My favorite meetups are ones where we riff on books that several people have read or are reading: everyone brings up points that others missed or had forgotten. It adds depth to each book.
Angie brought up three such books in a row, and we got off to a dynamic start. Whiskey Tender, she enjoyed the Farmington connection and (from followup reading on the author’s life) the Iowa connection. Kristine and Ed mentioned aspects that each found memorable, about attachment and gender roles. Signs Preceding the End of the World was chosen for another book club because of its length, but Angie wryfully commented that “every time we pick a shorter book, it’s not an easy one.” Indeed, this one was challenging both in English and Spanish. Angie described some of the Aztec afterlife beliefs that it parallels. Jillian summarized long conversations she had with Spanish-speaking friends in Denver about its invented slang and whether the book can be described as Magical Realism or Something Else. Then Mirrored Heavens: aware of Roanhorse’s no-mercy attitude toward readers with noneidetic memories, Angie re-skimmed the earlier two volumes and made herself notes which she later appreciated: “some [characters] were bit players in the first two books, then holy shit!” John “enjoyed how [Roanhorse] would make the plot turn on a dime.” Opinions seemed unanimous that this was the best book in the series; much less unanimity on whether there would be a sequel or followup or tangent. Get your bets in.
Ellen claimed to be reading “a lot of fluff” and described What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez as “fun and sassy and snarky [...], engaging, a perfect audiobook when traveling.” This Time Tomorrow was “fun, nice little escape.” She spoke glowingly of The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, a children’s book she rereads ever few years: “lovely [...] sweet fun read about fantasy, imagination, and our place in the world as humans.”
Ed agreed with Ellen’s and Madhavi’s earlier description of Witch of Wild Things as “fluff” but he unabashedly loved it anyway. (Okay, maybe a little abashedly). The Fox Wife was an enthralling blend of history and fantasy providing insights into early-twentieth-century Chinese culture. The Three of Us deep dived into the personalities of three shallow, spiteful, empty Nigerian nisei and I know how that sounds but it’s really a fascinating read and not only in the trainwreck sense. And Warrior Girl Unearthed showed promise at the start but just got ever more preposterous.
Kyle got the group talking about circa-1900 Yuma when she mentioned Half Broke Horses; Jillian contributed eye-opening context about water rights and history and agriculture. Kyle’s sister was a midwife for forty years, so The Frozen River felt especially close to her. Angie added historical context about the real-world journal on which the book is based.
John grew increasingly impressed with Kindred the more he read, how the author “was able to get so many perspectives on slavery.” He briefly mentioned The Vaster Wilds then called The Orphan Master's Son “really well done.” Jillian called it “intense.”
Jillian discussed Mirrored Heavens during group discussion earlier. She was intrigued by the premise of Brother, Sister, Mother, Explorer but “did not love it” and found it hard to categorize or discuss (Ed also read it and agrees). She praised the gimmick in Finding Miracles, wherein the central characters’ (Latin American) countries of origin remain unnamed, described the book as “YA, teen angst conflict, some value for a young person who can relate to it.” Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves is a collection of poetry and long-form poetry written by a writer-slash-ornithologist she knows personally; she described the book as “very raw.” About What it Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World: “if I had to recommend only one book for the entire year, this is it” and “can’t recommend it enough.”
Kristine discussed Whiskey Tender earlier. She is reading Solito, in Spanish, which led to group discussion about translations and about looking up words in dictionaries vs ebook-clicks. Brown Girl Dreaming she described as “so sweet, a gentle read.”
Really exhilarating conversation today. Thank you all for bringing great energy. Thank you PEEC for the use of your space.
Angie brought up three such books in a row, and we got off to a dynamic start. Whiskey Tender, she enjoyed the Farmington connection and (from followup reading on the author’s life) the Iowa connection. Kristine and Ed mentioned aspects that each found memorable, about attachment and gender roles. Signs Preceding the End of the World was chosen for another book club because of its length, but Angie wryfully commented that “every time we pick a shorter book, it’s not an easy one.” Indeed, this one was challenging both in English and Spanish. Angie described some of the Aztec afterlife beliefs that it parallels. Jillian summarized long conversations she had with Spanish-speaking friends in Denver about its invented slang and whether the book can be described as Magical Realism or Something Else. Then Mirrored Heavens: aware of Roanhorse’s no-mercy attitude toward readers with noneidetic memories, Angie re-skimmed the earlier two volumes and made herself notes which she later appreciated: “some [characters] were bit players in the first two books, then holy shit!” John “enjoyed how [Roanhorse] would make the plot turn on a dime.” Opinions seemed unanimous that this was the best book in the series; much less unanimity on whether there would be a sequel or followup or tangent. Get your bets in.
Ellen claimed to be reading “a lot of fluff” and described What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez as “fun and sassy and snarky [...], engaging, a perfect audiobook when traveling.” This Time Tomorrow was “fun, nice little escape.” She spoke glowingly of The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, a children’s book she rereads ever few years: “lovely [...] sweet fun read about fantasy, imagination, and our place in the world as humans.”
Ed agreed with Ellen’s and Madhavi’s earlier description of Witch of Wild Things as “fluff” but he unabashedly loved it anyway. (Okay, maybe a little abashedly). The Fox Wife was an enthralling blend of history and fantasy providing insights into early-twentieth-century Chinese culture. The Three of Us deep dived into the personalities of three shallow, spiteful, empty Nigerian nisei and I know how that sounds but it’s really a fascinating read and not only in the trainwreck sense. And Warrior Girl Unearthed showed promise at the start but just got ever more preposterous.
Kyle got the group talking about circa-1900 Yuma when she mentioned Half Broke Horses; Jillian contributed eye-opening context about water rights and history and agriculture. Kyle’s sister was a midwife for forty years, so The Frozen River felt especially close to her. Angie added historical context about the real-world journal on which the book is based.
John grew increasingly impressed with Kindred the more he read, how the author “was able to get so many perspectives on slavery.” He briefly mentioned The Vaster Wilds then called The Orphan Master's Son “really well done.” Jillian called it “intense.”
Jillian discussed Mirrored Heavens during group discussion earlier. She was intrigued by the premise of Brother, Sister, Mother, Explorer but “did not love it” and found it hard to categorize or discuss (Ed also read it and agrees). She praised the gimmick in Finding Miracles, wherein the central characters’ (Latin American) countries of origin remain unnamed, described the book as “YA, teen angst conflict, some value for a young person who can relate to it.” Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves is a collection of poetry and long-form poetry written by a writer-slash-ornithologist she knows personally; she described the book as “very raw.” About What it Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World: “if I had to recommend only one book for the entire year, this is it” and “can’t recommend it enough.”
Kristine discussed Whiskey Tender earlier. She is reading Solito, in Spanish, which led to group discussion about translations and about looking up words in dictionaries vs ebook-clicks. Brown Girl Dreaming she described as “so sweet, a gentle read.”
Really exhilarating conversation today. Thank you all for bringing great energy. Thank you PEEC for the use of your space.