Nevermore: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Pathogenesis, Had I Known, The Winners

 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon was the first book discussed at this week’s meeting of the Nevermore Book Club.  Autistic fifteen year old Christopher is an admirer of Sherlock Holmes, so when he finds the body of a neighbor’s dog he is determined to discover who killed the poodle. The story is told from Christopher’s point of view as he struggles to both solve the mystery and to navigate the confusing world around him. Our reviewer enjoyed the book, calling it light and fun. (DC)

The next book up dealt with the way that disease has shaped human history.  Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues by Jonathan Kennedy begins in the Paleolithic era, then continues through to modern day.  Our reviewer was less interested in the prehistoric aspect so she moved ahead to the Revolutionary period to determine how military operations were affected by various diseases including malaria and dysentery. Other categories included Neolithic Plagues, Ancient Plagues, Medieval Plagues, Colonial Plagues, Industrial Plagues, and Plagues of Poverty.  She found it very interesting and insightful, noting how public health contributes to the public good. Never underestimate the power of microbiology! (KM)

Barbara Ehrenreich’s books have won praise from Nevermore readers before, so it was no surprise to hear a recommendation for Had I Known: Collected Essays. The subjects are wide ranging, and the essays gathered from a variety of sources: The New York Times, New Republic, blog posts, op-eds, and more. It was highly recommended by our reader.  (CD)

The Winners by Fredrik Backman is the third in a series set in Beartown, a small town whose identity is tied up in its hockey team.  Beartown is a blue-collar town struggling to survive.  Having a winning team would not only be a source of pride, but would bring in more resources.  Their arch-rival is a town called Hed, which is competing for the same resources.  In this third book, a violent storm has left both communities in disarray.  Our reader had read and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books, Beartown and Us Against You, but felt this third entry could have been pared down from its 800+ pages.  She is determined to finish it, however! (MA)

Other titles:

The Saints of Swallow Hill  by Donna Everhart

Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro

The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton

Rabbit, Run by John Updike

Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen

Brothers and Sisters of Byland Crescent  by Bill Kitson

Time Traveled:  Memory Road Trip Series by Krista Marson

Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus