Events
The Phantom Limbs of the Rollow Sisters by Timothy Schaffert (Unbridled Books, $14.95). Two sisters on the cusp of womanhood struggle to understand their father's suicide as well as their mother's abandonment of them many years earlier. On graduating from high school, the sisters are once again set adrift, this time by their grandmother, who leaves them for Florida. In order to survive, and perhaps even thrive, on their path to adulthood, they must learn to reconcile their pasts and discover how to depend upon themselves as well as upon each other. The author, Timothy Schaffert, will lead the discussion.
Join us to chat about favorite reads, books that changed our lives, or the book we just couldn’t put down. No need to make reservations--just come and enjoy a little conversation about books. Carol Lynch will facilitate the discussion.
The Sherlock Holmes Book Club will discuss The Red-Headed League, a short story from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Penguin, $14). All Sherlockians, old or new to the canon, are welcomed. And if you don't know the difference between the canon and a pastiche, don't worry, just an enjoyment of "the game" is all that's needed.
The As the Worm Turns Book Discussion Group will discuss Lights on a Ground of Darkness: An Evocation of a Place and Time by Ted Kooser (Bison Books, $10.95). Like the yellow, pink, and blue irises that had been transplanted from house to house over the years, the stories of poet Ted Kooser's family had been handed down until, as his mother lay ill and dying, he felt an urgency to write them down. With a poet's eye for detail, Kooser captures the beauty of the landscape and the vibrancy of his mother's Iowa family, the Mosers, in precise, evocative language. The center of the family's love is Kooser's uncle, Elvy, a victim of cerebral palsy. Kooser's grandparents, their kin, and the activities and pleasures of this extended family spin out and around the armature of Elvy's blessed life. Kooser has said that writing this book was the most important work he has ever undertaken because it was his attempt to keep these beloved people alive against the relentless erosion of time. Barry Combs will facilitate the discussion. Space is limited, so please call to reserve your place.
The World War II History Book Discussion Group will discuss Armageddon: The Battle for Germany 1944-1945 by Max Hastings (Vintage, $18). In September 1944, the Allies believed that Hitler's army was beaten and expected the bloodshed to end by Christmas. Yet a series of mistakes and setbacks drastically altered this timetable and led to eight more months of brutal fighting. Hastings gives memorable accounts of the great battles and captures their human impact on soldiers and civilians. He tells the story of both the Eastern and Western Fronts, raising provocative questions and offering vivid portraits of the great leaders.
