Thanks for the recommendation, Lana. It was the choice of our only lonely male member of my bookclub. He has a habit of selecting military/war books and was asked to explore other genres. And to quote him at the last meeting, he spent over 3 hours wondering through Barnes and Noble, often asking other woman for suggestions after having shared he was our token male. I guess he explains why Troublesome was one of his choices.
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Our group is all female. We even talked about how it would have been interesting to get a male perspective of the book. But we decided that just like women, one man’s thoughts don’t represent all men. We all enjoyed it except one member who wouldn’t even read it because it was about “women’s rights.”
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I’m reading a lovely book by Katherine White who was a writer and editor for The New Yorker and married to EB White. It’s called Onward and Upward in the Garden. It has a lovely introduction written by EB White. It’s a collection of her writings on gardens, gardeners, seed catalogs, flower arranging, developments in gardening and more. It is absolutely charming and you wouldn’t expect less from Katherine who edited the works of Nabokov, Updike, Thurber and others. I would recommend it anyone who loves gardens and gardening and of course, good writing.
For book club: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. Foot binding is part of the story. Very fascinating.
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@Roberta_Winchester If you haven’t read it already, you might try Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim. It may be listed with Marie Beauchamp (Elizabeth’s birth name) as the author. Written in1898, it “chronicles a year in the life of a British woman married to a German aristocrat as she finds joy and independence by creating a garden on her husband’s estate.”
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Thank you so much for that recommendation. I’ve heard of that book but have never read it. Will add it to my TBR pile which is growing like weeds!
I am reading The Space Between Us by Thrifty Umrigar for the second time is a few months. I would highly recommend it ! It officially has made it to my all time favorite book list. The author is an extraordinary storyteller and writer. The plot is heart stopping and the 2 main characters are wonderfully developed. This book happens to be our book club’s selection for this month and I am anticipating some exceptional discussions!
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I just finished BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande after attending 3 funerals this past month. They were all close to my age and unfortunately they lost their lives after battling cancer. I was in a somewhat emotional mood when I started this book last night. However the book is not depressing, merely thought provoking. The beauty of the book is that it causes the reader to think about subjects about which neither society nor individuals have given much thought. And these subjects deserve more thought and debate.
What I gained from this is that the priorities of medicine, society, institutions and even our own children are different from those of us senior citizens. Theirs are safety and longevity. Ours are independence and control of our lives. As the author wrote, “Medicine concentrates on the repair of health, not sustenance of the soul.”
The topic of the book does not sound enlightening, but the book is remarkably well written and engages the reader. In part this is due to the manner in which the author uses real-life examples to illustrate the points that he makes. The result is that his arguments are persuasive. He persuaded me to reconsider my perspective about my own future happiness—to maintain as much control over life decisions as possible and not to automatically cede them to doctors and family members.
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Thank you, Lynne, for this deeply personal and eloquent review of Being Mortal. I am, myself, a “senior” person, and this book, as you have described, is exactly what I am seeking at this time in my life.
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I will let all know his opinion. He has been with the group almost since its beginning. I have to give him credit for hanging in all of 20 years.
@Carol_N I’m in a book club with only one man also. He happens to be one of the founding members and the group started back in the 80s so he definitely has staying power. I do find he tends to hang back a little with his opinions but he’s always ready to speak when asked directly.
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I’m glad you had a chance to read Being Mortal, @Lynne_G. It’s probably the only NF book I’ve read multiple times, and I take something new away from it each time. I think it’s a very important book and it’s one I think everyone should read.
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I need to read more Thrity Umrigar! She teaches in Cleveland, so I feel I should be more loyal to her (I was born in Ohio). My library book club read Honor (and it was well received), and I’ve been wondering which book from her backlist I should read next.
Yes, it was a valuable read, No one wants to think of their mortality but especially with uncertainty of aging it becomes more of a problem/
@Lynne_G I’m adding The Sisterhood to my stack! Appreciate your details on the book!
@Carol_N. Will put off starting Stout’s “Things We Never Say” until I handle something “sorrowful” - I do appreciate the heads up in that regard.
Finished Euphoria by Lily King which I thoroughly loved! I’ll add it to my challenge updates.
Finished This is Your Mother by Erika Simpson. This is a memoir which is a quick read due to her writing gifts, but I somehow expected more, or different based on the blurbs about it. I’ll add to my challenge updates.
Will be rereading Culpability by Bruce Holsiinger for my book club in September. I read it when it first came out attracted to the legal challenges AI will be presenting to us all. In this case, determining the guilt of an auto accident. The family dynamic made for interesting subplot as well.
Just finished Winter People by Daniel Mason which I really loved. The details of war were pretty rough, but the characters were compelling and I was surprised by the ending. I really loved North Woods and had a chance to attend a book reading by him and breezed through Country People. I was interesting to hear that he plotted Winter People fully out, but allowed the characters in North Woods and Country People to direct the story lines. Not being a writer myself, I’m fascinated by the process. I’ve found a local bookstore that does a lot of readings, and have been really enjoying those. Another recent reading/book was Miss Bates by Catherine Cliff, which I really loved. It’s pretty dark, but that seems to be my jam these days. It prompted me to re-read Jane Austen’s Emma and it confirmed that I’m still not a fan of the title character. I know that many feel she is reformed by the end of the book and on her way to being a kinder, less judgmental person, but I’m not buying it–her entitlement and selfishness seem more part of her character than just a youthful indiscretion. Just started Lionel Shriver’s So Much for That which has been on my list for a long time. I really loved The Post Birthday World but I wonder if the topic of this book (healthcare and financial ruin) might be too much for me to stick with. I’m not connecting with the characters yet, so we’ll see if I manage to get on a roll.
Grateful for the strong recommendations for Being Mortal. As the primary “person” for my 91-year old father, his quality of life is top of mind. I’m grateful that he’s clear on his wishes (and vocal about them) and that he’s still mentally healthy. Helping him age is a good practice run for my own aging.
I just finished reading Kristin Hannah’s Summer Island. It was well written with much appreciated descriptive language of the Pacific Northwest area. At some point one can see how the plot will end but the reading to get there is gratifying. I liked reading about the interactions between the mother and two daughters, all with respective personal bad memories and significant issues. It is gratifying to see the relationships as they work toward mending. All three progress in emotional development as the plot unfolds. Another book I am reading this week is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - a remarkable book that will immerse you from the start. I am reading it through Audible and am glad that was my chosen course so I can read it while walking, gardening, or whatever. In these times I find it a treasure and a relief to see relationships through different, positive eyes. I haven’t finished yet but know I will love it to the end. To see the positive impact one man’s thoughtful behavior can have on others is comforting and encouraging. Maybe we can all set an intent be a Theo whenever possible.
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