What we’re about
Do you love fiction and want to join a fun-loving group to discuss a new book once a month? Want to keep up with interesting new authors gaining some buzz and acclaim?
We follow the theme of the group pretty loosely. For the most part we choose fiction works by new authors, usually a first or second novel that was released in the last two years. But sometimes we read the latest from a long established author like Haruki Murakami or Isabel Allende. We read books that we (Jessica and Martha) want to read and that we hope others will enjoy. And we love to include some recommendations too! We try to curate a good mix of genres and themes. And if you don't enjoy the book, we hope you enjoy telling us why not!
Finishing the book is not a requirement to attend (as long as you don't mind spoilers). We have an unstructured, informal discussion of the book and the themes that the book brings up.
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Book 74: A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan PowerSante Adairius Oakland, Oakland, CA
This sentence from this article is what got my interested in this book:
"Devised in nesting chapters that move backward in time from the ’60s and ’30s to the turn of the 20th century, “Council” weaves a dense, prismatic portrait of three generations irrevocably altered by the “re-education” of Native American children at U.S. government-run boarding schools — and bound together by the various dolls that bring them comfort and companionship."
The book is loosely based on the author's own life and came out of the isolation of the pandemic. I think this will be an interesting companion to Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange, which also featured Native Americans forced to leave their families to go to government boarding schools.
-Martha-----------------------------------------------
How it works:
We’ll meet at a local brewery for some drinks and conversation. Finishing the book is not a requirement to attend—as long as you don't mind spoilers! We’ll have an unstructured, informal discussion of the book and the themes that the book brings up. We hope to see you there!LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD
The long-awaited, profoundly moving, and unforgettable new novel from PEN Award–winning Native American author Mona Susan Power, spanning three generations of Yanktonai Dakota women from the 19th century to the present day.From the mid-century metropolis of Chicago to the windswept ancestral lands of the Dakota people, to the bleak and brutal Indian boarding schools, A Council of Dolls is the story of three women, told in part through the stories of the dolls they carried….
Sissy, born 1961: Sissy’s relationship with her beautiful and volatile mother is difficult, even dangerous, but her life is also filled with beautiful things, including a new Christmas present, a doll called Ethel. Ethel whispers advice and kindness in Sissy’s ear, and in one especially terrifying moment, maybe even saves Sissy’s life.
Lillian, born 1925: Born in her ancestral lands in a time of terrible change, Lillian clings to her sister, Blanche, and her doll, Mae. When the sisters are forced to attend an “Indian school” far from their home, Blanche refuses to be cowed by the school’s abusive nuns. But when tragedy strikes the sisters, the doll Mae finds her way to defend the girls.
Cora, born 1888: Though she was born into the brutal legacy of the “Indian Wars,” Cora isn’t afraid of the white men who remove her to a school across the country to be “civilized.” When teachers burn her beloved buckskin and beaded doll Winona, Cora discovers that the spirit of Winona may not be entirely lost…
A modern masterpiece, A Council of Dolls is gorgeous, quietly devastating, and ultimately hopeful, shining a light on the echoing damage wrought by Indian boarding schools, and the historical massacres of Indigenous people. With stunning prose, Mona Susan Power weaves a spell of love and healing that comes alive on the page.
