Book Menage: Summer Edition.

Who's ready for another Book Menage? I am!

My librarian and reader's advisor friends tell me escapist fare is hot this summer, so I say we go the other way with our Menage. I'm pulling executive privilege* and announcing that our two books for this round will be Tom Bissell's The Father of All Things: A Marine, His Son, and the Legacy of Vietnam (you knew I was going to make you read it eventually) and Michael Perry's Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time. You know the drill: we read two books (as compared to all those other wussy book groups where they only read one), we come back here, we talk.

Now, arguably, the Perry could be considered escapist fare. But it's so much more than that. And what are the connections between these two books? Well, largely, these are two men that I think you should get to know, as they are stupendous. Also, they are both memoirs that explain what it means to be connected, both to a place and to a history, and what that means (for good and bad) to our relationships.

So the only thing that remains to be decided is who gets a free set of these books (I'll have my lovely assistant Mr. CR pick a name from the last Menage for me later) and when we should start. Why don't we start on Monday, July 20? That's a good five weeks out. Sound like a plan?

AND PLEASE NOTE: Anyone who participates in the Menage is entered in the drawing to get the two books for the next Menage, absolutely free! So join us and invite a friend; the more the merrier.

*Everybody's suggestions last time for future book pairings were great, and we'll use them for our next Menage, like maybe a couple of travel books or a bio/memoir mix.

Comments

[Angie]

I've actually read one of the Menage books! On your recommendation, of course. Perry's writing is fantastic; so much so that I did that annoying thing to my husband where I read out loud all the good parts. Needless to say there was a lot of me narrating the book to my oh-so patient spouse. I'm jumping into the catalogue right now to see if I can find Bissell's book. I've never participated in a Book Menage but the timing of this one is perfect for me. Looking forward to it!

[Citizen Reader]

Angie!
We'll be so glad to have you! Actually, I'm cheating; I've read both of the books, but I'm going to re-read them, as it has been years since I read the Perry and I wanted to re-read the Bissell the moment I finished it. I hope you like both the books and that you enjoy the Menage once we start!

[Bookie]

Yep, I'm in! WOOT!

[Laura]

Count me in too! I just finished Population: 485 a week or two ago and loved it (just finished Truck: A Love Story for that matter - also good) and I'm looking forward to Bissell.

[Citizen Reader]

Bookie, Laura:
Yay! Yay! I look forward to both of you being there! (And Laura--I'm glad you enjoyed "Truck" too. You might want to take a little break before Coop; I find I enjoy memoirs more if I read something else between them.)

WOOT indeed!

[Jessica]

Squeeeee!

[Brandon]

I almost picked up "Population: 485" a few weeks ago, but then decided it probably wasn't for me.

I'm seriously considering setting up my own endurance read for the fall. It's unlikely anyone would join, because I'd probably pick a book that would break people's brains, just for the hell of it.

[Citizen Reader]

Brandon,
You never know about "Population 485." It's really not very cutesy, and Perry's a well-read guy himself, so it might surprise you.

I would definitely, definitely pick up the Bissell if I were you. Bissell's another well-read writer, writes both fiction and nonfiction, is honest without revealing too much. Do give him a try.

If I can I would join your endurance read. Although I may end up never forgiving you for getting me involved with "Infinite Summer." We'll see.

[Venta]

Summer Menage - I'm in!

[Citizen Reader]

Jessica, Venta,
I'm so glad! I can't wait for this one.

[Savvy Working Gal]

When I picked up Tom Bissel's book from the library, the librarian made the comment, "Kind of heavy for summer isn't it." I told her it was for my book club, and that the organizer was making us read it, which is exactly what I like about the club. Great choices CR; this is guaranteed to be a good one.

[Citizen Reader]

SWG,
It's never a bad time for a good book, is it? Not having kids, my winter and summer routines don't vary all that much, so I don't think of things as being too "heavy" or not for summer reading. (I also don't swim or vacation in places where that sort of thing happens, so "beach reads" is a completely foreign concept to me.)

I guess it's heavy...but I really like Tom Bissell. I hope you do too (and remember, there's no shame in not liking a book here at CR, so don't be afraid to say if you don't like it), and I'm so glad you'll be joining us.

[Care]

Had to search for this post because I was curious why you picked these two books together: Thought maybe it was the Northern Wisconsin angle but now I do get the 'connection to time and place' link. I just finished the Perry book and have the Bissell on CD (which is a new experience for me and I find myself sitting in my car listening until the neighbors start waving and wondering why I'm wasting gas idling) but I do miss dogearing pages to refer back to.

[Citizen Reader]

Care,
Thanks for the comment! (I'll add you in to the book drawing for the next menage.) I'll admit my links between these two were tenuous; they were mainly great books I wanted to re-read and I wanted everyone else to read them too! But the more I read them together the more I did think they were related; both for their connection to place and for their authors' similar thoughtful styles.

I hear you on missing dog-earing. That's part of why both audio books and e-books are not as deeply satisfying to me as REAL books. Love the image of you idling and listening to Bissell, though, he deserves it!