NOVEMBER 2024 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, The Roaring Days of Zora Lily, Noelle Salazar

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” Mary Pickford

16 Bookers met at the home of Kittie Minick to discuss this month’s selection that asks the question, “Who is Zora Lily?”

We welcomed new members Karla Lawson and Rebecca Robinson and many thanks to the strong arm of the invincible Jean Alexander for “suggesting” they join us. All kidding aside, we are delighted to have you and hope you’ll make a return visit. Also, we’re looking forward to Suzie Fagg joining us next month.

On the business side

Bookers support for Jen White Sherman and Bookish is much appreciated. We ordered 95 books, totaling about $1,800.00!

Copies of The Berry Pickers were passed out to those who ordered them. If you were not there, I have your copy here.

Our December 10^th meeting will be at the home of Kat Mackey, 10:00 a.m., 146 Hilton Head Island Drive. Kim Nalls has volunteered to assume the role of “Food & Beverage Czar” for our holiday brunch and the year-end-wine-and-cheese evening meeting in May. The group chose to expand the menu options and Kim will be putting together an email detailing the choices and I’ll be sending it out as soon as possible. As always, please respond to her directly (kimlnalls01@gmail.com)  instead of replying to me.

In December, we’ll be discussing The Wedding People by Alison Espach which is a humorous, tender, and introspective contemporary women’s fiction set in Newport, Rhode Island. Phobe Stone, who is experiencing a personal crisis, arrives alone with no luggage at a grand hotel and is mistakenly identified as part of the wedding people.

Ann Ireland reminded us of the PWC Philanthropy project – One Man’s Treasure Clothing Drive. Folded donations must be delivered to her home in black garbage bags, 201 Colonial Drive by November 14^th.

Recap

Bookers set a record – all read, all finished, all liked – Woo Hoo!

My name is Zora Lily, the maternal great-great-grandmother of author Noelle Salazar. My husband, Horatio, and I moved from Canada to Seattle during the logging boom, living in a camp in Ballard, Washington. We raised eight children whom we adored, and although I was just a hair beyond illiterate, I dreamed big and laughed hard with a gaggle of girlfriends. The good Lord said it wasn’t good that a man should be alone, so he made him a helper fit for him. I was that gift to Horatio, but it was my granddaughter who used her skills and imagination to craft the novel you have just read.

Noelle was raised in the Pacific Northwest where she’s been a Navy recruit, a medical assistant, an NFL cheerleader, and always a storyteller. Just my name, her research skills, and the narrative were what brought my life to these pages, and I’m told when she’s not writing, she can be found dodging raindrops and daydreaming of her next book. Her latest, The Lives We Leave Behind, is scheduled for release this month.

Today I’m here to tell you my story, and about Greta Garbo’s white satin gown from the 1923 film, The Star, that was the centerpiece of the Hollywood Glamour Exhibition in 2023 at the Smithsonian. The curators were fitting the alluring gown designed by the famous designer of the 20s and 30s, Michele Clémente, whose signature was demure and high neckline creations, when an elegantly stitched tag fluttered to the floor…it read Zora Lily…begging the question…who is she?

I was a young hardworking seamstress from a poverty-stricken family in Seattle in 1924 and instead of following my dreams of becoming a famous designer like Coco Chanel, I was forced into the role of the family breadwinner after the death of my brother, Tommy. My granddaughter used perfectly aligned stitches as she pieced together a stunning masterpiece from the fringe on the speakeasy costumes for my best friend, Rose, to the unlikely attention from my wealthy businessman aka love of my life and bootlegger, Harley, to the frantic sewing rooms backstage on Hollywood shows.

My saga fills an emotional stage with struggles, happiness, joyful laughter, self-doubt and heartache. My family and siblings were a stark contrast to the stilted staff, jealousy, and anxiousness in the living rooms of the wealthy where I worked as a nanny. Our family was just trying to make it one more day without starving and my childhood was filled with prejudices towards my family, especially aimed at my drunken father. Hopes and dreams led me from the grey skies of Seattle to sunny California and betrayal and disappointment led me back home and that’s where my life as a successful designer with my own boutique began and the accolades poured in. But one thing was missing – Harley – but I knew he would have been proud, and suddenly a familiar pair of blue eyes, my future, stared at me from outside my shop.

Opening night of the Hollywood Glamour Exhibition was wrapped in glittering mystery as the mannequins’ faces and delicate costumes swirled elegantly in place answering the question, “Who is Zora Lily.”

Our discussion

In looking into Greta Garbo’s life and movies, I found a similarity between Zora’s story and hers pointing to the possibility the author took a page from Greta’s personal life. Greta’s father was an unskilled laborer – often out of work and in poor health – forcing his family to live with the constant threat of poverty. She dropped out of school at 13 to care for him and after he died, she vowed to make a life for herself void of financial hardship. Zora’s dad was a drunk, and often out of work, passing the financial responsibility on to the family. Zora’s drive to succeed mirrored that of Garbo. Greta was MGM’s biggest asset and Zora leveraged her abilities with the studio as Greta also did. We wondered why the handsome Harley Aldridge was so well known by everyone at the speakeasys and seemed to have unlimited resources and although his father owned a legitimate furniture store business, his flamboyancy suggested something more illicit. We discussed the significance of painted or rouged knees, a fashion staple during the era, and it seems this was the flappers’ version of thong straps above low-rise jeans.  Rebellious girls in the 1920s wanted to anger and shock their Victorian-era parents, so not only would they bare their knees with short dresses, but they would also paint pictures to make sure an onlooker didn’t miss their risqué hem length. When Zora’s brother died, she was thrown into the role of breadwinner, and although setting aside her dream of designing clothes and owning her own boutique, this responsibility might have been the seed that led her to achieve her goals. Jealousy and trickery reared its ugly head in the character of Elsbeth Pritchard who worked for the same wealthy family as Zora…she handled it by keeping her head down, needing the job more than she needed her pride…until the time was right to seek her own revenge. Standing ovation Ms. Lily!

