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, 2018

Dirty Doc Ames by Erik Rivenes (Octo Fish Bar)

For the first time, we had the author of our monthly book selection grace us with his presence at dinner this time.  Erik described his reasons for choosing the book's subject (nobody had written about this colorful character) and how he went about doing the research (lots of time in the library reading microfilmed newspapers).  The book itself was a fascinating look inside the messy and corrupt political system that ruled Minneapolis at the turn of the 20th century.  Erik's account brought the whole unsavory cast of characters to life.  Mostly featuring seafood, the restaurant was more than adequate and the ambiance was suitable for a book club.

Jim had to miss the gathering but he gave us several book possibilities for next time: Linda Greehhouse, Becoming Justice Blackmun; Linda Greenhouse and Michael Graetz, The Burger Court and the Rise of the Judicial Right; Noah Feldman, Scorpion: The Battles and Triumphs of FDR's Great Supreme Court Justices; and Jan Greenburg, Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the U. S. Supreme Court.  We chose to read the Greenburg book.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, August 28.  Phil will suggest the next book.



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