Lakota Woman is now ready for pick up

Our next book, Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog is now ready for pick up at the Main Library return desk. Last I checked only a few copies were left, so get em' while the gettins' good.

Mary Crow Dog was at the heart of the American Indian Movement, a group that played an important part in struggle for civil rights in United States. Lakota Woman sheds light on an often overlooked chapter of contemporary American history. Perhaps more insightful is her perspective as a woman within a movement whose public voice has been predominately male.

We'll be meeting to discuss this book June 11th, at the Main Library in Conference Room 3 at noon.

Some thoughts about On Beauty

How is the book about race? At the beginning of the novel, do you think Smith intentionally omits the fact Howard is white?

In many ways, On Beauty is a critique of academia. Does Smith portray the academe in a positive or negative light?

Are Howard’s deconstructivist views on art valuable or they just nonsense? Do we gain anything attacking prevailing notions of genius?

One the few relationships in the book that is positive (to me anyway) is the relationship between Carlene and Kiki. How would you define their relationship? Presumably they don’t have anything more in common than their husbands but they seem to hit it off. Why do you think that is?

Here's a short interview with Smith. She discusses her work shortly before the release of On Beauty in Sweden:

We'll be meeting to discuss this book May 14th, at the Main Library in Conference Room 3 at noon.

On Beauty by Zadie Smith now ready for pick up

Our next book, On Beauty by Zadie Smith is now ready for pick up at the Main Library return desk. On Beauty tells the story of two Rembrandt scholars on the opposite ends of the political spectrum. As their families' lives intertwine, the themes of class, race, gender and, of course, beauty, are artfully explored.

We'll be meeting to discuss this book May 14th, at the Main Library in Conference Room 3 at noon.

Some thoughts about The Worst Hard Time...

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan was filled with many amazing episodes of survival. When I finished the book, a few things struck me the most:

- Those who chose to tough it out during the Dust Bowl, are they to be admired, or were they foolish and stubborn?

- Is any one person, or group, responsible for the disaster that was the Dust Bowl?

- Are there any parallels between the Dust Bowl and any other man-made ecological disasters in history? Was there ever a time when mankind altered nature for the better?


We'll be meeting to discuss this book April 9th, at the Main Library in Conference Room 3 at noon.

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan now ready pick up

Our next book, The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan is now ready for pick up at the Main Library return desk. Egan chronicles those that chose to stay behind during the Dust Bowl. The title earned Egan a National Book Award.

We'll be meeting to discuss this book April 9th, at the Main Library in Conference Room 3 at noon.

Some thoughts about The Places in Between...

I'm sure Gael will have many aspects of the book for us to talk about at our meeting, but the following are some things I pondered while reading the book:

- What were the author's motivations for going on such a journey? What were his accomplishments when it was over?

- Do the many cultural differences in Afghanistan parallel the cultural differences in the United States? If someone knew nothing about the United States, and they traveled across it, what would their travelogue read like?

- As U.S. citizens what can we learn from this book?

Come join us to discuss this fascinating book on March 12th at noon in Conference Room 3 at the Main Library.

Places in Between now ready for pick up....

Copies of The Places in Between by Rory Stewart are now available for pick up at the return desk at the Main Library.

We will be meeting to discuss this book March 12th in Conference Room 3.