February Book Club: The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder

We had a wonderful time gathering at Debbie’s house for our annual movie night. We watched To Kill a Mockingbird. Some of us had never watched this classic movie and others just finished reading the book for the first time. Such a good book. Debbie spoiled us with her concession stand of movie theater goodies. It was a perfect evening.

Our next book club meeting will be on Tuesday February 5th at 7 pm at Sue Mitchell’s home. Her book pick is:

                               

A Goodreads review says:

"On Friday noon, July the twentieth, 1714, the finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below." With this celebrated sentence Thornton Wilder begins The Bridge of San Luis Rey, one of the towering achievements in American fiction and a novel read throughout the world.
By chance, a monk witnesses the tragedy. Brother Juniper then embarks on a quest to prove that it was divine intervention rather than chance that led to the deaths of those who perished in the tragedy. His search leads to his own death -- and to the author's timeless investigation into the nature of love and the meaning of the human condition.

A Goodreads reader says:

Beautiful prose, fascinating tale about the collapse of a bridge and the lives of the people who died there. The premise of the story is that there was a monk who was convinced that each of these people had died for a reason, and who wrote a book trying to prove the existence of God based on the life stories of the five people who died - but the narrator of the story goes on to fill in all the things the monk didn't know or misunderstood, giving this short novel layers upon layers of story. Absolutely wonderful.

Telarry will be hosting in March and her book is Murder on the Rocks by Karen MacInerney. It is available in librarys and on the kindle.

See you in February at Sue’s home.

Diane

December Book Club: Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett

We had a lively discussion this past month with Bethany’s pick of The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.  One of the main themes of this story was about forgiveness and choosing to be happy regardless of surrounding circumstances. The choices made by the characters (they are fictional!), show that we are all flawed and that there is always two sides to a story. This wasn’t  about right or wrong because we all have good in us but our choices can cause heartache in others while seeming to be good for us.  The writing was beautiful and the symbolism of light throughout the book was masterfully done.  Thanks Bethany for a delightful evening. We also welcome our new friend Simona. We could tell you enjoyed yourself and hope you will come back.

A note for next year: We will be moving our day to Tuesday for next year so plan on getting together on the first Tuesday of each month starting in January.

Our next gathering will be on Thursday Dec 6th at 7pm. Diane will host at her home with the book Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett.

                                  

Goodreads review says: 

Marley was dead to begin with . . . These chillingly familiar words begin the classic Christmas tale of remorse and redemption in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Now R. William Bennett rewinds the story and focuses the spotlight on Scrooge s miserly business partner, Jacob T. Marley, who was allowed to return as a ghost to warn Scrooge away from his ill-fated path. Why was Marley allowed to return? And why hadn t he been given the same chance as Ebenezer Scrooge? Or had he? Written with a voice reminiscent of Dickens, Jacob T. Marley is to A Christmas Carol as the world-famous Wicked is to The Wizard of Oz as this masterfully crafted story teaches of choices, consequences, and of the power of accountability. It is sure to become a Christmas favorite.

A goodreads reader writes: 

"Jacob realized that he was no more than an entry in Scrooge's ledger-in an account that was now being closed.
What a wretched man, Marley thought. Whatever in the world made him?
Whether it was seconds or minutes, Marley did not know, but he paused so completely he thought his heart ha stopped beating.
I did, were his own words that came to him.
I did, I made Ebenezer Scrooge."
These are some of the final thoughts of Jacob T. Marley as he lays on his deathbed in front of Scrooge. While we all know of Dicken's famous story of Scrooge's second chance, what of Marley? Why didn't he get a second chance, or did he? This beautifully written story in the style of Dickens tells of what happens to Ebenezer Scrooge's business partner before, and after his death.
Readers see as the warm-hearted, deeply loved Jacob Thelonius Marley is changed into the cold, unforgiving Marley we knew in A Christmas Carol. The story depicts Marley's life as well as his journey in heaven and his well-known, ghostly meeting with Ebenezer. As Scrooge's heart is changed through his meetings with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, so is Marley's perspective expanded. This masterfully written story entwined the two's paths so creatively,that it will keep you eating up each page while warming the heart and teaching of compassion, sacrifice, and forgiveness. This new tale is sure to warm your heart during the Christmas season, as well as throughout the whole year.

Be thinking about which month you would like to host next year and if possible which book you would like to discuss.

Happy reading!!

November book club: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Thanks to all who were able to come to Beth’s house this past week. We had a great discussion about her book pick The Ladies Auxiliary by Tova Mirvus. This was a great book to discuss because it made us think about our own need for acceptance and tolerance among our peers and how far we might go to letting someone different into our community, whether that be a spiritual or social one. Highly recommended reading.

