Reported by Kristin
Nevermore began with favorable comments on The Beekeeper of
Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. Set against a backdrop of beauty and war, the
story introduces readers to beekeeper Nuri and his artist wife Afra. Their
simple life is destroyed as the Syrian war rages, causing them to begin a
dangerous journey through Turkey and Greece as they search for stability as
refugees in Britain. Proclaimed as touching and well-written, this novel is
highly recommended.
Moving round the globe, the same reader picked up 1421: The
Year China Discovered America by Gavin Menzies. The emperor sent out fleets
in order to “proceed all the way to the ends of the earth to collect tribute
from the barbarians beyond the seas.” Some ships were able to circumnavigate
the globe, but when they returned home in 1423, political upheaval put an end
to sea exploration. Our reader found this a fascinating history really worth
reading.
Another book club member touted The Longevity Paradox
by Steven R. Gundry, MD, as a book that has changed his life. Dr. Gundry is a
cardiothoracic surgeon with over 400 published papers, but has written this
healthy living volume in language easily accessible to the layperson. Examining
microbial bacteria that lives inside each and every one of us, this doctor has
a plan to prevent and reverse disease.
Returning to fiction, another reader picked up an older novel
with a delightful intricacy of plot: The Salamander by Morris West.
Wealthy industrialist Bruno Manzini (“The Salamander”) plays a powerful role in
post-World War II Italian politics and he plays it well. Our reader was
impressed with the author’s skilled use of language, and the many factors in
play which are drawn together in a thrilling climax.
All We Ever Wanted by Emily
Giffin presents Nina Browning, a woman who seems to have a very comfortable
life with her wealthy husband and her Princeton-bound son. When something goes
extremely wrong, her husband thinks he can fix everything, but some things
broken cannot be repaired. Our reader found this to be a compelling novel which
kept her turning pages to the end.
Alice Hoffman has made many appearances at Nevermore, and this
week The Story Sisters was brought to the table. Three sisters, Elv,
Claire, and Meg, are very close, but are on paths which may take them in
different directions. When one experiences a very traumatic event, family
relationships evolve. Our reader said that there were very sad moments, but it
was definitely worth reading to the end.
Finally, The Testaments by Margaret Atwood was
discussed as several book club members have enjoyed it. A continuation of
Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the story is set more than fifteen years later as
the Republic of Gilead has begun to decay. The deeply religious, patriarchal
society is still entrenched, but the subversive rebellions are coming closer to
the surface, and coming from some surprising characters. Our reader read it
quickly, found it very interesting, and could envision a modern world in which
the story could happen in real life.
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