Just the Facts: Book Discussion Recap from August 23, 2012

Many thanks to the fifteen people who chose to pass on a lovely summer evening to attend the book discussion. Your attendance was much appreciated.

Our book last week was Unbroken: a World War II story of survival, resilience, and redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. The book is the story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic track star and potential gold medalist, who escaped juvenile delinquency through a love of running, entered the second world war as a bombardier on a B-24, crashed into the South Pacific, survived 47 days on a life raft, and years of torture and deprivation in a Japanese P.O.W. camp. After liberation, his life drifted into alcoholism and fantasies of revenge. A chance meeting with the evangelist Billy Graham renewed his belief in God and inspired him to give up drinking and dedicate himself to forgiveness and helping troubled young people. Our meeting began with a short interview of Louis filmed last May. Our discussion was varied and very interesting, covering many topics related to the war and the nature of war in general, the use of the atomic bomb, the nature of faith, the role of women during the war, love at first sight, P.T.S.D., the four minute mile, the loss of dignity, and much more. Our discussion was enhanced by members of the group who shared their memories of life during the war.

Our next book, 1861: the Civil War awakening by Adam Goodheart, will be discussed on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 7:00 pm. The book is available at the Circulation Desk.