Townie: A Memoir

 
Book Menu for Townie: A Memoir by Andre Dubus III

ISBN of the edition I read: 9780393064667 (hardcover)

I finished reading this book two days ago.  It's my first book by this author and I've never read any of this father's work.  But I intend to do so.  This is another title I've assigned my book group.  We will discuss it next week.  This is a very touching, honest and riveting memoir with many suspenseful scenes.   Readers familiar with the towns Dubus grew up in, Haverhill and Newburyport, Massachusetts, will appreciate the author's 1970s memories of them. I had the pleasure of meeting the author last night at a library event.  He is a warm, funny and charismatic speaker.  He answered EVERY question from the audience. If you have the chance to see him speak, do.  His schedule: http://andredubus.com/tour.html.

Food mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
This is a selected list of food and drink.  Email me for a complete list.
Cucumber and carrots with horseradish dip, 16-17
Coffee, 19, 105, 106, 365
Vegetable soup in French bread bowls, 23
Frito Pie, 28, 57
Coca-Cola, 28, 37, 45, 56-7, 75-6, 108, 233
Potato chips, 56, 75, 108
Willy Wonka Bars, 75
Doughnuts, 105, 365
Cheese and crackers, 108
Blackberry cobbler, 258
Blackberry pie, 258
Blackberry muffins, 258 

Books/Authors mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
Kurt Vonnegut, 15                               
Ernest Hemingway, 16                                                        
Anton Chekhov, 16, 53                       
William Faulkner, 53
Honore de Balzac, 53
Edgar Cayce, 84
Andre Dubus II
   "Killings"
   "Leslie in California", 212
   "The Pretty Girl", 323
Max Weber, 185, 196, 232
E.F. Schumacher, 185
Karl Marx, 185, 196, 232
The Grapes of Wrath / John Steinbeck, 152
Friedrich Engels, 185, 196, 232
Vladimir Lenin, 185
The Hair of Harold Roux / Thomas Williams, 201
Jack Kerouac, 217
The Stories of Breece D'J Pancake / D'J Pancake, 291
My Son's Story / Nadine Gordimer, 291
John Smolens, 316
Cultural Literacy / (E.D. Hirsch, Jr.?), 325

Magazines mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
Playboy, 80
Hustler, 80
Swank, 80
Muscle Builder, 81, 92, 97, 181
Library Journal, 372

Movies mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
Joe, 36
Who is Harry Kellerman and Why is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?, 36
Billy Jack, 37, 311, 332
Walking Tall, 44, 332
Dirty Harry, 44, 332

Television programs mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
Gilligan's Island, 9
The Partridge Family, 9
Batman, 15
The Waltons, 28
All in the Family, 28
Merv Griffin, 69

Music mentioned in Townie: A Memoir:
There is a ton of music in this book, including lots of jazz.  This is only a partial listing.  If you would like a full list, feel free to email me and I'll send it along. I think the paperback version should be packaged with a soundtrack CD!
 Dave Brubeck, 18, 111-114, 150, 333
Gerry Mulligan, 8, 111
Buddy Rich, 18, 111
The Beatles, 23, 25
The Doors, 25, 26
Alice Cooper, 46, 71
Lep Zeppelin, 46, 71
Rolling Stones, 63, 71
Aerosmith, 63, 71, 130
Pink Floyd, 63, 119
Andres Segovia, 76, 216, 238
J.S. Bach, 238, 262
Hank Williams
   "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", 281
Ella Fitzgerald, 324, 363
W.A. Mozart
   Requiem, 337, 367

When JFK Was My Father

 
Book Menu for When JFK Was My Father by Amy Gordon

ISBN of edition I read: 0141312793 (paperback)

Food mentioned in When JFK Was My Father:
Plum pudding, 10
7-Up, 16
Bubble gum, 24
Coca-Cola, 24
Tomato soup, 31, 157
Split pea soup, 31
Bread sticks, 31
Brownies, 48, 142
Chocolate pudding, 93
Corn fritters, 94
Chocolate cake, 118
Crackers and peanut butter, 157

Books/Authors mentioned in When JFK Was My Father:
Dylan Thomas, 127
The Count of Monte Cristo / Alexandre Dumas, 134
Robert Frost, 172

Music mentioned in When JFK Was My Father:
"Let's Twist Again" / Chubby Checker, 18
Peter, Paul, & Mary, 29, 101
"Once in Love with Amy" / Frank Sinatra, 49

Magazines mentioned in When JFK Was My Father:
Life magazine, 24

Paintings mentioned in When JFK Was My Father:
"Christina's World" by Andrew Wyeth, 69

Discussion questions for When JFK Was My Father:
What purpose does Georgia's stamp collection serve?
Georgia receives advice from many people (Mrs. Beard, her parents, Gertie). Whose advice is the best?
What is your opinion of the Beard School?
What effect does Tim's poem have on Georgia?
What effect does JFK's death have on her?
Did you learn anything new about the 1960's?
What about Georgia do you admire?
Describe Georgia's relationship with her parents in Brazil. Describe that relationship at the end of the book.

