"Bad Pairings and Bad Politics"

Big Book Club's "What the Whale!"

This week we were joined by guest host Vicky, who loves dogs (she has 3) and books.

We discussed:

The 1834 Poor Law, which ensured that the poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed. Children who entered the workhouse would receive some schooling. In return for this care, all workhouse paupers would have to work for several hours each day. - UK National Archives

Italians with white mice - In the 1820s/1830s Italian men were wandering the streets of London & other cities as organ grinders, accompanied by boys with trained monkeys and mice who performed tricks. - Literature Network Forums

Palate cleansers:

• Vicky - "Joe Gould's Teeth" by Jill Leopore
• Megan - Black Klansman film and the book "Black Klansman: race, hate, and the undercover investigation of a lifetime" by Ron Stallworth; "Sociable: a Novel" by Rebecca Harrington; "Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger" by Soraya Chemaly
• Pete - "Black Leopard Red Wolf" by Marlon James
• Alex - is between books and was bereft of anything to share this week, but will come back next time having found lots of new things to read.