Family Book Group

So last month, Sarah and I could not get to a book club we've joined; we held a book discussion on The Pearl by John Steinbeck at home, just we two. (I downloaded discussion questions.) We had so much fun together! Sarah suggested we have a family book study - some of our other people were game, so we chose a book and a date for the discussion and began reading.

The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester was our choice to read together...our discussion was last night. What a treat! Again, discussion questions were available on line (these just spur further talk about the book). There were four of us: Bill, Sarah, Christopher, and I. It generated sharing, and laughter, and philosophical ramblings.

In furthering a point, Bill read an excerpt from another book; Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. We enjoyed that snippet so much, we chose it for our next book. Then we set a discussion date for next month. Everyone is free to jump in or out at any time. It's a great reason to come together; to hear what our adult children think; to get more parental love into their tanks. A great idea - thank you Sarah!

Island of the Mad

One of the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King. I love this series! I'm this one, Russell and Holmes help an old friend track down a missing, and aunt. Lady Vivian Beaconsfield has spent most of her adult life in one asylum or another since the loss of her brother and father in the Great War. Her mental state seemed to be improving, but she's now disappeared after an outing from Bethlem Royal Hospital (better known as Bedlam). Together, Russell and Holmes search Bedlam to Venice, only to find the increasing shadow of Benito Mussolini.

Leave no Trace

Fascinating novel by Mindy Mejia. Ten years ago, Lucas Blackthorne and his father trekked into the Boundary Waters wilderness; and didn't come out. They were presumed dead. Until... a decade later, mostly mute and prone to violence, Lucas walks out. He is put in a psychiatric hospital. Maya Stark, assistant language therapist, is charged with making a connection. She has secrets of her own, and abandonment issues. She's drawn closer to Lucas, and will risk all to reunite him with his father.

The Shadow of the Wind

A gorgeous novel by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, translated from Spanish by Lucia Graves. Daniel works with his father in their bookstore in Barcelona just after the war in 1945. He is initiated one night into the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, where he findsa a novel by Julian Carax called The Shadow of the Wind. Daniel loves the work so much, he sets out to find the rest of Carax's body of work. Only someone has been there first, systematically destroying all the Carax books he can find. Daniel must find the truth of his quest which has opened up one of Barcelona's deepest secrets, or those he loves will suffer greatly.

The Grave's a Fine and Private Place

This is the ninth in the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. Flavia is now 12, and reeling from a family tragedy. Dogger, loyal servant that he is, suggests a boating trip for her and her two older sisters as a necessary escape from moping about the house. Dogger took them boating near a church where the vicar had recently been put to death for poisoning three of his parishioners with cyanide in the communion wine. Of course Flavia, an expert chemist with a passion for poison, is excited about this. Then, while punting near the church, dabbling her fingers in the water, Flavia hooks something. it is not the Hemingway-sized fish she first imagined, but a body. AH! The perfect remedy for sorrow, in Flavia's book, is solving a murder. Though it could bring about her own.

This may just be my favorite of the delightful Flavia de Luce series. And it leaves plenty of room for more books to come. The children and I pass these books around as we get them; they are adult fiction, but no cursing, sex, or gratuitous gore. Flavia is a worthy young heroine, especially for unschooled kids, as most of her learning (and that of her sisters) was achieved on her own. I'm hooked!

The Life of Thomas More

By Peter Ackroyd, this biography reads like a novel. It's fabulous! The history and feeling of the times (More lived from 1478-1535) is incredible. Even though More was born into the professional classes, a long line of lawyers, the author covers not just how life would have been for More, but for the everyman, the intellectual, and the religious. More was a renowned statesman, author, and Catholic martyr. His ascension to the rank of Chancelor and fall from grace was riveting. The absolute hubris of Henry VIII so heartbreaking. He tore a country asunder from the true faith for lust, not only of Anne Boleyn, but of power. Sorrowful. Highly recommended book.

Unwind

Book 1 in the Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman. An incredible book! Based on the premise that a second civil war, also known as The Heartland War, has been waged in the United States over a single issue; abortion. To end the war, a set of constitutional amendments known as the "Bill of Life" was passed, stating that from the moment of conception until a child reaches age 13, that child's life could not be touched.  Between 13 - 18, however, a parent may "retroactively" choose to "abort" a child on the condition that the child's life doesn't technically end; every bit of the child is salvaged for parts for transplant in others. This solution satisfied both pro-choice and pro-life armies (obviously, the author is equating pro-life with pro- birth). The process of salvaging for parts is called "unwinding".

Connor is a troublemaker, so his parents want to be rid of him. Risa is an orphan, has no utility for society, and the orphanage wants to free up her bed. Lev is a "tithe", a sacrifice his strict religious family has planned from his birth. All three are slated for unwinding. this is the story of how they try to escape their fate and the challenges and characters they meet on the way. It's a very thought provoking book. What is a "meaningful" life? Where does the soul go after death? Abortion, transplants, adoption (through the unusual practice of "storking"), and other heavy issues. The author is good about just asking the questions without inserting his own solutions, but letting the reader come to conclusions on his/her own. It is rather heavy for a young adult novel, though that seems to be the norm. I have passed this one on to my kids.

