The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs

For December we met at Pam's on Dec. 10th to discuss The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A. J. Jacobs

Food:

Chicken tortilla soup

Tortilla chips and salsa

Sourdough bread and butter

Carrots and dip

Wine and more wine!

It's pretty funny. Entertaining, in a non-blasphemous way. I think that the rest of the group enjoyed it. Some maybe more than others.

Judy noted that this may be an entire new genre. People who do strange things so they can write books about them! She may be on to something.

Because I started reading this far too close to the book club time (are you sensing a trend with me?) I managed to only complete about half the book. But oh, what a half!

A year ago I borrowed but didn't read Jacobs' book, The Know it All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Man in the World. In that book he takes his readers through his journey of reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica A-Z.

In this one, The Year of Living Biblically, his task is to follow the Bible as literally as possible. I suppose to some it might seem blasphemous, but I think his treatment of the subject matter is just fine. A bit sensational, sure, but not particularly offensive. I felt the same way when I saw Jesus Camp. I was rather surprised by some of the things he discussed. I didn't know there was a Creation museum. That floored me. Also the existence of Clean Flicks. What the heck? I guess their practice of editing films was seen as in violation of copyright so now they simply offer "clean" movies rather than try to "clean them up."

Jacobs book is fascinating. Educational. Entertaining. Laugh-out-loud funny at times. His wife is a saint and also very funny--when she deliberately sits in every chair in their home... She has spunk and is good natured and takes her crazy husband in stride. Of course I'm only half done with the book... hmmmm.....

About a week prior to reading Jacobs' book, I was directed to look at this site, which is aimed at taking a closer look at Christian culture. I was intrigued by the way the site ended up complementing my reading. I was thinking Jacobs needed to take a look at that site. Of course I haven't even gotten to the last three months of his experiment yet, when he focuses more on the New Testament.The website, is worth a browse. I started with Stephanie's first posts back in August and worked my way forward. The site might be perceived as rude. Or mocking. I suppose there is an element of the mocking involved. Still the bottom line is that so much of what I read on that site is true of my experience. I could think of examples within the Christian culture I know, on nearly every one of the 55 posts I read. Lest you think I'm pointing a finger and laughing, please realize that I know I've subscribed to many, many of these traits at one point in time. My favorite posts? #12, #19, #25, #27, #39, #45, #56 .... If I don't quit, I'll have marked them all! :)

In case you are curious as to why Stephanie is writing this blog, she addresses that in a number of the comments I've read in which she defends herself and her posts to those who are offended. Stephy says: "Christian culture doesn't have anything to do with Jesus himself. But people in Christian culture feel that doing many of these cultural things are imperative to relationship with him, and they're not. Also, Christian culture is a way to avoid true relationship and a way to "play house" if you will, little rituals and mandates not decreed by God yet they make us feel like we are closer to God. Anything can be used to avoid relationship of course, we are endlessly creative in finding ways to avoid it, because true relationship is messy and reveals things to us about ourselves that we'd rather not see. Christian culture is a very pervasive thing that isn't clearly addressed and I think it should be. So I'm writing about it."

Both the book and this blog play around with these ideas. Ideas many hold sacred. Yet, if you let yourself, you might find yourself laughing and this book was certainly educational as well as entertaining. A. J. Jacobs has a rare and unusual mind and did I mention we thought his wife was a saint?

Fought Over Any Good Books Lately?

Judy shared this with our group over email. As she stated when she sent it, I guess we are the lucky ones. Read on....

From the New York Times
By JOANNE KAUFMAN
Published: December 5, 2008

JOCELYN BOWIE was thrilled by the invitation to join a book group. She had just returned to her hometown, Bloomington, Ind., to take an administration job at Indiana University, and thought she had won a ticket to a top echelon. “I was hoping to network with all these women in upper-level jobs at I.U., then I found they were in the book group,” she said. “I thought, ‘Great! They’ll see how wonderful I am, and we’ll have these great conversations about books.’ ”

Ms. Bowie cannot pinpoint the precise moment when disillusion replaced delight. Maybe it was the evening she tried to persuade everyone to look beyond Oprah Winfrey’s picks, “and they all said ‘What’s wrong with Oprah?’ ” she said.

Or perhaps it was the meeting when she lobbied for literary classics like “Emma” and the rest of the group was abuzz about “The Secret Life of Bees,” a pop-lit best seller.

The last straw came when the group picked “The Da Vinci Code” and someone suggested the discussion would be enriched by delving into the author’s source material. “It was bad enough that they wanted to read ‘Da Vinci Code’ in the first place,” Ms. Bowie said, “but then they wanted to talk about it.” She quit shortly after, making up a polite excuse: “I told the organizer, ‘You’re reading fiction, and I’m reading history right now.’ ”

Yes, it’s a nice, high-minded idea to join a book group, a way to make friends and read books that might otherwise sit untouched. But what happens when you wind up hating all the literary selections — or the other members? Breaking up isn’t so hard to do when it means freedom from inane critical commentary, political maneuvering, hurt feelings, bad chick lit and even worse chardonnay.

“Who knew a book group could be such a soap opera?” said Barb Burg, senior vice president at Bantam Dell, which publishes many titles adopted by book groups. “You’d think it would just be about the book. But wherever I go, people want to talk to me about the infighting and the politics.”

