Deaf Sentence by David Lodge (128 Cafe)

We made a return visit to 128 Cafe in St. Paul and gave it a pretty good rating, although not quite as positive as last time. Our book, David Lodge's Deaf Sentence, got mixed but mostly positive reviews, and everybody remarked on how much discussion it evoked, undoubtedly because most of us could identify with the main character and the topic of aging. Next month's book is Spencer Wells' The Journey of Man, a story of evolution that accompanied a PBS special. Other books considered: C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters and Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe; H. Von Kleist, Marquise of O.; Philip Pullman, Golden Compass; and Edward Buscombe, Stagecoach (plus the movie). These were Paul's suggestions. Phil is up next.

The Skeptical Romancer by Somerset Maugham (Barbette)

Our book this month was Somerset Maugham's The Skeptical Romancer, a collection of his travel writings from the 1930s. Most aggreed that Maugham's writings still seemed fresh although a couple of us rated the book only average. This was our second visit to Barbette, and we gave it outstanding marks. The next book is David Lodge's Deaf Sentence. Other suggestions were The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, This Republic of Suffering  by Drew Gilpin Faust, and Deadwood by Pete Dexter. Paul suggests the next book.

Catcher in the Rye & Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger (Spoonriver)

Probably because of his recent death, J. D. Salinger has been on our minds for the past few months, and so we decided to re-read Catcher in the Rye and Nine Stories which predictably got high scores. So did the restaurant Spoonriver. Books considered for next time: Dexter Filkins, Forever War; Michael Kazin, A Godly Hero; Edward Bale, Slaves in the Family; and Somerset Maugham, The Skeptical Romancer. We picked the latter.

One Man's Meat by E.B. White (Caffe Biaggio)

Our book was E. B. White's One Man's Meat, a collection of essays from the late 1930s and early 1940s on farming, world affairs, and many topics in between. We all found it enjoyable, but not earthshaking. Caffe Biaggio was a congenial venue on a snowy evening.

The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner (Red Stag Supper Club)

We dined at the Red Stag Supper Club, and enjoyed satisfying if not exceptional meals. Our discussion ranged from Tiger's trials, to football foibles, to Palin's preenings. I'm sure some elevated topics were in there, too. The book, The Spectator Bird, got a pretty good reaction, especially for the author's lyrical and often iconic writing style, but there were questions about plot lines and character motivation. The meaning of the eugenics subplot? And why didn't the countess choose to escape to the US? At Max's suggestion, we'll read E. B. White, One Man's Meat (alternative idea: Per Petterson's To Siberia), and we'll meet on February 9. The next book will be suggested by Don.

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (Al Vento)

Al Vento offered great dinner options that pleased everyone: Duck, lamb, scallops. Plus, wine was half-price on Mondays. Our book was Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres, which most of us rated as above average as a portrait of a seriously flawed Iowa farm family, but nearly everyone had quibbles about the book, especially the story about the poisoned sausages. Most of us didn't mind the somewhat exaggerated stories, but we drifted into discussions of incest and sex offenders in Minnesota institutions. We selected Wallace Stegner's The Spectator Bird for next time (December 7). Other ideas included Philip Roth, Indignation, Diane Ackerman, the Zookeeper's Wife, and David Lodge, Deaf Sentence. The next book will be suggested by Max.

Oliver Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (Mancini's)

We met at Mancini's where two political fundraisers were going on and had surprisingly mediocre steak and fish dinners. Fortunately, Elizabeth Strout's, Olive Kitteridge, was much better fare and we gave it a high rating for its character development and simple honesty. Next up (October 26) is Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres. Other books considered: Bad Land by Jonathan Raban and Driftless by David Rhodes. The next book will be suggested by Roger.

From Here to Eternity by James Jones (Cafe Brenda)

A modified-vegetarian place, Cafe Brenda offered a refreshing break from our usual restaurant venue, and most everybody gave the place a pretty good rating. From Here to Eternity got a good reception from everyone (and was deified by one), and we talked about the realities of Army life and the many words evidently required to convey those realities with accuracy. But, really, we liked it. Next up is Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kitteridge, a collection of short stories. Other books considered: Cold Mountain, Ship Fever, Servants of the Map, and Shakespeare's Kitchen. The next book will be suggested by Bill.

The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton (Tanpopo Noodle Shop)

After ignoring St. Paul for six months, we ended up at Tanpopo Noodle House, a Japanese home-style restaurant in Lowertown that got a repectable if not wonderful review from our group. We read G. K. Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday which got a decidedly mixed review. Some thought it a remarkable tour de force of conservative/Christian thought while others thought it just boring and dated but mercifully brief. Not widely read today, Chesterton has his followers and was once considered a peer of Shaw. Next time we will read James Jones' From Here to Eternity. Other books considered included La Rochefoucould's Maxims and Spencer Wells' The Journey of Man. Next meeting is July 27. Phil suggests the next tome.

Blood Done Sign by Timothy Tyson (Mairin's Table)

We met at Mairin's Table, a Moroccan place with half-price wine on Mondays and Tuesdays. Service was a little slow, but it was quiet enough to talk and the food was mostly good. The book, Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy Tyson, was admired by all, and it sparked a discussion about race, the south, and our own experiences. For next month (actually June 15), at Jim's suggestion, we will read G. K. Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday. Other books Jim suggested were Philbrick's Mayflower, Schlink's The Reader, Murakami's Wild Sheep Chase, Brock's Charlatan, and Ackerman's Zookeeper's Wife. Paul is in line to suggest the next book.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Nick and Eddie)

Despite one strong dissent, we gave this month's book, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, pretty uniformly high marks (not apparent from the mediocre average rating). It was an interesting story, well told, and some found it inspiring. Much of the discussion focused on whether or not Mortenson's exploits amount to a kind of "imperialism". For the next book, Max suggested Gladwell's Blink, Shields' Mockingbird, French's In the Woods, and Tyson's Blood Done Sign My Name. We chose the latter. Our venue for the evening, Nick and Eddie, was noisy and unsatisfying, although the food was (mostly) good.

Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Bali)

This month we met at a new Indonesian place called Bali. Nobody was really bowled over by the place but it was pleasant, affordable, somewhat adventuresome, and they treated us well. We read Fitzgerald's Tender Is the Night, which we all found a little disappointing. Considered one of the 20th century's best novels, it just didn't seem to translate very well to the 21st. Although the story and writing improved as the book unfolded, it was hard
to get into, and some of the characters, like Rosemary and Tommy, were thinly developed. At Max's suggestion, next month we'll read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Other books he suggested were Shadow Catcher by Marianne Wiggins, First Person Plural by Cameron West, and Two Gentlemen of Verona by Shakespeare. Next meeting is March 31.