The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara by David Kertzer

The Locale:  Susan H's

The Book: The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara tells a story of 1858 Bologna, in which papal authorities seized a Jewish boy after it was claimed that he had been secretly baptized. He was then raised as a Christian, and his case, and his parents' struggle to get him back, would come to represent larger conflicts between the Catholic Church and the revolutionary forces for democracy gaining traction in Italy.
http://www.davidkertzer.com/

Sarah's Summary: Thank you for hosting a lovely book club, Susan! I did not finish the book but I knew better than to miss your food;) Yummy Italian grub, finished off with tiramisu (homemade!). It was delicious. 

Only Lori and Susan finished the book. I think we all liked the storyline but many of us felt we were reading a dense book better suited for a college course. I think it would have been had it been written as historical fiction. The author sure put in a lot of history and facts!

Don't forget to go ahead and purchase your ticket to A Man Called Ove.  It is at 5pm on December 11th. Afterward, we dine. The movie is 1h 56 m long so I'll call and make reservations for 7:30. Even if you choose not to go to the movie, I hope you'll meet us for dinner!

Our next selection is Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer, and we will meet at Gina's on January 8th.

Jessica brought three selections to our meeting today, and we voted to read Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, by J.D. Vance. We'll meet sometime in February for that.

Kristine is up to present at our meeting in January and Tassy is in line after her.

Happy Thanksgiving, and I look forward to seeing you all on the 11th!


The Vote: Jessica presented...

• Bandit: A daughter's memoir by Molly Brodak
• I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
• Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance  WINS!!!

Up Next: Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer, and we will meet at Gina's on January 8th.

Next to Present: Kristine

Then: Tassy

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Henning Koch

The Locale: Sarah's

The Book:
Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.
http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Man-Called-Ove/Fredrik-Backman/9781476738024

Fredrik Backman


Sarah's Summary:
I really enjoyed our meeting Sunday at my house to discuss A Man Called Ove. I LOVED it! And am I so happy many of you felt the same way. Brenda said that she sometimes had "Ove" thoughts and a few of us admitted we had a little rule-following, grumpy man inside. I have to share with you that later Sunday afternoon I was walking Layla on the left side of the street, as one is supposed to. As we were walking, some rule-breaker was walking toward us on THEIR right-hand side of the street. For a second, I thought to myself, "Well, I'm on the correct side of the street, you need to move over!" I started laughing out loud, thinking OMG, I am Ove!! The difference: I smiled nicely at the rule-breaker instead of yelling at them. Ove- I laughed with him and cried with him. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it.

And speaking of enjoying Ove, the Swedish movie will be coming to Tallahassee for a limited engagement on December 9th at All Saints Cinema. I'll keep you posted!

We are meeting next at Susan H's house on November 20th to discuss The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara by David I. Kertzer.

Bring restaurant suggestions with you to our next meeting as we'll pick a place to have our December dinner. In the past, we've gone the first week or so of December as our calendars start filling up later in the month. How does Thursday, December 8th look for everyone? We'll confirm the date and location at Susan's.

Gina will be the next to host sometime in January. Many of us had already read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (and if you haven't, do. It's very good.) so the votes were cast for the remaining two. Our next selection is Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer. Our book club read an earlier book by Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, several years ago.

FYI, his book was reviewed Fresh Air last month:
http://www.npr.org/2016/09/08/493116005/jonathan-safran-foers-here-i-am-is-both-dazzling-and-draining

He was also on the September 27 City Arts and Lecture series (aired today on WFSU) being interviewed. I couldn't find the link to the audio.

We missed you, Carmen and Laura! As a friendly reminder, if you won't be able to make the meeting, please let someone know your 1st and 2nd place choices so we have your vote. Every vote counts ;)

See you next month!


The Vote: Gina presented...

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 
• The Nix by Nathan Hill
• Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer   WINS!!!

Gina will host sometime in January.

Up Next: The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara by David I. Kertzer Susan H's on November 20th.

Next to Present: Jessica

Then: Kristine

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

The Locale: Lori's

The Book: They carried malaria tablets, love letters, 28-pound mine detectors, dope, illustrated bibles, each other. And if they made it home alive, they carried unrelenting images of a nightmarish war that history is only beginning to absorb. Since its first publication, The Things They Carried has become an unparalleled Vietnam testament, a classic work of American literature, and a profound study of men at war that illuminates the capacity, and the limits, of the human heart and soul.

The Things They Carried depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and the character Tim O’Brien, who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/133518.The_Things_They_Carried

Tim O’Brien

Sarah's Summary:
In a rare move, I am sending around my update from yesterday's meeting within 24 hours!!