The Perfect Girl

An engrossing novel by Gilly Macmillan, I tore through this in a day. We meet Zoe Maisey just before the teen begins a concert in tandem with her stepbrother, Lucas Kennedy. Soon after the concert starts, however, a man makes a scene, Zoe and her mother Maria leave the concert venue upset, Lucas carries on alone. The perfect Second Chance Family seems to be crumbling... and before morning, Maria is dead. The novel is tightly written, encompassing action over just two days. It's told from multiple points of view; Zoe, her aunt Tessa, Tessa's husband Richard, Lucas, and Sam, Zoe's former lawyer who is Tessa's current lover. There is ambiguous morality throughout the book - it's not just a piece of fluff, but really makes one think. Recommended.

All the Missing Girls

This is Megan Miranda's first novel for adults, and it is stunning. Nicolette Farrell left Cooley Ridge shortly after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared. Ten years later she's back to help care for her Dad, putting her life in Philadelphia on hold. The job. The fiancee. All the people from that long ago time are still there. Nic's brother is expecting a baby with his wife. Corinne's ex-boyfriend works in the local bar. And Nic's former boyfriend is dating Annaliese Carter, who goes missing the day after Nic arrives.
The book tells the story backward, from day 15 to day 1, which is a little confusing but also adds to the suspense. Nic tries to unravel Annaliese's disappearance and see what it has to do with Corinne's, opening old wounds, making new ones and discovering if you can go home again.

The Devil's Advocate

Written by Morris West, this book was one chosen by my book group. It was excellent. Monsignor Blaise Meredith has just been handed a death sentence by his doctor; he has stomach cancer. He has also been given a final assignment by his Cardinal boss - find reasons to confirm or deny the sanctity of one Giacomo Nerone, whose cause for sainthood has been put forward. Meredith goes, doubting. Not only Nerone, but also himself. He meets some highly flawed people and finds a compassion he had not experienced before. The characters are all well drawn. Growth occurs. The ending... while not entirely satisfactory is understandable, logical, and I found myself thinking it the only way the book could have ended. The author has a firm grasp of Catholic theology and explains it simply and thoroughly. A book to revisit. Can't say that about many novels.

The Painted Veil

A wonderful work by Somerset Maugham, this tells the story of vain, shallow Kitty Garstin, who marries Walter Fane just to beat her younger sister to the altar and to get away from her overbearing mother. It is the 1920's and Walter is a bacteriologist stationed in Hong Kong. Kitty soon is bored with Walter; she conducts an affair with Charles Townsend, a junior official in government in Hong Kong who owes his position to his wife. Walter discovers the affair and issues an ultimatum: come to the cholera-ridden Chinese interior with him, or face scandal as he names Townsend co-respondent in a divorce proceedings. She goes. And grows, thank goodness. None of the characters are likeable at first. The second half of the book is much more compelling than the first. Kitty begins to volunteer in an orphanage managed by a group of French nuns. She experiences some self awareness, though it doesn't help her marriage. Eventually she must retrace her steps to Hong Kong, then to England. We are left with the hope that she finds the freedom and peace she desires.

Secrets of the Interior Life

By Archbishop Luis M. Martinez,  translated by H. J. Beutler, C.M. S.T.L. I read this fabulous book as part of my morning devotions. Bishop Martinez stresses faith, even when, especially when, one is in desolation and believe God is far away. In the obscurity of faith is where one will hear Him (not in feelings). I found so many truths and helps in here! I will be reading it again, aloud, to my children.

Tell Me Three Things

Julie Buxbaum's first YA novel, and it's fabulous! Jessie's mom died two years ago and her dad, a pharmacist, comes back to Chicago from a conference married again. To a film producer. With a teenage son. Who lives in Los Angeles. So now Jessie is trying to navigate her junior year at an intimidating prep  school in the Valley when everything about her is wrong. Then she gets an email from Somebody/Nobody promising to help her. Can she trust S/N? Is it an elaborate hoax? In a leap of faith, Jessie trusts, and S/N soon becomes a close ally. Will she meet him/her in person? A great tale.

Maybe in Another Life

A great novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Hannah Martin, 29, has no clue what to do with her life. She's been city-hopping, with meaningless jobs since college. But now, after a horrible breakup in Manhattan, she's coming home to Los Angeles. To Gabby, her BFF. Who takes her to a bar to celebrate her first night back. Many of her old friends show up, including Ethan, her high school boy friend. Just after midnight, Gabby asks if she's ready to leave. Ethan offers to take her home if she wants to stay. In concurrent storylines, the author takes us through what happens to Hannah with each decision. How much of our lives is determined by chance? Is there one, true soulmate for each of us? Are things just meant to happen? These are some of the questions tackled in this book.

