Book notes: Sinclair Lewis classic is still interesting, but a slow read
Sinclair Lewis’s Main Street, published in 1920, is a satirical portrait of small-town America. The fictional town of Gopher Prairie is modeled after Lewis’s hometown of Sauk Centre, Minnesota.
The story chronicles the life of Carol, a naïve young woman from St. Paul. As college graduation approaches, Carol ponders what to do with her life. Her interest in sociology leads her to readings on village improvement. She declares, “That’s what I’ll do after college! I’ll get my hands on one of these prairie towns and make it beautiful.”
Carol spends a year studying library science in Chicago and three years working in the St. Paul Public Library before meeting and marrying Dr. Will Kennicott of Gopher Prairie. Carol is surprised by the town’s backward ways and ugly appearance. Her attempts to “improve” the village are met with opposition. Lewis paints the townspeople as gossips, uninterested in cultural or social issues, and the town as a bastion of mediocrity and conformity.
Despite Carol’s efforts to become involved in the town’s social activities, the townspeople continue to gossip about her. Eventually, Carol takes her young son and moves to Washington, D.C., for three years. When her husband seeks her out and courts her again, she returns to Gopher Prairie. This time, after the birth of their daughter, Carol becomes more accepting of the townspeople, setting her sights on change in small ways.
Most of the Book Club felt that Main Street was a painstakingly slow read. Yet they found it interesting. Our discussion highlighted common themes that continue to be relevant today: women’s roles, anti-immigration attitudes, hints of labor unrest, and socialism. We also reflected on the novel’s success in 1920 and imagined that many people in small towns saw their own towns in Gopher Prairie.
—Kathy Cramer and Becky Anderson, members, UMRA Book Club
Book Club to meet November 15
Fri, Nov 15 2019, 2pm
Kathryn Sedo will lead the discussion of Main Street by Sinclair Lewis when the UMRA Book Club meets at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 15, at the 1666 Coffman Building in Falcon Heights. Members will also select books to be read in 2020. Contact Pat Tollefson at [email protected] for more information.
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.