James by Percival Everett (Estelle)

Everybody liked James, a retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the viewpoint of Jim. It's quite a tour de force, full of insights about race relations, language and class, and American culture and history.  Seen through the aurhor's eyes, several familiar tropes, involving minstrel shows and how to talk in "mixed company", are funny and engaging.  The restaurant served great food and the service was impeccable. Our next book is Homelands: A Personal History of Europe by Timothy Garton Ash.  Other titles considered were James McBride's The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store and Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go.  The next meeting is set for Tuesday, May 28, with Dick in charge of searching out candidates for the next book.

One Summer, America 1927 by Bill Bryson (Online)

An interesting book about the year 1927 but it could have been organized better since it jumps back and forth, descrbing the unfolding events of the year.  Also, it is something of an update to a classic book written in 1930 by William Allen White. It's always fun to read Bryson, however, so it was well worth the time.  The next book is James by Percival Everett, and the following book will be suggested by Roger.

City of Thieves by David Benioff (online)

Supposedly based on a true story, Benioff spins a tale about a couple of Russian soldiers who are sent on a dangerous and ludicrous mission outside the city walls of Leningrad in the midst of the WWII siege.  The author is a co-creator of Game of Thrones and in this novel shows us excellent skils in writing and character development.  Since two of our members were out of town, we held this discussion online.  Our next book is Bill Bryson's One Summer: America, 1927.  Other ideas were Ann Patchett's Tom Lake and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.  Next book will be suggested by Peter.

Chances Are... by Richard Russo (McCormick and Schmick)

McCormick and Schmick proved to be an excellent venue for us.  We had a quiet, semi-private table and the menu was eclectic and affordable,  Plus, our server was lively and attentive.  The Russo book got high ratings from everyone: He's a fine writer with a gift for character development and a twisting plot.  Our next book is City of Thieves by David Benioff. Other titles were Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Bernard Cornwell"s The Last Kingdom. We decided to meet next on Thursday, February 1, although two of our members will be out of town so we may choose to connect by Zoom or Google Meet instead of going to a restaurant.  Max suggests the next book.

The Wager by David Grann (NIghtingale)

Perhaps not David Grann's best book, but The Wager was a compelling story of a mid-18th century British warship and crew that tragically went off the rails.  Buffeted by storms, suffering extensive loss of life, and marooned on the southwest coast of South America, the few surviving crew end up with differing stories and accusations in a naval inquiry back home.  The restaurant was very good but noisy.  Our next book is Richard Russo's Chances Are....  We also considered James McBride's Deacon King Kong and Julie Schumacher's The Shakespeare Requirement.  We tentatively plan to meet on January 4, subject to everyone's availability.  Dick will suggest the next book.

All the Shah's Men by Stephen Kinzer (La Grolla)

This book digs into the overthrow of the Mossadegh regime in Iran by the British and American security services in the years leading up to 1953.  It's a fascinating, complex story that the author turns into a well written and researched thriller.  The restaurant offered great food and service but also lots of noise.  Our next book is David Grann, The Wager.  Also considered were Grann's Killers of the Flower Moon and Ann Patchett's Tom Lake.  We plan to meet on December 13 and Don will bring a list of books for the following month.

Don Fraser by Iric Nathanson (The Great Wall)

The bio of Don Fraser was welcomed by all of us because he played a key role in Minnesota politics for many decades and became an important force for an internationalist foreign policy in the U. S. Congress.  The book covered the important events in Fraser's life but the account seemed one dimentional.  As an introvert, Fraser was a strange and unexpected political phenomenon.  And he sometimes made     questionable career choices, like returning to local politics as Mayor of Minneapolis after years of thinking and working at the international level. But we enjoyed the book and loved the food and service at the Great Wall.  

Our next book is Kinzer's, All the Shah's Men.  Also considered were Patchet, Tom Lake, Orwell, 1984, and McLean, A River Runs Through It.  We plan to meet on Wednesday, Oct. 25.  Peter suggests the next book.

Crooked Path to Abolition by James Oakes (Gus Gus)

The book was an interesting and important topic which focused particularly on Lincoln's evolving understanding and attitude toward abolition.  He was against slavery from his early years, but wanted to deal with it in a step-by-step manner, and as his presidency developed, he became more radical in his thinking.  The problem with the book was the author's need to record every twist and turn on that crooked path.  The end result was a tedious and confusing account.  We decided that he needed a better framework with a consistent look at the big picture.  

The next book is Iric Nathanson's biography of Don Fraser.  Other books considered were Sturdevant's bio of Her Honor, Rosalie Wahl, Werle's Stassen Again, and Milikan's Union Against Unions.  Next meeting is Sept 27.  

March by Geraldine Brooks (Mill Valley Kitchen)

March, a fleshing out of the character of the father of Alcott's Little Women, is partly a novel of the Civil War and partly a character study of an army chaplain who leaves his family for extended periods to further his abolitionist ideals.  Our group marveled at the descriptive details gathered by the author--an Australian--and we rated the book very highly.  Our venue, Mill Valley Kitchen, also rated highly for the quality of the food and the service.  Our next book is The Crooked Path to Abolition by James Oakes.  Also considered were The Beak of the Finch by Rosemary and Peter Grant, The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan, and Destined for War by Graham Allison.  Our next meeting will be August 22 and Dick will suggest the next title.

A Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (Handsome Hog)

On a lovely June evening, we dined on Handsome Hog's patio and had a wide-ranging discussion about many topics, finally settling on our assigned reading of the month: O'Farrell's "A Marriage Portrait".  Loosely based on a true story from the mid-16th century, the author takes us on a winding story, full of beautifully descriptive details about the place and the characters, only to finish with an unexpected outcome.  All of us gave the book and the restaurant high ratings.  Our next book is March by Geraldine Brooks.  Other titles considered were Brooks's Year of Wonders, Stonich's Vacationland, and Krueger's This Tender Land.  Roger will suggest the following book.

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout (Soberfish)

Most of us had read some of Elizabeth Strout's previous work, including Olive Kitteridge, and we were eager to dive into her latest novel.  Lucy by the Sea is written in the same easy, unadorned language and focuses on the same domestic kind of relationships as appeared in earlier work, but the neat interrelationships and the sparkle in writing were somehow lacking.  Maybe we have just heard enough of Strout's fantasy (or maybe real) world of characters.  The restaurant, however, was quite enjoyable and we liked most of the dishes we ordered.  Our next book is Maggie O'Farrell, The Marriage Portrait.  Other titles considered were Eddie Jaku, The Happiest Man on Earth, Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel, and Eric Larson, The Devil in the White City.  (The bookclub previously read the Diamond and Larson books.) Don is in line to suggest the following book.  We plan to meet on June 6.

The Revolutionary by Stacy Schiff (Raag)

Our book, a biography of Samuel Adams, was a fascinating story about a now rather obscure Founding Father who was once considered the leading force behind the American Revolution.  Well researched and written, we enjoyed reading about the backstories of important events like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.  The restaurant, an Indian place called Raag, was an excellent choice with good food and service and a quiet atmosphere. Our next book is Elizabeth Strout, Lucy by the Sea.  Other suggestions were Orwell's 1984 and Will Bunch's After the Ivory Tower Falls.  Peter will suggest the next title.