October Meeting

Join the Walker Book Group in person on Sunday, October 8 at 5:30 pm for a potluck supper in Channing Hall, followed by a discussion of Horse by Geraldine Brooks at 6:30. There will be a Zoom option, beginning at 6:30, for those not comfortable meeting in person.

This historical novel’s title refers to Lexington, a late 19^th century stallion. The overriding theme of the novel, however, is race as it confronts the consequences of white Americans’ failure to recognize the full humanity of Black people over the course of two centuries. The story intertwines the lives of Theo, a Black Londoner working in Washington D.C. on a graduate degree in art history, and Jarret, the enslaved antebellum groom of Lexington.

In November, we will discuss Poverty in America by Matthew Desmond. If you have suggestions for future reads, please send them to Martha at the email address provided below.

General Information

The Walker Book Group meets the second Sunday of each month from September through June. Newcomers are always welcome. Weather and Covid permitting, we meet at 5:30 in Channing Hall for a potluck dinner followed by the book discussion at 6:30. All participants are asked to bring their own dishes and tableware, as well as a dish to share.

Those unable to meet in person may join us on Zoom for the book discussion. In winter months we may meet only on Zoom. On those occasions, you can join us at 6:15 for general conversation, followed by the book discussion at 6:30. Information about the meeting place and time will be published in Weekly Windows.

Use this link to join by Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/WalkerBookGroup

By phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 871 5139 8632
Passcode: 0000

For future updates, subscribe to the Walker Book Group egroup list. Instructions can be found here: http://albanyuu.org/wp/pdf/2018_Egroup_Instructions.pdf.

Contact Martha Musser for further information at mussermartha@gmail.com.

Previous Books

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

In this Pulitzer-Prize winning retelling of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, Kingsolver moves the action to present-day Appalachia, with a moving story of a young boy growing up under very difficult circumstances. Along with the challenges of growing up in Appalachia, the story provides a look at the values that sustain residents and the effect of drugs such as Oxycontin on the hero and the community.