May

Amy chose our book for May. We will be reading My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. 

Here's some information about the book:

The first book Gerald Durrell's Corfu Trilogy: a bewitching account of a rare and magical childhood on the island of Corfu, now the inspiration for The Durrells in Corfu on Masterpiece PBS

When the unconventional Durrell family can no longer endure the damp, gray English climate, they do what any sensible family would do: sell their house and relocate to the sunny Greek isle of Corfu. My Family and Other Animals was intended to embrace the natural history of the island but ended up as a delightful account of Durrell’s family’s experiences, from the many eccentric hangers-on to the ceaseless procession of puppies, toads, scorpions, geckoes, ladybugs, glowworms, octopuses, bats, and butterflies into their home. 

April - The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Tracie has picked The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate for our April book discussion.  We will meet Tuesday April 18, at 7:30 at Debby's house to discuss the book. 

Here is a little bit about the book: 

Calpurnia Virginia Tate is eleven years old in 1899 when she wonders why the yellow grasshoppers in her Texas backyard are so much bigger than the green ones. With a little help from her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist, she figures out that the green grasshoppers are easier to see against the yellow grass, so they are eaten before they can get any larger. As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.

Author Jacqueline Kelly deftly brings Callie and her family to life, capturing a year of growing up with unique sensitivity and a wry wit.

 

March 2023 The Night Circus

Sarah Cox has picked our book, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, for March. We will also be meeting a week early on Tuesday March 14, at 7:30 at Debby's house. Hope to see you there. 

Here is some information about the book.  

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two starcrossed magicians engage in a deadly game of cunning in the spellbinding novel that captured the world's imagination. • "Part love story, part fable ... defies both genres and expectations." —The Boston Globe

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

 

January/February 2023

 

Olivia has chosen The Invincible Miss Cust for our first book in 2023.  Here's a little bit about the book: 

Must-read historical fiction for fans of Marie Benedict and Tracey Enerson Wood, based on the real life of Britain's first woman veterinary surgeon.

Aleen Cust has big dreams. And no one―not her family, society, or the law―will stop her.

Born in Ireland in 1868 to an aristocratic English family, Aleen knows she is destined to work with animals, even if her family is appalled by the idea of a woman pursuing a veterinary career. Going against their wishes but with the encouragement of the guardian assigned to her upon her father's death, Aleen attends the New Veterinary College in Edinburgh, enrolling as A. I. Custance to spare her family the humiliation they fear. At last, she is on her way to becoming a veterinary surgeon! Little does she know her biggest obstacles lie ahead.

The Invincible Miss Cust is based on the real life of Aleen Isabel Cust, who defied her family and society to become Britain and Ireland's first woman veterinary surgeon. Through Penny Haw's meticulous research, riveting storytelling, and elegant prose, Aleen's story of ambition, determination, family, friendship, and passion comes to life. It is a story that, even today, women will recognize, of battling patriarchy and an unequal society to realize one's dreams and pave the way for other women in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Due to illnesses, our book club meeting was postponed from January to February. 

Books We've Read in 2022

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Books We Read In 2021

Books we read and discussed in 2021

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

.

Was originally scheduled but do to so many people being out of town, we discussed it in September

October

November

We decided for our December book club we will do what we did last year and instead of reading a book, we'll each bring a favorite Christmas story to read to everyone, like a grown up Christmas story time. Please bring a favorite (short-ish) Christmas story and a favorite Christmas treat to share.

We will also be doing an optional book exchange. Should you choose to participate, please bring a wrapped book, perhaps your favorite read of the year or a good book you read awhile ago. Then we'll play a fun game to swap them.

Hot Chocolate Bar all set up. Everyone brought treats to share too. 

Katie and Izzy

Sarah, Jess and her sister

Liz, Alecia, Olivia

Nola and Liz

Fun night at book club tonight!

Books swapped at our book exchange:

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson

One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus

Christmas Dessert Murder by Joann Fluke

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Crave by Tracy Wolff

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

We switched up to a Facebook group instead of the blog, but we've had people asking about the blog. So, I'm going to do a catchup of what we've read since then. Enjoy

January 

February

March book pick. Then Covid hit and we postponed our book club meeting. We started having Zoom book club and discussed the book in April. Determined readers find a way to make it work even in a worldwide pandemic. 

May

June

July

August

September

October

For November we discussed two Agatha Christie books

Thanks Nanci! 

All righty, friends, we have a fun plan for December. Instead of reading a book, we are each going to pick a favorite Christmas story and share them with each other on December 15. It will be like a grown-up Christmas story time.

In addition, for those who would like to participate, we are going to do a treat exchange where everyone makes a favorite Christmas treat to share. The current idea is that we will all drop them off at Nola's and she will replate them so everyone gets a bit of everything, then she'll deliver or we'll pick back up. Then while we are sharing our stories, we'll also share why we picked that treat and why we love it or any meaning behind it.

Lastly, we still want to do our annual book exchange, again for those who want to participate. So the idea is to drop off your wrapped book with Nola (along with your treat, or not if you just want to do the book part and not the treat part) and she'll just make sure you get one back. Then we'll open them up on our zoom call and maybe even try to guess who picked that book.

So, to sum up. Pick a favorite Christmas story to share. Decide if you want to participate in the treat exchange and/or the book exchange and let me know by December 1. Then by the 15th drop off treat and/or book to Nola. Then we'll meet that night to eat treats, open books and share stories.

Here are the book lists --the first is of the Christmas stories everyone shared and the second is of the books that were presented during the book exchange.

Favorite Christmas Stories

• The First Christmas Night by Keith Christopher (Sarah Aina)
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (Debby)
• The Grinch by Dr. Seuss (Nanci)
• The Story of Christmas by Patricia Pingry (Jess Wolferz)
• Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg (Chelsea)
• The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (Leisa)
• The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie de Paola (meant to mention this as my other favorite)
• The Christmas Witch by Steven Kellogg (Rachael)
• The Christmas Oranges by Linda Bethers (Alecia)
• Memorable Christmas Stories compiled by Leon Hartshorn, published by Deseret Book in the 70s—”Trouble at the Inn” (Alecia)
• “The Three Levels of Christmas” essay by William B. Smart from a Christmas Classics compilation (Nola)
• A Christmas Dress for Ellen by Thomas S. Monson (Nola)
• Santa Duck by David Milgrim (Sarah Gravelle)
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Sarah Gravelle)
• Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson (Joni)
• The Chosen TV series recommended by Nola

Book Recommendations (books shared in book exchange)

• Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah (Debby)
• Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (Nanci)
• Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee (Chelsea)
• Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult (Olivia)
• We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (Alecia)
• The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg (Jess)
• The Book of Hours by Davis Bunn (Nola)
• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (Sarah)