Comments from the DeSoto Book Discussion Group regarding our August 2017 selection:

A Man Called Ove 
by Fredrik Backman

There is so much to talk about in A Man Called Ove. The majority of our members love this novel. Two members did not enjoy this novel due to the suicidal tendencies of Ove and the poor characterization of Swedish people. One member brought photos to share of her family in Sweden. The Swedish farmhouse gave us a great jumping off point to dive into our discussion about Ove.

The humor mixed with the sadness creates a novel that resonated with our group. Ove is a good person but he sees the world in one way and you better see it that way too. Ove is grumpy and set in his ways because he lost Sonja and cannot come to terms with that.

There is such a beautiful love story between Sonja and Ove. His life was black and white and she was his color. We can all understand his depression at losing her. We love that Ove fights for Sonja and anyone being mistreated. On their honeymoon Sonja naps and Ove is fixing up the town. When Ove stands up to Tom when he was a boy and then as a man shows his true character.

All of Backman’s characters are so richly drawn that we feel like we know them. Parvaneh is determined to befriend Ove. We all love her humor and persistence. Ove’s cat, that he did not want, was more like a dog. Ove talking to the cat makes us all laugh.

This is one of our favorite books of the year (for most of us). 

Comments from the DeSoto Book Discussion Group regarding our July 2017 selection:

Orphan Train

Christina Baker Kline 

The majority of our group loved Orphan Train because of the mixture of historical and modern day stories.

There are so many great personal memories from all of our members. One member’s mama was on the orphan train. Her story is inspiring and heartbreaking. Her mama is separated from her three siblings but they are later reunited in Kansas City. Hearing this story is a reminder of the astounding number of orphan train riders; from 1854 to 1929 an estimated 250,000 children come to the Midwest. There are an estimated 2 million descendants from the train riders.

Changing the main character’s name from Niamh to Dorothy to Vivian is unthinkable to most of us. However, there were a number of stories of family members having their name changed by foster parents and other family members. Dorothy is not treated as a child or family at the Byrne house. Instead, Dorothy is chosen for labor skills as a sewer. We think a lot of the orphans probably end up in situations where they were free labor, much like Dutchy.  

The Grote house is horrific and we are mad Mr. Sorenson even thought about sending Dorothy back to live with them. The filth, lice, and food at the Grote’s is such an extreme difference from Niamh’s life with her family.

The Nielsen’s are a great family and gave Vivian many opportunities with the store. We can understand why she did not think of the Nielsen’s as her real family, but she never thinks of them as more than her foster parents.

One member has a criticism of this novel being too contrived. She feels Jack’s immediately desire to date Molly and setting her up with his mother’s employer for her community service is convenient. Molly and Vivian’s similar lives are also too contrived. Another criticism of the novel is the portrayal of female foster parents. Neither Molly nor Vivian get along with multiple foster mothers.  

One plot point we all take issue with is Vivian giving her daughter away. We cannot accept Vivian putting her daughter through the exact same hardships she went through. Giving her daughter up for adoption is out of character and hard to read. Having one last piece of Dutchy would have given Vivian strength. All of the members found this piece of the story too far fetched to believe.

Despite these criticisms, Orphan Train is an intriguing part of history most of us want to learn more about. 

Comments from the DeSoto Book Discussion Group regarding our June 2017 selection:

In the Unlikely Event 

Judy Blume

In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume is a great story that everyone likes and we are all happy we read. Blume’s strength shines through her perfect characterizations. Each character comes to life and feels real. Blume is from Elizabeth, New Jersey and lived through the plane crashes. The historical aspects of this story were interesting to everyone.

We cannot imagine living in a town where three planes crash in a 58 day period. Imagine the terror and the feeling of hopelessness. The plane crashes lead many of us to think of September 11^th and the fear of planes at that time. Many others remember doing atomic bomb drills and hiding under their desks at school. One member saw a bomb explosion on television and froze whenever a plane flew overhead. We can understand why Miri and her schoolmates were so afraid, it does seem like the planes are trying to kill kids by narrowly missing schools and the orphanage.

There are so many characters but we love how Blume weaves all their stories together. Each person’s story touches another’s because of these unlikely events.

Doctor Osner is one of our favorite characters because he takes care of everyone. He is a stable, caring, understanding man who wants to take care of everyone. His affair with Rusty did shock us and we did not see it coming. However, Corinne Osner is such an unsympathetic character we did not feel for her. We are happy that Rusty and Dr. O make each other happy.

