Hello, reader…
One of the things I enjoy most about our coffee hour is the exposure to so many different new-to-me genres and authors. It was thus a pleasure to welcome three new friends to our monthly gathering – Konnie, Lomesse, and Roslyn – along with a couple of our regulars, to hear all about their intriguing recent reads…
Falling in Love with Joseph Smith: My Search for the Real Prophet by Jane Barnes
Veyot described this as a lighthearted history book whose author was a producer on a PBS documentary about the Mormons. Barnes apparently liked the stories about the teenaged Joseph so much that she seriously considered joining the Mormon church.
Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber
Veyot also shared this novel that shows Mormon life in Utah in the 1880s, including the main character’s memories of her earlier life, the loyalties of Mormons to each other, and the government’s order to start prosecuting polygamists. To add suspense, there is a missing husband and a desperate stranger pursued by a federal marshal.
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
Roslyn is in the midst of reading this popular series – and occasionally arguing with the author.
Footprints of the Welsh Indians: Settlers in North America Before 1492 by William L. Traxel
Roslyn also recently read a treatise on Welsh Indians. She said it was a sad story in the end because if they were here, they lost their ability to read and write their language – and so were lost in history. Ros described it as a dry but fascinating read.
Underdogs of Japanese History: 11 Iconic Characters Who Prevailed Against the Odds…Or Didn’t by Kyota Ko
FireWoman enjoyed this collection of great stories and well-researched ancient history of Japan. She recommends his first book, Folktales of Japan, as well as his social media accounts on LinkedIn and Instagram. He posts nearly every day – awesome stories!
Goodnight Racism by Ibram X. Kendi
Magnolia Flower by Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi.
FireWoman also enjoyed these two children’s books.
Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin
FireWoman considers this a must-read! She was salivating as she read this brand new book by Newbery and Caldecott Honor author/illustrator Grace Lin.
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg
Lomesse shared this famous novel about schizophrenia and the author’s hospitalization in 1950. She commented that the world in that illness is very different but that the author did her best to capture it.
A Woman’s Story by Annie Ernaux, translated by Tanya Leslie
Zoe recently read this memoir about the author’s relationship with her mother who eventually died from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. The author saw herself as an archivist of sorts, attempting to document her mother’s life in a way that presented her as a fully formed woman.
The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted by Robert Hillman
At its heart, this is a love story set in the Australian countryside, in the 1960s. Zoe thought it was going to be about a bookshop…it it is, and isn’t. The man is a farmer who has such a good heart but has also experienced a lot of loss. His love interest is a woman who, among other experiences, spent time in Auschwitz. They bond over books and their experiences with learning how to build a life while wrangling with grief. Zoe thought it was really beautiful.
Our next gathering is November 19th at 1pm SLT. See you then – bring a friend!
The Reading Room 