The drink of choice of Zora and the girls was a Mary Pickford, named after the actress who was married to Douglas Fairbanks. It was a classic rum cocktail (rum, pineapple juice, grenadine & maraschino liqueur) sweet with a kick, just like its namesake. Pickford represented Hollywood’s conscience, a favorite soldier’s pinup girl…looking Victorian but acting modern – seductive in an innocent, youthful and naïve way. Although the love story between Zora and Harley was a major plot point in the novel, it offered some intrigue as to whether it was genuine on his part, and if so, what did he expect to gain from the relationship beside a bed partner.  After Harley was deported to England for two years for his bootlegging business, Zora took a leap of faith and joined her friends in Hollywood but the promises of designing costumes for the movies took a back seat to her role as a seamstress whose responsibilities never ended. Her “career” exploded when her name was removed from all the costumes as she had not signed a contract…she learned a lesson and never let that happen again.  We were mixed on whether Zora should have written Harley sooner – one side why risk the relationship by silence – the other was her determination to do it on her own and knowing he would “lovingly” insert himself into the mix if he knew her plans. She knew her talents and knew she belonged somewhere not because she was on someone’s arm, but because she wanted to be on her own before she was someone else’s.

We talked about how Zora’s siblings all shared everything – food, clothes, chores, beds and life and how that scenario might be different in our world today. When the movie, The Star, wrapped in 1927 to be released the following year Zora’s life turned upside down and she wanted to go home, but where was home… and because she had failed, she began doubting if she was good enough for Harley. She returned to her parent’s home – one she didn’t recognize – indoor plumbing, electricity, her father was sober and responsible, the kids had new shoes. Her dad cleaned up his act because he thought Zora left because of him and after Tommy died, he couldn’t bear losing another child – big time wakeup call. Patsy, a native of Seattle, shared some of the sights and sounds of this diverse city and we talked some about the Jackson Street Jazz Scene, then and now.  I asked if you had a chance to rewrite the ending, what would you change – everyone loved the happily-ever-after-feel good ending and we commented if Zora had been alive to be recognized at the Smithsonian, she would have taken every stitch and sequin to heart. It would have been the cherry on top of a long journey to realization of a dream. We loved that the book started with family, and aptly ended with family.

“If dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” Langston Hughes

Happy Reading,

JoDee

OCTOBER 2024 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, October in the Earth, Olivia Hawker

 “Maybe it’s not the view that’s beautiful or ugly. Maybe what counts is the way you look at it.”

13 Bookers arrived at the home of our birthday girl, Patty Evans, on this beautiful October day to discuss this month’s selection. Patty’s horoscope today suggests realigning autumn routines for health and vitality…I think you know what that means Ms. Evans!

We welcomed new member, Kay Weatherford and enjoyed seeing Linda Hoff again after a long absence. Additional “slush funds” were collected and I’ll write another check in honor of Rosemary Farmer, a cherished member of Bookers who passed on September 11, 2024. Her family requested contributions to be made to the PWC 2025 Scholarship Program to add to her legacy and help enrich the life of a deserving student. Thank you for your generosity!

On the business side:

You shined your light and opened your hearts with generosity in support of Jen White Sherman and Bookish with your book orders, totaling over $1,500.00 to date. Please remember those that ordered The Berry Pickers (Carla, Penny, Susan, Kat, MN, Kay, Virginia, Joanne & Kim) the price of the paperback has not yet been billed or collected. I’ll let you know when they arrive and how much they cost.

Our November 12^th meeting will be at Kittie Minick’s home, 372 St. Andrews Drive and we will be discussing The Roaring Days of Zora Lily, by Noelle Salazar. A costume conservator preparing an exhibition featuring movie costumes from the 1920s discovers another name hidden beneath the designer’s label. The story evolved from learning about the author’s great-great grandmother who like many women fought for a place in the world, to be heard and seen.          

About the author and the evolution of October in the Earth

She lives in Victoria, British Columbia with her husband and several naughty cats. She writes under three pen names including Libbie Grant and Libbie Hawker. She’s hit the Washington Post and Amazon top 100 bestseller lists and has accumulated numerous awards for her books.  

Her publisher, Lake Union, an Amazon imprint, brought her an idea about two women riding the rails during the Great Depression – one a doctor bent on reaching California by a certain date, the other the privileged young heiress fleeing an arranged marriage. She started over six times before finding the right characters, premise and voice for this novel resulting in a whopping 250,000-word tome (equal to 1,000 pages double-spaced format) before it was trimmed to a doable 100,000 words or about 400 pages.

More information on how October in the Earth evolved is attached.

 

Recap and Discussion:

We all read, finished, and liked the selection, except one as it was not her cup of tea, which is what makes book clubs special!

After reading this book, there is one thing for certain, I would not have made a good hobo and who knew there was a difference between them and ordinary riffraff. Here’s a short recap of this gritty historical fiction set in the grips of the Great Depression where jobs were nearly non-existent, farmers didn’t have enough money to produce a crop to pay their mortgages, and people were drawn to any person or any sign of hope for the future. Adella (Del) Wensley’s job was to be the perfect companion to the most popular snake-handling preacher husband in Harlan County. Irving had never met a snake he wouldn’t take hold of and raise it above his head before casting out everyone’s devils and sending around the collection plate. But as it turned out he was the snake using his charm and power to seduce innocent girls and Del was most likely the only one who didn’t know about his ability to charm the pants off the unsuspecting. His behavior was certain to make most readers root for the reptile. Pushed to the limit Del dresses as a man and hops a freight train to remake her life where she partners with the ultimate hobo, Louisa, who reluctantly takes her under her wing and their journey begins from Kentucky’s coal country across the Rockies to Washington State in search of freedom and work as the narrative reveals the desperation driving each of the characters. Hawker captures the portrait of an era as well as a relationship between two vulnerable yet tough women where no male heroes appear to save anyone. Del and Louisa do that themselves.

