"Girl In The Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

On October 25th we met at Rockstone to discuss my book

"The Girl In The Blue Coat" which is set in World War II Amsterdam.

Since many of us had just been to Amsterdam I thought it would be fun to

read. Discussion was difficult due to the noise level of the restaurant

caused mostly by 5 wine swilling females nearby. We decided we

need another venue. We had a large group consisting of Doug, Donna, Madeleine,

Betsy, Carol, Sarah, Kathy,Nancy, Sue, Janet and me. 

This was a young adult coming of age story of young people in Holland

written by a reporter for the Washington Post who is neither Dutch nor

Jewish. So although it was not great literature she manages to weave a nice

mystery about a Jewish girl who has disappeared from her hiding place.

The heroine is Hanneke who transforms from a selfish self serving girl to a caring

young woman who helps the Amsterdam Student Underground with smuggling,

obtaining ration cards and placing children into hiding from the Nazis.

One point of interest we discussed was war photography which was forbidden 

and done at great risk. The other thing we discussed was homosexuality which

was not accepted in that era and was actually dangerous.  These young

people had to grow up in dangerous times where nothing was normal.

It was just a small story within a big war.  

Nothing will ever equal Anne Frank's Diary but there are many stories

that can still be told about the never to be forgotten atrocities of that war.

Next book chosen by Janet was "The Life We Bury"  by Allen Eskens.

A tentative date of December 13th was chosen.  

"My Brilliant Friend" by Elena Ferrante

Due to Nancy's surgery in the summer as well as tennis activities

we decided to take a break from meetings during the summer of 2017.

We resumed in September and met at my house to discuss this book.

Unfortunately Nancy was not able to join us but we decided to

commence at her suggestion.

"My Brilliant Friend" written by Italy's Elena Ferrante is the first of

four  Neapolitan novels which is soon to be an HBO miniseries.

Those who read it loved it and even went on to read the other 3 books. 

It is about the friendship between two women beginning in the 1950's set

on the outskirts of Naples, Italy. Through the lives of these women

the author reveals what post war Italy was like for young girls in this small,

area where everyone knows everyone and the few prosperous families dominate. 

It is a story of two girls coming of age, of a town, of a nation emerging from war into an

economic boom. Vividly written by one of Italy's beloved authors.

Next book chosen by me was "Girl In The Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse. 

Defending Jacob by William Landay

Julie Champagne chose "Defending Jacob" by William Landay

which was discussed in May.

This was a wonderful book which was a very compelling and

readable courtroom drama about a district attorney who is defending his

son Jacob who is accused of killing one of his classmates. As the father 

attempts to prove his son's innocence he gets into a rather uncomfortable

territory: Can a tendency towards violence be inherited?

Is the capacity for murder a genetic disposition?

The author who was a district attorney gets the whole book just right.

It was a thriller with a clever plot which does not reveal itself to the end.

Many of us said it reminded us of a book we had read called "The Dinner"

by  Herman Koch. Both dealt with parents who had to confront the

fact that their child could be evil. Denial comes first and facing the ugly

truth can bring on tragic circumstances.

We all loved this book. Thanks Julie for your choice.

Next book was "My Brilliant Friend" by Elena Ferante chosen

by Nancy Forbush. 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.

I have fallen down on my job as book club chronicler as I now see that

I have missed several books so I am going to  try my best to recall the missed ones.

Carol Branson  chose "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Annie Barrows

based on research by Mary  Ann Shaffer who is now deceased.

and we met in April at Rockstone for discussion.

I remember everyone being delighted with this novel which was set on the

 English Channel island called Guernsey.

It is a book of letters exchanged with an author and the members of  the Guernsey 

Literary and Potato Peel Pie society who formed a book club during the

Nazi occupation of their island during the second world war.

Not only is food scarce but so are books. Some people only read the same authors

 and what is available such as Shakespeare, Jane Austen and The Brontes.

We were all delighted with these quirky lovable characters as they navigated

the war with humor, bravery, kindness and optimism. The author not only finds a

subject for her next novel but a husband for life. 

We found out that the book has made Guernsey a popular destination for

tourism and we all thought it would be a great place for us to visit.

We are also awaiting the movie which is in the works.