We are seven handsome and charming* guys who meet at a different restaurant every month or so, having read a book in common, and discuss whatever we want--generally the assigned book, but usually many other timely topics as well. We rotate the responsibility to suggest titles, but the group has the final say. Our book club rules: 1) Anything goes, fiction or nonfiction; 2) paperbacks are preferred; and 3) staying under 300 pages is desirable (N.B., we violate this one all the time). We rate all books and restaurants on a 5-point scale.

* All other adjectives were vetoed.

March 16, 2016

Driftless by David Rhodes (Dixie's)

We met at Dixie's, a long-established, southern-style restaurant in St. Paul.  They had recently updated their menu and we had high hopes for the new offerings, but most of us thought the food was just so-so.  It was not busy, however, and the service was good.  Our general conversation focused on travel (e.g. to Antarctica) and electoral politics.  We thought the book was pretty good, but flawed. It was fairly well-written with interesting character portraits and good sketches of local culture, but it seemed too episodic and jumpy.  We felt it was time to try a non-fiction title next time: James Madison and the Making of America by Kevin Gutzman.  We also considered The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal.  Don suggests the book for the following month; we'll meet on April 19.
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