New Books Added in October

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

Evening Book Club's Discussion of Snow in August by Pete Hamill

The evening book club had a lively discussion about Pete Hamill's Snow in August. The book is about the friendship that develops between Rabbi Hirsch and Michel Devlin, a catholic, in Brooklyn during the years 1946 and 1947. Some members of the group disliked the book. Others loved it. One of the first comments made a member made was she was surprised and amused that it is a fairy tale. Other initial comment was there is a lot of detail in the book, and more can be gained from it from a second read. Someone questioned why Michael was allowed to go out in a blizzard to serve as an altar boy at daily Mass. Some thought it was because he was a staunch catholic, and nothing would prevent him from going to Mass. Also, he didn't want to let the priest down, who he felt a connection to. One member who has a 10 year old son said she wouldn't be able to keep her son out of a blizzard. It also was commented that Michael was mature for an eleven year old; he was the man of the house since his father died in World War II. Many people liked the relationship between the Rabbi and Michael, and how they followed the story of Jackie Robinson. Jackie's battle with prejudice gave courage to Michael to fight prejudice in his own neighborhood. When the Rabbi is attacked by a gang, Michael retaliates by creating a Golem, a mystical creature who takes revenge on the gang. The Rabbi had tried to create a Golem in World War II, but he failed. The group thought Michael succeeded because he had more of a belief in self and in God. The Rabbi lost hope after his wife was taken by the Nazis. At the end of the book, the Rabbi is reunited with his wife, and they are dancing. Everyone took this to mean that the Rabbi died. One person thought the ending could have just been Michael imagining in his head that the Golem came. Someone thought the ending was a metaphor. Some people had trouble with the swearing in the book. Others thought it would not have been as realistic without the swearing. Almost everyone liked Michael's mother Kate. She was good with the Rabbi, and when her son was in danger, she found a way to move out of the neighborhood to protect him. One person commented that she thought it was nice that Michael wanted his mother to be with somebody. He wasn't possessive of his mother. The group talked about the scene at the Ebbets Field ballpark and how real the author made it. They could feel the bleachers, hear the baseball, and smell the hot dogs. Someone brought up if kids have as many as heroes now as they did in Michael's time. One person said no. Another person said the media exposes more of the personal lives of people which makes them harder to appear heroic. Others said that there still are heroes like Obama, or parents, or different types, athletes and non-athletes. Most thought the Rabbi was not a hero to Michael but an equal. They thought the priest was more of a hero and father figure to him. One person disagreed and thought the Rabbi was a father figure to Michael. This discussion was a great way to kick off the first meeting of the new evening book club.

New Books for September

Here are the new books for September: Adult, Children's, Teens.

Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella

The group had a good discussion about Anthony Capella's book The Wedding Officer. Almost everyone in the group liked the book. The book is set in Naples during World War II. One person said the book brought home to her what war does to a person. Her husband fought in Naples and Rome in World War II, and he was a happy man, full of humor. When he came back, he was changed; he became quiet and remained that way the rest of his life. She reflected why there had to be war. This brought one member to tears. Another member said her husband who also fought in World War II blocked it out. One member had just came back from a trip to Naples, and got to see and taste the things mentioned in the book. The group talked about the heroine of the story, Livia. Livia lost her husband Enzio in the war. One member said Livia's love for Enzio was that of a young girl in love. However, her love for James Gould the "Wedding Officer," was that of an adult in love. James is called the Wedding Officer because he has to approve or disapprove marriages between British officers and Italian women. One of the reasons of disapproval is most of the women were prostitutes, which was the only means for these women to support themselves and their families. Another reason was the cultural difference. At the beginning of the book James is rigid, proper, and set in his ways, and he disapproves most of the marriages. However, after Livia becomes the cook for the officers and he starts eating her delicious, delectable food, he changes and starts approving the marriages. The sensuality of food is a theme in the novel. There are passages about peaches, snails, peas, and other food that are examples of this. The eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius was an important event in the novel. People ignored the signs. However today they are predicting an another eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and people are ignoring the warnings. The group discussed the issue of the black market in the novel. One woman voiced that James was right to eliminate it because it erodes society, as seen in Afghanistan and Mexico today. However, someone pointed out some people would have no food without the black market. Overall, it was an enjoyable discussion about an enjoyable book.

New Books for August

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

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.

New Books for July

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