Central Market Book Club
Affiliated with
a Non-Profit Educational Organization
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Contact info for the Houston Central Market Book Club
Location: HEB Central Market
3815 Westheimer(at Weslayan) [map here]
2nd Floor Community Room
Schedule: Every month on the second Monday from 7:00pm to 9:00 pm (sometimes we finish sooner)
Contact: Alice Aman
Email: amanhaus@gmail.com
Ph:713-523-3652
Check out our new Blog Current plans are to share the blog between Montrose Great Books and Central Market Book Club with possible occasional "guests" sharing descriptions of other book discussions around the city. You need to register to add comments. I'm not limiting registrations to book club members only. Anyone as long as they aren't spammers or obnoxious may contribute.
Note from Alice:
Our group is free and open to the public. The group
doesn't provide the text so attendees must find a source
for obtaining a copy of the readings on their own.
(Library, web, used book store, retail book store, friend, etc.)
We are associated with the Houston Great Books Council and
always appreciate if someone wants to submit membership dues
to the council but this is not a requirement for the group.
We welcome everyone who might be interested.
We do ask if someone wants to actually participate in
the discussion (and not just listen), that they read the
book and hopefully bring any questions they might have.
The questions from attendees are what really form the basis
for our discussions.
You are invited to join our google group and to review prior google group activity for our group by going to: http://groups.google.com/group/CentralMarketBookClub?lnk=li
We select our readings by voting though getting suggestions on the ballot requires that the title is either a classic, or written by an author noted for writing classics or winner or runner up for a major literary award (Nobel, Pulitzer, Booker, National Book Award). For more info [click here]
Reading Selections for the Central Market Book Club
Readings for 2010
- Jan 11 2010 TURN OF THE SCREW by Henry James (113 pages) publ 1898
One of the world's most famous ghost stories, told mostly through the journal of a governess and depicts her struggle to save her two young charges from the demonic influence of the eerie apparitions of two former servants in the household. The story inspired critical debate over the question of the "reality" of the ghosts.
And an added note of interest: the Houston Grand Opera will be presenting "The Turn of the Screw" in January.
Ellie leading the discussion
- Feb 8 2010 MY ANTONIA by Willa Cather (160 pages) publ 1918
An elegy to those families who built new lives west of the Mississippi River and highlights the role of women pioneers in particular. The author clearly loved the land she was writing about. The narrator of the novel, Jim, is an orphan, whom at the beginning of the novel moves to Nebraska to live with his father's parents. Antonia is a bold and free-hearted young Bohemian girl with whom Jim develops a strong friendship. She is 4 years older than Jim, and embodies the spirit of the prairrie.
Ruthie leading the discussion
- Mar 8 2010 AFTER THE BALL by Tolstoy (12 pages) publ 1903
Link to short story on line is at: http://www.webliterature.net/literature/Tolstoy/WL14675/BK14675.html (or numerous other websites)
"Are our lives dominated by mere chance events or are our actions moulded by the environment around us" is an important question under consideration in this short story written in 1903, just two years before the 1905 revolution, where Tolstoy makes plain his total disgust at Russian Society.
Note: It is suggested that members read AFTER THE DANCE quickly and begin reading in early February our selection for April since it is much longer than we normally read. Such a schedule will allow almost the full two months of February and March for reading ANNA KARENINA which is 900 pages or so.
Alice leading the discussion
- Apr 12 2010 ANNA KARENINA by Tolstoy (approx 900 pages) publ in serialization 1873-1877
Tolstoy considered Anna Karenina his first true novel. "...thought to explore the themes of hypocrisy, jealousy, faith, fidelity, family, marriage, society, progress, carnal desire and passion, and the agrarian connection to land in contrast to the lifestyles of the city." "...of significance is Tolstoy's use of real events in his narrative, to lend greater verisimilitude to the fictional events of his narrative". A recent poll of 125 contemporary authors by Time magazine, published in 2007 ... declared that Anna Karenina is the "greatest novel ever written"
Jackie leading the discussion
Note: election at this meeting - ballot at: http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/CentralMarket/ballot/april12-2010.html
- May 10 2010 SURFACING by Margaret Atwood (208 pages) publ 1972
Atwood's searing and relentless eye for detail is in its earliest stages here.
