August 28th - Swans of Fifth Avenue

Wow--time is sure flying by this year!  We just finished discussing Grunt by Mary Roach last week and we had a great time.  Some readers had a hard time getting through the book and felt the first part dragged a bit.  However, it picked up after the first few chapters and made a very entertaining read. the author did a great job balancing some of the dry research with humorous comments and we all learned a lot.  Who knew that the military had to redesign the crash test dummies they use because their vehicles usually sustain damage from below rather than from the front or side? That maggots can be used in wound debriding but even the medical community can't get past the ick factor? That the military has designed a "chicken gun" to test bird impacts on planes?  These topics and more make for interesting reading!  Our refreshments for the group included Low Fat Zucchini Lemon Bread and Chocolate Zucchini Bread.

Our next meeting is Monday, August 28th at 3pm. We'll probably meet in the Turner Room but ask at the desk--the new meeting room might be available for use and we can check it out!  We are reading Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin.  Melanie is an Illinois author and we have read several of her books.  Copies of the book are available at the front desk. Discussion sheets are available for pick up or can be found online. A summary of our August book is below.

Summary: Of all the glamorous stars of New York high society, none blazes brighter than Babe Paley and her friends, the alluring socialite Swans. But beneath this elegantly composed exterior dwells a passionate woman, desperately longing for true love and connection. Enter Truman Capote. Through Babe, Truman gains unparalleled access to the scandal and gossip of Babe's powerful circle. Babe never imagines the destruction Truman will leave in his wake-- even when the stories aren't his to tell.

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