All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Thirteen members attended this book club event. The majority of the members LOVED the book, "read it in 24 hours" one said and another "on my top five list of anything I’ve ever read."  A few liked it but they added "I didn’t care for the chronology and how it jumped around" and "difficult to read in bursts – needed to sit down and really focus."  No one in the crowd said they didn't like it, some just liked it more than others.

A member took notes for me at this meeting and this is her post:

We talked about radios and their role in controlling the message – like the internet in other countries even today – an instrument of the political powers.  Narration moved back and forth between time and characters – some liked that style and others didn’t.  Question was asked of which character we enjoyed the most. Several were mentioned… Werner – Etienne – Jutta – Madame Manec – Marie Laure  Madame Manec asks Etienne “Don’t you want to live before you die?” We discussed this quote and what she might have meant. The résistance was doing many things – seemingly passive things – like changing street signs, but their work was very important. Blindness was discussed. The bravery of Marie-Laure as she had eventually learned to get around in one city, then lost her father and learned a second place.  The question was asked about Werner’s bravest moment. Someone mentioned when he confronted Von Rumpel.  What moments were the bravest for other characters? For her father when he was arrested. For Volkheimer in the basement of the hotel of Bees.  Did you like the flashing forward at the end of the book to the 70s? Most people did.

On a personal note from me, the blogger:  I absolutely thought this was one of the best books I have read, and agree with one of the members, it was a top of the list, maybe top 25 books I would recommend to others.  So glad I purchased it and can share it.

The book made me think at how those who lived in Germany at that time were a part of a culture that accepted what was being said and shared as good and right.  But, then some found out it wasn't right, it wasn't good.  It must  have been very hard for those to walk that line and I'm sure there were many that felt that way.  What devastation to those affected by wars and to have a disability while living in Europe during the war so affected families.  Also loved the fact that the artifact of the arts was portrayed in this novel.  Amazing to think of that they had teams or people that would go out and search for this historical art and remove it.  At least they didn't destroy it.

Wonderful book and if you are reading this and weren't at the discussion, I think we missed a lot by not being a part of a group discussion.  Great Book, wonderful read!

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Fifteen members shared discussion of this classic favorite.  Most liked or loved it!

One member said it was interesting "how different from our current adult fiction, slower than what is written today."  It was written almost 75 years ago, written in 1943.  Some of us had read the book before (one person read it three times) and some reading it the first time!  One person said "I can't believe I am the age I am and haven't read this book.  Enjoyed it and if I had read in junior high would have loved it!  It's like Anne of Green Gables, well written, an older book."  One person said it was her favorite book when younger but she had a different perspective then.  Another person said she read it 40 years ago and remembered she couldn't "get into it."  She listened to audio this time and really enjoyed it.

One person said she loved the descriptions in the book and loved how it ended, with the tree and all the details.  Another member said "liked the slow pace, calming and peaceful.  When you live life out of necessity, you grow up so fast."  Another said: "Even though Francie was young, she was very independent."

"I discovered books can take you places," like Francie did when she was younger.  This member liked the older characters and brought in some autograph books of her mothers!

A favorite quote of one member was "Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time:  Thus is your time on earth filled with glory."  Good lesson, this member said!

One reader said she grew up very poor but she still had plenty to eat, but if you lived in the city like this, it would be hard to find food.  Another reader was concerned that Francie didn't get the love from her mother, but she was surrounded by love.

We talked about the stories that were in the book, Francie running around barefoot, turning items into money, the Christmas tree story, and about the love of learning. Back then students didn't get help when they were in poverty, now we have services that might help.

Francie grew up among the obstacles, she survived, growing against all odds.  She became a strong woman, just like the Tree that Grew in Brooklyn -- against all odds.

Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalesh

Eighteen members gathered for this special night where we also shared appetizers and desserts at a friends house.  We had an interesting discussion where almost everyone who had read the book loved it and we all had a story that could relate to what Mildred Kalesh had written.  One member said she was going to recommend it.  I ordered a book to keep for myself I loved it so much!

"Loved the arraignment of how they categorized the chapters." one said.  Another member said she loved reading the stories, it brought so many memories.  Even a member of our book club who grew up in Turkey could relate to the stories from this Iowa resident.  One member said she "loved the humor, it was a happy book and loved the recipes."

