February 14, 2012 Discussion led by Peggy White
This book details the intense thirty-year animosity between the Queen Mother Elizabeth and the Duchess of Windsor, the effect on Britain’s royal family, and the accord finally established between them. This retelling of the abdication of Edward VIII to marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson will undoubtedly be enjoyed by those who enjoy hobnobbing, however vicariously, with royalty.
January 10, 2012 Discussion led by Kathy Miksis
A victim of unrequited love, Wyatt Hillyer has lived a half-life. Now that his daughter, whom he does not know, is turning 21, he is determined to give her the only bequest he can, his story. And what a staggering tale of cruel coincidences it is. This haunting saga takes place in Nova Scotia during WWII and actual historical incidents lend narrative power to the multi-layered story. Wyatt’s descent into sorrow begins with his parents’ scandalous deaths. Given shelter by his practical and wise Aunt Constance and gruff Uncle Donald, teenage Wyatt falls hopelessly in love with their adopted daughter, Tilda, who unnerves everyone by marrying a German exchange student while German U-boats prowl the coast. This story of an imperfect and tragic life at a turning point and will leave readers reconsidering Wyatt and the other unique characters long after reading the final pages.
December 13, 2011
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Discussion led by Rita Graham
One of Orwell’s finest works, this political fable is based on the events of Russia’s Bolshevik revolution and the betrayal of the cause by Joseph Stalin. The book concerns a group of barnyard animals who overthrow and chase off their exploitative human masters and set up a society of their own. Eventually the animals’ intelligent and power-loving leaders, the pigs, subvert the revolution and form a dictatorship even more oppressive and heartless than that of their former human masters. If you missed it in high school – here’s your chance!
November 8, 2011 Discussion led by Diana Rhudick
A young woman, Towner Whitney, descended from a long line of mind readers and fortune tellers has returned to her hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, for rest and relaxation. Any tranquility in her life is short-lived, however, when her aunt drowns under mysterious circumstances. The Lace Reader is a mesmerizing tale that spirals into a world of secrets, confused identities, lies, and half-truths in which the reader quickly finds it’s nearly impossible to separate fact from fiction, but as Towner points out early on in the novel, “There are no accidents.”
October 11, 2011 Discussion led by Rita Graham
The Bibliobabblers season opener is a fast-paced, light-hearted romp through Provence.
Max Skinner is a highly successful investment broker with no time for life outside of his job. When his estranged uncle dies, Max inherits the chateau and vineyard in France where he grew up. His first intention is to sell the vineyard as quickly as possible, but after spending unexpected time there, he discovers a part of himself that he thought he had lost forever.
Peter Mayle makes Provence sound like the most enticing place on earth in this breezy novel. Reservations anyone?
June 14, 2011 Discussion led by Karyn Storti
They met over their dogs. Both writers, Gail Caldwell and Caroline Knapp, author of Drinking: A Love Story, became best friends, talking about everything from their shared history of a struggle with alcohol, to their relationships with men and colleagues, to their love of books. They walked the woods of New England and rowed on the Charles River, and the miles they logged on land and water became a measure of the interior ground they covered. From disparate backgrounds but with striking emotional similarities, these two private, fiercely self-reliant women created an attachment more profound than either of them could ever have foreseen.
May 10, 2011 Discussion led by Rita Graham
This month, the Bibliobabblers will discuss a contemplative work of fiction. One fall night, an innkeeper on a remote island in Nova Scotia watches an airplane plummet to the sea. As the search for survivors envelops the island, the mourning families gather at the inn, waiting for news of those they have lost. Here among strangers, they form an unusual community, struggling for comfort and consolation. What unfolds is the story of how these families unite and disperse in the wake of the tragedy, and how their interweaving lives are ultimately transformed. Brad Kessler’s knowledge of the natural world, music, and myth enriches every page.
April 12, 2011 Discussion led by Peggy White
Gone with the Wind is one of those unique books that you never forget. You read it when you’re young and fall in love with the characters, then you watch the film and read the book again and watch the film again and never get tired of revisiting an era that is the most important in our history. Frankly, we don’t give a damn if you’ve read the book, seen the movie or both! We would like you to come and discuss the cultural phenomenon associated with Gone With the Wind. Please feel free to bring any Gone With the Wind related memorabilia that you would like to share.
March 8, 2011 Discussion led by Cherrie Dubois
This book tells the story of eleven-year-old Reuben Land, an asthmatic boy who has reason to believe in miracles. Along with his sister and father, Reuben finds himself on a cross-country search for his outlaw older brother who has been controversially charged with murder. Their journey is touched by serendipity and the kindness of strangers, and its remarkable conclusion shows how family, love, and faith can stand up to the most terrifying of enemies.
February 8, 2011 Discussion led by Jody Avtges
This month the group will discuss a nonfiction title that spent months on the bestseller list.
The popular author of Blink and The Tipping Point identifies the qualities of successful people in this entertaining nonfiction book. Gladwell sets out to provide an understanding of success using outliers, men and women with skills, talent, and drive who do things out of the ordinary. He explores inventive theories that explain the secrets of software billionaires, why certain cultures are associated with better academic performance, and how the Beatles earned their fame. Join us and learn the secrets of success!
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