Hello, reader…

Exciting news – we received a poem in our poetry mailbox! It’s a haiku authored by Blink Hexem.

Here it is…

Light gathers in spring,

Sunlit shafts pierce the forest,

Moss grows on old bone.

Isn’t it lovely?

Here are the books shared during our February gathering…

The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal

This is a kind of classic murder mystery like you might have in the 20s and 30s – but set in some future time aboard a ship traveling from the Moon to Mars. The protagonist is a wealthy industrialist woman — recently married and on her honeymoon — when a murder happens, implicating her husband.

Sierra is still making her way through this one and commented that so far it’s a bit hit and miss. Somehow she’s not connecting with the protagonist…and it is like the author has set up all these links about her but hasn’t really connected them. She found the accused husband more interesting but the story isn’t told from his viewpoint.

Also – the story maybe has the best descriptions of a small white terrier service dog. 🙂

The Philosophy of Modern Song by Bob Dylan

Veyot read about this on a book blog, which described it as a coffee table book. It’s pretty, has lots of photos, and is very skimmable. Though she didn’t know many of the singers discussed, she liked the style of writing. Dylan often digressed to something else about each song or singer…and talked about rhyming schemes.

Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather

FireWoman read both this one and another Cather book – both were seemingly well-researched historical fiction using easy flowing narrative with personable characters.

The Wind Done Gone by Alice Randall

An unauthorized parody of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, written from a slave’s perspective.

Folk Tales of Japan: 28 Folk Tales with Cultural Commentary by Kyota Ko

FireWoman read this collection by an author she follows on LinkedIn, where he offers Japanese culture and history notes daily. His tellings are contemporary and the history of the times is very in depth.

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

Zoe said she’d shelve this one under magical realism. It’s about a young woman who goes to live on an island mostly unfamiliar to her, where her mother left her a condo. In this very small condo complex are an interesting cast of characters, each haunted – mostly lovingly – by someone from their past. The stories behind these hauntings are the main focus of this book and the big themes are processing grief and letting go. And also, celebrating ones uniqueness.

Zoe thought it was a little cheesy and predictable but an otherwise enjoyable read.

Old Age: A Beginner’s Guide by Michael Kinsley

A kind of memoir/collection of essays about aging and living with Parkinson’s. Zoe found parts of it interesting but also skimmed some parts.

A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering will be on Sunday, March 12th at 1pm SLT. Hope to see you then!

Hello, reader…

Happy New Year, bookworms!

Looking for a few good reads to add to your towering TBR pile? You might find them here…

There There by Tommy Orange

Marly shared this bestselling novel of twelve Native American characters who converge at a large annual powwow event and explores their interconnection and individual journeys.

Problems with People by David Guterson

Veyot read this short story book twice while she was snowbound and enjoyed it both times.

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb by Mary Jo Pehl

A funny memoir about Pehl’s mother, also read by Veyot. When the author cleans out her mother’s house, she finds – to her surprise – 400 book reviews on index cards. Her mother read widely – from romance novels to philosophy to world affairs. The word most often used in her reviews gives this book its title.

A Christmas Courtship by Shelley Shepard Gray

A simple story of two romances, set in an Amish community during the Christmas holiday season. The courtships were sweet and involved a kind librarian and her bookmobile. Zoe really enjoyed this quick and easy read.

The Death of Vishnu, The Age of Shiva and The Age of Devi by Manil Suri

Suri is a mathematician who wrote a planned series of three novels that, while not serial, represent a kind of trinity in Hinduism.

Bernice read the first several years ago when it first came out. The second, The Age of Shiva, is about a young woman who tries to escape her domineering father by marrying a man he disapproves of. It doesn’t go well. After her husband dies, she becomes wrapped up in her son, her only child.

The Age of Devi is an apocalyptic story, set in a slightly futuristic India, where hostilities between Hindus and Muslims have reached a fever pitch. The story is about a young man, who is a physicist, his wife, and his male lover. Though Bernice found this to be an interesting story, she wasn’t sure how she felt about the ending.

