Book Night: 7 PM in the Gathering Place ~ light refreshments
April 13: The Three Legged Woman by Robert Klose and Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
The Three Legged Woman : Klose’s nontraditional students have included, in addition to single parents and veterans, the homeless, the abused, ex-cons, and even a murderer (who was otherwise “a very nice person”). Chronicling his experiences teaching these diverse students, Klose describes with equal doses of care and wry wit those who are profoundly unfit for college, their often inadequate command of the lingua franca, and the alacrity with which they seize upon the paranormal (the three-legged woman) while expressing skepticism about mainstream science. He reflects on the decline of reading for enjoyment and the folly of regarding email as a praiseworthy substitute for expository writing. He details what works in the classroom, identifies what has failed, and relates stories of the absurd, the sublime, and the unanticipated, such as one student’s outburst following a discussion of evolution: “For what you have taught today you shall be damned to everlasting fires of hell!”
Half the Sky: “If you have always wondered whether you can change the world, read this book. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn have written a brilliant call to arms that describes one of the transcendent injustices in the world today—the brutal treatment of women. They take you to many countries, introduce you to extraordinary women, and tell you their moving tales. Throughout, the tone is practical not preachy and the book’s suggestions as to how you can make a difference are simple, sensible, and yet powerful. The authors vividly describe a terrible reality about the world we live in but they also provide light and hope that we can, in fact, change it.”
—Fareed Zakaria, author, The Post-American World
facilitators: Fred Irons and Betty Carr
May 4: The Blessings of Imperfection by G. Peter Fleck
Blessings of Imperfection: Reflections on the Mystery of Everyday Life by G. Peter Fleck
Discusses the evidence of the presence of God in daily life and examines the nature of miracles. facilitator: Rev. Lorna Grenfell. Come with suggestions for next year’s books.