The Heirs, by Susan Rieger

REVIEW:  This was a great read!  I enjoyed every minute of it and, when not reading, was longing to get back into the book.  The author created very interesting and complex characters who I wanted to learn more about.  At times, the story line jumped over a several years span in a chapter and, in one case, on one page, but due to the skill of the author I was always able to follow and never got lost.  There was only one instance where I was confused and that was when wives changed from the beginning of the story to the obituary without any explanation that I found, but this did not impact my enjoyment at all.  The author did an amazing job of tying all of the various story lines together.  Sometimes starting a new chapter (all of the chapter titles are the characters’ names) I would wonder how this was all going to fit together, but it always did and masterfully so.  I highly recommend this book, especially for book groups.  It will lead to interesting and meaningful discussions.  I received a complimentary copy of the book for this review.  

Characters
Falkes	Others
Rupert Eleanor Harry – law professor, Columbia, “the blurter”, affair with colleague Lea – wife Will – Editor, Random House; talent agent Francine – wife Mary - daughter Sam – scientist, MD/ PhD Andrew – partner, separated Gemma – daughter with Susanna Jack – jazz trumpeter, music always came first, could not play when not happy Katherine – wife Ingrid - daughter Tom, federal prosecutor Caroline – wife Lila – daughter, adopted age three	Edward and Virginia Phipps – Eleanor’s parents Marina Cantwell – affair with Edward Louisa - daughter Susanna Goffe – Sam’s best friend since childhood Eleanor’s previous boyfriends: Carlo Benedetti – lawyer Dr. Jim Cardozo Anne Lehman – married Jim Cardozo Ethel – mother Vera Wolinski Hugh and Iain – sons Hannah Bigelow – Looking for lost brother, Anders, four years after Rupert’s death Helen Sonnegaard – late mother Dominic Byrne – Will’s tutor at Cambridge

 For discussion:

NOTE: The page numbers are from the hardback edition.

1. Would you be charmed or annoyed with Ethel Lehman’s endless use of quotes?  Why?
2. On pages 98 and 99 Eleanor told Will that when husbands buy gifts for their wives they are either really buying what they think their mothers would like or what they themselves would like.   She called this “The old spousal gift fallacy.”   Do you agree?  What about wives buying gifts for their husbands gifts?
3. Why did Eleanor set up a trust for Vera?   Do you think Hugh and Iain are Rupert’s sons?
4. Discuss the benefits and negatives of being rude:
1. Rupert was rude all of his life and people did not take offense.
2. On page 222, Eleanor said that she was going to be sixty and that she was going to stop being so accommodating and start being rude because, “Rudeness is sometimes the only proper response.”
3. On page 229, when Rupert was dying Eleanor decided to temporarily give up her “budding rudeness” because they needed the kindness of so many people.
4. Also on page 229 Eleanor reflected that rudeness grows “exponentially with each eruption.”
5. Do you think Louisa was Eleanor’s half-sister by Marina Cantwell and Edward?  Why?
6. What were your thoughts about Eleanor as the story unfolded?  On the one hand, she was a dedicated wife and mother but on the other she was secretly meeting Jim at the movies.
7. Discuss the five sons and their differences.   For example, Harry was called “the blurter” because he said what he thought without any filters. Do you think he should have been able to control these impulses?
8. What do you think your reaction would have been to Vera’s letter about her two sons being Rupert’s children?  
9. It seemed like most of the men in the novel were either in love with or entranced by Eleanor.  Why?
10. What part did Dominic Byrne play in the story?  He only appeared twice, once when Will was at Cambridge (page 108) and at the end when he wrote a letter to Eleanor telling her he was getting married and implying that he was always in love with her but she would not have him (page 244).
11. What did you think about the ending?  What will happen next?

*****

First Semester  Success: Learning  Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesannoble.com   Click on the upper right  link.

America’s First Daughter, by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

REVIEW:  I was a little impatient reading this book because it is long and at times seemed to move slowly.  BUT I found it intriguing!  The authors did an amazing job of capturing the times and the feelings about slavery and women.   There are so many interesting aspects to the novel that my discussion guide ended up being three pages!    This is a great book for book groups and should lead to lively discussions!

