First Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of the Palm Beaches
of the Palm Beaches
Second Saturday Book Group
Our 1stUUPB Second
Saturday Book Group will begin our first meeting of the season on Saturday,
November 11. We meet in the
sanctuary from 10:00am until noon — or sometime thereafter. All are welcome — members and friends
alike. If you have questions or would
like further information, call Dorie Maxwell at 561-301-4204 or email her at
doriemaxwell@mac.com.
“Read so as to know the world.”
2017– 2018 Readings & Schedule
Family — the Ties that Bind, and Sometimes Unravel
Date Title
& Author #
pages First published__
Nov. 11 Salvage
the Bones by Jesmyn Ward 288 August 30, 2011
Dec. 9 Moonglow by Michael Chabon 430 November 22, 2016
Jan. 13 Homegoing
by Yaa Gyasi 320 June 7, 2016
Feb. 10 The
Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri 340 September 24, 2013
Mar. 10 Pride
and Prejudice by Jane Austen 226 January 28, 1813
Apr. 14 Imagine
Me Gone by Adam Haslett 368 May
3, 2016
1. Salvage the Bones — Jesmyn Ward
This novel explores the plight of a working-class
African-American family in Mississippi in 2005 as they prepare for Hurricane Katrina, and follows them through the aftermath of that storm. 2011 recipient of the National Book Award for
Fiction
Why? Well,
it is hurricane season. And once again,
extreme rains have caused serious flooding this summer for New Orleans and its residents. What's
happening is consistent with a warming climate. As these changes occur
throughout the world, the greatest impact often comes to people with the fewest
resources.
2. Moonglow — Michael Chabon
This book chronicles the narrator's
discussions with his family, particularly his mother and dying grandfather.
A multi-generational saga of a Jewish family’s secrets, lies, and loves— an
autobiography wrapped in a novel disguised as a memoir, with some of these
memories set in Florida. The narrator
functions as a proxy for the author, Chabon.
2016 National Book Critics Circle Award for
Fiction finalist, plus lots of other awards. In 2000 Chabon won the Pulitzer Prize for his
novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.
Why? Chabon is a highly
praised contemporary author and Pulitzer winner, and, since this sounds like a
great family story, I thought it was time we checked into his work. This story
covers much of our lifetime. Also, one of my former students who now is an
Indiana high school English teacher herself highly recommended Chabon and Moonglow on Facebook, and this teacher loves learning
from her students.
3. Homegoing — Yaa Gyasi
Each chapter in the novel, which covers around
500 years, follows a different descendant of an African Asante woman named Maame, starting with her two
daughters, separated by circumstance: Effia marries
James Collins, the British governor in charge of Cape Coast Castle, while her half-sister Esi is held captive in the dungeons
below, awaiting shipment to the American colonies. Subsequent chapters follow
their children and following generations.
Nominations: Goodreads Choice Awards Best Historical
Fiction, PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut
Fiction.
Why? A new voice in the
literary world, Gyasi shows consequences of the slave trade both in Ghana and
the US by following a single family.
Remember Roots?
4. The Lowland — Jhumpa Lahiri
Lahiri's sweeping novel traces the lives of two brothers born in Calcutta, India -- close enough to almost be
twins - and their family from Indian independence to the present
day. One brother stays in India, the
other migrates to the U.S. Nominations: Booker Prize, National Book Award for Fiction, Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction. In 2000 Jhumpa
Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Interpreter of Maladies.
Why? Seventy years ago
this year, the Indian Independence Act 1947, an Act of the
Parliament of the United Kingdom, partitioned British India
into the two new independent dominions
of India and Pakistan. Today India, second only to China in world population, is a
country that deserves our attention.
Also, like in Homegoing, this story
traces two branches of a single family, one in India, the other in the US. Thanks to Terri Harrow for recommending this
one.
5, Pride and Prejudice -- Jane Austen
This romantic comedy of English landed gentry
in 1800s tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet's five
unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his
status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighborhood.
Why? Celebrating the 200
anniversary of Jane Austen’s death in 1817 is as good an excuse as any to
revisit this novel that deals with so many elements of a family and society,
and continues to be loved and read to this day— even though it wasn’t nominated
for any awards! You’ve read it
before? I assure you that it gets better
every time you read it. Of course it deals with white male privilege. And besides, we need some levity to balance
these other serious works.
6, Imagine
Me Gone — Adam Haslett
This concerns a couple, American Margaret and
British John, who marry despite John's crippling depression. With different chapters narrated by the couple and their three children, it spans half a
century from 1960 to present, two continents, and five WASP-y voices. Nominations: 2016 Pulitzer
Prize for Fiction, National Book Critics Circle Award for
Fiction. In
2003 Adam Haslett’s You Are Not a Stranger Here was a Pulitzer finalist.
Why? I hope I’m not making a mistake here. This
novel deals with the effects of mental illness on individuals and their
families. Many readers and critics
highly praised its excellent writing, but cautioned that it could be
emotionally hard to read. However,
exploring the impact of mental illness while reading a good book seems like
something that would be worthwhile
