Book Discussion - Thursday June 6th at 6pm at Montrose Library - BELOVED by Toni Morrison

[Alice Aman]

Hi everyone -

Next week on Thursday, June 6th at 6pm at the Houston Freed Montrose
Library, we will meet to discuss BELOVED by Toni Morrision. Nicole is
leading the discussion.

Also, in August, in addition to discussing THE SOUND AND THE FURY,
we will have an election to update our list of titles. Anyone who has
attended at least twice may submit up to two titles for the ballot.
They need to be submitted to me via email in advance. It is not too
early. Take a moment to think about it and send me your candidates.

And for those who want to socialize, consider yourself invited as
always, to join those of us who will be gathering at The Black Lab
restaurant next door after the discussion next week at 8pm.

Hope to see you next week.

--Alice

http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/Montrose

===============UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS==============

Jun 6 BELOVED by Toni Morrison - [publ 1987] 352 pages
Author is winner of Nobel Prize in literature in 1993. Pulitzer Prize
winner in 1988 for BELOVED which was also selected as single best work
of American fiction in past 25 years as determined by a New York Times
poll of 200 prominent writers, critics and editors.
Book examines both the mental and physical trauma caused by brutal
effects of slavery. Sethe struggles to survive in the aftermath of
slavery, haunted by her dead daughter. The author has said "Freeing
yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was
another."
--Nicole leading discussion

Jul 4 Our group will not meet on this holiday. (Conveniently providing
more time to read next month's selection). Alternative recommendation
is for everyone to attend the 11th Annual Independence Day discussion
being organized by the Houston Great Books Council. Usually an excerpt
of the U.S. Constitution is discussed but details are not available
yet to confirm so please stay tuned.

Aug 1 THE SOUND AND THE FURY by William Faulkner (publ 1929) 350 pages
Notoriously "difficult," this novel is actually one of Faulkner's more
accessible works once you get past the abrupt, unannounced time
shifts--and certainly the most powerful emotionally according to some
reviews.
This story of the fall of the Compson family, an aristocratic
Southern family, mirrors the fall of the Old South after the Civil
War.
Election of new tites.
--David leading discussion

Sep 5 THE TRIAL by Franz Kafka (publ 1925) 300 pages
Breon Mitchell translation recommended and available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Trial-Translation-Based-Restored-Text/dp/0805209999/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359660505&sr=1-2
The terrifying tale of Josef K., a respectable bank officer who is
suddenly and inexplicably arrested and must defend himself against a
charge about which he can get no information. Whether read as an
existential tale, a parable, or a prophecy of the excesses of modern
bureaucracy wedded to the madness of totalitarianism, Kafka's
nightmare has resonated with chilling truth for generations of
readers.
-- Will has unexpectedly developed a schedule conflict and cannot
attend as he originally planned. Need someone to volunteer to lead
this discussion.