Hello, reader…
First, a few exciting announcements!
We have two new additions to our Reading Room collection.
In the book lovers lounge beneath our dear Veyot’s portrait is a copper pedestal. On it, is a small orange box (original art by Veyot!) and in it is an original poem authored by Veyot. Be sure to check it out!
Between the two sofas in the main reading room is a new publication called The Joy of Farming by Soull Starlight. Whether you’re a gardening neophyte or a well-seasoned farmer, everyone is sure to enjoy this very readable and useful guide.
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
A novel that Bernice found disturbing and sad.
The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths
The penultimate novel in a series, which makes Bernice sad.
The Hunt by Faye Kellerman
The last book in Kellerman’s Decker/Lazarus series…which also makes Bernice sad (it was a theme today!).
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
Not the last book in this series, which Bernice was really happy about!
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Chang
A New York Times notable book about the Empress Dowager Cixi who started out as a concubine and ended up ruling China from behind the scenes. Mieke is part way through it and said it’s fascinating!
How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them by Barbara F. Walter
The book reviews examples of different civil wars over the past century to highlight how in quasi-democratic states (anocracy) similar patterns of factionalization and political disfranchisement often lead to civil wars breaking out.
Sierra found this book very readable and, given the topic, pretty concise – but there are extensive notes and references in the back.
She liked this very readable book because it tied together some conceptual ideas into different historical events. She also picked up some key details about several conflicts that she was previously unaware of. Some of the conflicts are familiar ones–the civil war in Syria, the sectarian conflicts in Iraq post-Saddam…but it also goes back to some earlier conflicts…Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’…ethnic conflicts in the Philippines.
The author, Walter, is an adjunct faculty at the UC San Diego Political Science Department and also is in the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies. She’s been studying this for 30 years.
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Fleming read this novel about compulsive swimmers, people meeting every day at a pool. The last part deals with the onset of dementia of one of the swimmers. It has a very peculiar structure, according to Fleming, who loved it and said it’s funny and very moving.
Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor
Fleming also read this novel, which he described as a very, very tough read – not easy to stomach. It’s about a small godforsaken village in Mexico and the climate of violence and hopelessness and suppression of women. A stunning book but very graphic. The author is a fantastic stylist, with very virtuosic writing that sucks the reader in.
Seeking Fortune Elsewhere by Sindya Bhanoo
This is a collection of South Indian women-centered short stories that explore moments of transition for each.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Veyot read this novel-written-like-a-memoir about a boy and his mother who are caught in a terrorist bomb attack at MoMA. The boy steals a picture that his mom is looking at – called The Goldfinch. Eventually the painting is returned…and the novel is about what happens along the way.
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Stephen Galloway
A favorite reread of Tallulah’s, this novel is about 3 people’s separate lives in war-torn Serajevo. A cellist witnesses the death of two dozen people. He sits where they died and plays Albinoni’s Adagio once a day for each of them. It’s very hard hitting but also poignant – especially so with the war in Ukraine right now. Talullah shared that it has some very evocative passages…like a mini tableau in a movie. The scenes really stick in the mind.
The Orphanage by Serhiy Zhadan
Fleming briefly mentioned this book as another novel that echoes the current struggle in Ukraine.
A short list of these books may be found here.
Our next gathering will be on Sunday, October 9th at 1pm SLT. All are welcome – bring a friend!
The Reading Room 