April 2025 Bookclub News

 

 

Dear Bookclub,

Right there. On the cover. 'Jeanine Cummins Bestselling author of AMERICAN DIRT'. Casually chatting after our meal and deep dive into our April selection, "The Outside Boy", someone mentioned that this is the author of "American Dirt". I was flabbergasted! Did I expect an 'Irish' writer?

How did this amazing feat escape me... Cummins, the center of the 2020 Oprah-selection-controversy, is clearly a gifted writer. Not an Irish writer or Puerto Rican writer(both in her heritage), a Spanish writer (she was born in Spain), or an 'American' writer - she is a writer able to create work across many cultures. 

Cummins weathered the race storm stirred up by Latin writers, as many felt she was inaccurate in writing the Latino immigrant experience, since she identified as 'mostly white'. Without re-visiting the whole of the controversy, the point of exclusion was noted yet this is fiction and a great book was written.  

 

 

From Wikipedia:

Some also claimed that Cummins had previously identified as white but re-branded herself as Latina with the publication of the book, pointing to a line in a 2015 New York Times op-ed in which Cummins stated "I am white." Most did not refer to the entire statement in the op-ed, however, which was about the murder of Cummins's cousins by a group of three black and one white men and included the line "I am white. The grandmother I shared with Julie and Robin was Puerto Rican, and their father is half Lebanese. But in every practical way, my family is mostly white."

 

As readers, we benefit from the depth of her work and leaning away from ethnicity. "The Outside Boy" was well-liked. We relished the descriptions, the beauty and heartache of Christy. The travellers and the dichotomies of their moral codes and that of the Catholic Church set us to pondering the gray areas. The boy who chose outside could not help but leave us with a renewed appreciation for different perspectives, once again. The above is from a book of photography "Irish Travellers: Tinkers No More" by Alen MacWeeney:

https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2012/11/05/164364134/documenting-the-irish-travellers-a-nomadic-culture-of-yore 

 

My suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir" Ina Garten *chosen

"The Violin Conspiracy" Brendan Slocumb

"Travels With George: In Search for Washington and his Legacy" Nathaniel Philbrick 

Please check out the above mentioned memoir, "A Rip in Heaven", to recognize Cummins' varied styles.

https://www.amazon.com/Rip-Heaven-Memoir-Murder-Aftermath/dp/0451210530 

 

 

 

Up next:

 

 

Happy reading,

LK

March 2025 Bookclub News

 

 

Dear Bookclub,

Martha's round table held steady and even as we negotiated Percival Everett's novel "James". Huck and Jim, however, were roiled by their Mississippi negotiations as Everett satirically portrayed his re-imagined version of Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".  We loved it.

 

 

Everett's art: language, social commentary and historic truths bundled into a package we will long hold as a high standard of a truly great work. Both the audible and the written word vine together to form a stunning literary masterpiece. 

Tracy Nguyen for The New Yorker

Everett's talents beyond his writing include being an accomplished abstract painter, a jazz guitarist, a horse trainer, a tracker, and a cowboy.  He and his wife, Danzy Senna, are professors at USC.

 

Danzy Senna

Danzy sent me into a maze of googling. I can only imagine the workings of this relationship as she has an amazing trail. I read her memoir, "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" about her parents' mixed-race marriage and am intrigued by her fiction. I will not subject you to the hours of threads I have followed but I will share this entertaining, short and illuminating interview of Everett with Seth Myers (you will not be disappointed):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZMabgZZtZc

Finally, my quest to find out how Percival and Danzy met, yielded a lengthy piece (pre-"James") from Project Muse:  "An Overview of Everett's Life and Career"  by Derek Maus. I did not learn a thing about their meeting. Please enjoy perusing:

https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/244/oa_monograph/chapter/2283518  

 

Martha's selections for an upcoming read:

 

'Lady Tan's Circle of Women" Lisa See

"Leave Only Footprints" Conor Knighton

"Tell Me Everything" Elizabeth Strout *chosen

 

 **** Alert ****  We decided to flip May and June suggestions so we will have a breezier read for our La Jolla Anniversary Trip. 

Up next:

 

 

 

Happy reading!

