Tales & Talk
is a book discussion group sponsored by the Johnson City Public
Library. Membership is open to all adults who can commit to attending
regular
discussion meetings. The group meets 6 times a year on the 2nd or 3rd
Thursday of September, October, November, March, April and May. One of
the groups meets in the morning and the other in the evening. Both
groups will read the same book. The books to be discussed will be
available to group members to borrow or to purchase. For more
information call (423)434-4454, send an e-mail to phoneroom or inquire at the Information Desk on the 2nd floor of the library.
Summary of
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman:
*Starred Review* At 59, Ove is a grumble Gus of the first degree. Rules
are made to be followed, signs are meant to be obeyed, and don't even
get him started about computers and mobile phones. In truth, Ove has
been this way his whole life, but he's gotten worse in the last four
years since his wife, Sonia, died, taking with her all the color in a
world Ove sees as black-and-white. Ove has decided life without Sonia is
not worth living and plans to join her in the next world. But a young
couple and their two children (a third is on the way) move in next door,
his oldest friend and most feared enemy is about to be forcibly removed
to a nursing home, and a street-scarred cat insinuates itself into his
life. Suddenly, Ove's suicide plans get delayed as he helps solve
neighborly crises large and small. Though Ove's dark mission mitigates
any treacly upstaging by animals and small children, readers seeking
feel-good tales with a message will rave about the rantings of this
solitary old man with a singular outlook. If there was an award for Most
Charming Book of the Year, this first novel by a Swedish
blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down.--Haggas, Carol
Copyright 2014 Booklist