Senior Planet Book Club: Vote For Our Next Book!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our discussion both in the comments section of SeniorPlanet.org and at our meeting over Zoom about “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros.
Now it is time to select our next reading!
Each Tuesday, we’ll post a thread on SeniorPlanet.org inviting your comments on the next section of the book and then we’ll host a discussion over Zoom the final week of reading the book together.
But first! We’ve put together a shortlist engaging books suggested by our members and staff. Now it’s up to you pick which one we’ll read together next. Read on for details about each book, then take the poll at the end and tell us: What should the Senior Planet Book Club read next?
We’ll announce the result of the poll in addition to how you can access a copy of the chosen book next Tuesday!
Have any feedback on book club? Tell us what you think in the comments or email membership@seniorplanet.org!
The Books:
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to his White Mother by James McBride
“Touches readers of all colors as a vivid portrait of growing up, a haunting meditation on race and identity, and a lyrical valentine to a mother from her son.
Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? A self-declared “light-skinned” woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her twelve black children. James McBride, journalist, musician and son, explores his mother’s past, as well as his own upbringing and heritage, in a poignant and powerful debut. – GoodReads.com
“In 1938, Ruby, Helen and Grace, three girls from very different backgrounds, find themselves competing at the same audition for showgirl roles at San Francisco’s exclusive “Oriental” nightclub, the Forbidden City. Grace, an American-born Chinese girl has fled the Midwest and an abusive father. Helen is from a Chinese family who have deep roots in San Francisco’s Chinatown. And, as both her friends know, Ruby is Japanese passing as Chinese. At times their differences are pronounced, but the girls grow to depend on one another in order to fulfill their individual dreams. Then, everything changes in a heartbeat with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Suddenly the government is sending innocent Japanese to internment camps under suspicion, and Ruby is one of them. But which of her friends betrayed her?” – GoodReads.com
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet
“The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters’ storylines intersect?” – GoodReads.com
Take the poll!
Photo by Paul Schafer on Unsplash
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Comments
And my comment is where?
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I guess we won’t read “1984.”
I had just discovered Senior Planet’s book club when I attended the last book club meeting for “The House on Mango Street.” Although I had only read a portion of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the discussion–both the commentary on literary aspects of the book (by several knowledgeable and observant participants) and the discussions based on connections between the social/historical context and issues of our contemporary society. I was impressed by the level of and focus of the discussion. What a friendly, supportive group they seemed to be! (I am particularly interested in reading China Dolls and The Vanishing Half, but I too will refrain from voting, knowing they had been discussing some choices connecting to diversity prior to reading Sandra Cisneros’ book.) I look forward to seeing what they select!
No need to refrain from voting. We welcome all votes :) So happy you enjoyed last month and hope to see you again for this month’s discussion!
I belong to several book clubs; each book club has a different focus. I have been participating in this book club for a few months now. This book club focuses on authors from minority cultures, both American and International. In recent months we have read, and discussed, books by Hispanic authors, Native American authors, Black authors and have recommended books by Asian authors. Each month book club members suggest some titles for the upcoming month and 4 or 5 of those titles are then voted upon in an open, and public, online voting process. The title with the most votes is then selected to be discussed the following month. Each author under consideration has well well reviewed in the library and literary fields. If anyone doesn’t like the focus of this book club, I would suggest contacting his, or her, local public library for suggestions for other book clubs that might be more of interest.
And the point of such reading? There seems to be a condescending approach: all cultures are so simplistic that one book will be enough to know … what exactly?
Well, nothing is more amusing than a confirmation of some stereotypes, such as “If this is Monday, we’re in Spain. If this Tuesday, we’re in Japan.
To date, I haven’t thought too much about joining this or any other book club. I never seem to find the time. However, I love to read and am a writer, so it comes naturally to me. That said, it might help if a couple more choices were added to the list. Equally important, and based on these comments, Senior Planet needs to have diversity, aka race relations, discussions on a regular basis. Some of these comments reveal some deep-seated issues that need to be brought to the light and fully explored. I believe that Senior Planet has now partnered with AARP. That organization might have the resources to address these issues and begin a meaningful discussion. Society or civilization if you prefer, needs its elderly to be leaders using wisdom and compassion. Based on these comments, we might need to add books about how to be griots to the young to this list.
I most certainly can offer diversity, but my lengthy comment was just canceled.
The last book club meeting was my second. The discussion flowed re the book and then turned to politics and what seemed like a political rehashing. I left as that is not what I am interested in doing in a book club. Certainly people can find other places online or in person to discuss politicians and their problems. In addition a couple speakers were cut off abruptly. Zoom calls can be difficult but people can learn how to avoid that if they try.
Thanks.
Oh, there is a problem. You participate in a club (and a place) that is designed as a political tool. You participate in an activity that is clearly political and you are not interested in it?
I am relatively new here, but it didn’t take me long to notice that the selection of books serves only one purpose – the promotion of the far left (frankly, very destructive) agenda of the day. I don’t know how one can not notice this.
December: we read only BLM because BLM is wonderful
January: we read only BLM because BLM is wonderful
February: we read only BLM because BLM is wonderful (the fact that it is a designated Black history month doesn’t make BLM wonderful, but OK…)
March: we read only BLM because BLM is wonderful (not a Black history month, but … it doesn’t matter in a political place)
In March, BLM locked up some 100 supermarket shoppers (otherwise known as “civilians.” I would like to discuss this instead of this or that manipulated “story”