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.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our November 2012 selection:
 Destiny of the Republicby Candice Millard
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

The members all enjoyed this selection about President Garfield and said they really knew nothing about this president before reading the book other than that he had been assassinated. When asked what surprised them most, the answers were varied: enjoyable, the lack of security everywhere, the nominating process with no campaigning, how powerful the doctor treating Garfield was, how little improvement in medical treatment between Garfield's day and that of Henrietta Lacks, what a mess the White House was. Many found the information about Alexander Graham Bell quite fascinating and quite different from what they had assumed about Bell. Some said their favorite figure was Garfield's secretary. Members listed memorable scenes as the World's Fair and the fact there was no national anthem, the Chicago Fire, the dirty mattress in Garfield's sick room, the nominating convention and Garfield's reluctance to take the nomination, the role of Abraham Lincoln's son, and Bell's metal detector.

Members also discussed how sad it was that Garfield was taken from the life he loved and that it was really the doctors that killed him and not the wound itself. They also were shocked that the assassin was even able to succeed. Everyone thought the amount of research done by the author was amazing and noted that the bibliography at the end was almost one-third of the book. Everyone said they would recommend this book to others and noted that Candice Millard is a local author living in Kansas City.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our October 2012 selection:
 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacksby Rebecca Skloot
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

Rebecca Skloot's biography details not only the life of Henrietta Lacks but also the state of medical research across several decades. While Skloot has done an excellent job of reducing the complicated science of cellular research to a readable level, it is her research on Herietta's life that makes this book well worth reading. Skloot's ability to bring this heretofore unknown woman to life reminds us all that the core of medical research is the patient: not the doctor, not the researcher, not the rest of the medical community, but the patient.

While the members agreed that the science covered in the book makes for a somewhat difficult read, they all felt it was extremely informative and interresting. Discussion centered on the state of medicine, especially with regard to female patients, the history of medical treatment for blacks, and Henrietta's life and family. All felt they would recommend the book to readers who would not be discouraged by the scientific content.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our September 2012 selection:
 The Art of Racing in the Rainby Garth Stein
Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

The Art of Racing in the Rain takes a philosophical look at life, love, and family through the eyes of a dog.  Through the metaphor of auto racing Stein's canine character demonstrates what it is that makes us uniquely human as well as the fine line between hanging in there and giving up.

All the members found something to enjoy in the book. Discussion centered on how telling the story from a dog's viewpoint changed the narrative.  At least two members found the plot too predictable and one member also found that "it lacked imagination," but even these members found interesting quotes to share for the discussion.  Some members were puzzled by the symbolism of the toy zebra and what it represented.  There was also some discussion about the difference between dogs and cats and how auto racing relates to life.  Everyone said they would recommend the book to others except to those that hate dogs.