February’s book is, in keeping with a Valentine’s Day theme, is a romance of a sort, that of books and trying to figure out how we live our lives, meaning, and fulfillment. In “The Midnight Library” (By Matt Haig), somewhere beyond the edge of the universe, there’s a library with infinite books and possibilities, each one with a different choice and a different life lived. One is the story of your life as it is, the others lives that might have been. What if you had the chance to see this library for yourself, would you do anything differently? In this month’s book, the main character gets that chance. Will she take it? The answer lies in the only place she can look, within herself.
Please RSVP and/or send questions to Dave Beaver at d4veb3aver@gmail.com.
It’s a new year, new leadership, in HYP Book Club. We start out the year with a literal bang with January’s book “The Silent Patient,” a psychological thriller novel written by British–Cypriot author Alex Michaelides. In it, a famous painter shoots her husband, an in-demand fashion photographer. She then refuses to talk or explain her actions, and in doing so, skyrockets to notoriety. Where the real fun begins is when a criminal psychotherapist works with her to try to unravel the mystery. But at what cost to him? Join us as we discuss this intriguing thriller!
Please RSVP and/or send questions to Dave Beaver at d4veb3aver@gmail.com.
Dave will then send the link to the meeting closer to the meeting date.
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.
August’s book is White Teeth, by the acclaimed author Zadie Smith. It’s about the unlikely friendship (in later lives) of two hapless World War II vets – Samad Iqbal (from Bangladesh) and Archie Jones (from England). Through a look-in on their lives and the lives of their families, we get to see Great Britain in the midst of a consequential transformation. It’s also a look at London’s racial and cultural tapestry, venturing through the past and readying for its future, considering Britain’s former empire and its relationship with immigrants from the British Commonwealth.
The meeting is planned for outside, so please plan appropriately, including chairs, water, sunblock, etc. In the event of rain in the forecast, Joe will e-mail the zoom link to all RSVP’s the day before. Please RSVP and/or send questions to Joe Foner at joefoner1@gmail.com.