Still Life

By Louise Penny, this is the debut of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. Gamache and his team are called to a suspicious death Thanksgiving morning at Three Pines, an idyllic village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, retired school teacher, seems to be the victim of a hunting accident. But things are not what they seem. Gamache is an experienced investigator; he is also an experienced, compassionate human being. His observations and interactions are enlightening. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

Personal Prayers of Christians Through the Centuries

This is a small book full of brief prayers compiled by David Schubert. The prayers have been put into modernized form and are listed in a loose alphabetical framework. It includes some relatively unknown people (Acuin, English priest and scholar), and some woefully mislabeled (Patrick, patron of Ireland), from all Cristian traditions (John Knox, Martin Luther, John Wesley, etc.), and many Church fathers (Clement, Polycarp, Irenaeus, etc.). There are poets and kings, hymnists and seamen, theologians and headmasters. People who would seem to have nothing in common, yet they all prayed. Beautiful prayers. Written down for posterity. So we, too, may pray these prayers. A beginning prayer of contrition, an ending plea for peace.

"Lord God,
Of your goodness give me yourself,
For you are enough for me,
And only in you have I all. Amen."
                               Julian of Norwich

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

This is a tautly written debut novel by Matthew Sullivan. Lydia Smith is the quintessential bookseller; a great listener, eccentric colleagues, regular customers... someone who loves her craft. Then one of the regulars kills himself in one of the bookstore's upper rooms. Lydia finds she has been left his worldly goods, which consists of a suit and a crate full of books which seem to contain a hidden code. What did he know of the violent past Lydia tries to keep buried? Memories of that past are dredged up of a bloody night long ago that is not as distant as Lydia would like. Top notch mystery.

A Perilous Undertaking

Veronica Speedwell is back! This is the second in the series by Deanna Raybourn, and it is delicious! Veronica, lepidopterist and adventuress, is invited to the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only club for intrepid women. There she meets Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task; Miles Ramsforth, art patron, has been convicted of the murder of Artemisia, his artist mistress, and will hang in a week's time unless Veronica can unmask the true killer. For various reasons, Veronica accepts this challenge. With the help of Stoker, her natural-historian colleague, she hares about 1880's London, from palace to pleasure grotto, to resolve the case.

This book in the series is more raw than A Curious Beginning, but just as delightful. The characters are well drawn and likeable. The plot hums along. The tension between characters is recognizable and utterly believable. I look forward to the next installment.

The Round House

This novel by Louise Erdrich was a National Book Award winner for fiction in 2012. It tells the story of the Coutts family, Geraldine, Bazil, and Joe, Ojibwe who live on a reservation in North Dakota. One Sunday in Spring, 1988, Geraldine is brutally attacked. The rape occurred near the Round House, a sacred space for the Ojibwe. This complicates justice, for the Round House is on tribal land but is surrounded by multiple jurisdictions. Unless the traumatized Geraldine can remember exactly where the attack took place, her white attacker will go free. Geraldine enrolls people into the tribe; Bazil is a tribal judge. Both of them have had occasion to "meet" the attacker through their files. Joe, the 13-year-old son of aging parents, realizes it is up to him to reclaim his family. With the help of his friends Cappy, Zack, and Angus he sets out on a course of revenge. Because the attacker has gone free through the jurisdictional nightmare. And, even if the rape had happened on tribal land, the tribal leaders would be unable to prosecute because the perpetrator was non-Indian; federal law prohibits them. (This burns my butt!) Something else I learned in the course of this book that is upsetting, to say the least. The number of women subject to sexual assault in this country is 1 in 5. That's sad. The number of native women who face sexual assault? 1 in 3. The number is surely higher because not everyone reports rape. 86% of these assaults are carried out by non-Native men. 86% cannot be prosecuted "in house", so to speak, leaving a Native woman to tell her story, relive the trauma, more than necessary. And face possible prejudice as well as the stigma of rape. Too sad. Must be changed. This unjust law must be changed.

Goodbye Days

A novel by Jeff Zentner. I. Am. Wrecked! This is a young adult novel; why is the YA genre so gaspingly real! Carver Briggs is a bright young man who has maybe done a stupid thing. He texted his friend Mars; a friend on the way to meet him with his two other best friends, Eli and Blake. Then there was The Accident. All three of his friends died, and on Mars's phone was a half - finished text to Carver. Now Carver is friendless, going to funerals, blaming himself, being blamed by some of the family members of his friends. Mars's father, a judge, is pressing the district attorney to charge Carver with negligent homicide. Eli's twin sister, Adair, stares daggers through him and uses her considerable influence at the prestigious Nashville Academy of the Arts, where they all went/go to school to turn people against him. He's having panic attacks. Yet Carver does have a support system still. His family. Jesmyn, Eli's girlfriend. Dr. Mendez, his psychiatrist. And Nana Betsy, Blake's grandmother, who asks Carver for a goodbye day, where they fill each other in on their parts of Blake's story. His life. It was successful. Cathartic. Soon the other families are asking for goodbye days. Will they be as successful?