The Novel Book Club met in November to discuss the book Defending Jacob by William Landay. This book brings up many questions. How well do you know you child? How closely should you monitor your child? What role does genetics play in behavior? How far would you go to protect your family? When a fourteen year old boy is found murdered in the woods, assistant district attorney, Andy Barber takes the case, despite his son, Jacob being a classmate of the murdered boy. Andy is soon removed from the case when Jacob is charged with the murder. While Andy believes his son is innocent, his wife Laurie is not as certain.
Some book club members found the story to be a bit slow in the beginning, but picking up momentum when the murder investigation begins. The story takes some surprising twists towards the end of the book. It was also pointed out that some of the twists seemed contrived and abrupt. Book club members discussed the emerging science of behavioral genetics, in which behaviors are thought to be inherited through your genes in the same way as traits such as musical talent. In this case, the “murder gene” passes on a trait for violent behavior. Andy, those family has a violent history, tries to maintain a “normal family” façade, disowning his genetic heritage by denying all evidence to the contrary.
There are loose ends in this book for you to think about long after you finish it. The transcript of a future grand jury proceeding is interspersed throughout the story. While you don’t know what case the jury is being presented, it provides hints that the conclusion of Jacob’s murder trial is not the end of the case. Is Jacob guilty? You will have to decide for yourself.
The Chestermere Public Library’s book club is a relaxed group of readers who meet on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00pm to discuss the current book selection. The only requirement is that you have a Library membership. The book is available to check out from the Library about month before the meeting, and will usually include a discussion guide. This guide is a list of questions for the group to discuss during our meeting, and it’s helpful to read them over a few times before and while you are reading the book. Book suggestions for future meetings are always welcome!
The next meeting is on December 19 at 7:00pm to discuss “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak. Pick up the book at the Library and come join us!
