MAY - JUNE - AND BEYOND

MAY

BROOKLYN, COLM TÓIBÍN

 JUNE

VOICE OF AMERICA, E.C. OSONDU


JULY
I don't think we settled on a book for July.

HOUSE OF MIRTH - EDITH WHARTON

We got together on Saturday for the April edition of BookClub. Notable members in attendance were Art, Janis, AnneMarie, Tony and Máirtín. Excused absent were Ann (visiting family in Japan) and Greta. We had two months to make a go of this book. Everyone had cracked it open and several members had finished or nearly finished it. General consensus was that it was a good book.

From March to April

Most members were unable to attend in March so the discussion of House of Mirth by Edith Wharton has been postponed until April. See you then.

February and March

Today's discussion of River Thieves, by Michael Crummey, began, uncharacteristically, as soon as the first members were seated. That would be Janice, Ann and Anne Marie. Janice had a question about the meaning of a line about three-quarters through the book. Art and Tony arrived together a few minutes later and jumped in and provided some elucidation. We had moved onto other topics when Mairtin arrived late due to traffic so talk of the book began again. There was general agreement that is a very good book but had a very different pace from Galore by the same author. It didn't have the same feeling of being on a rollicking ride but was more subdued. Ann described it as "frozen." All agreed that the writing was beautiful.



The book for March is House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.

November and December 2011 and January 2012

November was Pao: A Novel
by Kerry Young.




December was The Oracle of Stamboul
by Michael David Lukas.





And January 2012 (can you believe it?!?) is The Dew Breaker
by Edwidge Danticat.

OCTOBER BOOK

WAR Sebastian Junger

September Book

We are reading "Broken April" by Ismail Kadare.

See you in September.

But what we will be reading is open to debate. August means end of vacation and the school teachers were all accounted for. There was an excellent turn out with all present save Greta, who was already swamped with work and was missed. It was universally agreed that "Galore" was a magnificent book, beautiful language and characters.

Unusually, we left undecided on what to read next. Some suggestions were "Just Kids" by Patti Smith and a recent book by William Trevor. (Sorry but I can't remember the name now.)

All suggestions will be entertained (and with luck entertaining as well).

August Reading

Ann wins "Best Reason for Missing Book Club" with her hula-club financial responsibilities excuse. Mairtin was a close second with the ever popular "I'm on another continent" justification. Tony ran a poor third with "I'm in a nearby city." You must be MUCH further away than Carmel to impress us!

Meanwhile, the rest of us had a lovely breakfast (once Greta regained her senses and ordered the bagel plate to augment her fruit cup) and even touched on the book for a few minutes during our conversation.

For next month our book is "Galore" by Michael Crummey.

To be clear, we are READING about Newfoundland, we are MEETING in San Francisco. See you August 13!

A Very Familiar Title for July

Since Ann and Tony read different books and Anne Marie and Art had not finished the June book, we resolved that we would all read "Land of Marvels" by an old favorite Barry Unsworth for July. Really. No kidding. Land of Marvels. See you July 9.

A new title for June

Out with the Hedgehog and in with "Land of Marvels" by an old favorite Barry Unsworth. It looks like Mairtin will make it even though he flies off to Europe the next day. See you June 11 at the Ritz-Carlton. Oh wait, I meant Delancey Street.

Bird Cloud photos here

The February mystery

I think we held Purple Hibiscus over for a second month, hence the appearance of a missing book.

May and June selections

The next Book Club meeting is back to our usual schedule, second Saturday of the month. And need we specify the location?
May 14, 2011

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

June 11, 2011


Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Happy reading!

Bird Cloud

Having let this lapse for many months the first task is to catch up. What have we been reading? Or at least discussing even if we have not read?

December 18, 2010

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh


January 8, 2011

The Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Nogzi Adichie

February 12, 2011

????
I wasn't there and can't remember!

March 19, 2011












The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds

And now we are at

April 16, 2011

Bird Cloud by Annie Proulx

The meeting was well attended, only Greta was missing and missed she was. It was fitting that this meandering book lead to a meandering discussion. Uncovered was the fact that Art is a cousin of Annie Proulx and that the house is now on the market for $3.6 million or so.

A photographer, Wayne Thom, who worked for the architect has a number of photos of the house for the viewing. Is Bird Cloud as you pictured it?

End of Daylight Savings Time

Thanks book clubbers for agreeing to switch November and December meetings to the third Saturday of the month so I can attend. It is very appreciated! So our November meeting is the 20th, same time and same place.

