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.

May 31, 2011

Heavenly City of the Eighteenth Century Philosophers by Carl Becker (Duplex)

We had a lively discussion about state politics and the specific topic of teacher pay before getting to the book, which was generally well received.  Elegantly written, the book is something of a classic in historical analysis that is still a touchstone among scholars, arguing that 18th century thinkers--especially the folks that spawned the American Revolution, like Thomas Jefferson--owe more to their medieval predecessors than they themselves thought.  The restaurant, with a tilt toward Italian cuisine, also got high ratings.  The next book is Ruins, a noir novel of Cuba by Achy Obejas.  Other books considered included two by David Foster Wallace, Break It Down by Lydia Davis, and Summertime by J. M. Coetzee.  Next meeting: July 11.
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