Bookclub
THE BOOK FOR THE MONTHS OF MAY AND JUNE IS “BEATEN DOWN, WORKED UP: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF AMERICAN LABOR,” BY LONGTIME LABOR JOURNALIST/AUTHOR STEVEN GREENHOUSE.
This book takes an in-depth look at several worker actions from the past century, from actions of G.M. workers, to members of the Culinary Workers Union in Nevada, to Uber drivers. Steven Greenhouse combines historical research with the knowledge he has gained from his decades of experience as a labor journalist to provide readers with this valuable book.
"Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of America Labor" can be found in print, e-book, and audio book formats. Check out your local bookstores, local libraries and library apps (such as Libby), and audio book subscription services (such as Libro.fm) to find this book.
The book for March and April will be "The City We Became," by N.K. Jemisin. What a ride this book is-- it's a fantasy novel in which New York City becomes alive, embodied in the form of human avatars.
In this novel, when a city becomes sentient, it also becomes susceptible to attack by an other-wordly being that does all it can to destroy the integrity, and the newly awakened avatars, of the city. With each borough of NYC embodied by a human avatar and another human becoming the whole of NYC, these individuals must figure out not only what is happening to them, but also how to find each other and how to prevent the obliteration of all that makes the city what it is.
"The City We Became," by N.K. Jemisin, is available in print, audio, and e-book.
The book for January/February of 2022 will be "Stayin' Alive: The 1970s and the Last Days of the Working Class" by Jefferson Cowie.
As you can gather from the title, this book is a deep dive into the 1970s, particularly what was happening within and around the working class and organized labor. Jefferson Cowie is a social and political historian, a professor of history, and author of several books and numerous essays and articles. His book "Stayin' Alive" looks at what was happening politically, socially, and economically while also considering popular culture and how it presented and influenced the popular mindset of the '70s. "Stayin' Alive" is an intriguing read and one that is sure to provide insight into how the labor movement became what it is today. This book is available in print, e-book, and audiobook.
The book for November and December will be a novel by Rivers Solomon entitled "Sorrowland."
The book for November and December will be a novel by Rivers Solomon entitled "Sorrowland." This book takes us into the world of Vern, a teenager pregnant with the twins of the Reverand Sherman of the religious compound Vern grew up on. Vern escapes the compound at 7 months pregnant and takes shelter in the woods, where she births and raises her twins for years, but she is not the only one who knows about her new home.
Although Vern may have escaped the compound itself, she hasn't escaped its hold on her. There is no explanation for the strange ways her body has been changing, plus someone is hunting her in the woods and the past just will not leave her alone-- in her mind or her body.
"Sorrowland" is full of mystery and horror, with the author drawing from faer imagination and the reality of America and its history. It is available in print, audio, and e-book. I listened to it on the Libby app. Be sure to check out your local libraries and local book stores for a print copy.
The discussion for this book will be held virtually via Zoom on Saturday, December 18th at 4 p.m. I hope y'all enjoy this book!
Our upcoming book for September and October is "The Radium Girls" by Kate Moore.
This book is an account of one of the most infamous instances of industrial poisoning in U.S. history. "The Radium Girls" introduces us to several women who worked in radium dial factories in the 1920s and tells us their stories. We learn about these women's experiences with the corporations who employed them and trained them to "lip-point" their paint brushes (and subsequently ingest radium) in order to get them to the finest point for painting watch dials. We also learn about their experiences with numerous doctors and lawyers as well as their communities at large and how they were perceived both before and after they began to fall ill from what we now know as radium poisoning.
"The Radium Girls" not only tells the stories of these factory workers but gives us some insight into the multitude of factors that may have contributed to why things played out the way they did. This book is available in print and e-book as well as audio book. As always, be sure to check out your local library (or library app) and local book stores to find a copy! The discussion for this book will be via Zoom, Saturday, October 23rd, at 4 p.m.
The RENEW Book Club pick for July/ August
The RENEW Book Club pick for July/ August is "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous," written by the poet Ocean Vuong. This book is a novel written in the format of a letter from a son to his mother who can't read or speak English. The letter is a collection of the son's memories from his life including personal experiences as well as recollections of stories told to him by his mother and grandmother.
If you're not yet signed for the RENEW Book Club or are seeking more information please send and email to renew24bookclub@outlook.com
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here is the selection for the months of May/ June!
Based on feedback from members, the RENEW Book club will be going to an every other month selection and meeting for the summer. With that said- here is the selection for the months of May/ June!
"Salt Fat Acid Heat" by Samin Nosrat! We're switching it up this month and heading into the kitchen. This book is all about the four elements that the author believes are the crucial components to consider when cooking. This book is approachable and interesting, and will prove useful for those who rarely cook as well at those who cook every day.
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