??? (112 Eatery)

We met at the new restaurant, 112 Eatery, in the Mpls warehouse district. Even on a Tuesday night, it was hot! After we were seated, lots of people more trendy than us waited in line for a table. We had an interesting and spirited discussion about otherwise boring issues like faith and religion. Everyone agreed that the book club members most resembling our simian fore-monkies were Bill and Max. We also agreed to read Phillip Roth's Plot Against America and to meet on January 9.

Staggerford by John Hassler & In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin (Mai Village)

Some of us actually read both of these books! Others, the distracted ones, read only one. It looks like the consensus was in favor of the Hassler book, but Chatwin also received respectable reviews. Some weren't sure where the Patagonia book was going. Nevertheless, Mai Village proved very popular in the culinary ratings.

Austerlitz by W. G. Sebald (Phil's No Name Boat)

We did meet on Phil's noname boat at Watergate. It was a cool, clear evening and we ate take out chicken and ribs from Famous Daves's up the road. Sebald's book evoked a spirited discussion and was rated above average by everybody because of its unconventionality and deep resonance on more than one level. We picked John Hassler's Staggerford and Bruce Chatwin's In Patagonia for our next meeting: October 11.

Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (True Thai)

There was a pretty close consensus that Kite Runner was a good read that ran out of steam near the end. True Thai was rated average. Bill suggested the next book: Austerlitz by W. G. Sebald. Phil offered to host the next meeting on August 22 on his boat at the Watergate Marina, weather permitting.

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond (Craftsman)

Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel was book-of-the-month. Most were glad we read it, but were unconvinced of its argument. Dinner at Craftsman restaurant.

??? by Thucycdides (Chaing Mai Thai)

The bookclub confirmed Thucycdides' reputation, and Chaing Mai Thai got respectable ratings.

The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester (Cafe Barbette)

The book: The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester; the venue: Cafe Barbette. Both were rated average.

Devil in the White City by Eric Larson (Khyber Pass)

Eric Larson's Devil in the White City, a story set at the time of the Chicago World's Fair entertained, but failed to break out in the ratings. The Afghani restaurant, Kyhber Pass, also failed to engender much enthusiasm.