Tag: Between Friends Book Club

Coming Home

kim.harwanko

Colm Tóibín’s Long Island is a sequel to his acclaimed novel Brooklyn, reuniting readers with Eilis Lacey two decades after her initial journey from Ireland to America. Set in 1976, Eilis is now settled in Lindenhurst, Long Island, with her husband, Tony Fiorello, and their two teenage children. Her seemingly tranquil life is disrupted when a stranger arrives, revealing that his wife is pregnant with Tony’s child, a revelation that propels Eilis to return to her hometown of Enniscorthy, Ireland, for the first time in twenty years.

Eilis returns to Ireland to reassess the life she built in America. She falls back in with her old friends and her former lover, stirring up long-buried emotions and forcing her to confront not only her past but also the person she has become. Torn between the familiarity of her roots and the life she has carefully constructed across the ocean, Eilis’s journey becomes one of profound self-reflection and reckoning.

Our book club was torn on this book. Some absolutely fell in love with the language and the way the story rolled along, appreciating how Tóibín delicately portrays Eilis’s struggles and the complexities of life. The novel’s exploration of the choices that define us struck a chord with many of us, offering a poignant look at the intersections of identity, loyalty, and belonging.

Others in the group, however, found the pacing slower than expected and wished for more resolution in certain plotlines. The tension between Eilis’s old and new lives, while beautifully written, left some readers craving a clearer sense of closure.

Rating: 7

Threads of Hope

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Barbara Davis’s The Keeper of Happy Endings is a beautifully woven tale of love, resilience, and second chances that spans decades. The novel intertwines the stories of Soline Roussel, a Parisian seamstress with a gift for crafting wedding gowns said to ensure happy marriages, and Rory Grant, a young woman in Boston grappling with her own heartbreak and loss.

Soline’s life is marked by tragedy, including the loss of her fiancé during World War II and the destruction of her Parisian shop. Years later, Rory stumbles upon Soline’s story while seeking her own path after a failed engagement and the disappearance of her mother. Their lives intersect in unexpected ways, revealing secrets, healing wounds, and celebrating the power of hope.

Our book club found the characters multidimensional with deeply felt struggles and triumphs. Davis moves through dual timelines very well blending historical and contemporary settings with emotional depth. Themes of grief, love, and destiny are explored with a touch of mysticism, adding a magical quality to the narrative.

The novel’s pace is gentle but engaging and the story is heartfelt and memorable. Our book club talked about how she rebuilt her life after such a tragic lost. We talked about the importance we place on some treasures that we hold on to for years. Some of us didn’t like the fact that Rory is drawn to the burned up building. They found it too convenient. But for me it added a bit of mysticism and what’s wrong with that.

Rating 7.5

Suburban Chic and Scandal: A Look at When Life Gives You Lululemons

kim.harwanko

Lauren Weisberger’s When Life Gives You Lululemons is a sparkling, witty sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, shifting the focus to the glamorous yet tumultuous life of Emily Charlton, Miranda Priestly’s sharp-tongued former assistant. Now a high-profile image consultant, Emily faces a career crisis when her A-list clientele begins to dwindle.

The story unfolds in the affluent suburbs of Greenwich, Connecticut, where Emily joins forces with her old friend Miriam, a former high-powered attorney turned stay-at-home mom, and their mutual friend Karolina, a supermodel navigating a messy public scandal. Together, they tackle Karolina’s personal and professional dilemmas, exposing the absurdities and pressures of suburban life.

Weisberger’s satirical take on wealth, privilege, and the cutthroat world of image-making is both biting and hilarious. The characters are vividly drawn, with Emily’s sardonic wit and no-nonsense attitude providing the perfect counterbalance to the novel’s more heartfelt moments. Themes of friendship, reinvention, and resilience shine throughout the narrative, making it as empowering as it is entertaining.

Our book club loved this book – it was so much fun. It was light, funny, and full of drama. We talked about how Emily and her friends navigated all the crazy society challenges with humor and grace. It certainly shows how friends can help you get through anything. Enjoy the fun.

Rating: 8.5

Reel Talk: Swapping Book Club for Movie Night

kim.harwanko

“Cabrini” is a 2024 biographical drama directed by Alejandro Monteverde, chronicling the life of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant nun who became the first American citizen to be canonized as a saint. Set in late 19th-century New York City, the film portrays Cabrini’s unwavering dedication to aiding impoverished Italian immigrants, particularly orphaned children, amidst societal challenges.

Cristiana Dell’Anna delivers a compelling performance as Cabrini, capturing her resilience and compassion. The film’s cinematography effectively evokes the era’s atmosphere, immersing viewers in the historical context.

Although, critics have offered mixed reviews; RogerEbert.com praised it as a “dignified” portrayal that honors Cabrini’s efforts, while IndieWire criticized it as “stodgy” and “histrionic.” Our book club thoroughly enjoyed the movie. We felt that the movie offered an insightful look into the life of a remarkable woman whose legacy of charity and perseverance continues to inspire. All of us were inspired. It was amazing to us how much she accomplished with all those obstacles thrown at her. A truly remarkable women.

