October 2023 –

This month we met to discuss “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” by Michael Chabon.  This is his first novel, written in 1988, and is a coming of age story that takes place during the summer after the protagonist finishes college.  None of our group members loved this book – a rarity since usually at least one person proclaims to love each book that we read!  As a group, we appreciated Chabon’s beautiful language and sentence construction.  We were disappointed with the lack of character development and the pace of the first half of the book.

However, we had a fabulous meeting – beginning with Chrysanne’s incredible cooking - baked chicken with lemon and garlic, roasted potatoes and green beans, fresh bread, salad and finished with an incredible fall apple dessert. Terry updated the group on his new agri-business, which lead to an interesting recounting of his business ventures over the last 50+ years.  Tim had recently returned from Kansas City where a private collector has a painting by Lemeul Wilmarth and Tim’s grandmother was the model for the painting when she was 16 years old.  After a series of communications with the collector, Tim visited and saw the painting, which is the collectors favorite piece of art!  Cindy also shared a Doug Nap painting that she is the model for.  We shared much laughter, conversation, and comradery – now that’s a successful book group!

Next meeting is on December 11^th at Mindy’s house to discuss The Glass Chateau by Steven Kiernan.

 

"This was the right book at the right time".                                              This sentiment was endorsed by almost all of us who gathered at Cindy's house, enjoying a spectacular summer garden salad, in September.  The story of the residents of the town of Algren had a sweetness that was a nice counterpoint to some of the darker books we have read in recent months.  Many people commented on the authenticity of the characters and their struggles. Many novels have included the challenge of sons longing to know their fathers - and this book explored this with humor and an almost child-like longing.  

NEXT MEETING IS: OCTOBER 9th at Chrysanne's where we will discuss "The mysteries of Pittsburth, by Michael Chabon"    

 

We met at Tim's house in  East Montpelier, just a couple of weeks after the devastating flooding in Montpelier,  for a lovely dinner and a lively discussion of Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.  Some of our group found this book too painful and depressing to finish - others found a lot to like in the character development, gorgeous writing, and interesting modern take on David Copperfield.  This was a very rich discussion sharing our experiences reading the book - and how it intersected with our lives.

Next up:  On Monday September 11th we will be meeting at Cindy's to discuss  A boy of good breeding by Miriam Toews

 

May 22, 2023

Our book this month was "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks.  Ed and Chrysanne attended by zoom, with the rest of at Mindy's house sharing food and company.  Everyone enjoyed the story of the Sarajevo Haggadah, and appreciated the history that was (re)told.  The science of book restoration was also interesting - we wondered what our books could tell future restorers about our lives.  We noted that while this story is ancient, it is about themes that are very relevant today.  At one point in the evening someone asked exactly what a Haggadah was - which prompted Alan to open up his satchel and share a number of Haggadahs from his house.  

UP NEXT: is Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. 5:00 on July 20th at Tim's

The Seven Moons

For April, we read The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka.  This is a novel that brings to light the violence and horrors of the civil wars in Sri Lanka.  The novel is set in the afterlife where the main character is faced with reviewing his life, the subjects he photographed, his relationships to solve his own death.  This was a difficult read, but an important one.  We had good discussions about Sri Lanka, colonialism, and afterlife.  We talked about the spiritual nature of the novel.  Some of us were unable to finish, given how hard the subject was but we were encouraged by the finishers to read it through in the future.

We also had a good talk about recalibrating our book club and recommitting to the core reason we have been together for so long.  We first of all, love each other.  Secondly, we appreciate the push to read material we would not ordinarily read.  Thirdly, meeting with each other rises us out of our day to day lives in a very meaningful way.  While the pandemic and our more remote members have caused us to figure out some more creative ways of gathering.  We agreed that earlier is better.  5:30 is a great time to meet.  We also appreciate our Burlington members who are more central and can accommodate us all.  We will make every effort to bring dinner to those who open their homes to us, while also wanting to be creative about perhaps a Saturday afternoon at a member's home that is more of a drive.  Finally...communication!  Everyone agreed that email is the best way to communicate!  I am recommitting to being more timely with the blog!

We are meeting next on May 22nd at 5:30 at Mindy's home- Lexi is taking the lead on dinner, but might delegate to the rest of us.  We are reading People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
 

Hail Mary Project

For March, we read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.  This novel is in the science fiction genre, which is not the type of novel we have read for the most part.  And most of us really liked it!  I think what we all found refreshing was how positive the novel left us feeling.  The relationships in the novel are supportive and hopeful.  The themes of climate change and work to solve the issues through universes was mind opening.  And we all fell in love with Rocky!  

We also liked the scientific thinking and the scientific methods outlined as the characters tackled problems and found solutions.  Some thought that the novel could have had less of the details of the scientific approach, but did not find it cumbersome.  Thumbs up from the majority of Greater Westford readers!

Next month we are going to read the 2022 Mann Booker Prize winning novel, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by 

Shehan Karunatilaka and we are meeting in person, at Chrysanne's on April 11th at 5:30.

 

Wish You Were Here

 Over the month of December, we read Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult.  Admittedly, I could not finish it because I had a hard time reliving the unexpectedness and the not knowing of the early days of the Pandemic.  I did however, get the virus shortly after bookclub and was then able to finish the book.  Luckily, I was so behind on the Blog that I can know write about this novel in a more knowledgeable way.  This book was recommended to us by a relative of a member of our group who said that reading this novel had a profound effect upon his wife and him.  

There were mixed reviews by the group.  Some were enlightened about the coma induced dreams depicted in the novel.  Some were intrigued about the plot twist and how effectively it took them by surprise.  Some were interested in what happened to the dynamic of the main character's relationships and how near death experiences change one's perspectives and priorities.  

Next time, we will read Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary.  We are meeting remotely via Zoom on March 6th.