Book Group started off the year discussing Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. All members expressed a strong liking for the book as well as the way the author uses words that make a vivid impression in your mind. Laura Logan lead the discussion with very thought provoking questions that made it easy to participate. The main criteria for choosing a book to read is it has to be discussable! It was interesting to hear the various perspectives of the group and what thoughts the book brought up for each person. There were several themes that came up. One centered around libraries. We enjoyed discussing our relationships to libraries from our childhood to the present moment. Growth and belonging was another theme. The book is one that goes back and forth between the various characters and their stories. All the characters dealt with issues of a sense of belonging or should I say not exactly belonging. As each character grew through the story, we were able to witness how they not only began to feel comfortable in their own skin but also with the people they interacted with in their daily lives. Each one of us could identify with that aspect of growth. Each character had a sense of not being satisfied with the status quo. There was more they wanted from their lives and they had the courage to step out and take some kind of action. We've all been there as well!
If you are reading this and haven't attended the Book Group, I highly encourage you to do so. We will be looking forward to meeting you!
Our next book, The Giver of Stars, is one that centers around building a community of women who are working to bring knowledge to others by delivering books. Those books have the possibility to change the readers lives. Sounds like what we are doing in the League of Women Voters!