Up Next - Straight Man

William Henry Devereaux Jr., is almost 50 and stuck forever as chair of English at West Central Pennsylvania University. It is April and fear of layoffs--even among the tenured--has reached mock-epic proportions; Hank has yet to receive his department budget and finds himself increasingly offering comments such as "Always understate necrophilia" to his writing students. Then there are his possible prostate problems and the prospect of his father's arrival. Devereaux Sr., "then and now, an academic opportunist," has always been a high-profile professor and a low-profile parent. Hank tries to explain to one class that comedy and tragedy don't go together, but finds the argument "runs contrary to their experience. Indeed it may run contrary to my own." It runs decidedly against Richard Russo's approach in Straight Man, and the result is a hilarious and touching novel.

Meeting Chez Reid at 7 pm April 7

EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert

We had mixed opinions on this book. Frances and Carolyn thought that the narrator was terribly self-centered and had no compassion for her whatsoever. Reid thought she took the first part of the book to rake her ex-husband across the coals. We all found it interesting that she is about to publish a second book on her continued travels - rough life!

But the concept of going on a year's journey around the world (three places with a four-month mission in each place) inspired us all. We've since been discussing where we would go and what we would study in each place. Jayne has a plan that would involve studying different kinds of textiles, perhaps in Nepal, New Zealand and Ireland?). Reid likes the idea of studying the cuisine of different countries (Mexico, Thailand and ??- still thinking on that). Frances wants to go to Israel, but is having a hard time finding somebody who wants to go along with her.

Carolyn recommended an interesting audio book as a follow up about a woman who travels around the world on a bicycle before the turn of the 20th century: Around the World on Two Wheels

Also - Looks like Julia Roberts is making this into a movie