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.

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.