Miri is a typical teenager. The plane crashes affect her deeply but she tries not to worry her family with her fears of future plane crashes. Miri is in love for the first time and has so many emotions. Blume does an excellent job writing teenagers. Miri is trying to navigate her increasingly complicated relationship with Natalie.

Natalie is so sensitive and the plane crashes affect her deeply. We do not fully understand why she believes Ruby is living inside her, but it is her way of dealing with all that is happening. Natalie goes on to live an unconventional life which makes sense for her. 

Moving to Las Vegas seems sudden and we did not see this coming. However, we are happy most of the family is together. Henry moving to Washington DC seems out of character for him because he is so close to Irene, Rusty, and Miri. However, we know this is how his career will grow. We all enjoy his close relationship with Miri.

We all enjoy going 35 years in the future to see how everyone’s lives turn out. We are happy Natalie and Dr. O eventually make up. Miri forgives Mason and although they are both tempted by each other they remain faithful to their spouses, which we all appreciate. 

Comments from the De Soto Book Discussion Group regarding our May 2017 selection:

The Little Paris Bookshop 
by Nina George

We all want to read Perdu’s work, Great Encyclopedia of Small Emotions: A Guide for Booksellers, Lovers, and Other Literary Pharmacists. We all left our discussion thinking about what emotions to add. Visiting the Literary Apothecary sounds like fun and we love the idea of the perfect book for curing ails. We love that Jean Perdu sells book in his own way. Perdu can prescribe what a reader needs and will only let them have that book, not the one they want to buy.  

Perdu is an interesting character because he denies himself so many things in life. The name Jean Perdu is accurate because “perdu” means lost in French. No one can imagine sealing off their life for 21 years because of a lost love. Also, we would all read the letter immediately after receiving it. None of us could seal it away in a drawer and never open it. Even if it said the usual courtesies of a breakup, we’d still want to know the details.

All of our characters are adrift both physically on the book barge and emotionally in their relationships to others. Max Jordan the famous author of Night is everyone’s favorite character. We love his personality and his friendship with Perdu. His children’s book ideas sound fascinating and we all want to read them. Cuneo is a great character who fits right in on the barge with Perdu and Max. We enjoy his love for life and his cooking skills. Our group wants to know more and have additional backstory on Catherine. She plays such a large role in Jean’s life and seems more interesting than Manon.

Some of the members feel this book was a nice read but found flaws with the writing, different scenes, and some details were overlooked by George. A one member point out Nina George wrote 29 novels and teaches writing but this novel’s writing style is nothing special and it did not connect with her the way it should have. However, she notes the novel is translated from German so perhaps the fault lies with the translator’s and not George.

A number of members felt Samy was too weird and they were ambivalent about her as a character. Although she plays such a large and important role in Jean’s life as the author of Sothern Lights, a book that found him at his worst and helped him for 20 years. Samy also becomes a dear friend who helps guide Jean through his grief during the “hurting time.” Samy and Cuneo’s relationship is well-liked and we are all glad Jean brings the two together.

There were too many little things the group could not overlook in their reading which made the book less enjoyable for them. We have a number of questions:

-          How did Jean fall in love with Catherine so quickly?

-          How did Catherine feel about Jean disappearing for months?

-         Why didn’t Jean prepare for the trip and at least bring some food?

-         How did Jean not know Manon was dead sooner? Why didn’t he try and contact her or track her down?

-         Sealing off his life like he did his kitchen seems extreme. Why didn’t he just give up his whole apartment and live on the barge?

The deer drowning in the canal is too odd for most of us. We know it is supposed to illuminate the loss and death of their past lives, however it did not move us the way it should have. The poor deer screaming in the canal lacks something that we cannot identify. Perhaps it is something lost in translation. We know all of our characters come away from this scene with a deeper sense of life and death but the impact on the reader is minimal.

Manon is an unsympathetic character and her diary entries do no help her. Manon did not create an emotional bond with us. We did not see why Jean’s attraction to her never wavers after 20 years. He stops his life because she left him. Manon seems to love Jean but she does not give up her life with Luc for him. If Manon told Jean in person she was sick and explains she is pregnant and cannot receive treatment she may have redeemed herself, but then we wouldn’t have an adventure, so maybe she needed to be selfish.

The voice is very French, it is suave, seductive, and gives the reader a deeper understanding of life and love. Some of the ideas and characters of this book we attribute to “being French” so they get a pass. Luc’s character is so forgiving, open, and accepting of Manon’s lover that we all said, “he’s French so he understands.”

