Sunday, March 14, 2021

February 2021 Host:  Stephanie

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Summary

This is the story of nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This book begins in 1933 in the middle of the Great Depression.  The story follows one boy in particular, Joe Rantz whose childhood deprivations led him to resort to things such as having to scour for mushrooms and fish for enough food to keep him alive. The nine boys along with their brilliant coach and a renowned boat builder overcome obstacle after obstacle in their quest to represent the U.S. and win gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  The book includes the story of Hitler’s engineering of the 1936 Olympics as a showcase for Nazi Germany, removing all traces of anti-Semitism and presenting Berlin as wholesome and squeaky clean.  Although the lengthy descriptions of outings and techniques in the beginning were difficult to get through, I was glad I continued to the end.  Even if you skim those sections of the book, the ending is worth it as it is well written and is a very compelling story.  


 

January 2021 Host:  Megan

You by Caroline Kepnes

Summary

This story is told in the first person and is narrated by the villain; Joe.  When Beck walks into the bookstore that Joe works in, he sets out to become her perfect boyfriend, no matter what it takes.  He breaks into her apartment and steals her possessions and also steals her phone where he can stalk her online as well as in person.  He also manages to get rid of her boyfriend and best friend.   He is completely obsessed, deranged, and becomes even more unhinged with every chapter but Joe thinks he is acting completely normal.   Despite being a psychopath, Joe is strangely likeable and the reader may at times (accidentally) root for him.  Stephen King described this book as hypnotic and scary.  I found some hated this book and some loved it.  I personally liked it as I had never read anything quite like it and enjoyed the series on Netflix.