The Dialogue Society Book Group Meeting 6: World and Town, by Gish Jen

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 18:00 in Community Engagement

Where: Dialogue Society, 402 Holloway Road, N7 6PZ
Date: 18th March 2014
Time: 18:00
With: Dialogue Society staff

Publisher's synopsis of World and Town by Gish Jen

Hattie Kong, a retired teacher and a descendant of Confucius, has decided that it’s time to start over. She moves to the peaceful New England town of Riverlake, a place that once represented the rock-solid base of American life. Instead of quietude, Hattie discovers a town challenged by cell-phone towers, chain stores, and struggling farms. Soon Hattie is joined by an immigrant Cambodian family on the run, and—quite unexpectedly—Carter Hatch, a love from her past. As each character seeks to make a new start on life, World and Town asks deep, absorbing questions about religion, love, home, and meaning.

About the Dialogue Society Book Group

The Dialogue Society Book Group explores the capacity of books to provide windows into different cultural and intercultural worlds. We will be choosing a series of quality novels to read and then to discuss together at relaxed, sociable gatherings at the Dialogue Society. Participants are welcome to suggest books for future sessions.

Participants will need to find a copy of the book chosen for each meeting, and will need to read it prior to the meeting. Books will generally be available from local libraries.

Over refreshments we will have a conversation about the book and our responses to it. Discussion may cover:

the quality of the storytelling
the authenticity and accuracy with which a historical/cultural situation is portrayed
our personal responses to it

You do not need to be an expert on literature or anything else to join in. The group should be enjoyable for anyone who enjoys a good book and likes discovering new ones.

Prospective books for future sessions (NB we are open to suggestions):

Sour Sweet by Timothy Mo
White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
Embassy Town by China Mieville
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie