European Book club: “The Almond Picker” (“La Mennulara”)
By Simonetta Agnello Hornby
Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
The discussion in English will be moderated by Professor Emanuela Zanotti Carney (University of Illinois Chicago)
The child of poor farmers, La Mennulara became a maid for a well-to-do local family when she was only a girl; by dint of hard work and intelligence, she became the indispensable administrator of the family’s affairs. Still, she was a mere servant, and now (as the story begins), she is dead.
As the details unfold about this mysterious woman, “The Almond Picker” assumes the witty suspense of a thriller, the emotional power of a love story, and the evocative atmosphere of a historical novel. Set in Sicily in the 1960s, a violent, complicated society in the midst of tumultuous change, “The Almond Picker” is the story of a woman who negotiated for her freedom as no one else dared.
The European Book Club (organized by EUNIC Chicago) meets regularly for a book discussion of a bestselling novel in English translation.
Guests who would like to attend, should read the book in advance and come prepared to participate in the discussion.
Please, RSVP at almondpicker.eventbrite.com