Lori, the food was amazing. I know we all appreciated the time and effort you put into making the Vietnamese feast you served. The dessert was delightful as well as your specialty cocktail. Red lotus? As always, I have to ask is this a dinner club or book club?!

We had a great discussion of The Things They Carried and some of us really liked it and others not so much. Kristine was put off mostly by the fact that she thought we were reading a nonfiction book but it was actually fiction. Many of us understood the uneasiness that brought to the novel. It was well written and, as Susan pointed out, although the author skipped around in time a lot, it wasn't difficult to follow as often time hopping books can be. Some of the short stories were difficult to read. I am glad I read it, even though I was in the "not-so-much" crowd.

We missed you, Carmen and Susan. Sadly, during our meeting Lori received a text that Brandy will not be able to continue on with our book club. I am glad she was part of our group the past couple of years and I will miss her sense of humor. Her book selections were The Martian and The Children Act. It's always sad to see someone leave :(

In her place, however, is Laura. I'll let her introduce herself at our November meeting but in a nutshell, she works with Susan H. at DOT, has three boys and is a Trinity Mom. And she's fantastic :) Welcome to the DOTY book club, Laura!

Susan H. presented three books, one fiction and two nonfiction, for our next meeting. It was a runoff with The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara by David Kertzer beating out The Rules of Civility by Amor Towels. Third place was The Battle of Versailles by Robin Givhan. She will let us know when we will meet at her house. Sometime in November.

We will meet at my house on October 9th. I'll send out a reminder a week or so before. And around the same time we should receive selections from Gina for our January meeting.

I've attached the spreadsheet of books from the beginning of time (!). It's always fun to see what we've read and what has been presented. As discussed, I'll rearrange the list to shake things up a bit next year after we get through our "newbies" this time around.

See ya'll in a month,

Sarah

The Vote: Susan H. presented...

• The Battle of Versailles by Robin Givhan 
• The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara by David Kertzer WINS!! 
• Rules of Civility by Amor Towles 

Susan H. will let us know when we will meet at her house. Sometime in November.

Up Next: We meet next on October 9th at Sarah's to discuss A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Henning Koch.

Next to Present: Gina

Then:
Jessica
Kristine

The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan

The Locale: Brenda's

The Book: At the height of World War II, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was home to 75,000 residents, and consumed more electricity than New York City, yet it was shrouded in such secrecy that it did not appear on any map. Thousands of civilians, many of them young women from small towns across the U.S., were recruited to this secret city, enticed by the promise of solid wages and war-ending work. What were they actually doing there? Very few knew. The purpose of this mysterious government project was kept a secret from the outside world and from the majority of the residents themselves. Some wondered why, despite the constant work and round-the-clock activity in this makeshift town, did no tangible product of any kind ever seem to leave its guarded gates? The women who kept this town running would find out at the end of the war, when Oak Ridge’s secret was revealed and changed the world forever.
http://www.girlsofatomiccity.com

Denise Kiernan 

Sarah's Summary: 
Thank you, Brenda, for a fantastic book club! We missed you, Brandy!

The food was delicious. I discovered I LIKE spam! Especially when paired with a rich fettuccine Alfredo :) And the gelatin mold was delicious as well. Thanks for a thoughtfully conceived menu! We discussed The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan. Most of us thought it was OK, agreed the author wasn't the best person to tell the stories, but the topic was an interesting one. It seems there are always more tales and perspectives from WWII and we keep discovering them.

We meet next on September 18th at Lori's to discuss The Things they Carried by Tim O'Brien. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman will be our next book. It will be at my house on October 16th.

After me, it's Susan H, Jessica, Kristine, Brandy and Tassy. We'll need to put Jolynda in there somewhere- I put you after Tassy. Then we start over with Carmen.

I have attached the updated spreadsheet. (Tassy, it looks like you joined us in 2009!) I enjoy looking over it to see the books we've read. Fun, and not so fun, memories. Cliffs of despair. Ugh.

See you all next month at Lori's. Susan, we'll look for your selections about a week out.

Sarah

The Vote: Sarah presented...

• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Henning Koch WINS!! 
• The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) by Graeme Simsion
• The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri

Sarah will host A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman on October 16th.

Up Next: We meet next on September 18th at Lori's to discuss The Things they Carried by Tim O'Brien.

Next to Present: Susan H.

Then: 
Gina
Jessica
Kristine

American by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Locale: Susan S.'s
The Book: A powerful, tender story of race and identity by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun.

Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion—for each other and for their homeland.
http://chimamanda.com/books/americanah/

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

Sarah's Summary:
I think I forgot to send around an update from our last meeting. Sorry, summer just puts me off routine :(

We had a fantastic meeting, as always, at Susan S' house to discuss Americanah. The food was amazing, fresh strawberry shortcake- YUM!! We are meeting NEXT Sunday at Brenda's house, August 21st, to discuss The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan.

We will meet in September to discuss The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. Lori is the hostess for that discussion, but I don't think we picked a date?

It looks like I am up next to present- I'll try to send out my choices this weekend.

After me it's Susan H, Jessica, Kristine, Brandy and Tassy. We'll need to put Jolynda in there somewhere- maybe after Tassy?

Sarah


The Vote: Lori presented...

• The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien WINS!! 
• Big Little Lies By Liane Moriarty
• H is for Hawk By Helen Macdonaldn

Lori will host on September 19th.

Up Next: The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan at Brenda's on August 21st.

Next to Present: Sarah

Then:
Susan H.
Gina
Jessica
Kristine
Tassy
Brandy
Jolynda
Carmen
Susan S.
Brenda

The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

The Locale: Carmen's

The Book: The Life We Bury tells the story of Joe Talbert, a junior at the University of Minnesota, who receives a class assignment to write a biography of someone who has lived an interesting life. At a nursing home, he meets Carl Iverson, a man dying of cancer who has been medically paroled after spending thirty years in prison for the murder of a fourteen-year-old girl. Carl agrees to tell Joe his story, and Joe sets out to unravel the tapestry of the thirty-year-old murder.

To complicate things, Joe's bi-polar, alcoholic mother has taken up with a low-life who hits Joe's eighteen-year-old autistic brother. Joe is torn by the guilt of going to college and abandoning his brother. Throughout the novel, Joe has to intercede to protect his brother and is conflicted every time he has to once again leave his brother behind. The power of that guilt weighs heavily upon Joe and will demand a resolution of its own.

The Life We Bury is full of tension, twists and turns, and has a powerful, climactic ending sure to gratify. But in the end, it is the bond between Joe and his brother Jeremy that gives this novel its big (albeit tormented) heart.
http://www.alleneskens.com/life-we-bury.php

Allen Eskens

Sarah's Summary: 

Thanks, Carmen, for some delicious food (and for sharing the broccoli salad recipe). Sorry, Charlie didn’t get any! It's always good to catch up on everyone's news and I really enjoy our Sunday afternoons. :)

It was a lively discussion of The Life We Bury and most of us enjoyed the book, though many found the ending a little too neat and tidy and a little too unbelievable. But it was a page-turner and fun.

For the first time ever, all those present voted for the same book, except for the one person (Brandy) who had already read it! Sorry, Jessica, yours was the only vote cast for I am Malala! The rest of us choose The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan. I found all of the choices interesting but voted for this because I had no knowledge of this story- it sounds fascinating!

We meet next at Susan Saunders' house on July 10th to discuss Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Brenda will host sometime in August. We tentatively set the date for August 21, and we can firm it up at the next meeting. FYI, Tigger has decided NOT to work the Olympics so if we choose that date I no longer have a conflict.

Good luck with the last few days of school and have an enjoyable start to the summer. I look forward to catching up again in July.

Sarah

The Vote: Brenda presented...

• The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan     WINS!! 
• I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
• Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson

Brenda will host sometime in August. We tentatively set the date for August 21st.

Up Next: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at Susan's on July 10th.

Next to Present: Lori

Then:
Gina
Sarah
Susan H.
Jessica
Kristine
Tassy

Brandy
Jalinda
Carmen
Susan S.

Brenda

Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

The Locale: Tassy's

The Book: On the eve of her daughter’s wedding, June Reid’s life is completely devastated when a shocking disaster takes the lives of her daughter, her daughter’s fiancé, her ex-husband, and her boyfriend, Luke—her entire family, all gone in a moment. And June is the only survivor.

Alone and directionless, June drives across the country, away from her small Connecticut town. In her wake, a community emerges, weaving a beautiful and surprising web of connections through shared heartbreak.

