Founded on June 16, 2003 - our book club convenes about every two months all around the bay area, from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. And rest assured: WHAT HAPPENS IN BOOK CLUB...STAYS IN BOOK CLUB!!!

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

On July 10th, 2016 we met at Jennifer's house for Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik.  Really fun book!  Liz and Amy Skyped in, and we enjoyed decadent leftover birthday cake from Heidi's birthday, from The Buttery.

From Amazon:

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg never asked for fame—she has only tried to make the world a little better and a little freer.
But nearly a half-century into her career, something funny happened to the octogenarian: she won the internet. Across America, people who weren’t even born when Ginsburg first made her name as a feminist pioneer are tattooing themselves with her face, setting her famously searing dissents to music, and making viral videos in tribute.
Notorious RBG, inspired by the Tumblr that amused the Justice herself and brought to you by its founder and an award-winning feminist journalist, is more than just a love letter. It draws on intimate access to Ginsburg's family members, close friends, colleagues, and clerks, as well an interview with the Justice herself. An original hybrid of reported narrative, annotated dissents, rare archival photos and documents, and illustrations, the book tells a never-before-told story of an unusual and transformative woman who transcends generational divides. As the country struggles with the unfinished business of gender equality and civil rights, Ginsburg stands as a testament to how far we can come with a little chutzpah.
We all enjoyed learned about the kickass woman RBG.  She's 83 and can still do 20 pushups.  More importantly, she's been making the world a better place for many years by advocating for the rights of those who need them most.

It was a nice reminder that we've come a long way since the 1950s (when she was a rare woman in law school).  And it inspires us to do more to do our part.

The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

On June 5th, 2016 we met up at Lisa's house for the book The Color of Water:  A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride.

From Amazon:
Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? A self-declared "light-skinned" woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her twelve black children. James McBride, journalist, musician, and son, explores his mother's past, as well as his own upbringing and heritage, in a poignant and powerful debut
I really enjoyed this memoir, though it was tough reading about the author's mother and her traumatic childhood.  But she had two great loves and raised 12 successful children!

Delicious lunch provided by Lisa. Liz was Skyping poolside.