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In this monthly issue of Book Club News we discuss June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore - please do join us! We also suggest nine readable current events books to stoke healthy debate and shed new insights and understanding. Lastly, Anne, nervous about joining her first book club, asks for tips on how behave - and ten BookBrowsers pitch in with their words of wisdom. You will find more book club resources, including recommendations, reading guides, advice and online discussions, at bookbrowse.com/bookclubs
Thanks for reading!
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The BookBrowse Book Club
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June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
- New York Post Summer's Hottest Reads
- Kirkus 11 Excellent Summer Reads for Your Book Club
From the New York Times bestselling author of
Bittersweet comes a novel of suspense and passion about a terrible mistake that changed a family forever.
"A crumbling family home, a shockingly large inheritance, a small-town mystery, and a high-wattage Hollywood star: June is atmospheric, ambitious, and filled with enough intrigue, betrayal, passion, and heartbreak to keep you reading all the way to the explosively satisfying end." - Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of
Orphan Train
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Recommended Reading
History and sociology are always intriguing but when presented together, they can create a revelatory portrait of our times. Such explorations feel ever more pressing these days in our raw and polarized landscape.
These recommendations offer nuance, something that is often missing from the public discourse and invite readers and book club members to learn more about the American experience from where we have been to where we are headed. We hope this stokes some healthy debate and sheds new insights into aspects of the United States in all its colorful, messy and sprawling glory.
Which books would you recommend? Share them with us by posting in the comments section of our blog.
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Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right
by Arlie Russell Hochschild
Hardcover & ebook Sep 2016. 368 pages.
The blue-red divide in the United States seems almost impenetrable these days so a glimpse at one side of the fence might be a welcome exercise in developing empathy and understanding the motivations of those whose political persuasions might be different from our own. This brilliant sociological study of a cross-section of Louisiana residents offers the red-state argument through the point of view of one crucial crucible: the environment.
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Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
Paperback Feb 2017. Also in hardcover & ebook. 448 pages.
Wrenching poverty manifests itself in different ways and arguably few socioeconomic indicators make the distinction between the haves and the have-nots clearer than housing. With extensive field research in one the country's poorest cities, Milwaukee, Desmond delivers a scathing indictment of the increasing divide between the rich and the poor that has led to such yawning chasms of desperation. It is no wonder Desmond has been named a MacArthur Genius, his work is insightful and necessary.
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Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation by Dan Fagin
Paperback Apr 2015. Also in hardcover & ebook. 576 pages
What happens when multinational corporations start illegally dumping chemical waste in your backyard? As the small New Jersey town of Toms River found out, there was a sharp increase in the rates of childhood cancer. Despite irrefutable evidence laying the blame squarely on the shoulders of the industries, justice and due process took their time to be served. While the setting might have been the '50s and the '60s, this Pulitzer-winner is an essential reminder about the need for environmental regulation without which big business will likely run amok.
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Glass House: The 1% Economy and the Shattering of the All-American Town
by Brian Alexander
Hardcover & ebook Feb 2017. 336 pages
How did a town such as Lancaster, Ohio, once labeled quintessentially "All-American" find itself in such disarray? That's what Brian Alexander shows in this moving and sharply researched analysis which explores how pegging the American dream on one manufacturer can lead to the economy collapsing on itself like a house of cards.
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Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
Hardcover & ebook June 2016. 272 pages
If a memoir were to serve as a window into the crumbling of the American dream, then this volume should hit the mark. Despite an abusive childhood in Ohio, with an absentee, drug-addicted mother, Vance made it to Yale Law but the long shadow of his early years continue to haunt him. This moving book is as much personal narrative as it is a sociological exploration of the downward spiral of the American dream for a good portion of its citizens.
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Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
Paperback May 2002. Also available in hardcover & ebook. 240 pages.
After growing increasingly tired of the rhetoric against welfare and the suggestion that "any job" was better than welfare, Ehrenreich decided to immerse herself in the mechanics of low-wage work. The narrative follows her over the course of a series of jobs from Wal-Mart greeter to maid and as a worker in the fast-food industry. While her revelations, that one low-wage job is not enough to keep room and board on hand won't be news, what is striking is the empathy with which she narrates the stories of those whose plight remains largely unheard.
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City of Dreams: The 400-Year Epic History of Immigrant New York
by Tyler Anbinder
Hardcover & ebook Oct 2016.
Paperback Oct 2017. 768 pages.
It can be argued that New York City is a perfect microcosm of the diversity that America loves to flaunt, the proverbial melting pot is on full roaring display here. This brick of a book chronicles the narrative of many an immigrant including one enterprising Irishman who fled after the potato famine, while telling the larger story of assimilation and continuous reinvention. An impressive achievement worth diving into.
