Hi everyone -
We will be discussing CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES by John Kennedy Toole next
Thursday, May 7th at 6pm at Freed-Montrose Library. Claudia will be leading
the discussion. I'm not sure at this point whether we will be upstairs or
downstairs so check the downstairs conference room first.
Also for those who have tickets for ROCK 'N ROLL at the Alley Theatre, it is
this Sunday, May 3rd at 2:30 pm. I've made dinner reservations for us
afterwards at Bierra Poirettis Restaurant adjacent to the Alley Theatre.
Here's a link to info that has directions to the Alley Theatre as well as
parking info. There are numerous garages plus on Sunday afternoon, it is
likely there will be street parking but no guarantees. Fee for garage
parking is usually $5.00. . There are a couple of entrances to the garage
adjacent to the Alley which is convenient. One garage entrance is next to
the restaurant entrance to Bierra Poiretti's Restaurant on Louisianna St.
http://www.alleytheatre.org/Alley/Directions_EN.asp?SnID=98972529
But if you can't seem to locate the Alley Theatre garage, any of the garages
in the area should work. They don't usually allow late seating so be sure to
give yourself enough time to find parking.
Also, the Houston Great Books Council is hosting a series of workshops to
promote quality of book discussion. The first one is scheduled for May 9th
at Houston Community College's West Loop Center (located at the SE corner
of 610) from 10am to 1pm. More details about cost, links to the readings
and how to sign up can be found at
http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/HoustonGreatBooks/
And don't forget we have an election coming up in June when we will elect
new books so be thinking about titles to submit for our ballot.
Looking forward to the play and the 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 READING SELECTIONS
===============================
-- May 3, 2009 Live performance of ROCK 'N ROLL play by Tom Stoppard at the
Houston Alley Theatre will be attended by members of our book club who have
purchased tickets. Dinner reservations made following the performance at
Bierra Poiretti's Restaurant adjacent to the Theatre. No requirement to
attend the play for those who might just want to join us just for dinner but
please let Alice know so she can make sure reservations cover everyone.
-- May 7, 2009 CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES by John Kennedy Toole (publ 1980) 352
pages
Pulitzer Prize winner in 1981
Setting is New Orleans in the early 1960s. The central character is an
intelligent but slothful man still living with his mother at age 30 in the
city's Uptown neighborhood, who, because of family circumstances, must set
out to get a job. In his quest for employment he has various adventures with
colorful French Quarter characters. Many locals and writers of New Orleans
think that it is the best and most accurate depiction of the city in a work
of fiction.
-- Claudia will lead discussion
-- June 4, 2009 TOO LOUD A SOLITUDE by Bohumil Hrabal (self published in
1977) 112 pages
Considered one of the greatest Czech writers of the 20th century, the man
whom Kundera considers to be one of his masters. Tells the story of an
eclectic and dimwitted old man who works as a paper crusher at a hydraulic
press in a dark cellar in Prague. Using his job to save and amass astounding
numbers of rare and banned books, he is an obsessive collector of knowledge.
The books that he must destroy become his whole life, his only companions.
--Jo will lead discussion
Note: At end of discussion in June, group will vote on new titles for
upcoming reading list..
-- July 2, 2009 SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury (publ 1972)
317 pages
About two thirteen-year-old boys who have a harrowing experience with a
nightmarish traveling carnival that comes to their Midwestern town. The
carnival's leader is the mysterious "Mr. Dark" who bears a tattoo for each
person who, lured by the offer to live out his secret fantasies, has become
bound in service to the carnival. Novel places emphasis on the more serious
side of the transition from childhood to adulthood.
-- Cassie will lead discussion
-- August 6, 2009 MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis (publ 1920) 448 pages
First American to win Nobel Prize in 1930.
Captures the aura of small town America which requires conformity to
tradition and social standards in exchange for recognition, respect and love
from one's neighbors, versus the City as depicted by Washington which seems
to offer freedom and individuality precisely because there's no one there
who cares about you or what you do.
--Susan will lead discussion
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