Just updating so we can keep the blog! COME on readers - add your thoughts!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Gene Coyle - shares about his book
Diamonds and Deceit: The Search for the Missing Romanov Dynasty Jewels
The October book discussion group greeted the author Gene Coyle - a former CIA agent and current IU faculty member Gene Coyle
We had a lively discussion about many things including his current fiction book. Interesting in a number of ways but always fun to read a book that parts take place in Bloomington.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
September Book
Sep 15 Discussion
Cutting for Stone
Author: Abraham Verghese
Discussion Leader: Sharon Policello
Hostess: Martha Smiley
1717 Winesap Court
339-6822
martha-smiley@att.net
Cutting for Stone
Amazon.com Review
Amazon Exclusive: John Irving Reviews Cutting for Stone
John Irving has been nominated for a National Book Award three times--winning once, in 1980, for the novel The World According to Garp. In 1992, Irving was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 2000, he won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Cider House Rules--a film with seven Academy Award nominations. Read his exclusive Amazon guest review of Cutting for Stone:
That Abraham Verghese is a doctor and a writer is already established; the miracle of this novel is how organically the two are entwined. I’ve not read a novel wherein medicine, the practice of it, is made as germane to the storytelling process, to the overall narrative, as the author manages to make it happen here. The medical detail is stunning, but it never overwhelms the humane and narrative aspects of this moving and ambitious novel. This is a first-person narration where the first-person voice appears to disappear, but never entirely; only in the beginning are we aware that the voice addressing us is speaking from the womb! And what terrific characters--even the most minor players are given a full history. There is also a sense of great foreboding; by the midpoint of the story, one dreads what will further befall these characters. The foreshadowing is present in the chapter titles, too--‘The School of Suffering’ not least among them! Cutting for Stone is a remarkable achievement.--John Irving
John Irving has been nominated for a National Book Award three times--winning once, in 1980, for the novel The World According to Garp. In 1992, Irving was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 2000, he won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Cider House Rules--a film with seven Academy Award nominations. Read his exclusive Amazon guest review of Cutting for Stone:
That Abraham Verghese is a doctor and a writer is already established; the miracle of this novel is how organically the two are entwined. I’ve not read a novel wherein medicine, the practice of it, is made as germane to the storytelling process, to the overall narrative, as the author manages to make it happen here. The medical detail is stunning, but it never overwhelms the humane and narrative aspects of this moving and ambitious novel. This is a first-person narration where the first-person voice appears to disappear, but never entirely; only in the beginning are we aware that the voice addressing us is speaking from the womb! And what terrific characters--even the most minor players are given a full history. There is also a sense of great foreboding; by the midpoint of the story, one dreads what will further befall these characters. The foreshadowing is present in the chapter titles, too--‘The School of Suffering’ not least among them! Cutting for Stone is a remarkable achievement.--John Irving
Author: Abraham Verghese
Discussion Leader: Sharon Policello
Hostess: Martha Smiley
1717 Winesap Court
339-6822
martha-smiley@att.net
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
JUNE Meeting - Choosing next year's books!
Eight of us gathered at Lu's home to discuss the 20 suggested books for the coming program year. After much deliberation we picked 8 books we hope all will enjoy.
- Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres
- Room by Emma Donoghue
- The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry
- Unbroken: A world War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
- The Great Journey: American in Paris by David McCullough
- Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
- Diamonds & Deceit: The Search for the Missing Romanov Dynasty Jews by Gene Coyle (IU)
- Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson
We assigned some hosts and some discussion leaders and also to choose books for the following year next JUNE at Lu's home but make the breakfast a pot luck event!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Book Suggestions for 2011- 2012
First Suggestions -
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Janie Ford
Room Emma Donoghue
The Elegance of the Hedgehog Murieal Barberry
Season of Water and Ice Donald Lystra
Birds Without Wings Louis de Bernieres
The Art of Racing in the Rain Garth Stein
These and more book will be discussed on June 16th - at Lu's house -
Keep adding to this list!
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Janie Ford
Room Emma Donoghue
The Elegance of the Hedgehog Murieal Barberry
Season of Water and Ice Donald Lystra
Birds Without Wings Louis de Bernieres
The Art of Racing in the Rain Garth Stein
These and more book will be discussed on June 16th - at Lu's house -
Keep adding to this list!
Friday, May 20, 2011
May Book Discussion
http://www.amazon.com/Ahabs-Wife-Star-gazer-Novel-P-S/dp/0061767654/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1
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