It’s been a busy week, so I’m a week late in writing up the latest book club selection, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Despite the fact that I know almost no Spanish, I did not find the frequent passages in that language to be distracting — like Michael Chabon’s book, this simply made the voice seem more authentic. Choosing to make Oscar an overweight, D&D playing, nerdy budding sci-fi writer was a great choice (speaking of busting stereotypes about Latino males). Although I wish more time had been spent on Oscar, the multiple stories of the various family members were fascinating and compelling. As with just about any novel we read that’s set outside of North America, I feel a need to get up to speed on the history and geography of the region (at least I can find the DR on a map, I think).

One club member did find the profanity and frequent use of the N-word off-putting (she is Jamaican of English descent). I think Diaz is able to get away with it but I do see how some readers would find it a turn-off.

Finally — the meal. Instead of our usual trip to a local restaurant, Jill cooked us a great brunch at her home using her great collection of fine china (“finer things” club indeed!)

This month’s book club selection was Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. The book is a fictionalized version of Frank Lloyd Wright’s relationship with Mamah Borthwick. [if you don’t know the story, don’t go to the Wikipedia entry — it spoiled some of the book for me] I was unfamiliar with this story despite being a U.S. women’s historian. Overall I thought the book was a great read. She does an excellent job of capturing the period without being boring. Mamah is a compelling character — Horan is able to present the dilemmas women of her generation faced. At the same time, Mamah’s attempts to find her own voice and negotiate romance and motherhood have a lot of relevance for today’s women.

I also learned some new things, especially about Ellen Key — I was only familiar with her book, The Century of the Child, not her feminist writings. I wonder if Key was as much of a jerk as she comes across in this book!

There were a few things I didn’t like — some parts dragged a bit, especially the parts with Key who again does not come across as very likable or even all that interesting. The ending is also rather abrupt (won’t spoil it here). I would have liked to have more material on Mamah’s relationship with her sisters and best friend (in fact the material on college women and the problem of “after college, what” was the most interesting part of the book for me).

A book club entry would not be complete without a review of the restaurant — Masala Indian Bar & Restaurant, onMain Street (where Low Country used to be). This has to be the best Indian food I’ve ever had (of course I’ve never been to India). It’s a bit pricey, but the preparation and presentation are well worth it. Subtle flavors, not as greasy as what you typically get. Will definitely go back, although will try to find a place to park near the Atheneum since the valet parking is quite expensive!

Our choice for book club last week was Michael Chabon’s Yiddish Policemen’s Union. Several of us were big fans of his earlier work, especially the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Compared to Adventures, this book is something of a mixed-bag. I thought Chabon was very successful in creating an alternate history and peopling it with believable characters and atmosphere. In this sense, I liked this better than Roth’s The Plot Against America (which we read a few years back). I found the use of Yiddish terms challenging but important to creating this fictional world. It would have helped to have had a glossary though — another book club member who is Jewish and is familiar with Yiddish although not fluent agreed that this was tough going at times. I wasn’t satisfied with the ending but overall found this to be an enjoyable read — an interesting take on the organized crime genre, with Orthodox Jews filling in for the standard mafioso. Could easily see this as a film. Any suggestions on whom to cast?

Last night, my book club (well three members, including me) discussed Gary Shteyngart’s novel, Absurdistan. The votes were one big thumbs up, one big thumbs down, and me somewhere in the middle. What I liked: well, the surreal and ludicrous characters and setting. It reminded me quite a bit of Catch 22 (and just as I was thinking that to myself, the author mentions the name Joseph Heller!). The continual digs at the pretentiousness of academia, both factual (Hunter College), and fictitious (“Accidental College”), were especially entertaining and unfortunately almost true to life. I also liked the author’s creation of a satirical alter-ego, Jerry Shteynfarb (author of “The Russian Arriviste’s Hand Job”). I also loved the political satire, which again reminded me of Heller. His attempts to illustrate middle East religious conflict using fictitious Christian sects, rather than Muslims, was brilliant as well.

The downside — I did find the book somewhat repetitious at times, and not all the humor worked for me. It’s not for the squeamish or those who don’t like extremely lewd humor. So, three out of four stars — liked it a lot, didn’t love it.

Note to other members: all three of us ordered Mediza’s excellent chicken tagine, and also were able to come up with exact change in cash at the end instead of the usual cluster of credit cards. Will wonders never cease?