2018: a year in books (April – June)
Megan is the founder and moderator of the Pantsuit Politics book club and is humbled by the
enthusiastic response of this community to read together. She is an engineer who is passionate about fighting for education and gender equality. Hermione Granger is her guiding light: “When in doubt, go to the library.”
As April kicks off, I am excited not only for the sunshine and warmer weather but the next theme of the 2018 Pantsuit Politics Book Club: Fiction! We will be reading fiction books April – June this year and I am excited to hear everyone’s thoughts on the selections.
I hope you will join us for a book or two (or twelve) this year. I would love to hear from you on Facebook and/or Goodreads (search Pantsuit Politics book club). You can also email the book club (bookclub@pantsuitpoliticsshow.com) with book suggestions / thoughts on books you are reading / ideas for the book club.
Happy Reading!
Megan
The start of spring is a time for stories as the world around us reawakens and the sun shines light on new beginnings. After starting our year with memoirs / autobiographies, I wanted to go from there into great works of fiction that not only teach you about others but about yourself. I believe that fiction is how we practice empathy and compassion as we read about lives that are different than ours yet connected to us in some way.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles has been on my reading list ever since it topped the charts in 2017. With its combination of Russian history and personal discovery, I think this book will be both timely and intriguing. There is something so unique about stories that are written from the perspective of a bystander – someone who is not leading the action but is observing the consequences of the changes.
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood was inspired by Beth. She mentioned on the podcast in response to Sarah’s comments about The Handmaid's Tale that she enjoyed Alias Grace, which got my attention as a fan of the former. I read this book earlier this year and thought it was a lovely narrative that speaks to the difference between a male and female perspective, as well as the importance of having both.
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is another historical fiction selection, a genre I greatly enjoy as I find that I internalize history more when in the form of a moving story. It is interesting to me that one historical event can lead to the telling of multiple stories, all from different perspectives and locations but that all contribute to the history as told today. This book is about occupied France during World War II.