Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

The group had an enjoyable discussion about the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. Everyone liked the book, with only one person saying she liked the book but felt the ending was a little too contrived. The book is set on the Island of Guernsey right after World War II. The island, which belongs to England, was invaded and occupied by the Germans. The story told the sufferings the people endured during that time. During that time, the group formed a society for the discussion of books. It was formed in an instant by Elizabeth to cover up that the Islanders had been eating a pig! One member presented a book for an evening. The format of the book is unique. It is written completely in the form of letters. Although members of the group at first had a hard time getting used it, ultimately they enjoyed it. They found they learned more about the characters in this format, and in letters more is said than in verbal conversation. The characters came to life. The group discussed some of the difficulties the Islanders faced. One was the Tots, or the slave labor the Germans brought in. The Tots were not given anything to eat, so they had to forage at night. However, at the same time, the Islanders were starving and had to defend their food. One women commented on the difficulty of making that choice. Someone brought up the statement which one of the Islanders made: "reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones." The entire group disagreed with that statement. One woman said that "every so often you need to read fluff." The group talked about Elizabeth's heroics on the island which sent her to a concentration camp, and her continued heroics at the camp. Someone thought it was wrong for her to be heroic when she had a child on the Island. Others thought you don't know what you will do unless you are in that situation. Another person said sometimes you need the courage to know there are some things you cannot change. The group also talked about Juliet, an author from London, who became involved with the Islanders, and had her life changed by them. Overall a delightful read.

Night Bookers Book Club's Discussion of The Red Tent by Antia Diamant

The group had a lively discussion about The Red Tent. The Red Tent is set in biblical times, and it gives a fictionalized account of the life of Dinah and her relatives. Dinah is the daughter of Jacob and Leah in the Bible. Most people liked the book. One of the things they liked was the way she wrote about womanhood, and her perspectives of her four mothers (Jacob had four wives) and the other women she came into contact with. People admired Dinah's deep resiliency, for she suffered much. Some did not like the amount of sex in the book and some found the ceremony of the women opening the womb when Dinah first menstruated disturbing. People found it interesting that we here Dinah's version of events of what happened to her in the Bible. According to the Bible she was raped. Dinah in the book explains the relationship she had was consensual, and she felt her life ruined after her brothers killed her husband. People like the way author described everyday life: the making of the bread, wool, and beer. The "red tent" is where the women went went they were all menstruating, and it was great time for camaraderie, and strengthened the bonds they had with each other. One woman said women have lost that camaraderie, and another said that is what book clubs are for! The group discussed how Dinah cut herself off in Egypt. She went there with her mother-in-law after Dinah's husband was murdered. She bore his son, but this was taken by her mother-in-law. People were happy she found a second husband, Benia, and found happiness again. A great discussion about an interesting and fascinating book.

New Books Purchased in May

Here are the new books purchased in May: Adult, Children's, Teens.