One member said "Think of the mind set of women back then and our expectations, no comparison.  Another said they "were always saving, which took a lot of energy.  So much work for one meal."  Another agreed, saying they "weren't wasting anything.  If something wasn't used in one recipe it was saved and used in another."  One member said she remembers as a child, helping her mother with the threshing bees.  She said "mother was preparing the next meal as I was doing dishes."

Some of us women recognize the work these people went through.  We lamented about how wasteful we are in our society and even our family members, running water while we brush our teeth or using one paper towel all the time and then just throwing it away!  A comment made too, was you can't miss what you didn't have.  Children also worked and helped in the family, there was no question about helping.

We liked her story that she shared about her mother being a single parent and those struggles.  They were strong back then and were full of confidence in such a hard life.  People were more physical back in that time too.  They weren't spending time in front of a tv like we are now.

This book was also a part of story telling.  We have lost that through generations.  Memories will be lost if not told.  Their lives were difficult and unique to parents before us.  The kids also had much more freedom then they have now.  The world has certainly changed.

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin

Fifteen members were at our monthly discussion for The Aviator's Wife, about the story of Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  Members said "Great choice and loved the book.  Charles was larger than life character" and "Thought it was going to be a dry non-fiction book, actually it was fiction, enjoyed it very much."   One person said she liked the voice the author gave the characters, being that she was from Minnesota had heard about Charles Lindbergh but hadn't read much.  A school librarian (now retired) said she really liked the book and was amazed how well Melanie Benjamin had taken the information she had gathered and compared it to reading a non-fiction book.

One member said she, like others had mentioned, gained a lot of information about the Lindberghs through this book.  "I had no idea she was a skilled pilot."  Many of us remembered and had read the book A Gift from the Sea. The group learned she was the 1st Woman Glider Pilot in 1931. {We also learned Emily Howell Warner, USA, was the first woman to be hired as a major airline pilot -- Frontier Airlines.}

We saw Anne as her father had called her "reliable Anne," always obedient but very strong to recognize her own strength.  When Charles went off on his flights without her she ran the household and when he left on his frequent trips to Germany, she managed it all.  She had strength like her mother had, was independent.  We talked about the abduction of their child, how that affected their whole family.

One member said she was "disappointed, heard in history class of a great American hero, disappointed in some of his choices" and felt a little by the group.  One member felt he possibly had some autism spectrum issues going on, but was definitely a very military trained man. Anne always tried to protect his public persona and what she thought he should be remembered for.   Some felt that he chose Anne because she was a part of the "crew" and a very obedient spouse.

"But the eyes are blind.  One must look with the heart" is a quote from the front of the book. "Charles had taught Anne to follow Polaris, the brightest star, never wavering and that's how she remembered him. She knew bad things, but was looking with her heart, choosing to see the good things," is what someone shared.

Many of us love these historical fictions and this one did not disappoint us in the least. and some expressed that they would like to read more about Charles and Anne Lindbergh.  We thought it was well-written and although disappointed to hear about Charles' other events in his life, he was still the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris.  I think we enjoyed reading and knowing his wife was there, always to support and lead him, a strength to the end.

Moloka'l by Alan Brennert

Sixteen members participated in the discussion of Moloka'i at the Park Grove Library in October.  EVERYONE liked it and had varied reasons they liked it.

"Beautiful cover, very attractive and made me want to pick it up" someone said. "I would have never picked it up but I loved it."  "Liked the main character and the story through her eyes." "It was well-written" said another.  One member said they wished he had talked about more of the effects of the disease on those affected by leprosy or Hansen's Disease.  There was a lot of research that went into this book, someone mentioned, and another said the author "made everything very vivid, you could see how they looked with leprosy. It was tough for me to read, almost too vivid.  Loved all the characters, but I can see why someone was very afraid."  "I wanted to find out what happened to Rachel, it was so real to me, even though it was fiction, this was what real people had happen to them" another commented.

The historical fiction about the leper colony on the Hawaiian Island Moloka'i were hard to read from some of the members perspective.  One said "having a 5 year old taken away from her family was tough."  Another said "I couldn't understand mother's reaction, was heart-broken over it, but understood that she had to do it for her other children."

