SJ Book Club to take off for holidays, return in January for Michener’s “Alaska”
The Standard Journal Book Club will be taking a hiatus for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, but will be back at the end of January to discuss a book for the new year.
Editor Kevin Myrick said the club won’t be meeting for Novmeber or December to help accommodate the holiday season for members of the club, since both book club dates would fall on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.
After discussion with the group following some brief thoughts on the October book club selection “Salem’s Lot” by Stephen King, the club decided it will have the next few months to read James Michener’s “Alaska.”
“This is another book I haven’t had a chance to read yet, and look forward to exploring with the rest of the club,” he said.
Here’s what Amazon. com, for those interested in the coming selection, has to say of the book:
“In this sweeping epic of the northernmost American frontier, James A. Michener guides us through Alaska’s fierce terrain and history, from the long-forgotten past to the bustling present.
As his characters strug- gle for survival, Michener weaves together the exciting high points of Alaska’s story: its brutal origins; the American acquisition; the gold rush; the tremendous growth and exploitation of the salmon industry; the arduous construction of the Alcan Highway, undertaken to defend the territory during World War II.
A spellbinding portrait of a human community fighting to establish its place in the world, Alaska traces a bold and majestic saga of the enduring spirit of a land and its people.”
Previously, books were selected through an online poll held after the club met at the end of the month. Myrick said he felt the voting was becoming skewed by those interested in attending, but not showing up when the meetings are scheduled to join in the discussion.
“It was a problem, so we decided as a group that I’d make the selections instead after discussing it with those regular members who have been attending,” he said.
Those interested in more details about the Book Club’s January meeting – to be held at a private residence – can email Myrick at kmyrick@npco.com for more information or call the Standard Journal offices at 770-748-1520 and ask to speak with the editor.