Comments from the De Soto Book Discussion Group regarding our December 2013 selection:

The Snow Childby Eowyn Ivey
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

Eowyn Ivey’s “The Snow Child” takes the Russian/Alaskan folktale of the Snow Maiden and transforms it into a realistic fictional narrative about a middle-aged childless couple that leaves their old life behind to homestead in the Alaskan wilderness. When, in a rare moment of fun, they build a child out of snow and an orphan girl appears out of the wilderness, it seems that their snow child has come to life. How this and other events impacts the couple’s life weaves a beautiful story about the nature of family while maintaining the integrity of the original folktale.

Some members found the story sad and at least two described it as “strange.” However, all said they would recommend this title to others. One comment, “I’m of two minds: on the one hand I kept thinking this is the strangest story, but on the other I couldn’t put it down.” Another member chimed in, “It was the same for me. I kept reading and reading and, even though it gave me a headache, I had to keep reading.” Discussion focused on the strength of the characters and how real they were. All the characters were likeable and there were no “villains” in this remarkable look at homesteading in the Alaskan wilderness of 1920. The concept of “changing the ending” was also discussed—how the author had used the old folk tale of the Snow Maiden to produce a story that redrew the narrative using non-magical characters while maintaining the essential integrity of the folktale. One member said, “I just loved, loved, loved this book!”

Comments from the De Soto Book Discussion Group regarding our November 2013 selection:

Life After Lifeby Kate Atkinson
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

November's meeting marked a special event for the group as this month's selection and discussion were tied into the Johnson County Museum's project "Citizen Soldiers of the Prairie," which celebrates the contribution to the WWII effort of those working at the Sunflower Ordnance Plant in DeSoto. Kate Atkinson's Life After Life was chosen for the discussion as it is mainly set in the first half of the 20th century and vividly depicts the Blitz of England as well as other difficulties experienced by both the English and German populations during the WWII.

The structure of the book is unusual, reminiscent of the movie Groundhog Day. Certain events in the life of the central character, Ursula, are replayed with different consequences depending on the choices made at critical points in the narrative. Thus Ursula may fall out of a window while reaching for her doll and tumble to her death; or, someone might enter the room just in time to distract the child and save her from her fate. This unusual structure produces a narrative that uniquely shows the sheer randomness of life and how the fate of nations and millions of people can turn on the presence or absence of one person at one moment in time.

All the members enjoyed the book but found it difficult to read at times because of its narrative structure and basic premise. Several commented that the book depicted the London blitz very vividly and brought the true nature of that ordeal home to them as no other book had done before. Every member contributed some moment in the book that she found memorable. Izzie, Hugh’s sister, was everyone’s favorite character while all agreed they liked Teddy as well. The story is very complex and some said they planned to reread it and see what they might have missed on first reading.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our October 2013 selection:

The Forgotten Gardenby Kate Morton
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

The Forgotten Garden is a modern Victorian saga that relates three stories in an interwoven narrative that has, at its core, a genealogical mystery. The novel begins in modern-day Australia when Cassandra's grandmother Nell dies and leaves her a cottage in England. Two other tales then run concurrently against Cassandra's account of her efforts to uncover the mystery of her grandmother's parentage and her ownership of the cottage. The second story recounts how Nell's mother, Georgianna, came to live at Blackhurst Manor. The third story reveals Nell's astonishing journey as a 4-year-old alone on a ship bound for Australia and her subsequent adoption after being abandoned by a mysterious woman known to Nell only as the "Authoress." Interspersed among these three narratives are the fairy tales contained in a book handed down to Cassandra from her grandmother.

Everyone in the book group thoroughly enjoyed this unusual saga which contains multiple themes, symbolism, and slightly gothic overtones. When asked what theme or event caught their attention most, members had a variety of answers: the intensity of Eliza & Sammy's games, the mystery of Nell's parentage, Eliza's life at Blackhurst Manor, Eliza's imagination and the fairy tales she wrote, Cassandra's story, the mystery of why Nell was alone on the boat, and the story of the cottage Nell leaves to Cassandra. There were many points of discussion, especially about the unusual structure of the book and how the various settings, such as the intricate maze that bordered the garden at Blackhurst, provides continuity and underpins the stories as readers move back and forth in time through the various characters. All the members said they heartily recommend this book to others.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our September 2013 selection:

On Canaan's Sideby Sebastian Barry
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

On Canaan's Side is the fictional memoir of 89-year-old Lilly Bere as she seeks to explain the act she is about to commit—that of taking her own life. This is a sweeping account that begins in Ireland where Lilly recalls living with her father and siblings after her mother died. Of growing up expecting a life of marriage and children. When her life is suddenly threatened by the violent political unrest in her homeland, arranges her escape to America with her first love, who has also been marked for death by the opposition. And so her story becomes a saga of overcoming loss after loss, of the redemption of work and friendships, and of grace and endurance. In the course of Lilly's life, she experiences the ravages of many wars through the men in her life: her father, brother, husband, son, and grandson. Somehow Lilly manages to accept these repeated blows from life and love with with her own acquired wisdom which she now imparts through this account of her journey from girlhood to old age.

