Bringing Home an Author

I’ve mentioned Laurie’s book group before. We are a mixed group of mature (interpret this word as you wish!) and urbane women who meet monthly to chaw over books as diverse as The Invisible Man (Ellison’s, not Wells’) and Persuasion (Austen’s not Lakhani’s). Plus women’s fiction and exposés and mysteries and story collections.

For our last meeting we read Breaking Out of Bedlam by Leslie Larson. As a special treat, the author Herself graced our gathering.

She was a delight. Leslie joked that this was one book group meeting in which she wouldn’t have to fake reading the book.

We discussed the novel, heaping praise on the author for use of voice and a keen understanding of family dynamics. The core of the novel, according to Leslie, derived from the peeling away of a grandmother’s indiscretion. This led our group to discuss the domino consequences of family secrets. (Note to self: family secret = oxymoron.)

Soon, the conversation generated its own domino effect as we began to disclose, commiserate with and laugh over our own cached skeletons. (Though none as unfortunate as Poe’s Fortunato.)

As this was our first author appearance, none of us knew how it would go. Yet the evening proved so lively that I now recommend author participation whenever possible. To those of you in the Bay Area, consider inviting Leslie Larson. You won’t be disappointed.