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.

October 5, 2017

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (Tavern on Grand)

The Tavern on Grand proved to be a fairly accommodating venue.  The food is not haute cuisine, but tasty and affordable (everybody ordered walleye).  Service was good and another book club was seated nearby.

The book was mostly popular although it was a grim story of war (young African and his pals are swept up in the lethal action) and unfolded in a predictable scenario.  Surprisingly, we didn't have much to say about it, so many other conversation topics dominated the evening (the eclipse, travel, knee surgery, local politics, etc.).

The next book is Timothy Egan's Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher, a life of photographer Edward Curtis.  Other books considered: Dan Ephron's Killing a King, Jonathan Schell's Time of Illusion, and Tom Vanderbilt's Traffic.  Our next meeting is November 2 and Roger will suggest the next book.
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