#Middlebury #BookDiscussionGroup
The Middlebury Public Library’s Brown Bag Book Group will discuss “Summer” by Edith Wharton Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 1 p.m. Written in 1917, this novel was the first to deal with the topic of a young woman’s sexual awakening and realization she could make her own choices. Charity Royall, a proud independent woman, was born to a family of poor mountain moonshiners and adopted by a family living in a poor New England town. She is swept into a torrid love affair with Lucius Harney, an educated man from the city. Charity soon learns her dreams of a future with Lucius will be foiled.
Wharton broke conventional norms when she created Charity, a modern contemporary woman in touch with her feelings but kept from the life she craves by the pressures of society. “Summer” is considered Wharton’s personal favorite of all her novels.
“Madame Bovary” by Gustave Flaubert is another novel whose key theme is awakening and making one’s own choices. The novel revolves around Emma Rouault and her pursuit of romantic excitement. Soon after marrying Charles Bovary, a doctor, Emma finds out her life is dull and not the life of luxury she expected. Emma rebels against her ordinariness and takes on a lover. This new life of hers only leads her into corruption and despair. “Madame Bovary” is an acclaimed masterpiece and known to be one of Edith Wharton’s favorite novels.
The Mystery Book Group will discuss “A is for Alibi” by Sue Grafton Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. This is the first of her famous alphabet series books that Grafton has been writing in alphabetical order since 1982. To date, Grafton has written 25 books in the series. Kinsey Millhone owns a detective agency in Santa Teresa, Calif. She is twice divorced and is considered a loner who has a soft spot for the underdogs of the world. Kinsey is hired by Nikki Fife, a woman who is out on parole after being convicted of murdering her husband. Nikki wants her to find the real murderer of her dead cheating husband. During the investigation, Kinsey learns Laurence Fife and his law firm’s accountant were poisoned with oleander that was substituted for allergy pills. Sue Grafton weaves an intriguing story with twists and turns and a new murder around every corner.
If you are a fan of Grafton, Sara Paretsky is a comparable author with a strong female protagonist. “Indemnity Only” introduces the private eye V.I. Warshawski and takes place in the summer heat of Chicago. The scrappy detective accepts John Thayer, a prominent banker, as a client who wants her to locate his son Peter’s missing girlfriend. Things become complicated when Warshawski finds Peter murdered and learns her client is not the real John Thayer. Mystery fans will enjoy this roller coaster ride while trying to figure out who is sending V.I. Warshawski on a wild goose chase.
