We had a great discussion last month about our January book, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, as well as many other subjects. Thanks to Jen for hosting. For our February meeting, we will be discussing The World According to Garp, by John Irving. This was chosen by the library to be the One Book, One Holliston read. The library will be hosting its own Garp events:

Join us at the library for a viewing of an Author Talk with John Irving, and an in-person book discussion of The World According to Garp at the Library Monday February 12, at 6:30pm. One Book One Holliston Discussion and Author Talk Viewing Sign Up. Also, why not come by and check out a screening of the movie featuring Robin Williams and John Lithgow? Thursday 2/8 at 2:30pm in the Gilman Room. 

Our HNN meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, at 7:30 pm. Please don’t feel that you shouldn’t attend if you haven’t finished (or even started) the book—Book Club is mainly an opportunity for old and new friends to get together and chat and snack. All are welcome—we would love to have some new members join our group.

We hold most meetings in person but also have a Zoom option if you can’t attend. Please contact Debbie if you have any interest in hosting a meeting.

The opening sentence of John Irving's breakout novel, The World According to Garp, signals the start of sexual violence, which becomes increasingly political. "Garp's mother, Jenny Fields, was arrested in Boston in 1942 for wounding a man in a movie theater." Jenny is an unmarried nurse; she becomes a single mom and a feminist leader, beloved but polarizing. Her son, Garp, is less beloved, but no less polarizing. From the tragicomic tone of its first sentence to its mordantly funny last line-"we are all terminal cases"—The World According to Garp maintains a breakneck pace. The subject of sexual hatred—of intolerance of sexual minorities and differences—runs the gamut of "lunacy and sorrow." Winner of the National Book Award, Garp is a comedy with forebodings of doom.