Once Upon a River

One Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell takes place in Michigan in the 1970s. I like that the main character, Margo, is a young woman. She is resourceful, but not especially independent. Lots of people have ideas about what Margo should do and how she should live; as a reader I was drawn into this as well. In the end, Margo makes her own choices.

It is a story about choices, consequences, and constraints. Margo’s a character I wanted to shake some sense into, then perhaps give up on, but one that I won’t forget soon. The story is told with detail that helps you see, hear, and smell the places, animals, and people. I liked this book a lot!

For more info, read the NY Times Review of this book by Jane Smiley

Plant swap

Are we having a plant exchange at the next bookclub meeting?

Acoustic Cafe Book Swap Books

My motto about this late post: Better late than never! Besides enjoying the good company at our book swap, I came home with "Bel Canto," "Angela's Ashes," and "We Were the Mulvaneys." Looking forward to reading them all.

Perhaps a Book Club Selection

Beyond the Beautiful Forevers reads like a novel with little hint that the author is a long established reporter. In this book of narrative non-fiction, the author weaves the story of families living in the Annawadi slum (located in the shadow of the Mumbai airport) and their interactions with each other, various branches of the local government, and their hopes for the future.

I listened to the book and was unaware of the author’s note at the end and almost missed it. She (Katherine Boo) explains how she came to the subject and what her methodology was for flushing out remembered conversations and emotions suppressed by culture and personality. Listening to her explain how she acquired the story provided, for me, an added level of interest in the story.

The Book Swap was fun!

I went home with three new books that I am anxious to read: the coveted "The Elegant Gathering of White Snows" by Kris Radish (a Wisconsin author), "Wild Fire" by Nelson DeMille, and "The Duke is Mine" by Eloisa James. Kathy has already indicated that she wants to read "The Elegant Gathering of White Snows" so I will be passing that one on to her as soon as I am done reading. There were several books I would like to read but especially "Sherlock Holmes