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 24, 2017

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Tiny Diner)

Offbeat, eclectic, and full of families, Tiny Diner was a nice break from our usual fine dining venues.  There were only five of us and there was a little conversational catching up to do since two of our group had recently returned from winter sojourns in the southwest.  The book got mixed reviews: some liked the unique perspective and literary style of the author while others thought it was jumpy and hard to follow.  The book's narrator traces his mixed allegiances and actions following the fall of Saigon in Vietnam, Southern California, and Philippines.

The next book is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.  Other books recommended were Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool and Neither Wolf Nor Dog by Kent Nerburn.  We'll meet on Wednesday, June 28.  Bill will suggest the following book, Max is on deck.

Some other books recently read by members of the group: William Shirer, Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Louise Erdrich, La Rose, David Grann, Lost City of Z, and Arlie Hochschild, Strangers in Their Own Land.

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