Sentimental but timely
The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg takes place in a small Missouri town. Arthur Moses is 85 years old and is mourning the death of his wife of many years. They were happily married though they were greatly disappointed that they could not have children. For the past six months, he has taken the bus to the cemetery each day where he unfolds his chair and has lunch with his wife, Nola.
Maddy Harris is an 18-year-old who has a difficult life. Her mother died when she was two weeks old. Her father barely communicates with her. Maddy is bright with a gift for photography and a love of poetry. But she is seen as an outcast in her high school even though she doesn’t understand why. She makes a wrong decision in her relationship with an older boy that changes the trajectory of her life.
Lucille is a retired fourth-grade teacher living next door to Arthur. She is opinionated, confidant, and a great baker. She never married and her life is set into a tailspin after reconnecting with her high school love and then losing him.
Creating a family
The lives of these three characters merge as they help each other overcome personal loss and hardships. They become friends in a way that evolves into becoming each other’s family.
UMRA Book Club members enjoyed the book while acknowledging it was a lighter read than other books the group has read. One member compared it to a Disney movie. But members acknowledged that it was a great book to read given the current state of the pandemic. In times like these a somewhat sentimental book helps us to cope.
Phrases from our discussion describing the book included cycle of life, nostalgia of what has been lost, and story of creating a family.
- Kathy Cramer, Book Club member
Book Club to meet October 16
Fri, Oct 16 2020, 2pm
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Story of Arthur Trulove by Elizabeth Berg when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 16.
The UMRA Book Club currently has 16 members, a number that works well for our discussions. Contact Pat Tollefson at [email protected] for more information, including suggestions for starting a new book club.
Upcoming Events
If you currently live in your own home or apartment, have you looked ahead to when you might want to consider a senior living option? Do you have any idea what those options might be? How much they cost? What they provide? UMRA’s May 14 workshop will provide an overview of the world of senior living and the basic information you need.
You’re invited to join the final Family History Interest Group meeting for 2023–24. This will be an opportunity to ask questions related to family history, share insights, talk about recent projects, and suggest topics for next year.
Stephanie Daily will lead the discussion of Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by best-selling author Mary Roach when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17.
The May 20 hike will start at the Historic Lift Bridge in Stillwater and go along the river to the new bridge, cross over and then back on the Wisconsin side, a total of approximately 5 miles. Most of the route is paved. We will eat lunch after at Brian's Bar and Grill in Stillwater. Car pooling will be available.
Climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley joined the U of M faculty in 1978 and has been a weekly commentator on Minnesota Public Radio since 1992. We are honored to welcome him as our guest speaker for UMRA’s May Luncheon Forum and 2024 Annual Meeting. He is always entertaining and informative.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club welcomes back, for the second time, author Julie Schumacher, U of M Regents professor of creative writing and English, for a conversation about her novel The Shakespeare Requirement.
We are in for a treat on June 3! Lynn Anderson, will lead us on trails at two parks near her Monticello home. Bring a bag lunch and we will gather in Lynn's yard along the Mississippi River for eating and socializing after the hike.
Get out to the ballpark with fellow UMRA members for the annual U of M Day at Target Field as the Minnesota Twins take on the Oakland Athletics on June 14 at 7:10 p.m.
Please join us at 9:30 on June 17, 2024 for a walk around Lake Como in St. Paul before attending the UMRA Summer Social and Picnic starting at 11 at the Como Pavilion. A perfect opportunity to get in a walk before we gather to celebrate summer.
Picnic under the covered, open-air Como pavilion, gaze at the water, spy some birds, catch up with friends and former colleagues, and meet new members. We’ll have lunch with plenty of time for visiting and then compete in teams as we are challenged by our Quiz master(s)!
Healthy aging, mindfulness, fighting ageism, and more will be the focus of the third annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus.