We here at Wrapped Up In Books have gotten ourselves into a bit of a sticky pickle. We had originally scheduled our book-club chat about Stephen Millhauser’s Martin Dressler: The Tale Of An American Dreamer to begin next Monday, August 30. But when we pushed the date for the Cloud Atlas discussion back a week so more staffers could participate, we planned to push this one a week as well. Problem with that is that it would have us beginning the discussion on September 6, which is Labor Day. We’ll be off work, you guys probably will too, and we’d have to cut the discussion shorter than usual.
So we’re pushing it an additional week. The Martin Dressler discussion will now begin on Monday, September 13. (It’s a short, smart read; this should give you plenty of time.)
And while we’re at it, here’s October’s pick, courtesy of Ellen Wernecke: Colson Whitehead’s The Intuitionist. This 1998 novel was the first for Whitehead, who went on to write the much-praised John Henry Days and Apex Hides The Hurt. Asked why she picked this one, Ellen gave us this blurb:
Whitehead's imaginative debut gives a familiar story of political corruption a speculative quarter-turn by constructing an alternate America behind it. Just as elevator operator Lila Mae Watson anticipates setting a new standard for safety in the unnamed city where she works, an accident on her watch jeopardizes the advances her coworkers have made, with election season (and its accompanying flow of patronage) just around the corner. I haven't decided whether it’s an ambitious failure or an ingenious fable, but the story of Lila Mae fighting to clear her name is a provocative read.
We’re currently scheduled to launch that discussion on Monday, October 11. So if you’re already done with Martin Dressler, this is your chance to get ahead of the game. See you in two weeks.