Our discussion:

We were curious about the title of the book and its meaning and the slash mark in the second “O” of October in the title on the cover. There has not been an official statement from the author, so the speculation is the slash mark is a stylistic choice with no specific meaning, which is often used to create visual interest and/or in this case, to emphasize the month of October – mission accomplished as we’re talking about it! Several members were miffed by the title beyond this quote “…the day she met Louisa Trout, it was June in the sky, but October in the earth…it was farm country, brown and bare fields dry as the heart of autumn.” Here’s my guess…autumn is a season of change and transformation – temperatures cool (maybe someday here!) crops are harvested, and the land is dormant, ready for winter. Louisa changed from independent to a reluctant caretaker while Del fled the “good life” in search of transforming herself from the needy abused wife to a strong woman – both awaiting “Spring” a season of growth and new life.

Our discussion focused more on the bonds of female friendships as many of us remember at least one life-long gal pal who are like sisters with no-judgment zones…deep bonds built on trust, compassion and mutual respect. We talked about how Del and Louisa were alike, although with different backgrounds as they both had lost part of their identities – self-esteem, families, and homes – but for different reasons. They held opposite views of life and religion but always listened and respected the views of the other, although constantly argued about Del refusing to return to her old life and Louisa refusing to claim the bounty put on Del’s head for her safe return. The similarity of the Del & Irving’s last name, Wensley, and George Hensley who was an American Pentecostal minister best known for popularizing snake handling and founder of the Church of God with Signs Following in Tennessee ad Kentucky was not lost on the author. We learned there was a “hobo code” – never steal, don’t drink booze, don’t break any laws, cause no trouble, never take advantage of anyone, and never interfere with any worker on the trains or tracks. It was a surprise to most of us that the hobos were a special “class” of citizen, with their own standards and if broken, they were not welcome in the “community.” An emotional moment arrived when Del and Louisa stumbled on a woman sitting on the steps of her shack to find she had lost her young son and couldn’t bring herself to bury him with something to wrap his body in. It was a four-tissue event for me. Along with our resident “pharmacist” we talked about the early development of sodas laced with everything from cocaine to lithium citrate which was in 7-UP until the 1950s promising mood enhancers, boosting brain function, and a cure all for just about everything else. The subtle “love story” that began with a slight kiss between Del and Louisa hinted at a possible connection on a deeper level between the two might be in the cards. The Granny Woman that Del visited to help with her infertility issues led to Del’s decision to flee finding out the pregnancies she had ended caused by Irving throughout the years. The reference to Del’s “tennis bracelet” by the pawn shop jeweler had to have been an editing error – the term tennis bracelet was first mentioned when Chris Evert wore one in the 1987 U.S. Open when it came unclasped during a rally and was referred to with this acronym from that point on.

The ending – a point of discussion between the group with some wanting Del to stop riding the rails, settle down with a nice man and raise a family. The author did not only leave us without that happy-ever-after scenario, but she also left some feeling short-changed. Having said that in my humble opinion, it was a perfect ending, leaving readers the opportunity to be a bestselling author and write their own version. Del’s life was complete seeing with her own eyes how Louisa had everything she ever dreamed of. Home is where the heart is – beyond four walls – but where families are full of dreams and possibilities. This was not Del’s home, and she was content to call her “boxcar” home – one she had chosen, not one chosen for her. And keep in mind she was still legally married and not “free” to find her happy-ever-after with anyone.

We marveled at the research and the author’s capability of placing readers inside the pages of the book with her vivid descriptions and attention to detail. Our one member who was less than enamored with this selection shared when she first started reading it, she was excited that this woman was going on an adventure…but soon found out, Del was not organized enough to go on a keen adventure…who doesn’t at least pack snacks for the road? OMG, I love Bookers!!

“But every lonesome traveler knows…if he wants to go home, he can…if only in a dream, yes he can.” Lyrics by Hoots & Hellmouth, “Home in a Boxcar.”

Happy Reading,

JoDee

SEPTEMBER 2024 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, This Tender Land and The River we Remember, William Kent Krueger

This Tender Land, William Kent Krueger

“If you tell a story, it’s like sending a nightingale into the air with the hope that its song will never be forgotten.”

The River We Remember, William Kent Krueger

“The most frightening thing we do in our lives is to love.”

13 Bookers arrived at the home of Debbie Yarger to usher in Year 21…. finally old enough to imbibe in adult beverages. Now that we are “legal,” we must drink responsibly…LOL. Books + Friendships = Book Club. I have been blessed to have been a part of our incredible Pinnacle book club since inception and as the adage goes, if you love what you're doing, keep it going and with the undying support of our members, you’ve enabled me to do small things with great love. This year as a “bribe” to continue for another twenty-one years… I received a dozen yellow roses and a twelve-year-old bottle of my go-to five o’clock beverage. My heart is full!

On the business side

Welcome new member, Susan Cunyus to Bookers. We hope she enjoyed being a “newbie” and will continue to join us. 

The selection committee has chosen October in the Earth by Olivia Hawker for our October read. It is a historical literary fiction set in depression-era Kentucky. The wife of a celebrated preacher is pushed by his infidelity to embark on an impulsive and liberating journey hopping on a coal train to ride the rails. The complete list has been sent as an attachment earlier today and please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to support Bookish again this year with your orders. As in the past three years, all you must do is tell me what you would like, and I’ll take care of the rest… but you will have to reimburse me for your purchases. 

Thanks to Patty Evans and Jane Shaw for spending every waking minute with your nose in a book! We all appreciate your dedication!

Thanks to those of you who have offered to host. We appreciate your willingness to open your homes to our gang of readers! January 14 and February 11 are the only two not selected.