One member may push for John Updike, while everyone else is set on John Grisham. One person wants to have a glass of wine and talk about the book, while everyone else wants to get drunk and talk about their spouses. “There are all these power struggles about what book gets chosen,” Ms. Burg said. Then come the complaints: “It’s too long, it’s too short, it’s not literary enough, it’s too literary ... ”

Read the complete article here.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

For October/November we had a spirited discussion of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski on Wednesday November 12 at Carmyn's apt. We also had sour creamy cheesy baked chicken breasts, baked potatoes, green beans, and apple crisp and apple pie ice cream for dessert!

I have been sort of waiting to write about this until after I'd finished the book, but that still hasn't happened so I'll not prolong this any further.

Most everyone in our group enjoyed this book quite a bit. I liked it too, but simply ran out of time and then kept on being busy afterward. The Hamlet connections were the focus of much of our discussion. Having a number of English teachers in the group certainly helps. It's been ages since I've read Hamlet, but even I recognized many of the allusions.

I found the language and imagery to be engaging and I enjoyed the descriptions of the dog training aspects, mainly because it was so unfamiliar.

I intend to finish the book, probably over vacation. In the meantime, here are a few words from Goodreads on the book:

Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose thoughtful companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally. But with the unexpected return of Claude, Edgar's paternal uncle, turmoil consumes the Sawtelles' once peaceful home... spoilers omitted....David Wroblewski is a master storyteller, and his breathtaking scenes—the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain—create a riveting family saga, a brilliant exploration of the limits of language, and a compulsively readable modern classic.

Read this one. It comes highly recommended.

Evidence of Things Unseen by Marianne Wiggins

For September's book club meeting we drove to the Northland Inn in Crookston, MN where we were treated to a delicious meal by our Crookston pal, Larry! There we discussed Evidence of Things Unseen by Marianne Wiggins.

Judy suggested this book and I'm glad she did. Since she'd read this one in July, she decided to try another Wiggins book rather than reread this one. She enjoyed John Dollar, but would recommend that readers just dive in and avoid finding out too much about the book before beginning. She felt that some of the surprise and wonder was stripped away by knowing the "gist" of the book before she began.

Andrea, Judy and I all finished the book and Larry and Brian were at about the same spot in the story. We discussed Wiggins' writing style and while Judy and I enjoyed the poetic, rather "literary style" of language, Larry found Wiggins' writing style grating. I enjoyed the character descriptions and really did love the characters and the way they were portrayed in this novel-- the watery-eyed, blinking, science nerd Foss, his young wispy white-haired wife Opal, the sometimes drunken, womanizing, says-it-like-it-is, Flash. We also were impressed with the time span of the book and the historical references made to things like the Scopes Monkey Trial, WWI trench warfare, prohibition, ku klux klan, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Manhatten project. The story is a tender, intriguing, often heartbreaking look at a young couple's journey through these years reflecting both his desire to contribute to science and passion for things that are luminescent and their mutual desire to have a child.

Wiggins uses imagery relating to fish, to things that are illuminated, and of course there is the the frequent reference to things unseen. I really enjoyed this book and those that finished it seemed to as well. There was some comment that the ending seemed a bit "pat," or a bit too neat, but that didn't really detract from the overall experience for me. I would recommend this book.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

For August we read The Alienist by Caleb Carr
We met at Andrea's for tacos on August 21, at 6:00 pm.

We were split in our love of the book. Judy, for whom this was a reread, enjoyed the book, as did Pam who was pages away from finishing it. Both Carmyn and Brian who were midway through the story liked what they'd read so far, but Kristine and Andrea were less than impressed. Andrea was abandoning it, whereas Kristine read the entire thing.

It was fun to read about H.H. Holmes in the first chapter because many of us had read about him in an earlier book club pick, The Devil in the White City. Though that book was a nonfiction read and this one a fictional account with only a few mentions of historical figures. It was interesting to learn about the time period and more than once I wished I could dine at Delmonico's with the gang--the food descriptions were heavenly. The serial killer bits were pretty much the opposite. While this book didn't rock my world, it was a pleasurable read and worth the time it took.

Pam told us about another book she'd read by Caleb Carr --The Italian Secretary. That book was written as part of a commission by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate for a group of current authors to write new tales. Carr's story emerged in the form of a novel and so it was published separately rather than as part of the collection. So, if you've run out of the original Sherlock Holmes' stories, you'll have to give this collection a try or check out Carr's novel.

Young Adult Novel-- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

For July we read the young adult novel Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
and we met at Kristine's for BBQs and all sorts of yummy food.

Author Study-- Louise Erdrich -- Reader's Choice

For June we met at the Porpoura coffee shop to discuss our Erdrich books.

Carmyn read Tracks
Judy read A Plague of Doves
Kristine started Love Medicine and then abandoned it for The Antelope Wife
Brian read two of her children's books: The Birchbark House and The Game of Silence

The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin

For May we read The Children's Blizzard and met at Judy's house.

UND Writer's Conference Book -- Junot Diaz

Our featured author of the UND Writer's Conference was Junot Diaz.

Some chose to read his novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and others read his short story collection Drown. We had the opportunity to meet with Diaz at The Toasted Frog.

Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky

For February we read Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky
We met on Sunday, February 24th at Judy's.

The Ground Beneath Her Feet by Salman Rushdie

We read The Ground Beneath Her Feet by Salman Rushdie

and met for brunch and book talk at Kristine's place on Saturday, January 12th.

Author Study---Sherman Alexie--Reader's Choice

Sherman Alexie. For November we did an author study. Readers could choose a book by this author and we discussed our choices and his writing style and subject at Aaltos Garden Cafe, a new restaurant at the Canad Inns, at 6:00 pm on Tuesday Nov. 2oth.

Carmyn read Flight

Brian read The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Judy read Flight, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Andrea read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian and Flight

Larry read Ten Little Indians

Kristine read The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Pam read Flight

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

For October we read: Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
We met at Judy's for brunch on Saturday October 27th

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

For September we read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
We met at Carmyn's place on Tuesday Sept. 18th at 6:30 pm

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

For August we read Sophie's World

by Jostein Gaarder.

We met at Pam's on

Tuesday August 21st at 6:30 pm

Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros

For July we read Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros.

We met at Pam's on Thursday July 19th

In the true spirit of book club the food was fantastic. (See pictures below) Almost unintentionally everything was in the three colors of the Mexican flag, from the guacamole to the strawberries. The book was a little less fantastic. Only Kristine managed to finish in time for our meeting. Judy and Brian aren't planning to complete it. And Pam, Carmyn, and Larry all hope to..... eventually. (I'm still working on that!) Our responses to Caramelo were mixed, though it was evident no one LOVED the book and everyone thought it dragged. Several in the group had read House on Mango Street or "Eleven" and expected this to be similar in style or format and found that Cisneros didn't quite live up to that expectation.

The structre of this novel seemed different from her previous ones, and we focused on that for awhile commenting, too, on the placement of the footnotes and what we thought of them. I didn't mind them, but agreed that they broke up the flow of the reading since they were at the end of the chapter. One suggestion was they'd be better placed at the bottom of the page where the notation occured rather than at the end of the chapter because they slowed down the reading or caused you to have to flip back and forth or forget why it was marked.

Judy pointed out that if this book had been written with a language other than Spanish sprinkled in, the sheer volume of the foreign words would not have been tolerated. It DID had an impressive amount of untranslated Spanish in the book and we spent some time looking at examples of that and shooting words Pam's way seeking explanations.

Pam liked the middle section best... while Larry prefered the first section. I didn't really have an opinion on that. I did, however, have a bit of trouble keeping the various characters straight in my head... we were learning about a young girl, her father's and mother's stories, and her grandparent's stories as they happened in Mexico City, Acapulco, Chicago etc.

I think Cisnero's style of language is pretty poetic... but Kristine had the exact opposite perspective on that. She didn't like the way Cisneros' sentences seemed so staccato while I found tons of rich description and poetry in what she wrote. Brian felt that there was TOO much description in the story and it detracted from whatever current story she was on... you'd lose track of the thread in the midst of the description.

Another thing Kristine pointed out had to do with the title and its role in the story. Caramelo. The grandma had a caramelo scarf in the story and it is also the name of the book... Since she alone, completed the book, we asked her what happens with the scarf. She felt the idea wasn't developed... she said it was like Cisnero's editor told her to go back and mention the damn scarf every 75 pages or so to keep the continuity but it really wasn't any big thing and it held no epiphany and it was more than anything contrived and lacking what it could possibly have offered.

Still, it was a good discussion and the book was interesting. I'm just not sure it was one I would recommend. Try another Cisneros book first.

Kristine's Mexican Flag Veggies

Larry's Dos Equis Beer and Pam's Flautas

Mexican candy to add even more authenticity.

Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan

On June 27, we drove out to Kristi's "country home" to discuss Amy Tan's book Saving Fish From Drowning. It was a cool evening and perfect for the corn chowder Kristi made for the group. She also made spinach dip and a delicious jello fruit salad. Pam brought tinto de verano--red wine and lemonade. Kristine brought bread and Brian remembered our healthy side with veggies and dip. Marci and Carmyn brought fruit and monster cookies (compliments of our friend Anna, who also joined us) for dessert. Judy topped off the evening with a still warm homemade apple pie, that was to die for.

As we sat around the high topped table we heard consensus from the group. This wasn't the best Amy Tan any of us had read. For many of us, the story lacked sympathetic characters. For others, it was the Author's Note at the beginning they found troubling. The book hinted that the story was real.. or based on some realistic research.. because of a fictional author's note at the beginning. Kristine was intrigued enough to pause her reading and try to determine if any of these people or places existed and then was saddened to learn it was all a sort of "trick of the author." I hadn't even thought about it and simply assumed that while the story had to be fiction, I trusted the author's note to be real and that the story was BASED on some events or discoveries the author made. It wasn't until our book meeting that --I-- discovered otherwise.

We were amazed at the naivety of the Karen tribe, at the obnoxiousness of the travelers--truly playing out the role of the "ugly American" for its readers. Some readers liked Heidi by the end, so I guess there was a sympathetic connection to some extent. However, I can't say I was anything but relieved to be done with the story when it finally concluded. I love Amy Tan books but this one lacked some of the charm and magic I found in her earlier novels. In her author comments she says after her mother died that she was thinking she could no longer do mother and daughter books anymore and that her mother found a new voice in this one in the ghost narrator of Bibi Chen. I guess I did like her character for the most part but it still wasn't enough for me.

