Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Club Rating: 4.8


This had a LOT of great discussion - about the 3 characters, Herta, Kasia and Caroline, their perspectives, moving on afterwards The author did a beautiful job of capturing so much with this historical fiction book. The hierarchy and nuances of the camp were very interesting. Some didn't care for Caroline while others felt that it showed how different all the perspectives were depending on where they lived.  Some felt that the ending was very rushed to tie up all the ends. Some questioned what the author chose to focus on in the 3 stories.

My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrick Backman

Club Rating: 4.3

Everyone loved Grandma. Some people cried throughout the book. The translation from Swedish makes it richer. Some skimmed the secret language and the fantasy world and others loved it. There was small incredible moments - the dad and the word jar, George, Alf.

Once Upon A Secret by Mimi Alford

Club Rating: 3.4

Some felt that it wasn't a "tell all" book and others did. Women had very few rights until 1970's. Her first husband demanding that this was 'off limits' meant that her silence was locking off her emotions and dealing with her affair. This may not have been our highest rated book but I think it was our best discussion ever!

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Club rating: 4.6

This is a beautiful novel that, through weaving of the past and present, tells the story of a girl in the juvenile system and what happens to her after she turns 18. She has a passion for flowers and uses each flower for their meaning. Elegantly told with lots of heart. Excellent character development, plot and pacing.

Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Merra

Club Rating: 4.8

Some loved it because it showed survival and the story of fighting for each other even in a hopeless situation and loved all the characters - flawed in pain, lovely resilient. Others found it bleak and demoralizing, and felt that they had to trudge through it.

The Life We Bury by Allen Eskins

Club Rating: 3.6

College student Joe Talbert has the modest goal of completing a writing assignment for an English class. His task is to interview a stranger and write a brief biography of the person. With deadlines looming, Joe heads to a nearby nursing home to find a willing subject. There he meets Carl Iverson, and soon nothing in Joe's life is ever the same.

Some wished there was a relationship with the college student and the man. Some felt that the story lines were too many and didn't focus on where they were hoping it would. It was reminiscent of Tuesdays with Morrie. Some had the twist figured out. It was a great escape.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Club Rating: 4.3

A fun beach read. Several people could relate to the characters from their days in the PTA.

The Marriage of Opposites by Anne Hoffman

Club Rating: 4.2

Rachel's was fascinating with her being married to an older man and then remarriage and fighting society. The imagery of the island life was very strong - the donkeys, the humidity, island life. The part with the son didn’t grab us as much. The characters were well defined. It was about women and their relationships but it didn't capture Rachel's relationships with her daughters/children. 

Some people didn't have compassion for Rachel after the first marriage. Others felt a compassion for her as she wanted love so much.

Wallace Stegner

Club Rating: 4.2

We read either Crossing to Safety or Angle of
Repose and discussed Stegner's style of writing as well as our favorite all-time books/authors and why.  Very interesting discussion.

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.