Nevermore: Guilty One, Anthill, Street Cat Named Bob, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Silenced

One of the first books mentioned in this meeting was actually a title several members had read last year:  The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne, but no one could recall author or title at the time.  It was a debut novel about a British lawyer with a troubled past who is called upon to defend a boy accused of murder.  The book certainly made a strong impression on our members, even as they read the similarly themed The Child Who by Simon Lelic and Defending Jacob by William Landay. All three books are highly recommended.

Anthill by E.O. Wilson was praised for its good character development but our reader was uncertain about a direction the book was taking.  Wilson is a professor of entomology at Harvard and a noted expert on ants.  In this book, the reader starts following the adventures of a boy, but then the narrative turns to another world entirely:  that of the ants, though the parallels with human society are obvious.  Readers and critics alike have been divided on this book, the first novel from the noted non-fiction author.  Wilson’s appreciation for the natural world is reflected in his finely observed descriptions, even as he declines to Disneyfy it.

Foggy Mountain Breakdown is a collection of short stories by Sharyn McCrumb.  While some of the stories are set in her native Appalachia, some travel farther afield. Our reader suggested that Jeanne read "Nine Lives to Kill," which (surprise, surprise!) is about a cat, or rather, a man who becomes a cat which brings some unexpected cat-like tendencies and preoccupations.  The tone varies, including some amusing stories along with the poignant.  McCrumb is an excellent storyteller, and most of the stories in this collection showcase that gift.

Silenced by Kristina Ohlsson is a Nordic Noir set in Sweden where a special crimes unit begins to investigate some seemingly unrelated crimes:  the apparent murder-suicide of a clergyman and his wife, and a hit and run death.   Ohlsson provides excellent characterization of the members of the unit, including their personal trials, as well as a good plot which deals in part with the problems of immigration.  This is the second book in the series to be translated into English and our reviewer encourages anyone who enjoys books set in Scandanavia to give Ohlsson a try.

Finally, one reader mentioned how much she enjoyed A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen, the true story of a drug-addicted busker in London who saved a stray cat.  Bob the cat recovered and became so attached to James that he followed him to the street corners where James played music for tips.  Inspired by his need to care for Bob, James was able to end his drug dependency. Honest and heartwarming, the book has spent weeks on the best seller list around the world.  A second book, The World According to Bob, is out in the UK, with a children’s book to follow.

Nevermore: Happy City, Sunshine on Scotland Street, Anthill, Just Babies, & Execution of Noa P. Singleton

Summary by Kristin

Jud kicked off the Nevermore discussion with Happy City: Transforming Our Lives through Urban Design by Charles Montgomery.  This book examines the elements in city design that bring people closer together, or keep them further apart.  The proliferation of automobiles has changed the way people live, in spread-out suburbia as opposed to denser urban areas, although this may be changing as crime patterns change and the cost of commuting continues upwards.  The group consensus was that for a “Happy City” people just want to live where they can trust other people and feel safe.

Next, Jud introduced Sunshine on Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith, an installation in the 44 Scotland Street series.  He commented that even though the story is serialized, the author provides a lot of back story in each volume, so they can be read alone, but it is best to get the full story by starting at the beginning.  As usual on the fictional Scotland Street, people are taking care of each other.  Young Bertie is caring for a neighbor’s dog and becomes convinced that the dog is sad.  Thus, it’s time for a visit to a psychiatrist (for the dog).

Another reader brought one of her Christmas gifts—Anthill by E.O. Wilson.  This is the only fiction book written by a prominent biologist.  Wilson has often been the center of controversy as he introduces new ideas about biodiversity and what he calls the "myth" of evolution.  Wilson is also considered the world authority on myrmecology, the study of ants.  Our reader said that this was a nice fiction story, but that the author definitely placed a dissertation on ants right in the middle.

Next, a couple of readers discussed Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil by Paul Bloom.  A discussion of nature versus nurture, this book proposed that much of human morality is inborn, with very young children tending to be empathetic and helpful.  On the negative side of good and evil, one suggestion is that what we call evil today may be the remnants of the violent urges that were required for survival in earlier hunter-gatherer cultures.

Back to fiction, another reader talked about The Execution of Noa P. Singleton: A Novel by Elizabeth L. Silver.  Noa is a woman on death row, convicted of first degree murder, but never spoke in her own defense.  A well-known attorney with a personal connection to the case visits Noa just a few months before her scheduled execution, and attempts to persuade Noa to tell her full story in exchange for a possible lessening of the sentence to life in prison.  Our reader commented that this book shows how coincidences in your past may lead you to something that you can’t escape.