The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

 

 

November's selection was The Book of Lost Friends, by Lisa Wingate, with Clap When You Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo, coming up next for our December 14th discussion. Thank you to everyone who attended both in person at the library, and also from home via Zoom! We will plan to continue with our hybrid meeting model for the foreseeable future. You are welcome to choose either avenue, but please be advised, masks will be required for anyone attending in person. Looking forward to seeing each of you in December!

Without further ado!

 

Louisiana, 1875 In the tumultuous aftermath of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now-destitute plantation; Juneau Jane, her illegitimate free-born Creole half-sister; and Hannie, Lavinia's former slave. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following dangerous roads rife with ruthless vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and eight siblings before slavery's end, the pilgrimage westward reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? 

Louisiana, 1987 For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student debt--until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine, Louisiana, seems suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled oaks and run-down plantation homes lies the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.

I think it's fair to say that the vast majority of the group enjoyed this book, and Mrs. Wingate's writing style, quite well. There was high praise offered for Wingate's way with words, and her ability to craft a scene, a feeling, and a character. Speaking of characters, it seems the group was a bit divided on which story line of the two they preferred. Those fond of Benny's plot found her to be courageous, intelligent, persistent and endearing. Those not so in favor of Benny found her contributions to be predictable and contrived, some parts completely unnecessary altogether. 

On the other hand, those who favored Hannie's story line loved her charm, wit, resourcefulness, and logical processes. Those not as smitten with Hannie's narrative would say there were parts of her story that were unbelievable and/or unconvincing. In addition, a few members found both story lines equally enticing and had no criticism for either Benny nor Hannie. Others still added that they thoroughly enjoyed how the two plot lines intertwined and intersected, they found it gave the book great balance.  

In closing, considering that this book was based off of a true story, it was said it was heartbreaking to read of all of the displaced families of slaves and their courageous and arduous quest to reunite. We, as a group, have found over the years from reading various books with various subject matter, that material such as this can be hard to take in and sit with, but is also a necessary education and remembrance nevertheless. 

 

Where do you find yourself... are you team Benny, or team Hannie?

 

Did you love The Book of Lost Friends? Fans of this book also enjoyed: Olive Kitterage, by Elizabeth Strout, The Bitterroots, by C.J. Box, and Florida, by Lauren Groff. All of these titles are available in Viking~ reserve one today!

 

At the conclusion of every book club discussion we ask three questions and track the average answers:

Would we recommend this to another book club for discussion?
"YES"
Would we recommend this to a friend to read? 
"YES"
Rate the book 1-5 stars, with 1 being the lowest rating: 
 3.75 stars