November 2018 Bookclub Newsletter

Dear Bookclub,
Educated. Being raised off the 'grid' reminded me immediately of another family: that of Doc Paskowitz. A passionate surfer, the lifestyle claimed after being unhappy as a Stanford educated physician, Paskowitz imposed his philosophy of education, money and health upon his family. 
As stated in Wikipedia:
"None of the Paskowitz children were formally educated during their time on the road. Paskowitz's philosophy about the difference between knowledge and wisdom led him to believe that the formal education systems in all the countries of the world were not useful. He believed that achieving wisdom came from real experiences in the world, and from meeting and learning from everyday people. He believed formal education was dangerous to young minds, despite being a Stanford graduate and a professor at community colleges, including Palomar College."

To learn more about Doc Paskowitz, please see the documentary, "Surfwise" and/or check out the article:

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-dorian-doc-paskowitz-20141114-story.html
 

But let's conside Tara Westover: A distortion of reality is how she describes her upbringing. She journeys through the pain and the truth that much of her childhood was beautiful despite the grossly abusive scenario.

"How an abused Mormon child read her way into a top university."* Westover's book begins with a statement declaring that it is not necessarily Mormonism that created her situation but that of an extremist:in this case, a fundamentalist Mormon.

*https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/profiles/how-an-abused-mormon-child-read-her-way-into-a-top-university/

And a deeply ingrained upbringing:

Tara sings a Mormon hymn:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlO_QkqQ9cE

Discussion centered on the harm of being raised by a mentally ill parent vs. Mormon beliefs will be most appropriate.

Kate's suggestions for an upcoming read are yet to be announced.

Studious reading,
LK

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

September 2018 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,

I got carried away. Doing research on our next book, Tayari Jones' "An American Marriage", brought me to a quote:

“One of my favorite parts of summer is deciding what to read when things slow down just a bit, whether it’s on a vacation with family or just a quiet afternoon . . . An American Marriage by Tayari Jones is a moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple.” —Barack Obama

OK then! Barack has figured out how to slow down and read during the summer. I especially find it intriguing to imagine him having a quiet afternoon. So I googled Obama reading and found this smattering of images. I bet there are no photographers around during those quiet summer afternoons so I will have to be satisfied with these scenes of him reading quite the variety of genres.

Next, I came upon this quote:

"I did not read the synopsis of this book before I read it, and I suggest that you do not either. Just trust me, this is worth it. This is my first Tayari Jones book, and it won’t be my last."

From a Barbara Fischer, who from over 1800 Amazon reviews, mentions that I shouldn't delve any further if I want to have the great feel of experiencing the reveal. I stopped reading reviews then also.
Now I will focus on reading the book.

Happy reading!
LK 

PS The San Diego Union Tribune ran an article this week about the health benefits of reading (we know!):
 http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle/sd-he-reading-for-health-20180910-story.html#


Also, here is another article, from the Atlantic, citing the same study:
 https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/07/more-evidence-reading-good-you/313575/
 

August 2018 Recap

Dear Bookclub,
An intimate group gathered at Barb's, and indeed, our size increased by 25.5% with the addition of  Cassie and Henry! Aside from looking like the absolute baby doll he is, Henry was incredibly agreeable, silently on board with all thoughts and discussion. Barb treated us to an amazing late summer spread and delicious wine - yes, too bad you weren't there because check out how we left the Gaeto wine vault (see below). In truth, Tom wisely removed the collection to cooler quarters on Point Loma so not only did we leave it this way, it looked this way when we arrived. But - what a concept!

Our discussion of "The Heirs" included assessing Eleanor and her motivations, recalling the more colorful characters and circumstances, and an observation that the book did not have a lot of 'action' but rather a telling of a family's story.  I enjoyed it immensely as a good summer read and the novel will remain memorable given the varied dynamics and personalities, well-told by Susan Reiger.

Barb thoughtfully recommended the following titles to be considered for an upcoming read:

"Clock Dance" Anne Tyler *chosen
"Beartown" Fredrik Backman
"The Great Alone" Kristin Hannah


Up next:

Happy Reading!
LK

August 2018 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
Susan Rieger's "The Heirs", described in this NPR review by Jason Sheehan, as the book depicted in the opening scene of the movie, "The Royal Tenenbaums", the New York version. "Love and sex and money and betrayal make for excellent storytelling" he observes. What a perfect summer page-turning read and ripe for discussion. (I want to re-watch the movie now too.)

https://www.npr.org/2017/05/27/528843001/love-money-and-betrayal-make-for-great-storytelling-in-the-heirs

Looking forward to debating Rupert’s cryptic last words in his will: “Settle my just debts.”


Happy Reading!
LK