Raven Report: Sept. 27

Reported by Doris

There was a broad range of great books discussed today.  One member discussed South Carolina author Mary Chestnut who has been called the most important Southern writer of the Civil War era. Chestnut kept extensive diaries during the war and worked them into a book in the early 1880’s. Her detailed descriptions of life on her family’s five plantations in the Carolina Low Country and her comments on the slaves and their treatment lead to a lively discussion about slavery. This tied into the previous discussions on Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Another member grew up in California and said she really did not remember a great emphasis on the Civil War in her school history classes. She said that while there are so many books on the issues of slavery, there are relatively few books that point out the issues of the Native Americans. It was pointed out by some that the different sections of the country each had their own concerns at the time: while the eastern part of the country was fighting the Civil War, the West was embroiled in its own brutal war as Native Americans lost more freedoms and their lands. Library Director Jud Barry mentioned two books he thought very interesting on the topic—Everything You Know About Indians is Wrong by Paul Chaat Smith and Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James Loewen. Another member observed that most of what people read about the Native Americans of today comes from the books of Margaret Coel, James Doss, Tony Hillerman, Dana Stabenow and other writers who place their stories within the Native American culture. She also pointed out that reservations have changed due to the oil, gas, and mineral deposits and these changes along with the serious issues such as alcoholism, poverty, and crime are being reflected in the new novels.

The work of Russell Banks was highly recommended by one member, especially The Sweet Hereafter. He has a new book coming out which has been very well reviewed, The Lost Memory of Skin.  Banks tends to write about people who have fallen through the cracks or who are otherwise isolated or shunned by society.  In his new book, the protagonist is a twenty two year old sex offender called “the Kid” who is more or less forced to live under a causeway with other dregs of society.  He’s befriended—more or less-- by “the professor,” an arrogant and manipulative man who claims to be doing a sociological study.

The discussion then switched to the new “wave” of Norwegian and Scandinavian mystery writers that have gained popularity since Stieg Larsson’s series of tremendously popular “The Girl Who” mysteries. Henning Mankell was suggested as a great read. His Kurt Wallander series by Mankell has it all—crime, Swedish setting, great plots, and a fast pace.

Doris suggested Daniel Silva and his Gabriel Allon series to those who like thrillers. Allon is a deep cover Israeli agent who is an art restorer. The newest book in the series is Portrait of a Spy and it is an intense, very timely look at the current situation in the Middle East along with an intriguing plot about a new terrorist cell that plans to strike deep into America.

Raven Report for July 26, 2011

Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind lingers on, and not just in the movies! It was the topic of a lively discussion at this week’s Nevermore Book Club.  The question was, “Why is Scarlett such an icon?” The answers were varied, but included the idea that in some ways she could be considered a feminist because she “acted like a man” and went after the things she wanted.  The question of how race was handled in the novel was also discussed.

All Things Shining:  Reading the Western Classics by Hubert Dreyfus wonders about the best way to find the sacred in a secular world is. As religion becomes less an element of our society, can Great Literature answer our search for meaning in our lives?

Next up was Smokin’ Seventeen by Janet Evanovich.  The question there was, has Stephanie “jumped the shark”?  Has the series lost its spunk? Opinions differed, with a plug for Evanovich’s  Wicked Appetites, which is a sister series to the Plum saga, as being funnier than the current Stephanie novel.

Quinn by Iris Johansen is the second book of a three book trilogy which is supposed to clear up one of the long-running mysteries of the Eve Duncan series.  Eve is a forensic artist with the uncanny ability to sculpt a victim’s likeness from skeletal remains.  Her passion for her work is due in part to her young daughter’s disappearance years ago.  The first book was entitled Eve; the last book, out in November, will be Bonnie.

Sixkill  is the new Spencer book, the last one completed by Robert B. Parker before his untimely demise.  Perhaps fittingly, a new character is introduced, Zebulon Sixkill, whom other characters keep comparing to Spencer and who seems destined to continue in the books.  In some ways it seems to be a passing of the torch, which is a propos, given that Ace Atkins had been hired by Parker’s estate to continue the Spencer series.

Daniel Silva was named as a writer to watch.  His Gabriel Allon thrillers are fast paced, topical and very well written.  Silva himself is a former journalist and knows the places about which he writers.  The first in the series is The Kill Artist.  His most recent is Portrait of a Spy.

Last but not least, the discussion turned to George R.R. Martin, a long time author whose books have gained new fans after the premiere of a  TV program based on his “Game of Thrones” series.  Martin has just released the next book in the series, A Dance With Dragons.  Martin is also known for his Wild Cards series as well as some wonderful stand alone books such as the space adventure Tuf Voyaging, the vampre tale  Fevre Dream (and yes, it is Fevre and not Fever) , and Armageddon Rag, a murder mystery with fantasy and rock and roll elements.

As you can see, the Nevermore Book Club ranges far and wide!  If you’d like to join us, just be at the Frances Kegley Conference Room on a Tuesday at 11 am.  Coffee is provided and the doughnuts are from the fabulous Blackbird Bakery!