We talked about how we experienced in our own way, very contagious diseases and the quarantine that has gone on around us, how isolated we felt.  One person was hospitalized and had to have everyone around them gowned & gloved, and upon going home did not have contact with other family members, isolated in her bedroom.  Others talked about having measles and quarantined.  We also talked about the fear of disease and how they must have felt that back in this time periods.  Our fears included H1N1, measles, polio, Ebola and even Aids.

We were glad for the workers that came to the Island to care for those who were diseased and they were not.  There were many that helped make sure the whole island and the people were taken care of.

Rachel found family where ever she was, with the young girls who she shared the facility with and Sister Catherine to Uncle Pono and Haleola.  Having Rachel connect with her sister at the end was so good and then her daughter Ruth.  "She always had family, she had that as a child and maintained that all her life.  She was easy to love" someone said.  Great story to read!

100 BOOKS READ

Two women thought it would be interesting to start a book club through the Park Grove Library Branch in 2006 and with the staff, they did it!  AND WE ARE GLAD THEY DID!  Those two members, Diane & Char, and two other charter members of the Park Grove Book Club are still a strong part of the book club that has about 20 members to this day.  {one person missing from pic}

Knowing that we have read 100 books and wanted to celebrate, the library staff worked to collect as many of the 100 books and had almost all of them!  Their display was a wonderful sight to see and celebrate!

Before our book club discussion, the current book club members were photographed!  The South Washington County Bulletin took this picture and published it in the paper in October.  They had mentioned, in the paper, that the four charter members had read all 100 books.  I asked Diane & Char if they have read all 100, and Char & Diane answered - they have!  What a feat to have read all 100 books.  If she is unable to be at Book Club she will email her thoughts to our group about a book we discussed.  Even through traveling, the book club has a draw, a connection.   

To those of us and you who have been a part of this book club, you have shared your thoughts, your joys, your excitement and your disappointment many times over.  We have shared laughter, tears, thoughts from our soul and connected with the authors' stories we have read over the years.  We have developed friendships and helped each other through struggling times in our lives.  Connecting through books, through words and through each other lives, we have made a group that is in itself "a story."  

HERE'S TO THE NEXT 100 BOOKS!  

Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Fifteen members were at Book Club this month to discuss Goldfinch.  As we went around the table with our answer to did we like the book, many said they hadn't finished it, some hadn't even started; the thoughts on this Pulitzer Prize Fiction 2014 winner were diverse not only for the dark subject matter but because of the length of the book.  At the end, with some of those comments, many said, "I'm glad I read it."

One member said she had a "love/hate relationship with the book.  She loved the author and her descriptions, life long friends, but hated the content, it was so dark, so heavy."  She did, though, love the goldfinch print and ordered a copy of it online.  Another person said "it was the longest, darkest, heaviest book she's read and didn't like drugs and language, not something we've experienced." This is one person that said, "glad I read it."  "Cheer up things can't get any worse and it did" one person said, "liked the author didn't like the book."  Someone said "I had the hardest time reading a book this long, other than Gone with the Wind. Like it or not?  I didn't like it; I can appreciate it."  Our leader for this book said she chose it because it received a Pulitzer Prize, but she said "I just wonder why it got it!  A lot needs to be chopped out."

"I liked it" a member said there were quirky characters. She had read it a year ago but couldn't read the whole book again, she couldn't finish it the second time.  "In the end, I did like it -- I found the plot interesting, the characters interesting, but wish they had cut out the big chunk.  I didn't need 20-50 more instances to know it was a problem."  One member said she "really liked the book, the length was a little 'off putting' but felt by the end of the book I knew who the people were.  I couldn't put it down."  Reading the book on a long trip, one person said she liked the actors that were reading the parts.  She said she had started reading but got into it more listening.  It was 27 disks, each one over an hour.

Discussion was about parts of the book like the engagement scene -- the cocktail party kept ramping up a level of tension and you knew something is going to happen, someone said.   Sometimes in order to convey emotion or tension, that was what was happening.  "It hit a nerve, he is feeling I was feeling."  Someone said they don't remember mother having emotional time.  Her love of the painting came when she was a child.  She use to just lay down and look at it for hours.  Discussed about the painting being a sham.

Leon Wieseltier said "But if a serious book really catches on, it may be less important that its strictly literary quality is not as great as one might have hoped and more important that it's touched a nerve, that it is driven by some deep human subject and some true human need."  I think it did that for many of the readers in our club.