Wednesday, September 13, 2023

August 2023 Bookclub News

 



 Dear Bookclub,

Martha treated our gathered group to a lovely dinner at the Bernardo Winery as she hosted our meeting to discuss Gabrielle Zevin's "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow". Her preparation to promote conversation about Zevin's novel proved very effective:


Simulation of Martha's papers

We chatted and nibbled, and chatted and nibbled, and chatted and nibbled our way through the evening, truly answering every reader's guide question posed, and aspects beyond. Details abound in the telling of Zevin's tale, which uniquely introduced the world of the 80's and 90's in a light that our group, being in the fog of motherhood during that time, only viewed tangentially. Sure, we knew Super Mario and magic eye puzzles (https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/the-hidden-history-of-magic-eye-the-optical-illusion-that-briefly-took-over-the-world/), but the pretentious lives of the developers of video gaming were totally off the radar. Debating choices made by Sam, Sadie and Max, we softened to their situations and dilemmas.

This novel's critical acclaim, clearly needed a mention in our discussion, as the Gen X-surround kept our ability to relate at bay. Good literature transcends generations. Had we reached a point in our stage of life where we were <gasp> over-the-hill with the trendy? Zevin's work educated and entertained but the journey, tedious at times and over-written with the era, ultimately left little hope for a moving, lasting impression. 

I noticed that the "Goodreads Choice Awards 2022" honored "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" with the #1 position in Fiction AND "Lessons in Chemistry" as #2 in Historical Fiction. Historical???? We will continue to read all (with our corrective lenses) and be better for it.

 




Martha's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Music Shop" Rachel Joyce *chosen

"Lessons in Chemistry" Bonnie Garmus

"The Night Watchman" Louise Erdrich

Up next:



Happy reading,

LK