|
From the Summer 2009 Edition of Clippings Magazine
Parish Programs: "Have you read any good books lately?"
by Mary Ellen Mack, Book Discussion Group, Co-Facilitator
The Round Table Room of the OLQM Parish
Outreach Center is the place to be on the third
Tuesday of every month from 10:30am -12:00
noon to share in the discussion of our current book
selection which is published in the weekly church
bulletin.
With the encouragement of Fr. Ryan and Sister Eileen
we started the group in May of 2004 and have met
every month since. This past January we read our
54th book! There is no registration or fee. You are
invited to attend on a regular basis or whenever you
are able to join us.
We usually have between 10-14 participants who
share in the discussion and jointly agree on the book
selection for the next month. Come and share your
ideas and insights. On behalf of my co-facilitators
Betty Yule and Helen Larkin, I invite you to join us at
any time.
At our December meeting, group members scanned
our list of the 54 books we have discussed and shared
which ones they enjoyed the most. I thought you might
be interested in some of these titles for your own
recreational reading. They are not in any particular
order. Enjoy them if you decide to read any of our
favorites:
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell - Set in Italy
during WW 2 and based on historical evidence of the
risks priests, peasants and aristocrats took to shelter
their Jewish neighbors as well as Jewish refugees. It
explores the complex feat of armed resistance and
humanitarian rescues.
The Samuari’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama – A young
Chinese man resides in Japan for a year during the
1930’s and gains profound spiritual insight into his life
as he gradually learns about true love, compassion
and empathy from his master gardener, a samurai of
the soul devoted to doing good and finding beauty in a
woman inflicted with leprosy.
Amagansett by Mark Mills - Set in post WW2
Amagansett, LI, the year round Basque fishermen
community and the wealthy, aristocratic summer
visitors are pitted against each other as love and death
create challenges to each group.
The Runaway by Alice Munro - Short story master,
Alice Munro, examines the lives of individual women,
the choices they make, and how those choices impact
them.
The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen – A
brilliant interpretation of the parable using Van Gogh’s
famous painting to illustrate the true forgiveness of
God and to encourage us to do the same.
Pope Joan by Donna W. Cross – Was there ever a
woman pope? An interesting read about a young
woman leading the church under the guise of
being a man. Contains an appendix of historical
documentation.
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
– Due to a severe snow storm, a physician must
perform surgery on his pregnant wife in his office and
his secret from that delivery impacts them throughout
their lives.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – Afghanistan
is the setting for this well developed novel detailing
how a childhood friend’s tragedy affects the main
character through adulthood and his eventual return
to his homeland to meet the challenges of his earlier
decision.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion – A
very moving account of the author’s reaction to her
husband’s sudden death, she details the many
struggles and insights she gained as she dealt with
her grief.
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David
Oliver Relin – A true story of a humanitarian effort to
build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mortenson
thanked his rescuers from a remote village following
a 1993 mountain climbing accident and their care of
him by going to extraordinary means to build a school.
The book gives an empathetic understanding of the
unique cultures and traditions of these areas. To
date, he has built 64 schools and 12 are in progress.
Recent problems in the area make the latter a matter
of debate.
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls – An amazing
memoir by a television contributor who shares her
family’s bizarre history and behavior and describes
her unconditional love in spite of leaving to create a
healthy, productive life style for herself and some of
her siblings.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See –
Provides wonderful insight into Japan during 1800’s
and the restrictive culture for women.
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad – Set
in Afghanistan, the author tells the tale of family,
marriage, business, and the role of women with great
understanding while exploring the impact of the current
political situation.
The Christmas Train
by David Baldacci
– Holiday magic on
a train resulting in
self-discovery and
awakenings allows
a second chance for
fulfillment of deepest
hopes.
|