Apparently Less is not completely fine!

Of course, the food was magnificent, and over the top as usual. All chefs outdid themselves, but Lonnie’s roast duck main course was particularly memorable. And for the first non-Carol dessert, I have to say that Lonnie again outdid herself. This was much more special and delicious than most restaurant meals. Thanks to Lonnie for your comfortable home and spectacular offerings. Our group gave ‘Less' by Andrew Sean Greer a rating of 2. Lonnie liked it more than others, as she found it engaging and entertaining. Some enjoyed the world travel snapshots, and the unique writing style. We could not come up with a consensus of why this book is enjoying such continued and enduring popularity. Many of us did not like, or care about, any of the characters, and found it hard to keep our interest up to finish the book. On the other hand, ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ by Gail Honeyman was given a rating of 4. We enjoyed all of the main characters, and thought that the character development was deep and moving. Though the characters were not typical, there were many things we could relate to and identify with. The story was so unusual, and there were a few unexpected turns. The growing friendship (sans romance) with Raymond seemed true and believable, and an evil mother who it turned out lived only in the imagination and psyche of Eleanor, was a surprising development to most of us (not our clever Carol) and added a depth of how the past finds a way to live in us in the present, and continues to influence us. Another wonderful evening together.

We meet again on Saturday, January 19 at Kathy's house. Books will be Radio Underground by Alison Littman and The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. We will be joined by author Alison Littman who is excited to join us and to discuss her first book.

Book picker will be Carol.