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."