Agawam Pageturner's Book Club's Discussion of People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

The group had a lively discussion about People of the Book. Some liked and some did not like the book. Some people liked the aspect of all these different people preserving a Jewish illustrated Haggadah from 1480 to the present day. Others enjoyed the characters and learning something they didn't know much about. Some did not like going back and forth from the present to the past, and some did not like the present conservator's life, with exceptional parents and her complicated life style. Some thought it was cliched. Others enjoyed going back and forth and learning how the conservator pieced together the history of the book. One person said once you found out, you didn't care. Others found the book disappointing. They didn't finish it and found it too difficult to understand. Others liked learning about the Spanish Inquisition, and pointed out how applicable that still is today. It was a very lively discussion with varying opinions.

Night Bookers' Book Club's Discussion of Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross

The group had a fun discussion about Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind. Most people found it comical, a farce. Some people though she used hyperbole in exaggerating the preacher who was trying to have Miss Julia declared incompetent so he could get at her money. One person didn't like the way the church was portrayed. Another funny scene for the group was when Miss Julia, Lillian and Hazel drove out of the television station parking lot, taking back little Lloyd, the end result of affair Hazel Marie had Miss Julia's husband. Another funny episode was when Miss Julia thought she was a nymphomaniac. People laughed a lot when reading the book. Even though the book was light, it presented some serious topics. Miss Julia had no idea her husband was having affair until after her husband died. Her husband controlled all her affairs and metaphorically kept her in a box. He told her she was incapable of doing most things. People enjoyed the development of Miss Julia as her own person throughout the book. At first she hated the boy and what he stood for. She worried about what the neighbors would think. So, at first she took the boy into town to publicly humiliate her husband. One of the few connections Julia had before her husband died was with her friend and maid Lillian. At the end of the book, she ended up becoming friends with her husband's mistress, Hazel Marie. Hazel Marie was needy and Julia needed somebody to take care of. Her husband never took care of her. Hazel Marie was portrayed as a victim, not an evil mistress. When a new will leaves everything to little Lloyd, Hazel offers to take in Julia. It was very touching. People in the club despised her husband, calling him a hypocrite, although one person wondered what was Lloyd (senior) lacking? Another said that he did love his son and have a relationship with him, and that probably Hazel Marie loved Lloyd Senior, too. At the end of the book, Miss Julia has everything she ever wanted, a home (in North Carolina no matter what the will says the spouse always gets half), a new man who really loved her (Sam), a family, and a new self. Everybody enjoyed the book.

New Books Added in November

Here are the book's added in November: Adult, Children's, Teens.

Night Bookers Book Club's Discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird

The group had an interesting discussion about To Kill a Mockingbird. First, they discussed the controversy of the use of the "N" word in the book. Most people thought they were taking the word out of context of the book and the times the book was written. One another note one woman said she had read the book before and hadn't understood the big deal about the book. Now, the second time around, she loved the book. People agreed that this book needs to be read more than once to get everything out of it. Some thought books like these are wasted on kids. People though it was clever how the author captured seeing things from Scout's, a child's, point of view. People like the character Atticus who was a single parent with an open line of communication with his children. One woman remembered discussing this book in high school, and there was a lot of prejudice outside the classroom. Another woman had lived in Georgia and had seen first hand the discriminatory attitude toward African Americans. The group also discussed besides racial issues that there were class issues, and issues in confronting the neighbors. Atticus goes against his neighbors by defending Tom Robinson, an African-American accused of raping Mayella. (Even though Tom Robinson is innocent, he is found guilty, which surprised many in the group. Because he was found guilty it meant death by capital punishment for Tom). One woman felt sorry for Mayella because she was sexually abused by her father, but she couldn't tell anybody because she was a poor woman. The group found it interesting that it was worse to be raped by an African American than a white man. People also thought it was interesting that the strongest woman character was Calpurnia, the African American maid of Atticus. People spent some time how race and class are still issues today. Some saw hope that race would be less of an issue today with all the interracial marriage. People also brought up some of the animosity has shifted to new groups Latinos and people from India/Pakistan. The group talked about Scout's friend Dill who had no real home, and spent time visiting his relatives. His character based on the childhood of Truman Capote. One woman said she had seen children like Dill who had no real home, and he reminded her of children who had no home and who had been abused and taken advantage of. The group concluded that we haven't moved on from the issues of race, class, and capital punishment brought out in the book.

New Books Added in October

Here are the books added in October: Adult, Children's, Young Adult.

Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

The group had a lively discussion about Three Cups of Tea. Some people loved the book; they couldn't put it down, and one person read the sequel, Stones into Schools. Other people had a hard time getting into it, and some skipped pages. The book tells the inspirational story of Greg Mortenson who is building schools (especially for girls) in Pakistan and Afghanistan, a dangerous mission. There was some discussion whether Greg is too naive to think he can change things with his schools in the midst of the violent Taliban. But, one person said, you must try to fight evil, and do good, even if you might fail. Everyone felt Greg is sincere in his work. Not only does he bring schools, he brings clean water, bridges, antibiotics, etc. Many thought his dedication came from growing up in a missionary family in Africa. People also thought Greg is successful because he respects the culture. Even then, he was kidnapped for eight days, and could not communicate with anybody. Everyone though that passage was a beautiful piece of writing. People also gave credit to his wife Tara for supporting him in his mission, even though it means him being away from his family for many months. Someone brought up the idea if there are people in our own lives like Greg who are not famous. One woman brought up her father, who was a pharmacist in the poorest section of Hartford. He brought medical care to them, and was affectionately known as Dr. G. Others said there are people in your life who do help you, or unknown heroes. A very thought provoking discussion.

Night Booker's Book Club Discussion of The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

The group had a lively discussion about The Lace Reader. Most of the group did not get the clues the author laid out that pointed to the fact that "Lyndley," the twin sister of Towner who died when she was a teenager, was actually a split personality of Towner. Towner's twin sister died at their birth, and her twin sister's name was Lyndsey. Towner had a mental breakdown because her mother was physically abused by her father Cal, and Towner was sexually abused by him. The group spent most of the time going over the clues in hindsight that led to the conclusion of the book. One person was not surprised by the ending because in the beginning of the book Towner says she is a liar. Also, she was not surprised with Towner's mental illness, because so many people suffer with some form of mental illness. Towner had a brief relationship with Rafferty the cop. Someone said they were both damaged people; Rafferty is an recovering alcoholic. They were both vulnerable which is why they gravitated to one another. However, most people did not feel any real love between them, even though they did like Rafferty. People also talked about Cal, the abuser who was a yacht captain and then became a leader of a cult. The group thought Eva, Towner's grandmother committed suicide by swimming, but that her intent was to pin it on to Cal. The group talked about lace reading; each chapter was headed with explanation on lace reading. May, Towner's aunt, made lace with domestic violence victims.
Overall, an interesting discussion.