Book Notes | ‘Flight Behavior’ by Barbara Kingsolver
The seventh novel by Barbara Kingsolver, published in 2012, opens by introducing us to Dellarobia as she is sneaking off for a tryst with a younger man. Dellarobia is a woman who feels trapped in an unfulfilling marriage to her rather dull husband, Cub, and by her dreary life in a poverty-stricken Appalachian town in rural Tennessee. As she walks up the hill to meet her would-be lover, she comes upon a sight that, in the end, will change her life and the lives of her family.
What Dellarobia sees is the mass flocking of millions of monarch butterflies. This displacement of butterflies that for decades gathered in Mexico was considered a miracle by some. But it was considered a disaster by a distinguished entomologist, Ovid Byron, who came to conduct research on the butterflies to better understand the reasons for their change in migration patterns. The butterflies also brought to the area tourists, well-meaning environmentalists, a group of butterfly knitters, and a reporter from CNN.
Dellarobia is hired by Ovid to be a lab assistant, and this opens her eyes to life’s possibilities. As she gains confidence in herself and a better understanding of climate change and its affects on the environment, she reflects on her community, her life in that community, and her needs to be independent of it.
Kingsolver delves into the pressures of striving to be an individual while living in a close-knit community, trying to convince climate change deniers that there is a crisis in their own backyard, and contending with the lack of understanding by the tourists and environmental activists of what it’s like for Dellarobia’s community to be so economically underprivileged. Kingsolver adeptly illuminates all sides of the various culture wars with understanding and grace.
We had an interesting discussion during our June 16 meeting on the multiple layers embedded in the story.
While two people said they did not enjoy the book the other members of the UMRA Book Club loved it and would recommend it to their friends. One person said she could not put the book down and was in awe of Kingsolver’s use of language to paint a picture. Many members commented on reading other Kingsolver books and enjoying them as well.
— Beth Bedell, UMRA Book Club I
News
The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2024–25 will be conducted via an online poll from May 13 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 21. Look for the ballot in your email inbox on May 13. Diane Young has been nominated to be president-elect.
“I convinced myself I could handle this problem without support groups or doing additional research, but that’s only because I didn’t want to make it any more real than it already was. Denial comes in many forms, and one is to avoid thinking about the problem any more than need be.” —Alice A. Larson
Meet UMRA member Peter Moe. He retired in 2023 after a career that spanned nearly half a century at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and is credited with developing the “Arb” into one of the few in the U.S. with world-class fruit and landscape breeding programs.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) has welcomed two new members with valuable skills and experience to the URVC Leadership Council: Lynn Slifer and Jeanne Jacobson.
The University plans to remove retirees from the @umn.edu internet identity domain on December 7. UMRA has advocated for ensuring continued access to this identity (including email, Google Workspace, and associated services), citing University retirees’ enduring contributions to and engagement with the University. Thus far, our efforts have not prompted any change of plans.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore your photographic interests, hone your photographic skills, and hear what other retirees are up to, the UMRA Photo Club is a great place to be. We have fun! And whatever your skill level, there is room for everybody.
Leading the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has been a labor of love for Kris Bettin. Alas, a change in family needs has necessitated her retirement. So, JOIE is seeking a new leader to join a savvy editorial committee of five and bring fresh ideas for continued development of the UMRA-sponsored journal.
Soon you will receive an email or letter inviting you to renew your UMRA membership for the 2024–25 year. Please renew before you get busy with your summer activities. Your support helps to make our programs and many other member benefits possible!
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details: