Where Fiction Meets Friction
Book Club Drama is back with episode 2. Last month, the word “lube” was shouted enough times that Laurie’s neighbors texted. This month: It’s the book James, halibut, and supplements. — Susan Dabbar, Editor-in-Chief
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Subject: Re: Next Month’s Book—James by Percival Everett
From: Janet (Host)
To: Prose & Cons Book Club
Date: Thursday, 7:44 p.m.
Hi Readers,
A reminder that we’re meeting next Thursday to discuss James by Percival Everett. Dinner is sheet pan halibut and that kale quinoa salad from the NYT that everyone pretends to like.
Please, no premature dissection of the book. I will leave parking passes in the mailbox.
From: Melissa
Date: Friday, 9:02 a.m.
I’m only on page 12 and already feel that the author is trying to teach something.
From: Diane
Date: Friday, 9:17 a.m.
The book is supposed to teach! It’s a re-imagining of Huck Finn, a true classic.
From: Ellen
Date: Friday, 9:18 a.m.
Ha! Mark Twain observed that “a classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.” That said, Everett is brilliant … and subversive.
I’ll bring mezcal. And as you know I have a fennel intolerance, so none in the kale, please 🤮.
From: Abby
Date: Friday, 10:11 a.m.
Lisa, gotta give your son a shoutout. I ordered Calm Chew Lickables magnesium supplements from his website. Already noticed a difference in my sleep quality and energy level.
From: Laurie
Date: Friday, 11:23 a.m.
I’m LOVING the book, except the dialects. And the micro chapters feel like texts from my estranged facialist.
From: Barb
Date: Friday, 11:27 a.m.
Agree. I keep checking to see if my Kindle is in haiku mode.
From: Lisa
Date: Friday, 11:29 a.m.
Wait … did you say Calm Chew Lickables?? Those are for dogs! I recommended Calm Chew LIKEABLES, for human anxiety.
From: Melissa
Date: Friday 11:36 a.m.
W T actual F. Poisoned with pet pellets???!!! I ordered the Lickables and I’ve been taking four a day, a double dose.
From: Gloria
Date: Saturday, 5:44 a.m. (Bhutan Time)
Hi fellow adventurers,
Now in Sri Lanka. Today we hiked to a cave temple. Spectacular. No bathroom, ugh. Also, I skimmed James. Will reflect when I return to decent Wi-Fi.
Love and light,
G
From: Diane
Date: Friday, 6:08 p.m.
Not an analysis, but a rec: I re-read Huck Finn as logical preparation. (Not bragging.)
From: Barb
Date: Friday, 6:15 p.m.
Diane, that is literally the definition of bragging! May I point out for the gazillionth time that we didn’t all go to Princeton, as you remind us of every month.
From: Diane
Date: Friday, 6:16 p.m.
Actually, it was Cornell.
From: Laurie
Date: Friday, 6:19 p.m.
Sorry but this book feels like it’s pandering to white people. Just an emotional observation, considering the source material was … racist.
From: Janet
Date: Friday, 6:35 p.m.
THE NEXT PERSON WHO MENTIONS THE BOOK GETS NO PARKING PASS. (Tickets are $75.) And FYI. I asked ChatGPT about Lickables and the only questionable ingredient is the K2 stress hormone. Causes drooling.
From: Gail
Date: Friday, 6:39 p.m.
Sorry to miss. Autoimmune situation/possibly gas/will advise after panel results.
From: Abby
Date: Friday, 6:47 p.m.
So soon after your bout of shingles/sciatica? Sending a virtual hot water bottle.
Subject: Last Night’s Meeting
From: Janet
Date: Friday, 7:00 p.m.
Thank you all for coming. Great discussion about racism and narrative agency. Somebody left a birch-colored Everlane Midi Zip jacket.
From: Lisa
Date: Friday, 7:07 p.m.
Thanks for hosting! Your house is serene even with women shouting about whether satire can dismantle oppression. The halibut was divine, though farm-raised. However, I noticed that those on Zepbound (you know who you are) couldn’t finish their portions.
From: Diane
Date: Friday, 7:19 p.m.
I stand by my idea that re-reading Huck Finn was essential! Sorry if my handouts were underappreciated.
From: Barb
Date: Friday, 7:23 p.m.
They were booklets, Diane. With a table of contents and an index.
Also, I’m sad to report that Abby is at urgent care. Hoping it wasn’t the Lickables or a quinoa reaction … or her rage about the parking ticket.
From: Melissa
Date: Friday, 7:34 p.m.
Oh dear. Sending healing vibes. I still feel like the violence at the end was justified, but it wasn’t developed enough. And I promise to use my indoor voice next month.
From: Laurie
Date: Friday, 7:56 p.m.
Wait, there was violence at the end?? No spoilers!!
From: Barb
Date: Friday, 8:06 p.m.
Huh? We already discussed the book.
From: Laurie
Date: Friday, 8:16 p.m.
Oops, sorry. I’m multitasking, on a thread with my other book club.
From: Lisa
Date: Friday, 8:24 p.m.
Your OTHER club? Is that literary infidelity? Diane, maybe you can set up a Google doc with a list of rules.
From: Gloria
Date: Saturday, 11:02 a.m.
Just back from Sri and catching up. I have bookmarks for all—blessed by a monk who taught a sutra to the Dalai Lama. I no longer have a need for material possessions, but I’ll take the Everlane if it isn’t claimed.
From: Abby
Date: Saturday, 11:22 a.m.
Next month is my turn. I think we’ve all had it with historical fiction. How about a memoir, but not one of those dark ones. Let’s go for the new poetic masterpiece by Patti Smith (NOT Just Kids, which every book club in the world has already read). I can’t remember the name of the new book but you can ask Chat.
One more thing: Janet is at her red light therapy, but she asked me to find out if one of you accidentally took home a parking pass (laminated).
Episode 3 drops next month. Don’t get left behind. Subscribe here.
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