Rating: 9

Love Unscripted

kim.harwanko

Alice Hoffman’s The Marriage of Opposites is an evocative novel inspired by the life of Rachel Pizzarro, the mother of the renowned Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro. Set on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas in the early 19th century, the book weaves themes of love, rebellion, and art into a tapestry of cultural and historical intrigue.

Rachel, a strong-willed and passionate woman, defies societal expectations through her forbidden romance with her late husband’s nephew, Frédérick. Their love story is both a source of scandal and a testament to resilience, mirroring the novel’s broader exploration of identity, family, and creativity. Hoffman’s prose is richly descriptive, bringing the island’s landscapes and the complexities of its diverse communities vividly to life.

Through Rachel’s story, Hoffman examines the sacrifices and freedoms of defying convention while tracing the roots of artistic inspiration. The novel is a compelling blend of history and magical realism, offering a portrait of a woman whose indomitable spirit paved the way for her son’s artistic legacy.

Our book club was mixed on this novel. Some thought it was an enchanting tale with a dynamic female character and others didn’t care for Rachel. We discussed how societal expectations weigh heavy on people who live their life their way and damn with the consequences.

Rating: 7.0

A Life’s Journey

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The title alone had us intrigued The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.  Immediately Elizabeth Taylor came to mind (but she actually married eight times – married Richard Burton twice).  Plus, we had read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel Malibu Rising last spring and enjoyed it. When we like a book, we look at other novels that author has written. And just like the first book we were smitten.

When Evelyn Hugo, an aging star, who can still work a room, a movie set, and anything else she so desires, wants you to write her memoir – what’s a journalist to do?  Monique Grant is shocked when Evelyn asks her to not only write her memoir but to keep all proceeds from its sale. Monique is just starting her career and not a well-known entertainment journalist or author. Anyone would jump at this astounding offer, and she does with apprehension. Why me? (Of course, there is a reason – you’ll find out at the end).

Evelyn is all charm but with an edge. We follow her on her journey to stardom. As her darkest secrets are laid bare and the story concludes we are once again shown that no one has it all. We all suffer. We all grieve. We all do not get what we want. It’s about making the best of your live regardless.

We really liked this book.  We had fun visiting old Hollywood.  And appreciated how hard it must have been for so many to live their authentic lives. We talked about Elizabeth Taylor and about the tragedy of Marilyn Moore, among others.  We loved the fact that Evelyn wasn’t perfect. She did some stupid things. Some bad things. Who doesn’t have flaws?

And by the way:  Our book club has absolutely picked Harry as our hands down favorite husband.  Although….(don’t want to ruin the story).

Enjoyable.

Rating: 8.0

Photo by Vlad Bagacian on Unsplash

Mrs. Everything

kim.harwanko

Most of our book club members lived through the 60’s, 70’s and onward so we were all excited to read Jennifer Weiner’s new book, Mrs. Everything.

The two main characters are sisters, Jo and Bethie Kaufman and they grew up in Detroit in the 50’s and 60’s.  Jo never fits into her mother’s image. She’s awkward and a tomboy.  Her father shows her lots of love and tempers her mother’s sharper tones with his kind and gentle way.

Bethie, however, is the apple in her mother’s eye. Just perfect. Beautiful and smart with a lovely singing voice.  What could possibly go wrong?

Life intervenes, and everything goes haywire.  Bethie and Jo almost switch places and become each other.  Numerous secondary characters add lots of color to the book and the story. Some you’ll love and others are just awful. Like our own lives. 

Both sisters are steadfast in their love for each other through the tragedies and traumas they sustained. In the end it’s about finding yourself in a world with expectations and demands.  The pain and successes are better shared.

We enjoyed this read and talked about our memories during this time period – the songs, the hair, the clothes and, our own sisters and, of course our first loves. 

Enjoy.

Rating: 7.0

The Aftermath of War

kim.harwanko

Ever hear of Night Witches? Not the fictional kind. Real women doing unbelievable things. In WWII they were Russian fighter pilots and bombers. Who “…flew in outdated Polikarpov U-2s a cloth-and-plywood biplane with open-cockpits, achingly slow and highly flammable – no radio, parachute or brakes.”

Yup, that alone is worth the read. And we love these golden historical nuggets and The Huntress has plenty of them.

The characters in this wonderful book are instantly relatable. But the power of the story comes from Nina Borisovna, a night witch, and Die Jägerin, the Huntress.

Nina grew up desperately poor with an alcohol-infused maniac for a father in a remote place in northern Siberia. She escaped her father to become a pilot, normally not an easy task for a woman, but because of the war she was able to join the Night Witches, training first as a bombardier and later a pilot.

