Reading & Meeting Schedule for 2018

January 26 — Annals, by Tacitus

February 23 — The Fire Next Time, by James Baldwin

March 30 — Luke, from the New Testament

April 27 — Richard II, by Shakespeare

May 25 — The Kreutzer Sonata, by Leo Tolstoy

June 29 — The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck

July 27 — Sons, by Pearl Buck

August 31 — A House Divided, by Pearl Buck

September 28 — Growth of the Soil, by Knut Hamsun

October 26 — The Reivers: A Reminiscence, by William Faulkner

December 7 — Songs from the Slums, by Kagawa Toyohiko

December 1, 2017—Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Next meeting is December 1, 2017. We will discuss Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. 

We will also select the books for our reading schedule for 2018. Bring your nominations and be prepared to explain why you selected them. Send you nominations to the following email address and I'll add them to a printed list to be distributed at the meeting.

email address:  greatbookskc@gmail.com

The following are some links regarding our book selections:

Categories of Books to be selected

 History of previous books

Meeting Information:
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room
Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
Date: December 1, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm

October 27, 2017—Fear and Trembling by Søren Kierkegaard

The next meeting will be October 27, 2017. We will be discussing Fear and Trembling, by Søren Kierkegaard.

Link to Book (Many alternative links are available on line):

Fear and Trembling, by Søren Kierkegaard

Meeting Information:

Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room

Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO

Date: October 27, 2017

Time: 7:00 pm

September 29, 2017—Obscure Books of the Bible

The next meeting will be September 29, 2017. We will be discussing some obscure books from the Old Testament:

Books to be discussed:

(the links are to the Revised Standard Version)

The Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children

Susanna

Bel and the Dragon

Meeting Information:

Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room

Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO

Date: September 29, 2017

Time: 7:00 pm

August 25, 2017, "Sugar Street," by Naguib Mahfouz

The next meeting is August 25, 2017, Plaza Library, 7:00 p.m.
We will discuss "Sugar Street," by Naguib Mahfouz

Meeting Information:
Location Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room
Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
Date: August 25, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm

"Sugar Street" is a novel by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz, and the third installment of Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy.
A review and description of the book "Sugar Street" is at the following link:
http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/mahfouzn/cairo3.htm
Reviews and descriptions of the previous books in the trilogy are at the following links:
Palace Walk:
http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/mahfouzn/cairo1.htm
Palace of Desire:
http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/mahfouzn/cairo2.htm

Naguib Mahfouz (1911– 2006) was from Egypt, was one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, and was winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature.

July 28, 2017, "Palace of Desire," by Naguib Mahfouz

The next meeting is July 28, 2017, Plaza Library, 7:00p.m.
We will discuss Palace of Desire, by Naguib Mahfouz

Meeting Information:
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room
Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
Date: July 28, 2017
Time: 7:00 PM

Description of Book: 
     Palace of Desire is a novel by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz, and the second installment of Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy. Palace of Desire continues the story begun in Palace Walk. The previous novel closed with the tragic death of Fahmy, the most promising of al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad's sons; this one begins five years later, and already the feel is a very different one. The impact of Fahmy's death is still being felt when Palace of Desire begins. 
    Naguib Mahfouz (1911– 2006) was from Egypt, was one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, and was winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature.

June 30, 2017, "Palace Walk," by Naguib Mahfouz

The next meeting is June 30, 2017, Plaza Library, 7:00p.m. 
We will discuss Palace Walk, by Naguib Mahfouz

Meeting Information:
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room
Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
Date: June 30, 2017
Time: 7:00 PM

Palace Walk is a novel by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz, and the first installment of Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy. Originally published in 1956 the book was translated into English in 1990. The setting of the novel is Cairo during and just after World War I.

The book's Arabic title translates literally into 'between two palaces' — a phrase which highlights the cultural and political transition Egypt experienced at this time, developments brought into focus by the lives of the el-Gawad family.

Naguib Mahfouz (1911– 2006) was from Egypt, was one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, and was winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature.

"Cymbeline," by Shakespeare

The next meeting is May 26, 2017, , Plaza Library, 7:00p.m. 
We will discuss Cymbeline, by Shakespeare

Meeting Information:
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room
Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
Date: May 26, 2017
Time: 7:00 PM

Cymbeline also known as Cymbeline, King of Britain, is a play by William Shakespeare, set in Ancient Britain and based on legends that formed part of the Matter of Britain concerning the early Celtic British King Cunobeline. Although listed as a tragedy in the First Folio, modern critics often classify Cymbeline as a romance or even a comedy. Like Othello and The Winter's Tale, it deals with the themes of innocence and jealousy. While the precise date of composition remains unknown, the play was certainly produced as early as 1611.

Photo

Here's a photo of the group that met April 28, 2017 to discuss lyrics by Bob Dylan. It includes Charlie Kline, Bernard Norcott/Mahany, David Bluford, June Seat, John Rasmus, Tim Lavin, Leroy Seat, Rex Nowland, Tom Brown, Sarah Whitlock, Marilyn Whitlock, Karen Hostetler, Clif Hostetler(behind the camera)

April 28, 2017—Bob Dylan lyrics

Next meeting is April 28, 2017, Plaza Library, 7:00p.m.

