NNO Book Club: Lakewood

One thing about this group – we love a good dystopian novel. And we love them even more when, like all good fantasy, sci-fi and speculative fiction, they shine a stark light on our own world. I think the summary for this one says it all so – for February, we are reading “Lakewood” by Megan Giddings.

Book summary from Goodreads
A startling debut about class and race, Lakewood evokes a terrifying world of medical experimentation—part The Handmaid’s Tale, part The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

When Lena Johnson’s beloved grandmother dies, and the full extent of the family debt is revealed, the black millennial drops out of college to support her family and takes a job in the mysterious and remote town of Lakewood, Michigan.

On paper, her new job is too good to be true. High paying. No out of pocket medical expenses. A free place to live. All Lena has to do is participate in a secret program—and lie to her friends and family about the research being done in Lakewood. An eye drop that makes brown eyes blue, a medication that could be a cure for dementia, golden pills promised to make all bad thoughts go away.

The discoveries made in Lakewood, Lena is told, will change the world—but the consequences for the subjects involved could be devastating. As the truths of the program reveal themselves, Lena learns how much she’s willing to sacrifice for the sake of her family.

Provocative and thrilling, Lakewood is a breathtaking novel that takes an unflinching look at the moral dilemmas many working-class families face, and the horror that has been forced on black bodies in the name of science.

This month's restaurant selection
We are returning to a Tampa gem – Cuenelli’s Peruvian Chicken. For those that would like non-chicken, they have other options. This isn’t a fancy place, but the food is outstanding. We also try to mix up the price points of our restaurant selections some and this one is on the lower end. Once again, I find myself questioning – is this group more passionate about the books or the food? Does it need to be one or the other? Probably not.

***Not sure about book club or never been to one before? ***
Read the book (or some of the book). Come to the Meetup. Eat yummy food and chat with folks about what you thought about the book. REPEAT!

***Not sure where to get the book? ***
All books we select have a decent number of copies (at least 3-4 across all formats) at both the Hillsborough and Pinellas County Library. And, of course, you can always buy a copy.

Didn’t finish/hated this book?
Come to the Meetup anyway! If you didn't finish - just be aware, there will be spoilers. If you hated it, come and rant! In my experience, the books that generate the best conversations and the books we really love are rarely the same books.