Monday, November 08, 2010

Book Club Update

Our book club is still ongoing. We've read 2 books since my last update.

"The Grapes of Wrath" was the book that I picked. I'd always wanted to read this book and my dad recommended reading it. It was quite a long book but very interesting as it describes a family travelling from Oklahoma to California after they lost their farm during the Great Depression. Handbills were sent across the nation from California claiming there would be jobs for anyone who wanted work. When they arrive, though, they find that work is scarce and the pay is even lower. I enjoyed this book and the discussion the has come from it. Given the current economic climate in the States and the government's attempts to solve the problem, there has been the comparison to the government's decisions to relieving the Great Depression and how their policies could have prolonged the Depression rather than relieving it.


Reuben's turn was next and he picked "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson. This book is written from the perspective of a Calvinist minister in his 70s writing letters of reflection to his 7 yr old son. It wasn't too easy to get into and was quite confusing at times. But there are great passages of theological reflection and moral debate. We ended up having a good size group come out for the discussion, which is always nice.