May 2017 Recap

Bad Science

Dear Boocklub,
Discussion of Mukherjee's "The Gene" led to the topic of bad science/bad scientists. I could not grasp bad science, only bad scientists, as science feels firm as basic chemistry, mathematics, physics, etc.  Bad scientists are self-explanatory. Mulling over bad science, I began to imagine what TG was trying to represent. Doing (bad) research online, I did come across an entertaining TED talk by Ben Goldacre on "Battling Bad Science":

https://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_battling_bad_science


Selected for an upcoming selection:
"American Philosophy" John Kaag

 

Also considered: 

"Lincoln in the Bardo" George Saunders

"Exit West"  Mohsin Hamid

The Gallery:

 

 

  


 Up next: Eric Ripert's "32 Yolks"

Happy reading,
LK

May 2017 Booklub News

Triple Point

Dear Bookclub,
Have not watched or listened to news, NPR shows, read newspapers, barely walked the dog, sleeping more..... I'm binging on "The Gene" and loving it. Surfing on some new level of understanding of most interesting science and thought, an fMRI of my brain would show fireworks as I trip on Siddhartha Mukherjee's "intimate history" of the gene. Unfortunately, I have a mind like a Looney Tunes animal whose head has been riddled with bullet holes and the information keeps leaking out. I have read and reread, listened and re-listened to sections and chapters over and over again, trying to lock in the concepts. The stories of the scientists are fine enough but the biology, chemistry and engineering are super-cool. Who is Siddhartha Mukherjee besides the Pulitzer prize-winning author of  "The Emperor of All Maladies"? Merely a gene carrier(!) who, along with Sarah Sze (artist- see above) produced these two genetically blessed daughters:

Check out mom from this 2012 New Yorker article:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/05/14/a-million-little-pieces

Looking forward to getting together to discuss....
Mindful reading,
LK

April 2017 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
Gathering at  Capri Blu to reminisce about "Foreign Affairs", our thoughts turned to Professor Alison Lurie. Cornell professor published on the topic of children's literature and travels frequently to Britain vs. Corinth professor published on the topic of children's literature and travels frequently to Britain,  the novel suggests a biographical shadow. Much of Lurie's work indulges in the paths of her personal history:

http://www.alisonlurie.com/html/bio.html

Delving into descriptions of her other works tempts this reader as "Foreign Affairs" was unanimously a much enjoyed read.

Terrie's ideas for an upcoming selection:

"History of Wolves"  Emily Fridlund*
"Moonglow" Michael Chabon
"Everyone Brave is Forgiven" Chris Cleve

*chosen


The round-table:

Up next, "The Gene" ......bravely lifted by Val.

Focused and happy reading,
LK

March 2017 recap

Dear Bookclub,
How can yet another beautiful day be the backdrop for a bookclub meeting on the Veranda? Great planning and good luck of course!


Or as a memory book may state:

"Six ladies 'round the table,
ate and talked a bit...
riding the train to wisdom,
they relished kindred spirit."

Ivan Doig's "Last Bus to Wisdom" delighted our group with a warming reminiscence; vivid characters and a darling protagonist drew us into a story that will be our fond memory of Doig's final work.

My choices for an upcoming selection:

1) "The Mothers" Brit Bennet  - rejected

2) "Elephant Company" Vicki Constantine Croke - considered

3) "The Swans of Fifth Avenue"  Melanie Benjamin - pondered

4) "Florence Gordon" Brian Morton- * chosen


Up next:

Alison Lurie's "Foreign Affairs"

Reading delightfully,
LK

March 2017 Bookclub News

 “If I have any creed that I wish you as readers, necessary accomplices in this flirtatious ceremony of writing and reading, will take with you from my pages, it’d be this belief of mine that writers of caliber can ground their work in specific land and lingo and yet be writing of that larger country: life”  Ivan Doig



Dear Bookclub,
Doig's "Last Bus to Wisdom" has been a surprise to me. Corny characters and adages knit together an endearing tale - thank goodness: his last work will be fondly remembered.

"Ivan Doig when his father and grandmother were at odds over him"  - Montana State University Library Archives

Please peruse the Montana State University Library Archives for a richly layered research junket through the Ivan Doig world. The medical journey is especially interesting for the inclusion of Doig's thoughts about the process of his struggle with his final illness and actual medical records.

http://ivandoig.montana.edu/

After combing my bookshelves and finding many titles I mean to read and then realizing I have not read them because they 'don't excite me', here are some that I would consider exciting to pick up... please consider for an upcoming selection:

1) "The Mothers" Brit Bennet
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/the-mothers-a-fantastic-debut-novel-by-brit-bennett/2016/10/13/ee701c72-9148-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_story.html?utm_term=.62811979e8c6

2) "Elephant Company" Vicki Constantine Croke
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18691058-elephant-company

3) "The Swans of Fifth Avenue"  Melanie Benjamin
https://smile.amazon.com/Swans-Fifth-Avenue-Novel-ebook/product-reviews/B00X2F109A/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_paging_btm_next_3?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&sortBy=recent&pageNumber=3

4) "Florence Gordon" Brian Morton

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


Happy reading!
LK

February 2017 Recap

Santa Barbara Art in Nordstrom Paseo Nuevo

Dear Bookclub,
Terry's round table set the perfect stage for our discussion of Ann Patchett's "Commonwealth". Soup, salad and saga. We really liked this book. As refreshing as lunch, Patchett's writing style and story re-energized our imaginations about a particular time in suburban America and our appreciation for a well-told tale.

Terry suggested a long list for an upcoming read but the first three were the official suggestions; the second three were old wannabe's from Terry's stacks:

"A Gentleman in Moscow" Amor Towles
"Hillbilly Elegy" J.D. Vance *chosen
The Underground Railroad" Colson Whitehead

"Swamplandia!" Karen Russell
"We the Animals" Justin Torres
"The Submission" Amy Waldman

Up next,  Ivan Doig's "Last Bus to Wisdom":

Happy reading,
LK

February 2017 Bookclub News

Baker Museum, Naples, FL

Dear Bookclub,
Ann Patchett's "Commonwealth" was a welcome read while R&R'ing it in Naples, FL this past week. Filling my head with lots of ideas and images (see above), the romp through decades of one 'family's' journey will give us lots to discuss this Wednesday at Terry's. Feeling a familiar thread as I read, I revisited Patchett interviews and confirmed the voice from a Terry Gross interview for "This is the Story of a Happy Marriage" - (one of my very favorite books!!):

http://one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=265228054:265260723

I knew these stories underlying "Commonwealth"; straight outta Patchett.

Just as interesting,  AP's discussion from the Diane Rehm interview (if you can't listen, hit the transcript button and quickly take it in):

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2016-09-12/ann-patchett-on-her-seventh-novel-commonwealth


The book cover is too beautiful not to include:

The secret edition has patterned endpapers featuring:

Happy Reading,
LK