Citizens

Slaves

Thomas Jefferson Martha – wife, deceased Martha “Patsy” – daughter, married Tom Randolph Polly “Maria” – daughter, married Jack Eppes Lucy – daughter, deceased Wayles – Martha’s father William Short – Martha’s relative, aid to Jefferson Colonel Randolph Wife - deceased Tom – oldest child, married Patsy Judith – married cousin, Richard Randolph Nancy – had child to Richard Randolph, died 3 younger sisters Gabriella Harvie – Colonel’s 2nd wife Thomas Mann - son Tom and Patsy’s children Ann – married Charles Bankhead, abusive Thomas Jefferson “Jeff” – married Jane Nicholas Ellen – died Ellen – married Joseph Coolidge Cornelia Virginia “Ginny” – married Nicholas Trist Mary James Madison Benjamin Franklin Septimia George Wythe Maria Cosway – Paris, Jefferson’s married lover Lafayette

Hemings Betsy – had children by Wayles Sally – Martha’s half-sister, several children with Jefferson, two survived Jimmy – to Paris with Jefferson as cook Nance Critta Martin Bob Mary Hemings Bell – widow of owner of general store, now proprietress Betsy – Mary’s daughter, Polly’s maid Others Mammy Ursala

 For discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the paperback edition.

1. Were you surprised by the description of Thomas Jefferson’s strong mourning?  Did this fit with your image of him?  Why did no one seem to notice or intervene?
2. Was it fair for Martha to extract the promises that she did from Thomas (never marry again) and Patsy (always take care of father) (pages 30 – 33)?
3. Do you think Jefferson knew that his wife made Patsy promise to take care of him?  How did this affect his as well as Patsy’s life?
4. On page 57 Colonel Randolph said to Jefferson, “You’re better off in retirement.  No good comes of public service anymore.”   How would our country be different if Jefferson agreed?
5. When Patsy was thinking about entering the convent, she thought that she would teach Polly to be devoted rather than truthful because Patsy thought being devoted was a much more important virtue (page 108).   What do you think?
1. Also, on page 215 Patsy chose devotion to father over love for William Short.  Do you think she made a wise choice?
2. Well into their marriage Patsy said “I thought perhaps the thing for Tom I felt that was deeper than love might be dedication (page 271).   How does this fit with her previous statements?   Did she make a wise choice to let devotion and dedication direct her life?
6. Do you think it was in Polly’s best interest to leave her and Lucy behind when Jefferson and Patsy went to Europe?
7. It is now common knowledge that Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings.  What did you think about his choice when Polly first arrived and he was upstairs with Sally?   Was the fact that she resembled his wife mitigate his actions?
8. At Polly’s wedding when Tom was struggling, Patsy said to him, “I’ll tell you a secret about being happy, Tom.  Sometimes you just have to pretend at it until it becomes real” (page 329).   Do you think this is good advice?
9. The first time Tom hit Patsy was on page 292.  In the next section she thinks, “I’d fretted about my father’s reputation, but I’d given too little thought to Tom’s.  I deserved to be slapped to my senses” (page 293).  Why do you think Tom turned violent with Patsy?   Should Patsy have felt that she was spending too much of her energy on her father and not her husband?
10. What did you think of Tom Randolph?   Did he have any chance to be a better man?  Was he flawed from the beginning or did it happen over the years?
11. Did you agree with Patsy’s request of President Madison to have Tom recalled from military duty and assigned to be tax collector?  Did she have the right to do that?
12. Could any man Patsy married have competed favorable to her father?  Was her and Tom’s marriage doomed from the start?

13. When Ann returned home beaten and pregnant, she said she deserved it (page 543).  Patsy began to wonder what example she had set for her daughters and reflected that, “…Ann had never been taught to do anything but honor and obey a husband, and none of this was her fault” (page 543).   Given the times do you think Patsy could have raised her daughters differently?
14. When the book opened Patsy was contemplating burning some of Jefferson’s incriminating letters.  What do you think she should do? 
15. How did this book as a whole fit with your idea of Thomas Jefferson? 

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

The Glorious Heresies, by Lisa McInerney

REVIEW:   While the writing is very good, I did not find this novel a pleasure to read.  The subject matter is very dark and few of the characters have redeeming qualities.  One of the discussion questions at the back of my edition asked what the reader knew about Ireland before reading and if the novel confirmed or added to that knowledge.  While written by an Irish author and containing many Irish idioms in the conversations, I don’t think this story is unique to Ireland and could have been set anywhere.  I don’t feel I gained any new knowledge about Ireland or understanding of the Irish people.  The author did do a good job of showing how difficult and sad many lives really are.  I would only recommend it as a study of a lower level of society and as a way of understanding how many people have none or limited choices in life.   I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review.  

