by Daisy Tyler

All regular attendees of our discussion group were present on January 9th at Enzo’s Restaurant in Kingston. We had a lively discussion over the novel "Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker" by the popular author, Jennifer Chiaverini. It’s the story of Elizabeth Keckley, a free slave, and her friendship with Mrs. Lincoln. All the action takes place at the White House, during the period of the Civil War and the Lincoln Administration. Through Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker, Elizabeth, one can learn of the difficult decisions that were involved during that terrible war. The author brings alive those historical characters that we, perhaps, know only by their last name.

We definitely recommend this novel for your reading list!

The next Book Club will be on Monday, February 13th, 1:45PM at Enzo's in Kingston.

The book to read is:

"Myth America. Historians Take On The Biggest Legends And Lies About Our Past"
by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer

"To be sure, there have been lies in our public discourse, but in the last few years the flood gates have opened wide, and the line between fact and fiction has become increasingly blurred if not completely erased. Unlike past eras which myths and misunderstandings have clouded our national debate, the current crisis stands apart both for the degree of misinformation and the the deliberateness with which it has spread.” (Kruse & Zelizer, Authors)

This book is a collection of twenty essays about the lies and legends that have surfaced in our current political reality. You might recognize some of them - others will surprise you.

We invite members to come and analyze these twenty readings and give us your opinions. Some critics aren’t sure of the validity of the authors’ historical analysis. Come and see what you think.

As always, we encourage members to borrow the book from the library or purchase from local booksellers.