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New books on review; chocolate lover’s delight

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 (231997)

The Palmdale Library book clubs are attracting new members every month with an exciting array of contemporary literary favorites.

On Feb. 15 at 7 p.m., the Mystery, Murder and Mayhem discussion group will unpack David Liss’ “A Conspiracy of Paper,” while the African American group will take a look at “The Book of Harlan” by Bernice McFadden.

In “A Conspiracy of Paper,” Benjamin Weaver is a Jewish ex-boxer and finds himself as an outsider in 18th Century London. He is the son of a wealthy former stock trader, but spends his days tracking down debtors and felons for his aristocratic clients.

One day he is asked to investigate his father’s sudden death and eventually lands in the world of English “stock jobbers,” gliding his way between coffee houses and gambling dens, drawing rooms and bordellos. The more Weaver uncovers, the darker the truth becomes until he realizes that he is following too closely in his father’s footsteps which just might lead him to an early grave.

The book reportedly leaves readers wondering how much has changed in the stock market in the past 300 years.

“The Book of Harlan” opens with the courtship of Harlan’s parents and his 1917 birth in Macon, Ga. After his prominent minister grandfather dies, Harlan and his parents move to Harlem, N.Y., where he becomes a professional musician.

When Harlan and his best friend, trumpeter Lizard Robbins, are invited to perform at a popular cabaret in the Parisian enclave of Montmartre—popularly known as “The Harlem of Paris” by African Americans—Harlan jumps at the chance and convinces Lizard to join him. But after Paris falls under Nazi occupation, Harlan and Lizard are thrown into the Buchenwald concentration camp in Weimar, Germany which irreparably changes the course of Harlan’s life.

The murder mystery club meets on the third Wednesday of each month, while the African American Book Club gathers on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:45 p.m.

Book discussions are not the only things taking place next week. The library will host on Feb. 13 a unique chocolate tasting and adult craft program at 6 p.m. Participants can enjoy a sampling of various chocolates and participate; in some chocolate-related trivia and games. Each person will leave with their own homemade box of chocolates (persons allergic to nuts should know that confections may contain nuts and nut oils or may have been made alongside other products containing nuts).

“Join us for a chocolate tasting and fun Valentine’s Day craft,” invites Debbie Petersen, assistant library director.

The Palmdale Library, 700 E. Palmdale Blvd., is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more details, call (661) 267-5600 or visit wwwlcityofpalmdale.org/library.

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