October 2018 Recap

Paul-Albert Besnard | Woman Reading Before a Window (La liseuse Devant la fenêtre) |

 Dear Bookclub,

In discussing Erik Larson's "Dead Wake", our bookclub was deftly led by Kim, who had brilliantly put a question at each plate. She reported the cards instigated a very long and lively conversation. I am so sorry to have missed. Excellent idea to try again in future meetings.

 

 

Suggested by Kim for an upcoming read:

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens* chosen

"Manhattan Beach" Jennifer Egan

"What We Lose"  Zinzi  Clemmons

picasso's woman reading book

 Up next:

Tara Westover's "Educated"

Thoughtful reading,

LK

 

 

 

October 2018 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
Sorry to be missing this upcoming meeting and guessing that there will be good discussion surrounding newly illuminated knowledge of submarines and World War I found in Erik Larson's "Dead Wake".


Forever obsessed with oceanic disasters since I was a young girl, thanks to the camp song, "Oh they built the ship Titanic to sail the ocean blue....." (aside, what a strange song to be singing in Girl Scout Camp and that made me wonder, did that really happen and yes(!) it did... as a matter of fact it is still sung by Girl Scouts today as you can witness in the following YouTube video I tirelessly found within two seconds of research:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rP1gD9xXkU
....did you sing this too?) , I was intensely interested in the details surrounding the last crossing of the Lusitania. Larson did not disappoint.

Back to looming disasters.... Big picture:

Little picture: The individuals. From a Lusitania information website, http://www.rmslusitania.info/people/statistics/  :


How many people died in the Lusitania sinking?  How many survived? 

	Total	Survived	Died	Survival rate
Saloon (First Class)	290	113	177	39.0%
Second Cabin (Second Class)	601	229	372	38.1%
Third Class	370	134	236	36.2%
Deported Seamen (Third Class)	3	0	3	0.0%
Total Passengers	1,264	476	788	37.7%
Stowaways	3	0	3	0.0%
Band	5	3	2	60.0%
Deck Crew	69	37	32	53.6%
Engineering Crew	313	112	201	35.8%
Victualling Crew	306	139	167	45.4%
Total Crew (including Band)	693	291	402	42.0%
Total Complement (with stowaways)	1,960	767	1,193	39.1%

I have not yet done breakdown by nationality or age group, but those are worth considering for future updates.  Accounting for the four survivors who died not long afterwards, this becomes:

	Total	Survived	Died	Survival rate
Total Complement (with stowaways)	1,960	763	1,197	38.9%

 (Conclusion: be in the band)



Great videos from the Smithsonian channel:

http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/sinking-the-lusitania-an-american-tragedy/0/3420538


Please look over the following books, suggested by Kim, for an upcoming selection to be chosen at the meeting:

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens

"Manhattan Beach" Jennifer Egan

"What We Lose"  Zinzi  Clemmons

Happy Reading,
LK

September 2018 Recap

Dear Bookclub,
A remarkable evening on many fronts, last week's bookclub meeting was one for the records.
First and foremost, was the embracing of our beloved member Lynn T. Together again, after one long year of her absence, our joy was reflected in the glow of her candlelit autumn decor and was certainly heard miles away.


Discussion of our selection was delayed by the enormous task of catching up and sampling the delectable trays of hors d'ouevres, while sipping wine. But when we gathered in the living room, serious discussion ensued.

Empowered by the talking-leaf, we took turns sharing our ideas about Tayari Jones' "An American Marriage". Thoughts and conversations ran the gamut from admiration of certain characters to the degrees of difficulties handling race, privilege, and even the concept of a guilty Little Roy. That last concept turned many of us around. Beautifully written, yet filled with incredulous layers (Roy's cellmate being his biological father!), we became captured by the compelling story, climbing aboard Jones' voyage into the heart of one couple's marriage and came out the other side, a bit wiser and certainly seasoned from the raw exposure to the triangle that evolved.

Sue shared her book from the PBS series, "The Great American Read"

Lynn's suggestions for an upcoming read:

 "Tuscan Child" Rhys Bowen

 "A Spark of Light" Jodi Picoult
 "What We Were Promised" Lucy Tan *chosen


Up next: Erik Lasron's "Dead Wake"

Happy reading!
LK