Never you mind the date of this post, gentle reader! My New Year's resolution will be to update the blog more consistently with our meetings. It's only April, so, may as well get started...
NVLC ended 2012 with a bang! What a great year. With new members and new democratic book choice process, we love Book Club!
1. A Crime in the Neighborhood by Suzanne Berne (October 2012)
Rina's pick was an quick mystery, possibly more interesting for our group since it was set in the DC suburbs in the 1970s. Overall, the group gave the book an "average" rating but it did have a solid story line and kept everyone's attention.
I
found this to be a very quick read. Maybe part of the fascination was
that the story takes place in the DC area. The story was a bit drawn
out, and I was disappointed that the boy's killer wasn't caught in the
end. This was an innocence lost type of story in a simpler time. Quick
read, but not a terrific amount of substance. -Dustina
2. A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (November 2012)
This is an older story (1986), chosen by Lorene, about an alternate U.S.A of the future (now Gilead), with classes of citizens and a raging war going on. Fertility is an issue due to toxins released during the war, and therefore women who are still fertile are called "Handmaids" and used strictly for procreation. Women are controlled by their Commandants and are forbidden to read, keep their old names, or generally have any freedoms.
I hadn't read this book before (though some women had in high school or college). I thought it was certainly an enlightening, thought-provoking read. Though the timing was unplanned, since this book was discussed right after Election Day our discussion took an usually (though friendly!) political turn. If nothing else, it was interesting to discuss the possible parallels between this alternate universe and today.
I
always find these bleak future novels to be quite insightful, yet
depressing. Are they warnings of what could be if we travel down
certain paths, or are they totally off-base? Something I always find
myself pondering with these reads.
Margaret Atwood creates a
frightening/sad future for women in our country. A reminder to me of
the importance of women's issues and protecting them for the future of
our daughters.
This was a better than average read--but I didn't love it. Partially because of the bleak subject matter and story. -Dustina
Sara hosted the meeting at her home and Lorene did an excellent job leading her first discussion!
3. The Peachkeeper by Sarah Addison Allen (December 2012)
NVLC ended the year with our December tradition of hosting book club in a local restaurant. This year, Emily picked Kawata Japanese Restaurant in Fairfax.
This book was not the biggest hit with the group, most seemed to find it a bit "hokey." Generally, a quick southern-lit read.
This
was an enjoyable read, but nothing more. It has such potential but is
just very superficial. I wish there had been more to it - more character
development, more about the town, more mystery that did not cross into
the semi-sci-fi. It was fine and I enjoy Sarah Addison Allen's style,
but I was left wanting more with this one. -Stephanie
What a great 2012! Looking forward to 2013!!!
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