First Presbyterian Church Book Group

First Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, Indiana

This book discussion group was organized in January, 2000.

Interested in seeing a list of the books we read and discussed in our first ten years?

Thanks to Judy Schroeder for her work in promoting the idea of the group, advertising it, developing our first list of possible books to read, and even hosting the first two meetings!

Recent participants include Jean Anderson, , Kathryn Brown, , , Cheryl Engber, Judy Holy, Galina McLaws, Norma Miller, Lou Moir, Kathy Ruesink, Judy Schroeder, Dorothy Soudakoff, Martha Wailes, Karen Watts, Gloria Westfall.

New members and "drop-ins" are always welcome! Feel free to check with any member of the group about participating.

Charter members who attended the first meeting include Jean Anderson, Allan Edmonds, Margaret Harter, Jeanette Hendry, Judy Schroeder, Martha Wailes, and Gloria Westfall.

2012

Except where noted the group meets on the fourth Sunday of the month at 7 p.m. We meet in a downstairs activity room in the main building at the Bell Trace Retirement Community off of East 10th Street.

January 22, 2012 Note the non-standard Sunday this month! Anna Quindlen, Every Last One (paperback, 2010, 320 pp.) - Virginia Dearborn, discussion leader. Mary Beth Latham is first and foremost a mother, whose three teen-aged children come first, before her career as a landscape gardener, or even her life as the wife of a doctor. Caring for her family and preserving their everyday life is paramount. And so, when one of her sons, Max, becomes depressed, Mary Beth becomes focused on him, and is blindsided by a shocking act of violence. What happens afterwards is a testament to the power of a woman's love and determination, and to the invisible line of hope and healing that connects one human being with another.

Wednesday, February 29, at 7 p.m. - Tom French, Zoo Story (paperback, May 2011, 304 pp.). Note the special day! Leader Judy Schroeder. Tom French will attend our discussion. A Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist now on the IU faculty, French goes behind the scenes at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo in this balanced account that reveals extinction, conservation, and captivity issues in all their moral complexities. It features a memorable cast. The author introduces readers to Herman, the lovable species-confused chimpanzee who has reigned at Lowry Park for three decades, and Enshalla, whose family history was like a Greek tragedy, and her mate Eric, Sumatran tigers whose attempts at mating captivate the zoo staff. We are forced to reconsider our notions of freedom and captivity when presented with such scenarios as 11 partially sedated wild South African elephants being moved to U.S. zoos to escape slaughter at home.

Future Books for 2012 and into 2013.

  • March 25: Abraham Verghese, Cutting for Stone. Leader: Ann McEndarfer.
  • April 29: David Brooks, The Social Animal. Leader: Kathy Ruesink
  • May 27: Geraldine Brooks, Calebs Crossing. Leader: Martha Wailes
  • June 24: Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion. Leader: Allan Edmonds
  • July 22: Ann Patchett, State of Wonder. Leader: Cheri Engber
  • August 26: Dave Eggers, Zeitoun. Leader: Lou Moir
  • September 23: Paulette Jiles, Enemy Women. Leader: Kathy Brown
  • October 25: Robert Ivie, Dissent from War. Leader: Judy Holy
  • November 25: Lauren Belfer, A Fierce Radiance. Leader: Karen Bush Watts
  • January 27, 2013:Stephen Greenblatt, The Swerve. Leader: Virginia Dearborn
  • February 24, 2013: Erik Larson, In the Garden of Beasts. Leader: Norma Miller??
  • March 24, 2013: John Julius Norwich, Absolute Monarchs. Leader: Galina McLaws??
  • Books read and discussed in 2011.

    Books read and discussed in 2010.

    Books read and discussed in 2009.

    Books read and discussed in 2008.

    Books read and discussed in 2007.

    Books read and discussed in 2006.

    Books read and discussed in 2005.

    Books read and discussed in 2004.

    Books read and discussed in 2003

    Books read and discussed in 2002

    Books read and discussed in 2001

    Books read and discussed in 2000


    Books considered for 2009.

    Other books considered for 2008.

    Books considered for 2007-2008.

    Books considered for 2006-2007.

    Books considered for 2006.

    Other books considered for 2005

    Other books considered for the second half of 2004.

    Books considered for the first half of 2004

    Books considered for the second half of 2003

    Books considered for the first half of 2003

    Other books considered for Fall, 2002

    Books considered for Spring and Summer, 2002

    Some other books we've considered.

    Related Links

    The First Presbyterian Church website