Characters

Tony Cusack Maria – wife – died in suicidal car accident Ryan – oldest son Kelly, Cian, Cathal, Ronan and Niamh – siblings Fiona – Tony’s twin sister Joseph – Fiona’s son – musician – invited Ryan to play with his group Karine D’Arcy – Ryan’s girlfriend Niall Vaughan – Karine had affair with him while Ryan was in jail Jimmy Phelan Maureen Phelan – mother, did not raise Jimmy Una Phelan – Maureen’s mother – raised Jimmy Deirdra – Jimmy’s wife Ellie and Conner – children Tara Duane – Tony’s neighbor Melinda (Linda) – daughter Dan Kane – drug dealer - Ryan went to prison to protect him Georgie Fitzsimons – sex worker Robbie O’Donovan – killed by Maureen Harmony Faye Fitzsimons – Georgie’s daughter with David – David’s family took and will raise the baby Ruby Dea – owned farm, took in people who needed a place to stay Mo Looney (Maureen) Saskia – also member of CAIL? Christians Active in the Light (CAIL) – mission William Tobin – leader Clover – wife Georgie David Coughlan – baby’s father Saskia Frank Cotter – disposed of bodies, killed by Jimmy Tim Dougan – helps dispose of bodies

 For discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the U.S. paperback edition published by Crown Publishing.

1. When Ryan went to jail, Tony could have saved him by saying that he could control him.  Why didn’t he do that?  What was his motive?  Do you think it was better for Ryan to go to jail or would he have been better at home?
2. In chapter 9 Tony was in a therapy session about his excessive drinking and thought the counselor asked all the wrong questions.  What did you think?  Was it possible that the therapist could understand and ask more probing questions?
3. How realistically do you think the sex trade was depicted in the novel?  Did you feel any sympathy or compassion for the women?  Why or why not?
4. In chapter 19 when Georgie and Maureen were talking, Maureen said that men divide women into categories, “The mammies.  The bitches.  The wives.  The girlfriends.  The whores.  Women are all for it too, so long as they fall into the right class.  They all look down on the whores. There but for the grace of God” (page 265.) Do you think this is still true today in your society?   Why or why not?
5. Regarding men, in the same chapter Maureen said that, “they’re divide up just as neatly, didn’t you know?  Saints and sinners. Maters and slaves. The good guys and the bad guys…No one gets to the top if he hasn’t a mound of bodies to climb” (pages 265 & 266).  Do you agree?  How did this play out in the novel?
6. At the end, why did Ryan let Georgie live and send her out of the country?  Was this in his character?
7. Discuss Ryan and Karine and how their relationship developed after Ryan was released from jail.  Could they have acted different than they did?
8. Which character did you find most sympathetic?  Why?
9. Did any of the characters have a choice in their life?  Could any of them led a life that was different than that depicted in the novel?  Why and how?On page 330 Jimmy reflected that he was not a murderer but was using “pragmatic judgement.” What do you think?
10. On page 330 Jimmy reflected that he was not a murderer but was using "pragmatic judgement."  How did he rationalize this distinction?
11. What do you think will happen to Karine?  She is doing well in college.  Why does she stay with Ryan?  What do you think will be her future?
12. Did you like the ending?  What do you think happened after the story ended?
13. There were a lot of Irish idioms in the novel.  How did they affect your reading experience?  What do you think some of them mean?  Some examples with citations are:

• Gurriers – “Gurriers tied to you were still gurriers” (page 209).
• Craic – “But weren’t we having the craic?” (page 210).
• Clanger – “…drew Tony Crusack’s indiscretion from catastrophe to conspiracy to clanger” (page 94).
• Melt – “Oh my God, you break my melt, d’you know that?” (page 96).
• Umbral – “He stood at the window looking into umbral immensity…” (page 116).
• Missus MILF – referring to Tara (page 305)
• Hames – “It’s not you making a hames of clean living” (page 118)
• Noondeenaw – “…having birthed a famous noondeenaw” (page 120)
• Wanno – When Georgie told Clover she was not an expert on God, Clover replied, “Let me tell you this, neither is yer wanno with you” (page 140).
• Wan – “She’s a pal of your wan next door.” (page 170).

