The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (Zoom)

We're getting better at meeting via Zoom; everybody was able to participate with little trouble.  The book got a fair amount of attention but received mixed reviews.  Most of us were put off by the extensive unreality of the story and setting, and some thought it was too simplistic/juvenile.  Still, there was a compelling story with plenty of action.

Our next book is Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me.  Other suggestions were Sarah Stonich, The Laurentian Divide, and Sinclair Lewis, It Can't Happen Here (which we rejected because we had read it earlier).  Phil will suggest the next book; we plan to meet August 19.

The Plague by Albert Camus (Zoom)

Zooming is a fair substitute for in-person business communication, but it isn't great for a conversation among friends.  There are the awkward start/stop talk overs, the missed body language, and the stilted format to contend with.  Not to mention the poor quality of food and service.  Nevertheless, we pulled it off and plan to do it again.

Reading this Camus during a pandemic was cathartic.  The book might have been a metaphor, but it certainly reflects many of the hardships, dilemmas, emotions, and moral choices that we are experiencing today.  Camus' spare, blunt writing style adds drama and weight to the human tragedy that unfolds in the novel. He shows that evil is real and has to be resisted.

The next book will be one of these: The Hobbit by Tolkien, Out of the Silent Planet by Lewis, The Golden Compass by Pullman, A Wrinkle in Time by L'engle, or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by Rowling.  Don is next to suggest a book.

The Control of Nature by John McPhee (Zoom Online)

Well, we did meet. But because of the pandemic it was online at cocktail hour.  It was a relatively short discussion, experimental and punctuated with scratchy connections. We did, however, enjoy reading McPhee's accounts of three human interventions into nature's plans in the lower Mississippi, an Icelandic volcano, and the erosion of LA's San Gabriel mountains.  The author's insights and writing made reading a pleasure and invited further investigation.  Some of us looked online for maps and photos that should have been included in the book for clarity.

The next book is Albert Camus, The Plague.  Meeting date TBA.  The next book will be suggested by Don.

Northland by Porter Fox (Barbette)

Still short several sun-tanning colleagues, a reduced contingent of us--four, to be exact--decided to meet over lunch instead of dinner this month.  We gathered at Barbette, a friendly Uptown standby which offers a menu of French-inspired soups, salads, and sandwiches. Although we missed our pals, our small group enjoyed the intimacy of the occasion and the fact that we could hear one another.

The book is a series of vignettes of life along the US-Canada border, generously dishing out gobs of historical detail and brief analyses of the family ties, commercial transactions, and everyday activities that make up one of the closest international partnerships in the world.  We found the stories interesting and appreciated Fox's punchy writing style.

Our next book is John McPhee's Control of Nature.  We also considered a few other McPhee books, including Looking for a Ship, Pine Barrens, and A Sense of Where You Are, John Cornwell's Hitler's Pope, and Jill Ker Conway's True North.  The next meeting was set for April 16, when Roger will suggest the following book.

The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron (Longfellow Grille)

Our intrepid band of readers, diminished somewhat by a few snowbirds, met over lunch at  Longfellow Grille on a balmy Friday.  Impeachment was on the menu, of course, but it failed to dominate the conversation for very long.  The dawn of a new age of authoritarianism?  Maybe, but we also have golf and housing options to discuss.

The book is an early example of modern exotic travel writing from a western perspective, mixing cultural observations and architectural critiques with real-life social encounters. Byron brings Pausanias into the 20th century.

Our next book is Porter Fox, Northland.  Also considered were Tim O'Brien's Going After Cacciato and Lisa Genova's Still Alice.  Our next meeting date is likely to be after mid-February, depending on everybody's availability.  Stay tuned.

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene (Hickory 'n Hops)

Well, the restaurant proved to be a little disappointing, more of a tavern specializing in BBQ than a full-on restaurant.  We did have a quiet space and could give the book some real attention.  A classic novel by a leading 20th century writer, the book recounts a bloody period in Mexican history when leftist authoritarianism tried to stifle Catholic traditionalism.  We liked the story telling and the character development, and we gave it high marks.

Many of our group will be traveling out of town over the next few months, but we determined to meet next time as a rump group anyway.  The book is Robert Byron, The Road to Oxiana.  Other ideas included Janet Flanner, Paris Journal 1945-55, Nikos Kazantzakais, Zorba the Greek, Lawrence Durrell, Bitter Lemons, and Richard Powers, The Overstory.  Meeting date TBD, probably in mid December.  Next book selection falls to Max or Bill (in case Max is away).  We'll work it out.

