What are Your Reactions to "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" by Robin Sloan?

Feel free to comment on this month's book, "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" by Robin Sloan.

Warning: These comments may contain spoilers!

Next up: March by Geraldine Brooks. Meeting will be July 14, 2014, Noon, at DCLC, 2217 Providence Avenue, Chester PA 19013.

Spring Reads--Comments Welcome

"One Book...One Literacy Council" has titles scheduled through July 2014, and as we read, we invite anyone who is reading along to comment on the relevant book.


To help other readers avoid spoilers,  please write the title of the book at the top of your comments.


Here is our list:


February: 12 Tribes of Hattie, by Ayana Matthis
March: Buddha in the Attic, by Julie Otsuka
April: Neverland, J.M. Barrie, the duMauriers, and the Dark Side of Peter Pan,  by Piers Dudgeon
May: 22 Brittania Road, by Amanda Hodgkinson
June: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store, by Robin Sloan
July: March, by Geraldine Brooks


Thanks for your thoughts!

Any Comments on our January read: "Menonnite in a Little Black Dress"?

Have you finished reading Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen?

We will meet on Monday, February 10, 2014, at Noon at the Delaware County Literacy Council to discuss this book.

Note: We are now meeting the second Monday of the month.

If you have any reactions you would like to share, please do so by adding a comment below.

Please don't read these comments if you haven't yet finished the book; they may contain spoilers!

"The Hundred Secret Senses" Raises Interesting Questions

"One Book...One Literacy Council" read The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan in December and discussed it at our January 6th meeting.

Topics discussed at the meeting included the cultural differences between China and the United States, and the role of ghosts in the book.

The interweaving of stories in the book reminded some readers of other books by Amy Tan.

Readers enjoyed the strong voice and the specific details that helped convey the perspective of both Olivia and her half-sister Kwan.

Some thought Olivia's goals weren't clearly defined in the book. The group also discussed whether the role of ghosts made the book magical realism.

The group also decided to meet on the second Monday of the month starting in February, which means we will meet next on Monday, February 10.

"The Lost Painting" Proves an Interesting Nonfiction Read

DelcoLiteracy's "One Book...One Literacy Council" selection for November was The Lost Painting, by Jonathan Harr, and was discussed by the group at Dec. 2's meeting.

The group enjoyed the book, its narrative style, and the issues about the art world and preserving history that it raised.

One member of the group found this article

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/arts/design/national-gallery-acquires-a-van-honthorst-masterwork.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

that related very well to the book!

December's selection is The Hundred Secret Senses, by Amy Tan. The group will meet to discuss it on Monday, January 6, 2014, at Noon at the Literacy Council. Feel free to join us!

If you have additional thoughts about The Lost Painting, please share them here.

What is your reaction to Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende?

Have you finished reading Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende? Did you find it interesting, well written, surprising? Feel free to share your reaction here!

 

Remember that we will meet at Noon on Monday, November 4, at  DCLC to discuss Ines of My Soul and to distribute The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr for reading in November.

Note: Several authors we've read or will read are appearing at the Free Library of Philadelphia, including;

 

November 8, Amy Tan: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/calendar/calbydate.cfm?ID=40361&type=2

November 13, Ann Patchett: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/calendar/calbydate.cfm?ID=40363&type=2

 

Keep reading and reflecting!

 

Warning: Comments may contain "spoilers"!

Looking Ahead to Future Titles

We have made our "reservations" for the next four months of books. Listed below are the meeting dates AT WHICH THE BOOK WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.

October 7: Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende (due Nov. 4)

November 4: The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr (due Dec. 2)

December 2: The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan (due Jan. 6)

January 6: Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Jansen (due Feb. 3)

We will confirm each of the meeting dates at the meeting immediately prior. Check the web site and e-mails for the most current information.

Here's to an enjoyable fall and winter of reading!