Reported by Kristin
Nevermore has evolved temporarily to meet the demands of
social distancing, meeting online via Zoom. Our first member smiled widely
onscreen as she discussed Man & Horse: The Long Ride Across America
by John Egenes. In 1974, the author mounted his horse Gizmo and set out to
cross the nation from Ventura, California to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Writing
the book decades later, Egenes reflects upon the United States of that era, and
how he discovered his own self-worth on his horseback journey.
Another reader picked up Cry of the Kalahari by Mark
and Delia Owens, another story of exploration, this time in the wilds of an
African desert. Mark and Delia were American PhD students in wildlife zoology
who lived in the wilderness for seven years while researching and writing their
dissertations. An international bestseller, their tales of lions, jackals,
giraffes and more comes highly recommended from our Nevermore member who picked
the book up after reading Delia’s fiction debut, the wildly popular Where
the Crawdads Sing.
Turning to a regional novel, another reader absolutely loved Fair
and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith. This first person narrative is filled with
the letters of Ivy Rowe, born in the Virginia mountains a century ago.
Following Ivy’s life from childhood through her next seven decades, the story
is wonderfully rich. Our reader enthusiastically recommended this story and
Smith’s beautiful writing.
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks also
has connections to our region, being set in Boone Creek, North Carolina. A
sequel to True Believer, this is the story of Lexie and Jeremy, a young couple with a
secret to keep, at least until the wedding, that is. Our reader enjoyed the
continuing saga, and noted that Sparks is a very prolific author selling
millions of books worldwide.
Our next reader had a very strong recommendation, but it was
to NOT read the two books she had just finished. She found Janet Evanovich and
Lee Goldberg’s Fox and O’Hare series
quite boring, although she valiantly worked her way through the first two
books—The Heist and The Chase. Featuring FBI Special Agent Kate
O’Hare and con man Nicolas Fox (who Kate is naturally forced to pair up with,
even as she finds him infuriating,) this slapstick series just couldn’t hold
our reader’s interest.
The Signature of All Things by
Elizabeth Gilbert was much more enjoyable. Henry Whittaker was a poverty
stricken Englishman who took to the high seas in the early 1800s, eventually
making his fortune and settling in Philadelphia with his accumulated wealth.
Our reader was especially impressed with Henry’s daughter, Alma, as she studies
moss and explores evolutionary botany before “evolution” has become a household
word. This novel comes highly recommended, as do many of Gilbert’s other works.
Kristin Hannah knows how to write about female friendships,
and does so very well in Firefly Lane. Forming a connection in middle
school, Kate Mularkey and Tully Hart seem to be opposites, but begin a decades
long friendship despite their differences. Tully wants to be a television
reporter, and pulls Kate along in her wake. Kate really just wants to fall in
love and have a family. Hannah writes with humor, and explores how the bonds
between women can transcend families and careers.
Finally, Take it Away, Tommy! by Georgia Dunn, was
brought to the virtual table by one of our cat and comic loving readers. This
collection of comic strips tells the tail, (oops, I mean tale!) of Lupin,
Elvis, and Puck, three cats who take on the personas of news reporters to
describe the goings-on in their home. Vacuum cleaners, fuzzy blankets, and the case
of the missing breakfast are all spotlighted as Dunn imaginatively goes inside
the brains of her feline companions. Our reader found it sweet and delightful,
and noted that it is especially funny if you know cats.
