Someone

February at Alan's House was a smaller group with Chrysanne in Mexico and Ed unable to make it.  Ed's email about the book set the tone for our discussion.  He wrote:

I thought Someone was a beautiful book- really a series of connected short stories about a life- exquisite-writing about everyday experience, like Updike without the sex!  We all agreed that the character development was lovely.  Ordinary people's lives evolving over time in families, in neighborhoods and in the world at large.  The concept of the 'someones' in people's lives.  Who they are and how important it is to have someone.

Next month gets us into a classic, the first novel of the Alexandria Quartet-Justine by Lawrence Durrell.  We are meeting at Terry's for perhaps the last meeting at his house before it is sold!  Tuesday, March 28th at 6:45.  Shira will be joining us and may even read the book.  Mindy told us about a lecture the following evening, March 29th that is part of the Rabbi Max B. Wall Endowed Lecture Series:

Father Patrick Desbois*

 Roman Catholic French Priest and Director of Yahad -In Unum

Professor at Georgetown University (The Center for Jewish Civilization)

The Holocaust by Bullets: 

A Priest’s Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews

Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Time: 6:00

Place: The Roy Event Room in the Dion Family Student Center

Commonwealth

In January we read Anne Patchett's Commonwealth.  There were mixed reviews and lots of discussion.  Anne Patchett is not new to Book Club.  We read Bel Canto, which we all loved.  And A State of Wonder which had mixed reviews as well.  As best I can remember, for I have been remiss in my responsibilities as keeper of the Blog, Chrysanne held the torch for Commonwealth, defending the novel's various merits.  One or another of us liked parts, but did not like the novel in its entirety.

I love Anne Patchett, and like many authors I have followed over the years, I can forgive my old friends when an novel might not perfect.  It is hard to be perfect!  Particularly when one is dealing with childhood memories and autobiographical material, as we are led to believe Anne referred to in this story of two families blending into three.  We talked about how well this novel dealt with the bonds one makes under adverse, and perhaps not chosen situations.  We talked about how well this novel describes how one decision effects others and can set things into motion with far reaching repercussions.

In February, we are reading Someone by Alice McDermott.  The date was changed to February 20th at Alan's House.