Reported by Kristin
Nevermore reads widely, from archeology to mysteries to
science fiction to wars, so one reader began this week reading Killing
England: The Brutal Struggle for American Independence by Bill O’Reilly and
Martin Dugard. A very detailed story of
the Revolutionary War, Killing England is the latest of O’Reilly’s
historical narratives. Our reader noted
that Benjamin Franklin does not come out looking good in this telling, although
the French ladies loved him.
Next, the group turned to fiction, with The Woman in the
Window by A. J. Finn. With many
other recent novels of psychology suspense including “Girl” or “Woman” in the
title, this one follows suit and has been suggested for fans of Gillian Flynn
and Tana French. Agoraphobe Anna Fox
lives alone in New York City and has the habit of peeking through her windows
to see what is happening nearby. But
when Anna observes something horrific, she doesn’t know what to do. Was a crime committed, or was it only in her
mind? Our reader proclaimed that this
was a book really worth reading.
Another reader has been on a Kurt Vonnegut kick lately, and
really enjoyed the older collection of short fiction Bagombo Snuff Box. The stories collected within are mainly from
the 1950s and 1960s and were originally published in a variety of magazines,
including The Saturday Evening Post.
Reflecting the era, the stories provide a delightful glimpse into the
development of Vonnegut’s writing style in the mid twentieth century.
Love and Trouble: A Midlife Reckoning by
Claire Dederer was a slightly unexpected memoir for our next reader, but one
that he enjoyed. From the best-selling
author of Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses, Dederer covers
being a middle aged mother who looks back at who she has been, and who she is
becoming. Humorous and perhaps a little
explicit as the author explores a sexual reawakening, this covers territory
that many people might recognize. Our
reader challenged the group, “Read it if you dare.”
Our next reader always enjoys books about people traveling
in rugged circumstances, so she picked up North: Finding My Way While
Running the Appalachian Trail by Scott Jurek with Jenny Jurek. An extreme marathoner, Scott decided to
challenge himself by running the Appalachian Trail and attempting to break the
previously held time record as well. He
often ran at night, and didn’t include in his narrative much about what he saw. That, plus minor errors which should have
been caught in proofreading were distracting and disappointed our reader.
The Round House by
Louise Erdich was much appreciated by our next reader, as young teenager Joe
told his story. A member of the
Chippewa/Ojibwa nation and a member of a prominent modern family on the
reservation, Joe is shocked when his mother returns home after a brutal
assault. His mother is traumatized, and
Joe attempts to find the assailant in order to help his mother heal. Our reader found the book well-written with
positive Native American portrayals, as she felt that it should be.
Reported by Kristin
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