“Speaking of Pictures” is the title of the December 4^th, 1939, LIFE Magazine article showcasing the prizewinning sketches that would adorn post offices around the USA as a part of a federal works project to heal not just the body, but the soul of America. Who knew? Well, all of us who read Big Lies in a Small Town now do! Although Diane Chamberlain’s story is fiction, it weaves history into a murder mystery that most of us found well-written, easy to read, and realistic. Perhaps the novel didn’t WOW us – but it gave us plenty to talk about.

Our first responder has read Diane Chamberlain’s books before – all good. This one is nice, straightforward, mostly positive, and the dual timeline didn’t bother him. Our next responder had a hard time at first but really liked it. Another member didn’t think she was going to like the novel, but she did. She was “thrilled with the ending.”

She also called out a powerful talking point as a possible sequel – how would the victim of Morgan’s car accident receive her? Most of us agreed that showing up on the woman’s doorstep was a selfish act. Morgan should have written or called first. One of us believes that most people don’t really forgive and Morgan especially had not yet even accepted herself as an alcoholic. Another member called out that although making amends is an important part of AA’s twelve-step program, it should only be done if it doesn’t do harm. He mentioned further that forgiveness is important – not so much for the person being forgiven – but as part of the victim’s healing, letting go, and moving on.

As we continued around the table, we considered plot points and perspectives. One of us recalled reading along and saying out loud: “It just took a very dark turn.” He noted that Anna’s story line was written in the first person and Morgan’s in third person, which helped keep the storyline straight. He also appreciated the treatment of racism; the hidden flower in the mural and Morgan’s relationship to the artist were “fabulous” twists. We admired Jesse for his actions to save Anna, understanding the tremendous risk he took. We wondered at Anna’s naivete. With just a little bit of work, she could have been safe; but she didn’t have experience with many males in her life. One of the discussion questions asked about the role of the prologue and many of us had forgotten it.

We liked the author’s characterizations – they seemed like people rather than stereotypes. One of us noted the detail of how the workmen in the studio were described and Morgan’s attraction to them. We disagreed about Morgan’s guilt in the car accident. She was drunk and let her boyfriend drive, even though he was also drunk. But— she didn’t leave the scene. Why would she say she had been driving? Her boyfriend was emotionally abusive. And he got away with it. She needed a better lawyer! A couple of us were disturbed that Morgan’s relationship with her parents couldn’t be repaired.

I didn’t say this at the time, but as I write, I wonder about the difference between good and great novels. Perhaps like good and great art in general. Could the author have answered our questions? Would the novel have been too long, too slow, less entertaining? Do the novels we love seem so perfect because they already fit our understanding of the world and we take things for granted that others don’t?

We also discussed the healing power of art. How Anna painted and repainted that motorcycle into her mural. Art is used to help trauma patients and coloring is actually advertised for adults. One of us mentioned coloring when stressed and another does diamond art.

We ended the meeting with a connection to Eleanor Roosevelt and our December discussion. One member shared a friend’s grandmother’s memento from an auction many years ago, in a box with a three-cent stamp: a salmon-colored gargle cup. Things, like books and paintings, are imbued with meaning because we have experiences and connections to the past, in the present, and for the future.

WORDS:

• Above your raisin’ – putting on airs/appearing smarter than the people who raised you
• Furriner: phonetic spelling of a word intended to mean foreigner
• Atelier: artists’ studio

OTHER WORKS DISCUSSED:

• The Titanic (1997) Film
• Sacred Clowns (1993) Tony Hillerman – previous book club selection

Interesting websites for more information:

• Life Magazine digital archive accessed through the New York Public Library: https://www.nypl.org/node/444480
• The website the New York Public Library links for the 1939, December 4th Life Magazine issue: https://books.google.com/books?id=5UEEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
• Art of the New Deal: https://www.fdrlibrary.org/art-detail
• People stop at post offices and government buildings to look at remaining murals. Here is an example:
• https://gentleartofwandering.com/checking-out-new-deal-era-post-office-murals/