493. HAVE YOU READ? SELECTIONS FROM THE "BEST OF" LISTS

Margaret Hallissy

9/12, 10-12 noon: Allegra Goodman, Isola. ISBN 9780593730089. This novel may seem assembled from an assortment of stock literary characters and situations, but it is in fact based on a historical source. In 16^th century France, an orphaned heiress is victimized by her cruel guardian. She embarks on a secret love affair with a worthy but lower-class young man. The guardian, in retaliation, maroons the young couple on an island, accompanied only by the woman’s faithful servant. Goodman takes these materials and transforms them into a tale of endurance through adversity.

10/10, 10-12 noon: Colum McCann, Twist. ISBN 9780593241738. Deep in the ocean, cables transmit data across the world, and these cables often need repair. This bit of technological information provides the novel with its central themes: connection (the “twist” of the cables); disruption; and repair. McCann places three characters on board a ship – a writer, the ship’s captain, and the captain’s lover – and examines the intricacies of their triangulated relationship. The little world of the ship might be seen as the superficial aspects of this relationship, and the ocean its depths.

11/7, 10-12 noon: Dolly Alderton, Good Material. ISBN 9780593801307. Have you heard? Jen and Andy have split up, and Andy can’t figure out why. Plus, the rest of his life is disintegrating along with his marriage. Andy must undertake a psychological journey as he learns to cope with these changes. He is thirty-five, adrift in the unfamiliar world of modern dating. His friends are unavailable, raising children while in the thick of their careers. But was Andy ever good marriage material? For that matter, was Jen? By analyzing a failed marriage, this romantic comedy comments on the institution of marriage itself.

12/5, 10-12 noon: Florence Knapp, The Names. ISBN 9780593833902. Choosing a name for a new baby is a significant decision, requiring, ideally, agreement between the parents. But Cora, the mother of a newborn boy, is conflicted. She must decide whether to register her son’s name according to the wishes of her domineering husband, or to make a different choice. This family saga is based on the premise that Cora’s decision will shape the child’s future. Three different plots trace the consequences of three different names chosen for this baby. The novel directs readers’ attention to the significance of naming customs, which inevitably send a message about the parents’ relationship with each other as well as their hopes for the new child.

10-12 noon                                                                                                    4 Sessions        Fridays, Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 7, Dec. 5                                                     Fee:  $120                                                                                                  

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Margaret Hallissy is Professor of English with specialties in medieval literature, Irish literature,

and the modern phenomenon of “book groups,” which have sprung up in communities throughout the nation. She has written numerous articles and scholarly books, including works on book group procedures and leadership, as well as Irish-American fiction.