Night Bookers Book Club's Discussion of Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

The book club had an animated discussion about Big Stone Gap. Everyone loved the book. Some said it was their favorite book thus far. People liked that it was light and had a happy ending. The story is set in the late 1970's in the small mining town of Big Stone Gap in Virginia. The main character is Ave Maria, Italian, 35 years old and single, who finds out after her mother's death that the man she thought was her father is not her biological father. Ave Maria goes through a crisis and makes big changes in her life because of this. She sells her home and pharmacy (at the price of one dollar!) to the poor teenager Pearl to prevent her greedy Aunt Alice from getting her hands on it, and to help Pearl. She plans on going to Italy to meet her relatives (including her real biological father) and never coming back to Big Stone Gap. Most people liked Ave Maria, but even those who liked commented that they were frustrated with her. She over analyzed everything and thought too much. Some people thought that was a result of her upbringing in trying not to bother her "father," while others thought it came from her scientific mind, since she was a pharmacist. Everybody loved all the characters in the book except Aunt Alice. Sexy Iva Lou certainly breaks the sterotype of a librarian. Two people identified with the novel. One person identifed with Ave Maria as the "town spinster" and in having to make a big change in her life in her thirties like Ave Maria. She also thinks she's found her Jack Mac, the person Ave Maria falls in love with. Another person is Italian and identified with all the Italian relatives and family. One person brought up that she was shocked when the Italian relatives came and visited Ave Maria first. She did not see it coming. The group also discussed the word faith, the last word of the preacher who handled poisonous snakes, and what the word meant. Some thought it meant faith in God. Another thought it was a statement that no matter what your situation, good or bad, have faith in yourself. The group had an interesting discussion about how Ave Maria's feelings changed regarding her hometown, and also discussed whether their feelings for their hometowns changed as they have changed. Overall a thought provoking discussion over a book that everyone felt good after having read it.

Night Bookers Book Club's Discussion of Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama

The group had a lively discussion of Women of the Silk. Everybody loved the book. People liked the way the way the writer presents things in a book, in an easy to read format. It was even easy to read the sad parts of the book. They enjoyed learning about the Chinese culture from 1919-1938. The oppression of women in the book was an eye-0pener. Pei's sister Li ends up worse than Pei. Li has an abusive husband, but continues to go back to him because she does not want to bring shame to her family. Pei's mother, Yu-sung, is one of the saddest characters in the book. Her husband, Pao, refuses to communicate with her, and she had noone else to talk to. Pao does not how to communicate to his family even when Pei returns after many years. Pei actually is the fortunate one. Although it seems cruel to be abandoned by her family and given to the silk trade, it is the best thing that could have happened to her. She becomes part of a sisterhood of women who nurture and educate each other. It did not suprise one woman that a group of women did this. She meets Lin, who iss educated, and who she becomes very close to. The hairdressing ceremony that Chen Ling, Ming, Lin, and Pei go through is a passage to adulthood just like marriage, except they vow to never marry. People were suprpised there was not more physical degradation of the characters in the factory. The book only mentions that their hands are arthritic. There was discussion as to why the women in the silk factory are at peace all the time despite so many obstacles. Some said it was because that culture is reserved. Others said they didn't have a l0t, and sometimes less is more. The more you have the more you worry. Others said it was a consistency of life, not having to make many decisions about their day. The thing that was new is they have the choice to stay working in the factory and not to marry. The women have good leadership, too, under Auntie Yee, Lin, Chen Ling, and Moi. Without Lin and Chen Ling there would not have been a strike. Although most of the men in the book are portrayed negatively, Lin's younger brother, Ho Yung, is portrayred positively. Without him, Pei and her new friend Ji Shen, who suffered the horrors of the Japanese at Nanking, could not have escaped the Japanese and gone to Hong Kong. The group talked about Lin's mother, the mean ice queen, who is cruel to Pei. Some thought Lin's mother realizes Lin is loving her best friend Pei, and is disappointed. Lin's mother wanted Lin to follow in her footsteps and marry a wealthy, prominent man. Lin's mother has a breakdown when her husband is murdered, and loses her status. Lin keeps the house going, and gives them her income from her work in the silk factory. Someone commented that women do to much but that society does not value it. One person gave an overall sum up of the book: women start off being victimized but end up successful.