Interestingly though, Judy admitted she'd not been able to finish the book before book club. This was not because she didn't have time, but because she was reading it right before her trip to Peru and couldn't continue because it just seemed like a bad idea to read about travelers being kidnapped in a foreign country right before she was embarking on a huge adventure not unlike our characters. (why invite worry, right?)

Well, now we've been to Burma/Myanmar and back..... next stop Mexico with Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros.

May's Catch Up Month

Catch-Up Month!
Meeting was Monday May 14
at Carmyn's Place

We each picked a book club book we'd not managed to finish during the past year and we tried to complete it for this meeting. For folks like Larry, who've completed every book, he simply needed to find a book he's been dying to read and go for it!

Here's what we've read this year:
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty
For September we each read an adolescent lit book
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Then we did a book swap for our January meeting
For Feb, we read Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell
For March, our UND Writers Conference author, Stuart Dybek's book of short stories -- Childhood and other Neighborhoods.
For April, The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

The Food:
Carmyn provided colorful bean dip and tortilla chips
Pam brought brats and buns in the spirit of "Catch-up"
Marci's brought veggies to dip in a lemon dill dip.
Brian brought spinach dip and crackers.
Judy brought dessert.
Larry brought beer
Kristi brought Blue Moose spicy spinach dip and chips

The Readers:
Carmyn read The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Richards but didn't finish it. Not sure I will.

Pam read Wicked by Gregory Maguire and The Other Boelyn Girl by Phillippa Gregory (a book from her OTHER book club!)

Larry read Pattern Recognition by William Gibson. This wasn't originally a book club selection. It's a darker look at the future, a sci fi book with a changed approach--almost prophetic. It features a girl with a unique talent--she's a human beta-test for products, logos. She works as a consultant.

Brian read Assassination Vacation by Sara Vowell. Brian hadn't originally come to the meeting where we read this book and so this was a perfect chance to jump in and read one we KNEW he'd enjoy. We were right. And talking about it again as a group was like reminiscing a fond memory.

Marci read ?

Kristi read Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards--didn't like it very much-- and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls--loved it.

Judy read NOTHING... she was surviving the end of the school year! Almost there.

We also set the books for the next three months:
For June--
Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan

For July--
Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros

For August--
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaardner

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

The Memory Keeper's Daughter
by Kim Edwards

We met on Tuesday April 24 at Marci's House and enjoyed some delicious Papa Murphy's pizza... pepperoni and, a book club favorite, gourmet vegetarian. We enjoyed warm cheesy herb bread, fresh veggies, wine, Amber Bock beer, and Pepperidge Farms coconut cake for dessert.
Larry, Judy, Christine, Kristi, Marci, Pam, and I were all there and the discussion was immediate. Though no one seemed to "love" the book, it seemed everyone had something to say. I was at a disadvantage having only read the first few chapters; however, I'll have a chance to read it since next month is "catch up" month.

Some of our discussion centered around our discontent with certain aspects of the novel. It was mentioned that Kim Edwards was a short story writer before and we questioned if THAT was why her work seemed to have issues with concluding and how it could almost be a short story within a larger work from time to time. We agreed that parts were moving, but I also think that one claim was "the ending sucked" and another commenter felt it was "wimpy and sad." We talked about the grief of miscarriage or that of the loss of a child or a father. We also discussed the roles of husbands and wives in that historical time period and what life would be life for someone with mental disabilities in that era as compared to today. We questioned if things could have been different for Nora and David, if he'd been truthful. For a book we didn't love we actually had a pretty good conversation.

------------------------------------------------

"But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad,
Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill."
--from Hamlet, Shakespeare

Our discussion time moved on to a more playful conversation including some Latin, a explanation of chiasmus, discussion of sonnets and what iambic meter sounds like, and some wonderfully cheesy jokes by Kristi involving a duck and his bill!

Childhood and Other Neighborhoods by Stuart Dybek

For the month of March we read a collection of short stories by Stuart Dybek and then had an opportunity to meet with him when he was at the university for the Writer's Conference.

We met as a group a week earlier, at Judy's house, to discuss his work.

I am still working on finishing the book and writing this post but I can post two of the recipes, by special request. Carmyn made the soup, using Sara D's recipe (see, Sara... you are STILL with us even though you are far away in PA) and Judy made the scrumptious dessert.



Pumpkin Crab Soup

1-24 oz. can of pumpkin
6 cups chicken stock
1 large onion, sliced
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. cumin powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne powder
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 pound crab meat (from the can is what I used)
6 oz. skim milk (or you can use cream, I did)
pepper to taste

Heat oil in a skillet and add onion. Saute for 5-8 minutes. Add cumin, cayenne, and basil. Stir for a minute. Pour in chicken stock and add pumpkin. Simmer covered for 15-20 minutes. Add crab meat and simmer the soup for 3-5 minutes. Add milk and stir. Serve!

