A member of The International Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Club Reading Nation
So much more than just reading.
What a great way to start out the New Year with a little positive thinking! Our book for January was “The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho. See my review on the right. Most of the ladies of our book club enjoyed the book and felt a little happier when they finished reading, and who could asked for a better result.
Our book club getting ready for our holiday dinner at The Chart House in Weehawken. So much fun!
Our book club ended our year with Donna Tart’s “Goldfinch.” The book was a national best seller and won this year’s Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The book is a large one and it was too much for some of our busy working moms, but those of us who read the book enjoyed it. See my review to the right.
It was a captivating meeting in front of my fireplace soaking up the heat from the fire and the warmth from a lovely group of women.
Michelle graciously hosted book club this month. It was a smaller group, but a lively one.
Our book was “Life Expectancy,” by Dean Koontz. Yup, that’s right, Dean Koontz. A horror writer for a book club selection! You bet! Just like Stephen King, Koontz can write anything, and most importantly he keeps the tension up all the way through the novel.
A friend recommended this book to me, but I wasn’t sure that our book club would like a Koontz novel. I love him, especially the Odd Thomas series, but would my fellow book clubbites also enjoy the book. I took a chance, it was after all close to Halloween. All fears were gone when we started the discussion, everyone loved the book.
I have a review of the book under Reviews to the right. Take a chance and do this book for a book club pick – you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Boo!
We opted out of reading this month and instead went out to dinner and to “Ladies of Laughter.” It was an evening of laughter, cocktails and good friendship – what else could be better.
I read a good book and would like to share (see my review right hand side of the website) titled “In the Woods,” by Tana French. The book is a mystery written by an Irish writer. I thought the story was very believable without the perfect finish that so often comes with mysteries. Ms. French’s writing is quite lovely with her poetic descriptive phrases of her beloved Ireland. It’s a perfect book for fall with a glass of wine and a warm throw. Enjoy!
Sushi was the food and “The Cuckoo’s Calling,” by JK Rowling was the book for our August book club. (See my review on the right).
Some of us liked the book, while others said it was okay. I enjoyed the protagonist, Cormoran Strike (what a name), and his personality fit the name. This is no Snape, or Dumbledore. A wonderfully flawed, one-legged Afghan veteran, with an estranged girlfriend that weighs heavy on this mind.
Now, mix in an alleged suicide of a world-famous model and some stimulating characters, and you have a refreshing whodunit.
Not sure if its book club material, but a good read nonetheless.
We had book club at my house on a beautiful July evening. It was so close to our June meeting that we decided to read a Kindle Single tilted “An Unexpected Twist,” by Andy Borowitz. It’s about his experience with a medical procedure and just how bad some procedures go. Worth the read.
We also read “Masters of Love,” by Emily Esfahani Smith. It’s about a study done in “The Atlantic.” The link is http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/happily-ever-after/372573/. The article is quite good and we had a lot of discussion between us.
Kindle Singles are a great alternative to those stressed out months when people have no time to read an entire book. I like short stories and am writing a few myself right now.
This month’s book club we focused on Sisters with Anna Quindlen’s “Rise and Shine.” It led to a good discussion on familial relationships, especially sisters. (See my Review on Right.)
I liked this book, but I loved “Every Last One,” by Quindlen more. (See my Review on Right for that book also.)
There is a big fight between the sisters at the end of the book and my question to my fellow book clubbers was: Do you think the sisters just go on without apology, without submission from one to the other of blame and fault? What do you think?
We are bringing in the spring this year with some Chinese food at a local restaurant for our May’s monthly meeting. The book was Harlan Coben’s Missing You.
Coben starts off with his protagonist, Kat Donovan, a New York detective, looking through an online dating website that her friend signed her up for. Dating is sure different from the last time I had a date.
After reading the book I don’t know if I’d ever do online dating now. Read my review of the book under Reviews on the right side of the website.
Most of us actually read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Keep reading!
This month’s book was “The Invention of Wings,” by Sue Monk Kidd. What a great book! See my review on the right under the author’s name.
We had a small group this month, but as always we had fun. The only problem was the place we chose to have book club was way-too-loud. It was difficult to talk and it hurt our discussion.
We may begin May’s book club with some discussion on this month’s book. It was that good.