LK

 

February 2025 Bookclub News

 

 

 

 Dear Bookclub,

A smaller version of "The Thursday Bookclub" met at Julie's to discuss Richard Osman's "The Thursday Murder Club".

 

Karen's endearment to the series is evident! Enjoyed by all, Osman's novel, the first of the series, represents only one of his many talents. The clever Englishman is also a television presenter, producer, and comedian.

Please enjoy this episode of  the BBC television quiz show Pointless, and look for Osman, the creator and former co-presenter.

 Richard Osman

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrOXyCkgdps 

 

Julie's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Go as a River" Shelley Read

"Lady Tan's Circle of Women" Lisa See

"Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame" Olivia Ford *chosen

 

Up next:

 

Happy reading,

LK

 

 

January 2025 Bookclub News

 

 

 

 Dear Bookclub,

Kate's sliders, salad and pie(!) comforted our group as we gathered for our discussion of Ilyon Woo's 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner, "Master Slave Husband Wife".  Woo's astounding biography of Ellen and William Craft introduced us to an unimaginable journey that we surprisingly knew nothing about. The above image, as imagined by artist Judith Hunt, is posted in an article about the Crafts on the America's Black Holocaust Museum website. There is much to explore:

https://www.abhmuseum.org/ellen-and-william-craft-make-a-crafty-escape-from-slavery/ 

 

Karen's wondering about the authenticity of the story was initially surprising, given the detailed notes included at the back of the book, yet the notion of morphing history by filling in blanks is intriguing. The author's "A Note On Sources" preceding the "Notes" section should be re-visited to fully appreciate both the writing process behind the book and the seams Woo revealed 'so that readers can examine the sources directly and formulate their own conclusions.' Truly, beyond the telling of the passing, exposure to the era and history was a the real gift of this book. Learning of the Crafts' dedicating their time to sharing their story on the speaking circuit and ultimately fleeing the United States were two such aspects to me. 

 

The Crystal Palace

 

Finally, Ilywon Woo's first named the book with the subtitle, "An American Love Story" which felt bristly to me for I wanted to believe the passion for justice beyond a coupling union was at the heart of their motivation. Woo strongly felt the subtitle expressed the jung, a Korean word meaning something like an enduring connection. Please read more about Woo's thoughts in her website piece:

https://ilyonwoo.com/ 

And play the game, match this photo in her website and you will win by reading her charming piece, "An Asian Father’s Gift: Permission to Fail".

Kate's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Outside Boy" Jeanine Cummins *chosen

"The Island of Missing Trees" Elif Shakaf

"Nothing to See Here" Kevin Wilson 

Up next:

 

Happy reading,

 LK

 

 

December 2024 Bookclub News

 

Spot the Difference!

Dear Bookclub,

Festively ensconced in the Vintana holiday luncheon mayhem, our lovely group gathered to discuss Claire Keegan's "Small Things Like These". Discussion was challenging due to a long table in bustling surroundings; generally, the book was well-liked although some found the depressing topic not in keeping with the season. As a "Christmas read", Keegan's tale is more Dickensonian than Fannie Flagg. Blindsided by the unexpected ending, we wanted more, yet deeply appreciated the beauty of the unsaid. One can only hope that pragmatic Eileen, Furlong's wife, will honour Christmas in her heart and try to keep it all the year (as a dutiful Ebeneezer would), allowing young Sarah to flourish. Keegan's tapestry of characters, most notably Mrs. Wilson and Ned, lent a believable, memorable flow to the novella

Keegan's book sparked a curiosity about the laundry and the timing of the story. The Magdalende Laundries, also known as Magdalene asylums were in existence from the 18th century into the late 20th century, the last one closing in 1994:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalene_Laundries_in_Ireland

 

The above images are from the Justice for Magdalene Research website, an organization dedicated to educating the public about and supporting research into the Magdalene Laundries. Please read more about the history and ongoing struggle to recognize the wrongful institutional abuse of 10,000 + women:

http://jfmresearch.com/

 

 

On December 3, 2024, Oprah announced this selection as being her latest pick for her bookclub. Check out the 109 books she has chosen since 1996... you will recognize quite a few!

