If you are like me, the first section you grab in your Sunday Boston Globe (even before reading about the Pats quest for perfection or the fast rising Celtics) is the Arts section to check out Jan Gardner's New England literary news column for updates on the local books scene. If you are not like me, and you somehow missed it, our book group had a nice profile this last weekend:
Bill Kohli prefers reading fiction over history, biography, or thrillers, and he is a fan of single malt scotch so that’s how he runs Bill’s Book Group for Guys at Wellesley Books. He usually picks a novel, sometimes on the quirky side, and he always provides a selection of drinks — a single malt scotch or bourbon, as well as beer, wine, and sparkling water.The book group — now 3 years old — typically draws 15 to 20 men, including eight to 10 regulars, ranging in age from 30s to 70s. The first group after the summer hiatus, which discussed Emily St. John Mandel’s science fiction novel “Station Eleven” (Knopf), drew 25 attendees.Kohli, who co-owns Wellesley Books with his wife, Gillian, says members of other book clubs are often surprised to hear that his group spends most of the two hours devoted to the meeting actually discussing the book. Some female customers at Wellesley Books have told Kohli that they enjoy reading the group’s selections. None yet have asked to attend a meeting. For now, Kohli says, the group is a “great alternative to a typical ‘guys night out.’ ”The book for the next meeting, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Wellesley bookstore, is “Tenth of December” (Random House) by George Saunders, a master of the modern short story. Tickets, $25, include a copy of the book and refreshments.
Speaking of George Saunders, Ralph Blair passed along this profile from the Sunday Magazine in the NY Times that calls the Tenth of December the best book you'll read this year. As well as this introduction to his previous collection of short stories which gives you a great perspective into his background in upstate New York and development as a writer.Hope you all are enjoying the book and can make the meeting on Wednesday, December 2nd.
