We'll be discussing HARD TIMES by Charles Dickens next Thursday,
November 5th at 6pm at Freed-Montrose Library in the downstairs
conference room.  Marcella will be leading the discussion.

I had originally planned for us to elect a play at this meeting to be
discussed sometime this Spring but I have changed my mind and hope no
one minds too much if we don't.  Not reading a play will give us an
additional title on the ballot in December for when we elect our
readings for March thru August 2010.

And speaking of our election on December 3rd, it isn't too early to
submit titles for the ballot.  Those who have attended at least two
meetings may submit up to two titles for the ballot.  Please keep in
mind our affiliation with Great Books (www.greatbooks.org) and submit
only those works that are in the "classics" category or are written by
a classic author or are major award winners such as winners of the
Booker, Pulitzer, National Book Award or in the case of the author,
winner of the Nobel prize in literature.  If you aren't sure whether a
title you are interested in fits this description, send me an email
and we can discuss it.

Also, for those who might be interested, a "Closing Event" for Books
on the Bayou is scheduled for
      Saturday, October 31 | 2 PM
      Central Library | 500 McKinney St, 77002 | 832-393-1313

Information below plus more about the event is available at:
http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/event-listing

"Join us for an afternoon of activities and a visit from author and
scholar, Valerie Boyd, as the 8th Annual Books on the Bayou comes to a
close."

"Zora Neale Hurston scholar Valerie Boyd will discuss and sign copies
of her book Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston.
Valerie Boyd is the Charlayne Hunter-Gault Distinguished Writer in
Residence at the University of Georgia."

Hope to see you next Thursday evening for our discussion.

 --Alice

  http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/Montrose
  http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/blog/
  http://groups.google.com/group/MontroseGreatBooks
  http://www.houstongreatbooks.net/groups/Montrose.html
  http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/GreatBooksGuide.htm

======== Upcoming Readings =========================

November 5, 2009 HARD TIMES by Charles Dickens (publ 1854) 313 pages
Novel highlights the social and economic pressures that some were
experiencing at the time. Dickens wished to satirize radical
Utilitarians whom he described ... as "see[ing] figures and averages,
and nothing else." He also wished to campaign for reform of working
conditions.  Setting is the fictitious Victorian industrialist town
named Coketown
--Marcella will lead discussion

December 3, 2009 THE BELL JAR by Sylvia Plath (publ 1963) 288 pages
Book is semi-autobiographical with the protagonist's descent into
mental illness paralleling the author's own experiences chronicled
with stunning wit and devastating honesty. Story begins with the
protagonist as a young girl from the suburbs of Boston gaining a
summer internship at a prominent magazine in New York City.
--Wendy will lead discussion
Note: At end of discussion, group will vote on new titles for upcoming
reading list - March thru August.

January 7, 2010 IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT A TRAVELER by Italo Calvino
(publ 1979) 304 pages
Author was the most-translated contemporary Italian writer at the time
of his death, and a noted contender for the Nobel Prize for
Literature. List of awards of author can be viewed on wikipedia.org
This book is about a reader trying to read a book called If on a
winter's night a traveler. According to this book, the entire novel,
even its plot, is an open trajectory where even the author himself
questions his motives of the writing process.
--Jo will lead discussion