The Tiger's Wife

Bookclubbers fit in this month's bookclub around  a Stanford football game, kid's sports games,  a new baby, kid's classes, vacations, family visits, etc.  (Liz and Debbie we missed you.)  This is one very busy group of women.

The book selection was The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht.  In the book, there are several different story lines that make for a rich but sometimes disorienting read.  There's the story set in modern time of a young doctor trying to track down the belongings of her recently deceased grandfather; the story her grandfather had told her about the deathless man; the story Natalia learns about her grandfather's past and his interactions with a deaf-mute woman called the "tiger's wife;" and the many side stories providing more background of the characters within the tiger's wife story.  Several links between these subplots were discussed and questioned (Was the deathless man's wife actually the deaf-mute woman's sister?  Was the deathless man the one who was found in the vineyard? Was the deathless man the apothecary?)  But all-in-all, the reaction to the book was rather lukewarm.  Many found it difficult to follow; others were simply not engaged.

We discussed many other real-life topics including balancing family and work, our children's relationships with their friends, and importantly ideas for celebrating Bookclub's 10th anniversary next summer!