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Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America by Patrick Phillips
Hardcover Sep 2016. 320 pages.
This story, set at the turn of the twentieth century in a small Georgia town traces the ugly history of racism in America all the way back to the antebellum South. An especially relevant book even today that puts the "black lives matter" movement into perspective, this is a tragic and true story of one town's ugly past, lessons from which continue to resonate in our times.
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The Not-Quite States of America: Dispatches from the Territories and Other Far-Flung Outposts of the USA
by Doug Mack
Hardcover & ebook Feb 2017. 336 pages.
Sea to shining sea doesn't quite cover it, argues Doug Mack in this compelling history and travelogue mashup. Mack covers the history of the American territories no matter how remote (it's a tough job, someone's got to do it!). In doing so, he unearths a compelling look at American empire and its reach, and the diverse denizens of the "far-flung outposts" who add much vibrant color to these pages.
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Book Club Q&A
Q. "I am trying to get out more and decided to join a book club, in part to get over being socially awkward. I have a tendency to be outgoing, but sometimes in a silly way because of my awkwardness. Can you please provide guidelines or top tips for how one should act and speak in a book club?" - Anne
In response to Anne's question, many BookBrowsers offered words of wisdom including:
"Relax and be yourself. The first time with people you don't know is always nerve wracking. So you are not alone there. Just take a deep breath and if you think you are getting too gidddy just step back and take some deep cleansing breaths and calm yourself down. You will be able to judge how the club is by watching how they act. Some are light and fun while others may be more low key and some may be downright boring from your point of view. Don't give up - if one doesn't work for you then find another. I'm sure they will welcome you with open arms." - Dianne T
"Listen, more than talk, until you get the 'feel' of the group." - Kate M
"Just be yourself and keep trying groups until you find one you are comfortable in. It is great you are getting out! Just accept yourself! You are the only you this world gets to enjoy!" - Dorothy B
'It's okay to be 'shy' until you get the lay of the land, to look for a friendly face and not to be afraid to ask questions about what is acceptable." - Sheila H
"Try to avoid discussions of politics, religion, etc. If you are discussing a possible upcoming book, which you have already read, don't be negative, unless of course it was awful." - FE
"I actually have similar issues. I am introverted and do have social anxiety which can then become social awkwardness as I 'nervous talk'. Last year, I joined a new in-person book group to help me get out more. Since I love books so much, it's a reassuring comfort zone. I decided to be very upfront about my social anxiety and awkwardness and just told the other group members this is something I struggle with. They were very lovely and supportive, so that was great. But it turns out a lot of people live with these things too. My advice - which I try to remember for my own self each meeting - is to listen well and ensure others are getting a chance to speak and be heard. Sometimes quieter members get talked over by the more outspoken members. I prepare notes beforehand with the things from the book I hope we talk about, or information I have researched in support of the author or book." - Jennifer
"I've been part of a book club for a year now - its been a wonderful way to meet new friends and new books that I would not have met otherwise. Being open to learning from others, even if their tastes are quite different has been a key point to having a sense of belonging." - Gayleen T
... And three pitched in with their top tips:
Margie A's Top Ten
- Actually read the book.
- Don't show up drunk.
- Don't sit next to Chatty Cathy, you'll never get a word in.
- Bring a chocolatey dessert, like caramel brownies, everyone likes the girl who brings chocolate.
- Eat before you come so you're not starving and devouring the snacks.
- Think of something from the book that really made an impression on you and speak up early so no one brings it up first.
- Compliment others, but not in a fake way.
- Get your hair/nails done so you feel your best.
- Have a good sense of humor.
- Don't fret the small stuff, it's a book club, you're not being judged.
Carrie R's Top 5
- Read the book. Sometimes life gets in the way and it's not possible to finish, but the group suffers if you aren't fully able to contribute.
- Listen thoughtfully to the other members. All opinions should be welcomed.
- Take notes while you're reading. This will help you feel confident & prepared for the discussion.
- Stay on topic when you're speaking. There are always tangents, but don't monopolize the meeting.
- Enjoy yourself. Being in a book club is a wonderful way to make friends. It's my favorite personal pursuit!
Chaitri D's Top 10:
- Listen
- Understand
- Respect
- Smile
- Agree
- Explain it simply
- Enjoy
- Help
- Correlate (look for connections in what you're reading to other books and to the group's experiences)
- Be yourself while doing all this!
More advice in BookBrowse's book club section
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