Tag: book club

Reader’s Corner: The Murderer in the Book Club

On By chrisbarsantiIn BooksLeave a comment
Gregg Arlington, WPA poster, c. 1936 (image courtesy of the Library of Congress)
Gregg Arlington, WPA poster, c. 1936 (image courtesy of the Library of Congress)

Book clubs are great and all, but occasionally there’s that one member who’s just a little … off. Has too much sauvignon blanc, spoils the ending for those people who haven’t finished the book yet, and so on.

In his great and highly helpful piece for The Morning News, “Eat, Pray, Murder“, Matt Seidel points out some characteristics that could signal potential homicidal maniacs in the club.

A few of Seidel’s more helpful hints:

  • Did he show any guilt over spilling that spinach dip on your rug?
  • Does he borrow books and dog-ear the pages?
  • Do his digressions reveal key plot twists from Homeland?

Reader’s Corner: Books for Life

On By chrisbarsantiIn BooksLeave a comment

books1A recent NPR story about staving off dementia in old age included many of the usual suggestions:

  • moderate aerobic exercise
  • mental exercises (Sudoku and the like)
  • learning a new language
  • staying social

One neuroscientist had an even better suggestion, though:

…the best advice might be to join a book group that walks and drinks red wine while talking about the book.

It covers everything. It’s also less likely to involve breaking a sweat, which is always good.