Bethany will be hosting our next meeting on Thursday Nov. 1st at 7pm. She has moved homes but is still in Liberty Lake. I will forward on her address later. Her book selection is:

                            

Goodreads Review says: 

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.
Tom, whose records as a lighthouse keeper are meticulous and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel has taken the tiny baby to her breast. Against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.
M. L. Stedman’s mesmerizing, beautifully written novel seduces us into accommodating Isabel’s decision to keep this “gift from God.” And we are swept into a story about extraordinarily compelling characters seeking to find their North Star in a world where there is no right answer, where justice for one person is another’s tragic loss.
The Light Between Oceans is exquisite and unforgettable, a deeply moving novel.

A Goodreads reader says: 

Tom Sherborne was shattered psychologically by his years on the Western Front in World War I. Returning to Australia, he can't face post-war society so he accepts a job operating a lighthouse on Janus Rock, an island several hours off the coast where the Pacific meets the Indian Ocean. The isolation is almost complete. Supply boats only come to Janus Rock every three months and shore leave is only granted every other year. Tom eventually marries Isabel and the two begin to build a life on Janus Rock. Isabel desperately wants to begin a family and, unfortunately, she suffers a series of miscarrages and a still birth that causes her to suffer an emotional breakdown. And then one day a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a live baby. Choices begin to be made that affect lives both on the island and on the mainland. The strength of this book is that the reader has empathy with every character and can understand every choice that is made. This book is a clear reminder that choices have consequences not only for ourselves but also for those individuals around us. An incredibly emotional read, but so worth the effort.

Happy reading and see you next month.

October book club: The Ladies Auxiliary by Tova Mirvis

Thank you LuAnn for hosting our book club this month. We had such a good evening together. Her book pick of The Girl Who Chased the Moon sparked many tangent discussions about healing, hurting, acceptance, growing up in small towns, moving, change of hearts, oddities in families and communities etc. We discovered things about our book club friends that we would never have guessed! It was a ridiculously enjoyable evening, and the milky way cake was heavenly. I love getting together and sharing  thoughts and ideas about what ever these books inspire us to think about.

Next month Beth will be hosting our book club on Thursday October 4th at 7pm. Her book pick is:

                                  

Goodreads review says:   When free-spirited Batsheva moves into the close-knit Orthodox community of Memphis, Tennessee, the already precarious relationship between the Ladies Auxiliary and their teenage daughters is shaken to the core. In this extraordinary novel, Tova Mirvis takes us into the fascinating and insular world of the Memphis Orthodox Jews, one ripe with tradition and contradiction. Warm and wise, enchanting and funny, The Ladies Auxiliary brilliantly illuminates the timeless struggle between mothers and daughters, family and self, religious freedom and personal revelation, honoring the past and facing the future. An unforgettable story of uncommon atmosphere, profound insight, and winning humor, The Ladies Auxiliary is a triumphant work of fiction.

A goodreads reader says:  I loved this book. I think it was because I could relate to so much of the story. Small communities are like that, hiding problems and protecting the status quo at all cost. What I love best about Oakland is that we celebrate diversity and seem to thrive on uncovering dirt to discuss.
And I loved the references to Jewish tradition. Although I was raised in a Reform congregation, my grandparents were very much a part of that Orthodoxy. And we all stuck together, supporting each other, even when it made no sense, like eating at the Chinese restaurant owned by a member of the temple and only going to Jewish doctors and dentists.
I own this book and plan to lend it out because it is such a fun read.

Beth had several books to recommend that she has read.

• The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
• Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nelson

We have titles for our books thru the end of the year.

• November 1st is hosted by Bethany. Her pick is The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman
• November 29th is hosted by Diane. Her pick is Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett

Happy Reading and see you next month. Good luck Heather. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you. We love you.

September book club: The Girl Who Chased The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

We had a wonderful discussion in Debbie’s beautiful back yard setting about her book pick Everlost by Neal Shusterman. We missed all who could not be there but you missed a great discussion. This book is written by a man known as the story teller. He has been telling stories for a long time and is very good at it. He has inspired young readers everywhere to pick up a book and read. He visits schools and towns and even gets the kids involved in naming his books. We discovered many layers in Everlost, spiritual and otherwise, that made it a great read. Thanks Debbie!

LuAnn will be hosting our next meeting which will actually be Thursday August 30th at 7pm at her home. Her book is:

                                

Goodreads review says:   In her latest enchanting novel, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world—no matter how out of place they feel.
Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. Such as, why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? And why did she vow never to return? But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew—a reclusive, real-life gentle giant—she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes.
Everyone in Mullaby adores Julia Winterson’s cakes—which is a good thing, because Julia can’t seem to stop baking them. She offers them to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth but also in the hope of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Flour, eggs, milk, and sugar . . . Baking is the only language the proud but vulnerable Julia has to communicate what is truly in her heart. But is it enough to call back to her those she’s hurt in the past?  
Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily’s backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.

