We all liked Rose George's book about the shipping industry and more. It was well written and ranged over a range of interesting topics, including the structure and economics of global shipping, life at sea, piracy, the effect of shipping on sea life, and survival at sea. Some of us wanted more developmental analysis on the shipping industry and others thought the book was a jumble of inter-related topics among an oceanic array of possibilities. But we still liked it. Maybe it could have succeeded better as a long-piece in the New Yorker?
Our discussion also touched on Mandela's passing, sporting events, politics, etc. The restaurant, Marin, got mostly raves (the Fluke special was, well, special), but the service petered out and coffee was cold.
Our next book is Claire Vanderpool's young adult novel, Navigating Early. Other books considered were Kate DiCamillo, Flora and Ulysses, and R. J. Palacio, Wonder.
Phil suggests the next book, followed by Bill. Date TBA.
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.