Suggestion for March

The book that was suggested by Dionne for next month's selection is

Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.

This true story about Modern-day American slavery was met by rave reviews when it was first released in 2008 and has been called a "life changer" by many. It is in keeping with our current theme of books on people of color and writings in dialect, and since it is narrated by the actual main characters, it is apparently equally moving in the audio and written format (for those interested in trying out different ways of experiencing literature). Check it out and respond with opinions/suggestions.

Meeting Details

The meeting to discuss Oscar Wao will take place on Saturday, February 27th at 6pm at Cinema on 2 East 45th street. Don't forget to brainstorm ideas for the next Book Club Selection. See you all then!

Book Selection for February

Our next book club selection is "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz.

Here is the book description:

"This is the long-awaited first novel from one of the most original and memorable writers working today. Things have never been easy for Oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd. From his home in New Jersey, where he lives with his old-world mother and rebellious sister, Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien and, most of all, of finding love. But he may never get what he wants, thanks to the Fuku-the curse that has haunted the Oscar's family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and, above all, ill-starred love. Oscar, still waiting for his first kiss, is just its most recent victim.
Diaz immerses us in the tumultuous life of Oscar and the history of the family at large, rendering with genuine warmth and dazzling energy, humor, and insight the Dominican-American experience, and, ultimately, the endless human capacity to persevere in the face of heartbreak and loss. A true literary triumph, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao confirms Junot Diaz as one of the best and most exciting voices of our time. "

Regardless of whether or not the description appeals to you, I can guarantee you that you will enjoy this hilarious, historical novel that shows you a side of the Dominican Republic and its people that you have never seen. Though it has its fair share of tragedy and drama, it is a welcome respite from the woeful tales we have been reading lately.

Here is an interview with this month's featured author conducted by one of our previous authors, Edwidge Danticat.

Looking to February...

The past couple months we have been deeply entrenched in the stories of black women living depressing and wretchedly unfortunate lives, marred by sexual assault, violence, and unwise decisions. I think its time for a change of pace. Here are two suggestions for selections for the month of February:

New York Times #1 Bestseller Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Summary from the New Yorker: At the age of thirty-one, Gilbert moved with her husband to the suburbs of New York and began trying to get pregnant, only to realize that she wanted neither a child nor a husband. Three years later, after a protracted divorce, she embarked on a yearlong trip of recovery, with three main stops: Rome, for pleasure (mostly gustatory, with a special emphasis on gelato); an ashram outside of Mumbai, for spiritual searching; and Bali, for "balancing." (352 pgs)

Pulitzer Prize winning Short Story Collection Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Excerpt from Amazon.com review: All of the stories in this book occur in the town of Crosby, Maine. At the center of many of the book's stories is the person, Olive Kitteridge, a retired teacher. In the stories that don't feature Olive, her name may appear only once in an effort to tie it to the larger work. That the stories center on one town, and a limited number of that town's inhabitants, who also reappear from time to time, I did not encounter my usual problems with short stories. This book gently reminded me of what is best about short-stories: a brief slice of a life, a snapshot that tells a complete-enough story. In having all these stories bound together, one feels a bit like the proverbial "fly on the wall"; a fly who may spend most of, but certainly not all, it's time in one particularly interesting home (Olive's). (304 pgs)

Comment to submit your votes or suggestions!

FYI

An interview with this month's featured author, Marlon James.

The OLC in 2010

The OLC is back in business for the New Year and starting off with a meeting on January 10th to discuss The Book Of Night Women by Marlon James. I hope you have made it through that harrowing tale and are all geared up to discuss it at Settepani on 196 Lenox Ave and 120th street at 4pm. Considering how dark that book was, I think we are going to need a cheery selection for February to lighten up the mood. Start brainstorming suggestions!

Spread some Holiday Cheer

The OLC will be on break for the holiday season, and we will reconvene on January 10th, 2010 to discuss The Book of Night Women by Marlon James.

In the meantime, please consider participating in the Winter Wishes program organized by New York Cares, New York’s largest volunteer organization.

The program works like this: I will send you a handwritten letter from an underprivileged New York child who might not otherwise receive a present this season. You take the letter and buy the toy or gift requested, wrap it and I collect it from you and arrange to have it delivered to the child in time for Christmas. The gifts requested generally cost less than $40.

If you are interested, please contact me. Have a wonderful holiday season!