Book Group


Our book group normally meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm.

Lee Memorial Library's book group welcomes anyone who would like to join in our lively discussions.



January 27th Meeting: Finding Nouf by Zoe Farraris

A finely detailed literary mystery set in contemporary Saudi Arabia, Ferraris's debut centers on Nouf ash-Shrawi, a 16-year-old girl who disappeared into the desert three days before her marriage and has been found dead, several weeks pregnant. Palestinian Nayir al-Sharqi who lives in Jeddah and works occasionally for the rich Shrawi family, is asked by them to investigate Nouf's death discreetly. Nayir, a conservative Muslim and an outsider because of his nationality, his class and his large stature, is wary of traversing the wide gulf between Saudi men's and women's worlds, and is encouraged by his friend Othman, an adopted son of the Shrawis, to seek out the help of Katya Hijazi, Othman's fiancée. Katya has a Ph.D. and is employed in the women's section of the state medical examiner's office. As Nayir and Katya's investigation progresses, it becomes clear that at least one of the Shrawis has something to hide. Ferraris, who has lived in Saudi Arabia, gets deep inside Nayir's and Katya's very different perspectives, giving a fascinating glimpse into the workings and assumptions of Saudi society. As a mystery, it's fairly well-turned, but it's the characters and setting that sparkle. From Publishers Weekly


Recommended Websites........


The Author's Website
Interview With Author
Review of Book from Los Angeles Times


Previous Selections -- Last Twelve Months........

December	A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
January	A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell
February	The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton
March	North River by Pete Hamill
April	The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
May	The Warden by Anthony Trollope
June	Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
July	The Mystery of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
August	Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
September	Emma by Jane Austen
October	The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
November	The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

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