Brown Bag Book Discussion - November 2001

In her other life, ardent library supporter Alison Baker Rilling is also an accomplished writer. Her quirky, unique and imaginative stories read like a cross between Anne Tyler, David Sedaris and Richard Brautigan (author of The Pill versus the Springhill Mine Disaster). The first story in this volume, for example, imagines a world where cheerleaders are almost extinct, and you search for them (if you believe in their existence) as you would hunt for Bigfoot.

Berry, also known for his poetry, writes about a 50-year old man remembering the time when he was nine and his favorite uncle was murdered. The family is still trying to solve the case and deal with the profound affect it had on all of them.

Four best friends share a pair of magical thrift-store pants via mail while apart over summer vacation. Lena goes to Greece to visit her grandparents and winds up in a cultural misunderstanding involving a hunky local, Kostos. Tibby stays home to work in a local Wallman's and film her "suckumentary" of lameness and makes a new friend. Carmen counts on some quality time with her divorced dad, only to discover he has a new life–and a new family. Bridget goes to soccer camp in Baja and finds herself in over her head in her first sexual relationship. Some issues here, but mostly fun, escapist fluff for girls who loved Princess Diaries.

Like The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, this novel is set in a dystopian future, in this case 21st century California. Forced to flee an America where anarchy and violence have completely taken over, empath Lauren Olamina, who can feel the pain of others and is crippled by it, becomes a prophet. She carries hope of a new world and a new faith, christened "Earthseed". Also available on Audio Cassette.

Fans of Robert Ludlum, Peter Hoeg and Patricia Cornwell will like this page-turner that involves gruesome murders, DNA, and the possible return of Jesus.

This extended Bible story of the many wives of Jacob, as told by his only daughter, Dinah, looks at the daily lives of women. It includes many sensual and emotional stories and tales of midwifery, but stops short of brilliant literature. There's lots of reader interest, so expect a long holds list.

The third in the excellent "Kinship and Courage" series follows the wagon train from Shasta City, California, up to the Rogue Valley. Lots of local history about Jacksonville and the Table Rocks; by an Oregon author.

The title sums up this exciting true story about archaeological thefts of Mochica Indian relics in Sipan, Peru.

This Japanese author has a cult following; this novel, translated to English is less surreal than his other books, more a simple love story.

Set in a Carmelite monastery outside Los Angeles. Sister John's headaches turn into visions...will a cure end the visions and her grace, leaving her with a soul wrung dry, still searching?

Bob Hampton's aborted attempt at an artist's life in Paris sends him back to LA searching for inspiration. He takes on odd jobs as a handyman and finds himself "fixing" dysfunctional relationships, mostly with sexually and emotionally needy women, eventually finding his muse. Framed as a grant application for a grad student wishing to study Hampton's early artistic career, this novel has much to offer in terms of insight into what makes a great artist.

In his own mind, Shawn McDaniel's an average 14-year old Seattle-ite. He doesn't mind the rain, loves the Sonics and grunge music, and gets along ok with his brother and sister. To the outside world, Shawn has cerebral palsy, and is trapped in a wheelchair, unable to make a single voluntary movement. He experiences powerful seizures, and no one's sure how much he's aware of the world around him. Only he his aware–painfully so–and he has a terrible suspicion that his father is planning to kill him. Wow. Trueman's own son has cerebral palsy, which lends even more poignancy to this well-written, gripping story.

The hopes and trials of a boy, half Apache, who's run over by a mail truck early on and spends the rest of his life on a quest for the mailman. Irresistible.

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