Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan now ready for pick up

Our next book, Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan is now ready for pick up at the Main Library return desk. Last I checked only a few copies were left so don't miss out.

Critically acclaimed food scholar Michael Pollan explores the origins and implications of the American diet in his award winning Omnivore's Dilemma. Competing media messages about fad diets, the benefits of organic food, and the economic realities at the supermarket are elucidated by Pollan's thoughtful prose and meticulous research. Omnivore's Dilemma was the 2007 winner of the James Beard Award (probably the world's most prestigious food writing award) and named one of the New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of the Year.

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

Some thoughts about Lakota Woman...

- The author is openly hostile to white society. Is this attitude justified?

- Along the same line of thought, the author is often bitter about perceived harassment by federal authorities. Didn't she take part in many actions that were brazenly seditious to the United States government? Was the government's response to these actions appropriate?

- Many events described by Mary Crow Dog defy, or at least test the limits, of Western science. How should we interpret these events?

- Lakota Woman is often used in classrooms as an example of feminist literature. How would white feminists interpret her decision to become Leonard Crow Dog's wife? Was the second half of the book about her life or her husband's life?

We'll be meeting to discuss Lakota Woman on June 11th at noon in Conference Room 3 of Main Library downtown.

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.