Once again, I apologize for my tardiness in recapping our book club meetings. First up is the recap for September:
Book: "Stone Blind" by Natalie Haynes
In "Stone Blind," Natalie Haynes brings a fresh perspective on the myth of Medusa, exploring the life and transformation of the only mortal among the Gorgon sisters. The story delves into Medusa's life and the unjust consequences she faces after a tragic event in Athene's temple. Natalie Haynes revives and reconstructs Medusa's story, highlighting themes of blame, punishment, and the mistreatment of women wronged by powerful men.
We had quite a robust discussion of this book during our meeting, highlighting the emotional impact, humor, and narrative style that make "Stone Blind" an excellent addition to Greek mythology retellings. The book's exploration of Medusa's story challenges traditional narratives and emphasizes the importance of a unique voice in mythology retellings. While I don't recall what everyone said, Miriam and Ashley both wrote thoughtful reviews on Goodreads that I encourage you to read if you haven't already. Some highlights:
Ashley said, "I knew I was going to like this, but I didn't quite expect to like it as much as I did. . . What did she ever do to deserve her fate? Absolutely nothing! She could still be a fun friend with her eyes closed or blindfolded. Let her live her life!" Continuing that while some have critiqued "Stone Blind" as "not having enough Medusa in it, but I actually find this really interesting. . . there isn't really that much to Medusa's story! So what Haynes does here is highlight the absurdity of that, of this person who through no fault of her own ends up in this tragic situation, because of the greed, pettiness, arrogance, and abuses of people more powerful and less thoughtful and caring than she is."
Miriam loved the book, remarking, "This was so good," noting also "how masterful the dialogue is."
Ashley highly recommends the audio version of the book (a sentiment I [Sarah] agree with, since this is also the method I engaged with the book as well), adding "I recommend having the audiobook at least on hand to listen to every now and then. . . The bit with the crows was probably my favorite humorous scene, and the bit where the narrator 'breaks cover' was pretty powerful because I did not see it coming at all, and I got hit in multiple senses at the same time with the change in style. Extremely effective, is what it is."
Average Goodreads rating from our members: 4.5 stars
Now, moving on to our October book:
Book: "The Only Good Indians" by Stephen Graham Jones
We had a lively discussion about "The Only Good Indians" by Stephen Graham Jones, a novel that blends classic horror with social commentary in a way that leaves a lasting impact. The story follows four American Indian men whose past comes back to haunt them, pushing them into a desperate struggle for survival.
The core of the narrative revolves around a past mistake made by the main characters. They hunted on sacred land reserved for tribal elders and committed various hunting ethics violations, including killing a pregnant female elk. The consequence of their actions, that is, the haunting by the elk-head woman, make for some especially chilling passages.
The final climactic scene focuses on the daughter of one of the main characters. We are compelled to root for her, as she is innocent, and she successfully persuades the vengeful spirit to end the violence. In indigenous lore, the elk-head woman, and other similar deer-woman spirits, typically target only those who have harmed women and children, and while the novel's genre requires suspense, the resolution ultimately aligns with this tradition.
Our meeting also delved into the exploration of masculine identity in indigenous culture and life on the reservation, shedding light on the broader themes that the book tackles. We also discussed the elk-head woman's appearances, whether as human women or in her original elk form, and how this added depth and horror to the story.
"The Only Good Indians" sparked some thoughtful conversations and left us with an appreciation for its nuanced horror and social commentary.
Average Goodreads Rating from our members: 4.2 stars
And finally, our spin-off microhistory book club had its quarterly meeting at the end of August.
Book: "Butts: A Backstory" by Heather Radke
The book club meeting was an enlightening experience, uncovering the social and historical significance of a body part we often take for granted. "Butts: A Backstory" exceeded our expectations, blending humor, knowledge, and insight into a truly enjoyable read. If you're curious about the profound cultural impact of the derrière, this book is well worth exploring.
Average Goodreads Rating from our members: 4.3 stars
The microhistory readers will next be tackling "Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World" by Dan Koeppel. If you want to join us for this or any future books, get in touch with Jessy!
Stay tuned for the next recap covering our November book selection, and last book for this Cycle!
Book: "Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist" by Jennifer Wright
Shoutout: If you're curious what our "sister book club" THIS BOOK CLUB SHALL NOT BE NAMED is up to, Ashley has written some great recaps over there as well!
