New Books Purchased in February

Here are the books the library purchased in February: Adult, Children's, Teens.

Night Bookers Book Club's Discussion of My Antonia by Willa Cather

The group had an interesting discussion of My Antonia. The leader of the group enjoyed the book, especially the descriptions of the Nebraska scenery in the late 1800s, and the strong character of Antonia. Some couldn't put it down. Others thought it was difficult to get into, and that it dragged. Everyone loved Antonia and the other strong women in the book, Lena and Tiny, who were successful in San Francisco. The group thought Jim, the narrator of the book, was always in love with Antonia. Some thought the woman he chose to be his wife was like Antonia, her own person. Some thought Jim made a poor choice in choosing his wife. Some people thought the book was a slice of American history, and that Willa Cather was a good writer because she wrote what she knew about. Someone commented about the picnic scene. She said she could have stayed there forever. People found it interesting even though Antonia had a spiteful mother, she was a great mother. When she had her first baby out of wedlock she was not ashamed. She was proud of her life and proud her child. She did not need Jim (not the father of her child) to marry her. The group then spent some time talking about Antonia's father. He was very sensitive, and did not adjust well to life in Nebraska. Some thought he might have, had there not been so much poverty. They wondered how he picked his wife, since she was so different from him, but the book said the marriage was arranged. There was a debate as to how he died, suicide or murder. More people thought it was suicide. The group then talked about the different contrasts in the book. One person read a quote about two luminaries on the opposite ends of the world. She believed this referred to Jim and Antonia. Other contrasts included the country girls and the city girls. The boys liked the country girls better. Then there was a discussion of the wolf story, about two immigrants in their old country who were driving a wedding party, while being pursued by a pack of wolves. Eventually, they threw out everybody, including the bridge and groom, and saved themselves. They had to leave their country after that. People wondered what that had to do with the book. Some thought it was just a fable. People wondered why there were not more details about certain things, such as the grandparents. One woman brought up that she thought she reading short stories until she came to the part when family moved into town. Then she thought the book became more cohesive. Another woman said that Jim was writing from his memory about Antonia, and memory tends to be selective. It will remember some things in great deal, and other things not at all, or just briefly. Everyone agreed that the book had a happy ending. Antonia is surrounded by many children, and has a loving husband. People agreed that Antonia was a happy person who had a spark, and she was always proud and never ashamed. They think she was happy because she lived life the way she wanted to. Overall, a great thought provoking discussion about the classic My Antonia.

January's New Books

Here are the books the library purchased in January: Adult, Children's, Teens.

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.