Through the Mind’s Eye 2026 Book Club Selections are in progress. Members suggest books for the coming year and discussions ensure until a consensus is reached. See the Menu above or click here:https://dicksonfriendsoflibrary.org/fol-book-club/2026-selections/ If your title is not listed, please send it in quick so we all get a chance to review it.
Tag: book club
“Behind the Beautiful Forevers”: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
Katherine Boo’s “Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity” is a harrowing and meticulously researched work of narrative nonfiction that brings the reader into the heart of Annawadi, a slum nestled in the shadow of Mumbai’s gleaming international airport. This work is a raw and unflinching portrait of a community struggling to survive amidst staggering poverty, systemic corruption, and the often illusory promise of a rising India.
The book, which garnered the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2012, is the result of three years of immersive reporting by Boo focusing on the lives of a handful of Annawadi’s residents.
One of the book’s most powerful achievements is its portrayal of the stark juxtapositions of modern India. The “beautiful forevers” of the title refers to the advertising slogan on a wall separating the slum from the luxury hotels and the international airport, a potent symbol of the vast and seemingly unbridgeable chasm between the worlds of the rich and the poor.
Corruption is a pervasive and suffocating presence in “Behind the Beautiful Forevers.” From the police who demand bribes to the hospital staff who sell medicines meant to be free, every institution designed to serve the poor is shown to be riddled with graft. This systemic decay erodes not only the residents’ meager resources but also their faith in justice and their sense of a moral order.
Comments of the book club members during a wide ranging discussion of social issues in India and the US:
“Very enlightening regarding things we are not aware of in our world.”
“The class system kept characters down.”
“An average of 1,000 farmers commit suicide per year.”
“Desperation and no opportunities.”
“Daily reminder that wealth is not attainable via the view of the luxury hotels.”
Through the Mind’s Eye Book Club Update
Hey Bookworms!
So, Mother Nature decided to throw a little tantrum and, well, April’s meeting was rained out! Basically, the weather said “Nope, not today!” and we listened.
Don’t worry, though! We’re not letting those brilliant book discussions slip away. Instead, we’re going to have a MEGA-BOOK-CLUB-EXTRAVAGANZA in May!
That’s right, we’ll be tackling BOTH the April and May reads at our May meeting. Double the books, double the fun! Get ready for some serious literary deep dives and maybe a few extra snacks to fuel our brains.
Think of it as a bookish double feature! So, dust off those copies, get your notes ready, and prepare for an epic discussion. We can’t wait to see you all (and hear your thoughts!) in May.
Stay dry and calm!
See you all on May 1 at 10 am in the Dickson Library to discuss The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon and James by Perceval Everett.
Happy Reading, Dickson and remember, you don’t have to be a Friends of the Library member to attend Through the Mind’s Eye Book Club.
Turbulent Seas and Moral Compass: The Through the Mind’s Eye Book Club Tackles “The Wager”
Thursday, March 06, the book club convened at the Dickson Public Library to discuss David Grann’s “The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder,” a gripping narrative of shipwreck, survival, and the dark side of human nature.
The conversation swirled around the themes of leadership, mutiny, and the thin line between civilization and savagery. The group debated the actions of Captain Cheap, whose authority crumbled under the weight of starvation and desperation. They explored the psychological toll of prolonged isolation and the desperate measures taken to survive.
The way Grann wove together the historical records, and the individual accounts was masterful, it wasn’t just a tale of adventure; it was a deep dive into the human psyche. The topic of truth and perception arose, particularly concerning the competing narratives presented by the survivors upon their return. The club pondered the reliability of eyewitness accounts, especially when colored by self-preservation and fear. Were the survivors guilty of mutiny or were they exempt from charges due to their shipwrecked status?
The discussion, fueled by Grann’s meticulous research and compelling storytelling left members profoundly affected by the suffering and resilience of the seamen as well as their commitment to each other. “The Wager” left a lasting impression, prompting a deeper understanding of the dark currents that can surface when survival is at stake. Members discussed naval culture in the 1700s, perseverance in spite of physical and spiritual challenges especially those of malnourishment and starvation, the historical waging of war for gain, the age and condition of the seamen, the interaction of survivors with native people, and the actions of the British Admiralty in hearing testimony from those few who returned to England.
Next month, The Through the Mind’s Eye Book Club will be discussing “Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon
A novel of historical fiction that tells the story of Martha Ballard (1735-1812), a midwife-healer who lived on the Kennebec River in Maine with her husband and children. Martha Ballard left little more than a daily diary in which she recorded terse notations. Very few references in court documents are available, but in spite of the dearth of reference material, the Martha Ballard author Lawhon creates is fully fleshed out as an intelligent, thoughtful, and somewhat flawed pillar of her community.
Friends of the Dickson County Public Library 