Story of a woman who returns to her hometown in Canada to find her missing father. Accompanied by her lover and another married couple, the unnamed protagonist meets her past in her childhood house, recalling events and feelings. While trying to find clues for her father's mysterious disappearance, she undergoes a significant metamorphosis.
Mary leading the discussion
- Jun 14 2010 THE GOOD EARTH by Pearl S. Buck (368 pages) publ 1931
1932 Pulitzer Prize winner
The novel potrays ordinary lives in an extraordinary manner. It describes a non-Caucasian culture in detail and helped prepare Americans of the 1930s to consider Chinese as allies in the coming war with Japan. "...a well-crafted, complex tale of a man's rise from poverty and subsistence to wealth, and the metamorphosis this transition brings about in his personality and interpersonal relationships."
Lynessa leading the discussion
- July 12 SIDDHARTHA by Hermann Hesse (publ 1922 in German) 152 pages
Deals with the spiritual journey of a boy known as Siddhartha from the Indian Subcontinent during the time of the Buddha - written in a simple yet powerful and lyrical style. Published in the U.S. in 1951, it became influential during the 1960s. Discussion guide available on the Chicago Greatbooks web site at:www.greatbooks.org/library/guides/siddhartha.htm
--Alice leading discussion
- August 9 THE CATHEDRAL by Raymond Carver (publ ) 20 pages
1984 Pulitzer Prize nomination
Story shows a husband/narrator's distaste for a blind man who is old friends with his wife and who is coming to visit for a few days. At times it seems that the husband is jealous of the blind man for being so close to his wife; at other times it seems that the husband is disgusted by the man's blindness.
Available online at: http://www.nbu.bg/webs/amb/american/6/carver/cathedral.htm or in story collections such as CATHEDRAL by Raymond Carver.
Note: intention is to start reading next month's long book in advance since this month's book will be a short story
--Alice leading discussion
- September 13 ANGLE OF REPOSE by Wallace Stegner (publ 1972) 592 pages
Pulitzer Prize winner.
Novel about a wheelchair-using historian who has lost connection with his son and living family and decides to write about his frontier-era grandparents. The author's use of Mary Hallock Foote's historical letters gives the novel's locations: Leadville, New Almaden, Idaho, and Mexico, an authentic feel; the letters also add vividness to the Wards' struggles with the environment, shady businessmen, and politicians. A "Who's Who" of American mining engineers and other western individuals of the late 1800s make their appearance.
Note: send in titles in advance for the ballot next month
--Ruthie leading discussion
- October 11 THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE by Thomas Hardy (publ 1886) 352 pages
A tragic novel subtitled THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A MAN OF CHARACTER...set in a fictional English rustic town. Though the story cannot be considered to be cheerful or uplifting, it is in the minds of many thought to be compelling, disturbing, and thought-provoking and illustrates among other things the unpleasant reality that one's life is subject to forces beyond one's control. The character of the Mayor is ranked by some as a tragic character in line with Shakespeare's best work. The work was originally published in serial form apparently contributing to the fact that numerous reviewers on amazon.com label it as a "page turner" and a "great read".
Note: election of new readings will occur at this meeting
--Mary leading discussion
- November 8 REMAINS OF THE DAY by Kazuo Ishiguro (publ 1989) 256 pages
Booker Prize winner, one of the most highly-regarded post-war British novels
Author is British-Japanese; the story is of Stevens, an English butler who dedicates his life to the loyal service of Lord Darlington (mentioned in increasing detail in flashbacks); one aspect is the invitation to the reader to look beyond the public face presented by a character who's very essence is characterised by the presentation of a dignified facade.
--Ruthie leading discussion
- December 13 BELOVED by Toni Morrison (publ 1987) 352 pages
Winner of Nobel Prize in literature in 1993. Pulitzer Prize winner in 1988. Also selected as single best work of American fiction in past 25 years as determined by a New York Times poll of 200 prominent writers, critics and editors.
Book examines both the mental and physical trauma caused by brutal effects of slavery. Sethe struggles to survive in the aftermath of slavery, haunted by her dead daughter. The author has said "Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another."
--Catherine leading discussion
Reading selections for our earlier years are available HERE
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