December’s book is “Hopscotch” by Julio Cortazar, the Argentinian-French writer who was one of the founders of the “Latin American Boom” in the 60s and 70s. Hopscotch is several novels within a novel; in it, the reader can read a set of chapters in the conventional order, or ‘hospcotch’ from one chapter to another in a fashion prescribed by the writer. There are also other ways found by other readers, but no matter which way the chapters are read, the story makes sense, and this is its brilliance. Hopscotch typifies one of the best things about reading Cortazar, his big artistic swings and experimentation with structure.

***Special programming note 1: Feel free to research alternative methods to read online, or determine which method you’ll use when you get the book. Please communicate which way you’ll read it when you RSVP. The cool thing about this book is that it can be read in many different ways and we can talk about the experience of each of us reading it in different ways, literally and figuratively. In the spirit of the book, see the next note as to why the book was picked :)

****Special programming note 2: This is Joe Foner’s last meeting as the leader/organizer, so this meeting will be held at a secret location, which will be revealed when you RSVP. Julio Cortazar is one of his favorite all-time writers and a big influence in how he thinks about reading, writing, and talking about both. In that sense, it’s a fitting way to go out…..

Please RSVP and/or send questions to Joe Foner at joefoner1@gmail.com.