Many I was able to figure out with context clues:

• Gardai – police
• Beour – girl
• Naggin – shot of liquor
• Craitur – creature
• Gowl – someone stupid

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Circling the Sun, by Paula McClain

People

Couples and Lovers

Beryl (Clutterbuck) Markham Charles – father Clara – mother Dickie – brother Harry Kirkpatrick – Clara’s second husband (met in Nairobi and moved to London with Dickie when Beryl was five) Ivan and Alex – sons Emma Orchardson – housekeeper Doris “Dos” Waterman – friend, bunkmate at boarding school Jock Purves – Beryl’s first husband Kibii – native friend (became arup Ruta as an adult) Kimaru – wife Asis - son Jim Elkington – neighbor Paddy – pet lion Mansfield Markham – second husband Gervase – son – stayed in London with Mansfield Sir Charles Markham - brother Mrs. O’Hea – Markham’s mother Colonel O’Hea – second husband

Casmere “Boy” Long – first affair, ranch manager for Delamere Genessee – wife Lord and Lady Delamere (“D”) Denys Finch Hatton Berkeley Cole Cockie Birkbeck – Blix, second husband Ben – husband Ginger Mayer – Ben’s lover and second wife Bror “Blix” Blixen – Cockie, second wife Karen “Tania” – wife (affair with Denys) Frank Greswolde - benefactor

 For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the paperback edition.

1. When Beryl’s mother left for England with Dickie, why didn’t she take Beryl with her?  Why did she never contact Beryl?
2. Do you think someone should have told Beryl about her mother and why she left at some point in her teens? 
3. Do you think her father was wrong to let her grow up so wild?  Was there anything different he could have done?
4. When Beryl was thinking about her marriage on page 84, she wondered which is better preparation for marriage (or any union) – love or practicality?  How important is each one?
5. When she married Jock, what other options did she have at the time?  Did you agree with her father and Emma’s advice?  What were your thoughts when Beryl and Jock returned from their honeymoon and her father and Emma were still in Kenya?
6. On page 130 in a conversation with Karen, Beryl says that she wants to be on her own to, “Make your own choices or mistakes, without anyone telling you what you can and can’t do.”   Karen states, “Society does that...I’m not sure anyone gets what they want.  Not really.”   Do you agree?   How difficult is it to go against what “society” expects?
7. What did you think of Clara’s behavior in chapter 26 when she returns to Kenya and expects Beryl to take care of her.  She never says anything about leaving Beryl when she was five and never contacting her.  Also, what did you think of the way she was parenting Ivan and Alex?
8. In chapter 41 Beryl saw Clara again at one of the races after not hearing from her for a year.  They only had a brief conversation and then Clara left again.  Why do you think she maintains such limited contact with Beryl?
9. What did you think about D firing Beryl after he was assaulted by Jock?  Why did he do that?  Could he have done anything else?
10. In chapter 42, were you surprised that Blix was marrying Cockie?  Was there any hint of that earlier in the book?  (If so, I missed it!)
11. Which of the people in Beryl’s life treated her fairly or unfairly?  What do you think was each person’s motivation?  Should or could Beryl have been able to understand and avoid what happened in each problem she encountered?
12. Could Beryl have achieved what she did if her childhood and early adult life had been more conventional?
13. Did you like the writing style?  What about how the book begun and ended, with the flight across the ocean.  Did that set the stage for you reading?

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

The Gatekeepers, by Chris Whipple

REVIEW: I felt this book was well worth my valuable reading time and gave me a better understanding of the political process in Washington.    I am not a “political junkie.”  Rather I was interested in this book from an historical perspective.  Much of this information is very current and, especially in today’s culture, it is difficult to approach any political subject without bias.  (Just as it is difficult for the reader to read without bias.)  Except for a few instances, I thought this author presented the facts without making overt value judgements.  Even with the numerous names, most of which were familiar to me, the storyline was easy to follow except for the transition from Howard Baker Jr. to Ken Duberstein (chapter 5).  I totally missed that and did not realize my mistake until later when Duberstein was referred to as a previous Chief of Staff.  The book was very interesting, although not necessarily gripping like an engrossing fiction novel.  I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. 