The Little Paris Bookshop transports you to a faraway place. While reading this book it was fun to Google image search all the locations to see the beautiful scenery are characters are exploring. We love traveling the canals through France. We learn a lot about the lock system and the different areas from the gardens to the hot, mountainous, lavender fields of the South of France. We are all glad we read this book. 

Comments from the De Soto Book Discussion Group regarding our April 2017 selection:

Dead Wake 
by Erik Larson

This month’s reading selection, Dead Wake by Erik Larson coincides with the 100 year anniversary of the United States entering World War I. This extraordinary nonfiction title tells the story of the final voyage of the Lusitania and her 1,959 passengers and crew, of which only 764 survived.

Our discussion was lively and free flowing. I am so glad most everyone enjoyed the book. One member could not get into the story. By the end of the discussion she is eager to go home and try again. The other seven members enjoyed Dead Wake and were happy we read it.

Larson’s detail of the passengers and their belongings is impressive. The amount of research and hours spent on this book shows and is well worth the effort. There is a Kansas City connection with the husband and wife travelers Theodore and Belle Naish. Belle survives and cannot stand blue skies because they remind her of the day the ship sunk. We each had favorite characters including Theodate Pope, Captain Turner, and Charles Lauriet. Another favorite is Margaret Mackworth; she survives the sinking and being sucked into the funnel and shot like a cannon out of the funnel.

One member is especially angry and upset that Winston Churchill let this tragedy happen to the Lusitania. Churchill and Room 40 had ample opportunity to warn Captain Turner, protect the ship, and change the course because they knew German submarines were patrolling the area. Room 40’s secrecy, though understood, seems too extreme for the damage it did to the Lusitania and other vessels. There should have been multiple ways around rerouting ships and protecting them that did not expose the fact Room 40 is breaking the German’s codes.

We all felt especially bad for Captain Turner. Turner did everything he could to avoid trouble and tried to save lives. There is a perfect storm of events that all lead to the sinking. If only a few things were different the ship might have made it to Liverpool. To blame Captain Turner is inexcusable. He did not have the appropriate knowledge of the submarine’s whereabouts. He receives conflicting reports

The Lusitania sinks so far, in only 18 minutes. We cannot imagine the panic and horror of the passengers. However, those aboard seem calm and are not worried the ship is going down. The failing lifeboats are particularly sad. There are more than enough life boats however, the ship lists so badly the ships are hanging over the side and cannot launch. We cannot imagine the horror of seeing one boat fall on top of another full boat.

We would not want to spend any time in a German submarine. Death is around every corner. There are many factors to control and get right and it changes all the time. Water temperature, depth, and current all affect the submarine. How much fresh water, number or torpedoes, and weight of food affect the pressure and planes needed to dive. There are so many things that could go wrong. Some of the potential deadly events include: asphyxiation from chlorine gas if water touches the batteries; water seeping in from valves left open; or being struck by a boat. The very close quarters and smell of the sub are other unpleasant things to consider. Most of us felt Captain Schwieger got what he deserved. A few years after sinking the Lusitania His sub blew up from contact with a mine in the North Sea.

Woodrow Wilson’s depression and almost apathy for the war is a surprise to all of us. Most did not know his wife died and he remarried while in office. Edith Gault is interesting because she knows how difficult it will be to marry the President. She will come under fire for everything she does. We are glad their love story works out and are happy they marry. Most of us do not realize it took nearly two years for Wilson to declare war after the Lusitania sinks. We all knew the sinking sparks a change in the way Americans view the war. Most members say their knowledge of WWI is much less than that of WWII. This book helps us understand the tragedy and world events surrounding WWI.   

Comments from the De Soto Book Discussion Group regarding our March 2017 selection:

The Truth According to Us 
by Annie Barrows

Our larger than normal group all enjoyed The Truth According to Us. This novel contains a number of storytelling tropes: the coming-of-age-tale, historical fiction, mystery, and a story set in a small town. The story engages you and you feel like you’re walking the streets of Macedonia, West Virginia.

Willa is a fascinating character because she makes it her mission to discover the secrets of adulthood. Willa is wise beyond her years and can read people well. The Macedonia, West Virginia motto of ferocity and devotion is Willa’s new aspiration. Willa begins her story by telling us, “Everything began that day” (Barrows, 2015, p. 4). This statement is true; the arrival of Layla Beck starts a series of events that uncover secrets buried deep in the Romeyn family’s past. Willa is growing up and realizing her place in the world. Willa sees things with new eyes, like her father’s business and Cooey’s Red Apple and his relationship with Layla, and Jottie’s spinsterhood.

