The Sandcastle Girls - Nov. 7, 2013

Attendees:  Pam, Susan, Cheryl, Myra, Michelle,
                  Lori and Nan

This book was a work of historical fiction involving the Armenian genocide.  Most of us had never heard of the Armenian genocide which occurred around the First World War. This was the Ottoman government's extermination of minority Armenian people from their homeland which is present day Turkey. Males were killed by massacre and forced labor while women, children and the elderly and infirmed were forced to march to the Syrian desert.

The story told about a young American woman who arrived in Syria to deliver food and medical aid to the refugees of the genocide.  She falls in love with an Armenian engineer, whom she marries and comes back to America with him to live.  Her family - children and grandchildren - are not aware of what happened to their parents/grandparents in Syria until their granddaughter starts to research their life.

In our discussion:
     Interest of topic: yes, since so many of us were not aware of this time in history
     Character Development:  used as a vehicle to push the story long
     Plot Development:  N/A
     Author's Creativity:  so, so - he had to tell a story to get the historical topic across
     Overall Experience:  Enjoyed the history
     Rating:  4

We also voted to buy the house in front of the neighborhood for OUR book club house.  It would  have its own library, places to read quietly and a place you could escape to.  It would be perfect for us!!!

Buddy Hawkins made another appearance to our book club.  Thank you all for being so tolerant of him!!
Quote of the night was:  Nan, you're not giving him enough attention!!!

Ernie

Our Book Club house

                                      

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - October 10

Nan, Mary Margaret, Michelle and Lori all engaged in deep and meaningful conversations

Attendees for the evening (11): Cheryl (hostess), Myra, Pam, Susan, Amy, Emily, Nan, Mary Margaret, Michelle, Lori, Pat

When Harold Fry discovers that a former friend and colleague is seriously ill, he sets out to mail her a letter but instead embarks on a 600-mile walk across England.

One of the main themes of the novel: A seemingly ordinary life can take on extraordinary aspects. "Life might appear ordinary simply because the person living it had been doing so for a long time."

Harold never fully understands why he started his journey or all he is walking for; he just knows he must keep going. The novel gave us moments of connection, the reawakening of a woman frozen by grief, and examples of the ability of people to touch one another's lives.

Most readers were surprised how far gone Queenie was in her illness by the time Harold arrived; she was in a much worse state than we presumed.

Several main characters were well developed. We felt the overall idea that "it's not the destination but the journey that matters" stayed with us.

Rating: 4.0

Amy's quote of the night: "All this nonsense is about the clowns!"

Hostess Cheryl hopes that everyone takes home some leftovers!