A brilliant history of 20th century Washington, D.C., The Washington Century is a narrative of the evolution of the nation’s capital, from a small southern town turned outward to the world, to a powerhouse capital engrossed in its lobbying and partisan politicking. From the Teddy Roosevelt presidency to that of Clinton, the city is brought to life through the struggles of three families, headed by three trailblazing patriarchs: Hale Boggs, a prominent congressman from Louisiana, real-estate developer Morris Cafritz, and Julius Hobson Sr. The biography of these social and politically involved families focuses each on one aspect of the city, making them part of the story of Washington, D.C.
The book club meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at La Casa, located next to the interim library.
For more information, please contact Ana Elisa de Campos Salles at anaelisa.decampossalles@dc.gov or call 202-671-3122.
First published in 1955 when she was 30 years old, this debut book quickly established Miss O’Connor as a force to be reckoned with and a true virtuoso of the short story. Perhaps it was her Catholic faith. Or the influence of her native Savannah, Georgia. Or maybe this was one seriously astute, keen observer of human nature with something to say. Whatever the reason, these stories are at times dark, savage, compassionate – but they are always humorous and engaging.
This is a story of two Wes Moores, born within the same year in the same neighborhood of Baltimore. Both grew up without a father and had rough childhoods, growing up in tough neighborhoods and having run-ins with the police. How is it then that one grew up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House Fellow and business entrepreneur, while the other became a convicted prisoner and is now serving a life sentence?
Jacob has never been normal. An heir to a small-time pharmacy fortune, the teen has never fit in and his only friends include a high school rebel and his doting grandfather who is known for tall tales. While Jacob views the fantastical stories of his grandfather's youth with a skeptical eye, he has always shared a close bond with the WWII veteran.
A Visit from the Goon Squad delves into the lives of Bennie Salazar, an aging music executive in New York City, and Sasha, his troubled young employee. Exploring the turbulent pasts and inevitable, indelible markings left by experience on her protagonists, Jennifer Egan takes us on a globe-trotting, musically-infused exploration of the very human tendencies to succumb or struggle against self-destruction, and the need for redemption.
Henrietta Lacks should have been proud of her contributions to modern medicine. Her human cells were the first to be grown in culture, and were instrumental in helping to develop the polio vaccine, for cancer research, the research of various viruses, and to better understand the effects of the atomic bomb on humans. Her cells now number in the billions, and continue to help researchers develop in vitro fertilization, cloning and genetic mapping—yet Miss Lacks died more than 20 years ago, never knowing what her contributions to science were.
