JULY BOOK

We return to the classics for our July selection, namely Anton Chekhov's only full-length novel The Shooting Party (wikilink).  Although more celebrated for his plays and short stories, this early work of Chekhov's had a clear influence on the development of the mystery genre.  Join the usual suspects this Tuesday, July 8 at our den of bibliquity, Zawa Restaurant (link).  Look for the gang on the patio (weather co-operating) at the regular start time of 7pm.

When a young woman dies during a shooting party at the country estate of a dissolute count, a magistrate is called to investigate. But suspicion descends upon virtually everyone, for, as we soon learn, the victim was at the center of a tangled web of relationships with her elderly husband, with the lecherous count, and with the magistrate himself. One of Anton Chekhov's earliest experiments in fiction, The Shooting Party prefigures the mature style he would develop in his magnificent stories and plays.

JUNE BOOK

Our June selection is one of Mark Twain's least known works, Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc (wikilink), an 1896 historical novel recounting the life of Joan of Arc.  We'll be meeting the evening of Tuesday, June 10 at our usual time and place (Zawa Restaurant link at 7pm).  As always, all are welcome.  Look for us on the patio if the weather warms up.

From Wikipedia:  The novel is presented as a translation by "Jean Francois Alden" of memoirs by Sieur Louis de Conte, a fictionalized version of Joan of Arc's page Louis de Contes. He has the same initials as Samuel Langhorne Clemens, Mark Twain's real name. The novel is divided into three sections according to Joan of Arc's development: a youth in Domrémy, a commander of the army of Charles VII of France, and a defendant at trial in Rouen. They are entitled "In Domremy", "In Court and Camp", and "Trial and Martyrdom".

MAY BOOK

     Our book for May was Oscar and Lucinda (link) by Australian writer Peter Carey, one of only five authors to win two Booker Prizes.  (In addition to our current selection, his novel True History of the Kelly Gang was also a Booker winner.)  The book was adapted into a film of the same name in 1997, starring Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett.  A good time was had by all on a cool May 13th evening at our usual Zawa Restaurant location (link).  The weather continued to be uncooperative, but we hope to be on the patio next month.

From Wikipedia: 

The book tells the story of Oscar Hopkins, an Anglican priest from Devon, England, and Lucinda Leplastrier, a young Australian heiress, who are both traveling to Australia by ship. It explores their adventures on the large continent.  They meet on a ship to Australia, where Lucinda has bought a glass factory, having long been fascinated by the material. Oscar had grown up as the son of a fundamentalist Brethren of Plymouth minister and naturalist. He has used his observation of nature as a sign from God for something less severe, and believes he has joined a more compassionate church with the Anglicans.   The travelers discover that they are both gamblers, one obsessive, the other compulsive.

APRIL BOOK

We've selected the short story collection Antarctica by Irish author Claire Keegan (link) for our April meeting and discussion.  Keegan's impressive debut was followed by several prize-winning books, including Small Things Like These which was adapted for film just last year.  It's Tuesday, April 8 at our regular Zawa Restaurant location (link) for all those interested in an evening of fine food, beverages and booktalk.  Opening kickoff at 7pm as usual.  The patio may even be a possibility if the spring weather continues to improve.

First published in 1999 and proclaimed "an impressive debut" by William Trevor, Antarctica introduced the world to Claire Keegan, whose short fiction has since captured readers worldwide and established her as "among the form's most masterful practitioners" (New York Times). Now with a revised titular story, this iridescent first collection of stories draws readers into a world of obsession and betrayal in Keegan's singular, commanding and award-winning prose.

MARCH BOOK

 Our book for March is The Big Sleep (wikilink), by Raymond Chandler, considered by many to be the doyen of hard-boiled detective/noir fiction.  The novel was filmed twice, first with Humphrey Bogart in the starring role followed by Robert Mitchum.  Join the bantering bookworms for another lively evening on Tuesday, March 11 at our Zawa (link) meeting spot.  Festivities commence at 7pm as per usual.  Newcomers always welcome.

A dying millionaire hires private eye Philip Marlowe to handle the blackmailer of one of his two troublesome daughters, and Marlowe finds himself involved with more than extortion. Kidnapping, pornography, seduction, and murder are just a few of the complications he gets caught up in.

FEBRUARY BOOK

 We'll lighten things up in February with our selection of War With the Newts (wikilink), a classic science fiction satire by the Czech author Karel Čapek.  The second Tuesday falls on February 11 this time around.  Join the burgeoning bevy of bibliophiles at Zawa (link) at our usual 7pm start time.  Everyone welcome as always.

War with the Newts (1936) is Karel Capek's darkly humorous satire of humanity, its foibles, pretensions and hubris. Captain van Toch discovers a colony of newts in Sumatra which can not only be taught to trade and use tools, but also to speak. As the rest of the world learns of the creatures and their wonderful capabilities, it is clear that this new species is ripe for exploitation - they can be traded in their thousands, will do the work no human wants to do, and can fight - but the humans have given no thought to the terrible consequences of their actions.

JANUARY BOOK

 And so another new year will soon be upon us, and we'll ring it in with our January selection of After the Quake (link), a collection of short stories by Japanese author Haruki Murakami.  Join the post-holiday frivolity on Tuesday evening of January 14 at our regular Zawa Restaurant location (at Commercial & Venables; Zawa).  It's a 7pm start time and all are welcome as always.  In the meantime, Ritual Solstice Greetings to everyone and best wishes this festive season.

The six stories in Haruki Murakami's mesmerizing collection are set at the time of the catastrophic 1995 Kobe earthquake, when Japan became brutally aware of the fragility of its daily existence. But the upheavals that afflict Murakami's characters are even deeper and more mysterious, emanating from a place where the human meets the inhuman.  As haunting as dreams, as potent as oracles, the stories in" After the Quake are further proof that Murakami is one of the most visionary writers at work today.