Night Bookers Book Club's Discussion of Summer by Edith Wharton

The Night Booker's had an interesting discussion about the book Summer by Edith Wharton. Many thought the main character, Charity, was self absorbed. One member said she never would have spoken to her parents the way Charity spoke to her "foster" parent Mr. Royall. Others thought Charity acted tough because she came from the Mountain. (Mr. Royall took her from the Mountain when she was five years old). She felt people looked down on her because she came from the mountain, so she compensated by being tough. The members did find it creepy that Mr. Royall wanted to marry Charity after she had lived in his house since she was a child. However, the group felt he redeemed himself at the end. When Charity's love affair with Harney is over and she is left pregnant, Mr. Royall marries her. One person said it was a win/win situation for everybody. Mr. Royall got Charity. Charity got someone to take care of her and her child, but will always have the memories of her love of Harney. Some people thought Harney was the villain. Others thought if Charity had never met Harney, she never would have grown as a person. The book was written at the turn of the century, which made it different. There was not a lot of dialogue with the characters. The reader must assume what happened. One person loved the scene where Charity stood outside Harney's window and just watched him. That scene would not have been written today. And the other love scenes between Harney and Charity were very subtle. The group ended with someone suggesting we watch the movie Summer! This might be a possibility.

New Books Added in November

Here are the books added to our collection in November: Adult, Children's, Teens.

Night Bookers Book Club's Discussion of The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken

The group had a controversial discussion of The Giant's House. Most people disliked the book. One person did not like the idea that a 30 year old woman, Peggy Cort the town librarian on a village on Cape Cod, falling in love with an 11 year old, James, who became the tallest man in the world. She said if Peggy were a man she would be a pedophile. (However, she never acted sexually towards James until he was of age). She found nothing to aspire to in the character. Another member had an opposing viewpoint. She said it made her think of the relationships between families, and she thought Peggy's friendship with him was commendable. She showed no prejudice to him, as being the tallest man in the world. Later she said that James had a lot of things he would not have had because of Peggy. She gave him his emotions of love. One person said she enjoyed the book but didn't like the characters. She couldn't wait to see what was going to happen. One person thought Peggy's friendship with James became an obsession. The question was asked if James loved Peggy. Most thought he did not. Some thought Peggy did not love James, but she loved being part of James' family. After James died, people wanted to know why Peggy slept with James' father (who had left James and James' mother) after James died. Someone thought since James was dead, it was the only way she could get a piece of James since James was unable to have sexual intercourse due to his condition. She ended up pregnant, and claimed the child was James' child. Some thought Peggy fell in love with people only when she was not going to get it reciprocated. Others thought James gave meaning , companionship, and a purpose of living to Peggy's life. Someone argued that many relationships are based on need. One person thought James thirst for knowledge drew her to him. James, the tallest man in the world, was an interesting character. He loved people, even though they came to gawk at him. He took every body's ridicule. He grew up with a sadness. He knew he was dying. He worried about his bones being dug up and boiled. He liked magic so much, someone said, because he hoped he could change himself. Overall an interesting discussion.

Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The group had an interesting discussion of The Glass Castle. Most people enjoyed the book, even though the subject matter was difficult. Jeannette Walls told what iit was like growing up in a dysfunctional family. She and her brother and sisters often did not have enough to eat, didn't have clean, warm clothing, didn't even have a toilet, bathroom, or running water. The father was an a bright man but an alcoholic and the mother had some form of untreated mental illness. One member whose personal background was that of a teacher said the more she read the book, the angrier she got that these children lived like this and others continue to live like this. Nothing has changed. Despite the children's circumstances, most turned out well, with the exception of the youngest, Maureen. Although there was contempt for the parents, especially the father, there was also love. When he couldn't afford to give the children Christmas presents, he gave them each a star, or in the case of Jeannette the planet Venus. Also the father educated the children on lots of different things. They did well in school. Social Services came once, but the children saw to it that they did not come again; they did not want to be split up. Some thought the mother did not love the children, that she was self-absorbed. They felt the father, when he was sober, did love his children. What is remarkable is that the children did love their parents. However, they all left when each was around 17 or 18, to move to New York City. They did well because they were educated and street smart. The parents followed them and became homeless. A member thought the author was a snob in not wanting people to know her mother was homeless. Some thought the book was sad and depressing and depicted child abuse and neglect; there was no happiness in the book. Others thought there was happiness in the book. All agreed that the children were survivors, and the story was cathartic for the author.

New Books Added in October

Here are the New Books added to our collection in October: Adult, Children's, Teens.