Joanne Provo

What Have I Been Reading?

A Woman of No Importance

The story of Baltimore socialite, Virginia Hall who overcame incredible obstacles to become a member of the British Special Operations during WWII. She was a linchpin in the resistance movement in France, building networks and sharing intelligence which helped the allies, while risk her own personal safety. She was stymied by less qualified and jealous male bosses, but her persistence and courage sustained her and she finally got the credit she had been denied during her lifetime.

Mister Pip

In a remote island ravaged by violence and war, the sole remaining white man captures the imagination of the children through the telling of Charles Dickens "Great Expectations". Matilda, a curious 13-year-old, is fascinated with Pip and her ability to recall the story sustains her through unimaginable tragedies. Powerful stories stoke our imagination as the author notes, "A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe."

The Great Gatsby

Inspired to dig into this classic after attending an exhibit at the Minnesota History Center on the 100th anniversary of this well-known work. They were honoring our hometown author and his reference to "My Middle West". The story captures the era of the 1920's and the yearning of the characters to be part of something. While it is easy to get lost in the richness of the language the story still resonates after all these years.