Nevermore: Deacon King Kong; Bird by Bird; The Power of the Dog

 

Reported by Rita

Deacon King Kong by James McBride follows a heavy drinking church deacon in 1960s New York who shoots a drug dealer in the courtyard of a housing project in broad daylight and the events that follow. Full of gritty characters, our reader really enjoyed it. WJ

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott was described by our reader as an interesting book about writing and what it takes to be a writer. Part memoir, part self-help, Lamott shares frank thoughts and insight in this charming non-fiction title. DC

The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage takes the reader back to the 1920s where brothers Phil and George run one of the biggest ranches in their Montana valley. The two couldn’t be more different and when George marries and brings his new bride to the ranch, tensions rise between the brothers. Our reader said it was very intense but an excellent book. PP

Also Mentioned:

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton

The Invincible Miss Cust by Penny Haw

Clinch Mountain Girls: 24 Women Grow Veggies, Animals, and a Community by Nancy Withington Bell

The Girl in the Eagle's Talons by Karin Smirnoff

What the Dead Know: Learning About Life as a New York City Death Investigator by Barbara Butcher

A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

Great Expeditions: 50 Journeys that Changed Our World by Alan Greenwood, Mark Steward

The Hawk's Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty by Sy Montgomery

 

New books:

 

Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski

What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds by

Jennifer Ackerman

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Nevermore: Like Catching Water in a Net, Good Lord Bird & Golden Buddha

The Nevermore Book Club is nothing if not eclectic.  Here are some books featured at a recent meeting:

Like Catching Water in A Net  by Val Webb examines the world’s religions for common signs, seeking to find the essence of what humans mean by “Divine.”  She doesn’t limit her examination to the major religions, but also seeks out lesser known belief systems, including some ancient ones. One online reviewer compared it to Karen Armstrong’s A History of God, but with a broader approach.  Others commented on the non-denominational aspect of the book, making it suitable for those of many religious persuasions and for those people interested more in the spiritual and less in specific religious doctrines. Nevermore described it as being spiritual, mystical, and ecumenical.

 

The Good Lord Bird by James McBride is a novel set during the pre-Civil War era, when John Brown is attempting his insurrection.  Henry, a young slave boy, is mistaken for a girl and dubbed “Onion” by Brown narrates the story, giving his view of events leading up to Harper’s Ferry.  Comparisons to Mark Twain pop up in several reviews, since there are some similarities to Huck Finn in the narrator’s voice.  A number of historical characters in addition to Brown show up, including Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass.

Just to add a popular touch, someone brought up Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler.  This is the third in his new Oregon Files series which features Juan Cabrillo and the seagoing marvel disguised as near derelict ship the Oregon.  Cabrillo and company are out to make money, but like to right some wrongs while they’re at it.  This time they’ve been hired to find an ancient statue stolen by the Chinese in an effort to restore the Dalai Lama as leader of Tibet.  As usual, Cussler keeps readers turning the pages, dazzling with technological wonders and derring do.

The Nevermore Book Club meets every Tuesday at 11:00 am in the Frances E. Kegley Meeting Room on the upper floor of the library.  Join us for coffee, Blackbird Bakery doughnuts and discussions about some great books!

Nevermore Historical Fiction Picks

Historical fiction has remained popular, and some Nevermore members had some books to recommend.  Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel is the widely acclaimed novel about Thomas Cromwell, advisor to King Henry VIII.  Henry is desperate for a male heir, afraid that England will sink into war again without a clear line of succession.  He wants to end his marriage and marry Anne Boleyn, and Thomas may be just the man to help him do it. Mantel’s equally brilliant sequel, Bring Up the Bodies, picks up the story just as Henry is growing tired of Anne and the political intrigue and conspiracies flourish.

James McBride’s novel  Miracle at St. Anna is set in Italy during World War II when four black soldiers befriend a small boy who has become mute after some terrible trauma. They become cut off from the rest of their division and are trapped in a mountain village as winter sets in and the enemy is on the move. The book is loosely based on a true incident. McBride is best known for his nonfiction book, The Color of Water:  A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother.

Another blend of historical fact and fiction is found in The Empty Glass by J. I. Baker, in which  deputy coroner Ben Fitzgerald is called to investigate the death of Marilyn Monroe.  From the start, he isn’t convinced that the narrative of accidental suicide he’s been given is the correct one, and that a number of powerful entities are out to cover up a murder.  Readers were divided about this book, which skips about in time a bit, but those who like noir fiction felt it was well done. Our reviewer loved it!

Freeman by Leonard Pitts, Jr. takes place right after the Civil War has ended. Sam, a former slave, returns from Philadelphia to Mississippi in search of his wife, Tilda, determined to find her no matter the risk.  Prudence, a white woman from Boston, is going to Mississippi to set up a school for blacks.  Pitts’ book has been praised for its strong characters, emotional depth, and for its sensitive and perceptive evocation of an era.