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.

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Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of March by Geraldine Brooks

The group had a lively discussion about March. The main character is Mr. March from the classic Little Women. In Little Women, Mr. March goes of to be a chaplain in the Civil War. He becomes injured, and his wife, Marmee, must go care for him. March imagines Mr. March's life as a young man as a peddler when he becomes involved with Grace a slave on a plantation, a family man before the Civil War and Little Women, and his experience in the Civil War. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and everyone agreed that it was well written. Some people were very critical of March. They thought he didn't take responsibility, that that he was selfish and indecisive, and he had some prejudice against the slaves even though he was a staunch abolitionist. They also thought he was always doing so much for the world, like giving money to John Brown, that he ignored the needs of his family. Because he gave all his money away to John Brown, his family became impoverished. Everyone was pleased that Grace, at the end of the novel gave him piece of her mind. Others thought most of the criticisms against March were too harsh. They argued he was trying to live up to his convictions, even though he failed at times. Also, John Brown misled many people, and did not use the money for what is was intended for. He was an idealist and transcendentalist even when he went to war. He stayed even when his life was in danger. Someone asked if he did any good, and everybody responded by teaching the slaves to read. He also came out of hiding when he was captured. Others gave him some slack, saying he was a product of his times. Others argued that this was no excuse; there have always been others who have done the right thing, even when it has been against society or the norm. Everyone liked Marmee, who had to face the fact that her husband had been involved with Grace. They liked that she wasn't going to let stuff slide. Everyone thought her a woman before her time. One member pointed out that the book gives the man and the woman points of view. Someone thought the whole book could be summed up in Marmee's soliloquy about men going off to war, and the women having to bear with the aftermath of it. The group also discussed the character Canning, who was from the North, who tried to take over a plantation and grow a crop of cotton. It was more complicated than he thought it would be, and he was responsible not only for himself, but for his workers (who now would be paid). The last thought the group discussed was that although there have been many racial barriers to break down in their generation, they though the young people of today had already broke most of them down, even though hate crimes and racial barriers still exist today. The meeting ended on this positive note.

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Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The group had a heated discussion over Eat, Pray, Love. The book is the true story of the author's one year trip to Italy, India, and Indonesia. Some people found Elizabeth very self-centered, and did not enjoy reading about her experience with depression which precipitated the trip. Others felt she did not need to travel to change, and that she was very needy; she always had to have somebody to complete her, preferably a man, in her life. One woman saw her on Oprah and thought she was ga ga over Felipe, the man she fell in love with in the Bali part of Indonesia. She did not like her at all. Others did not like the book or her. They thought she was a whiner. One woman thought her foolish when she sat in India and got bit by mosquitoes. Some members of the group liked the book and her. One woman appreciated that she did what she could not do, travel around the world in a year. Others learned about meditation and ashrams (places people go to meditate, retreat from the world, and receive spiritual instruction). One person said she got lessons out of the book and said she learned things such as harboring bad and/or good thoughts, and that we can control who/what enters our harbor (mind). Others thought she needed to travel to change. By traveling we meet people different than ourselves and learn from others. Elizabeth picked better people to associate with abroad than in America. Another member pointed out that people of her younger generation loved the book; everywhere she went people saw her reading it and told her how much they loved it. She also pointed out that she found her life paralleled Elizabeth's somewhat, and she identified with Elizabeth in the book. It was also brought out that the book pointed out that western religions have mystical and meditative elements. Overall, it was a great discussion.

May's New Books

Here are the new books for May: Adults, Children's, Teens.

Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Many people in the book club had difficulty with the beginning of the book. However, they appreciated more as they read further along. One woman, though, did not have a problem with the beginning. She thought it set the tone. People thought it was interesting that the author personified Death to tell the story of the characters. One person brought out that this is a common element in literature. Someone brought up if anyone felt sorry for Death, because it gets no end. It is in a continual circle. Everyone agreed that the subject matter, World War II in Germany, was very difficult. One woman said the book humanized the German people. People felt very sorry when the town was bombed. Liesel (nine years old at the beginning of the book) is the main character, and she learns to read from her foster father Hans from a book she stole from her brother's grave. She says "Papa, you saved me. You taught me how to read." Hans, and his wife Rosa, and Liesel hide a Jewish man, Max, in their cellar. Liesel develops a strong bond with Max, and he writes books for her on the pages of Mein Kampf. The mayor's wife lets her read and even steal books to read. She reads to everyone during the air raids. Everyone thought the characterization was excellent. People discussed the message of the book. One said it showed how goodness survives. Another disagreed and said it showed how evil overtakes goodness. People discussed how Hitler was a man of words and ideas, and how it all started with one individual. It was discussed why good people do nothing, and one person said it is because each person wants himself or herself to survive. People brought up how children do not understand about evil. Liesel goes to and participates in Hitler Youth meetings, even when she is hiding Max and is friends with Max. Another person brought up that this is a young adult novel, and after the author appeared on a talk show, it became popular with adults. People concluded by discussing how young adults do not read anymore, and that this is not good for society.