What We Thought: Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler

Evening Book Club

September 2015

Shotgun Lovesongs

Nickolas Butler

Shotgun Lovesongs, a story of four best friends and their enduring friendship growing from childhood into adult relationships resonated strongly with book club members. The discussion continued throughout the evening with intense comments about the motives of the characters and how they were influenced by each other. Readers noted that the level of emotion and depth of character’s inner lives were unusual in portrayals of male friendships in fiction. This would have been more likely if the characters were women. It worked for readers because the characters were likeable and Little Wing, Wisconsin felt like home for characters and readers alike. Readers all said they loved, loved the story and everything about it!

The author makes the readers wait for resolution in the story. His writing is so compelling that it is worth the wait. The characters make you want to know them, even when some of them are not likeable at times. Everyone agreed that the story was well written and that enduring friendship and reconciliation was believable. Some readers commented on how the characters’ narration changed with each chapter. Others said that they got used to it and it worked for them.

Beth, Hank’s wife, is the fifth character in the story. Their marriage acts as a sixth character in its effect on best friends Lee and Hank's lives. The marriage is poetry and Hank and Beth’s relationship with their children and each other radiates love and comfort to all that surrounds them. A crucial event disturbs their lives and it takes a few quirky events to take the high road and set things right. Kip and Ronny, the other two friends, are changed by events as adults but remain true to their characters and friendships.

You have to read this story to believe it and to feel it is to be reassured and comforted.

Don’t miss the story of Hank, Lee, Ronnie, Kip, Beth and their lives in the heartland of Little Wing, Wisconsin!

Combined Book Club Potluck -- The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

The Spellman Files

by Lisa Lutz

Tuesday, August 18

6:00 p.m.

 

Combined Book Club Potluck #10

All three Halifax *adult* book clubs -- Evening, Afternoon and Mystery Readers -- joined together to enjoy a pot luck supper on a warm August evening. A buffet featuring regional New England favorites took everyone’s mind off of the current week’s relentless heat wave.

A traditional Holmes Pot Luck Punch with lemon and orange sorbet provided seasonal color and refreshment along with a selection of icy sparkling beverages.

An extensive buffet featured hot and cold main courses, salads, and finger sandwiches.  Broccoli crunch, tricolor pasta, macaroni, chicken, green and fruit salads were paired with fresh bread and butter.

Hearty fare included fried green tomatoes, sausage with green peppers and onions, macaroni and beef in tomato sauce, and Laurie’s special chicken enchiladas (Ex-Boyfriend #9's specialty from the book). Pinwheels and chicken salad sandwiches offered even more choices.

After supper everyone adjourned to the Library’s reading room for the book discussion and desserts: frosted cupcakes, blueberry lemon squares, banana cream pie, country peach pie, and more Pot Luck Punch.

Club members agreed that the book was a good summer read. Some members said that it was boring and repetitive but they were interested in the story, anyway, even though some of the characters grated on their sensibilities. The quirky Spellman family dynamic and the eccentricities of individual members generated a lot of discussion. Readers did not agree on the point of the story, the likeability of characters or the surprise ending. One member commented that “It’s hard to write good humor.” Most confessed that they had laughed out loud while reading even though they weren’t certain about the plausibility of events.

A lively discussion ensured about what was a lie and when is okay to lie. Were those lies actually evasions and playing a game? This led to members dredging up memories of childhood and adolescent escapades and lies that had everyone in gales of laughter. Some questioned whether those memories were truth, lies, or embellishments. Perhaps the truth is stranger than fiction!

It was decided that the best way to read The Spellman Files is to suspend belief and enjoy, because “sometimes telling the truth is not the right thing to do.”  Take a look at the rest of the books in the Spellman series and find out for yourself!

Thank you to all who participated in Book Club Potluck #10, and to those who couldn't attend, we missed you and hope to see you at Book Club Potluck #5 this winter! We welcome all your comments and thoughts on The Spellman Files, the food, the punch, and book club members' misspent youths! ;)

Summer Pot Luck Selection: The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

All three of the Holmes Public Library book clubs will come together in one big group on Tuesday, August 18, at 6 p.m. to share a pot luck supper and talk about The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz, a fun summer read. Hope you can make it!