The Genre Reading Group will meet May 26th at 6:30pm to talk about Mark Twain! Read any book written by Twain and come tell us about it!
Tuesday we discussed a nonfiction topic, southern history! I consulted the U.S. Census Bureau on exactly what was considered to "the south" and the definition was broad. Maryland was included so that is why you'll see a book on Baltimore among those listed below. I hope to see you all next month!
Ten Flags in the Wind: the Story of Louisiana by Charles L. Dufour
Washington Burning: How a Frenchman's Vision of Our Nation's Capital Survived Congress, the Founding Fathers, and the Invading British Army by Les Standiford
Driving with the Devil: Southern Moonshine, Detroit Wheels, and the Birth of NASCAR by Neal Thompson
The reader of this title mentioned that this was the 4th book about this relative time period (very early 20th century) that she had read: Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris, Nicholas & Alexandra by Robert Massie, and Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. Another title mentioned was a hilarious young adult book by Richard Peck, Here Lies the Librarian, set in rural Indiana around 1904 about a young man trying to operate one of the first auto repair shops in his area while still raising his younger sister to be a proper young lady.
Lowcountry Hurricanes: Three Centuries of Storms At Sea and Ashore by Walter J. Fraser Jr.
I read this for bookgroup AND as part of my 100+ Reading Challenge...it was the 38th book I've read this year!
Scottsboro: A Tragedy of the American South by Dan T. Carter
The reader of this title was unable to attend a couple of the last meetings but shared what she did read for those genre: Edith & Woodrow: The Wilson White House by Phyllis Lee Levin and (!!!) Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert Massie.
Charm City: A Walk Through Baltimore by Madison Smartt Bell
Alabama: One Big Front Porch by Kathryn Tucker Windham
Very New Orleans: A Celebrations of History, Culture, and Cajun Country Charm by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler
Several readers had comments about New Orleans in general. In the French Quarter you can find the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve French Quarter Visitor Center! They offer a small selection of free guided walking tours. This led to a comment about Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series. She is a U.S. National Park Ranger/amateur sleuth who continually runs into trouble in America's national parks. Rumor is that Barr's next Anna Pigeon book will be set in New Orleans! The magazine Southern Accents has a regular City Profile piece and recently featured New Orleans.
At the end of our meeting, when quizzed for some good books in general, Isabel Allende's Daughter of Fortune and Chris Cleave's Little Bee were heartily endorsed!
Happy reading!
Holley
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