Each year we collect $10.00 per member for our “slush” fund which we use for any out-of-pocket expenses that might occur during the year and to contribute any leftover funds to worthwhile PWC related causes. Last year Bookers made a $100.00 donation to the PWC Gala Auction as part of a book basket, and we donated the same amount to the annual Daryl Daniels Back-to-school fundraiser. If you were not at the September meeting, please bring your donation to the next one you are able to attend.

Recommended reading: The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese. Threshing of Straw, Kim Catron, The Revolving Heart, Chuck Augello, The Reading List, Sarah Nisha Adams, The Violin Conspiracy, Brendan Slocumb, Let’s Pretend This Will Work, Maddie Dawson.

Everyone read and finished the selections, most liked/loved but one complaint…the text could have been tighter without as many details about the land, the surroundings, and the rivers. If you want to learn more about the author, his biography is attached to the email.

Between the two books, 885 pages of wandering the land and the rivers with unforgettable characters, vivid scenery and imagery, and life’s lessons scattered through the narrative, of faith and loss – combined a little under the page count of the King James Bible @ 1200 pages. If you haven’t read Ordinary Grace, it’s a must read in my opinion. Small town America, 1961, a time of innocence and hope for a country with a new young President. Much of it is biographical, a boy standing at the door of his young manhood trying to understand a world that seems to be falling apart.

Both Tender Land and River begin with a prologue, which sets the stage, introduces the characters, settings and/or provides a teaser or dramatic event whetting the readers’ appetite. They both end with an epilogue, set outside of the framework of the story, providing closure or resolution, what happens to the characters, and can set up the introduction of a sequel. Both serve as skillful tools in the execution of the stories.

This Tender Land 

Prologue

Before God rested after creating man and woman, he gave us one final gift…the divine source of all that beauty, he gave us stories. My name is Odie O’Banion and I’m a storyteller. I hope you enjoy my tales as they unfold through my eyes, thoughts, and emotions giving you direct access to my inner world. My story begins in Minnesota in the summer of 1932. I’m a thirteen-year-old orphan living in the Lincoln Training School, a pitiless place where Native American children forcibly separated from their parents are sent to be educated. My brother, Albert, and I are the only white faces among hundreds in the school. My exploits constantly earn the wrath of the superintendent while my brother is the model citizen. After committing a terrible crime, we are forced to flee for our lives taking with us our best friend, Mose, a mute young man of Sioux heritage and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy. Together we steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi in search of a place to call home. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, the four orphan vagabonds’ journey into the unknown, crossing paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds. My tale is of killing, kidnapping, and children pursued by demons, a story full of courage and cowardice, love and betrayal…and hope. Heed my advice, “Open yourself to every possibility, for there is nothing your heart can imagine that is not so.”

In a DMN article July 31, 2024 – 973 Native Americans died in U.S. government’s boarding school system finding marked and unmarked graves at 65 of more than 400 of these schools established to forcibly assimilate Native American children into white society. The cause of deaths included sickness and abuse. The children were isolated from their families, denied their identities, stealing from them their languages and the cultures of their Native people. They gave these kids English names, put them through military drills and forced them to perform manual labor such as farming, brick-making and working on the railroad.

Epilogue

“There is a river that runs through time and the universe…a flow of spirit, the heart of all existence, and every molecule of our being is a part of it. And what is God but the whole of that river?” I’m 80 years old now and as I look back on that summer of 1932 when my thirteen-year-old self searched to find peace and pin down God. I want to yell, Odie O’Banion, it’s pointless to worry about the twists and turns or where the current will take you because you know in your heart there is a mystery beyond human comprehension. Yield to the river. Embrace the journey.

My tale of 4 orphans who set sail on an odyssey isn’t quite finished. You must learn where the “greater” river has taken all the Vagabonds. Let’s begin with Clyde Brinkman confessing to the police that Thelma shot our father who was Albert’s dad, but not mine – more on that to come – spending the rest of his life in prison and before he died, he pleaded for forgiveness from Sister Eve, Emmy, Albert, Mose, and me before meeting his maker. I held on to my anger unable to forgive until Sister Eve guided me in the right direction and I let go of Tornado God and realized how profound the words, “you are not alone” were. Albert and Mose returned to St. Paul, but Emmy stayed with Sister Eve who tutored her to understand her remarkable gift. I reunited with Aunt Julia to learn she was my biological mother…the proprietor of a successful brothel – and my father was a client, identity unknown. After an accident left her in a wheelchair, she embarked on a new life of designing and making clothes and by the end of the Great Depression, her gowns were all the rage. Mose tried out for the St. Louis Cardinal baseball team, spending three years in the majors before a career ending injury forced him to retire, returning to the new and improved Lincoln School to coach baseball and basketball and became an advocate for Native American rights in Washington. On his deathbed, his last words to his wife and children were, “not alone.”

Albert and I served in the Navy during the war, and he was quickly put in charge of the powerful engines on an aircraft carrier. He was always my hero and died as one; my firstborn son is named in his honor and his Navy Cross still hangs in my office.

My great-grandchildren beg for stories about the 4 Vagabonds and their battle against the Black Witch, but I tell them about the love story between the imp with his magic harmonica and the princess with the unlikely name of Maybeth Schofield and how they finally reunited, married, and lived happily ever after. She died before they were born, so to them it’s just a lovely fairy tale. I don’t live alone. My sisterly companion is here and although she’s still subject to “episodes of the divine,” she accepts that some things are beyond her reach and ability. The two of the Vagabonds are awaiting our final journey – together as it was in the beginning. In every good tale there’s a seed of truth from which the story grows. Some of what I’ve told you is true. A woman who can heal the afflicted…a girl who sees the future. Ask yourself if these are more difficult to accept than the Big Bang theory when 13.8 billion years ago the universe exploded into being.

Be like children. Open ourselves to every beautiful possibility…for there is nothing our hearts can imagine that is not so…as I said in the prologue.

