Nevermore: Trump, Fannie Flagg, Paula McLain, Hank Green, Jennifer Worick, Greg Miller, Bob Woodward

Reported by Kristin

Nevermore is never afraid to tackle tough subjects, and several readers have picked up a recent release entitled Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward.  The author is no stranger to politics—as an investigative journalist he played a huge role in reporting the Watergate scandal which led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.  Since then, Woodward has also published eighteen political non-fiction books as well as serving as an associate editor at The Washington Post.  Our reader noted that this is neither a happy nor hopeful book, but it does bring forward many points for readers to consider.

Continuing in United States politics, another reader picked up The Apprentice: Trump, Russia, and the Subversion of American Democracy by Greg Miller.  Also a journalist, in this volume Miller examines the 2016 presidential election through hundreds of interviews.  Our reader said that while she did finish the book, she didn’t really enjoy it, and didn’t think there was enough new information of consequence included.

Our next Nevermore member picked up a delightful work of fiction—The Whole Town’s Talking by Fannie Flagg.  A multigenerational saga set in Elmwood Springs, Missouri, the story begins with a Swedish mail-order bride coming west in pioneer days.  Her family grows, and watches the town grow through the decades.  Our reader found it delightful, such a nice book, and a fresh change in that it was not depressing like some of the other books she has read recently.

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain was appreciated by our next reader.  In 1920s Kenya, Beryl Markham was a child raised by her English father and the African Kipsigis tribe.  Her adventures in aviation, horse training, and matters of the heart intrigued our reader, who was halfway through the novel and promised to follow up next week.

The next reviewer enjoyed The Prairie Girl’s Guide to Life: How to Sew a Sampler Quilt & 49 Other Pioneer Projects for the Modern Girl by Jennifer Worick.  Candle making, turkey trussing, pillowcase embroidering, rug braiding, and bread making are but a few of the old-timey skills included in this how-to book.  Our reader found it rather cute, and planned to share several of the ideas with a friend who is a young mother of girls.

Lastly, another reader raved about Hank Green’s debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing.  When 10-foot-tall statues in samurai garb suddenly appear in major metropolitan areas around the globe, New York City artist April May has the good fortunate (or misfortune) to be the first YouTuber who reports the news to the world.  The video quickly goes viral and April must deal with her sudden cyber-fame.  Quirky and relatable in this world where everyone lives on the internet, this debut portends great things for Green’s writing career.

I Still Dream About You

Reviewed by Susan Wolfe

I never tire of Fannie Flagg. She has a wonderful sense of humor that looks at the quirky side of life. Her books are full of southern wisdom and laugh-out-loud humor. My first memories of her were on the “Candid Camera” TV show. She started writing for TV at 19, in fact, wrote and directed her first play in the 5th grade. She is a born storyteller and a bestselling author.

In I Still Dream About You, Maggie Fortenberry decides to commit suicide, but keeps getting interrupted. First a friend wants her to go with her to see the Whirling Dervishes. Then other obligations and friends keep messing up her plans. A former Miss Alabama, now 60 and a realtor, she has 16 perfectly good reasons to commit suicide. Business has also gone from bad to worse. Her arch-rival, Babs Bingington, is an unscrupulous real estate agent determined to put Maggie out of business. Known as “The Beast of Birmingham”, Babs had a death hold on the best real estate locations and absolutely hates Maggie. When an enchanting property become available in “the perfect” location in Birmingham, they go head to head.

There is a colorful cast of characters such as Hazel Whisenknott, a 3 foot, 4 inch real estate dynamo and Betty Peoples, Maggie’s best friend with her out-of-left-field ideas and a handy emergency stash of chocolate. There are entertaining subplots – a friend runs a unique race for the mayor’s position. There is a murder mystery when a mysterious skeleton is found, along with a trunk full of letters locked away in the attic.

Maggie finds that everyone and everyplace have secrets, not just herself. Secrets that make life interesting and entertaining.

Fannie Flagg can handle weighty subjects with a light touch and wit that that keeps you smiling.

Susan's Raven Report, July 5, 2011

Susan attended the post-Independence Day Nevermore Book Club. Here are some of the books discussed:


The Won Cause: Black and White Comradeship in the Grand Army of the Republic by Barbara Gannon

Truly a band of brothers. For every generation, the sacrifices and horrors of war create a special bond between veterans. After the Civil War, the largest Union Veteran’s group was the “Grand Army of the Republic” (GAR). Within that group were African American veterans along with their white counter-parts. This thoroughly researched book looks at the nation’s first interracial organization and the comradely that made it possible.

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg
A fun whimsical story set in Alabama by the indefatigable Fannie Flagg. Maggie Fortenberry, an aging former Miss Alabama keeps getting interrupted while planning her suicide. She has sixteen “perfectly good reasons to jump in the river” and only two reasons not to. Of course, hope is found – professionally and personally along with the excitement of solving a mystery.

The Beatles: the Biography by Bob Spitz
One moment in time, the music for a generation was defined by a band from England. Their story, from humble beginnings to the band’s final days is presented in this well researched biography. It humanizes the band and is written with a flair that lets the facts and characters speak for themselves. Their music created a new era in rock that sparked a cultural revolution.