|
|
~THE FICTION READING GROUP~
The Fiction Reading Group here at the Issaquah Barnes and
Noble meets on the first Monday of every month. Should a holiday
happen to fall on the appointed Monday the discussion will be re-scheduled
for later in the week.
It's my hope that the books chosen for the Fiction Reading List
will be of interest to a wide range of people, but that they might also introduce
members of the group to authors they have not read before and genres with
which they are unfamiliar. Our group is very loose and open; we laugh a lot
and no one is afraid to express their opinions. The size of the group varies
frombook to book~some books have a wider appeal than others. Usually,
we have anywhere between three and six people in the group. Everyone is
welcome to join; purchase of the book and reading of the book are not
necessarily required. However, should you wish to purchase a book for one of our r
reading groups you will receive 30% off of the regular price as a member's bonus.
~READING SCHEDULE~
JANUARY 4, 1999: Tending to Virginia by Jill McCorkle
FEBRUARY 1, 1999: Edisto by Padgett Powell
MARCH 1, 1999: Music of the Swamp by Lewis Nordan
APRIL 5, 1999: Crazy Ladies by Michael Lee West
MAY 3, 1999: The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley
JUNE 7, 1999: Wild Designs by Katie Fforde
JULY 7, 1999: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
*Note that this is a Tuesday meeting due to the July 4 weekend.
AUGUST 2, 1999: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
From 500 Great
Books by Women; review by Kirsten Backstrom
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is a series of essays that combines scientific observation,
philosophy, daily thoughts, and deeper introspection with glorious prose. On the surface,
Annie Dillard is simply exploring a place called Tinker Creek and its inhabitants:
"It's a good place to live; there's lots to think about." But as her
observations range well beyond the landscape into worlds of esoteric fact and metaphysical
insight, each paragraph becomes suffused with images and ideas. Whether she is
quoting the Koran or Albert Einstein, describing the universe of an Eskimo shaman or the
mating of luna moths, Annie Dillard offers up her own knowledge with reverence for her
material and respect for her reader. She observes her surroundings faithfully, intimately,
sharing what can be shared with anyone willing to wait and watch with her. In the end,
however, "No matter how quiet we are, the muskrats stay hidden. Maybe they
sense the tense hum of consciousness, the buzz from two human beings who in silence cannot
help but be aware of each other, and so of themselves." The precision of individual
words, the vitality of metaphor, the sheer profusion of sources, the vivid sensory and
cerebral impressions - all combine to make Pilgrim at Tinker Creek something extravagant
and extraordinary.
SEPTEMBER 7, 1999: The Everlasting Story of Nory by Nicholson Baker
*Note that this is a Tuesday meeting due to the Labor Day Weekend.
OCTOBER 4, 1999: A Widow for One Year by John Irving
NOVEMBER 1, 1999: Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
DECEMBER 6, 1999: Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fields
HOME BOOK CLUBS MYSTERY CLUB
