Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our June 2011 selection:


Her Mother's Hopeby Francine Rivers

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

The group overwhelming enjoyed this story which begins in Sweden, moves to Canada, and then on California. It is a story of of husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, neighbors and friends. From an unhappy life in Sweden, a mother's blessing allows her daughter to seek the life she cannot dream for herself. Through determination and hard work, the daughter escapes across the ocean but cannot escape the scars she accumulated in her younger years. How those scars impact the mother she becomes and how they are transformed in her daughter forms the basis of this saga. All the members plan to recommend this book to others and to read the sequel, Her Daughter's Dream.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our May 2011 selection:

The Postman Always Rings Twiceby James Cain

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

The discussion kicked off with a brief definition of "noir" fiction as offered by Wikipedia:

"Noir fiction is the name sometimes given to a mode of crime fiction regarded as a subset of the hardboiled style. Per noir aficionado George Tuttle:[citation needed]

In this sub-genre, the protagonist is usually not a detective, but instead either a victim, a suspect, or a perpetrator. He is someone tied directly to the crime, not an outsider called to solve or fix the situation. Other common characteristics ... are the emphasis on sexual relationships and the use of sex to advance the plot and the self-destructive qualities of the lead characters. This type of fiction also has the lean, direct writing style and the gritty realism commonly associated with hardboiled fiction."

The group discussed why the book might have been banned in Boston when it was first published in 1934, the irony of the drifter Frank's ultimate fate, whether or not Cora fit the profile of a femme fatale, and what would have been the appeal of the book during the Great Depression.

Most of the group felt that the work would not have much appeal if were released today. Some said they would not recommend the work to anyone while others thought they would recommend it only to men they thought would appreciate the leanness and brevity of the writing.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our April 2011 selection:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indianby Sherman Alexie

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

Sherman Alexie's book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is more than a little autobiographical. It details his life as a teenager on an Indian reservation and his struggle to hold on to his dreams for a life beyond the constant struggle of poverty and alcoholism he saw all around him. Almost all of the group, which included 12 women and one man, enjoyed the book. One member noted that when she first began to read it she thought, "Boring. Boring. Boring." But as she kept reading, she said, she found Alexie's account very interesting and funny.

The discussion centered on a few key events in the book, such as the main character's decision to attend an all-white high school off the reservation. Also discussed was the censorship battle raised over this book in Springfield, MO and what arguments might have driven this fight.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our March 2011 selection:

(Note: Our February meeting was cancelled because of the blizzard.)

Olive Kitteridgeby Elizabeth Strout

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

Olive Kitteridge is a series of vignettes that feature various inhabitants of the town in Maine where Olive Kitteridge has lived her entire life. While many of the stories center around Olive and/or her family, some merely mention the title character in passing. The narrative as a whole, however, reveals some deep and painful truths about Olive and her impact on the lives around her.

The group expressed a range of feelings about Olive, describing her as "hard," "cold," "mean," and "angry." Others thought she might have been viewed differently if she had been a man. All thought the final chapter revealed a different view of Olive. A few members felt there were other books more worthy of their time invested than this selection.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our January 2011 selection:

Out Stealing Horsesby Per Pettersen

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

Out Stealing Horses is, for the most part, an internal dialogue of a man-- now in the twilight of his life--reflecting on his boyhood in Norway during World War II and the emotional impact of his father's abandonment as well as where he has arrived in his journey across the years.

The group's reaction to this novel was mixed. Some found it "wonderful," while others said they "kept waiting for something to happen and it never did." All agreed that the overall result reflected a male personality and outlook. Discussion centered on how different members viewed the events in the narrative and the impact of those events on the narrator.

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

The Vanising Act of Esme Lennoxby Maggie O'Farrell

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

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox is a family saga that spans several generations. Through the voices and perspectives of several female characters, the narrative reveals how society and family impacted the lives of mothers, daughters, and sisters across a century. The book opens with Esme Lennox about to be released from a psychiatric hospital where she has spent the last 60 years of her life. Her niece decides to shelter Esme for the weekend until she can find her an acceptable place to live. As the weekend unfolds so does Esme's family story, revealing the events and decisions that kept her in confinement for six decades.

As the structure of the book was unusual, with narrators and times shifting without clear warning, the group discussed how the narrative flow contributed and/or detracted from the story. Members also expressed their feelings about each of the characters and their relationships to each other as well as the societal influences that shaped these women's lives.

All the members enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others. The complex nature of the story that takes place in India and Scotland is fertile ground for discussion.

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.