The River We Remember 

Prologue

This story is told by an unidentifiable character with no name…you can call me the observer. My voice is third person omniscient. Think of me as a movie director perched above the stage using silent signals to direct all the action, drama, characters and their dialogue, inner thoughts and feelings.

People fall in and out of love too easily, but their land is different. The residents of Jewel, Minnesota love it enough to die or kill for it. The fictional Alabaster River cuts diagonally across Black Earth County and most residents think of it as an old friend. But at sunrise or sunset, the waters churn with aggressive channel catfish…they’re mudsuckers, bottom feeders, river vultures…the worst kind of scavengers who will eat anything. This is the story of how they came to eat one of the wealthiest and least liked citizens, Jimmy Quinn, who washed up in the river on Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was called in 1958. It’s a grim portrait of lost souls existing in the darkness of 1950s America and an eloquent and compelling examination of the horrors of history, racial discrimination, and deep seeded prejudices.  War veteran and Dakota Sioux Indian, Noah Bluestone, is suspected of the crime, is arrested, and refuses to take part in his own defense. With subplots galore and a large cast of characters, readers follow the complex relationships among the townspeople, but the pull of the mystery, the big story questions, and losing yourself in the lives of the characters, keep the pages turning until the very last one.

Epilogue

Remember my role is only an observer so if you long to get to know me more intimately, you’re out of luck. Our lives and those we love merge to create a river, one that carries us forward from beginning to end and the river each of us remembers is different as there are many versions of the stories we tell about the past – some true, others a result of misremembering.

Attorney, Charlie Bauer, now 90 still thinks about the death of Jimmy Quinn as she enjoys the view across a field where once in the middle of a raging storm, she stood like a lightning rod. Not far from her home is the acreage once farmed by the Bluestones, now turned and planted by a good man, Patrick Quinn. Stories are like the seeds planted in the soil, so this one began with a man found eaten by catfish in the Alabaster River and it is not yet finished. Some of the players are no longer a part of it, but the story goes on and the river continues to flow.

Brody and Angie married and the Derns occasionally employ Charlie as counsel using her as a sounding board for how each one remembers the truths of their past. Angie’s son, Scott, now with a repaired heart, is married with two children but still struggles with “if only” …if only he hadn’t befriended Del Wolfe…if only they had not gone to the Bluestone farm and shot the dog, Kyoko might not have been raped as the dog would have barked a warning and Noah Bluestone might still be alive.

After graduation from college, Del Wolfe enlisted in ROTC, was deployed to Vietnam returning home in a flag-draped coffin. Scott places flowers on his grave every Memorial Day along with a page torn from an old paperback copy of The Naked and the Dead (the debut novel by Norman Mailer following an army platoon of foot soldiers fighting the Japanese.)

Police veteran, Connie Graff, kept in touch with Kyoko until he died of lung cancer. She had settled in Davis, California, remarried and died of leukemia, most likely from exposure while in Nagasaki. Sam Wicklow fulfilled his dream of writing a novel titled Spirit River, a fictional account of the fateful events of the summer in Black Earth County. Brody Dern died from a fall after saving his brother, Tom, from plunging off his barn roof. After his funeral, Angie delivered a sealed manila envelope to Charlie that had resided in their safe deposit box labeled with her name on the front. Inside was a small silver ring set with a sapphire and written in Brody’s handwriting was Colleen Quinn. Charlie was certain Brody understood the truth of Jimmy Quinn’s murder and knew she would also understand it. Charlie suspected Brody discovered the truth and Marta had told him everything. If so, he had sworn her to secrecy and made sure any evidence soaked into the boards of the old shack where Quinn died were gone forever. Brody stood in silence protecting the innocent until he died.

Charlie spent her days in solitude awaiting the end purchasing the plot next to her late father due to a small piece of wisdom Jimmy Quinn’s death offered her…we all die, but some of us – those who are blessed or maybe just lucky – have the opportunity before that end to be redeemed. We can let go, forgive others, and forgive ourselves for the worst of what we are or have been. Quinn didn’t have that chance. His death was a reminder to be kind to each other and ready to forgive. Brody and Angie understood this, and Scott will too when he lets go of his guilt. Charlie intends to lie down in peace and not be haunted by “if only.” So, she sips her whiskey, reads her books, and occasionally smokes a cigar as she awaits without fear when she’ll be laid to rest forever beside the moonlit, milk-white flow of the Alabaster, a river she remembers fondly as an old friend. 

Rivers have been used as symbolic elements in literature for centuries. They are environments that serve as central locations for pivotal events, none more evident than in Krueger’s works – the rivers are barriers to overcome, escape routes, sources of livelihood as well as danger. The Minnesota River in Ordinary Grace is a tributary of the Mississippi while the Gilead and the Alabaster are both fictional.

Rivers represent the journey of life and the constant change that comes with it, the passage of time, a peaceful meditative place to reflect on one’s life, and the boundaries between different worlds as in Heart of Darkness where the Congo marks the line between civilization and the darkness of the jungle. In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the Mississippi represents the separation between the civilization of the South and the freedom of the North. Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, the Gulf Stream is a metaphor for the unpredictability of life.

In contemporary literature, authors continue to use rivers as multifaceted symbols that reflect the changing social, cultural, and political landscape. In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, the river represents both the passage to freedom and the haunting presence of the past, while in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, the river symbolizes hope and renewal in a world ravaged by disaster.

In short, rivers in literature offer a window into the deepest parts of ourselves. They’re a reminder that, no matter where we come from or what challenges we face, we’re all connected by the flow of life and the power of the natural world.

