South of Broad by Pat Conroy

In June Madeleine hosted us at her lovely new home where we

were fed snacks, cocktails and many healthy salads ending with

Limoncello and ice cream.

We discussed Doug's book choice which was written by popular and

prolific author Pat Conroy. The book is set in Charleston, S.C.

The book had a host of characters some of which are sinners

and others saints. Leopold Bloom is the narrator and he has a

loving father and unique ex nun mother. The family struggles

with the suicide of Steve, the eldest child. Leo searches for something to sustain him

and does so when he becomes involved with a group of

high school seniors.

These characters were diverse including socialites, blacks, broken

mountain siblings, glamorous Sheba and her gay brother.

We follow the group through their lives and share in their

successes and breakdowns in Charleston's dark legacy of

racism and class divisions. The book is  typically  Conroy at his

finest whose passion for life and language has no bounds.

I chose a book entitled " The Fishermen"by Chigozie Obioma

and settled on a July 10th date.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

In early May we met at my house to discuss Carol Hawkin's choice

which was Bear Town by Swedish author Fredrik Backman.

We had as I recalled,  some pot pies which I had never made before

but I think they were well accepted by our group. Kathy brought her chop

salads and I finished with a mango mousse also something I had never made.

I hope I can remember who attended but I think it was Kathy, Betsy, Madeleine,

Sarah, Doug, Carol, Marsha and Carol who left for her choir practice.

Julie had planned on attending but had a burn issue and could not.

We had all read the book and loved it. 

Bear Town is a hockey town in Sweden but some of us thought it could

have been the Midwest like Minnesota or Wisconsin.  Bear Town is a small

town located deep in the forest and it is facing financial ruin due to

industries closing. But the small town is competing in a National Hockey semi

final and actually have a shot at it. All the hopes and dreams of the town 

rests n the hands a few teenaged boys. This is a heavy burden  for these

boys and the semi final match is the catalyst for a violent act

committed by the star player. This rape leaves one girl traumatized and

leaves the town divided in their loyalty. Finally two of the boys come forward and

 do the right thing giving us hope in humanity and redemption.

The characters are well drawn. They are both flawed and heroic.

Bear Town is about hockey but it is so much more than just hockey. 

It is about Love, sacrifice, friendship, family, and hope to name a few. There is

a sequel that just came out called "Us Against You".

We decided to go with a Pat Conroy book entitled, "South Of Broad".

May 29 was chosen for the next meeting.  

"The Girl Who Wrote in Silk" by Kelli Estes

On February 26th, 2019 we met at Julie's home to discuss her choice

"The Girl Who Wrote in Silk" which is a debut novel for

author Kelli Estes. The attendees were Doug, Donna, Sarah, Kathy,

Marsha, Betsy, Nettie, and Carol Branson.

Julie prepared a lovely chicken casserole and her world

famous Jello salad. 

We had all read the book and liked it because it was an easy

read with an interesting storyline.

  With all historical fiction novels, we get an opportunity to learn

something we may have not known about, 

Some were not aware of the Chinese

exclusion act of 1882 which forbade Chinese from becoming

American citizens as well as forcing them to return to China.

Immigration was closed to Chinese for about 20 years,

 The Chinese had come over to build

the railroad and many stayed on to make a better life for themselves.

It was the first act in America against any ethnic group and

it lasted for about 20 years.

 The book pointed out the prejudice of that time

towards the Chinese and the consequent ill treatment they received which

was another  shameful period in American history.

In this story they were cruelly rounded up and sent back to China in shipa

where  they were murdered , thrown overboard 

and never repatriated to their homeland.

Our heroine, Meilin,

 survives one of these ill fated voyages and settles on one of

the islands across from Seattle in the 1800's. 

Meilin is a strong young sad Chinese woman  who

has lost her entire family and she  embroiders a 

beautiful robe for her son which tells

her family's story and the wrongs they encountered at the hands of

Duncan Campbell.. Meilin hides a sleeve of the robe under a step in her home 

and it is discovered a century later by Inara,  the young descendant of Duncan

Campbell when she inherits the house

The story switches back and forth from the 1990's to present day.

Inara finds a handsome  Chinese professor, Daniel Wong, who is

 an expert nd Chinese studies. Daniel does research on the sleeve and

unearths the shameful secret that Inara's grandfather was the captain

of the ill fated ship. Daniel also  discovers he is a descendant of Meilin's.

Some critics said the book was like a romance novel because 

of how the author conveniently tied  the two stories together

and especially as Daniel and Inara fell in love and lived happily

thereafter.

Nevertheless we enjoyed the author's cute story and her description of 

the water and the beautiful San Juan islands.

Of course our discussion centered on Immigration and the problems

we are encountering today in that arena and the fact that

there are no good solutions.

Carol Hawkins  chose "Bear Town" by Fredrik Backman  and a tentative 

date was set for April 17th,

        

"The Things They carried" by Tim O'Brien

On January 16, 2019 we kicked off the new year with our meeting hosted by Carol 

to discuss her book choice "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien.

We welcomed back Marsha Callahan who had not attended in a long

while. We also welcomed first time attendee Carol Hawkins.  Kathy, Madeleine,

Sarah, Betsy and I also attended.

Most people had read the book which led to a very lively discussion of

a Vietnam war book based on several linked short stories remembered by the author who

served on the ground in the 23rd division.

The author starts by listing the physical items a soldier carried as well as their 

weight. He then expands into the mental baggage that a soldier carries around

with him while participating in a war which he does not understand.

