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
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.