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (The Fitz)

Most of us were confounded by this book.  We picked it because it was by Toni Morrison and highly rated by others.  But we found it a tough slog, partly because the relationships among the many characters were confusing and because the obscure plot wandered in and out of fantasy.  One of us simply quit after a couple of chapters.  On the bright side, the writing sparkled with wit and the myriad of dialogues rang true.  Overall, high expectations, but disappointing experience.

Of course, our conversation roamed over the waterfront, as usual.  Politics, travel, downsizing, etc.  The restaurant's menu was unassuming but most of us liked the pizzas and sandwiches.  And the modest prices.

The next book is Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory.  Other titles considered were Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Eliza Griswold's Amity and Prosperity.  We'll meet on November 11.  Peter will suggest the next book.

The Life and Times of Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (Giulia)

We met at a nice restaurant in the Emery Hotel (former Hotel Minneapolis, former bank).  Most of us had the pork chop and most of us liked it, but the word "fatty" describes another reaction.  Also, our bill was pretty high, mainly due to the lack of affordable wines.  Anyway, the service was good.  The book was popular and it evoked lots of random memories of "the old days" experienced by us all. Bryson's books are always a joy to read and generally bring a smile with the flip of each page.

The book for next time (October 9) is Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon.  Also suggested: Less by Andrew Sean Greer, March by Geraldine Brooks, and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.  Phil is on deck to suggest the following book.

Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger (Handsome Hog)

An unexpected thunderstorm provided the backdrop for our discussion of Storm of Steel, a First WWI memoir written by an aristocratic German officer.  In blunt, straight-forward language, Junger depicts the minute-by-minute experience of trench warfare.  Needless to say, it was horrific, relentless, and soul numbing.  It is possible, however, to see in his account heroism and honor, too. 

The restaurant was mostly very good: we had a quiet corner, good service, and good food. 

Our next book is Bill Bryson, Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid.  Also considered: Richard Powers, The Overstory; Anthony Tambakis, Swimming With Bridgeport Girls; and Carl Hiassen, Stormy Weather.  The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20.  Don suggests the next book.

When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson (Stella's Fish Cafe)

We agreed that Kate Atkinson is a pretty good writer, easy to absorb, straight-forward, and with a touch of humor.  Her story was a little contrived, however, and it was hard to believe that so many characters (in Scotland, of all places) were related to murder victims, were friends of murder victims, or were, yes, murder victims themselves.  Ok, we concluded, that's the genre.

Stella's was very accommodating and the food was quite satisfactory.  We also talked about the range of TV viewing options, golf, and (for good measure) the state of the world. We were joined by our new member, Peter.

The next book is Storm of Steel, a WWI memoir by Ernst Junger.  Other ideas were Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Chiang, Stories of Your Life and Others; and Owen, War Poems.  The next meeting is scheduled for July 15; next book suggested by Don, long absent due to his affinity for Nebraska.

Fine Just the Way It Is by Annie Proulx (In Bloom)

We met at In Bloom, an anchor tenant in the new Keg and Case Market.  They feature a wood fireplace used for cooking and for taking some of the chill off a cool spring evening.  We found the food to be pretty excellent, especially the venison.  As usual, the conversation covered the waterfront. 

The book got a positive reaction from all of us, mainly for its interesting characters, honesty, and clarity.  We also noted that most of the stories were pretty dark, none of them having an upbeat, Hollywood ending.

Our next book is Kate Atkinson's When Will There Be Good News?  Other titles considered were Jill Ker Conway's Road From Coorain, Tara Westover's Educated, and the Rules of Golf.  We'll meet on Monday, May 20.  Paul is due to suggest the next book.

Driftless by David Rhodes (The Kenwood)

Surrounded by waist-high snowdrifts, The Kenwood was a warm and cozy place to gather and talk about the state of the world.  And talk we did, about just about everything--except the book.  Having chosen the book for the second time (!), only one of us re-read it and gave it a rating.  Nevertheless, we had no trouble enjoying the food and camaraderie.

The next book is Fine Just the Way It Is by Annie Prooulx.  It prevailed over The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine (Michigan Legal edition, 2014), Endurance by Alfred Lansing, and The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien.  (Somebody helpfully pointed out that the group had already read the last two of these books.)  The date for the next meeting will be chosen later, but will be sometime after April 22.  Bill will suggest the next title.