UNFINISHED DESIRES by Gail Godwin

 

Aging Mother Ravenel is writing a history of Mount Saint Gabriel’s, a Catholic girls’ school in the mountains of North Carolina.  Ravenel was a student there in the 1920s and eventually became the headmistress.  Something happened in 1951 that has haunted Ravenel ever since.

The novel moves back and forth in time as the story is slowly revealed. Godwin’s  humor and depth of perception are on display;  it’s an absorbing story with unforgettable characters.  Highly readable, the book offers much to think about and would be great for discussion.

081 McPhee, John: SILK PARACHUTE

The noted essayist offers a collection of elegant and entertaining pieces on subjects ranging from his mother to the U.S. Open. 

428 Elster, Charles Harrington: THE ACCIDENTS OF STYLE

If you want to brush up on grammar, style and usage, give this book a try:  in brief and breezy entries, the author advises readers how to “avoid accidents.” 

910.4 Morris, Jan: CONTACT! A Book of Encounters

 

  World traveler and beloved travel writer Morris collects brief impressions (some only a paragraph, few more than a page) of people met along the way.  Some are famous, most are not, but all of the observations are fresh and lovely. 

Mysteries from Down Under

Emily Tempest is half Aboriginal.  After some years away, she returns to the Australian Outback, where crime and mystery seem to find her.  The writing is beautifully descriptive and frequently witty; this is a promising new series.

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641.5 Hesser, Amanda, editor: EAT, MEMORY

Dip into this entertaining collection of essays about food by notable writers, collected by the Food Editor of the New York Times Magazine.  Contributors include Billy Collins, Colson Whitehead, and Tom Perrotta.  Great variety!