Reading Buddy Style discussion

Year of Wonders

When an infected bolt of cloth carries plague from London to an isolated mountain village, a housemaid named Anna Frith emerges an as unlikely heroine and healer. Through Anna's eyes we follow the story of the plague year, 1666, as her fellow villagers make an extraordinary choice: convinced by a visionary young minister they elect to quarantine themselves within the village boundaries to arrest the spread of the disease. But as death reaches into every household, faith frays. When villagers turn from prayers to murderous witch-hunting, Anna must contront the deaths of family, the disintegration of her community, and the lure of illicit love. The New Yorker: "A deep imaginative engagement with how people are changed by catastrophe." New York Times Book Review: "A glimpse into the strangeness of history that simultaneously enables us to see a reflection of ourselves." People: "Brooks proves a gifted storyteller as she subtly reveals how ignorance, hatred and mistrust can be as deadly as any virus... Year of Wonders is itself a wonder."

The Saga of Kasakh by O V Vijayan

thanks,
Praveen

Praveen- was this comment meant to be a book suggestion for a group read? If so, I'm sorry I missed it for this month, I can add it to May's group read suggestions.

I recently finished listening to this. I really enjoyed it despite the depressing subject matter. It really makes one think about how desperate people can become when faced with tragedy and loss and how they can find ways to live on and survive after plague destroys the only life you knew.

Megan - yeah, I meant to recommend that book! Was not sure where to post... you can take it for May's... thanks!

I could not wait for March and I started this book a couple of days ago, I agree with your Megan the topic is very depressing.

I'm loving the stories of the different village characters: the sacrifices they decided to accept with the Sunday oath and the stories of horror and redemption. How low and desperate you can become when tragedy strikes and how some (like Anna) can rise through their pain and losses.

This is the first book I've read that deals with the Plague. Unarguably, it was depressing. At times, I had to close my eyes for a few seconds to digest the sadness it keeps on exuding.