Besides CRR What Else Are You Reading?

BESIDES COLUMBIA RIVER READER...

What are you reading?

By Dayle Olson Monthly feature coordinated by Alan Rose

Historical fiction is at its best when a compelling story features a protagonist facing staggering odds. Both elements are present in this novel, based on a true story and written by Astoria author Marianne Monson. The book centers on sisters Ida and Louise Cook, living with their parents in 1930s London. The sisters have jobs which pay little, but a memorable classical music concert motivates them to scrimp shillings to attend future shows. They become devoted fans and eventual friends with opera singers Amelita Galli-Curci, Ezio Pinza and Rosa Ponselle. Other performers enter

Drink Good Coffee, their circle, creating a dizzying musical whirl. Ida earns extra money as a

Read Good Books writer, which allows the sisters to travel

Located in the historic to Vienna, Frankfurt, and Berlin to experience opera on the Continent.

Castle Rock Bank Building 20 Cowlitz Street West Mon-Sat • 8:30–5 360-967-2299 Against this glittering backdrop is the growing threat of Hitler’s Nazi regime. The Cook’s Austrian and German friends believe the intimidation and terrorizing of Jews (as well as homosexuals, Roma travelers, and the Mt. St. Helens Gifts disabled) will only get worse. They are right. Ida and Louise go from being Jewelry • Souvenirs • T-Shirts fan girls to heroines, using their love Ash Glass & Pottery of opera as a cover to save lives as they

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ATTENTION, READERS

Read a good book lately? To be mini-interviewed by CRR Book Reviewer Alan Rose for a future “What Are You Reading?” spotlight, please contact him at alan@alan-rose.com or the publisher/editor at publisher@ crreader.com. put themselves in danger to help one more person, one more family escape. Their tenacity and grit as Europe edges closer to war is inspiring. When war finally breaks out, the story shifts to the harrowing years the Cook family endures in London with bombings, loss, and deprivation. For Ida, these hardships pale in comparison to the fates of so many who couldn’t escape Hitler’s death machine. To those who were helped by Ida and Louise Cook, these sisters were nothing less than angels.

Dayle Olson’s poem, “Water Highway,” was one of eight selected statewide by Humanities Washington for inclusion in Washington Poetic Routes. Her short stories were selected for Seaside Libraries anthology in 2019 and 2020. Dayle is a member of The Writer’s Guild of Astoria, and lives in Cathlamet with her husband David and one opinionated cat.

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BOOK CLUBS FOR OUR TUMULTUOUS TIMES

Longview, Kelso Libraries launch book discussion groups

The Longview and Kelso Public Libraries are launching book discussion groups that focus on contemporary issues affecting Cowlitz County and the nation.

The community is invited to getacquainted meetings where interested readers will determine future dates and times of the book discussions, and propose books to discuss in the months ahead.

The Longview Public Library will host an evening book club on Monday, February 6, at 6:00 pm. The Kelso Public Library will host a daytime book club on Wednesday, February 8, at 11 am. All events are free and open to the public. “There are a number of issues that threaten to divide us as a nation and as a community,” said Jacob Cole, director of the Longview Public Library. “We hope this book discussion series will become a public forum where community members with different views can discuss these issues in a respectful and friendly manner.” Potential topics might include the current political divisiveness, race and gender issues, climate change, wealth inequality, poverty, and homelessness. “The books we’ll be reading can be nonfiction or fiction,” said Erik Moser, Kelso Library manager. “Nonfiction works offer information and context to better understand an issue, but novels can capture the emotions and personal impact of those issues on people’s lives.” Supporting and collaborating in the libraries’ efforts are Lower Columbia College, the Friends of the Longview Public Library, the Civil Dialogue Project, which hosted a series of public forums on civil discourse in the fall, and WordFest, a group of local writers and readers. Library staff and LCC instructors will also recommend books for participants to discuss. For more information, or to suggest books for the series, contact Jacob Cole at 360-442-5309 or Jacob.cole@ ci.longview.wa.us.