How Do I
Squirrel Hill Book Group
The Squirrel Hill Book Group ordinarily meets from 1-2 pm on the fourth Thursday of each month at CLP-Squirrel Hill. The group reads primarily nonfiction (biographies, histories, witty commentaries) with a few fascinating novels and short story collections to round out the conversation each year.
Upcoming Book Discussion
Thursday, October 28, 2010, 1-2 PM
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
By Dai Sijie
At the height of Mao's infamous Cultural Revolution in China, two boys are exiled to the countryside for "re-education." The boys find their salvation in two discoveries: a hidden cache of Chinese translations of Western classics and the beautiful daughter of the local tailor.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
By Dai Sijie
At the height of Mao's infamous Cultural Revolution in China, two boys are exiled to the countryside for "re-education." The boys find their salvation in two discoveries: a hidden cache of Chinese translations of Western classics and the beautiful daughter of the local tailor.
Previous Book Discussions 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010, 1-2 PM
Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunitedby Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein
Previous Book Discussions 2009
The Commoner: A Novel
by John Burnham Schwartz, 2008. (Fiction)
Haruko grew up in a warm loving Japanese family during and after WW2. At a tennis match, she catches the eye of the Crown Prince, the son of the Emperor. His emissary makes an offer her family can't refuse. Haruko marries and disappears into the Imperial Palace. Based on the life of the current Empress, Michiko, who in 1959 became the first commoner to marry into Japan's royal family, this is a tale of a woman terrorized by her mother-in-law, the Empress, and trapped in a gilded cage where protocol and stifling ritual prevail over compassion. Rich imagery and lyrical language.
by John Burnham Schwartz, 2008. (Fiction)
Haruko grew up in a warm loving Japanese family during and after WW2. At a tennis match, she catches the eye of the Crown Prince, the son of the Emperor. His emissary makes an offer her family can't refuse. Haruko marries and disappears into the Imperial Palace. Based on the life of the current Empress, Michiko, who in 1959 became the first commoner to marry into Japan's royal family, this is a tale of a woman terrorized by her mother-in-law, the Empress, and trapped in a gilded cage where protocol and stifling ritual prevail over compassion. Rich imagery and lyrical language.
The Geography Of Bliss: One Grump's Search For The Happiest Places In The World
by Eric Weiner, 2008.
The author, an NPR reporter covering the Iraq war for years, decided to find less tragic stories. He visited eight countries with purported happy people and one with alleged unhappy folks. His journey takes us from Switzerland where everything works like clockwork as long as you don't provoke envy to Thailand, the land of smiles. There is no guarantee that you will be happy at the end of this book but you will definitely enjoy the trip.
by Eric Weiner, 2008.
The author, an NPR reporter covering the Iraq war for years, decided to find less tragic stories. He visited eight countries with purported happy people and one with alleged unhappy folks. His journey takes us from Switzerland where everything works like clockwork as long as you don't provoke envy to Thailand, the land of smiles. There is no guarantee that you will be happy at the end of this book but you will definitely enjoy the trip.
Gift From The Sea
by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1955.
Far away from the exciting life of flights and fame with her husband Charles Lindbergh and the frenzy of raising five children, the author spends a week alone on lovely Sanibel Island in Florida on the Gulf. There she meditates about life. She compares the stages of her life to the many different shells washed ashore. She yearns for balance and being centered. This poetic ode to life is a timeless classic and will inspire you at any age.
by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1955.
Far away from the exciting life of flights and fame with her husband Charles Lindbergh and the frenzy of raising five children, the author spends a week alone on lovely Sanibel Island in Florida on the Gulf. There she meditates about life. She compares the stages of her life to the many different shells washed ashore. She yearns for balance and being centered. This poetic ode to life is a timeless classic and will inspire you at any age.
The Sisters: The Saga Of The Mitford Family
by Mary S. Lovell, 2002.
The five beautiful Mitford sisters, raised in an upper class English household, rise to fame in English society in the 1930's. They were all passionate: Jessica about Communism and Diana and Unity about Nazism. Diana married her second husband in Joseph Goebbels' home with Hitler as guest of honor. Nancy and Pamela were more discreet. A fascinating read about the most spectacular and scandalous sisters of the 20th century.
by Mary S. Lovell, 2002.
The five beautiful Mitford sisters, raised in an upper class English household, rise to fame in English society in the 1930's. They were all passionate: Jessica about Communism and Diana and Unity about Nazism. Diana married her second husband in Joseph Goebbels' home with Hitler as guest of honor. Nancy and Pamela were more discreet. A fascinating read about the most spectacular and scandalous sisters of the 20th century.
Old School: A Novel
by Tobias Wolff, 2003. (Fiction)
A glimpse into life at a boys prep school in New England in 1960. The school honors truth and honesty. But there is deception and concealment in many corners among the faculty and students. This coming of age book is a telling story of the price of masquerade in life.
by Tobias Wolff, 2003. (Fiction)
A glimpse into life at a boys prep school in New England in 1960. The school honors truth and honesty. But there is deception and concealment in many corners among the faculty and students. This coming of age book is a telling story of the price of masquerade in life.
Swimming To Antarctica: Tales Of A Long-Distance Swimmer
by Lynne Cox, 2005.
Lynne Cox swam the English Channel at 15. That was just the beginning. She then proceeded to swim across all the famous straits in the world including the arctic Bering Straits. Each of these straits have treacherous riptides or sharks or temperature hovering above freezing. But Lynne swam across with grace and, in one case, with amazing diplomacy.
by Lynne Cox, 2005.
Lynne Cox swam the English Channel at 15. That was just the beginning. She then proceeded to swim across all the famous straits in the world including the arctic Bering Straits. Each of these straits have treacherous riptides or sharks or temperature hovering above freezing. But Lynne swam across with grace and, in one case, with amazing diplomacy.
Musicophilia: Tales Of Music And The Brain
by Oliver Sacks, 2007.
The author, a prominent NYC neurologist and prolific author of medical best sellers, has gathered fascinating and startling stories of people who experience musical disorders. They hear music when there is no music, or hear noise or see colors when there is music. The book is packed with the many ways music evokes emotional, physical and psychological reactions in people. He illustrates with vivid details the power of music over people.
by Oliver Sacks, 2007.
The author, a prominent NYC neurologist and prolific author of medical best sellers, has gathered fascinating and startling stories of people who experience musical disorders. They hear music when there is no music, or hear noise or see colors when there is music. The book is packed with the many ways music evokes emotional, physical and psychological reactions in people. He illustrates with vivid details the power of music over people.
The Wild Trees: A Story Of Passion And Daring
by Richard Preston, 2007.
Romance and adventure abound in this book where young men and women in California climb the tallest trees in the world. They are passionate about climbing these magnificent trees - one couple gets married in the tree-tops with a crack tree climber who fortuitously is also a minister. When you read this book you will soar with the masters.
by Richard Preston, 2007.
Romance and adventure abound in this book where young men and women in California climb the tallest trees in the world. They are passionate about climbing these magnificent trees - one couple gets married in the tree-tops with a crack tree climber who fortuitously is also a minister. When you read this book you will soar with the masters.
