MARCH 2019:

HELLO BOOK LOVERS!

We met last Thursday night at Beth Hedengren's home. Although we were few in numbers, we did have a good discussion on some of the more recent books we have been reading.  Here is the list:

BETH HEDENGREN

Here are the books I read in March, or some of them.

"Becoming", by Michelle Obama. Michelle grew up in a working class family on Chicago's south side, here her parents both worked hard to provide for Michelle and her brother, having high aspirations for both of the children. The children were encouraged (expected) to work hard and excel in everything they did, and their parents sacrificed everything to help their children both of whom eventually attended Princeton and Harvard.  Michelle and Obama's courtship and their early marriage years included all the usual stresses of two high-energy, high powered people. Michelle, like her parents, is a loving and very hands-on parent to their two daughters. Michelle is essentially a private person and living in the White House and under the scrutiny of the nation was something of a sacrifice, though she worked hard to be serve well as First Lady.

"The Elegance of the Hedgehog", by Muriel Barbery, is a French novel (in translation) with very philosophical themes (Barbery is a philosophy teacher).  Renee is a brilliant, self-taught 50ish woman concierge for an expensive Paris apartment building; Paloma is a 12-year-old girl, also brilliant and wise beyond her years, who lives in the apartment building; and Ozu is a wealthy and wise older Japanese man who moves into the building.  Though both Renee and Paloma work hard to hide their brilliance from the world, Ozu immediately recognizes them for what they are and brings the two together. Along the way, we come to understand "the meaning of life." Parts of this are heavy going, but, if you persevere, this quirky book is rewarding.

I also read some delightful young adult fantasies by Naomi Novik.

"Uprooted", based loosely on the Baba Yaga tales, features a young woman with magical potential who is apprenticed to a great wizard. They team up to save the kingdom from the evil forces controlling the forest. 

"Spinning Silver", based VERY loosely on Rumplestiltskin, features a young Jewish girl whose business abilities capture the attention of the fairy king who wants her to change silver to gold for him as well. Once again, through the courage and skill of our heroine, the kingdom is saved and love conquers. 

Also by Naomi Novik, "Her Majesty's Dragon", is a kind of Horatio Hornblower with dragons. Taking place during the Napoleonic wars, battles include the Air Corps of dragons, as big as ships. Laurence is the captain of the dragon Temeraire, as brave, polite, and dutiful as ever Horatio was. Temeraire is not only a courageous and huge flying dragon; he is also a scholar, a music lover, and a very wise and loyal friend. 

MARYANN STEVENS

"Eye of the Needle" by Ken Follett. Highly recommend spy story.

"Soul-centered Meditation" by Sarah McClean. Learn to meditate, companion reading to Jarom’s 8 week course. Highly Recommend course. Book is good too.

"The Woman who Walked in Sunshine" by Alexander McCall Smith. Very slow moving but as always #1 Ladies stories are always heart warming.

"A Pocketful of Rye"  by Agatha Christie. Miss Marple works her magic.

"A Great Deliverance" by Elizabeth George. Recommend. Murder Mystery with several side stories.

"Coming Home" by  Rosamunde Pilcher. Highly recommend.

"Day After Night" by Anita Diamant. Fate of Jewish illegal immigrants to Palestine 1945. Highly recommend. 290 pages 5 stars.

GERI CHRISTENSEN

"HYGGE" by Meik Miking  The Danish Secrets of Happy Living

This was a delightful book all about how the Danish (and all Scandinavians) overcome the long dark winters by infusing their lives with coziness.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"ALL THE COLORS OF THE CATTLE" by Alexander McCall Smith

Mma Ramotswe decides to get into politics by running for the city council in Gabrone, Botswana. Things don't turn out quite as she expected but, as always, she is up to the challenge and triumphs in the end.  A great read.