The Squire's Tale

 
Book menu for The Squire's Tale by Gerald Morris

Food mentioned The Squire's Tale:
Stew, 8
Hazelnuts, 21
Custard, 54
Pastries, 54
Eggs, ham, bacon, rolls, 163
Apples, 163
Pears, 163
Plums, 163
Bread and cheese, 176

Great vocabulary in The Squire's Tale :
rebuke, 4
doffed, 6
jovially, 7
fealty, 26
arduous, 27
sultry, 38
magnanimous, 49
welled, 65
miscreant, 65
convulsively, 74
teemed, 83
sinews, 93
beguiled, 93
cavalcade, 101, 181
sanguine, 108
desecrating, 121
affably, 122
retinue, 123
bemusedly, 126
demurely, 130
vacuously, 130
consternation, 133
tittered, 132
traduced, 144
perfidy, 146
tirade, 148
fulminating, 150
surliness, 165
caustic, 180
pestilential, 181
gangrenous, 202

Discussion questions for The Squire's Tale:
What, if anything, is the author preaching to his audience?
What lessons did Gawain and Terrence learn?
What do you think of questing?
What are Terrence, Sir Gawain, and King Arthur's greatest gifts/assets?
What was your favorite insult in the name calling scenes?
What do you think the author's opinion of women is?

                                                                  

Shanghai Girls

 
Book Menu for Shanghai Girls Lisa See

ISBN of edition I read: 0812980530 (trade paperback)

I just returned from my book group where we talked about Shanghai Girls.  We gave this novel an average rating of 3.3 stars out of a possible five stars. They had all previously read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by the same author and liked that novel more than Shanghai Girls. At some point I will read the sequel, Dreams of Joy, as I found the story compelling.  However, I almost wish that the two novels had been combined into one.  At the end of Shanghai Girls I wished for my depth and description. I suppose that's why I love all those nineteenth century novels!

Food mentioned in Shanghai Girls :
Jook (rice porridge), 3, 68, 71, 106, 158, 166, 180
Wonton soup, 16
Ginko nuts, 16
Stewed plums, 16
Watermelon, 16, 252
Champagne, 17, 209, 219
Chiao-tzu, 39 
Soy milk, 41
Sesame cake, 41, 61
Borscht, 41
Absinthe frappes, 45
English butter cookies, 46
"Mother's Soup", 121
Hard-boiled eggs dyed red, 130
Pickled ginger, 130
Honey-covered dough confections
Sugared rose cakes
Spiced eggs boiled in tea, 152
Jujubes, 152
Honeyed dates, 152
Bambook shoots, 152
Sweet and sour pork, 157, 236, 269
Cashew chicken, 157
Chop suey, 157, 205
Almond cakes, 178, 242
Pork and beans, 207
Grilled Spam sandwiches with cheese and onion, 207
Creamed Tuna, 207
Chow mein, 208, 210
Orange juice, 213
Apple pie with vanilla ice cream, 236
Almond cookies, 236
Curried tomato beef lo mein, 255, 273
Almond tofu with fruit cocktail, 273
Whipped creamed cake with strawberries, 273

Books/authors mentioned in Shanghai Girls:
Conficius, 3
The Peony Pavilion / Xianzu Tang, 13
Hsun Lu, 14-15, 268

Movies mentioned in Shanghai Girls:
The Good Earth, 154, 177
Stowaway, 177
Lost Horizon, 177
The General Died at Dawn, 177
The Adventures of Marco Polo, 177
Charlie chan series, 177
Shanghai Gesture, 197
Behind the Rising Sun, 212
Bombs over Burma, 212
The Amazing Mr.s Holliday, 212
China, 212
Dragon Seed, 212-213

Television mentioned in Shanghai Girls:
Gunsmoke, 268, 277
Cheyenne, 268


 

Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code

 
Book Menu for Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code

ISBN of edition I read: 0786819146

Food mentioned in Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code:
Eclairs, 42 
Cheesecake, 42 
Pavlova, 42 
Ice cream, 42
Black Forest Gateau, 42 
Cream horns, 42
Earl Grey Tea, 47
Pizza, 53-4 
Peanuts, 126 
Vegetarian spring rolls, 158 
Mushroom risotto, 158 
Creme caramel, 158 
Potato chips, 189
BBQ Blast Ruffles, 191
Sushi, 203
French Fries, 204 
Ham sandwich, 260

Books/authors mentioned in Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code:
War and Peace / Leo Tolstoy, 122

Great vocabulary in Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code:
treacle, 18
reconnoitering, 23
manacled, 25
bated, 222
salubrious, 224 

 Discussion questions for Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code :
What is your favorite gadget?
What is LEP's opinion of humans?
Does Artemis reclaim his childhood?   How?
In what ways do Artemis and Holly change throughout the story?
What are some of the funniest parts?