Rum Cake

1 yellow cake mix
1/2 cup cold water
1/3 cup veg. oil
1/2 cup Capt. Morgan Spiced Rum
3 eggs

Mix and pour over 1 cup chopped pecans in tube pan.

Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees (toothpick test).
poke holes in cake and then glaze with the following mixture:

Glaze

1/4 pound butter
1/4 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar

Combine and boil 5 minutes
then add 1/2 cup rum.

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell

February 20, 2007 Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell
Location: The Toasted Frog 7:00 pm

This was my first trip to The Toasted Frog, though I think I may be the last person in town to go there. I was not disappointed. I snacked on Larry's order of sweet potato fries (light and yummy!) while we waited at the bar and I ordered the fish taco which was wonderful. Back in the conference room where we met to discuss our book, I had dessert: deep fried cheesecake and all of that rich and delicious food was washed down with a Newcastle. Pam, Judy, Larry and I discussed the book though at the time of the meeting only Judy was done reading. Now, I think we've all managed to finish and I may not be accurate in saying this but I think we all enjoyed it.

Judy listened to the audiobook version and reported that the story had many voices reading various sections including Conan O'Brien, Dave Eggers, Stephen King, Jon Stewart and, of course, Vowell herself, whose distinct voice and deadpan delivery will be familiar to fans of NPR's This American Life.

Because they can sum this book up better than I can, I'll include the review from Publisher's Weekly on the Amazon site:

What do you get when a woman who's obsessed with death and U.S. history goes on vacation? This wacky, weirdly enthralling exploration of the first three presidential assassinations. Vowell (The Partly Cloudy Patriot), a contributor to NPR's This American Life and the voice of teenage superhero Violet Parr in The Incredibles, takes readers on a pilgrimage of sorts to the sites and monuments that pay homage to Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley, visiting everything from grave sites and simple plaques (like the one in Buffalo that marks the place where McKinley was shot) to places like the National Museum of Health and Medicine, where fragments of Lincoln's skull are on display. An expert tour guide, Vowell brings into sharp focus not only the figures involved in the assassinations, but the social and political circumstances that led to each-and she does so in the witty, sometimes irreverent manner that her fans have come to expect. Thus, readers learn not only about how Garfield found himself caught between the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds, bitterly divided factions of the Republican party, but how his assassin, Charles Guiteau, a supporter of the Stalwarts and an occasional member of the Oneida Community, "was the one guy in a free love commune who could not get laid." Vowell also draws frequent connections between past events and the present, noting similarities between McKinley's preemptive war against Cuba and the Philippines and the current war in Iraq. This is history at its most morbid and most fascinating and, fortunately, one needn't share Vowell's interest in the macabre to thoroughly enjoy this unusual tour.

Pam is quick to say that the Garfield section was her favorite. The book being divided into only four chapters reads a little slower for those of us who enjoy a good chapter break now and then. The Lincoln section was interesting but it was also a little overwhelming. I had favorite bits all through the book and I was amazed at the parallels one can draw from these historical presidents and their lives to the political world of today. I also marveled at the connectedness of their world and the strange coincidences that show up again and again in the details Sarah Vowell explores.

Before I finished the last section of the book, I blogged about this book elsewhere. Feel free to check it out if you are interested in reading more of my thoughts on the book. I would highly recommend this title and I think I need to pick up one of her other books... A Partly Cloudy Patriot, perhaps.

December Book Exchange

December Book Exchange Discussion
Thursday January 4th, 2007
Location: Marci's House at 6:00 pm

The Food:
Soup season continues
Judy brought a roasted pepper bean soup. We drank wines brought by Larry and Kristine. Carmyn brought sour dough and french bread from the Dakota Harvest Bakery, and Marci provided a yummy spinach dip and fresh veggies. Pam and her dessert were missed but Marci found some jam and so we had jam and bread for dessert as we sat by the fire and discussed our books from the exchange.

The Books:

One theme emerged.... few of us had time to read all the delicious books we brought home from the last meeting. Christmas vacation always seems like such a gift of days upon days off and then the reality hits and well.... only Judy completely finished her selection: The Painted Drum. Though I did finish ONE of my three options, Wit and Pam, who couldn't make it, did finish one of hers as well: The Chill.

Kristine finished two books over break: Animal Farm by George Orwell and The Island by Gary Paulsen. However she is still reading Tomcat in Love by Tim O'Brien as recommended by Larry for her Dec. book exchange book. She found that she was unable to empathize with the narrator and liked the bits with Viet Nam best. He is a bit of a scoundrel and she is hoping that the book will resolve itself by the ending (Larry assures us it will, though he points out that our "Tomcat" becomes less likeable as the story goes on). Ultimately Kristine is determined to find out if Lorna Sue (Tom's ex-wife) is, in fact, involved in an incestuous relationship with her brother... Hmmmm......

Larry is reading Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Lardvick as recommended by Pam. It's Lardvick's first novel and it focuses on two sisters in Minnesota who have faced hardship and loss and bond to form a collective strength and a hair salon. In some ways it compares to Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes in spirit and to Steel Magnolias with its fellowship of women gathered in a hair salon. Larry read part one and had to put the book down to deal with the almost predictable plot-driven tragedies... "It was almost melodramatic--it grosses me out!" were the words he used. However part two is where the salon comes in and the women begin to rebuild their lives. Larry's connection to the story can be found in his own memories of his mother's hair salon that was part of his childhood home... smelling of permanent waves and housing a Coke machine full of those curvy cold Coke bottles.

