New York by Edward Rutherford

Club Rating: 4.1

Everyone suffered under the weight of New York, so reads for the month were sparse

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Club Rating: 4.5

This was a fabulous discussion Women's roles in the war, how your children see you, who was the protagonist and was it clear (not always!), attitudes of risk vs. stable and the aftermath of the effect of the holocaust, favorite characters, etc.

Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen

Club Rating: 4.5

At first glance, this seemed like it was going to be predictable but, it wasn't. Everyone loved this book. It made us wonder what we would do if we were given a second chance.

The Perfume Collector by Cathlene Detoere

Club Rating: 4.1

The club enjoyed the book and the flashing back/forwards in time and the fact that it wasn't predictable. They thought the character development was good and loved that it was set in France.  

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Club Rating: 3.9

She embraces and sees who she is going to be.  The story was cheezy but the premise was so good. The relationships and the people were very good. For some the book didn't sit well and it was a great idea but not plausible. 

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Club Rating: 4.1

Outstanding for a debut novel. Most didn't like the wife and found her weak. They felt that he knew that the mother was going to be taken care of by the neighbor. The police officer wasn't believable. An interesting point was raised that Mia could have told him that she was behind it at any point to change the outcome. Everyone liked that each chapter designated if it was BEFORE or AFTER and who was writing.  Some found the plausibility questionable and the character and story development.

Born To Run

Club Rating 3.8

Most thought there were parts that were very long and dragging and dealt too much with running but, you had to read that to understand the race. People related to the running who were not runners by thinking about dancing or some activity that they felt free and released through.

The Boys In The Boat by Daniel James Brown

Club Rating 4.1

We were struck with how beautiful rowing/crew is and how horrific Joe's stepmother was. These boys were missing a sense of belong and unity that they gained from rowing. It was a story of perseverance, understanding you have one shot at something and how all these boys were family to each other and readily bonded. Some felt tht there were some gaps in the story but there was power to the story. Some felt that the story lagged.  

All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doer

Club Rating 4.5

About a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. 

Everyone felt that this was a fabulous book that was very well written and historically accurate.  Not everyone finished the book but several of us considered calling in sick to work to finish it. Most felt that the ending was different than if it had been a female author.

The Painter by Peter Heller

Club Rating: 3.9

None of us liked the character but we found him a case study in selfishness and, perhaps, an immoral soul, but that was questionable.   The ending was unsettling for us as was the implication that "he got away with it"!  We talked about the purpose his painting served in his life and we felt his painting reflected, or was a mirror, into his soul, so to speak as he painted what he felt and not what he saw. 

He talked about the role of the model and that painting and the bird's nests on top of the girl's heads, for example.  We also looked at metaphors and symbolism:  the fishing rod, and fishing  was he guide through white water, his savior, the roan was his daughter and he saved the roan when he couldn't save his daughter.

The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton

Club Rating:  2.3

Most thought that the book was that it lacked plot and character appeal.  The book was completed by another author because Edith Wharton died while writing it, which may be why it was lacking.

The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin

Club Rating: 3.4

This was a good premise that made us all aware of being happy.  Some felt the author was very controlling.  She also didn't address a lot of the underlying causes of being unhappy.  All in all, it was a good read.