Thursday, September 12, 2024, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
RLC Reads: Book Selections for 2024-2025
Announcing the books that we’ll be reading and discussing and enjoying this year, September – May. It’s an exciting and diverse collection that will be fun to read and talk about. Which one will be your new favorite? Circle the dates on your calendar and plan to join us for one, some, or all. 7:00 PM on the dates indicated, in the “coffee shop” area near the church office just inside the north doors. All are welcome, the more the merrier, whether you’ve read the whole book or not. Please plan to join us!
Questions? Email Bob Bergstrom:
Sept. 12
Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother’s Life by Kao Kalia Yang
Many readers believe that this third memoir by the much-acclaimed St. Paul author is even better and more moving than her first two. We know you’ll enjoy this powerful book about a mother’s love. (306 pgs, recommended by several who have read her other books)
Oct. 10:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
This 2007 National Book Award Winner tells the story of a Native American boy who attends an all-white high school near Spokane. Trying to fit in, he faces cultural issues, racism, bullying, and poverty. The book is full of humor and insight, yet it’s our “banned book” for this year. (288 pgs, recommended by Bob Bergstrom and Alice Neve)
Nov. 14:
The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan
Tells the story of a Palestinian and an Israeli who share a house in the town of Ramla in the 1960’s. Gives a human dimension to the ongoing conflict and explores the hopeful possibility of reconciliation. (368 pgs, recommended by Dave and Karen Dudley)
(No book in December)
Jan. 9:
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson
Known as a master of narrative non-fiction, Larson tells the story of Hitler’s rise to power by focusing on the family of Ambassador William Dodd in 1933. It’s a true story of excitement, intrigue, romance, and violence. (464 pgs, recommended by Denny and Paula Olander)
Feb. 13:
James by Percival Everett
It’s a unique, imaginative re-telling of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of the enslaved character, Jim, who’d rather be called James. Even if you’ve never read Huck Finn, you’ll enjoy this action-packed, darkly humorous book by one of today’s most revered authors. (320 pgs, recommended by Bob Bergstrom)
Mar. 13:
The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal
If you were a prisoner in a Jewish concentration camp in WWII and a dying Nazi soldier asked you for forgiveness, what would you do? You can read the surprising and thought-provoking responses of over fifty distinguished men and women from all walks of life in this book that is one of Bud Helmen’s all-time favorites. (289 pgs, recommended by Bud Helmen)
April 10:
The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe by Richard Rohr
We pray to Jesus, and we think we know Him, but why do we call Him “Christ”? Is it just a last name? Richard Rohr, one of the world’s most influential spiritual thinkers, draws on scripture, history, and spiritual practice to show us how Christ can restore hope and meaning to our lives. (260 pgs, recommended by Heidi Larson)
May 8:
Dinners With Ruth: A Memoir on the Powers of Friendship by Nina Totenberg
The famous NPR correspondent details her nearly fifty-year friendship with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. These two ground-breaking women share their experiences through success and grief. If you’re interested in a tantalizing mixture of history, politics, law, and media, you’ll want to read this compelling book. (320 pgs, recommended by Nancy Olson)