Marci read about 1/3 of The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter as recommended by Judy. So far she likes it but doesn't "love it." The thing she DID enjoy was the different perspectives on the various love stories. Feast of Love is a book about writing a book and that was somewhat annoying to Judy when she first read it, but later it all gets even more connected and that makes it better. She was glad she read it and Marci is eager to finish it as well. Marci thought she might still try to read Picture Bride by Yoshika Uchida as recommended by Judy.


Carmyn read W;t by Margaret Edson as recommended by Kristine. This play is typical in its brevity but powerful in its message. I really enjoyed it and am thinking about buying a copy for myself. I had once seen a few minutes of the film version of the play starring Emma Thompson and oddly enough the bit I'd seen ended up being one of my favorite bits. The one thing I regretted is that I didn't know as much about John Donne as I ought. I felt that this book was one that explored the ideas of life and death and illness and regret, but it also emphasized the power of literature. Now, I'm afraid I'll need to start to study Donne's poetry. I also started the The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez as recommended by Pam but am only about 1/3 of the way through the book. I was just consumed by reading a biography of Woody Guthrie over break and that left far too little time for other reads. I still plan to at least "taste" The Know-It-All by A.J. Jacobs as recommended by Kristine.

Judy read The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich as recommended by Larry. This book is different from the typical Erdrich in that it is initially set in New Hampshire. The story begins with some nominally Native American folk who live there and it connects to North Dakota with the drum which one of the main characters steals from an estate sale in order to return it to its home in North Dakota... a sort of spiritual quest. Since Judy LOVES Erdrich books she wasn't disappointed and though it didn't take the place of her favorite (Tracks) it was a pleasure to read Erdrich's latest.

Pam read The Chill by Ross MacDonald as recommended by Carmyn and she really appreciated the older style of mystery: the sort that gets solved not by CSI teams or forensic squads but by interviews, questioning and old fashioned putting two and two together. Her other book was The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland as recommended by Marci.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

November 30, 2006 The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Location: Carmyn's Apartment at 6:00 pm

The Food:
Soup season at book club is my favorite.
Marci brought a corn chowder that was perfect for a chilly November evening. We drank Newcastle beer brought by Larry and a bottle of red and a bottle of white compliments of Kristine. Carmyn provided artichoke dip* and a veggie tray, and Pam brought two kinds of delicious bread. Judy's banana cream pie and cookies (the cookies were a particular favorite for me: chocolate hazelnut creme de piroline) offered a sweet ending.

The Book:
This memoir, recommended by Pam, was a hit for everyone.

The Glass Castle is a no-holds barred tale of a nomadic, deprived childhood told with the hypnotic wonderment of a child who always wants to believe that Daddy will be a hero in the end and that Momma really does know best. You are enrapt reading about Walls and her siblings rifling through trash cans at school looking for food, doing the skedaddle in the middle of the night, or waiting for Dad to come home after another bender. It's a riveting story and a testament to Walls' indomitable desire to rise above a life that could have easily turned her into just another tragic headline.... Walls tells the story from the point of view of herself as a child, recalling the events as she saw them at each respective age. Scavenger hunts in the desert and late-night escapes from the family's latest town are treated as adventures.
excerpt of a review by Denise Hazlick
MSNBC

One word repeatedly rose to the surface in our book discussion: resiliency. This story is one that demonstrates how resilient the children were in the Walls family. At times the parents seemed so amazing... creative, innovative, strong, intelligent, nonconformist, unflappable. Yet, they were also horrible... alcoholic father, excitement addict mother who'd hoard chocolate bars while her kids nearly starved, an unwillingness to work, stealing from the kids' hard earned cash, deplorable living conditions. Walls story raises questions about homelessness and family life, about dependency and responsibility, about education (the homeschooled and the unschooled), and about how far the ties to family should reach. I think we'd all agree this was a good read and one worth recommending.

Read an interview with the author here.

The Book Exchange:
We drew names and then pitched our book picks .... here's how it shaped up.

Kristine will read
Tomcat in Love by Tim O'Brien as recommended by Larry

Larry will read
Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Lardvick as recommended by Pam
Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman as recommended by Judy

Pam will read
The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland as recommended by Marci

Marci will read
Picture Bride by Yoshiko Uchida as recommended by Judy
The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter as recommended by Judy
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (borrowed from Carmyn, referred to in The Glass Castle)

Carmyn will read
Wit by Margaret Edson as recommended by Kristine
The Know-It-All by A.J. Jacobs as recommended by Kristine
The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez as recommended by Pam

Judy will read
The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich as recommended by Larry

*The Artichoke Dip Recipe*

Combine:

One can of drained and food processed artichokes (not the marinated kind)
One cup of sour cream
One cup of mayo (I used the Canola Mayo kind)
One cup of parmesan cheese
One 8 oz block of Philadelphia cream cheese
Two-Three swish swishes of Tabasco sauce
Two-Three swish swishes of Worcestershire sauce

It helps to grease the baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Enjoy!

