There are two book discussion groups, one that meets in the evening and one in the morning. See below for dates, approach, and coming selections. Both groups welcome recommendations for future books. One source of ideas is a compendium of winners of and nominees for various book prizes at http://www.awardannals.com/wiki/Main_Page.
Evening Book Group
We meet the second Monday of the month at 7:45 PM at the RRUUC library, Sept through June. Our mode is informal discussion of recent fiction and non-fiction, but occasionally we do an older classic. Criteria include availability in paperback and in the Montgomery County libraries. Newcomers very welcome.
If you have any interest, please email me to get on my email list. By email, I provide additional book descriptions, suggestions for future readings, and meeting reminders. Here are our coming selections. Visit www.Amazon.com and www.ReviewsofBooks.com for book descriptions and reviews. Check the library catalog for availability and plan ahead.
April 12 Breath, by Tim Winton
Winton is an author well-known in Australia. This book was a “notable” selection for 2008 by both the NT Times and the Washington Post. Set in small-town <st1:country-region><st1:place>Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, this is a coming-of-age story of two reckless teenagers mentored by a strange older man and his wife. Winton “touches upon important themes, of death, life, breathing and its absence, while looking dispassionately upon the relentless pursuit of thrills, pleasure, sex, status: the mundane obsessions of the ordinary and extraordinary alike”. 224 pages
May 10 Rabbit, Run, by John Updike
Updike is one of the key American authors of the 20th century, with a number of major literary awards. This selection is the first of four novels that presents high school athlete “Rabbit” Angstrom in the course of his adult life. It may not be Updike’s best novel, but it seems like a good place to start an acquaintance with this author. 307 pages.
June 14 A Judgement in Stone, by Ruth Rendell
Rendell is the most admired British author of psychological mysteries and has won many awards. This short novel is a reader favorite. 208 pages.
Sept 13 Sea of Poppies, by Amitav Ghosh
“Ghosh’s best and most ambitious work yet is an adventure story set in 19th century Calcutta against the backdrop of the opium wars….. The cast is marvelous and the plot majestically serpentine, but the real hero is the English language, which has rarely felt so alive and vibrant.” We read a long book over the summer, so 560 pages fits.
John Hansman, Coordinator.
Morning Book Group
This book discussion group meets at 9:45 a.m. in the RRUUC library the third Friday of the month except December, and we skip June, July, and August. The group confers together about its selections, choosing books available in public libraries or in paperback. Since we are a small group, we don't always have a discussion leader, but contribute equally to the conversation.
Nov 21 - Suite Francaise, by Irene Namirovsky (in novel form but a picture of French life just before and during World War ll)
Jan 16 - Unaccustomed Earth, Jhumpa Lahiri (short stories)
Feb 20 - People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks (a novel)
Mar 20 - Unexpected Light, Jason Elliot (non-fiction, travels in Afghanistan)
Candace Ridington, Coordinator