List of Upcoming Discussions

Here's a list of the books we'll be discussing for remainder of 2006 for anyone out there who would like to read along. July 6th, 1 pm July 18th, 7 pm Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston The world knows the outlines of Ralston's extraordinary story: with precious little water or food, his right arm pinned for nearly five days by a boulder in a narrow canyon shaft in central-eastern Utah, Ralston amputated the arm with his pocketknife, then rappelled and hiked his way to his own rescue. What makes his account of his ordeal extraordinary is the detail and precision Ralston, a former mechanical engineer, brings to the telling. August 3rd, 1 pm August 15th, 7 pm When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka Re-creates the Japanese internment camps of WWII with the precision of a fine jeweler. Minimal, almost flawless, the story follows an American-Japanese family uprooted from their home "for the sake of national security" and sent to an internment camp in Utah. Broken by circumstance and prejudice, they will continue to pay, in large and small ways, for the shape of their eyes. September 7th, 1 pm September 19th, 7 pm Almost by Elizabeth Benedict A story about starting over and looking back, about the pain of staying and the consequences of leaving, and about a woman's longing for children, "Almost" presses readers to wonder how much responsibility they bear for other people's happiness. By this riveting novel's end, Sophy has it all figured out--almost. October 5th, 1 pm October 17th, 7 pm Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson The four visitors at Hill House-- some there for knowledge, others for adventure-- are unaware that the old mansion will soon choose one of them to make its own. Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has unnerved readers since its original publication in 1959. A tale of subtle, psychological terror, it has earned its place as one of the significant haunted house stories of the ages. November 2nd, 1 pm November 21st, 7 pm Paul’s Case by Willa Cather Paul, a sensitive high school student, felt very frustrated with his home life and his family's expectations that he would grow up to work in a factory or the steel mills as his father and most of his neighbors did. It is a testimony to the reality of youthful dissatisfactions and the common failure of families to understand and of schools to be helpful. Paul was a misfit and was unable to accept the drab reality of his daily life. He takes action with unfortunate consequences. December 5th, 7 pm Annual Christmas Party We will watch the movie version of Paul’s Case. We will hold our annual bookmark and Christmas goodie exchange. Here’s how it works. Bring a bookmark, purchased or homemade; wrapped or unwrapped. We play a game to exchange them so everyone goes home with someone else’s bookmark. Also bring two dozen of your favorite Christmas treats—cookies, candies, etc. We will feast on these while we watch the movie, then we all go home with a sampler plate of each other’s treats