A Land More Kind Than Home

On February 12, 2015 our meeting was held at Nettie's home to discuss Janet's choice, "A Land more kind than home" by Wiley Cash.
The members present were Kathy, Sarah, Betsy, Janet, Donna, Julie, Nancy, Madeleine, and Nettie.

We ordered pizza and Janet led a lively discussion of the author's debut novel.
We agreed that the narrating from 3 persons' point of view made a more interesting story.
We also liked how the author really captured Appalachia, it's vernacular and it's denizens.
We marveled that such corrupt evil religious practices with snakes and poisonous potions could take hold of people like a drug  to the extent that it did in that town. Eventually we saw that it was the old good versus evil tale and discussed which characters represented those sides. We also saw redemption for the errant grandfather as he steps up to care for the boy whose father is dead and abandoned by the mother. It was a definite tragedy but when asked to compare it to a Shakespearean tragedy we were at a loss for words.

Sue was recovering from surgery so Donna stepped up and chose a book called, "All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr. It is about a blind girl and a German soldier whose path cross in France during world war 2. We picked April 1 for the next meeting. Let us hope that works for Sue who will choose the next read.

On December 17th we met at my house as Sarah was not able to host.

There were eight women present including Madeleine, Julie, Donna, Nancy,

Kathy, Janet, Betsy and Nettie. We were given another surprise as we were

joined by Doug who had read and enjoyed the book as we all did.

The author had done major research on her 2 main characters Sarah and Angelina Grimke,

who were spokespersons for the abolitionist  as well as feminist movements.

In fact many of the slaves and other characters were historical figures which she

discovered from the Charleston  historical records. She embellished the stories of course.

The Grimke house and much of the old Charleston town still exists as it did then.

Kathy had visited the area many times and attests to the fact that the city is very

much still southern in feel.

  

The quilts that were sewn by the slave women which are on exhibit in Washington

were the inspiration of the title of the book. We felt that was a great way for the 

enslaved women who were unable to read or write to record their history and was their

subversive way of keeping their memories alive.

We briefly touched on how slavery still affects the happenings of today's racial

tension which we are still experiencing especially recently in Ferguson, MO and

New York. Yes slavery will always be a pain in the heart. Kidd was inspired

by the words of professor Julius Lestor who said,

"History is not just facts and events. History is also a pain in the heart

and we repeat history until we are able to make another's pain in the heart our own".

Sue Monk Kidd does just that as she writes about slavery we once again feel

the pain all over again and again.

Janet chose a book by Wiley Cash entitled "A Land More Kind than Home",

which promises a lot judging by the rave reviews. We chose the date of

January 14th to be the next meeting. Reminders will be sent.    

"A Walk Across The Sun" by Corban Addison

On November 12, 2014 we met at Chili's to discuss my choice which

was "A Walk Across the Sun", by Corban Addison.

There were  8 of us present, including Kathy, Madeleine, Nancy, Julie, Janet, Sarah,

Betsy and Nettie.

We had all read the book and agreed that the subject of child slave sex trafficking

was not a pleasant one but we learned a lot about  this subject on an

international level . It also was  the first time we have had read a book on this

subject. We have read many books on slavery and the holocaust so a new insight on 

a different subject was educational.

Some thought the author began well but rushed through the second half and he was

not always a literary genius.

But he wove together the story of the hero Thomas finding some meaning

in his life , winning back his wife with the story of the 2 Indian girls and their 

journey into the sex trade on to eventual freedom.

So the book though it takes us into some unpleasant, raw scenes it is rooted

in reality that as long as men will buy sex with young girls this

nasty business will endure.  The book ends with redemption, beauty overcoming hate, and we 

feel good at the end. We feel hope that  their are unselfish  people out there

working in organizations to end these crimes against children. The task seems

daunting but as Mother Theresa says you do the thing that is in front of you,

and then you move on.

Madeleine chose a book called "the Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd

which is a historical fiction about slavery and 2 southern women who became

Quakers and helped in the abolition movement. Janet will choose the

next book.

Sarah graciously invited us to her home and we chose December 17th as

the next date. Maybe we can all make it a holiday gathering for our

group. Have a great Thanksgiving with loved ones. 

   

TRACKS by Robyn Davidson

On October 9, the last meeting was held at Chili's to discuss

Marsha's book entitled "Tracks" by Robyn Davidson.

The members in attendance were Marsha, Sarah, Nancy, Madeleine,

Janet and Nettie. We had all read the book.

This was a memoir of a 27 year old Australian woman who

embarks on a 1700 mile solo trek from Alice Springs to the

Indian Ocean. She has $6 and a suitcase of inappropriate clothing and

a loyal dog named Diggity.

It takes almost 2 years for her to afford the camels and get them

trained which we learned was no easy task. Many readers found that part

a little tiring but finally she embarks with the help of funding from

National Geographic Magazine. The trip takes 7 months and along the

way she encounters many travails and people. She learns to appreciate

the Aborigines and their culture. We also learns a lot about this vanishing 

culture and their unjust treatment by the Australian government.