The Huntress grew up privileged in comparison to Nina, but that affluence didn’t stop her from actively and willingly lending her talents for hunting by tracking down and killing people for the glory of the Nazi-crazed killing machine. She feds six starving children then killed them.

Nina and the Huntress crossed paths at Lake Rusalka in Poland culminating in a deadly event.  Nina barely escaped and eventually teamed up with Ian Graham and Tony Rodomovsky after the war to find this deadly predator.

The novel crisscrosses time and point-of-view to bring layers of details and wonderful tension as the novel’s setting moves to Boston after the war and to the McBride family.  Jordan McBride, a 17-year-old novice photographer helps her father, Dan, with his antique business. Dan meets and marries Anneliese Weber, a war refugee.  During the small wedding, Jordan finds a swastika medal hidden in the bridal bouquet. Hmmm…what could that mean?

Ian Graham and Tony Rodomovsky are looking for justice.  Ian, a journalist and Tony, a solider and linguist, passionately hunt down war criminals for there own personal reasons.  Nina is hell-bent on revenge.

As a book club we enjoyed this novel. We learned things about the war that we didn’t previously know. We had already read The Nightingale and wondered if this would be more of the same.  But both books are quite different and both great reads.

We talked about revenge and justice. How emotion rules revenge and how justice needs to be impartial. And we talked about survivaling war and its aftermath.

Definitely a good book for book clubs.

Rating: 8.5

Photo Credit: Elinor Florence; www.elinorflorence.com

Stealing Babies

kim.harwanko

Throughout history children have often been abused and killed at the hands of adults who should be there to help and support them. This novel brings us back to the 1930’s through the present following a fictional family and the horrific historical incidents surrounding an orphanage. Evil is interlaced with goodness as we see this gracefully told story unfold.

Lisa Wingate takes us back to 1939 on the Mississippi River in “Before We Were Yours.” Parents, Queenie and Briny have five children.  Queenie is pregnant with twins and can’t deliver the babies with a midwife.  Briny makes the decision to leave with Queenie to take her to a hospital.  What happens after that is such a miscarriage of justice that it’s hard to imagine that this actually happened to children in America. 

Wingate drew from the infamous Georgia Tann and her wretched Tennessee Children’s Home Society in Memphis.

Queenie and Briny’s high-spirited children left on a boat in the Mississippi River while their parents leave for the hospital. They are quite poor without any resources. Rill, Camiella, Lark, Fern and Gabion are taken by the police and put into the Tennessee Children’s Home. 

Fast forward to the present, Avery Stafford, a young lawyer, working with her father’s senatorial campaign has a chance encounter with May Crandall at a nursing home, her father happens to be speaking at.  This meeting set into motion a chain of events that would change all their lives forever.

This book has to be read without a lot of information given out beforehand. Wingate wrote a story with a lot of small moments that all become one large one and the reader should see it unfold the way it’s supposed to.

Our book club loved this book.  It’s quite sad at parts, and we may have glossed over a few things we felt too bad about. The book manages to end on a high note, but it stayed with me for days. I can’t fathom hurting a child.  It goes so against everything I believe in.

We talked about the children and the how their lives unfolded. Also, about the other children that no one seems to know about. So many of them were never found. We talked about motherhood and what that really means – biological and adoptive.

Every book club should read this book.

(There are quite a few non-fiction books on the subject that Wingate offers at the end of her novel if you want to continue reading on this subject.)

Enjoy.

Rating: 9 fffffffff

Little Fires Everywhere

kim.harwanko

“…she was standing on the tree lawn in her robe and a pair of her son Trip’s tennis shoes, watching their house burn to the ground.” 

Now there’s an opening for you.

Set in the idyllic town of Shaker Heights, Ohio, whose residents basically crafted their own little utopia. They carefully planned a community designed to reflect their values. But utopia’s seemingly perfect setting stems from a set of rules and conditions.

Enter the disruptors Mia Warren and her 15-year-old daughter, Pearl. The story weaves a tale of the long-time residents, the Richardsons and the newcomers, the Warrens.  Elena Richardson rented the Warrens a home she owned in town.  Pearl Warren became friends with the Richardson children, and even dates one of them. The two families become even more entwined when Mia Warren becomes a part-time housekeeper for the Richardsons. 

The Warrens and Richardsons have two distinct ideologies and as the story develops you can feel the conflict swirling around even before the catalyst arrives on the scene, an infant baby girl abandoned at the local fire station.

We read this book for our April book club and most of the members enjoyed the novel. Unlike many reviews of the book, we didn’t find that the race issue, a Chinese baby being adopted by an American couple, the McCulloughs, was the main topic of the story.  We all felt that the story was about clashing family values and what happens when everyone is shouting, but no is listening. We did discuss the adoption of a Chinese baby to a white family, but really felt the story lay at the feet of Elena Richardson and Mia Warren. 

It’s so easy to judge other people and find fault in their morals and values. But sometimes you need to open your own ears and really listen.  Sometimes you’re not as far apart as you think.

Let it be….

Rating: 8.0