Next Thursday, August 5, Lemuria’s book club “Atlantis” will be meeting to discuss The Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. Set in cold Wisconsin in the early 1900s, the novel’s extremely snowy and miserable setting accurately reflects the inner workings of the protagonist’s warped mind. After reading an advertisement in a Chicago newspaper for “a good, reliable wife”, Catherine sets off with one goal which will get her the money but delete the new husband! The reader slowly figures this out! What happens at the end is not only amazing, but remarkable. Take a look at what some of the reviewers have said:
“Astonishing, complex, beautifully written, and brilliant”…..Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants
“Engrossing and Addictive”….NPR’s Morning Edition
“A Thrilling, Juicy Read….A Real Page-Turner”…..the Today Show
“Good to the Riveting End”….USA Today
On September 2, we’ll be discussing Woodsburner by John Pipkin. Based on the life of Henry David Thoreau and a particular incident where he accidentally set fire to the woods around Concord, resulting in the unfortunate burning of many homes and businesses, as well as beautiful woods, this historically accurate novel creates a compelling, provocative, captivating read. Many fictitious characters help Thoreau fight the fire and become very endearing to the reader. Reviews have been great:
” An Exceptional debut. Pipkin tells his story with the verve and authority of a veteran novelist. “…..Ron Rash, author of Serena
“What a terrific tale John Pipkin spins! He has taken a dramatic episode in the life of Henry David Thoreau and transformed it into a gripping and profound work of fiction.”….Doris Kearns Goodwin
“Witty, bawdy, philosophical,touching, and humorous, Woodsburner is a novel I didn’t want to end. This book is packed with interesting ideas, vital characters, and vivid writing.”……Sena Jeter Naslund, author of Ahab’s Wife and Four Spirits
On Thursday, October 7, the book club will talk about a novel which was a finalist for he Pen/Faulkner Award, which did win the Orange Award: The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. With a long list of superb publications, including Poisonwood Bible, Animal Dreams, Pigs in Heaven, and her last book which was non-fiction, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Kingsolver knows how to weave a tale! The Lacuna, set in Mexico and in the United States in the early 1950s, follows the life of the protagonist who grew up in an extreme environment in Mexico and then used his experiences to become an award winning writer in the D.C. area.Reviewers have had laudatory remarks:
“The most mature and ambitious novel she’s written….An absorbing portrayal of American life at a time when the country moved swiftly from Depression to World War to consumerism spun through with political paranoia…..A rich novel with a large, colorful canvas.”…..Washington Post
“The story is so seductive, the prose is so elegant, the architecture of the novel so imaginative, it becomes hard to peel away from the book.”…..Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“A work that is often close to magic.”….Denver Post
So, come join us for an invigorating look at these superb literary novels. We meet in Lemuria’s dot.com building just outside Broadstreet Bakery’s north door, at 5 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month for one hour. Readers, young and old, novice and expert, gather around a table and discuss great literature, and have fun while doing so! Email me at: nan@lemuriabooks.com to be added to our email book club list. I’ll be glad to add your name!
-Nan
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