Hello reader…
Happy almost-spring, friends!
Before I get to the round-up from our most recent gathering, I’d like to alert you to a Book Lovers Coffee Hour survey that will be posted in the FB group, through the inworld group, and shared directly with regulars who aren’t subscribed to either.
The purpose of this survey is to re-evaluate the timeslot for our monthly gatherings and to solicit feedback and ideas for our community.
Responses are anonymous, so feel free to offer honest suggestions. The survey will close on March 31st and timeslot changes, if any, won’t take effect until May.
And now, on to our round-up!
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
An engaging passage from this young adult novel opened our gathering. Our reader described it as “swashbuckling, gentle, and LGBTQ”. In it, the Sea depends on mermaids to remember everything that the Sea cannot possibly keep in her memories. Pirates are the most common consumer of mermaids’ blood but, ironically, it makes them forget. This tale of high seas adventure revolves around an orphaned brother and sister who find that their only chance at life is aboard a pirate ship with a Nameless Captain who can’t even remember his own name and their wild plans for escape.
As an aside, one of our members is an avid mermaid in SL and recommends the Safe Waters Foundation for those interested in learning more about SL mer-life. They hold meetings every Saturday at 10am SLT for helping new merfolk get started, talk about events of interest to sea-dwellers, etc.
Fearless Girls, Wise Women, & Beloved Sisters by Kathleen Ragan
This is an anthology of folktales and fairy tales from all over the world, featuring female protagonists. It’s organized by region, making it a fun and easy way to dip in for a bit of literary armchair travel.
Anxious People by Fredrik Bachman
Readers of A Man Called Ove will recognize this author. Our reader found the plot of Anxious People hard to understand, which made unscrambling it enjoyable. There are many good lines and the characters’ flaws are interesting. A recent film adaptation is available on Netflix and has received positive reviews. If you’re new to Bachman’s work, our reader mentioned My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry as a favorite.
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
This is a fictional story about Mexican migrants riding atop trains to reach safety. They got cheated by some people who promised to help but they also made some close friends with strangers. Regardless of one’s stance on immigration issues, the story itself is a touching testament to the difficulties of making such a journey.
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
This is a YA novel that was recently translated in English from the original Japanese, which was published in 2009. It’s about a friendship between two teenagers who are both silent victims of bullying. Our reader found the broader themes of good vs evil, the absence of hope, and the meaning of suffering to be very thought-provoking…the book stayed with her for days. But she also found the scenes of bullying to be deeply disturbing – so, definitely take this as a trigger warning. It was unputdownable and highly recommended.
Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression by Iris Gottleib
This adult graphic novel, bordered on coffee table book, in our readers opinion. Part of it talks about gender in general terms – e.g. the various facets of gender definition and expression, as well as how modern gender issues intersect other other identities and affect different parts of life. The last third is a personal reflection on the author’s gender transition. Our reader found the book interesting and useful, if a bit meandering at times.
Iggie’s House and Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume
We chatted a bit about Blume books that we’ve read and thought that these two titles have held up well. Easy to read and appealing to teens and anyone who has ever been a teen.
Our next gathering will be on Sunday, April 10th at 1pm SLT. All are welcome – bring a friend!
The Reading Room 