A Goodreads reader says:  What is home to you? A comfortable, warm place filled with loving faces? Is it the scent of freshly baked cookies or pie wafting through the air? A worn blanket draped across a favorite chair and a good book? The soft, silky touch of a beloved pet’s fur? Finding shelter in the protective embrace of a lover? Home is more than just a place it is a destination where you feel safe; someplace where all is right with the world; a spot you always want to be. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is all about finding that elusive point called home.

Sounds like a great book to curl up on the couch and enjoy.

Happy Reading and see you at LuAnn’s home Aug 30th.

July’s Book Club-Summer get Together

We had so much fun at book club this month. We missed you if you were not there. Our discussion on Heather’s book, Feeling Good Together by David Burns MD, was almost like a therapy session for each of us. We all shared our experiences with using the methods we had learned through reading the book. We agreed that each relationship is unique and they don’t necessarily have the same value attached to it. In the end, we can only really change ourselves, so “let go of the banana!!”.

We were  happy to share the evening with Margaret's friend. Come again, please!  Heather has also recommended reading books by Harriet Lerner. They are similar to the book we just read. We also have some kindle edition books to recommend. Not sure if these are available in print though. Her Nowhere by Brigetta Schwaiger and Italian Journey by James Ernest Shaw. An interesting site to check out is Pixelofink.com. Telarry shared this with us last month and you can download free kindle books each day.

We are going to break from our traditional meetings for July. Heather is willing to host a lazy afternoon of reading and talking. Bring a book and a folding chair and come enjoy the lake on Thursday afternoon July 19th at 1:00.

Looking ahead to August, Debbie is hosting our next formal meeting August 2 at 7pm. Her book pick is Everlost by Neal Shusterman :

                              

Goodreads review says: 

Nick and Allie don't survive the car accident... ...but their souls don't exactly get where they're supposed to get either. Instead, they're caught halfway between life and death, in a sort of limbo known as Everlost: a shadow of the living world, filled with all the things and places that no longer exist. It's a magical, yet dangerous place where bands of lost children run wild and anyone who stands in the same place too long sinks to the center of the Earth. When they find Mary, the self-proclaimed queen of lost kids, Nick feels like he's found a home, but Allie isn't satisfied spending eternity between worlds. Against all warnings, Allie begins learning the "Criminal Art" of haunting, and ventures into dangerous territory, where a monster called the McGill threatens all the souls of Everlost. In this imaginative novel, Neal Shusterman explores questions of life, death, and what just might lie in between.

A goodreads reader says:

This book was a perfect blend of imagination and terror. While acknowledging that when the body dies the soul doesn't have much to worry about in physical condition, it also brings up the point of what the soul must face when it leaves its body behind. It is humanity's greatest question, and though there is still no answer, this book allows the mind to create answers beyond reality. I can say with confidence that when you put this book down, you won't look at life in the same perspective. Neal Shusterman has found the healthy balance of ideas, showing the afterlife but leaving religion untouched, something many authors have tried and failed to do.

Wow! That was a lot of information. As always, enjoy reading and see you next month at Heather’s home and in August at Debbie’s house.

June’s Book Club book: Feeling Good Together by David D. Burns MD

Thank you to all who came to book club last night, although we missed those who could not be there. We always have such a wonderful time together and our discussions on and off topic are so good. The Moonflower Vine was a delightful book full of character and family relationships. Although each family is unique in their struggles and connectivity, families are meant to belong to each other and that is something we all share.

Our next book will be hosted by Heather Otte on June 7th at 7pm. We are hoping for good weather so we can enjoy her wonderful deck. Her book pick is:

                                      

Goodreads review says:    

"Why won’t my husband ever express his feelings?"
“Why won’t my wife listen?"
“Why is my sister such a control freak?"
"Why does my ex act like such a total jerk?"
“What’s wrong with people?”

We all have someone we can’t get along with—whether it’s a friend or colleague who complains constantly, a relentlessly critical boss, an obnoxious neighbor, a teenager who pouts and slams doors (all the while insisting she’s not upset), or maybe a loving, but irritating spouse.
In his bestselling book, Feeling Good, Dr. David Burns introduced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a clinically proven, drug-free therapy that has revolutionized the treatment of clinical depression throughout the world. Now, in Feeling Good Together, he presents Cognitive Interpersonal Therapy, a radical new approach that will help you transform troubled, conflicted relationships into successful, happy ones.

A Goodreads reader says:       This is a great book about communications. It has you take personal responsibility for your communication, then teaches you to listen and to act on what you hear, rather than to react, and cause more problems. Good skill building book for all types of relationships, not just marriage. A book everyone should read.

Heather was excited about this book and just kept going back to it for her choice for this next month. We have 5 weeks to read this time so enjoy the book and we will see you next month.

Diane