Cafe Parlez to read 'The Bees'

The Cafe Parlez fiction book club's selection for March is "The Bees" by Laline Paull.

Flora 717 is a sanitation work, a member of the lower caste in her orchard beehive, but she is not like other bees. Her curiosity is considered a dangerous flaw, but her courage and strength are assets.

She is allowed to become a forager, flying alone and free until a feat of bravery grants her access to the queen's inner sanctum where she discovers mysteries about the hive that are both profound and ominous. Then Flora breaks the most sacred law of all and challenges the queen's preeminence.

The discussion will take place at Plumb Library on Thursday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m.

Copies of "The Bees" are available at the desk.

Just the Facts to discuss the Essex

The Just the Facts nonfiction club will discuss "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex" by Nathaniel Philbrick on Thursday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m.

In 1819, the Essex set sail from Nantucket on a routine voyage to hunt whales in the Pacific. Fifteen months later, an outraged sperm whale rammed the ship and sank her.

The 20-man crew set out in three small boats for South America. Three months later, only eight were still alive.

This event was Herman Melville's inspiration for "Moby Dick." The story is also a major motion picture, directed by Ron Howard.

Copies of the book are available at the library desk.