The author writes very well and is able to create the physical horror of war,

dismembered bodies, gruesome depictions of explosions, and the general

destruction of war. He also grapples with the emotional aspects of cowardice,

mortality, honor, trauma and the loss of humanity that soldiers experience

during war. He is able to depict the bond that is created amongst the platoon

members and how they coped  with humor and lots of drugs.

He uses a technique of telling the same story through different eyes which

is quite an effective one.

The author deals with the returning Vietnam veteran and the alienation 

that they feel when the return from a surreal and ambiguous war.

Carol served a great supper after with enchiladas and a chicken bacon salad 

finished off with peppermint ice cream topped with chocolate sauce.

We chose February 27th to be the next meeting to discuss Julie's book

entitled, "The Girl Who Wrote In Silk" by Kelli Estes. Julie has agreed

to host the next meeting and I will send out a reminder with details.   

"Little Bee" by Chris Cleve

On December 12, 2018 we were hosted by Betsy who had her home 

decorated for Christmas.  Sarah, Madeleine, Donna, Kathy, Doug, Carol B. and I attended.

We were welcomed with a cider, cinnamon, and champagne

drink which we enjoyed. We were then treated to soup, salad and quiche whilst

we discussed her book "Little Bee " by Chris Cleave who is a Brit.

Little Bee is an asylum seeking 16 year old Nigerian young girl who is placed in

a British detention center in London where she stays for 2 years. The story is

told from two female points of view and we thought the male author did

a fantastic job of seeing things perfectly from the African young girl as well

as the British lady Sarah who becomes involved with her due to a horrifying experience

whilst vacationing in Nigeria. Little Bee's village is wiped out by "baddies"

and her sister is raped and murdered brutally because of the presence of oil underneath

the village.  Sarah saves Bee's life by cutting off her finger and from that point their

lives become intertwined.

It is indeed a dark story which is so terribly sad, yet it  written in an ironically

humorous way.We all had a chance to pick parts that we found humorous.

We agreed that there may have been some holes in the story but with what

is happening at our own Southern border it was a timely read. Perhaps

it may have shed some light on asylum seekers and given us some pause for

thought on the situation.  

Carol Branson chose the new book entitled, "The Things They Carried"

by Tim O'Brien. We agreed to meet on January 16th. We hope Carol

will host but will send out information closer to the time.

"A Piece of the World" by Christina Kline Baker

On October 3, 2018 we met at Sarah's home to discuss her book

entitled "A Piece of the World", by Christina Kline Baker.

We had a large group of people including Julie, Madeleine, Doug, Betsy,

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

We were able to fit around Sarah's table where we had a great salad,

bean soup, bread and wine. The setting was perfect for a discussion.

Special thanks to Sarah and Maybelline for having us in their home.

I believe most of us had read the book which is about Andrew Wyeth's relationship

with the subject of his iconic painting entitled "Christina's World."

It was historical fiction that brought into focus the flesh and blood woman 

behind the portrait as she envisioned the life of this woman and her special bond with

with one of our greatest modern artists.

The book transports us to a mid century farmhouse on the coast of Maine where

Christina lives a small life trapped by family duty and her ailing body. It deals with

the injustices of childhood, the aches of adulthood and the regrets of middle age.

The painting shows a lonely woman in a field looking at a lonely house on

top of a hill. The book explores the life of people who lived inside that

house especially the tragic life of Christina who is portrayed in the painting.

She  was a strong, stubborn woman betrayed by her body and the man she loved.  

We thought that the author was very clever and talented to accomplish

this novel inspired by the painting. The house is a museum in Maine and we

thought it might make a good visit if one was in that area.

  Betsy chose a book called "Little Bee" by Chris Cleave about a Nigerian

refugee and her relationship  with a British magazine editor. 

We chose Wednesday November 14th to be the next meeting.

"The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin

On July 25th we met to discuss Kathy`s book choice

which was "The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin.

Julie, Sarah, Kathy, Donna, Madeleine, Betsy, Nancy and I

attended. Kathy provided delicious pizza, which was served with salad and 

Donna's brownies.

This was a different kind of book and a change from the

themes of world war 2 and slavery.

It is set in New York City in 1969 where word has spread of

a traveling psychic who can predict the day of death.

The four Gold children on the cusp of self awareness sneak out

to hear their fortune.

How did knowing the date of their deaths shape the life choices of

the four siblings? Was it destiny or choice, reality or illusion.

The first to die was the youngest boy Simon who heads to San Francisco

searching for love in the promiscuous gay community in the 80's.

Some thought the sex scenes were too overly graphic. Simon contracts AIDS just

as he finds love.

Next to die is dreamy Klara who becomes a Las Vegas magician

obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy. She actually commits suicide.

The Eldest son Daniel seeks security as an Army doctor who decides who

goes to war or not. He goes seeking the fortune teller and is bizarrely

shot by a detective who is investigating Klara's death.

The first three die on the predicted date at a fairly young age.

The eldest daughter Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she

tests the boundary between science and immortality. 

The actual picture on the book cover depicts the "Tree of Life" which is

very symbolic given the subject of the book. The book although it deals with

death has a lot of living going on within it. We are exposed to the bonds

of family and is overall a saga of life.

So the reader has to ask them self the following questions

"Would I want to know the date of my death?"

"How would knowing affect my life going forward?"

Sarah chose "A piece of the World" by Christina Baker Kline  

which is about painter Andrew Wyeth's iconic painting.

A date of Sept 26th was tentatively chosen.