Our Discussion:

We talked about how both protagonists, thirteen-year-old, Odie O’Banion, and thirty-five-year-old, Brody Dern, were haunted by their actions. Odie blamed Tornado God for all his troubles but shouldered some guilt for what happened in his life. Brody was haunted by his war experience and plagued by guilt for his affair with his brother’s wife and for destroying evidence at the murder scene. Brody’s character didn’t ring true to some as he was this upstanding citizen in a position of authority but had no control over his “emotions” to stop the affair with his sister-in-law…no one is perfect, we’re all flawed, but it was too much of a contradiction to be believable. We discussed the strongest themes in each novel – In Tender Land, the suffering of marginalized groups – the plight of Native American Sioux Indians, the abuse of the children at the Lincoln School, including the orphaned Indians, and the prejudicial treatment of Jews in St. Paul. A July 2024 newspaper article brought to light a current discovery of horrific conditions and many deaths of American Indians in one of these institutions. River focused on the scars of war on returning soldiers, their families, and communities. Yearning for home and family is a powerful thread in Tender Land especially for Odie after his parents died but what he learned as he traveled with his fellow orphans was the best relations are not via blood, but via understanding. His family was the group of misfits, and his home was the adventures they shared. We discussed tent revivals which were common during the timeframe of the novel and how often they are seen as shams, snake-charmers soliciting funds from desperate people and providing false hope of healing. Sister Eve was portrayed differently…as her magic was in belief in God and could only help the true believers. She helped and mentored young Emmy to understand her gift and how to use it to help others. In River, the author used the Alabaster as a character, a thread that tied the past to the present as almost every scene lies on or near the water setting boundaries as if there was not a world outside Black Earth County. I failed to mention how River supported the message in J.D. Salinger’s, The Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield struggled to find his way from adolescence to adulthood highlighting the pain and bewilderment that goes along with the transformation. He was a loner who saw himself standing alone in a field at the edge of a cliff, and it was his job to keep the innocent from falling off. In River, that character is Brody Dern. And in conclusion, there is a moment when Garnet Dern has the power to destroy Angie Madison, whom she views as her rival. She decided not to use that power if Angie promised to tell the truth to Brody. One of our astute Bookers’ members offered these words of wisdom, “If you worked in a brothel, destroy your journals.”

“A dream is like a river ever changing as it flows, and a dreamer’s just a vessel that must follow where it goes.” Garth Brooks

Happy Reading,

JoDee

MAY 2024 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, The Story of Beautiful Girl, Rachel Simon

16 met at the home of Ann Ireland for our annual evening wine & cheese meeting. Many thanks to outgoing Food & Beverage Czar, Bonnie Magee, for organizing her final event for Bookers before handing the reins to Kim Nalls and we appreciate everyone who provided a wonderful spread to soak up the libations.

To Bonnie from all of us:

Farewell feels like the end of a good book, but the last chapter has yet to be written because all the characters will remain a part of your life. The cards and flowers reflect how much we will miss you and hope your new community has some of the endearing features of our beloved Pinnacle. Happy Trails to you and John…until we meet again!!

 

Speaking of farewells…we are saying sayonara, adieu, au revoir, ciao, and adios to a fantastic Year 20 of Bookers and look forward to an equally wonderful year of reading with friends when we resume in September. On behalf of the PWC, Activity Director Extraordinaire, Amy Hoff, asked if I would like to continue in my Bookers’ role, to which I thought for a nanosecond and of course, accepted…it’s just such an honor, I love our time together, and appreciate all the support! Our book selection committee already has a slate of books to review for the upcoming year so stay tuned! If you come across a possible Bookers’ book for us to consider for Year 21, please let Jane, Patty or me know. One you might enjoy for extra reading is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. It was selected by Readers and was highly recommended by several of our “joint” members.

 

Bookers selected The Story of Beautiful Girl in January 2013. In looking back at the minutes from that meeting we paid tribute to the 20 children and 6 adults killed in the December 14, 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Connecticut – the deadliest mass shooting at an elementary school in the United States.  How could we have imagined how the number of incidents has sadly grown in a little over a decade since then?

 

About the author:

Rachel Simon had intimate knowledge of those with intellectual disabilities as her sister, Beth, only eleven months older, didn’t cry as a baby, didn’t move, or react when a doctor tossed her in the air as she tumbled back into his arms. After undergoing a battery of tests, doctors diagnosed her as retarded. Today there would be a plethora of services, but back then, there was one: institutionalization. Their father, Ben, vowed she would never spend a minute inside that type of facility. He was a child of the Depression, his mother died when he was six, and his father, unable to cope with raising two children on his own, sent his boys to an orphanage. He would later say to his own children, “When you live in an institution, you know at the bottom of your heart that you’re not really loved.” No child of his would experience that.

 

Rachel detailed her changing relationship with Beth in her 2003 bestselling memoir, Riding the Bus With My Sister, which was made into a Hallmark movie. She learned there was a secret history in our country, one a true story of a young deaf man who in 1945 was discovered wandering the alleys in Illinois. No one understood his signs, so he was sent to an institution where he was given a number, John Doe No. 24, dying there after 50 years of confinement. Her goal in writing The Story of Beautiful Girl was to give him the life he never had, his story never leaving her mind. It began as a writing exercise after she lost her job as a creative writing instructor. She wrote about a knock on the door of the schoolteacher’s house and the story just unspooled from there. When asked if she was concerned about being pigeonholed, she quoted a disability scholar who said all great literature is a disability story. Stories told through the eyes of people with disabilities are not about fixing, healing, curing, overcoming, being superhuman or supernatural…they’re regular people having their own struggles and sometimes, triumphs.

 

She made it clear that her characters and the people she researched did not have serious mental illness as defined by the DSM-V (an organization that provides clear guidelines in diagnosing mental health and brain-related conditions) but had learning disabilities, speech impediments, deafness, muteness, autism, etc…The institutions depicted in her novel were not for the serious mentally ill, but for people with disabilities considered “different.” These are the ones she feels should be shut down. (Thanks to our astute Ms. Hoff for pointing this out!)