Bernice said all three were interesting reads and she learned quite a bit about Indian culture from them.

Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson

A super witty hilarious story about a community in England – middle class, pretentious, artistic – and the various social leaders competing with each other….starting with one of them complacently wandering around the village feeling important and then realizing that her rival has snagged a real eastern Indian “guru” who has all the village ladies in the backyard doing yoga and breath exercises, etc. Scout found it all very silly and fun.

The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul, a Dirk Gently #2 book by Douglas Adams

Written by the author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, this is a quirky book that takes places in a day or two in time and is a stream of consciousness in crazy British thought patterns. Recommended by FireWoman.

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

A book that has been on FireWoman’s radar for a while, here is a quote that she found profound, “Wisdom is not bestowed. In its raw state, it is the hearbreak of knowing things you wish you didn’t.”

This is the author’s first book and it has been a #1 best seller. The author is an American Indian and has set this book in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It’s a tale of mystery and self-discovery.

E.F. Benson’s ghost stories

Note from Zoe: A specific story/collection wasn’t mentioned though there are collections available to read for free online.

Kal mentioned Benson’s ghost stories after hearing Scout talk about his Queen Lucia novel. He commented that they’re great, in a MR James, supernatural fireside sort of way.

Heatwave by Victor Jestin

A French novel that has won quite a few awards there recently and isn’t quite as dark as its premise suggests. It’s about a campsite where a teenage boy sees his friend being strangled to death by the ropes on some swings in a playground – we never find out whether it’s through suicide or misadventure – and our main character does nothing to stop it. Then impulsively hides the body on the beach.

Kal felt it was more of a coming of age tale/social satire than dark. He likened it to Camus’ The Stranger or any of JG Ballard’s novels on gated middle class communities. It’s about the artificial enforced fun on places like holiday camps and our relationships in those sort of places. Though he’s unsure if he would 100% recommend it, it’s definitely an interesting book.

A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering will be on Sunday, February 12th at 1pm SLT. Hope to see you then!

Hello, reader…

It’s hard to believe that this was our last gathering for 2022!

Here are a few wonderful selections to add to your holiday reading pile…

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

A historical fiction novel centered around the beginnings of the Oxford English Dictionary. It tells the story of a precocious young girl who grows up to become a significant contributor to the OED. In secret, she also spends her life squirreling away discarded words – words precious to women’s experiences (as well as other marginalized groups) and assembles her own reference tome.

Zoe commented that it was well written and highly recommended.

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

This dark fantasy novel tells the tale of earthbound aliens who look like humans but eat books, not food, for sustenance. An unfortunate condition exists among a portion of the alien population that necessitates a few to feed on minds instead of books…as is the case with the main protagonist’s son. Her search for a cure for her son is the main plot of the novel, with many interesting subplots woven in.

Zoe thought it was an interesting read. She noted that the author’s book diet was easy to discern – classics, fairytales, a sapphic vampire novel published prior to Stoker’s Dracula – which inspired more good reads for Zoe’s TBR pile.

The First New Testament by Jason D. BeDuhn

An English translation of a reconstructed text assembled from excerpts that heresiologists included in their works against heretics and their writings.

One such heretic, Marcion, essentially put together the first version of the New Testament, which appears to have included Paul’s pastoral letters and a version of proto-Luke.

Stella commented that it is a fascinating history for folks nerdy about religious studies…though other readers might find it “super dry”.

The Wise Men of Schilda

Pieced together by its reader, Serena, from across the internet, the premise of this story focuses on men of a town who were renowned for being wise.

Kings and rulers from around the world would hire them for their wisdom and advice. Unfortunately, they allowed their town to fail since they were not home. Their wives threatened them if they did not return. They returned but kept getting offered jobs. They decided that to stop being bothered, they should act foolishly.

Smaller stories of the odd things the town folk did are also included.

