Fourth Friday Book Club to meet April 22
Fri, Apr 22 2022, 2pm
All are invited to a spirited and welcoming meeting of UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club from 2 to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 22, via Zoom to discuss the Dickens classic, “A Tale of Two Cities.”
The year 2022 marks the 210th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. And what could be more appropriate to read, or reread, than the most widely read example of historical fiction, “A Tale of Two Cities.” In the hands of a master storyteller, it is an epic account of the conflict between democratic and aristocratic principles, the causes and effects of violence during the French Revolution.
The opening lines of the novel are among the most widely recognized quotes from the book: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
And the very final line, spoken by Sidney Carton as he is about to be beheaded, is one of the most famous sentences in all English literature: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
Beheading is by guillotine, one of the enduring symbols of the French Revolution. In “A Tale of Two Cities,” it symbolizes how revolutionary chaos became institutionalized. Killing is without emotion, it becomes automatic, human life becomes cheap.
“A Tale of Two Cities” is historical fiction at its best. Its insights are remarkably, and sadly, very relevant: on change, on abuse, on power corrupted, on power indifferent to suffering, on power perpetuating the many forms of inhumanity. A must read.
Email Dorothy Marden at [email protected] or Margaret Catambay at [email protected] for information about how to join the meeting.
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.
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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.