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

October 30, 2006 Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
Location: Pam's house at 6:00 pm

Our first snow may have been what kept Larry away, or perhaps it was because I forgot to send a reminder e-mail. Oops. However, those of us who could make it warmed up to Pam's delicious cider and enjoyed a main course of Judy's carrot orange soup--perfect for Halloween. I brought veggies and Marci brought bread and we all felt very healthy until we ate Kristine's caramel brownies. Sigh. And yes, it was with brownies that Kristine made her debut at book club. We'd have extended a hearty welcome regardless. Yay.

Marci gets the award for the fastest read, though I am afraid I may have enjoyed it a wee bit more than she did. I must applaud her effort considering her long-standing distaste for the film The Wizard of Oz. I have never read any of the original books (there are 14 of them) and have only watched the film, but I suspect after looking at the Annotated Wizard of Oz that I own much of the the original stories tie into this imagined life of Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West. I was surprised by the amount of politics, religion, and sex that comprise this fantastical tale and understand that L. Frank Baum had some things to say in the original tales as well. Now I may have to actually READ them. What I enjoyed most was the way the Maguire story wove in details from the film and I realized just how much I like the "literary allusion." Judy says, "It rewards the reader" and perhaps that is part of the pleasure. I loved how this book gave me a different view on the talking lion and on the yellow brick road or even why the ruby slippers were so important to Elphaba.

Marci and I even engaged in a post-book club discussion and tried to answer each other's unanswered questions and read together our favorite bits over the phone which goes to show that this title definitely was discussion worthy with topics like the nature of evil and hope and goodness and more. Most of our group found the book to be rather long and dense and while it was very appropriate for the Halloween holiday, it was a bit challenging for this time of year. However, I would encourage folks to finish it, if they've started.

Perhaps we should all take in the Broadway musical if we get a chance or read the sequel Son of a Witch. And perhaps we might give some time to the questions in this reading guide.

Reader's Choice of a Young Adult Novel

Each year we designate one month to read young adult literature so we can find books to recommend to students and get a chance to see what is "out there." This month we also made our annual trek to Crookston to meet up with Larry at the country club. Pam, Judy, Marci, Larry and I met to discuss our books and share a meal on Tuesday, September 19th. Kristi was unable to make it but did share that she was reading and enjoying Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman.

Judy read Asylum for Nightface by Bruce Brooks

"A 14-year-old boy is shocked when his hash-smoking parents return from vacation as zealous converts. "Some readers may be put off by the author's satirical depiction of born-again Christians, others will applaud his attempt to challenge fundamentalism," said Publisher's Weekly. Ages 12-up. Judy pointed out that though she wasn't quite done with the book it seemed to be heading for a grim ending.

Larry read Lyddie by Katherine Paterson

"In 1843, three years after her father abandons his failing Vermont farm, 10-year-old Lyddie and her younger brother Charles are hired out as servants, while Mama and the two youngest children go off to live with relatives. After spending a grueling year working in a tavern, Lyddie flees to Lowell, Mass., in hopes of finding a better job that will provide enough income to pay off farm debts and allow the family to be reunited. Life continues to be a struggle after she is employed in a cloth factory, but Lyddie finds refuge from wretched working conditions by burying herself in books. Learning that she cannot return home--the family farm has been sold to Quaker neighbors--the girl is seized by a burning desire to gain independence by attending college. Readers will sympathize with Lyddie's hardships and admire her determination to create a better life for herself. Paterson clearly depicts the effects of poverty during the 19th century, focusing on the plight of factory workers enslaved by their dismal jobs. Impeccably researched and expertly crafted, this book is sure to satisfy those interested in America's industrialization period." Ages 10-14. says Publisher's Weekly.

Those who'd read this book before talked about how it didn't have a romantic ending and instead showed some independence of spirit in how Lyddie is determined to have her "own life."

Carmyn read Rule of the Bone by Russell Banks

"Flunking out of school and already hooked on drugs, the 14-year-old narrator, secretly molested by his stepfather, emotionally abandoned by his weak mother, leaves his mobile home in the depressed upstate New York community of Au Sable and becomes a homeless mall rat. In a burst of bravado, he acquires a crossed bones tattoo, changes his name from Chappie to Bone, and attempts to find some focus in his dead-end existence. Convinced that he is destined for a criminal career, Bone vents his anger in acts of senseless destruction. His vulnerability and his need for love and direction are fused when he and a seven-year-old waif he has rescued from a pedophile take refuge in an abandoned schoolbus with an illegal alien from Jamaica called I-Man, whose Rastafarian wisdom and gentle demeanor are fed by liberal consumption of marijuana, which he deals. It is when Bone follows I-Man to Jamaica that the narrative falters. Though the drug-permeated Jamaican milieu is portrayed with impressive authenticity, the improbability of Bone's macabre adventures there frays the plot's credibility. The novel's strengths-Bone's cool, wisecracking voice and colloquial speech, the details of an adolescent's culture-are diluted by its excesses-too many descriptions of marijuana highs, too many coincidences. Yet one finishes the book with indelible sympathy for tough-guy Bone, touched by his loneliness, fear and desperation, and having absorbed Banks's message: that (as he said recently), society's failure to save its children is "the main unrecognized tragedy of our time." said Publisher's Weekly.

