BookTalk 10/15/2008 BookTalk: Carol Caywood’s book group is reading “Year of Wonders” by Geraldine Brooks
Carol Caywood's book group is currently reading "Year of Wonders" by Geraldine Brooks. What's your book group reading?
Carol Caywood's book group began three years ago on a back deck of one member's cabin in northern Wisconsin. Most of the women reside in the Twin Cities; when they are at their cabins, they are all within two miles of each other.
Q. What book are you currently reading?
A. "Year of Wonders" by Geraldine Brooks. It is the story of a small community that quarantined itself during the plague. It is historical fiction based on a real town in England in the 1600s that had a very high immunity rate.
Q. What book(s) by a female author has your group read that you would you most recommend to other readers? Why?
A. "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. Originality, well written, interesting what-if? Also sparks a lot of conversation.
Q. Did the book have a deeper meaning?
A. Yes. It deals with the power of love. What would you do for love? How much is too much?
Q. What rituals or traditions does your group have?
A. We rotate homes so that each person hosts once a year. The person who hosts provides the wine-but not the food-no one should have to clean and cook on the same day! Some of us try to find a theme in the book to fashion our decorations or food choices. The other women laugh at us, but we know secretly they wish they were as creative. After book club we anxiously wait for our youngest member's email of "the minutes" which includes a top 10 of what we learned. These are always hilarious!
Q. What makes your group work?
A. Many of us are related, so we have to get along. However, what really makes it interesting is that we have such a huge range of ages 25, 40, 45, 55, 60. We read books that appeal to women at various points in their lives and we all have different insights to the characters' lives.
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