Our book is "The Thing Around Your Neck" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

September and October books

August was another fine meeting with only Art and Tony M.I.A. We hope they will be able to join us on September 11 when we'll discuss Lonely Crusade by Chester Himes.

Our book for October is Blood River by Tim Butcher

Until then, best wishes for all who are starting a new school year.

Missing in Action

I wan't sure whether I could make it or not. When I woke up at 9:15 I was sure that I just didn't want to rush over. The new job is great and very demanding. As these things often seem to go there was a slow burning problem that erupted in to a crisis by Friday afternoon and spilled over in to the evening. It was nice to sleep in a little.

Have a great summer.

P.S. We saw City Island and loved it.
-Art

Summer reading--and beyond!

A fine meeting today, even if our numbers were few. There was universal praise for "Fine Just the Way It Is."

What's up next? We decided to tackle a longer book and give ourselves two months to read it. (Also a couple of us are out of town next month.) So grab your library card and start reading!

August 14, 2010
A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz

September 11, 2010

Lonely Crusade by Chester Himes

See you in August.

TROPIC MOON

cicerone

THE DISAPPOINTMENT?

Five of the gang were present for this month's meeting. Ann and Tony, Art and Janice were all there ahead of me. They were already being served by the time I got there and I think they had also had the discussion of the book. I ordered my latte and waited for someone to come back and take my order for breakfast. I waited a long time. Finally someone figured out I needed food.
With my belly full of egg and salmon I brought up the book again. Did we like it? No. What was it we didn't like about it? No real answer. Art offered the problem of translation: are we reading bad writing or are we reading a bad translation?
I never really got to say what I thought. It can be like that when you come late to the party. I really liked this book. I visited Romania soon after the "revolution" and had a chance to experience a little of the country and its people. I thought that Müller nailed the surreal character of Romania in that period. I thought she accurately portrayed the sense of disorientation many people felt trying to navigate that insanity. I don't think this was the best novel I've ever read but I wasn't disappointed.

Another Round of Reading Pleasure

After an animated discussion of "Lie Down in Darkness," future books were chosen. Remember, you must be present to vote!

You will recall our February selection was:

February 13, 2010
Netherland by Joseph O'Neill




Continuing on:

March 13, 2010
To Siberia by Per Petterson








April 10, 2010
The Appointment by Herta Mueller








May 8, 2010
Tropic Moon by Georges Simenon





June 12, 2010
Fine Just The Way It Is by Annie Proulx






See you at the Delancey Street Restaurant. They now recognize us and greeted us with "The Book Club is here!" Go to a place for a decade or so and you become a regular.

September Update!

August was a busy month for all and there was no meeting. We recommenced this month, picking up with "Gardens of Water." We were few (Janice, Mairtin and Anne Marie) but the discussion was lively. As can happen, we all had mixed feelings about the book and sorting what worked and what didn't provided much fodder for conversation. All our selections have been moved back a month.

Hoping to see you in October!

October 10, 2009
House of Meetings by Martin Amis



November 14, 2009
Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris


December 12, 2009
Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem


January 9, 2010
Lie Down in Darkness by William Styron


February 13, 2010
Netherland by Joseph O'Neill


See you at the Delancey Street Restaurant.

A new season of Book Club!

An excellent turnout today with all present except for our French Correspondent M. Mairtin. With so much catching up to do, we almost didn't discuss the book at all but after the bill was paid a rousing conversation ensued with insightful comments from all. Even those that hadn't read the book! Bravo.

All recommendations were put forward and (mostly) approved. We are still holding off on a LeClezio novel until more research can be done to find one of his novels that is translated and easy to find in the U.S.

And the selections are:

August 8, 2009
Gardens of Water by Alan Drew






September 12, 2009
House of Meetings by Martin Amis



October 10, 2009
Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris


November 14, 2009
Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem


December 12, 2009
Lie Down in Darkness by William Styron


January 9, 2010
Netherland by Joseph O'Neill


See you at the Delancey Street Restaurant.

Springing Forward, Into the Future

So what, you may ask, are our next four selections?
April 11: The Reserve by Russell Banks












May 9: Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates





June 13: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz




July 11: Out Stealing Horses by Per Patterson

Marching On . . .

A very good turnout this Valentine's Day. We missed you Art. Otherwise all were accounted for.
Next month's selection is "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison. See you March 14 at the usual place.

What month is it anyhow?

If I remember this right, there was no meeting in December. In January the group met and discussed "White Tiger." What did you think?

February's selection is "What is the What" by Dave Eggers. It is an autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng. How can this be? Join us at Delancy Street restaurant on Valentine's day to find out.