2018-2019 Season

Tuesday, May 14, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

Theu00a0 Distancers: An American Memoiru00a0by Lee Sandlin

A beautiful story about the authoru2019s German immigrant ancestors who settled on a farm in the Midwest.u00a0u00a0In the process of researching his genealogy he shakes his family tree and discovers what his ancestors endured and how they survived.u00a0u00a0

Tuesday, June 11, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

The Leaversu00a0by Lisa Ko

In this emotionally charged story of cross-cultural adoption and complicated lives, a woman is deported from America to China, leaving behind an adolescent son who never knew what happened to his mother.u00a0

Previous book discussions:

The Sparrowu00a0by Mary Doria Russell

A riveting and suspenseful tale of a Jesuit expedition to make first contact with the source of the mysterious music originating from another planet. The disastrous encounter leads Emilio Sandoz, the sole survivor, to question his faith and humanity.
(Science Fiction; Haunting; Reflective)u00a0

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermitu00a0by Michael Finkel

The story of a 20-yr old Massachusetts man who disappeared into the woods of Maine to live there alone for almost three decades.u00a0A National Geographic Best Book of the Year.

(Life Stories; Hermits/Solitude)u00a0

Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s First Journey to the Moonu00a0by Robert Kurson

This lively account of the astonishing Apollo 8 mission to the moon provides an inside look at the experiences of the astronauts, their wives, and the NASA officials who all took a chance on this risky launch.u00a0The One Book, One Batavia 2019 selection.

(True Adventure; Inspiring)u00a0

The Truth and Other Liesu00a0by Sascha Arango

Itu2019s Henry Haydenu2019s name on the cover of his best-selling novels, but itu2019s his wife who writes them. Now his mistress is pregnant and Henry has to make a decision.u00a0u00a0u201cOne wicked taleu2026with schemers all aroundu201d (Kirkus).

(Mystery/Suspense)

Rise: How a House Built a Familyu00a0by Cara Brookins

An inspiring true story of a familyu2019s healing after the author escapes an abusive relationship but has nowhere to live. She does the unthinkable and builds a house from the ground up with her four children.

(Memoir; Life Stories)u00a0

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemptionu00a0by Bryan Stevenson

This searing indictment of the American justice system covers the inspiring story of Stevensonu2019s battle, as founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, to defend u201chopeless cases,u201d freeing people from excessive punishment or wrongful convictions. The overarching narrative focuses on an African-American man on death row for killing a white woman despite credible evidence to the contrary.

(Memoir; Law; Social Reform; Engaging, touching)u00a0 u00a0

Montana 1948u00a0by Larry Watsonu00a0

In this spare, haunting page turner, a Western sheriff arrests his physician brother for the abuse of Native American women.

(Literary Fiction)

Autumnu00a0by Ali Smith

This post-Brexit novel tells the story of friendship between Daniel, a century old and Elizabeth, born in 1984. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2017.

(Literary Fiction; Psychological Fiction)