Season of the Witch November 2016

November 2016 Book Selection

The Fairfax Library Book Discussion Group will meet Thursday, November 10th at 7 p.m. in the meeting room of the Fairfax Library to discuss our November book, Season of the Witch by David Talbot.

  

Discussion questions are below.

Here are some links for additional background and information:

David Talbot interview

Mark your calendar to visit the SF Mint in 2017 for SF History Days

Hunter’s Point Riot info

Lots of photos and essays about SF history in the ‘60s and ‘70’s

Coming up, we have the following books to look forward to reading and discussing:

Thurs. Dec. 10^th        Our Souls At Night by Kent Haruf

Thurs. Jan. 12^th      The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida

Thurs. Feb. 9^th        The Sellout by Paul Beatty

Thurs. Mar. 9^th          The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra         

  

Thanks for reading with us. I look forward to seeing you at the Fairfax Library.

Beth Bailey-Gates

Friends of the Fairfax Library

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Season of the Witch by David Talbot

1. Season of the Witch covers some dark moments in San Francisco history. What factors do you think led to this confluence of largely unprecedented events within a relatively short period of time? Could it happen again?

2. Was it the leadership of then Mayor Dianne Feinstein, the 49ers winning the Super Bowl, or varied factors that led to a more calm and focused city?

3. San Francisco, unlike New York City, never again elected a Republican public official following the times of Season of the Witch. Why did this happen, and is this likely to always be the case?

4. Season of the Witch opens and closes with stories about the Hallinans, reflecting both the old Irish American power structure within the city, as well as the often fiery nature of SF politics. How has that changed over time?

5. In this year’s election, San Francisco voters were faced with some deeply contentious and acrimonious issues, with many of the hot button topics related to growth and construction, economic disparity, short term rentals and more. Were these issues predictable based on past history? 6. While Season of the Witch is obviously non-fiction, if such tales were offered as a fiction novel, do you think it would have been believed?

6.  Were you shocked or surprised by any of the stories related in the book?

7. Season of the Witch covers some rollicking times and harrowing times in San Francisco history. Which do you think is more descriptive of San Francisco today?

8. Events described in the book create some very effective and compassionate health care centers in San Francisco – from the Haight Street Clinic to San Francisco General’s Ward 5B. Were those “only in San Francisco” results?