https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/g23067476/oprah-book-club-list/

 

As our luncheon came to a close, truth stranger than fiction delivered an unbelievable moment, as our waiter revealed that he had been a kindergarten student of Lori's! The moving moment was a huge tribute to the influence we know Lori holds with her caring gift in the classroom and beyond:

Lori and Arjuna

 

Finally, our Gently Hugged efforts, spearheaded by Julie, were much appreciated by Sharon who received Julie's delivery just days after our luncheon. Gently Hugged distributed 905 bags of newborn clothing, board books and blankets to needy babies throughout San Diego County last year. This is a record yet requests for help outnumber what they've been able to supply. Gently Hugged will expand their operations to a second site in the Carlsbad area. The current Rancho Bernardo site will continue unchanged. Please read more about the organization and how you can continue to help throughout the year:

https://gentlyhugged.org/home/

 

Up next:

 

 Happy 2025 reading!

LK

 

November 2024 Bookclub News

 

Friendsgiving

 

Dear Bookclub,

Our November bookclub has a whole new twist - Friendsgiving is here to stay!  Our evening, pleasantly set in Sue's home, had all the ingredients of an evening beautifully shared with pleasing potluck, a great book for discussion and merry members. Monica Wood's "How to Read a Book" teemed with topics to debate and recall, as we dug deep into our reading experience. Violet, Harriet and Frank wove an endearing tale, (well it was really Monica) and we were entertained and enlightened: poetry! talking birds! Portland - (Maine, that is)!

 

 

 

 

London, politely participating

Diane's share of her realization that the signed copy of "How to Read a Book" gifted from a friend whose home-bookstore is the one and only depicted in the novel was, as Diane would describe, 'a hoot'!

 

Print: A Bookstore, Portland, ME

The birds and the inmates were both enriched by language and the interaction with others. Reading progams in prisons abound; searching on the web yields many results.

 

Book Clubs for Inmates is a program based in Toronto with an interesting list of recent reads:

http://www.bookclubsforinmates.com/what-we-are-reading

Also, please check out this DC based program, "Free Minds" which includes writing:

https://freemindsbookclub.org/about-us/who-we-are/

Dr. Irene Pepperberg

Finally, please watch this short, amazing and beautiful video about avian cognition, featuring Dr. Irene Pepperberg, whose work Monica Wood based the animal intelligence studies in her novel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEWRlOAn6Po

 

Sue's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Know My Name" Chanel Miller

"Eva of the Nation" Katherine Kirby Smith

"James" Percival Everett * chosen

 

 Up next:

 Happy reading,

LK

October 2024 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,

October at Karen's just feels right with pumpkin charm abounding. Everything fall, from chips to chocolates, put us in a chatty mood, catching up and eventually settling around the table to discuss Sue Meissner's latest book, "Only the Beautiful". The telling of the practice of sterilizing 'unfit' humans, a form of eugenics, with her historic novel was widely appreciated by our group. Meissner's topic choices have always interested us greatly her, and her crafting has steadily advanced with each novel. This page-turner both educated and distressed us.

a 1930's exhibit by the Eugenic Society

 

Please delve into the wikipedia page on eugenics (see above):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics

 

....and compulsory sterilization, note:

As of 19 July 2021 it was reported that:

"under new provisions signed into California's budget this week, the state will offer reparations for the thousands of people who were sterilized in California institutions, without adequate consent, often because they were deemed "criminal", "feeble-minded" or "deviant".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_sterilization

Meissner's character Rosie cleverly intertwined both synesthesia and sanitariums into the storyline. Please read more about both in the links below:

MIT Press Reader "A Brief 200-year History.."

https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/a-brief-200-year-history-of-synesthesia/

The piece is a great reminder that not everyone sees the world as you do.

"The Castle" at Napa State Hospital

 

 

Search for the history of the sterilization program:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napa_State_Hospital

 

Hospital still in operation:

https://www.dsh.ca.gov/Napa/ 

Karen's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Thursday Murder Club" Richard Osman *chosen

"The Briar Club" Kate Quinn

"All the Colors of the Dark" Chris Whitaker

Up next: 

Happy reading,

LK