Hop on for the long ride West.Byline: SECOND SUNDAY BOOK CLUB By Karen McCowan The Register-Guard For our Second Sunday Book Club's June selection, Register-Guard readers are invited to join Eugene's First Born Book Club in discussing a nationally acclaimed debut novel by Puget Sound Puget Sound (py  `jĕt), arm of the Pacific Ocean, NW Wash., connected with the Pacific by Juan de Fuca Strait, entered through the Admiralty Inlet and extending in two arms c. area writer Karen Fisher.
``A Sudden Country'' (Random House, 366 pages, $24.95) was a finalist for the 2006 PEN/Faulkner Award, the 2006 Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Morning daily newspaper. Established in 1881, it was purchased and incorporated in 1884 by Harrison Gray Otis (1837–1917) under The Times-Mirror Co. (the hyphen was later dropped from the name). First Fiction Award and the 2006 SPUR Award The Spur Award is an annual literary prize awarded by the Western Writers of America. Founded in 1953 with only four categories (western novel, historical novel, juvenile and short story), the award today has expanded to include the following categories: Award Categories . Inspired by the journal accounts of a Fisher ancestor who was 11 when her family hit the Oregon Trail Oregon Trail, overland emigrant route in the United States from the Missouri River to the Columbia River country (all of which was then called Oregon). The pioneers by wagon train did not, however, follow any single narrow route. , the novel focuses both on the ordeal of that journey and on the unexpected love affair between a Scottish trapper and a pioneer wife in a loveless marriage. The New Yorker called the book ``a deeply affecting account of the journey West. ... The writing is assured, and the novel succeeds in rendering not only the overwhelming landscape and the small, hard details of daily life, but monumental sorrow and the meanderings of love.'' Publishers Weekly and Library Journal agreed, praising ``A Sudden Country'' as "a grand, mesmerizing mes·mer·ize tr.v. mes·mer·ized, mes·mer·iz·ing, mes·mer·iz·es 1. To spellbind; enthrall: "He could mesmerize an audience by the sheer force of his presence" novel," and "a literary masterpiece," respectively. Not all critics were similarly enthralled en·thrall tr.v. en·thralled, en·thrall·ing, en·thralls 1. To hold spellbound; captivate: The magic show enthralled the audience. 2. To enslave. , however. The Washington Post found the love story ``more in keeping with a bodice-ripper than an epic journey.'' What really counts with the Second Sunday Book Club, however, is what you think. Readers are invited to join the First Borns - a group started 25 years ago by Springfield High teachers - for their June 20 discussion. The gathering begins at noon at 2825 Ione St. Those who can't make it can participate from home by responding to a recap of the discussion at www .registerguard.com/blogs/books. A story based on all the comments will appear on the Books Page on the second Sunday of July. Curious how this works? Visit www.registerguard.com/blogs/books. Your comments on the current Second Sunday selection, ``Blessing the Boats'' by Lucille Clifton Lucille Clifton (born June 27, 1936) is an American poet, writer, and educator from New York. Common topics in her poetry include the celebration of her African American heritage, and feminist themes, with particular emphasis on the female body; for instance, some of her more well , will appear on this page June 11. |
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