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

 
Book menu for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

ISBN of edition I read: 1400032717 (trade paperback)

Food mentioned in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time:
French fries, 9
Hot raspberry milkshake, 19, 70
Coco Pops, 19
Lemonade, 19
Dr. Pepper, 19
Spaghetti and tomato sauce, 28
Lemon and orange squash, 41
Battenberg cake, 4
Tea, 40
   Earl Grey, 86
   Red Zinger, 201
Biscuits (cookies), 41
   Chocolate biscuits, 93
Baked beans, broccoli, ham, 48, 96
Licorice laces, 54, 66, 124, 128, 199
Jaffa cakes, 54
Milky Bar, 66, 124, 208
Gobi Aloo Sag, 6, 200
Quiche, 76
Blackberry and apple crumble, 76
Ham, lettuce, tomato sandwiches, 85
Plaice and chips, 86
Apple pie and ice cream, 86
Apples, 96
Sausage, eggs, fried bread, 96
Strawberry milkshake, 128, 200-201
Smarties candy, 115
Clementines, 124, 128
Pink wafer biscuits, 124, 128, 199
Custard creams, 135, 168
Orange juice, 135, 168
Snickers bar, 178
Mango smoothies, 199

Books mentioned in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time:
Sherlock Holmes / Arthur Conan Doyle, 25, 132
   "The Hound of the Baskervilles", 5, 69, 71
   "The Boscombe Valley Mystery", 131
Heart of Darkness / Joseph Conrad, 52
The Masqueraders / Georgette Heyer, 77
Chaos / James Gleick, 96
The Cost of Discipleship / Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 212-213
Diana: Her True Story / Andrew Morton, 213

Music mentioned in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time:
Best Of Doc Watson , 25, 131, 135

Television mentioned in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time:
Blue Planet, 79, 210

Movies mentioned in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time :
Star Trek: The Next Generation , 118
Blade Runner, 198 

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Eldest

 
Book Menu for Eldest by Christopher Paolini

ISBN of edition I read: 037582670X

This is the second book in Paolini's Inheritance series. It is pure high fantasy and pure adventure!

Food mentioned in Eldest:
Jerky, 43, 429, 578
Mead, 50, 110
Raspberries, 69
Meat pies, 107
Fruit, 107
Honey cakes and raspberry preserves, 107, 223
Sourdough bread, 131
Bread with soft cheese, 183
Mulled cider mixed with mead, 232
Seedcakes, 242
Bread and hazelnut butter, 346, 441
Pastries, 489
Apricot brandy, 489
Biscuits and dried apples, 566

Music mentioned in Eldest :
Harps and lutes, 51, 459
Reed Pipe, 168, 232, 300
Harps, 232, 459

Great vocabulary in Eldest :
vassal, 24
gregarious, 34
inebriated, 51
boisterously, 51
insensate, 52
ethereal, 56, 113
equanimity, 61, 129
abeyance, 71
placate, 72
crenulated, 74, 574
chortled, 76
fortuitous, 76
ruminations, 85
lambent, 85
soporific, 96
immutable, 99
harbingers, 102
frippery, 103
surreptitiously, 104, 289
ponderously, 114
elucidated, 115
contentious, 121, 603
ostracized, 122
tenacious, 133
abated, 133
inexorable, 133
undulating, 141, 436, 468, 577
impunity, 145
deferential, 153
   deference, 258
fecund, 160
lithe, 168
panoply, 170
acquiesce, 178
carapace, 195
attenuated, 198
verdant, 200, 219
aphorisms, 200
depravities, 202
abdicated, 203, 219
ephemeral, 203
reciprocate, 204
susurration, 212
imperious, 224
languid, 224
diaphonous, 239
raiment, 242
sinous, 277
escarpment, 278
impugn, 279, 478
askance, 283
beleaguered, 291
tumultuous, 298
taciturn, 298
precipitous, 299
mellifluous, 300
bemused, 308
bulbous, 311
jocular, 312
sardonic, 313
wended, 315
embrasure, 314
dolorous, 320, 366
ablutions, 341, 370
ameliorated, 344
acuity, 344
detritus, 355, 449
redolent, 372
derisive, 372
deign, 372
impregnable, 378, 482
quailed, 386
bandy, 394
temerity, 394
promontory, 403
pestilence, 404
ululation, 416
untenable, 427, 600
trundled, 431
eyrie, 431
ubiquitous, 436
iridescent, 467
vociferous, 476
prodigious, 507
acrimonious, 527
obsidian, 559
precipitous, 559
provender, 579
turgid, 581, 623
circumspect, 586
irrevocable, 596
rapacious, 604
adamantine, 606
musculature, 607
alacrity, 614
mephitic, 623
resplendent, 657

Discussion questions for Eldest :
What does this fantasy fiction novel have in common with other fantasy books you've read?  How does it differ from them?

What do you think will happen in the third book?

What did you think of the map?  Did you refer to it?

What are Eragon's biggest weaknesses?

What goals did Eragon set out to accomplish but failed at?

Which was your favorite race?  (Dwarves, elves, men, urgals, dragons?)

What do you think was the most valuable thing Eragon learned?  Roran?

Discuss the book's cover and title.


Libraries mentioned in Eldest :
page 465: Islanzadi raised one pale had. "Your work shall be added to the great library in Tialdari Hall, Eragon-finiarel, so that all who wish can appreciate. Though your poem is allegory, I believe that it has helped many of us to better understand the hardships you have face since Saphira's egg appeared to you...