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The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

Meeting date: November 26, 2019 ;
Star rating: 3.8/5 stars

Two sisters, one farm. A family is split when their father leaves their shared inheritance entirely to Helen, his younger daughter. Despite baking award-winning pies at the local nursing home, her older sister, Edith, struggles to make what most people would call a living. So she can't help wondering what her life would have been like with even a portion of the farm money her sister kept for herself.

With the proceeds from the farm, Helen builds one of the most successful light breweries in the country, and makes their company motto ubiquitous: "Drink lots. It's Blotz." Where Edith has a heart as big as Minnesota, Helen's is as rigid as a steel keg. Yet one day, Helen will find she needs some help herself, and she could find a potential savior close to home. . . if it's not too late.

Meanwhile, Edith's granddaughter, Diana, grows up knowing that the real world requires a tougher constitution than her grandmother possesses. She earns a shot at learning the IPA business from the ground up--will that change their fortunes forever, and perhaps reunite her splintered family?

Here we meet a cast of lovable, funny, quintessentially American characters eager to make their mark in a world that's often stacked against them. In this deeply affecting family saga, resolution can take generations, but when it finally comes, we're surprised, moved, and delighted.

Comments and questions from attendees:
  • "Strong Midwestern women" idea is definitely a thing; dependable, reliable, solid as rocks
  • These women are realistic; they are people we know.
  • When multiple women are in a family, are they expected to be similar? Is this expectation valid? Yes and No. Their personalities can be similar but attendees did not feel they are the same as their sisters at all.
  • Helen and Edith are practically polar opposites. Helen is selfish in the way that she cannot understand her sister's choices, she also judges Edith's choices rather harshly. This judgmental view is part of her personality and it makes it difficult to like her as a character.
  • This book discusses sibling rivalry and the effect it has on a family relationship.
  • Edith is a favorite. "She's a good egg."
  • We forgive Diana for her Robin Hood ways. Diana's motivation is the difference. She truly wants to help and support her Grandmother. She is a grateful child.
  • This book also has some interesting commentary on how the upper classes view those using social services like SNAP - Frank and Diana's exchange in the car, Diana's school friends balancing the federal budget
  • Orval and Helen's relationship is vastly different from Edith and Carl's relationship. Out of the two portrayals of marriage, we preferred Edith and Carl. They were each other's support and best friend, not business partners.
  • Frank has the most impact as a male character. We liked how he treated Diana seriously and didn't withhold his support even after she struck out on her own.
  • Why avoid Edith and talking about Dad's decision regarding the farm? Especially with Edith's forgiving personality. Why wait for 1) Dad to die and 2) for the will to be read out? Helen and her father knew about this situation long before hand.
  • Money can break up a family. It's horrible but true. Midwestern farm families have stories like this - it really happens.
  • Why don't families discuss wills or end of life plans? Wouldn't talking about it have solved Helen and Edith's issues?
    • Maybe parents and children don't want to deal with reactions, feelings, and disappointments?
    • Maybe avoiding making a decision at all?
Lowest rating: 3
Highest rating: 4
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