One member makes a great statement, “Felix is a sociopath” and the rest of us had to agree. Felix is also charismatic and smooth. Those around Felix explain away his shenanigans as fun and not hurting anybody. Most tend to look the other way, even though the town knows he is a bootlegger. When Felix tells Jottie to choose between him or Sol we all realized something bad is going on between them. Many of us wonder how he is so conniving with Jottie. How does he control her so completely?

Jottie lost years of her life because of Felix’s lies. Jottie is a favorite for many. Some felt surprise that Jottie does not marry Sol. This is Jottie’s chance to live her life and enjoy being a married woman. The others were surprised Jottie became engaged to Sol in the first place. Most understand why Jottie chose to keep her life of independence. Jottie’s love of Vause Hamilton is too big to let go and Sol will never fill his place. Even though Jottie never marries, she lives life as an independent woman running a house and taking care of her nieces. We all love Jottie’s career later in life as a writer of ghost librarian tales.  

Many of our members like Layla Beck the best because she grows and changes so much. Before coming to Macedonia, Layla does not have the opportunity to explore her writing. When Layla first joins the Works Progress Administration under the Federal Writers’ Project, she cannot understand why she must work and is overly dramatic about her living conditions are like. As Layla gets to know people, especially the Romeyn family she begins to enjoy her assignment. Layla ends up feeling closer to the Romeyns than her own family in Washington D.C.

Layla’s growth as a character surprises most of us. Surprisingly, Layla moves beyond being a spoiled, dramatic, rich girl going through the motions of writing the history of the town. Most did not expect Layla to get to know the townspeople and enjoy the town’s history. We also did not see Emmett Romeyn and Layla marrying. However, we are all glad they fell in love and Layla became part of the Romeyn family.

The twins Mae and Minerva make us all laugh because they cannot live apart from each other during the week. We all wish we knew more about them.

The secondary characters are richly drawn and you feel like Barrows knew these people in real life and incorporate them into her novel. Mrs. Bucklew’s relationship with Willa is unexpected. We did not expect Willa to be a bootlegger like her father and wonder how this relationship came to be.  

Having multiple characters tell the story from their point of view leads to a more well-rounded tale. We see into the minds of Jottie, Layla, and Willa giving us a wider view of the story. Barrows does a nice job providing a different perspective and voice for each character. The mix of prose and letter is an enjoyable touch and adds authenticity to the time and characters.    

The title of this novel is a perfect way to describe the arc of history. The truth of history is dependent upon the person telling it, which Layla discovers repeatedly. Many see their families’ history as the only version. However, other people know more details and the other side of the story, which Layla is happy to write because it adds to the history of the town.   

Comments from the De Soto Book Discussion Group regarding our February 2017 selection:

I Will Send Rain 

by Rae Meadows 

I Will Send Rain is an emotional story of an Oklahoma farm family living through Dust Bowl. The members of our group enjoyed this novel. Meadow’s pacing brought the reader into the Dust Bowl slowly. The way Meadow’s develops each character pulls you into a world where each day is a struggle to survive. I Will Find Rain is gritty and raw. You feel for the characters and want it to rain so badly.  

It is hard to imagine the tough farm life. The Bells scrape the dust off a pie then eat it which sounds horrible. Also, none of us can imagine living in a dugout home or going into the cellar with bugs and snakes to protect ourselves.

The Bells are each suffering in their own way and each tries to find a way to forget the hardship. We all understand Annie’s desire to feel feminine and alive again during such a hard time. Her attraction to the Mayor is a way for her to escape the hopeless feeling on the farm. Samuel does not know what to do, so he turns to God and decides to build an arc for the flood that is surely coming. Fred, the eight year old mute boy, is one of our favorite characters. Fred is wise beyond his years and sees things the other characters do not.

Birdie is a typical teenager who wants to find her true love. We all felt sorry for her when her boyfriend Cy moved to California with his family. We all had interesting stories of what happened to Birdie later in life. We appreciate the way this story came full circle for Annie and Samuel. They find their way back to each other because of Birdie’s choice.

The story is wonderfully told through beautiful and stark prose. Fans of William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, and John Steinbeck will enjoy the Bell’s story.