What We Thought: North of Boston by Elisabeth Elo

Afternoon Readers Book Club

October 14, 2014

North of Boston by Elisabeth Elo

Book club members enjoyed reading Elisabeth Elo’s book, with its descriptions of Boston and other North Shore locations, as well as Canada. North of Boston lived up to its name. The group thought the author’s explanations of the legal and illegal aspects of the fishing industry, and related ecological issues, accurately reflected her research.

Readers’ interests were captivated by additional plot lines about the complexities of perfumes and the nature of friendships and family life. Although the group generally agreed that many themes were presented throughout the story everything was neatly tied together at the end. Pirio Kasparov was a great character with a compelling story. Her curiosity, loyalty and tenacity kept readers attention throughout the twists and turns of the story. This book had something for everyone and left readers expecting a sequel, which the author is planning to write.

This is a fast-paced story about people caught up in dangerous circumstances with unintended consequences -- days, months, or even years after an event.

Elisabeth Elo grew up in Boston, and now lives in Brookline, Mass.

Have you read North of Boston? What did you think? Comments are open to the public, not restricted to our book group members!

Combined Book Club Potluck: The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

The Art Forger

by B.A. Shapiro

The Evening and Afternoon adult book clubs enjoyed an August potluck supper on Tuesday evening. A variety of colorful summer salads including tomato and mozzarella slices garnished with fresh basil, taco salad, and a cowboy bean salad extravaganza was served buffet-style along with finger sandwiches, meatballs, baked chicken, corn chowder, fruit salad, and assorted chips with salsa. A sparkling lime sherbet punch added pizzazz to the menu. 

After the main course, club members adjourned to the library’s reading room for a book discussion accompanied by dessert. The dessert table was awash in chocolate treats; whoopee pies, chocolate pudding cake, frosted marble cake, and a banana cream pie with mile high meringue.

Book club members engaged in a lively discussion about the motives of the art thieves and forgers. Several spoke passionately about what they thought was the fate of the paintings stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. All of their scenarios were plausible. Harder to define were the motives of the thieves and the ultimate owner of the treasures. Was it greed or narcissism? What is the value of a stolen painting, if it isn’t shared with others who can appreciate beauty? Has the statute of limitations expired and who is the true owner now?

Is there a statute of limitations on recovering stolen property? “Time is often the enemy of crime investigators; the trail quickly gets cold. But time has changed the Gardner case in one way that could increase the chances of the paintings' being recovered: The statute of limitations has passed for prosecution of the theft itself. And the US attorney in Boston now says he will not prosecute anyone who has the paintings and offers to return them.

Readers questioned whether there were other undetected forged paintings displayed in museums as the plot in Shapiro’s book. Although the book is fiction, the art techniques discussed are authentic. This feature added to the enjoyment of the story which some said satisfied their preference for “true” historical fiction. Many members have been to the Gardner museum both before and after the theft and spoke highly of the building and the collection. Others said that they are now inspired to visit based on the comments of the group. If your name is Isabella, you can register for lifetime free admission at the museum. If your name isn't Isabella, you can still receive free admission on your birthday. Also, since Isabella Stewart Gardner was a big Red Sox fan, you can wear your Red Sox gear and receive a $2 discount off of admission, too!

The Art Forger was a very successful book selection and it sparked a terrific discussion about the many layers of deception that result in art forgery and theft. The Boston setting was a plus for readers and enhanced the story’s credibility. The author took a real event and crafted a complex and exciting story with an unexpected twist at the end.