Dear Great Book Guru, With so many families away for Presidents Week, Sea Cliff was rather quiet but there was a rousing celebration at my friends’ home with great food and lively conversation.  One of the guests mentioned a recent novel about the horrors of war from a feminist perspective; many of us were interested in reading it for our book club.  Any thoughts?  Presidential Supper Scholar

Dear Presidential Supper Scholar, Great idea! Pat Barker’s THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS is a perfect choice for a book group. This retelling of the story of “The Iliad” focuses on a briefly mentioned character: Briseis - a young Trojan princess - whose brothers and husband have been killed by Achilles and his men. She is taken as a trophy of war as are the other women and girls of Troy.  In “The Iliad” we hear little to nothing of their stories, but Barker breaks their silence.  With an astonishing voice, Briseis destroys the tales of war’s glory and men’s valor.  Instead, we hear of women’s pain, terror, and subjugation.  Told through the ages of the “glorious Achilles, godlike Achilles, brilliant Achilles," we hear instead Briseis call him “the butcher.” Barker, who has written the award-winning “Regeneration” trilogy about the horrors of World War I, attempts to correct ancient wrongs- wrongs found throughout literature and life. She has given these women voices, but many silences still abound. Highly recommended!