Book Clubs at Christ Church

Non Fiction Book Club

We will take a break over the summer.

So our meeting will be on Tuesday, September 15th to discuss Reformation: Europe's House Divided 1490 - 1700 by Diarmaid MacCullough.    The period between 1490 and 1700 was a time when men and women were willing to kill and be killed for their faith.  The Reformation was the most seismic event in European history over the past 1000 years, tearing the medieval world apart. It turned upside down not just European religion, but thought, culture, society, state systems, and personal relations—everything. Nearly everything that followed in European history can be traced back in some way to the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation it provoked. The modern world painfully and dramatically began with the Reformation, and MacCulloch's great history of it is recognised as the best modern account.

While it is a very worthwhile, it is a long book (over 800 pages).  So the summer break will provide all of us with enough time to read it.

Our meetings are in hybrid format, with attendance both in person and by Zoom.  Details on Zoom access will be distributed prior to the meeting.

(jimbaroody@gmail.com).

Women's Book Club

Women’s Book Club 

Thursday, June 18 at 7:00 pm

We hope you can join us at our next gathering on June 18th when we'll discuss The Tortoise's Tale: a Novel by  Kendra Coulter. Summary from MCLS:  

Summary

A century of American history unfolds through the eyes of a giant tortoise with a heightened awareness for live music, the location of edible flowers, and the nuances of human behavior in this spellbinding debut novel.Snatched from her ancestral lands, a giant tortoise finds herself in an exclusive estate in southern California where she becomes an astute observer of societal change. Her journey is one of discovery, as she learns to embrace the music of jazz and the warmth of human connection. The tortoise's story is enriched by her bond with Takeo, the estate's gardener, who sees her as a being with thoughts and feelings, not just a creature to be observed. The tortoise's mind and heart are further expanded by Lucy, a young girl who names the tortoise Magic and shares a friendship that transcends species. Together, they witness the estate's transformation into a haven for industry titans, politicians, and rock stars, each leaving their mark on the world and on Magic's heart. The tortoise embraces her role as a muse with gusto and witnesses how diverse human harmonies and the mighty winds of social change both uplift people and tear them apart. Over the course of her lifetime, the estate changes ownership, bringing raucous Hollywood parties, and animals both familiar and unexpected. There are also threats, as the estate's idyll is not immune to the ravages of a damaged planet. Through each era, the tortoise remains a refreshingly honest and endearing narrator whose unique vantage point illuminates the transcendent power of compassion, the unexpected connections that shape how we see ourselves and each other, and the wide-reaching effects of choice--or the lack thereof. The Tortoise's Tale is a whimsical yet profound exploration of humanity's entangled journey, a call to recognize the interconnectedness of all life, and the potential for healing. Kendra Coulter's debut novel is a moving portrait of resilience and hope, perfect for fans of Shelby Van Pelt's Remarkably Bright Creatures.

For more information please contact Pam Burch, pburch1@rochester.rr.com.