“Humans often fail to see what is close to
them and obvious to others.” Don Tillman
10 Bookers met at the home of Daryl
Daniels to discuss this month’s selection pitting a socially inept, emotionally
challenged geneticist who is tone deaf to irony against an edgy young woman, a
barmaid/doctoral candidate in psychology whose fallback mode is sarcasm and you
have the basis for this romantic comedy, a debut for Australian author, Graeme
Simsion.
Kay Robinson, thanks to technology savvy
Barry Daniels, aired on the big screen television a short interview with the
author, a former information systems consultant turned novelist. One would
suspect his extensive background and research of data-modeling lent insider
knowledge of how “geeks” might formulate a sixteen-page questionnaire to find
the perfect wife. Don Tillman, the protagonist, although not officially
diagnosed with Asperger’s in the book, showed definite signs of the syndrome
including social behavior and lack of empathy. We also watched a cartoon directed
at children and young adults using an example of crashing into an alien planet
that looks like Earth to show how those with Asperger’s are wired differently
than others. Kay shared an article written by Scott Burns, financial writer for
the Dallas Morning News and MIT graduate, showing survey results touting MIT
graduates live longer. Nerds rule.
And, a young man’s journey with this disease recently ran in The Monitor
highlighting more awareness of this highly functioning disorder on the autism
spectrum. Kay did a wonderful job of fostering a lively conversation of a book
that delivered comedic relief for our everyday existences and enabling us to
look inside our own relationships. Round of applause for an excellent job!
One reviewer compared the novel to the
character, Sheldon, on the television comedy, The Big Bang Theory, saying that
if you like the show, read the book, if not you won’t enjoy the “deadpan,
nudge-nudge, wink-wink humor.” Evidently, our group found laugh-out-loud
passages, such as Don practicing ballroom dancing and sexual positions with a
skeleton and his Standardized Meal System (Lobster Salad Tuesday) to telling
Rosie on their first “date” she was “quite intelligent for a barmaid.”
The author summed up the contrast between Rosie
and Don in the pendant that she wore, identified by a Latin inscription
meaning, “I am all that has been, is, and
will be.” The quote is from Isis (no not that one) but the Egyptian goddess
of rebirth, one of the most familiar images of empowered and utter femininity.
She taught women how to grind corn, make bread, spin flax, weave cloth, and how to tame men enough to live with them…she
was called “The One Who Is All.” Don
Tillman met his match when he met Rosie’s pendant!
We
talked about our own idiosyncrasies, preferring to call them organizational
tools, revealing most of us are list makers, a very common way to keep your
life in proper order unless you make a list of your lists, then we might take a
harder look at you. This novel is relevant in today’s world of bullying with
early diagnosis advantageous in clarifying the differences between us…..more
walking in other’s shoes. The ending, although rushed, solved Rosie’s who’s
your daddy dilemma, delivering a fairytale conclusion that love conquers all in
which everything is ordained to work out for the best . Sony Pictures has
optioned the book for the big screen and if you want to find out what’s next, The
Rosie Effect, the sequel keeps the story going forward.
On the business side:
The very same company, Amazon, putting most of the
“brick and mortar” bookstores out of business is opening over three hundred of
the same in the near future. Go figure.
April 1st is the date for the annual Books
in Bloom fundraiser, held at the Cain Center with proceeds directed to the
Henderson County Clint W. Murchison Memorial Library in Athens. Jan Jarboe
Russell is the featured author of The Train to Crystal City: FDR’s Secret
Prisoner Exchange Program and America’s Only Family Internment Camp during
World War II. From 1942 to 1948, trains carried thousands of Japanese,
German, Italian immigrants and their American-born children to a small desert town
at the southern tip of Texas. Crystal City was at the center of a government-
prisoner exchange program called “quiet passage.” During the war, hundreds of
prisoners were traded for “more important Americans” – diplomats, businessmen,
soldiers, physicians, and missionaries behind enemy lines in Japan and Germany.
The story focuses on the lives of two American-born teenage girls. Bonnie Magee
will find out the deadline to reserve a table and confirm the cost involved in
the attending the luncheon and/or author reception and I’ll pass this
information along as soon as possible. Those at the meeting today expressed an
interest in supporting this function as a group and I hope we can find someone
to coordinate the committee to organize our table. We may also consider this
book for our summer read. More later.
COLOR CODING SYSTEM
WHITE: LIGHT READ
PINK: MODERATELY
CHALLENGING
RED: CHALLENGING
March
15th: If You Find Me, by Emily Murdoch
PINK,
but a deeper shade due to subject
Home of Rebecca
Brisendine,
Tentative, Backup Kay
Robinson
Note later date
Reviewer: Barbara Creach
April
12th:
Winter
Garden by Kristin Hannah
PINK
Home of Kay
Robinson
Reviewer: Jean
Alexander
May
17th: Wine & Cheese
evening meeting, 6:00 P.M.
Note later date
Bonnie Magee, Food Czar
A Man
Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
PINK
Home
of: Beverly Dossett
Reviewer:
Jean McSpadden
Summer
Break: June, July, & August
Summer
Read, TBD
September
13th: Beginning of Bookers’ 12th
year
Behind you, beside you, and in front of
you could be the “pearls” you are looking for. Don’t forget to
open your eyes.
Happy Reading,
JoDee