 

Rachel tours the country speaking about disability issues, hearing countless stories about brothers and sisters who suddenly disappeared, about siblings that people never knew they had. At one conference, a bigwig seated with her on the dais told her later, sobbing, that the first time he saw his sister was when she was in her coffin. Simon stood up and put her arms around the man. “From that day on, I never sat down for a book signing…I just do them standing up.”

 

Helen Keller’s activism on behalf of the disabled prompted investigative journalist, Geraldo Rivera, to produce an exposé on Staten Island’s Willowbrook State School in 1972. The facility housed 6,200 residents in buildings meant for 4,000 – the overcrowding fostering abuse, dehumanization, and a public health crisis where researchers intentionally used residents without their permission to test the effectiveness of various vaccines. Rivera’s report confirmed what Senator Robert Kennedy discovered after paying an unannounced visit to the facility saying, thousands of residents were living in filth in rooms less comfortably than cages that house animals at the zoo. This was a pivotal development in the history of disability rights, setting important precedents for humane and ethical treatment of people with developmental disabilities living in institutions. A plaque in the Willowbrook community room paints an accurate picture reading, “I would rather live life believing there is a God, rather than die and find out there is not.”

 

John McCaa, a retired news anchor and award-winning journalist, wrote a column in the Dallas Morning News on Mother’s Day detailing his own mother’s influence on him. He highlights one incident when he and his sister watched as a young neighborhood boy with developmental disabilities passed their home. They made up stories about him because he was “different,” and their mother heard their laughter. Although furious and with tears pooling in her eyes, she calmly said, “You know those special needs kids show more love than you so-called normal children ever will. They love with their whole hearts.” She could not imagine such hurtful words coming from her own children thinking at that moment her efforts to help shape their characters had failed…but her words and reaction profoundly changed John and his sister’s lives.

Synopsis:

The Story of Beautiful Girl is a sweeping love story between a developmentally disabled woman and an African American deaf man who met at the Pennsylvania State School for the Incurable and Feebleminded in 1968. It is a tale of unconditional love and a life-long search to find each other and to locate the child they were forced to leave in the care of a retired schoolteacher. The saga was even more poignant in light of Lynnie and Homan’s disabilities, incarcerated because they were not viewed in what others deemed to be normal and able to function in society, clearly victims of the mindset in the 1960s era.

The novel is a testimonial to overcoming impossible odds, a tutorial of resilience, and how to move forward without abandoning your purpose. “There are two kinds of hope – the kind you can’t do anything about and the kind you can.” This story ends with a beginning. Can you imagine a better day. I gave it a standing ovation!

Our discussion:

Most Bookers read and finished and either loved or liked the selection – the not my cup of tea option was a no show for those in attendance. I failed to point out the meaning of the epigraph at the beginning of the novel. These are short literary devices authors use to set the tone and outline the main theme to readers. Ms. Simon included this message: “Telling our stories is holy work” which refers to the plight of the disabled and a plea for equal treatment. We discussed how two words, Hide Her, changed Martha’s life forever, not calling the authorities when she witnessed the desperation and devotion between the couple and the child. We visited the dedication of teachers but in particular those who teach special needs children and their impact on the well-being of those students. We talked about Kate breaking the rules for Lynnie because she recognized her as a person, not just an “upper division imbecile” and served as her guardian angel protecting and encouraging her artwork throughout the book. The faith-healing scene revealed Homan’s and Sam’s unwillingness to be “fixed” reverting to the numerous “snake-oil” salesmen, smooth talkers who prey on the vulnerable to garner donations to their so-called “ministries.” Julia’s lack of knowledge about her parents was discussed, our group wanting Martha to tell her the truth long before she did – but, IMHO, the storyline would have suffered. Symbolism played a role throughout the novel, starting with the floating feathers interspersed throughout including the inside and back covers – in print copies - representing virtues, hope for a better life and the courage it takes to reach higher. The red feather floated down between Lynnie and Homan during an embrace – red is the color of good fortune. The child’s arm reaching for a black feather on the back cover is supposed to mean grasping mystical wisdom that comes with spiritual evolution (according to the powers that be.) Lighthouses represent a variety of symbols including danger, strength, safety, a guiding light, hope for the lost, and vigilance as a lighthouse is never switched off. Martha’s lighthouse-man mailbox created for her by one of her students was the reason Lynnie chose her house when she, Homan, and the baby were trying to find a place to hide. A disturbing conversation between Kate and ex-guard, Clarence, now sober and atoning for his sins, revealed the horrors of his partner, Smokes, raping Lynnie. Art played a significant role throughout the book, none more significant than in the final chapter when Julia discovered the mosaic, Dreams of Hope, defined as a collaboration of artists, many with abilities, and disabilities creating art that could be appreciated by all people – learning this special piece was in fact created by her parents, Homan Wilson & Lynnie Goldberg. Some of us wanted Julia to meet them in person and the ending felt a little rushed. We also discussed the need for institutions to serve the needs of those “trapped in darkness.” Homes such as the original Buckner Orphans Home (now Buckner International) in Dallas was created in the post-Civil-War era in Texas that was filled with parentless children due to disease or hardship and Tim Tebow’s faith-based organization that caters to the hurting and marginalized people of all ages.

On the business side:

We got a nice thank you from Steve Garwacki for our donation to Hospice in Linsey’s name. He was very grateful that we honored “his sweetheart” in this way.

 

Hope you all enjoy our summer reads, This Tender Land and The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger. September 10, 2024, will begin our 21^st year of meeting and reading. Granted it is quite a way off, but if you can host, please let me know.

 

It's never too late for a happy-ever-after ending in books and in life!

Happy Reading,

JoDee

APRIL 2024 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson

 

“Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.” Albert Camus

11 brave Bookers sloshed through the torrential rain – as if we were in the opening scene of Macbeth – to meet at the home of Jane Shaw to discuss this month’s debut novel framed around the dysfunctional Manning family set in the ego-filled literary world in New York with retreats to Long Island’s Sag Harbor, home to musicians, songwriters, artists, and authors.

