Book Discussion downstairs Thurs Nov 6th at Montrose Library - CATCH22 by Joseph Heller

[A Aman]

Hi everyone --

We will be discussing CATCH22 by Joseph Heller at Freed Montrose Library on November 6th at 6pm.  We will be meeting in the downstairs conference room and Wendy will be leading the discussion.

Also, we will be voting on whether a majority of us want to read a play this coming Spring, one that is scheduled to be performed locally.  I've put together a list of plays that will be performed locally that I think can be considered either classics or award winning. (I've intentionally left off musicals).  Take a look at:
  http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/Montrose/ballots/playballot.html
Check out locations and the prices, etc. For some, there are different prices depending on the days.  If a play is chosen, we will then have a signup sheet for those who are interested in attending. 

Everyone can vote, even those who aren't interested in attending the performance since this will also be the topic of one of our discussions next Spring.

If you know of a play that's not on the list but you think should be included, please send me an email in advance of our meeting next Thursday so I can put it on the ballot.

I will send the clipboard around to see which one gets the most votes if there is enough interest.

--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 SELECTIONS
=========================

-- Nov 6, 2008 CATCH 22 by Joseph Heller (publ 1961) 464 pages
The novel, set during the later stages of World War II from 1943 onwards, is frequently cited as one of the great literary works of the Twentieth century.
Classic novel of wartime madness. Story is a general critique of bureaucratic operation and reasoning, among other things. Joseph Heller's brilliance lies in his ability to exaggerate an issue, idea or element of society so perfectly that we see it for just how foolish it is.
--Wendy will lead discussion
Note: At end of November discussion, group will consider election of a play from available Houston theatre schedules - (classic preferred, excluding musicals for now) --hopefully one  performed somewhere in Houston in March. Play to be discussed at one of our meetings so play needs to be one where text is available.

-- Dec 4, 2008 TROPIC OF CANCER by Henry Miller (publ 1934)
The Modern Library named it the 50th greatest book of the 20th century.
Only a historic court ruling that changed American censorship standards permitted its publication. Famed mixture of memoir and fiction, which chronicles with unapologetic gusto the life and sexual adventures of a young expatriate writer, his friends, and the characters they meet in Paris in the 1930s.
--Susan will lead discussion
Note: At end of discussion, group will vote on new titles for upcoming reading list..

-- Jan 1, 2009 No discussion this month because of holiday. This should give you more time for extra long book to be discussed in February.

-- Feb 5, 2009 MIDDLESEX by Jeffrey Eugenides (publ 2002) 544 pages
2003 Pulitzer Prize winner, 2007 Oprah Book Club selection
The narrator and protagonist, an intersexed person has 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. The bulk of the novel is devoted to telling his coming-of-age story growing up in Detroit, Michigan in the late 20th century. ...story is intertwined with elements of a family saga, meditations on the era's zeitgeist and bits of contemporary history. Possible discussion questions at
http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_guides/detail/index.cfm?book_number...
-- Marcella will lead discussion