I really didn't enjoy this book and I'm not sure I would recommend it.

Marci read Gifts by Ursula Le Guin

"Grade 7 Up–In this well-realized fantasy, the people of the Uplands have unusual and potentially dangerous abilities that can involve the killing or maiming of others. Gry can communicate with animals, but she refuses to use her gift to call creatures to the hunt, a stance her mother doesn't understand. The males in Orrec's line have the power of unmaking–or destroying–other living things. However, because his mother is a Lowlander, there is concern that this ability will not run true to him. When his gift finally manifests itself, it seems to be uncontrollable. His father blindfolds him so that he will not mistakenly hurt someone, and everyone fears him. Meanwhile, Ogge Drum, a greedy and cruel landowner, causes heartache for Orrec and his family. There is a strong sense of foreboding throughout the novel. The characters, who are well rounded and believable, often fail to understand the extent of the responsibility that comes with great power. In the end, Gry and Orrec come to recognize the true nature of their gifts and how best to use them. Readers can enjoy this story as a suspenseful struggle between good and evil, or they can delve deeper and come away with a better understanding of the choices that all individuals must make if they are to realize their full potential. An excellent choice for discussion and contemplation."–School Library Journal

I could see Marci wasn't "in love" with this book. She tried to stretch herself by choosing a fantasy title and in the end I am not sure this was the choice. Several of us had read other books by Ursula Le Guin and enjoyed them very much. Like, Kristi, I would recommend A Wrinkle in Time above all others.

Pam read Hoot by Carl Hiassen

"With a Florida setting and pro-environment, anti-development message, Hiaasen returns to familiar turf for his first novel for young readers," wrote PW. "Several suspenseful scenes, along with dollops of humor, help make this quite a hoot indeed." Ages 10-up. Publishers Weekly

Everyone had read this one but Larry and we'd all recommend it. Larry and Judy had each read some of his books for adults as well. Sick Puppy and Skinny Dip were mentioned. Apparently he's got quite the sense of humor but those are definitely "adult" as in not aimed at a middle school audience.

and Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filipovic

From the Publisher
"When Zlata's Diary was first published at the height of the Bosnian conflict, it became an international bestseller and was compared to The Diary of Anne Frank, both for the freshness of its voice and the grimness of the world it describes. It begins as the day-today record of the life of a typical eleven-year-old girl, preoccupied by piano lessons and birthday parties. But as war engulfs Sarajevo, Zlata Filipovic becomes a witness to food shortages and the deaths of friends and learns to wait out bombardments in a neighbor's cellar. Yet throughout she remains courageous and observant. The result is a book that has the power to move and instruct readers a world away. "

Pam and Larry agreed this was no Anne Frank. Instead the story fell a little flat. Wanting to give the book the benefit of the doubt, we decided something was "lost in translation."

and A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews

From the Publisher
In this stunning coming-of-age novel, award-winner Miriam Toews balances grief and hope in the voice of a witty, beleaguered teenager whose family is shattered by fundamentalist Christianity.

"Half of our family, the better-looking half, is missing," Nomi Nickel tells us at the beginning of A Complicated Kindness. Left alone with her sad, peculiar father, her days are spent piecing together why her mother and sister have disappeared and contemplating her inevitable career at Happy Family Farms, a chicken slaughterhouse on the outskirts of East Village. Not the East Village in New York City where Nomi would prefer to live, but an oppressive town founded by Mennonites on the cold, flat plains of Manitoba, Canada.

This darkly funny novel is the world according to the unforgettable Nomi, a bewildered and wry sixteen-year-old trapped in a town governed by fundamentalist religion and in the shattered remains of a family it destroyed. In Nomi's droll, refreshing voice, we're told the story of an eccentric, loving family that falls apart as each member lands on a collision course with the only community any of them have ever known. A work of fierce humor and tragedy by a writer who has taken the American market by storm, this searing, tender, comic testament to family love will break your heart."

Both Pam and Judy read this one and part of the attraction was the regional nature of the story. Pam compared it to a different memoir she'd just read The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls and explained why the Walls book was such a superior book, despite the fact that one was fiction and the other a memoir. For her the construction of Castle gave the reader a better sense of WHERE the story was headed and she felt that was something A Complicated Kindness lacked. Direction and Conclusion. It just sort of fizzled out. Still, it sounds like it was interesting.

Kristi read Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman

Children's Literature - Reviewed by Anne Marie Pace
"Based on the true events of June 3, 1980, in Grand Island, Nebraska, this novel chronicles the experiences of fictional character twelve-year-old Dan Hatch and his friend Arthur on a night when seven tornadoes battered the area, destroying over 500 homes and leaving four people dead. Alone with Dan's baby brother, Dan and Arthur have to use every scrap of courage they can find to keep themselves and the baby safe, reunite with their families, and eventually save an elderly neighbor. Ruckman's careful detailing of the tornado hitting the house and the ensuing damage, along with the destruction of the town, bring the events vividly home to the reader. Some adults might question Dan's mother's decision to allow the boys to reenter the destroyed, and now dangerous neighborhood in order to find Mrs. Smiley while she stays behind to care for the baby, but kids will find it exciting and daring. Upper elementary students who love adventure will race through this fast-paced story. Ages 8 to 12."