December 14, 2010: "The Professor and the Madman," by Simon Winchester"

I just began reading this one, and it looks good.

I think the author's approach will resemble that of "The Devil in the White City," Erik Larson's story of murder during the 1893 Exposition in Chicago. Here, we'll learn about a murderer in a lunatic asylum and the preparation of the first edition of Oxford English Dictionary.

I guess the literary theory here is that good old murder lends juice to otherwise-dry topics.

November 9, 2010: Anywhere But Here" by Mona Simpson

This was on a list of books recommended by a writer I met this summer, Coe College writing professor Gordon Menenga. Gordon has an interest in, and teaches workshops in literary "voice," which I guess in no surprise, considering that, before he began teaching at Coe, he wrote Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon monologues.

This is simply to say that I'll be paying attention to the "voice" in this book. This was Simpson's first novel, yet, according to salon.com's review, "Simpson's voice emerged fully formed in this stunningly nuanced portrait of a young girl, Ann, and her manipulative mother."

October 12, 2010: "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

We're not the only folks still reading this classic. It's the current selection for the Moline Public Library's "Big Read," the NEA-sponsored program that gets communities involved in reading important works.

Okay, we're a small community, but what the heck. Kelly suggested we give "451" a try. I haven't read it in years, so I say go for it. Even Bonnie, who taught it in her English classes for years agrees.

It's a short novel, as I recall, a story about a future society in which critical thinking and reading are discouraged.

Helloooo! The future is here....

June 8 2010 - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

I read this a ways back; this novel, set in Nigeria, as I recall, was an important book on campuses in the '60s. At least I remember something about the '60s.

It's still taught in schools and colleges, and is, therefore, easily available through interlibrary loan.

April 13 - Running With Scissors, by Augusten Burroughs

Judy at the library hates this book. Frank at the library loves it.

Isn't that just how it is. One man's meat is another man's poison. Your trash is my treasure. You say tomato, I say tomato.

This book is very . . . it's rather . . . well, you have to read it to find out. And, I expect that some of us won't like it.

But how important is it to "like" something. I don't "like" the pastoral paintings of 17th-century Dutch painter Jacob vanderHoosen. I "like" Peanuts. Does that mean Charles Scultz is a better artist than vanderHoosen? Does it mean I have low-brow tastes in art?

I don't know. I picked the book. I like it. It was on the New York Times bestseller list for a month.

All I ask is that you don't throw sharp objects at me at our next meeting.

March 9 - Little Heathens (really, this time)

Polar weather has interrupted our meeting schedule, though certainly not our reading. At our March9 meeting, let's catch up by doing two things:

1- Holding our book discussion, of course. Since we were snowed out last month, let's discuss Little Heathens, our February "read." I suspect Bonnie may have some relevant personal experience to share.

2- Set our reading schedule for the spring. Having a few months' worth of reading scheduled in advance has always kept us on track--when we don't forget to do it. This time, we won't forget. Believe me.

See you soon, you little heathens--
Frank