Book Club readers gather to rock, review and relax

By Joanne Bender
Sun contributor
Where would you expect a Book Club to meet every month? In a yarn shop? Indeed, the Glen Arbor Book Club meets every third Friday of each month at Mary Turak’s Yarn Shop, in the Village Sampler Plaza just across from Tiny Treasures. And the group has flocked to that cozy atmosphere each session since the summer of 1996 (the same year the Glen Arbor Sun opened shop).

Barbara Siepker and her Cottage Book Shop were instrumental in initiating the group. She offers members reduced rates for books on the monthly selection list.
While relaxing in rocking chairs or reclining on comfy sofa cushions, the readers recall the chosen book while the leader asks appropriate questions.
Readers at the Book Group’s August 15 meeting included Mary Turak, Marcia Walters, Chari Binstadt, Dorothy Barker, Debbie Wawrzyniak, Bud Shulman, Linda Young, Betsy Wagner and this reporter.
Marcia led the meeting as the group discussed T.C. Boyle’s The Tortilla Curtain, a timely novel that deals with illegal immigration into the United States.
Boyle’s characters include Condido and America Rincun who have entered the country illegally from Mexico, seeking the American dream, and Delaney and Kyra Menaker-Mossbacher, who live in a wealthy housing development in southern California with their son, Jordan.
The Mossbachers are liberal, agnostic Californians with a fondness for nature, physical fitness and recycling. The Rincuns live in a canyon and are looking for work while trying to achieve their dream of being able to afford food and housing for them and their unborn child. They seem to be thwarted at every attempt to make this come true.
Delaney’s liberal view towards immigration changes drastically as the drama unfolds. He meets Condido early in the story and again at the end where a significant event brings these two together. (Even though Marcia found the ending a bit “contrived”.)
Commenting on the book, Chari found the book “disturbing” and almost all agreed. Linda remarked how “the story effectively contrasted the very different lives of the two couples.” Marcia mentioned that the novel “stayed with me” while she was doing other things.
Bud emphasized how stereotypical the author painted the Californians … how far left so many of them are, politically. He pointed out that author Boyd offered no solutions for the immigration issue. Bud believes that “enforcement of present immigration laws” would be one answer.
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, is the group’s selection for September 19, The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss will be discussed on October 17, led by Linda, and the November 21 book choice is Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin, with leader, Ann Wettlaufer. All sessions begin at 10 a.m., and interested persons are always welcome. Dorothy Barker informs members of meeting dates and book titles. Interested? Dorothy can be reached via email at dorothybarker@charter.net.