By Clare Sherman —
Miami Middletown’s book discussion group gathered for their November meeting, where they reviewed The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook. Whether speaking from the Gardner-Harvey Library or a Zoom screen, attendees praised the historical Western novel for its atmosphere, structure, and plot.
Crook’s novel is set in 1868, where a frontier carpenter named Benjamin stumbles upon a runaway stagecoach. There, he meets Nell, stranded and pregnant, as well as her four-year-old son, Tot. What ensues is a breathless journey to safety as the group races across Texas toward a port near the Gulf of Mexico, all while Nell’s dangerous husband is close behind.
The book discussion began with one participant’s thoughts on the audiobook format, a point that led most to dissect the novel’s dialect choices. Set in post-Civil War Western Texas, Benjamin’s speech was surprisingly difficult for the group to get used to. Many realized that listening to the audiobook made a smoother reading experience, and once they got used to the dialect’s sound, they could switch back to the print book with little trouble.
Book club members agreed that a standout feature of Crook’s writing is atmosphere-building. As a narrator for the story’s progression, Benjamin painstakingly describes the surrounding visuals of the sky and storms. With firsthand experience in the West Texas area, one participant referred to the scenery as “surreal and interesting.”
The story’s structure also impressed the readers. In a letter format, Benjamin recounts the group’s experiences for four-year-old Tot. The dramatic scenes, noted one attendee, would have a different tone if Benjamin weren’t looking back at them, and another reader added that this set-up allowed for some refreshing humor to peek through. Mixed in with the book’s thrilling and humorous storyline is romance, and the group applauded how the intersecting plots kept them engaged.
In a conversation about what general impression the novel left, one reader noted themes of abuse, survival, and love. Additionally, it was noted that thought-provoking themes were secondary to the engaging plot and scenic atmosphere.
Satisfied with their most recent read, the group spent ample time sharing ideas for their next pick. Options included Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni, and The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali. Readers eventually settled on Time of the Child, a Christmas Novel by Niall Williams, for their December pick. The group discussion will take place on December 19th, at 11:30 am.
To stay updated on all Garner-Harvey Library events, please visit their event calendar.