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.

August 2, 2017

Desolation Island by Patrick O'Brian (Tullibee)

The restaurant is a fairly new place inside the Hewing Hotel in Minneapolis' North Loop.  It's a chic place with an attractive menu.  Service was fairly good but the prices very high.  We sauntered through a thicket of conversational topics, including state and national politics and golf before getting to the book.  Most of us were happy with it, but wished it came with annotations that explained the many obscure nautical terms.  The swashbuckling action was nicely leavened by the below-deck touches of civilized discourse and music making.

Our next book is Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone.  Others considered were Madeline Albright, Prague Winter, and J. D. Vance, Hillbilly Elegy.  Jim will suggest the following title; we plan to meet on October 2.

One recommended book, outside the bookclub, is Tom Ricks' double biography, Churchill and Orwell.
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