The author is a practicing lawyer who lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic Tablet, and Real Simple.

The cover of A Likely Story, with its house of cards made from books, is a fitting metaphor for the insubstantial structure of the Manning family. The world according to bestselling author of nineteen books, Ward Manning, is one where his family, fans, and his publishers all rotate around him like planets around the sun. Isabelle Manning, as an aspiring writer growing up in the 1990s, lives in the shadow of her famous father, spending her life trying to make him proud. Wife and mother, Claire, could be a candidate for sainthood with her dedication to raising her child and her silent acquiescence deferring her own ambition to her controlling husband. Brian, Isabelle’s pseudo boyfriend, has more patience than good sense when it comes to her, and godmother, Glenda, with her flair, humor, and wisdom provides a breath of fresh air in a novel dotted with some unlikeable characters. The author weaves a narrative about the price of success and how secrets corrode the family from within.

Discussion:

Most except for one read, several loved/liked and for one, it was not her cup of tea. In the novel Isabelle considers her book necklace, a gift from her father, among her most precious possessions. In keeping with this spirit, we asked if anyone had a piece of jewelry or some other treasure that holds that type of personal meaning, to please bring it to share with the group. Patsy wore a pendant from her mom with her picture that reminds her of her graciousness and class and remains close to her heart. Bonnie wears and never takes off a Best Mom necklace given by her daughter; the miracle baby born at 39. She received it on her 51^st birthday along with an apology as she wanted to give it to her on her 50^th but didn’t have enough allowance at the time. Jane’s mother was the youngest of nine and when her grandmother gave birth to their first child, a boy, her grandfather placed a watch next to her plate and it still works. Mine was my Aloha necklace, a gift to me on my 30^th birthday from my parents while on a trip to Hawaii. Special memories will stay with us all for a lifetime.

Literary scandals (as in this book) are not rare. In 2020 Bookers selected The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and compared it to The Giver of Stars which was released five months after Book Woman and was surrounded by allegations of perjury. We discussed eleven-year-old, Helen Keller, who published a short story like another one, deducing it must have been read to her and she unknowingly absorbed it as her own. Confusion still lingers about whether Harper Lee’s, Go Set a Watchman, was the unpublished original manuscript of To Kill a Mockingbird and Clifford Irving’s claim to have written the first authorized autobiography of Howard Hughes, even forging letters to himself from Hughes.

We talked about what makes a writer a writer and how the characters viewed that label – Isabelle and Ward – through a publication lens; Claire – the joy of storytelling; Glenda – a curse; Brian – the wedge between him and his love for Isabelle. The book within a book device was a unique way to take readers along the path to the ending – our take – confusing at first but deemed very creative by the end. Livia was Claire’s alter ego, but the book was published under Isabelle’s name, and we felt Claire would have written it differently. The author’s favorite character to write was Ward – his voice resonated with her. and his self-involvement challenged her to make him both egomaniac, but also sad and pathetic so he didn’t come across villainous making it impossible to hate him entirely. Did she succeed – most thought he was an odious jerk. We talked about the stereotypical Texas obsessed fan Ward visited and how she deflated his balloon when she ended the two-day fling, much to his surprise. Our favorite character was Brian – he was loyal to a fault but an endearing character that might have followed another path if he had “grown a set” and moved on from Isabelle. Claire was met with mixed feelings – loved her sacrifices and devotion to her daughter, but she should have been fed up with her blowhard husband. Godmother Glenda was a hoot – here I am…here’s what’s going to happen. Our least favorites were Ward and Darby, a phony who was a mini-Ward. We talked about whether Ward’s writer’s block was caused by an illness, or mental incapacity…he was looking for a reason why he couldn’t’ create and feared his daughter was going to outshine him removing her from his will so if she was successful, she had to make it on her own. Ward did get back on his feet in the end to write about himself and Isabelle’s book was a huge success. We discussed Claire’s high society WASPY upbringing and her quirky parents. The audio version was confusing due to the format switching back and forth and how this trend seemed to be becoming the norm for novelists.  We chatted about Miss Muffins, the obese Abyssinian cat, who was Claire’s archenemy that Isabelle stole/captured…some Bookers not pleased with this twist. A happy ending celebrated the characters’ evolving into better versions of themselves – at least most of them.

We talked about the ever-evolving presence of AI and how Microsoft is working on a state-of-the-art software where a person can talk about anything for thirty minutes and it will have the capability to translate into a book and the importance of protecting yourself and your family by creating a “safe” code word in case you receive one of those terrifying phone calls where the caller claims to have your loved one…Oh my, indeed! Stay tuned.

On the business side:

Our farewell to Year 20 will be our May 14th meeting – our annual wine & cheese evening meeting @ Ann Ireland’s home @ 5:30 p.m. We’re taking a break from meeting, not reading.

Jane & Patty have both agreed to remain on the book selection committee unless anyone else is interested in serving?

Kim Nalls has graciously agreed to assume Bonnie’s Food & Beverage Czar role for our two meetings, Christmas and our May evening wine & cheese meeting.

BookTrib will feature Bookers in their newsletter, and we provided a group photo, and I answered a questionnaire telling a little about our special group. I’ll keep you posted.

If anyone is interested in Books in Bloom set for Friday May 17^th, at the Athens Country Club, please let me know as soon as possible. It is the annual fundraiser for Henderson County. Clint W. Murchison Memorial Library. Tables for 8 are $500.00 ($62.50 each person) or individual seating at non-hosted tables are $65.00 each. Lunch is provided. Jill Beam, daughter of 92-year-old Rose-Mary Rumbley, public speaker, historian, humorist, author, and actress. Jill’s book, Growing Up Rumbley will be available. The table theme is a floral centerpiece. I’ll write one check for our group if anyone is interested, and you can reimburse me.

 

Happy reading,

JoDee