Anathem by Neal Stephenson
On July 20, the North Reading Group met at the Milwood branch of the Austin Public Library, 12500 Amherst Dr., Austin, TX 78727, to discuss Neal Stephenson’s Anathem. The book was published in 2008 (William Morrow) and a movie-like “trailer” is available on the web. Eight people attended, and two who were unable to attend sent comments by email. Nine had read Stephenson before. All 10 started the 960-page book and 7 finished it.
This book exhibits a remarkable range of pacing. At the beginning it moves at a glacial pace, in keeping with cloistered life in the “Math.” Many Maths with various