December Book Discussion - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

We all know the book.  It is a tale many read every Christmas Eve.  It certainly has been transformed from the written word to film often enough.  This month, the 400 Towers Discussion Group will look beyond the obvious and delve into the hidden layers of this short story.
If you were to join us, you would have to walk in with an answer to the mystery question of the month, "In what year did The Christmas Carol take place?".  Our readers were asked to come with their answer and the ability to defend it.
The answer, by the way, can be found in the story.
The obvious, of course is the transformation of Scrooge from a miserly old man into a generous soul who "keeps Christmas all year long".
Our meeting will focus on the characters in the book and what each of them represents in Victorian England.  Do we find that same representation in today's society?
Clocks, bells and chimes are found throughout the book.  What do they signify?
It should be a lively and fun discussion.

In January, we will not only read, Tapestry: A Life Walk Among Friends  but also host the author Jim Nigro.  More about that next month.

In February, our discussion group will be part of  "A Tale For Three Counties".  A Tale for Three Counties" is an area-wide "one book" project for Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties in western New York State and is presented by the 20 public libraries in these counties, Genesee Community College, Batavia's The Daily News, and Genesee Valley Educational Partnerships School Library System.
The book, this year, is Mudbound by Hillary Jordan.

Over the years, A Tale for Three Counties has featured:
•2010 The Art of Racing in the Rain
•2009: Separate From the World
•2008: The Last Town on Earth
•2007:An Unfinished Life
•2006: A Northern Light
•2005: In the Bleak Midwinter
•2004: Northern Borders
•2003: Peace Like a River

You can learn more about A Tale of Three Counties at http://taleforthreecounties.org/

Chairing the book discussions is so much fun.  I love it when one of our readers stops by the shop (our local library delivers the books to the shop for our readers to pick up) and tells me how much they are enjoying a book.  It is even more interesting to talk to someone who had a hard time getting into the book, but several chapters later will announce they can't put the book down.

It's almost here!
Are you ready?