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.