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Based upon your vote we will have a two book discussion at our next virtual meeting on July 21.

Please join Cornellians living in South Florida to discuss:

1. 1862: The Spy of Vicksburg, by our very own alumnus Al Collard, chronicles the journey of Ulysses S. Grant’s spies, some of the first intelligence officers in the young United States, sent to gather information out of the contained stronghold in Vicksburg. (136 pages). We are so fortunate to have Al join us for the discussion!
2. A Tale of Love and Darkness, by Amos Oz, follows his childhood in the nascent state of Israel, while war was tearing the city of Jerusalem apart. Out of the chaos, a new nation and a new sense of self are born for the young man. (560 pages).

These titles, though centrally different, offer some thematic thread-throughs and connections, to fuel interesting and productive conversations. All are invited to join the July 21 meeting, regardless of finishing both books.

The next meeting of the Big Red Bookworms will take place via Zoom Monday, July 21 from 7 – 8:30pm.

Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

Ideas to keep in mind as you read:

–How is the connection between personal identity and nationhood portrayed in the book? Is it possible to fully separate who we are from where we come from?

–In both stories, the idea of borders as both real lines demarcating land and metaphoric boundaries, which inform what is “right,” “patriotic,” or “moral,” are important. What did you make of how these are negotiated and drawn in the book.

–How is labor/service linked to personhood in each story? What does this say about the overriding social and economic philosophies at the time?

–Since these are true stories, the lens through which they’re told require close attention. Who narrates the story? What qualities do they have? How do we learn about them?

–Did you feel a personal connection to the choices that each of these characters must make throughout their story? What other human topics did you relate to in these books that appear to center on conflict, war, and the dissolution of archaic structures?

Wishing you a restful and fulfilling summer. See you in July!

For event questions, please contact the book club moderator, Esther Liberman at estherlibe@hotmail.com. (Esther will have very limited access to email until July 4 but she will get back to you).

We will invite book suggestions periodically, in both fiction and non-fiction categories, and keep a running list of club member selections, to be reconsidered before future meetings.