The Buddha Reads book club met recently to discuss Mystic River by Dennis Lehane—a gripping, characterdriven crime novel set in the working-class neighborhoods of Boston. Our discussion explored the novel’s richly drawn characters, layered plot, and haunting atmosphere.
Bob highlighted the intricate relationships between the characters and Lehane’s evocative depiction of Boston’s neighborhoods. He noted that the epilogue invites speculation, especially about Sean’s future. Laurie questioned whether the epilogue was necessary at all, comparing it to ambiguous endings in other novels. She suggested it might even be a dream sequence and reflected on how the story felt shaped by fate, as if the characters were unable to escape their destinies. Gary agreed the epilogue was unusual but wasn’t bothered by it, and added that he found the book slow at first, but much more engaging in the final section.
Danny focused on the themes of karma and the moral ambiguity of justice in the novel. He expressed some reservations about the story’s sense of determinism and raised questions about the legality of certain police actions. Gary, drawing on his background, provided a legal perspective on one of the more controversial plot points.
The group agreed the book was well-written and filled with memorable characters, but not necessarily something they’d recommend to everyone. As Gary put it, this one is best suited for fans of “hard-boiled murder mysteries.” Joan and Danny appreciated the novel but didn’t connect with it as deeply as others did. Joan offered a great summary of her experience: she thought it was “just a little better than okay.”
Looking ahead, our next book will be The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. We’ll meet via Zoom on Saturday, July 13 to discuss it. Danny will also be finalizing the list of candidate books for our next round of voting. If you have any titles you’d like the group to consider, please send your suggestions his way!