*An English language edition of a title by the same name, authored by Otfried Preussler, is available from the Internet Archive here. An Internet Archive account is needed for access; this title is available to borrow by the hour and renewable every hour pending availability.

Going on a Dig by Velma Ford Morrison

Juvenile non-fiction that presents an overview of archeology. FireWoman enjoyed the way this topic was presented to its readers.

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

A mystery that has a lot of church history and some philosophy. Josiane noted that it was complicated in detail but beautifully written in many parts. Mieke agreed that it’s a great read.

The Hunter by John R. Erickson and The Cow-tail Switch and other West African Stories by Harold Courlander

The Hunter is a western set in Texas whose author also wrote the popular Hank the Cowdog series.

FireWoman read both and plans to keep them for her collection

Exit by Belinda Bauer

A darkly humorous crime novel about a pair of “exiteers” who assist people who want to die.

The older one, Felix, and a new young woman went to a house to carry out their duty, which involves sitting with the person who is ill and wishes to end it all. Unfortunately, on this occasion, they got the wrong person. The story follows from there.

Mieke found this book to be somewhat amusing and a light read in spite of the subject.

A Nice Cup of Tea and Sit down by Stuart Payne

Mieke really recommends this for a relaxed read. It’s mostly about the many, many biscuits that go with a cup of tea…it’s quite amusing!

Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane

Veyot prefaced this with a lovely idea to choose books off the endcap where staff members pick novels with similar covers. On a particular day, a staff member chose books with plants on the covers.

In Rules for Visiting, a landscaper tells about her work, sort of like a memoir but a novel, and then she goes to visit some old friends and tells about that, too. Veyot found it to be a nice, peaceful read.

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld and The Music of Chance by Paul Auster

Kal recommends the Auster novel, about a guy who is lost, figuratively and literally. He spends his days driving across America, his money running low. He meets a promising young poker player who is about to go into the game of a lifetime. The player needs financial backing so they form a partnership…then the book focuses on the game and the rather unique way that debts accrued during the game are paid off.

Kal thought the book was like an American Kafka…everything feels off, but people just carry on like things are normal.

Nature Doctors: Pioneers in Naturopathic Medicine by Friedhelm Kirchfeld

A book that Scout credits with return to SL, Nature Doctors is a textbook for her studies on natural medicine, nutrition and herbalism.

It’s about the dawn of hydrotherapy in 1800s Germany and all the various competitive nature-based hydrotherapists, sun bathers and nudist philosophers in medicine.

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A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering will be on Sunday, January 8th at 1pm SLT. ‘Til then, happy holidays and take good care.

Hello, reader…

It was lovely to welcome a few new faces this week! It seems that WSJ’s current 4-part special podcast series on the Metaverse and Second Life has inspired folks to log in again after extended absences – yay! Hope to see more new and old friends in the near future.

Meanwhile, here’s a few interesting reads to add to your TBR pile…

Recollection Creek and Hound Dog Man by Fred Gipson

Our friend Firewoman started us off with these youth fiction novels set in the Texas Hill Country.

Cotton, the young protagonist in Hound Dog Man, has always wanted a hunting hound of his own but his Ma won’t let him have one. He and his friends go out hunting raccoons with a seasoned hunter. Adventure ensues while they are out hunting in the wild – some of it scary. Cotton does get a dog in the end.

Fred Gipson is also the author of the very popular young adult classic, Old Yeller, which is celebrated annually in his hometown of Mason, Texas. The local library has his writing desk and space for some of his things.

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Highly recommended to FireWoman by her mother, this historical fiction novel is set in South Africa, after World War II. It describes the domination of the native Black population by the White population and what comes from oppression. Of the books that she’s read recently, this is the one that has stayed with her. She found it to be a lyrical work set within the hardships of all the people, and the goodness and kindness of the people.

Prisoner of Tehran: A Memoir by Marina Nemat

Published in 2007, this true story is about a 16 year old girl who was arrested for no particular reason, badly beaten, then taking to a firing squad. A guard took pity on her and managed to get her sentence changed to life imprisonment. Desiring to take her as his wife, he threatened her family if she refused. In the end, the guard’s family was instrumental in gettiner her out of the country, to Canada.

