Mountain View Book Club

This month we will experiment with discussing two short novels:
1) Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix
Kepler's | Books Inc
Fiction · 192 pages · Paperback · 2024.
Prix Goncourt Finalist. Le Monde Best Book. New York Times Notable Book.
A philosophical novel based on a true event in which a French coast guard justifies her inaction in a migrant boat tragedy.
“Thoughtful” – Le Monde. “Profound” – New York Times.
"A gut‑punch of a novel that asks: could we all do better?” – International Booker Prize judges

Small Boat is a stark, haunting meditation on moral responsibility and institutional indifference. Inspired by the real-life November 2021 tragedy in which a migrant-filled dinghy capsized in the English Channel—resulting in 27 deaths—the novel unfolds through the perspective of the French coast guard radio operator who fielded the desperate calls for help.

2) Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
Kepler's | Books Inc
Fiction · 144 pages · Paperback · 2020.
National Book Award Longlist (Translated Literature Finalist) · New York Times Notable Book · PEN Translation Prize.
A compelling exploration of violence and memory across two timelines in Palestine. “Cuts to the heart of the Palestinian experience” – New York Times. “A searing, beautiful novel” – Publisher’s Weekly.

Minor Detail unfolds in two haunting halves, meticulously woven to reflect on historical trauma and its enduring resonance; a philosophical and existential inquiry into memory, history, and erasure

**Venue**: Red Rock has kindly given us this rental space for free. Please consider making a purchase to support them. Thanks!

The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn't, What Shouldn't Make You Happy, but Does. By Sonja Lyubomirsky
Kepler's | Books Inc
Non‑Fiction · 336 pages · Paperback · 2014.
Amazon Best Book of the Month (Psychology & Social Sciences). Critically praised by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews.
This book uncovers common misconceptions about happiness, revealing what truly influences lasting well‑being. “Provocative and fresh” – Publishers Weekly. “Informative and engaging” – Kirkus Reviews.
From the publisher:
Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness, turns her research-based eye toward the “myths” we hold about happiness—beliefs that milestones like marriage, wealth, parenthood, or career success will forever secure our joy, or that adversity will surely devastate us. Lyubomirsky argues these black‑and‑white expectations distort our emotional responses and prevent us from recognizing opportunity in the messy middle of life.

**Venue**: Red Rock has kindly given us this rental space for free. Please consider making a purchase to support them. Thanks!