I’ve helped set up a book club in our ward’s Relief Society, and I thought I’d keep track of the books we read and what we generally thought of them.

October 2004, Emma by Jane Austen
We generally thought it was a silly book; a few didn’t finish it, or only skimmed parts. It’s not Jane Austen’s best, and it has many many long, drawn out passages. We did have a good discussion, though, about what life as a woman in the gentry in Regency England would be like. And we generally decided it would be boring. No wonder Emma was so silly. (For the record, Mr. Knightly is my absolute favorite Jane Austen hero.)

November 2004, Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz
For the most part, the Southerners (those who were born and raised here and who have Confederate Roots) loved it. They loved it because it was all true to them, because it told their “side” of the story, because it was their lives (in part). The rest of us Transplanted Southerners were mixed. I liked it because I thought Horwitz was a good writer, and while I thought the stories he told were a bit odd, the book was, well, enlightening. Another couldn’t believe it was non-fiction, the stories were so outrageous. And a third felt it confirmed everything she thought about “you crazies down here”. It made for an interesting discussion. Thankfully, no blood was shed (and we were all still friends afterwards).

January 2005, The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
We all agreed that it was, well, not a very significant book. Nice, but not really as deep or profound or important. That, we agreed, was probably because we’re all members of the Church and the things the book “teaches” — love is forever, sacrifice is good, repent and forgive and our lives are all connected — are all second nature to us all. We did find it interesting that it was on the NY Times best seller list. Perhaps, one woman commented, someone out there will read the book and come away looking for more and find the missionaries and join the Church. Who knows. Could happen.

February 2005, America’s Women by Gail Collins
One of our better selections; it was unanimously liked by all. And it spurred great discussion about women’s lives, our lives and the ease of which we live them. We all agreed that we are grateful for modern medicine and were amazed anyone survived 19th-century doctoring. And we recognized the need and use of journals, for without them and letters, this book could not have been written.

March 2005, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
We generally liked this book, though several didn’t like the ending. (One woman wanted Cassie to go off Simon and we all agreed that Steven got the shaft.) It did lead to good discussions on our reactions to our surroundings, love versus infatuation, and class and women in the early 20th century. Not bad for a sweet little coming of age romance.

April 2005, Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
We all really liked this book, for the most part. (One woman, who didn’t come, said earlier that is was “not her type of book”, and another didn’t come because she was only half way through and didn’t want the ending spoiled.) Anyway, we had a good discussion about life in the 17th century, espeically for maids and the lower class (we discussed the limited outlook of Griets life, how if she lived in another place in time, she probably would have aspired to greater things). We talked alot about Vermeer’s art, and his genius — I wish the book on his art I requested from the library had come. And we talked about the relationship of the artist and his subject. The movie version turned the book into a love triangle, which I personally have problems with, and others agreed. One pointed out that if Vermeer had been in love with Griet, he would have been more compassionate with her ear piercings!

For May, we’re reading two youth fiction books (yay!): Ashes of Roses, by Mary Jane Auch and The Breadwinner, by Deborah Ellis.