This month the Literary Circle is reading  Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Set in 1666, the story describes what happens in a remote English village during an outbreak of the plague ("The Black Death"). Led by their impassioned minister Michael Mompellion, the villagers impose a quarantine. They close off access to their village so that the plague won’t spread. Through the eyes of Anna Frith, the minister’s housemaid, we watch as friends, family and neighbors sicken and die, and survivors struggle to keep their faith and their sanity. The tale is grim, but eloquently told, and surprisingly uplifting. I found myself mesmerized by the rich historical detail - the joys, sorrows, and simple pleasures of daily life in a seventeenth century village. While this is a work of fiction, it is based on the true story of the villagers of Eyam in Derbyshire, England. I won’t spoil the ending, but I must say that the last 20 pages left me wondering aloud! Join us and share your views on Monday, March 31 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room.