June 14, 2011: "Freedom," by Jonathan Franzen

Born in the Chicago suburbs and raised outside of St. Louis, Franzen knows the Midwest. He also knows what Tolstoy knew:

 "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

Some readers don't enjoy stories about family dysfunction. They'd prefer to read "The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore"and watch "Little House on the Prairie" with the grandchildren. Good for them. The world needs boring people, if only to help the rest of us feel a little better.

Me, I'd rather read Franzen.

April 12, 2011: "The White Tiger," by Aravind Adiga

Back to India, sahib and memsahib.

A few years ago, we read "Freedom at Midnight," the story of the liberation of India. Now, something more contemporary. "The White Tiger" won the 2008 Man Booker Prize for the best English-language full-length novel by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe.

For reviews, take a look here. For discussion, come to the April meeting. I know Marilyn will come; she's travelled to India and can provide us with a first-hand view of things.