Thank you to these Coffee Club members for sharing their fave reads of the past year. For those who haven’t and would still like to do so, there’s plenty of time! The link is here. In the next installment, we baristas will share ours with you, and any others who still care to contribute. Thanks to all, and good reading in 2019! — Jack
Anne Waldman’s “Trickster Feminism.” I love Anne Waldman and have followed her work for decades. Her last 3 books have been book-length pomes, a very favorite of mine. It’s energetic like a volcano, has the consciousness of a blue whale, the largest mammal on earth. There’s so much to learn here. To celebrate. Shamanic, acute intelligence, a journey we all need to take. – Joanne James
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Hi Jack–Hope all is well. Best books: “Americanah” and “Milkman.” The first, a Nigerian woman’s view of America; the second, an Irish girl’s view of ‘The Troubles.’ the first, amusing and illuminating; the second, shocking and mesmerizing. – Mark Greenside
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“A Tidewater Morning,” William Styron. Boring story, as usual from him, but excellent writing that keeps you with it. From the same neighborhood, so it was always interesting to see how he viewed the rest of us(not too kindly), but his father and stepmother, especially she, were polite and ever present. – Dan Coleman
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“Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover. Combines excellent writing with a compelling story. Through education, Tara escapes the torments of an on-the-edge, home schooling no-doctors, physically abusive childhood in a survivalist family in rural Idaho. Yet relates the events with compassion and balance. – Robert Perron
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“Mary Oliver’s Devotions” – heartwarming and inspiring collection. – Judy Wood
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Happy New Year, head barista Jack! – Andrew & Maria on Penghu Island (I just had to include this one, from my good friend, a moviemaker, and his wife, who live on a small, lovely island off the coast of another much larger island, Taiwan, which has been in the news quite often lately.)
