Book Club Meeting, August 5, 2015

As anyone could have predicted, our discussion of “The Sixth Extinction” provided many places to springboard to topics dealing with man-made climate change and the possibilities for political and personal impact on those changes. Given that, the discussion was wide ranging and intense. When we were able to focus on the book, we were all impressed with the grasp Elizabeth Kolbert had of specific  extinctions of toad, bat, large mammal, and plant species.

Her descriptions of the fungus that is killing bats, the very narrow zones for individuated species in tropical regions, and the significance of the speed of current changes were all singled out for mention. Her knowledge of how environmental changes affect growing things, from prehistoric ammonites to African elephants impressed us all.

Our next book will be “The Bookman’s Tale” by Charlie Lovett Published in 2013, it is  available in paperback as well as in libraries and electronically. Thanks to Joan Lakebrink for the recommendation.

The next meeting is Wednesday, October 7 in Room 115 of the Richardson Library.  Discussion begins at 1:30, but the room is available at 1 pm. for anyone who wants to bring in a brown bag lunch beforehand. For further information contact Kathryn DeGraff or Helen Marlborough.




Suggested titles for future consideration:
“Archangel”  Andrea Barrett
“All the Light We Cannot See”  Anthony Doerr
“Frances Perkins:  The Woman Behind the New Deal”  Kirsten Downey
“Barney” by Barney Frank
“Being Mortal” Atul Gawande
“Some Luck” Jane Smiley
“Stoner” John Williams
“A Happy Marriage:  A Novel” Rafael Yglesias