Chief of Staff	President		Others
H. R. Haldeman ·       Developed staff system followed by future administrations ·       Said, “President’s most valuable asset is his time” (page 22). ·       His main goal was Nixon’s place in history.	Richard Nixon		J. Edgar Hoover – FBI Director Lied to Nixon about bugging during election Roger Ailes Donald Rumsfeld John Mitchell Charles Colson John Ehrlichman Howard Hunt G. Gordan Liddy Spiro Agnew – disgraced VP Gerald Ford – 2nd VP
General Alexander Haig	Nixon to Ford transition
Donald Rumsfeld Revamped Ford’s organization Restricted access to Ford	Gerald Ford		Dick Cheney – Deputy Chief of Staff David Hume Kennerly – official photographer Henry Kissinger Alan Greenspan Nelson Rockefeller - VP
Dick Cheney White House running extremely smoothly	Gerald Ford		Donald Rumsfeld to Pentagon Kissinger demoted James A. Baker III
Hamilton Jordan At first was unofficial C of S Officially appointed 2 ½ years into term 1980 – resigned to run next campaign	Jimmy Carter		Jack Watson – in charge of transition from Ford Jody Powell – friend, driver Initial WH organization followed “spokes of the wheel” that did not work before
Jack Watson – last 1 ½ year	Jimmy Carter
James Baker Longest term for C of S Redefined position	Ronald Reagan		Nancy Reagan Legislature Strategy Group (LSG)
Donald Regan Hung up on Nancy	Ronald Reagan		Joan Quigley – Nancy’s astrologer
Howard Baker Jr.	Ronald Reagan		Ken Duberstein – Deputy C of S Mikhail Gorbachev – new Soviet leader
Ken Duberstein	Ronald Reagan
John Sununu	George H. W. Bush		Andy Card – Deputy C of S
Samuel K. Skinner	George H. W. Bush		Bob Teeter – campaign chairman
James Baker	George H. W. Bush
Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty Longtime friend of Bill Clinton	Bill Clinton		Hillary Clinton Vincent Foster – White House counselor, committed suicide Harry and Linda Bloodsworth-Thomason Erskine Bowles – Office of Management and Budget
Leon Panetta	Bill Clinton		Erskine Bowles – deputy C of S Dick Morris – secret advisor
Erskine Bowles	Bill Clinton		Monica Lewinsky John Podesta – deputy C of S – in charge of managing Lewinsky “cells”
John Pedesto	Bill Clinton
Andrew Card	George W. Bush		Dick Cheney–VP, (former C of S) Donald Rumsfeld – Secretary of Defense, (former C of S) Condoleeza Rice – National Security Advisor, 2nd term was Secretary of State, became closest advisor Brent Snowcroft – spoke out against war
Joshua Bolten	George W. Bush
Rahm Emanuel	Barack Obama		“The Wrap”
William Daley	Barack Obama		At end of tenure shared job with Pete Rouse
Jacob Lew	Barack Obama
Denis McDonough Served for entire second term Took responsibility for flawed ACA website	Barack Obama

 For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the hardback edition.

1. On page 111 (chapter 4) Margaret Tutwiler as quoted as saying, “The most successful managers are those that are secure enough to surround themselves with extremely strong-willed, talented people.”  Do you agree?
2. James Baker (Ronald Reagan) talked about the tension between those who truly believed in ideals and those willing to compromise to get things done.  Do you think it is right to compromise your goals and beliefs for the sake of progress? 
3. In the same vein, Reagan said, “’I’ll take eighty percent of what I want, and come back later for more.’”  Do you think this is a good way to get things done or should he have held out for everything he wanted?
4. On page 223 (chapter 8), Andrew Card (George H. W. Bush) outlined three duties of the Chief of Staff (“care and feeding of the president; policy formulation, and marketing and selling.”)   How important do you think these are?  How well did each of the Chiefs of Staff do these jobs?
5. In chapter 8 about George W. Bush and Andrew Card, the author writes about 9/11 and the beginning of the war against Iraq for many pages without mentioning Card.  Did you think the author got off track?  Did his own political views get in the way of his writing?
6. On page 268 (chapter 9), Rahm Emanuel (Barack Obama) is quoted as saying about tension among advisors, “You’re supposed to have that.  If you don’t you’re not having the creative tension you need in a White House – that’s how you get kind of the intellectual energy and the political energy to get things done.”   Do you agree?  How necessary is it to have this tension during the decision-making process?
7. What did you learn from this book that you can apply to your job? To your family life and organization?
8. What did you read that relates to today’s politics?  Did this book help you understand the workings of Washington and/or the workings of the current political scene?
9. How much do you think the author’s opinion colored the information in the book? 
10. How important is it that the Chief of Staff be a Washington insider?  Do you think someone without Washington experience could do an effective job?

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and  Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on  the upper right link.