Hunter's Moon by Philip Caputo (W. A. Frost)

Caputo's book, a collection of interrelated short stories set in Michigan's UP, impressed us with its honesty, insights, and colorful characters.  Caputo's other work includes prize-winning war journalism and his fiction draws on that experience. But the restaurant, a long-time favorite, disappointed us with mediocre service, a significant new service fee, and food that fell short of expectations.  Nice patio, though! 

Our next book is Curt Brown's Minnesota 1918: When Flu, Fire, and War Ravaged the State.  Other titles considered were Rick Shenkman's Political Animals and Joseph Kanon's Istanbul Passage.  We plan to meet on October 13 when Bill gets to suggest the next book.

True North by Jill Ker Conway (Christos)

Having enjoyed Conway's earlier memoir of growing up in Australia, we decided to follow her later tale of her journey into the academic worlds of North America.  She's wowed by the intellectual swirl of Harvard and the openness of Toronto and finally finds her place as an academic leader.  We thought this book a little less compelling than the first, and found her ambition a bit overweening.  Christos' food was reliably tasty but the service was indifferent.

Our next meeting will be September 8 and we're reading Philip Caputo's Hunter's Moon.  Other books considered were Ronan Farrow's War on Peace and Richard Hughes' A High Wind in Jamaica.  The next title will be suggested by Phil.

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Salut)

This book, apparently a classic of Soviet literature, received mixed reviews from our group.  Written as a political/religious satire, it employs magical realism or fantasy to present its collection of inter-related stories, thus leaving some of us wondering what it is really all about.  Its flashing, daring humor, nevertheless, bubbles up throughout.  

Our dinner together was the first such occasion since the beginning of the pandemic and the balmy spring evening provided the ideal atmosphere.  The service was a little slow at Salut and the food was undistinguished.

Our next book is Jill Ker Conway's True North, a continuation of her personal story telling that began with an earlier book we read about her life in the Australian outback.  Other titles considered were Backman's A Man Called Ove and Diaz's' Postcolonial Love Poems.  We plan to meet next time on July 15 when Roger will suggest the future reading assignment.

The Grace of Silence by Michele Norris (Zoom)

Journalist Michele Norris grew up partly in Minneapolis and writes about her family's life there and in Birmingham, Alabama, including the interesting secrets her parents kept from her for years.  The story telling flows easily, but unravels slowly, detail by detail.  Our next book is Mikhail Bugakov, The Master and Margarita, a 1940 novel set in Stalinist Russia.  Also considered were: LeCarre's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; Tokarczuk's Primeval and Other Times; Wilson's To Name Those Lost; Forester's Hornblower and the Hotspur; and Backman's A Man Called Ove.  

We hope the next meeting will be in person on June 14.  Max is in line to suggest the following book.

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James Hornfischer (Online)

Simultaneously a well-researched history and a kind of memorial to the bravery and sacrifice of American sailors in WWII, this book focuses on the central conflict that constituted the naval Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944.  This battle cemented America's victory over Japan, and the author explains the strategic significance of the action and describes the up-close and personal experiences of the participants (at least on the American side).  The result is a gripping tale.

Our next book is Michele Norris, The Grace of Silence, a memoir of growing up black in Minneapolis.  We also considered Samuel Hynes, The Growing Seasons, and Charles Eastman, Indian Boyhood.  Our next meeting is scheduled for May 10, and, if possible, we may meet in person!  Phil is up next to suggest the next book.

The Road from Coorain by Jill Ker Conway (Online)

We liked this book, a well-written memoir of growing up and schooling in Australia.  The author's lyrical style, attention to the details of her early life in the Outback, and her drive for academic success make this an interesting read. The next book is James Hornfischer's Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.  Other titles suggested were Crossing the Line: A Bluejacket's Odyssey in World War II by Kernan and Flights of Passage: Recollections of a World War II Aviator by Hynes.  Several memoirs of childhood in Minnesota were also suggested (by Michele Norris, Charles Eastman, Samuel Hynes, Maud Hart Lovelace, and Laura Ingalls Wilder).  

The next meeting is scheduled for April 5; Don will suggest the next book.

Olive Again by Elizabeth Strout (Online)

Having read the first installment of this series back in 2009, we wanted to see if Strout's character could retain our interest.  The answer was a resounding "yes".  Olive's quirky personality and outlook holds up well and continues to challenge and charm us.  And like the earlier book, each chapter constitutes a stand-alone story of human strength, folly, or frailty which is well integrated into the overall book.

Our next book is Jill Conway, The Road From Coorain.  Also considered were Eric Larson, The Splendid and the Vile, and Barack Obama, The Promised Land.  Paul suggests the following book.  The meeting is scheduled for March 1.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Many of us had read this book decades ago, but it was worth a revisit.  Originally a series of New Yorker articles, the book tells the true story of a gruesome murder of a farm family in late 50s Kansas.  Capote spins the tale in great detail but unvarnished language.  He calls his work "fiction" because his focus is on storytelling not news reporting.  It's a unique, clean style that made the book a literary sensation in its time.  

Our next book is Elizabeth Strout's Olive Again, a sequel to her beautifully crafted Olive Kitteridge which we read and admired in 2009.  We also considered James McBride's Deacon King Kong and Richard Powers' The Overstory.  Our next meeting is scheduled for January 26; Paul suggests the following book.

Seasons by Ellen Meloy (Zoom)

A resident of southeast Utah, Meloy was an artist, naturalist, and journalist whose books cover many topics close to the soil.  This volume is a small wonder, beautifully written but only 84 pages long.  It's a collection of random observations about life in the desert organized by season and it was a joy to read.  

And, for a different mood altogether, our next book is In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.  Other titles considered were The Unwanted by Michael Dobbs and Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 by Christopher Clark.  Roger will suggest the following book for our next Zoom call on December 29.

Squeeze Me by Carl Hiassen (Zoom)

 It was time for some comic relief, so we selected this book and were not disappointed.  It's a missing person story, involving an elderly fan of a certain president near the winter White House in Palm Beach.  The story quickly pivots to a rogue ex-governor who raises man-eating Burmese pythons and is up to no good.  There's plenty of mayhem and not-so-far fetched intrigue, but, while entertaining, the book got only a mediocre rating from our group.  (One of us thought the book too vulgar and another read the wrong book altogether.)

Our next book is Seasons by Ellen Meloy.  Other works considered were Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and Animal Farm by George Orwell.  We plan to meet on November 25; Bill is next in line to suggest the following book.  

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin (Zoom)

The book is a well-known classic, but most of us had read it long ago or not at all.  It's easy to see why it made a big impression almost 60 years ago: written in the modest form of everyday correspondence, it's a bold and eloquent assessment of the state of race relations in America.  It was good to read it during this contemporary period of racial re-assessment, and it's amazing how it reflects much of the current dialogue.

Our next book is Carl Hiassen, Squeeze Me.  Other titles considered were P. D. James' Death Comes to Pemberley and Eric Larson's The Splendid and the Vile.  We'll connect again via Zoom on October 28 and Max will suggest the next book,

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehesi Coates (Zoom)

This brief book is a critique of race relations in contemporary America.  But it is also a lyrical self analysis by a gifted Black writer seeking to reconcile his own life experience with mainstream white culture.  Written in the form of a letter to his son, the book viscerally describes the realities faced by non-whites over the ages and provides insights into the situation rather than solutions.  We gave it above average ratings but some of us considered it a restatement of the race problem without offering much that is truly original.

The next book is James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time.  We also considered Animal Farm by Orwell and Outlaw Ocean by Urbina.  We plan to meet via Zoom on September 24 and Peter will bring suggestions for the next book.