New Providence Memorial Library's Online Reading Group discussion

I really can't believe that we're half into this contest already...

This week, I am breaking out of the mold of reading about young men who forge through their outsider-ness into the larger world beyond. I'm reading a new author, Steve Berry, and am launched into the world of the Inquisition with The Templar Legacy.

This book is structured with alternative chapters set in the present and the past. So far, there is no connection between the Templar being tortured for his secrets and Cotton Malone, the former FBI agent who is trailing his former boss.

What about what you're reading? What is the book's structure, is it a continuous story or does it go back and forth between present and past? Is the story told from a single viewpoint or, as in this one, from Cotton Malone in the present and the Templar in the past? Why do you think the author picked that way to tell the story?

In this case, it sure seems as if Mr. Berry is keeping the mystery and interest on as long as possible. And it's working!

I've enjoyed quite a few of the Cotton Malone books, both in print and Audio. I think one of the first was "The Amber Room" which I read partly during a cruise where we were actually in THE amber room in St. Petersburg. I was going to add another comment but it would be a spoiler, so will only say that I enjoyed most of the book.

now on to today's comment. I'm almost finished reading "Anthem" by Any Rand. My grandson read it in HS and he talked to me a little about it. Since he hates reading (frown face) any time he tells me about a book I rush to read it to discuss with him.
The book's structure - continuous story. It's different in that some common words in our vocabulary are missing from this alternate time and condition, making it difficult at first to understand who is talking. Done totally on purpose, I know.
It's a very short book, which I know is part of the charm for my grandson. However, I'm not that far from the ending and 'I want more' is what I'm thinking.

Not sure what will be next up since I've only got hundreds of titles on my TBR list...

I just finished The Round House- the Thursday Night Book Club's selection for our August meeting. The main character is the narrator and is telling the story as events in his past. He only shares fleeting comments from his present. It's an interesting technique. Not really flashbacks but it adds a sense of authenticity (like someone is really recalling his past).

Now I'm reading Divergent. Yes, I am a sucker for those young adult dystopian novels! I enjoy the quick read and fearless teen characters. Back to the question: it is all told in the present tense which helps to maintain the suspense.

Eileen - I too enjoy those YA books!

i'm reading "The Lowland" by Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake, Interpreter of Maladies). it's about 2 brothers who are very closely bonded, but different in nature, values and ambition. it's set in the 60s-70s india and the u.s. the political upheaval in india is critical to the plot, as is familial duty and custom. the use of timing is interesting. it's told in the 3rd person, mostly in the present. i'm only a quarter into the book, but a couple of times, the narrator jumped back abruptly, and i found myself confused as to timing, and who was telling the story. but the book is compelling and as usual, Lahiri's writing style is lyrically rich and evocative.


Eileen, did you like "The Round House" ? it's in my soon to read list, for the BC in August.

I just started reading a Steve Berry novel "The Alexandria Link", so far so good. It kind of reminds me of The Da Vinci Code but I'm only on page 80.

Sangeeta, The Third Thursday reading group read "The Round House" in May. I enjoyed it, it's a quick read and you get the feel of the Native American culture.

i've read a few of Louise Erdrich's books. liked more than i didn't. i found Plague of Doves to be disjointed, but enjoyed Master Butcher's Singing Club. Shadow Tag was sad but well written.

I'm still reading The Prince of Tides, but I'm enjoying it. I hesitated at first because I thought the movie was just wretched, but I'm really enjoying Pat Conroy's style. The book does jump around in time, and it's providing very rich characterizations as a result.

I haven't read Divergent (I did enjoy the first Hunger Games movies), but another YA book to pick up along those lines is The Giver by Lois Lowry, also an upcoming movie starring Meryl Streep.

Marilyn wrote: "I've enjoyed quite a few of the Cotton Malone books, both in print and Audio. I think one of the first was "The Amber Room" which I read partly during a cruise where we were actually in THE amber ..."

Well, a long list couldn't happen to a better reader! Your reading expertise is so vast, it seems as if you read 2 books per day!

Interesting idea of leaving certain common words out of an alternate reality. It seems that a continuous thread is a more "verbal" technique, i.e. if we were telling a story to somebody, we'd do it that way. The jumping back and forth really only seems to work on the page where you could flip back and forth to confirm dates.

Eileen wrote: "I just finished The Round House- the Thursday Night Book Club's selection for our August meeting. The main character is the narrator and is telling the story as events in his past. He only shares..."

One of these days I'll read Divergent along w/ The Fault in Our Stars. Just waiting for the popularity to die down.

I did like the Round House and felt that the structure helped to give the reader the same experience as the narrator finding out things piecemeal and trying to fit things together.

Ann wrote: "I just started reading a Steve Berry novel "The Alexandria Link", so far so good. It kind of reminds me of The Da Vinci Code but I'm only on page 80.

Sangeeta, The Third Thursday reading group r..."

Yes, Ann I totally agree that The Templar Legacy is reminding me of the DaVinci Code. It has the same appeal of escapism where you know the central, slightly grizzled but still virile male detective will prevail despite the danger and bad guys in the shadows. And throwing in historic curses/myths, etc. doesn't hurt, either. Great summer reading!

Sangeeta wrote: "i'm reading "The Lowland" by Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake, Interpreter of Maladies). it's about 2 brothers who are very closely bonded, but different in nature, values and ambition. it's set in th..."

I enjoyed The Round House. it gave an interesting glimpse into contemporary American Indian reservation life- something I know little about. The story is a great blend of that unique culture and the mystery of a brutal rape. Don't want to give away too much but the attempt to obtain justice is a key element leading to the dilemma of what is justice and justice at what cost. You'll like it and it will make for a good discussion when we meet.

I'll just share comments from Helene who wrote a review of The House Girl by Tara Conklin.

"This book alternates between the past, mid 1800's, following the life of slave, working as a house girl and the present following the life of a lawyer who is preparing a case for reparation payments to descendents of slaves.

This was the best way to tell this story because it was necessary to develop both story lines which do come together at the end when the lawyer finds a descendent of the house girl. It does, however not come to payments as the person filing the suit does not file through.

I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it."

Again, just re-reading this comment and had to add that I was listening to the Leonard Lopate Book Club selection which is perhaps the most famous of all dystopian novels, 1984 by Orwell. Here's the link to the discussion page:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/seri...

I was re-impressed w/ Orwell's "newspeak" and how so much of what he invented in terms of vocabulary is being used to describe our world. To your point about Ayn Rand leaving out certain vocabulary, Orwell's premise is that newspeak would replace and streamline language w/ the result that concepts would disappear along with the words to describe them.