August Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
August 12 will be our next rendezvous, to discuss "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry" by Gabrielle Zevin.

'A love letter to the joys of reading', as described in a March 2014 NPR interview, the novel delves into describing characters based on what they are reading. Fikry's bookstore is an avenue to our passion with the book along with love, loss and friendship. Zevin describes Fikry as an extremely isolated character who reads in order to avoid engaging yet she says, "the best thing about reading is that it kind of can help us engage with other people."  Bookclub!! Please enjoy the entire NPR interview: http://www.npr.org/2014/03/28/294393870/in-storied-life-characters-come-with-a-reading-list


Let's lunch at "Brooklyn Girl" at 12:30 on August 12 for our discussion.

http://brooklyngirleatery.com/


Happy reading,
LK

July 2015 Recap

Dear Bookclub,

 Leisurely lunching, despite the staring wall of piranhas over our shoulders, the Ironside eatery was a most hospitable place to place ourselves for a "Boy, Snow, Bird"discussion and a feast. From oysters to olive oil cake, we marveled at Helen Oyeyemi's talent and the end-of-story reveal.

"feed me feed me" called the fishies like the "pay me pay me" parking reminders chimed by our phones

Catching up with each other was tremendously fun (and interesting - thank you Val for your amazing sister story). Of course it is never enough and some of us lingered with shopping in Little Italy - just to be sure to kill off the afternoon properly.

Wanda's suggestions for the next selection:
"Florence Gordon" by Brian Morton
"The Empire of Necessity" by Greg Grandin
"Euphoria" by Lily King     *chosen

Alas, I must admit, as of this writing, I could not remember what the first two titles were about. My research has yielded a purchase on Amazon for #1 and a reminder to tell Terrie G. to please check out #2 - it is right up your love-of-historic-fiction alley.

Next up - August meeting will be moved to the second Wednesday, August 12, and I have traded spots with Terrie G. who is on baby watch!!!!

Read on,
LK

PS A few activities were enthusiastically mentioned that we need to plan  - Pickleball & touring models of  The Estates in Del Sur. Ideas?

What's in a name....

Dear Bookclub,
We'll be meeting this Wednesday, July 8th at 12:30 at Ironside Fish & Oyster House in Little Italy:

http://www.ironsidefishandoyster.com/

I love this website's cover photo - so Wanda! Actually, I've been there too and it'll be great.

What's in a name? "Boy, Snow, Bird" richly drained the color out of our circle of names.... and even Helen's full name(see below) turns your imagination in a little twist. A 2014 Profile of H.O.O on NPR.org reveals that fairy tales are the influence. Her father is a substitute teacher and her mother works for the London Underground - Helen was always at the library. Her discontent with "Little Women" started her writing - she made her own endings to the stories that did not go her way. Read more:

http://www.npr.org/2014/03/07/282065410/the-professionally-haunted-life-of-helen-oyeyemi

Helen Olajumoke Oyeyemi is a Nigerian-born British writer, currently living in Prague and incredibly accomplished at 30 years of age. "Boy, Snow, Bird" is hardly her first widely acclaimed work:"The Icarus Girl" was written before she turned 19.

Looking forward to being together and having a great discussion!
Read on,
LK

June Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
Our enjoyable beach day transported us to the carefree Posiedon porch of sea & sand delight to discuss the sordid world of one female London commuter gone awry. Gagging down margaritas, after being immersed in Rachel's alcoholic haze, was not as challenging as I'd imagined. Paula Hawkins' "The Girl on the Train" stoked discussion of creepy plausibility and the fascinating terror of having blackouts. The popularity of the book is undeniable and it was actually declared the fastest-selling adult novel in history in the article from The Daily Beast:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/20/the-fastest-selling-adult-novel-in-history-paula-hawkins-the-girl-on-the-train.html

Meanderings in Boston brought me to these relics at the Central Public Library:

 Random room of marionettes.....

 early wireless printer

Joan of Arc

cards (!)

And I must share my favorite area- the lions at the staircase.....

Next up , we will meet on July 8 to discuss "Boy, Snow, Bird" by Helen Oyeyemi. Wanda's choice of location to be announced.

Happy Reading!

LK

 

May 2015 Recap

Dear Bookclub,
"All the Light You Cannot See" was undeniably appreciated as a great read, amazing us with images and stories of WWII beyond what we've already experienced in our many, many previous books set during the war. We greatly missed Val at our first homey-gathering in a long while although we were comforted by Whiskey:

Suggestions for September's bookclub roused our normal discussion of "they are all sound good", "I'm going to read them all anyway" and waylaid googling of ratings, etc. Actually, Maureen Corrigan's description of  Helen Macdonald's "H is for Hawk" captivated me but the description I gave turned off our table of critics. http://www.npr.org/2015/03/12/392572768/how-we-deal-with-loss-in-different-ways-in-two-beautifully-written-memoirs

Toni Morrison's "God Help the Child" was taken out by a bit of unenthusiastic feeling for her other works (not me!). That left Kate Atkinson's latest, "A God in Ruins", and Erik Larson's, "Dead Wake", both well-received. "Dead Wake" got the most votes - perhaps "A God in Ruins" will be suggested again.

Next up is "The Girl on the Train". I'll admit that I haven't started it yet - so cautioned am I by the promise of being riveted, I need to be sure I am fed and comfortable before I commence.

June 3rd destination to be announced. Stay tuned!

Happy reading,
LK

May 2015 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
"All the Light You Cannot See" invites us into the World War II web of the magic of radio, the 1940 invasion of Paris, Hilter-youth and two children whose lives intersect in an unimaginable light. Anthony Doerr abundantly collects awards and this compelling work adds to his collection with his recent honor of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize. Such a weighted subject for a little tea. But that's what we will do on Wednesday. Please come enjoy a spirited discussion with some spirited tea: 3PM.

Happy Reading,
LK

April 2015 Bookclub News

"Spring Reading"

Dear Bookclub,
Sitting on the patio of The French Market Grill, we decided that our springtime could not be much better. The food was especially tasty and our conversation, dainty in the springtime-patio fashion, enjoyable. Jane Smiley's "Some Luck" was also enjoyed and anticipation about the proposed trilogy triggered speculation about the development of the characters in this current book. Several characters seemed destined to be something more dramatic. The fading possibility of that drama as the book came to an end was replaced with a satisfaction that the marriage was the drama in its ever-widening scope of time and characters; a fulfilled marriage.

Next month, I plan to have us meet in my dining room so we can challenge dainty conversation. Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See" will be a great discussion for sure. And the dainty conversation is not about this book but refers to the private atmosphere; Whiskey and wine will be in attendance.
 
In a stroke of absolute group genius, at our last meeting, we all collectively threw up our arms and pronounced that all the selections Val proposed were very good and that we'd be happy to read any of them. We are so discriminating.

"The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry" by Gabrielle Zevin *
"The Pearl That Broke its Shell" by Nadia Hashimi
"Leaving Before the Rains Come" by Alexandra Fuller
"A Spool of Blue Thread" by Anne Tyler

*chosen (after all, it was the first).

Happy Reading,
LK