Our next book is Little Bee by Chris Cleave.  I haven't read it myself yet!  For those of you who weren't there last Friday, I do have several copies on hand.  Let me know if you need one and I'll try to get it to you!  Enjoy! 
Julia

Discussion Questions for this Friday

1.      Demick follows the lives of six North Koreans. Whose story do you find most compelling, disturbing, horrific, or inspiring?

2.      Talk about what happens to those who manage to defect. How do they manage life outside North Korea? What are the difficulties— both practical and psychological—they confront in their new lives?

3.      Demick describes North Korea, not as an undeveloped country, but as "a country that has fallen out of the developed world." What does she mean? What would it be like for any of us to live under the conditions in North Korea? What would be most difficult for you? What shocked or angered you most about the book's descriptions of life in the DPRK?

4.      Discuss the history of North Korea and its descent into deprivation. How did a formerly wealthy, industrialized country—which attracted Chinese from across the border—deteriorate into its present state?

5.      What does it take to survive in North Korea? How do some get around the restrictive laws?

6.      Do Koreans love their "dear leader" as much as they claim?

7.      How does one explain the disparity between North and South Korea?

8.      Talk about your experience reading this book? Was it hard to get through...or did you find yourself unable to put the book down? Were you depressed, angered, outraged, thankful for your own life...or all of the above?

(Questions by LitLovers)

Our next book is ...

"Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea" by Barbara Demick. The meeting will be held on Friday, May 4th at my place. I haven't read this book but I have heard good things about it ... it's non-fiction, which we haven't done recently. The runners-up were completely different: "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain (a novel set in 1920s Paris, from the perspective of Ernest Hemingway's first wife) and "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins (which we decided to "assign" for our August social meeting ... no pressure, but that will give us time to read all three books if we want to, and maybe watch the movie too).

The following two meetings are scheduled for June 8 and July 20, and will be hosted by Julia and Tanya respectively.

Hope to see you all on May 4!

A Few Recommendations

After months and months of reading books of debatable quality, I have finally come across a few gems.  If you are looking for something (other than Vaclav and Lena) to read in the next few weeks, track down one of these titles:


The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield
 

 In many ways, this book reminded me of Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. But those of you who were put off by the miracles of that book should find yourself more willing to accept the miracles of this one.

The Year We Left Home by Jean Thompson

Each chapter of this book focuses on a different character, and months, even years, lapse between chapters.  But once you understand how the narrative flow of the book functions, you will drawn in by Thompson's writing.  Elsa, this one's for you.  Let me know what you think!


Finding Nouf by Zoe Farraris

It has been a couple of years since I've read this book, but when Tanya revealed her big news on Friday I remembered this fabulous book.  It is a murder mystery, but the narrative style, as well as the glimpse into an unfamiliar culture, make this book extraordinary.  Farraris' next book, City of Veils, has received good reviews and should be waiting for me at the library sometime this week.