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.

July 6, 2020

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (Zoom)

We're getting better at meeting via Zoom; everybody was able to participate with little trouble.  The book got a fair amount of attention but received mixed reviews.  Most of us were put off by the extensive unreality of the story and setting, and some thought it was too simplistic/juvenile.  Still, there was a compelling story with plenty of action.

Our next book is Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me.  Other suggestions were Sarah Stonich, The Laurentian Divide, and Sinclair Lewis, It Can't Happen Here (which we rejected because we had read it earlier).  Phil will suggest the next book; we plan to meet August 19.