The Book Club of San Diego,
California
recommends:
THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeanette Walls (Scribner,
2006),
304 pages
"We were unanimous in our enthusiasm for this
provocative
memoir. Jeanette Walls's story of growing up in a
deeply
dysfunctional family is both engaging and uplifting.
We appreciated Walls's matter-of-fact style as she
tells about her childhood
experiences with an intelligent but alcoholic father,
and an irresponsible
mother who the doctors in our group believe was
probably mentally ill. We discussed whether court
intervention could have helped this family. The
resilience
and
resolve of
the children in this story are impressive, and
make this book uplifting rather than depressing. The
book also
made us feel that, as parents, we ourselves are
doing pretty well!"
The Bookwomen of Encinitas,
California
recommend:
MARCH by Geraldine Brooks
(Viking,
2005), 288 pages
"Our group agreed
that it was quite bold for a contemporary author to
undertake
writing a
companion book to a classic like LITTLE WOMEN -
and that she did so successfully.
Based on the
diaries of Bronson Alcott, the novel LITTLE WOMEN,
and
extensive Civil War
research, MARCH allowed us a glimpse into the
familiar
story of the March
family from a completely different perspective. We
enjoyed
our discussion
of how Reverend March's high ideals impacted his
decisions,
and ultimately
his family. The familiar historical figures and events,
from
key figures
of the Transcendentalist and Abolitionist movements
to
the gruesome realities of the Civil War, lent the book
a sense
of depth and vitality. After reading MARCH, we all
viewed
Marmee and her daughters a little differently, and
some of us went back and re-read
LITTLE WOMEN."
Paired with: A dinner of grilled summer
vegetables (eggplant, peppers,
portobello, onion,
zucchini, and yellow squash), corn pudding, and a
garden salad, all in keeping with Reverend March's
vegetarian sensibilities, and boysenberry-apple pie
for dessert.
Ladies of the Lake Book Group of Encino, California
recommends:
SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN by Lisa See
(Random House, 2005), 272 pages
"SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN is a
beautiful, enchanting, sometimes sorrowful story of
two
young women growing up in nineteenth-century
China, and the
friendship they develop that sustains them
throughout their
lives. Snow Flower and Lily meet at the age of seven
and
despite isolation and repression manage to
communicate in a
secret written language called 'nu shu.'
Our group was reminded of the oppression of women
for
centuries and in all cultures, and the crucial role
female friendship has played in giving women solace
and in helping them advance. The period detail,
especially as it relates to
foot-binding, is emotionally charged. A 'must-read'
for women!"
Danner's Books Mystery Book Club of Muncie, Indiana
recommends:
BONE COLD by Erica Spindler
(Mira,
2001), 512 pages
"Anna North survived an attack by a madman twenty-
three years ago in which
the
attacker cut off her little finger. Anna has become a
writer of thrillers,
but she writes under a pen name and finally feels
safe. Then the letters
from a disturbed fan start to arrive and a very close
friend of hers
disappears. Could her past be linked to the
disappearance of her friend and
the murder of three women in New Orleans? Our
group was intrigued by the
fact that, even after twenty-three years, Anna still
wasn't safe from the
madman. The book left you with the feeling that
even though you take
precautions, if someone wants to do you harm, they
will find a way. We
talked about how believable the characters were and
how well Spindler
developed them. This was a real page turner - you
had to read just one more
page before going to bed."
Paired with: Homemade peach - bone
cold -
ice
cream. (See Recipe)
