We discussed The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch at our July 26th meeting. Everyone who attended loved the book and felt that it continues to be inspirational even almost 15 years after his death.

Book Summary:
Nestled in New York's Hudson Valley is a luxury retreat boasting every amenity: organic meals, private fitness trainers, daily massages--and all of it for free. In fact, you're paid big money to stay here--more than you've ever dreamed of. The catch? For nine months, you cannot leave the grounds; your movements are monitored, and you are cut off from your former life while you dedicate yourself to the task of producing the perfect baby. Jane, an immigrant from the Philippines, is in desperate search of a better future when she commits to being a Host at Golden Oaks, or the Farm as residents call it. But now pregnant, fragile, consumed with worry for her own family, Jane is determined to reconnect with her life outside. Yet she cannot leave the Farm or she will lose the life-changing fee she'll receive on delivery. Heartbreaking, gripping, provocative, The Farm pushes our thinking on motherhood, money, and merit to the extremes, and raises crucial questions about the trade-offs women will make to fortify their futures and the futures of those they love.

I've updated our Book Discussion list (this is our 18th year) and it can be found here.

At our April 26th meeting, we discussed Unbound by Ann E. Burg. This was a book in verse, and it was a new experience for our members in attendance. The group liked the book and felt that the author did an extraordinary job with this format. Everyone was happy to be back together meeting again in person inside the library.

We have reviewed the book discussion titles to include some of the books we chose for 2020 but missed because of the pandemic. Here is the updated list as of 4/29/21:

I made an executive decision and added 3 titles so that we could finish out the schedule.

Our next meeting will be Monday, May 24th at 3pm and we will meet in the large meeting room. The meeting has been moved up a week due to the Memorial Day holiday. Please wear a mask in the library building. The title selected is I feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron. Copies are available in regular print, large print, audio, and eaudio formats at the LME Library desk. Copies of the discussion sheets can also be picked up or are available online.

We have several options for April. Originally, we were going to pick a poem by US Poet Laurate, Joy Harjo but since everyone seems to prefer to read the same title, I've also ordered the book, Unbound by Ann E. Burg. Although this is a juvenile book, it is a moving story set in "novel in verse" form. 

So--I've left it up to book group members: choose either a poem by Joy Harjo or the book, Unbound. Discussion sheets can be picked up or are also online.

Some copies of Joy Harjo poetry book, American Sunrise, are available for pickup plus it is available for simultaneous use through ADML.  Copies of Unbound are available for pickup at the library or through electronic format. The summary of Unbound is available here:

With candor and compassion, Ann E. Burg sheds light on a startling chapter of American history--the remarkable story of runaways who sought sanctuary in the Great Dismal Swamp--and creates a powerful testament to the right of every human to be free.

I've also revised our May title to: I feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron. This was a title we had decided to read last year but didn't due to COVID. There are several other titles we had planned on reading including: