Dear Bookclub,
Another delightful gathering, we convened at Piacere Mio to discuss Christy Lefteri's "The Beekeeper of Aleppo". Missing Trudy and Ginger, our little group revisited last month's meeting to include Terrie, who'd missed September's meeting, The recap discussion of last month's "Good Neighbors" included Val's opposing neighbor experience, reinforced with her share of the magnificent notes she'd received from her neighboring young'uns (see above and below). Sigh.... adorable!
This month's selection, took us far from neighbors and into the world of refugees, specifically Syrian refugees from just a few years ago.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/05/world/europe/lesbos-greece-migrant-refugee-crisis.html
Contrasting the horrors of a humanitarian crisis with the delicate keeping of bees stole my heart. The raw elements abound in this novel. Lefteri's "Beekeeper" was well-liked; we relished the writing and marveled at the magical element born from the dreadful underlying content. Thinking I was clever, detecting survivor's coping mechanisms, I soon learned that some of us 'figured' situations out sooner than others (not me!). The author's motivation, revealed to readers at the conclusion in her elaborate notes, rocketed our appreciation of the work up many levels.
Please enjoy this NPR piece about Lefteri's winning the 2020 Aspen Words Literary Prize for "Beekeeper":
And this incredible acceptance speech for the award (given for illuminating a "vital contemporary issue" in fiction)
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| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTqzFElterc |
Terrie's suggestions for an upcoming read:
"The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times" Jane Goodall
"The Taking of Jemima Boone: The True Story of the Kidnap and Rescue that Shaped America" Matthew Pearl *** chosen
"The Sentence" Louise Erdrich
Up next:
Read in comfort,
LK
