December 11, 2008: Page Turners 7 p.m.

Book: Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen

Discussion:

We had several new faces at this month’s meeting; whether this was due to the particular book we read, Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen, or our meeting earlier in the month remains be seen, but we certainly hope our new group members will return!

Our total number of attendees this month was twelve, and the majority liked the book. Ten Page Turners voted thumbs up, one thumbs sideways, and one abstained from voting, pending completion of the book. Two members unable to attend the meeting sent in emails saying that they would give it a thumbs up as well.

We began by discussing the names associated with the book. A few of the names, including the author’s, gave us pause in their pronunciation. After several members chimed in we decided we would pronounce the author’s name, High-a-sin, and the main character of Bode as if it rhymed with toad. We agreed that the names Bode and Chub sounded particularly apt for a pair of rednecks and laughed over the irony of Judge Battenkill’s appellation.

Several of the Page Turners remarked that they did not care for any of the characters especially; pointing out that all but the newspaper’s managing editor appeared crazy or strange in some way.

We also discussed the presence of religion in the book. With all the religious oddities in Grange it seemed like the religious kitsch capital of Florida. We agreed that Hiaasen’s incorporation of this religiousness to the point of absurdity was intended as a humorous device, which must have succeeded as we all found the book funny.

We mentioned other books by Hiaasen as well, several members having read his other work, but the rest of our discussion focused on the hostage situation in the novel. One Page Turner said she really admired how even though Amber was being held against her will by Chub and Bode, she had no problem keeping them in their places. This led to a debate over whether or not a person should take action and try to fight back or just give an attacker what they want in a violent situation. A few members told stories of what they had done themselves had done in such positions, the most notable being a member who escaped from an attacker by biting him, and another who was held up at her place of employment so many times that she began keeping a bag in the office for the robbers to take the money away in!

After a few more similar stories we adjourned for the evening having distributed books for next month and flyers for upcoming programming.