2011 book slate for Oconee County Democratic reading group

From: Pat Priest 

Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 9:48:16 AM
Subject: [oconee] 2011 book slate

Hello on this blustery day!

Whew!  We've finally pinned down the calendar for our 2011 book group
schedule for the community discussion group sponsored by the Oconee
Democrats.  Check it out!  It's full of wonderful books.

We'll begin in January with a book by Calvin Trillin about the
integration of UGA, as the 50th anniversary of those events will be
marked next month by a visit to UGA by NPR reporter Charlayne Hunter-Gault.

We're also reading several books about the Civil War . . . and about the
environment . . . the economy . . . all kinds of neat things.

Here's the press release below, with the list-at-a-glance at the bottom.

Stay warm!

Happy Holidays!

Pat Priest
STILL AND ALWAYS A DEMOCRAT!

The 2011 Slate of Books for the Community Book Group Sponsored by the
Oconee County Georgia Democratic Committee


The community book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats has announced
its slate of books for 2011.  The list includes classics such as Pearl
Buck's magnificent "The Good Earth" in addition to well-regarded, newer
books that provide important information about the underpinnings of
America's economic problems ("The Two Trillion Dollar Meltdown: Easy
Money, High Rollers, and the Great Credit Crash" by Charles Morris and
"Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for
America's Independent Businesses" by Stacy Mitchell).

The year kicks off with a book by noted writer Calvin Trillin that
provides an account of the racial integration of the University of
Georgia, a tumultuous time that took place 50 years ago come January.
The book, "An Education in Georgia," details the isolation and
insults the first African-American students suffered.  Charlayne
Hunter-Gault, the first black woman to attend the university and now a
journalist covering South Africa for NPR, will be at UGA for several
events in January, and the group wanted to celebrate her heroism with
greater knowledge about the events of those dark years in our state's
history and consciousness.  Trillin, now a columnist for The Nation,
reported on the events originally in serial form in the New Yorker magazine.

Next year marks another important milestone, too: the 150th anniversary
of the outbreak of the Civil War.  The group decided to delve into that
awful war with several fine books, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning
novel about the pivotal battle of Gettysburg ("The Killer Angels" by
Michael Shaara) and "April 1865: The Month That Saved America" by Jay
Winik.  They will also read Eric Foner's "
A Short History of Reconstruction," an abridged version of a longer book by the author thatis considered the definitive study of the topic and one that won
prestigious awards such as the Bancroft Prize.  They will kick off their
Civil War readings with a book about slavery (in February, Black History
month) titled "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," a harrowing
autobiography by Harriet Jacobs.

Celebrating and protecting the natural world is another theme for 2011.
  For June, the group will take up James Hansen's sobering "
Storms of MyGrandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity."  The book received a starred review inboth Publishers Weekly and Booklist, which had this to say about the
book: "Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies,
lays all the cards on the table in this thorough, detailed analysis of
the history, science and politics of climate change, a Silent
Spring-style warning cry that predicts 'a rough ride' for our
grandchildren."  The following month the group will savor Annie
Dillard's lovely Pulitzer Prize-winning "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek," which
Publishers Weekly described as a "triumph" and "one of the truly
beautiful books of this or any other season."

The year wraps up with a discussion of "The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap."  In this thought-provoking book,
family historian Stephanie Coontz examines a range of historical periods
in American life to shatter mythic notions of Leave It to Beaver-type
families that often make today's families feel inadequate despite their
struggles to raise their children and make ends meet.  Kirkus Reviews
characterized the book as "fascinating, persuasive, politically relevant."

The group's founder, Pat Priest, said that the books are chosen each
year to provide the underpinning for more informed and thoughtful
conversations about the many problems we face in the state, nation, and
world.

Books are available at 25% discount at Books Galore in Watkinsville.
Priest hopes participants will support local, independent book stores.

The group meets the last Wednesday of each month (except for November
and December) at Five Points Deli on Epps Bridge Parkway.  Participants
assemble at 6 to chat and order dinner or coffee, with the discussion
getting underway around 6:15.  Adults and teens from any county and of
any political leanings are invited to drop in anytime to discuss the
topic and book.  For more information, contact Pat Priest
(patricia.priest@yahoo.com).


2011 slate

January 26th
An Education in Georgia: Charlayne Hunter, Hamilton Holmes, and the
Integration of the University of Georgia by Calvin Trillin

February 23
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

March 30
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

April 27
April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik

May 25
A Short History of Reconstruction by Eric Foner

June 29
Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming
Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity by
James Hansen

July 27
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard

August 31
The Two Trillion Dollar Meltdown: Easy Money, High Rollers, and the
Great Credit Crash by Charles Morris

September 28
Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for
America's Independent Businesses by Stacy Mitchell

October 26
The Good Earth by Pearl Buck

November (date pending)
The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap by
Stephanie Coontz