We'll be discussing lyrics by Bob Dylan.

It is suggested that our discussion will concentrate on song lyrics written by Bob Dylan by 1967 or earlier. However, there's an abundance of additional material by and about Dylan that can be referenced, including several books authored by Bob Dylan. Lyrics less that 50 years of age will be permitted (if they're good).

Wikipedia lists a total of 38 albums by Dylan (400± songs), but only albums published at least 50 years ago are included in the list below. The first album is not included because it contained only two songs written by Bob Dylan, and they are not well known. Lyrics for one of the songs on the 2nd album is not included because it was not authored by Dylan. Musical versions of many of Dylan's songs are available on YouTube, and if not by sung by Dylan there are almost always performances by other singers.

The following are links to Dylan song lyrics listed by album. 

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963, 2nd Album)

[http://greatpoemskc.blogspot.com/2017/03/song-lyrics-from-freewheelin-bob-dylan.html]

The Times They Are a-Changin' (1964, 3rd Album)

[http://greatpoemskc.blogspot.com/2017/03/song-lyrics-from-times-they-are-changin.html]

Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964, 4th Album) 

[http://greatpoemskc.blogspot.com/2017/03/song-lyrics-from-another-side-of-bob.html]

Bringing It All Back Home (1965, 5th Album)

[http://greatpoemskc.blogspot.com/2017/03/song-lyrics-from-bringing-it-all-back.html]

Highway 61 Revisited (1965, 6th Album)

[http://greatpoemskc.blogspot.com/2017/03/song-lyrics-from-highway-61-revisited.html]

Blonde on Blonde (1966, 7th Album) 

[http://greatpoemskc.blogspot.com/2017/03/song-lyrics-from-blonde-on-blonde-1966.html]

John Wesley Harding (1967, 8th Album)

[http://greatpoemskc.blogspot.com/2017/03/song-lyrics-from-john-wesley-harding.html]

Here's an alternative link to a select group of lyrics:

Poetry From 18 Favorite Bob Dylan Song Lyrics 1962-1990 - Listed by Title

[http://www.seewhatisthere.com/poetry-dylan.html]

Another alternative is this book of all the lyrics:

The Lyrics 1961-2012, by Bob Dylan

 [https://kclibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2596042120_the_lyrics]

There's also this older version of the above book:

Bob Dylan: Lyrics, 1962-1985- Includes All of Writings and Drawings, by Bob Dylan

[https://www.amazon.com/Bob-Dylan-1962-1985-Writings-Drawings/dp/0394542789/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490824466&sr=8-1&keywords=Bob+Dylan%3A+Lyrics%2C+1962-1985]

Here are some books written by Bob Dylan:

Chronicles: Volume One, by Bob Dylan (memoir)

Tarantula, by Bob Dylan (fiction prose, lyrics & poetry)

If Not For You, by Bob Dylan (children's book)

Man Who Gave Names to All the Animals, by Dylan, Bob (children's book)

Forever Young, by Bob Dylan  (children's book)

Blowin' in the Wind, by Bob Dylan (children's book with CD)

If Dogs Run Free, by Bob Dylan (children's book with CD) 

Biography of Bob Dylan:

Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan, by Howard Sounes, published in 2001, updated version published 2011

March 31, 2017—"A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories" by Flannery O'Connor

Next meeting is March 31, 2017. We will be discussing the book A Good Man is Hard to Find, by Flannery O’Connor.

Meeting Information:
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room
Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
Date: March 31, 2017
Time: 7:00 PM

A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories is a collection of short stories first published in 1955. The subjects of the short stories range from baptism ("The River") to serial killers ("A Good Man Is Hard to Find") to human greed and exploitation ("The Life You Save May Be Your Own"). The majority of the stories include jarring violent scenes that make the characters undergo a spiritual change. The short stories commonly have tones of Catholicism related to life and death scenarios.

February 24, 2017— Native Son, by Richard Wright

Next meeting is February 24, 2017. We will be discussing the book Native Son, by Richard Wright.

Meeting Information:
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room
Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
Date: February 24, 2017
Time: 7:00 PM

Native Son (1940) is a novel written by African-American author Richard Wright. The novel tells the story of 20-year-old Bigger Thomas, an African-American youth living in utter poverty in a poor area on Chicago'sSouth Side in the 1930s.

January 20, 2017— "Silence" by Shusaku Endo

Next meeting is January 20, 2017 (third friday of the Month). We will be discussing the book Silence by Shusaku Endo.

Meeting Information:
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Small Meeting Room
Address: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
Date: January 20, 2017
Time: 7:00 PM

We are meeting on the third friday instead of the last friday because the Plaza Library will be closed January 23-27 to do RFID upgrade.