read' room, and I do remember why:

http://www.npr.org/2014/10/06/352763474/florence-gordon-isnt-friend-material-but-youll-appreciate-her

Maureen Corrigan's book reviews are so persuasive that I often have one of her featured books in my amazon cart before she finishes her piece.


Terry's suggestions for our January 2018 read:

"All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation" Rebecca Traister
"The Rent Collector" Camron Wright
"We are Completely Beside Ourselves" Karen Joy Fowler

Oh Terry, Terry, Terry.. this is so hard! A great list. Please do some research and come prepared this Wednesday to cast your vote.

Happy reading,
LK

July 2017 recap

Superwomen

Dear Bookclub,
The din at Cork & Craft, not originating from our table, was owned by the super power girls at the adjacent table. We were upstaged and even followed in their footsteps for a  photo-op on the stage they had also occupied. But any perceived envy stops now- would not trade our beloved group, graced by Ginger's presence, for any magical persona-babes. How nice to be together!

"Hillbilly Elegy", well-received by our group, endeared us to J.D.'s journey, especially Mamaw, a character deservedly immortalized.

Wanda's suggestions for an upcoming selection:
"Lab Girl" Hope Jahren
"The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu" Joshua Hammer
"Hero of the Empire" Candice Millard *chosen

 And here before you know it, our August read. "Florence Gordon" by Brian Morton.

Happy reading,
LK

July 2017 Bookclub News

The Hatfield Clan 1897

Dear Bookclub,

J.D. Vance has put the hillbilly culture onto our radars, compelling because of the timeliness in describing a culture that contributed to an understanding of November 8, 2016. In "Hillbilly Elegy", Vance cites:

'In a December 2000 paper, sociologists Carol A. Markstrom, Sheila K. Marshall, and Robin J. Tyron found that avoidance and wishful-thinking forms of coping "significantly predicted resiliency" among Appalachian teens. Their paper suggests that hillbillies learn from an early age to deal with uncomfortable truths by avoiding them, or by pretending better truths exist. This tendency might make for physchological resilience, but it also makes it hard for Appalachians to look at themselves honestly.'

There's a little leap here to our society's swing towards wishful-thinking. But that's another story. Vance's story became wildly popular with our last election's outcome given the spotlight he directed to the working-class whites. No easy answers but a personal breakout that is eye-opening for the revelation of addiction and stagnation, among other related obstacles.

J.D. and Mamaw

Vance's official website includes a photo section of family and one caption that characterizes a noted trait in this culture:  "(Mamaw would murder me if she knew I put this photo on the internet.)" - not to be taken lightly. And he wasn't referring to this picture.

 http://www.jdvance.com/family.html  


Thoughtful reading,
LK