Although members said the book gets off to a slow start, they all agreed it was well worth the effort. They felt Lilly's voice came through clearly and they were able to emphasize with her struggle to persevere through all the turmoil and grief contained in her story. All said they would recommend this selection to others.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our August 2013 selection:

Red Hook Roadby Ayelet Waldman
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

While some members found the beginning of the narrative disturbing, everyone agreed they liked Red Hook Road and could relate to the two families—the Copakens and the Tetherlys—when the young couple, John and Rebecca Tetherly, are killed in an auto accident less than an hour after taking their wedding vows. Ayelet uses the storyline to reveal both the fragility and endurance within a marriage and to expose class differences between the year-round and summer residents of a coastal community where both groups have deep roots over several generations. The discussion explored the complexities of the relationships between the characters and Ayelet's skillful use of metaphor to illustrate how seemingly separate events are, in fact, interconnected in ways we cannot predict. All would recommend this book to others. It's an excellent selection for book groups.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our July 2013 selection:

Let the Great World Spinby Colum McCann
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

Let the Great World Spin was probably one of our least popular selections as most members found the characters strange and unappealing. The narrative looks at the lives of several different residents of New York City and the city's reaction to an event in which a tightrope walker manages to string a tightrope between the twin towers and then walk that tightrope for several minutes as the city slowly galvanizes it's collective focus around this event. Much of the story centers on two brothers from Ireland and their relationship with each other and with the prostitutes the one brother desperately feels called to help. While the novel definitely captures the heartbeat of New York City the story will not appeal to every reader. Most members of our group would not recommend this book to others.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our June 2013 selection:

The Sense of an Endingby Julian Barnes
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

This selection generated much interesting discussion when members were asked, "What do you think this book is about?" Most members agreed it was about how we view events, both as they happen and as we remember them later. We discussed how the main character would constantly revise his view of events as he learned new details that invalidated his original and/or current assessment. Many members drew comparisons with April's selection,"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien, as to how we communicate the "truth." One member who was unable to attend the discussion wrote, "The protagonist never did connect with me. He did not seem to me to have any unusual emotional depths. . . . Why does a book so highly thought of, bore me to pieces?" Yet another member who was present said she loved the book and that it really "spoke to me." Another member thought the story contained a lot of humorous moments and very much captured the typical male psyche. Everyone had some opinions on the characters and events.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our May 2013 selection:

The Elegance of the Hedgehogby Muriel Barbery
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

This selection was one of our most challenging titles as the structure proved confusing for several members. The book is about a friendship that develops between a concierge in a ritzy Paris apartment building and the young daughter of one of the apartment owners. The point of view alternates between these two characters but at least one member thought the daughter was actually the concierge recalling her childhood. Another member did not realize that all the characters lived in the apartment building. Discussion focused on the nature of various classes within a society and of the role of stereotypes in social interaction. Everyone mentioned some scenes they found memorable or funny but did agree it was, at times, slow reading. All the members were able to relate to the characters on various levels and expressed interest in seeing the movie.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our April 2013 selection:

The Things They Carriedby Tim O'Brien
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

While Tim O’Brien’s fictional book about the Vietnam War is not cheerful reading, the book group members agreed that this collection of stories provides insight into the experience of the men who served there. Discussion began with noting O’Brien’s use in the title story of a characteristic of epic poetry called the “epic catalog” (or long lists) reminiscent of Homer’s account of the Trojan War. Members explored one major theme concerning “story-truth” vs. “happening-truth” and why a writer might choose to present truth in the form of fiction. Members were asked to compare the form of O’Brien’s novel with Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge. When asked if they would choose story-truth or happening-truth to write about life in De Soto, they all immediately chose story-truth after agreeing that if they used happening-truth they would have to leave town. There was a short discussion on how the use of fiction frees a writer from self-censoring the story and, in the process, allows the writer to produce a bigger truth.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our March 2013 selection:

Somewhere to Belongby Judith Miller
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

Discussion centered on the secrets family members keep from each other, the reasons they do, and whether or not someone should ever keep a secret that affects others. Also, there was some discussion about the difference between the Amish and the Amana communities. All members enjoyed the book but all said they would not want to live in a commune as the Amana did during the novel’s time frame.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our February 2013 selection:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyby Mary Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

Everyone enjoyed this novel about life during the German occupation of England's Guernsey Island during World War II. Members felt that the epistolary format provided a more personal and multifaceted look at the fictional characters while giving readers a vivid account of the historical realities on Guernsey under German rule. Several readers, when asked to state what historical details surprised them the most, said that before reading the book they had been unaware of the existence of the island and that it was occupied by the Germans during the war. Others said they had not imagined until reading this book how wrenching it must have been for the parents to have to decide whether or not to send their children off to England with no knowledge of where or with whom they would be. And all were surprised at the extent of deprivation suffered by both the islanders and the German troops. Everyone said they would highly recommend this book.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our January 2013 selection:

Masqueradeby Nancy Moser
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

Members enjoyed this historical fiction account of two young ladies from different classes of English society who immigrate to America together in the late 19th century. Discussion centered on the different class situations of the two women, their motivations for leaving England and the difference in maturity levels between them. Some members expressed incredulity that a man who had immigrated to America would seek a marriage with someone in England whom he had never met while other members found this aspect of the plot entirely believable.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our December 2012 selection:

Major Pettigrew's Last Standby Helen Simonson
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

Although one member found this selection "too predictable," all the other members thoroughly enjoyed this story about an English widower and Pakistani widow whose friendship grows into love as they discover they have much in common despite their cultural differences.  Much of the discussion revolved around the issues faced by the elderly when spouses or relatives die.  Also, the members discussed various aspects of the Pakistani immigrant community in Britain and some noted that this work made them recall the novel Brick Lane by Monica Ali which the group read several years ago.