Books for 2011-2012
Join us for fun open ended discussions every second Monday of the month at 10:30 AM (except Dec, Jul and Aug), see Calendar.
September 12, 201
Book: Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Meeting Place
Evelyne’s house in Brookline
Discussion moderator
Evelyne
October 10, 2011
Book
Secret Son by Laila Lalami.
Very interesting insight into one part of contemporary Moroccan society.
Meeting Place
Evelyne’s house in Brookline
Discussion moderator
Evelyne
November 14, 2011
Book
Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore.
A novel on Civil Rights then and now.
Meeting Place
Marie-Louise’s home
Discussion moderator
Edith
December
No meeting
January 9, 2012
Book
The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
The novel follows the lives of two Jewish cousins before, during, and after World War II They are a Czech artist named Joe Kavalier and a Brooklyn -born writer named Sam Clay. In the novel, Kavalier and Clay become major figures in the nascent comics industry.” Kavalier & Clay was published to “nearly unanimous praise” and became a New York Times Best Seller.
Meeting Place
Leona’s home
Discussion moderator
Eka
February 13, 2012
Book
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Straut
This collection covers 13 connected short stories about a woman named Olive and her immediate family and friends in the town of Crosby in coastal Maine. It is also known as On the Coast of Maine. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was a finalist for the 2008 National Book Critics Circle Award.
Meeting Place
Marie-Louise’s house
Discussion moderator
TBD
March 12, 2012
Book
The Paris Journal 1944-1955 by Janet Flanner
Meeting Place
Joann’s house
Discussion moderator
TBD
April 9, 2012
Book
Cutting for Stone by Verghese
“There’s a mystery, a coming-of-age, abundant melodrama and even more abundant medical lore in this idiosyncratic first novel from a doctor best known for the memoir My Own Country (1994).”
Meeting Place
Eka’s house
Discussion moderator
TBD
May 14, 2012
Book
State of Wonder by Anne Patchett
Mystery set in the Amazon jungle in search for a pharmaceutical drug.
Meeting Place
Boston Public Library Café
Discussion moderator
TBD
June 11, 2012
Book
When Nietsche Wept: A Novel of Obsession by Irvin Yalom
Meeting Place
Evelyne’s house
Discussion moderator
TBD
Other books and resources
Booklist Online: More than 130,000 book reviews for librarians, book groups, and book lovers—from the trusted experts at the American Library Association
http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?gclid=CMWe9Y25lasCFYl25QodAU3KxQ&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
• The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan
A Palestinian/Israeli friendship. Non fiction telling the story of two families on opposite sides. Very insightful.
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
A cruel tale of loyalty and the moral decisions attached to it. The circus setting transports you.
• Unto the Daughters by Karen Tintori
A family saga from Italy to the US.
• The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Equal parts powerful family saga, forbidden love story, and piercing political drama, it is the story of an affluent Indian family forever changed by one fateful day in 1969.
• River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, and
Country Driving: A Chinese Road Trip by Peter Hessler
Recounting his travels and work in China. A vision from the inside and well written.
• Trespass by Rose Tremain
An electrifying novel about disputed territory, sibling love, and devastating revenge. Takes place in the south of France.
• Haunt Me Still by Jennifer Lee Carrell.
A mystery about a manuscript of Shakespeare’s. It’s based on actual characters and fictional ones. It’s very interesting and entertaining. Of course there is a bit of a romance too. Elaine’s book club in Tucson (a friend of Edith), read this and the author attended the talk about the book and let them interview her. She is quite delightful and interesting. She’s also available for phone interviews and is willing to do prearranged speaker phone interviews at meetings.
Books Read in 2010-2011
Tuesday September 14, 2010 (special date and time to go to the museum)
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
“The Gardner Heist” by Ulrich Boser.
Monday October 11, 2010 Boston Public Library Coffee Shop
“Rituals” by Cees Nooteboom
Monday November 8, 201 “The Housekeeper and the Professor” by Yoko Ogawa
Monday Dec 13, 2010 “The Pick Up” by Nadine Gordimer.
Monday Feb 14, 2011 “The Surrendered” by Chang Rae Lee
Monday March 14, 2011 “Rashi’s Daughters” by Maggie Anton
Monday April 11, 2011 “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson
Monday May 9, 2011 “The Palace Walk” by Naguib Mafouz
June 13, 2011 Boston Public Library ”Beneath the Lyon’s Gaze” by Maaza Mengibe
I love a good mystery, and if it’s combined with an exotic location, so much the better. I read 4 novels by Jason Goodwin set in Istanbul and one set in Venice in the early 19th century. Inspector Yashim gives you an insider’s view of the labyrinth that was the Ottoman Sultan’s palace. There were some good bits about Turkish food as a bonus! The titles were “The Janissary Tree”, “The Serpent Stone” , “The Bellini Card”, and “An Evil Eye”. The author has also written a history of the Ottoman Empire, “Lords of the Horizon”, which I read several years ago and recommend as well.
Another intersting book about 16th Century Istanbul: My name is Red by Orham Pamuk
I hope to participate in book club this year. I have read, and liked, a couple of the books you will be reading. I will be enroute to London 14 October, but hope to see you in November.
Bilquees