Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our November 2010 selection:

Marchby Geraldine Brooks

Below is a summary of the group's collective observations of this work.

March seeks to augment Louisa May Alcott's Little Women by creating an account of the absent father's Civil War experiences.

The discussion generated some lively debate concerning how accurately the novel portrays Mr. March, a fictional character in Alcott's Little Women who is based on the Alcott's father, Amos Bronson Alcott. There was also much discussion on whether or not Mr. March should have even enlisted given his family's financial circumstances as well as discussion about the historical impact of John Brown and the fictional Mr. March's support of his cause. March provided some contrast with other titles read by the group that are more truly docu-novels while Marchis a work of fiction based on a semi-autobiographical work of fiction.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our October 2010 selection:

A Northern Lightby Jennifer Donnelly

Below is a summary of the group's collective observations of this work.

A Northern Light incorporates the sensational 1906 murder of Grace Brown that really happened with the fictional struggle of Mattie Gorkie growing up in poverty in the North Woods of New York State.

Although this work is targeted toward young adults, the historical facts provided of the Grace Brown murder interested the group. The discussion ranged from the treatment of blacks, even in the North, to the moral dilemma posed by deathbed promises. The story highlights the extreme difficulty of girls mired in poverty trying to seek higher education and how difficult it is to resist the temptation to just do what is expected. We all thought the book would be especially good for young adults, and several members expressed interest in learning more about the Grace Brown-Chester Gillette murder case.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our September 2010 selection:

Just Janeby Nancy Moser

Below is a summary of the group's collective observations of this work.

Just Jane is a docu-novel based on the life of Jane Austen. The author specializes in this type of work and does considerable research on her subjects prior to writing each work that mixes fact supplemented by supposition.

The group enjoyed a lively discussion of the position of women during Austen's lifetime, including the often precarious situation of single women. We compared Austen and her sister to single women today. We also discussed differences in child-rearing practices between then and now and how well we thought the author captured Austen's undocumented thoughts and feelings at various times in her life. Several group members felt that Just Jane would enhance their reading of Austen's novels.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our August 2010 selection:

One Thousand White Womenby Jim Fergus

Below is a summary of the group's collective observations of this work.

This book was selected because of its unusual plot which proposed a fictional situation in which the U. S. Government enrolled white female volunteers in a program in which the women agreed to marry American Indians and produce a child as a means of integrating the two cultures. The narrative is presented in epistulary and journal formats as written by one of the characters.

The selection generated much discussion about the good and bad elements of both societies. Some felt that many situations in the story were contrived and that the time frame was too compressed to feel realistic. Overall, however, the story did provide insights into the less well known physical and cultural aspects of Indian life as well as generate some interesting discussion.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our July 2010 selection:

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweetby Jamie Ford

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

This book was selected because it is the 2010 United We Read selection for the Kansas City Metro area. As often happens, what appeared at first to be a fairly simple story showed hidden depths during the discussion. The story raised penetrating questions about the nature of love, family, citizenship, and patriotism and how difficult it is to blend different cultures. The group would definitely recommend this book as a worthwhile look at the history of how the Japanese internment affected life in Seattle during World War II and how it impacted the lives of two families, one Chinese and one Japanese, during that difficult period in our country's history.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our June 2010 selection:

First Dawnby Judith Miller

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

All the members enjoyed this selection and would recommend it to others. Although the characters and the plot were fictional, the main setting of Nicodemus in western Kansas was presented with historical accuracy and detail. The nature of the settlement of this community provided some good discussion on the hardships of settling the prairie, the voluntary segregation of communities, and the obligations of the government to help citizens when they have been defrauded and abandoned.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our May 2010 selection:

The Ballad of Frankie Silverby Sharyn McCrumb

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

The group collectively agreed that they would recommend this book to others.  Members cited the complex characters, the historical facts underpinning the story, and the plot lines that emphasized how political expediency, both then and now, often trumps justice.  All felt the novel does an excellent job of describing the "code of the hills" which still continues today in Appalachia.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our April 2010 selection:



The Moonflower Vineby Jetta Carlton

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Sue: "Yes. It shows us a picture of how life was years ago."

Maye: "It's the best we've read for a long time. I grew up in that area."

Jane: “I liked it too. I'm going to recommend it to some other people."

Janine: “Yes. Like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, this work has endured and become a classic because the characters are true to their time and their problems speak to us."

Ann: "Yes. I enjoyed it."

Vicki: "Yes. Gives you a lot to think about."

Brenda: "Yes. It gives a view of a simple time that shows its own problems."

Marie: "Yes. I could relate to the whole story--the setting and characters."

Judy: "I liked it. I would recommend it to someone whose family had/has roots in that area."

Lara: "Yes. I really liked it too. I would especially recommend it to anyone who grew up in the Ozarks or southern Missouri."

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our March 2010 selection:

The Rest of Her Lifeby Laura Moriarty

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Sue: "Yes. I enjoyed it. It brought up that we need more parenting classes."

Maye: "Yes. I have recommended it [this book] already."

Jane: “I liked it."

Janine: “Yes. Her grasp of complex relationships is dead-on. Jodi Picoult fans will especially enjoy Mariarty's books."

Ann: "Yes. I suggest you read her first book, The Center of Everything."

Vicki: "Yes. Gives you a lot to think about."

Brenda: "Yes. An in-depth look at mom-daughter relationships."

Marie: "I really did enjoy it."

Georgianna: "That was sad because young people are too young to know that a mistake can follow you the rest of your life. But I know I couldn't put it down. I was reading that when I should have been doing other things."

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our February 2010 selection:

The Jane Austen Book Clubby Karen Joy Fowler

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Sue: "Yes. Especially for anyone that's interested in Jane Austen. I liked the development of the characters."

Maye: "Yes. Maybe too much information about some of the characters."

Jane: “It wasn't one that impressed me a lot. It was kind of hard for me to connect with a lot of that stuff."

Janine: “It's the first book the group's done where some felt they liked the movie better than the book."

Ann: "Yes. It's okay."

Judy: "It was okay."

Brenda: "I just enjoyed this book so much. Now I want to read all of Jane Austen's novels."

Marianne: "I love it. I'm not finished with it yet, but I love it."

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our January 2010 selection:

Stealing Buddha's Dinnerby Bich Minh Nguyen

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Sue: "A little too much emphasis on food. . ."

Jane: “Yes. I liked it because I thought she listened and got educated.”

Janine: “Yes. I wondered , though, how much of what she felt was actually from being an immigrant as opposed to just being different from the pack."

Ann: "Why was this a Book-Club-To-Go Kit selections? I was very disappointed!"

Judy: "It was all right but it wasn't one of my favorites."

Georgianna: "It was interesting in the descriptions of the culture clashes. As natives we may not understand what they're [the immigrants] are suffering because we don't know where they're coming from."