| Plattekill Readers' Book Club | ||
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 You are cordially invited to join us at the Plattekill Reader's Book Club |
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Book Discussions for Group 1 are the first Thursdays of the month at 7 pm; Group 2 meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm; and Group 3 meets the first Wednesday of the month at 10 am.
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Book Reviews The General Consensus.....
The First Editions:
The Postmistress Some readers found this book a bit slow to start and hard to keep reading. The word nostalgia arose from those readers of a certain age. They remembered food rationing, saving newspapers, etc., for the WW II war effort. The book is set at the time when Great Britain was involved in the war, but the United States was just beginning to send assistance. A postmistress in New England observes the events in town through the mail coming into and going out of the post office. The characters evolve through the story and the reader gets mental pictures of life in the world leading up to countries at war. The Classic Versions:
Mayada: Daughter of Iraq This was a well-written book with devastating details of a real-life story. Mayada was born into one of Iraq's prominate families. However, that did not shield her from Saddam Hussein's regime. She was put into prison for a minor offense. She was in a cell with ten or so other women. They were subjected to cruelties our readers could not comprehend. The women tell unbelieveable stories of their lives and comfort each other. This book covers incomprehensive history from within. The First Editions:
And the Sea Will Tell
This book is a true crime story by the author of the Charles Manson murders, titled Helter Skelter. The author is a prosecutor turned defense lawyer. Two couples visit a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. Only one couple returns. The well-to-do experienced at sailing couple have a beautiful boat. The second pair to arrive on their not-so-seaworthy vessel consists of a fugitive and his, as we readers determined, somewhat naive girlfriend. The question becomes was the girlfriend really as clueless as she appears. Bugliosi defends her and gets to the bottom of what really happened on the small island. An interesting story, slow reading in the book's middle (pre-trial), but you will need to know the outcome. Will you agree with it? The Second Printings:
Peace Like a River A deeply pious man is raising his three children in the northwestern states. The book carries a story line that is truly different from other books we have read. The family consists of two sons, one fragile, with asthma, and a daughter. The father believes in miracles. Thinking that most people do believe in divine intervention, our readers determined that this man lived his life by waiting for them. The teenage son gets into trouble with the law after fighting with intruders on their farm. He runs from home, and his father and siblings take off on a road trip looking for him. The people that the son and the family come into contact with add more layers to the story. Some new acquaintances help the situation, others hinder it. This family shows us togetherness, the strength of family ties, and will make a non-believer want to be a believer. The Classic Versions:
The Deep End of the Ocean Losing your child. How do you go on? Frenzied at the hotel for her high school reunion, a mother calls on her young son to keep an eye on his three-year-old brother. Within seconds, little Ben is gone. Coping Not well. The mother's life is numb. Her older children are neglected. She cannot continue her work as a photographer. And her marriage? Torn to shreds. Read this sad story, learn the astonishing ending, and hug your children and grandchildren.
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SEPTEMBER--Read The Ladies of Garrison Gardens by Louise Shaffer (353pp.) and discuss the book on October 6. OCTOBER--Read The Ape House by Sarah Gruen (336pp) and discuss the book on November 3. NOVEMBER--Read The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker (368pp), and discuss the book on December 1. DECEMBER--Read Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (352pp), and discuss the book on January 5, 2012. JANUARY--Read Running the Books by Ari Steinberg (416pp), and discuss the book on February 2. FEBRUARY--Read Juliet by Anne Fortier (440pp), and discuss the book on March 1. MARCH--Read Room by Emma Donoghue (321pp), and discuss the book on April 5. APRIL--Read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (473pp), and discuss the book on May 3. MAY--Read The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (320pp), and discuss the book on June 7. JUNE--Read In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson (464pp), discuss the book on July 5. JULY--Read Telling Memories Among Southern Women by Sarah Tucker (278pp), discuss the book on August 2. AUGUST--Read Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (400pp), discuss the book on September 6. SEPTEMBER--Read King of Lies by John Hart (432pp), discuss the book on October 4.
SEPTEMBER--Read The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (552p); discuss on October 5. OCTOBER--Read Room by Emma Donoghue (321p); discuss on November 2. NOVEMBER--Read Major Pedigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (384pp) and discuss the book on December 7. DECEMBER--Read Sister by Rosamund Lupton (336pp), discuss the book on January 4, 2012. JANUARY--Read The Help by Kathryn Stockett (544pp), discuss the book on February 1. FEBRUARY--Read The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (400pp), discuss the book on April 4. MARCH--Read Running the Books by Ari Steinberg (416pp), discuss the book on April 4. APRIL--Read The Last Child by John Hart (432pp), discuss the book on May 2. MAY--Read The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield (352pp), discuss the book on June 6.
SEPTEMBER--Read The Ape House by Sarah Gruen (336pp) and discuss the book on October 5. OCTOBER--Read The Help by Kathryn Stockett (544pp) and discuss the book on November 2. NOVEMBER -- Read the Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah (400pp) and discuss the book on December 7th. DECEMBER--Read The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma (224pp), discuss the book on January 4, 2012. JANUARY--Read The Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo (163pp), discuss the book on February 1. FEBRUARY--Read The Nine Rooms of Happiness by Lucy Danzinger (304pp), discuss the book on March 7. Readers' Book Club History On February 4, 1999, five readers got together to discuss the book "Where the Heart Is" by Billie Letts. The small group has grown to thirty-four readers who meet monthly to discuss what they have read. The three groups, The First Editions, The Second Printings, and The Classic Versions, are committed to supporting the library, lifetime learning, and building friendships. With the support of the library, we celebrate special occasions and we have been privileged to meet authors such as Anita Shreve, Da Chen, Laura Marie Henion, Bryan Golden and others. We are open-minded readers who learn from each other and are always looking for new members. To join, call the library at 883-7286 for information.
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