Wed, March 17, 2-4: Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kittredge. Thirteen linked tales present a heart-wrenching portrait of ordinary coastal Mainers living lives of quiet grief intermingled with flashes of human connection. Olive is one of the most unique characters we've encountered. If you have already read this book, try one of Strout's others, Amy and Isabelle or Abide With Me. Strout's books are readily available in the Sonoma County library system and in paperback.

Wed, April 21, 2-4: Muriel Barbery, The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Translated from the French, this novel takes place in a Paris apartment house, the main characters being the aging female concierge and a young girl who is thinking about commiting suicide. At turns funny, philosophical, and heartfelt, the story has capitvated readers around the world. Do not discuss or mention the ending ahead of time! Copies with a great many holds are in the library, but it is easy to find in bookstores. A copy will be available to read in the SR.

Wed, 19, 2-4: Rebecca Solnit, any book. Solnit won the National Book Award for her biography of Edward Muybridge. A Bay area writer, she has many nonfiction books covering a wide range of topics, including nature, political activism, cultural history, and more. She returned to New Orleans more than a dozen times, and has recently visited Haiti. Here is one of several interviews with Solnit regarding her strongly moral writing.