Light Between Oceans

Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman was an emotional read on multiple levels.  The story takes place in Australia after WWII.  It is about a former soldier who takes a job as a light house keeper.  He marries and takes his wife with him.  The story evolves around a tragic night where decisions are made and the bad choices are layered on top of other bad choices.  Where the choices are right or wrong is what kept us in heavy conversation.  We met at Mediterranean Kitchen in Bellevue.  IT is a tiny whole in the wall place off Bellevue Way and specializes in Lebanese cuisine.  Everything is extremely flavorful and we have gotten in the habit of ordering family style so we can all share in trying several dishes.  The dipping sauce was divine and a starter soup is brought before ordering ever takes place! Be prepared to share a dish or take lots home since the potions are probably enough for 3 or 4.  You will not go home hungry!  Our discussion of this book centered around the decisions that were made by Isabel and put upon Tom, her husband.  We tried to understand what happens to right and wrong when isolated for months at a time on a light house island.  We wondered how that isolation changes a persons sense of reality and what it looks like , too, when they return to society.  As women trying to understand the main woman of the story, we wondered if our decisions would be similar or different to Isabel's.  It was a mixed consensus.  There were many moral questions and decisions made and even with a sense of God woven throughout, it was interesting how even that was manipulated by the isolation of the light house.  A great novel for a book group discussion.  A question to remember after reading this...can the antagonist be something other than a person?
Enjoy and grab your tissues!

Former People

Former People:The Final Days of The Russian Aristocracy by Douglas Smith was the next book on our list.  This one was unanimous in our choice of next book to read.  The synapsis sounded like a fascinating Downton Abbey of the russian revolution.  Sadly it did not live up to any of its expectations and only one of our group members actually read the whole thing!  So sad.  The amount of detail and research the author put into this was wasted on just that.  The detail was so detailed that the book was just bogged down in historical facts and hard to pronounce people and places.  we all agreed that the author, with all his information, could have easily created a profile of 2 or 3 families and created a story line on what we had all hoped.  Instead it was a dark russian history lesson with people we just couldn't care for.  We met this night in Klahanie at Hop Jack's.  A bar and grill style chain that has great fish tacos!  We did have some discussion on this latest book.  We tried to place ourselves, typical suburban well to do family women, in comparison with the social upperclass women and families of 1900's Russia.  Tragedies occurring around them but still staying together a persevering.  Would we do this?  How would we survive?  How did they survive?  Could we do the same?  We also discussed similarities to other tragic events in history.  The holocaust, the Irish famine, the Germans from Russia.  In closing we were interested in learning more about an unknown subject but were so highly disappointed in this book that we barely made it half way through.  It is now just a bitter memory....

The Secrets of Mary Bowser

The Secrets of Mary Bowser was another great read! Highly recommended!  This is a historical fiction novel based on a true character.  Mary Bowser was born into slavery.  When her owner let her and her mother go free she was sent off to school to be educated.  Her mother continued to stay on the farm to be near Mary's father, who was also a slave.  Mary was well educated and became a spy for the union by working as a slave in Jefferson Davis' home.  This is a lovely and unique story with a perspective that is not commonly seen, the voice of an educated slave.  HIstory, emotions, action and romance are all packed into this fascinating book.  The book club met at a tiny, little Thai restaurant in Issaquah where the book discussion was mainly revolved around Mary's white owner.  We questioned why she did what she did and why Mary felt the way she did about her.  The relationship between Mary and Bett was extremely complex and our feelings we mixed when it came to deciding how Mary and why Mary was so cool towards the owner who not only freed her but supported her education and finances to do so.
This is a book list MUST!

The Book Club Begins

The Eastside Ladies Literary Society was created by small group of moms who were serendipitously put together.  A sort of Six Degrees of Separation.  Moms of young children looking for a more scholarly and adventurous way to gather to discuss those topics other than what cute things the children have  accomplished on any given week.  Collectively finding similar likes of literature and food, we started this book club to find the adventurous outlets we can't always find while raising children.  Our first book was "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand.   The incredible story of Olympic runner Louis Zamperini who served in WWII and survived experiences that pushed his human frame and mind to its utmost limits.  The discussion was consistent all around.  We agreed that the author had an easy yet detailed style and has a knack for slipping in small foreshadowed ideas that come back around later to leave you even more emotional invested.  Her consistency and backstory allow you to trust her knowledge for the truth of the history.  From there we moved to the question of human perseverance.   There was the idea that a higher being must have some how played a part in the soldiers survival from the attack of bullets missing them on the raft to the brutality they endured in the slave camps.  This book  is highly recommended.  Our first meeting was a big hit.  We met at my home for light snacks and agreed on a new book every month and a new restaurant as well.

Let the adventures begin!