From the couple running a motel on the Pacific Ocean where June eventually settles into a quiet half-life, to the wedding’s caterer whose bill has been forgotten, to Luke’s mother, the shattered outcast of the town—everyone touched by the tragedy is changed as truths about their near and far histories finally come to light.
http://www.billcleggauthor.com/about-the-book.html

Bill Clegg



Susan's Summary: Hi all.  Just a tidbit about our meeting on April 3rd @ Tassy's.  I wasn't able to attend in person, but I was brought in via FaceTime. Thanks, Kristine and gang!  What a hoot!  I did toss the idea out there; but, when I didn't receive a response via email, I just figure it was a no-go.  Not so.  Kristine brought her iPad to the meeting, and I got a delightful surprise while visiting my girlfriend in Orlando.  That's me, in the pic, front and center in the chair.  Next time, I'll be prepared and stay in for the whole meeting.  And Kristine - very impressed with the tech skills!  Kicking it up a notch.  Good for you.

While I didn't get to stay for the whole meeting, just a few minutes really, I was able to present my books.  The winner was Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Our next meeting will be at Carmen's. She had tentatively said May 15th but now has a conflict.  Tennis sectionals in Daytona. Carmen is waiting until the May schedule comes out to finalize a date.  Possibly as soon as May 1st.  Also looking at May 22nd. She'll let us know as soon as her schedule comes out.

Susan

The Vote: Susan presented...

• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie WINS!! 
• The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma
• A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James     

Meeting date July 10th for Americanah.

Up Next: The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens at Carmen's May 22nd.

Next to Present: Brenda 

Then: 

• Gina
• Lori 
• Gina 
• Sarah
• Susan H.
• Jessica
• Kristine
• Tassy
• Jalinda
• Carmen
• Susan S.

The Martian by Andy Weir

The Locale: Brandy's

The Book: Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?
http://www.andyweirauthor.com/books/the-martian-movie-tie-in-tr/the-martian-hc


Sarah's Summary: Thanks for a fun meeting on Sunday, Brandy! The quiches, salads and desserts were delicious. And the reclaimed water tasted so fresh!

We had a fun discussion on Sunday, and we all liked The Martian. All but three of us present had seen the movie as well. As much as we like strong female characters, we agreed that a woman may not have been able, physically, to have accomplished all Watney could do. As a botanist, he also had the best chance of survival! And he was very funny, considering his predicament. Brenda- the smell!! At least, he got that one bath.

Carmen shared some fantastic news - she's diving back into nursing! I think it's safe to say none of us will be needing your services in Labor and Delivery, but I know the women who check into TMH will be in good hands.

We missed you, Kristine and Brenda and hope you can join us on April 3rd to discuss Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg. That takes place at Tassy's house.

We had a close vote again, and The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens won out over The Girl With No Past. This book was on Jessica's list a few months ago; but instead, she introduced us to the charming Flavia. Sometimes it takes a second time around to pick a book!

Have a great Spring Break and I look forward to catching up with everyone in April.

Sarah


The Vote: Carmen presented...

• Pretty Girls: A Novel by Karin Slaughter
• The Girl With No Past by Kathryn Croft
• The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens     WINS!! 

Meeting date TBD.

Up Next: Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg at Tassy's on April 3rd

Next to Present: Susan S.

Then:

• Brenda 
• Gina
• Lori 
• Gina 
• Sarah
• Susan H.
• Jessica
• Kristine
• Tassy
• Jalinda
• Carmen

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

The Locale: Kristine's

The Book: Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn’t simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life’s ordeals.
http://www.garthstein.com/works/the-art-of-racing-in-the-rain/

Sarah's Summary:  We had a fantastic meeting yesterday. Thanks for the yummy food, Kristine, including the bone-shaped brownies and ice cream. The race cars on the table were adorable- very thoughtful presentation! We sure missed having Tassy, Carmen and Lori there.

The book was fun to discuss, especially as most of us liked it. Some of us more than we thought we would; others less than we thought we would. Though the storyline of Denny and his troubles was not a hit and felt cliché, having the narration from the dog's point of view worked for most of us. One of those books I would have never read- this is why I love this book club!!

Which brings me to our selections from Tassy. For the first time in the 10-year history of the DOTY book club, we had a 3-way tie!! After everyone present voted on the book they did not want to read (Girl with Gun), we re-voted and selected Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg. Tassy, we probably won't be meeting until April because of Spring Break. You can let us know what date works best for you at our next meeting.

We'll meet at Brandy's on February 21st to discuss The Martian by Andy Weir. Carmen is next to present. Please send those selections around the week before we meet.

Happy reading!

The Vote: Tassy presented...

• Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart 
• The Strangler Vine by MJ Carter 
• Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg WINS!! 

Meeting date TBD, in April.

Up Next: The Martian by Andy Weir at Brandy's on February 21st

Next to Present: Carmen

Then:

• Susan 
• Brenda 
• Lori 
• Gina 
• Sarah
• Jessica
• Kristine
• Tassy