Friends of the Library Book Discussion Group
When
Barbara and Wayne Zurl moved to Maryville in 1994, Barbara looked in
vain for a book discussion group. When she approached Kathy Pagles at
the library, Kathy said, “Why don’t you start one?”.
So Barbara did and invited several friends to join her in discussing
Amy Tan’s “The Joy Luck Club”. That first meeting
was in May of 1994.
Barbara continued as facilitator of discussions for the next six years.
She always did an excellent job of researching the book and the author,
and insured that discussions stayed focused. All ideas were accepted
as valid, especially when there was disagreement. When Barbara was unable
to continue the members took over, obtaining books on their own and
rotating discussion leadership duties. There are currently about 20
participants. They suggest books in June and make final choices in July.
They don’t necessarily read best-sellers but look for books that
will generate discussion, may even be controversial. Some that were
read last year were: “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson,
“The March” by E.L. Doctorow, and “Presidential Courage”
by Michael Beschlosss.
The book discussion group currently meets the second Wednesday of each
month, at 10:15 AM in the board room of the library. Any woman who loves
to read and talk about books is welcome to join in.
Book Selections for 2009– 2010
DATE |
BOOK |
AUTHOR |
| August 12 | Still Alice | Lisa Genoba |
| September 9 | Cade’s Cove | Durwood Dunn |
| October 14 | The Outliers | Malcolm Gladwell |
| November 18* | A Thread of Grace | Mary Doria Russel |
| December 9 | The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows |
| January 13 | My Stroke of Insight | Jill Bolte Taylor |
| February 10 | The Reader | Bernard Schlink |
| March 10 | Sashenka | Simon Montefiore |
| April 14 | Cataloochee | Wayne Caldwell |
| May 12 | Rain of Gold | Victor Villasenor |
| June 9 | A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | Betty Smith |
*The library will be closed on November 11 for Veterans Day.