Monday, February 23, 2009

Emergency Sex: and other desperate measures

For our February meeting we discussed the nonfiction expose of the United Nation’s peacekeeping efforts in the 1990s in Cambodia, Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Liberia: Emergency Sex (and Other Desperate Measures): A True Story from Hell on Earth, by Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait, and Andrew Thomson.

Everyone found the book to be interesting and heartbreaking. Members of our group were appalled at the UN’s mishandling of their international relief work We discussed the three authors’ unique perspectives as well as their motives in living and working in war-torn, dangerous countries. Overall, we were moved by the stories the writers shared of their attempts to make a difference in these desperate war zones. Their book provides an unflinching account of the modern day atrocities that have occurred in the last fifteen years and condemns the incompetency of the UN and the U.S government’s relief efforts..

The book rating : 3.0

Monday, February 16, 2009

from Diane

Forgive me for not writing to you all sooner. Our next Book Club meeting is right around the corner--Raheleh and Adrian (!) will be hosting on Tuesday, February 10 at 1:00 pm. We will be discussing Nazli's recommendation, Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures: A True Story from Hell on Earth, by Cain, Postlewait, and Thomson. Directions will be forthcoming. Please RSVP to Raheleh soon: raheleh_gelpke@yahoo.com

So now it's on to nonfiction with Emergency Sex! I don't know about you, but I find that I am reading this book only at home. (I didn't want those folks at the dentist's office to get any weird ideas about me! ha!) I hope to see all of you on February 10th.

Happy (discreet) reading!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Suite Francaise

Last month, we had a wonderful meeting at Karine's home (Thank you, Karine!) discussing Irene Nemirovsky's Suite Francaise. Most everyone was touched by Nemirovsky's beautitifully written two-part novel focusing on the French people's reaction to the German invasion and subsequent occupation of France. We had a thoughtful discussion delving into many aspects of the book: the author's incredible talent in writing a rich, clear-eyed account while actually experiencing such a catastrophe; Nemirovsky's plan for Suite Francaise to be her own War and Peace epic and whether the two-part novel she completed before her arrest stands on its own. (I believe most of us agreed that it does); Nemirovsky's own heartbreaking story and the book's improbable and amazing publication.

The book rating: 3.8 (one of the highest our discerning group has ever bestowed)