Moke Hill READS Book Club

Apr 18, 2019 by contributor

 NEXT MEETING:  Tuesday – May 7, 2019, 7 PM, Moke Hill Library/Archives

May 7, 2019.  The Johnstown Flood, by David McCullough.  In 1889, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a booming coal-and-steel town filled with hardworking families. Meanwhile, miles upstream an old earth dam had been hastily rebuilt to create a lake for an exclusive summer resort patronized by industry tycoons such as Carnegie, Frick, and Mellon. Despite repeated warnings, the dangers of the dam were ignored.  On May 31, heavy rains burst the dam, sending a wall of water smashing through Johnstown, killing more than 2,000 people. The story of this epic historic disaster is told as a masterful thriller, revealing that those in positions of responsibility are not necessarily behaving responsibly.

June 4, 2019.  Crooked Letter Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin.  In late 1970’s rural Mississippi, Larry and Silas were boyhood pals. Then tragedy struck: Larry took a girl on a date to a drive-in movie, and she was never heard from again. Larry never confessed, but all eyes rested on him as the culprit. Silas left town.  Twenty years later, Larry lives a solitary existence — never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion — and Silas returns as a constable. Another girl disappears, Larry is blamed again, and now the two men are forced to confront the past they’ve ignored for decades.

July 2, 2019.  The American Spirit, by David McCullough.  David McCullough is the most honored historian in the United States—winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  He has collected some of his most important speeches in a brief volume designed to identify key principles and characteristics that are particularly American. The American Spirit reminds us of core American values to which we all subscribe, regardless of geographic region, political party, or ethnic background. This book reminds us who we are as Americans and helps to guide us as we find our way forward.

Moke Hill Reads Book Club:  First Tuesday of every month. No commitment, No attendance taken, No restrictions, No membership, No dues. For everyone interested in good books and discussions about them. Sponsored by the Mokelumne Hill Friends of the Library. Send your email address or watch for announcements on mokehill.org and other news sources. Contact Janet Dock:  janetdock@me.com.