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.

January 26, 2021

Olive Again by Elizabeth Strout (Online)

Having read the first installment of this series back in 2009, we wanted to see if Strout's character could retain our interest.  The answer was a resounding "yes".  Olive's quirky personality and outlook holds up well and continues to challenge and charm us.  And like the earlier book, each chapter constitutes a stand-alone story of human strength, folly, or frailty which is well integrated into the overall book.

Our next book is Jill Conway, The Road From Coorain.  Also considered were Eric Larson, The Splendid and the Vile, and Barack Obama, The Promised Land.  Paul suggests the following book.  The meeting is scheduled for March 1.