We learned more than we needed to know about camels.

Although this trip was about soul searching we felt that it was not

easy to bond with Robyn and sometimes she was even perceived as

a a crazy lady. However, we all had to admit she had courage and bravery

beyond any of our imaginations and that solo travel would not be our thing.

We felt that the descriptions of the sometimes beauty of the desert would be

worth seeing in the just released movie.

The point was brought up that since she wrote the book 2 years after the 

journey that maybe she may not have remembered it as it truly was.

I chose a book called "A Walk Across the Sun" by Corban Addison which is

an International best seller that I really enjoyed.

November 12, was chosen for the next meeting.

Happy Reading!    

The Lowland

On September 10, we met at Marsha's house during a lovely

but heavy summer storm on her lake.

There were eight present and they were Madeleine, Julie,

Kathy, Sarah, Betsy, Nancy, Marsha and Nettie.

We ordered pizzas and had a very thoughtful discussion of

Nancy's book "The Lowland" by Jhumpa Lahiri.

It is a story of two Indian boys coming of age in

Calcutta almost like twins but diverging on different

paths in adulthood. One became a political activist

and the other a scholar on Marine Biology in the USA.

They both married the same girl and one raised the other's

child when he was killed.

Nancy asked us to name our favorite character and we all

chose and gave reasons why that choice was made.

Some people did not really care for any of the characters.

Next we were asked to give our take on why a young mother

would abandon her only child. That led to very deep thoughts

on a woman's role and rights in India.

We discussed the political state of India in the 60's and how the book

shed new light on the effect of Russian and Chinese communism on India.

We all had not heard of the Naxalite movement in India.

We also discussed challenges faced by immigrants to america and how

parental control and traditions in India might affect this submergence in the new

culture.  

Marsha chose a book called "Tracks" by Robyn Davidson which is a

woman's solo trek in the Australian Outback.

October 8 was chosen for the next meeting.

We met on August 12 at my house to discuss

Diana's choice "Whistling Past The Graveyard" by Susan

Crandall who happens to be a native of Noblesville, IN.

It is a delightful coming of age story told through the

eyes of a very precocious 9 and a half year old

southern girl in 1963. She embarks on a journey with a black woman and her eyes are opened to the evil of racial prejudice which she did not realize existed.

Diana had prepared some questions from the reading group guide and we all had a chance to give our opinions. We had all read and liked the book and enjoyed Starla's journey to find her mother and though she did not reconnect with her real mother she actually found another mother figure in Eula the black lady who taught Starla to find her talents in life and use them.  

The story was funny, highly entertaining and very perceptive.

Starla is reminiscent of Scout in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Nancy chose a book by Jhumpa Lahiri called "The Lowland."

A tentative date of September 10th was chosen but I already have a conflict as Frank scheduled me to work that evening. So unless

I can get that changed, we may have to reschedule.  

THE SOLOIST by STEVE LOPEZ

On June 18, the meeting was held at my home to discuss the Soloist
written by Steve Lopez which was chosen by Carol Branson.
There were nine people in attendance and they were Madeleine, Julie,
Nancy, Diana, Carol, Betsy, Kathy, Janet and  Nettie.
Steve Lopez was then a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and he
discovered Nathaniel Ayers, a talented homeless musician living
and playing on the streets of Los Angeles near skid row.
He later learned after great difficulty befriending Nathaniel that he had
been a scholarship winner to Julliard School of music and that he dropped
out due to mental illness caused by the pressures of competing in that
world. 

Lopez writes a few articles about Nathaniel and public interest grew.
He received many instruments from philanthropists and his quest began
to try to rehabilitate Nathaniel while luring him with the musical treasure
trove. What ensues is a rocky and arduous relationship between the two
leading eventually to limited trust and a lifelong friendship.  At the end of the
book the Nathaniel is off the streets and living in an apartment. We still do not
know if he ever trusted doctors to try meds that could help his schizophrenia.
We do know he played indoors and even had a studio established where his goal
was to use musical therapy to help others.

We watched some u-tubes of Nathaniel playing trumpet, cello and violin.
Carol was very interested in this book because she actually works with the
homeless here in Indianapolis and she feeds them via some church group
at Roberts Park. She says they are all individuals with a personal story and
I got the sense that she has listened to some of these stories. She says that Indianapolis
has a large homeless population. Since there are no longer State run institutions  
it is the job of churches and charitable organizations to help these people.

Diana chose a book called "Whistling Past The Graveyard" by Susan Crandall
who is a Noblesville resident. The date was tentatively set for end of July but I will
not be here so let us push it out to August 6 which is a Wednesday.
Nancy Forbush should be the next person to choose unless Marsha
Callahan steps up.

Reminders will be sent.