Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of All Over Creation by Ruth Ozeki

The club had a lively discussion about All Over Creation. Everyone agreed the most important part of the book is how it brings up the issue of genetically modified (GMO) foods, and how it is harmful to our health. One of the participants, an organic farmer, said the big agribusiness farmers have been pushing GMO and preventing these foods from being labeled GMO. So, the public is not aware of what they are eating. She also said Monsanto has bought up all the seed companies, and there are fewer places for organic farmers to get seeds. Also, there were was a case where they Round Up was sprayed adjacent to a farmer's field, and it blew over to the farmer's field. Monsanto sued the farmer and won. Growing organically, the organic farmer said, is all about preventing the land from being poisoned. Often times its difficult and more expensive to grow organically. She told the story how she bought wasps to eat beetles that were eating her beans. It's cheaper to spray. The costs of growing organically have to passed on to the consumer. She thinks the media makes a big deal on how expensive organic products order, without factoring in the costs of the organic farmer. One member of the club said she was glad to learn about GMOs, and it was the only thing worthwhile about the book. She hated all the characters except Momoko who had Alzheimers. She didn't like Momoko's daughter Yumi who ran away from home when she was fourteen and came back to Idaho to take care of her dying father and ill mother. Yumi is unmarried and has three children by three different fathers. Everyone agreed she is not a good mother. She spends time at the motel getting back together with Elliot, her high school teacher who gave her her first sexual experience when she was fourteen. Everyone thought Elliot was slimy then and slimy now, trying to use Yumi to find out information about the group that stays with her. The group that stays with her is a group that protests GMOs. They also help Yumi by taking care of her father, Lloyd, and organizing Momoko and Lloyd's organic seeds so they won't be lost. They end up destroying some of a neighboring farmer's potato crop in a protest. Some people thought this was an acceptable protest from idealists, but others disagreed, saying they were destroying the livelihood of Cass and Will. People felt sorry for Cass, because she always miscarries. They blamed the poisons on the potato farm. Some people liked the characters, calling them quirky, and well meaning. Yumi and Lloyd have a strained relationship, stemming from the fact of Yumi's abortion when she was fourteen. He could never treat her the same way again. However, when Yumi runs away, Momoko keeps in contact with Yumi, and protests her husband's treatment of Yumi by having separate bedrooms. She also hides Yumi's letters from him, because she is trying to protect him from upsetting his heart. He has had several heart attacks. Lloyd opens up again when he is dying because of the protest group, and he makes peace with Yumi. People disliked the format of the book saying it was like the title all over creation! One member of the club said it is always a judgment call in science whether it is about creating and using vaccines or using GMOs. Another member said she still plans on eating McDonald's french fries or a donut from Dunkin Donuts. Even though the book format may have been "all over creation," the group still found many interesting things to discuss.