Brown Bag Book Discussion - November 2003

This wonderful version of Thomas’s childhood memories is delightful for any age. Young Thomas is grumpy because it is raining rather than snowing on Christmas Eve. To distract him, his Grandfather tells him charming stories of Christmas.

Remember reading these stories as a child? Even for adults Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories of life for a pioneer family are still captivating. Wilder remembers life with Pa, Ma, Mary, Carrie and little Grace as she and her family struggled with a difficult life but still managed to find fun, happiness and love.

Beltran is a Chilean seismologist bent on dedicating his life to science and living a lonely life. A business trip to LA, however, prompts him to remember his life through the movies he saw at different times. From Chile to LA and back again, Beltran examines sad and happy times and how they all made him what he is today.

A journalist travels to L.A. for Christmas on the train because he has been banned from airlines and meets up with the former love of his life who wants nothing to do with him. Complications arise on the train including a long list of interesting characters like Agnes Joe the crazy old lady, Roxanne the Amtrak staffer with a beautiful singing voice, Max Powers the powerful Hollywood director, an avalanche, and horses. A fun read for the holidays!

In her latest and surprisingly slim novel, Morrison examines love, hate, family, greed, revenge and a host of other emotions. Six women are bound together because of their love for one man, long dead, who had some great effect on all of their lives. With her beautifully lyrical storytelling skills, Morrison weaves a tale of what it is to love.

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