Though it is a depressing read in places, Mieke highly recommends it. She felt it was worth reading to get some feel for what it’s really like there for women.

Diary of a Void by Emi Yogi

Set in modern day Tokyo, this 2022 novel is about a woman named Shibata. She is the only woman in her department at a paper core making company. In addition to her normal duties, she tends to get stuck with doing all the menial office “chores” – e.g. serve tea, distribute the mail, clean up the break room, etc.

One day, she decides that she’s fed up. So she tells everyone she’s pregnant…even though she’s not. What follows is a journey of how one woman carves out a method of self-care in a typically indifferent environment.

Recommended by Zoe for readers who enjoyed Sayaka Murata’s, Convenience Store Woman.

How to be Eaten by Maria Adelmann

Published in 2022, this is a modern retelling of a handful of classic fairytales.

Five women are invited to a kind of narrative group therapy. They turn out to be Bluebeard’s former girlfriend, Red Riding Hood, Gretel, a Princess, and the Miller’s daughter. All the women are adults reflecting on their stories as if recovering from major trauma and, eventually, lean on each other to heal.

Zoe found it darkly humorous and entertaining.

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A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering (and last gathering for 2022) will be on Sunday, November 13th at 1pm SLT. All are welcome – bring a friend!

Hello, reader…

First, a few exciting announcements!

We have two new additions to our Reading Room collection.

In the book lovers lounge beneath our dear Veyot’s portrait is a copper pedestal. On it, is a small orange box (original art by Veyot!) and in it is an original poem authored by Veyot. Be sure to check it out!

Between the two sofas in the main reading room is a new publication called The Joy of Farming by Soull Starlight. Whether you’re a gardening neophyte or a well-seasoned farmer, everyone is sure to enjoy this very readable and useful guide.

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

A novel that Bernice found disturbing and sad.

The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths

The penultimate novel in a series, which makes Bernice sad.

The Hunt by Faye Kellerman

The last book in Kellerman’s Decker/Lazarus series…which also makes Bernice sad (it was a theme today!).

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

Not the last book in this series, which Bernice was really happy about!

Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Chang

A New York Times notable book about the Empress Dowager Cixi who started out as a concubine and ended up ruling China from behind the scenes. Mieke is part way through it and said it’s fascinating!

How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them by Barbara F. Walter

The book reviews examples of different civil wars over the past century to highlight how in quasi-democratic states (anocracy) similar patterns of factionalization and political disfranchisement often lead to civil wars breaking out.

Sierra found this book very readable and, given the topic, pretty concise – but there are extensive notes and references in the back.

She liked this very readable book because it tied together some conceptual ideas into different historical events. She also picked up some key details about several conflicts that she was previously unaware of. Some of the conflicts are familiar ones–the civil war in Syria, the sectarian conflicts in Iraq post-Saddam…but it also goes back to some earlier conflicts…Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’…ethnic conflicts in the Philippines.

The author, Walter, is an adjunct faculty at the UC San Diego Political Science Department and also is in the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies.  She’s been studying this for 30 years.

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

Fleming read this novel about compulsive swimmers, people meeting every day at a pool. The last part deals with the onset of dementia of one of the swimmers. It has a very peculiar structure, according to Fleming, who loved it and said it’s funny and very moving.

Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor

Fleming also read this novel, which he described as a very, very tough read – not easy to stomach. It’s about a small godforsaken village in Mexico and the climate of violence and hopelessness and suppression of women. A stunning book but very graphic. The author is a fantastic stylist, with very virtuosic writing that sucks the reader in.

Seeking Fortune Elsewhere by Sindya Bhanoo

This is a collection of South Indian women-centered short stories that explore moments of transition for each.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Veyot read this novel-written-like-a-memoir about a boy and his mother who are caught in a terrorist bomb attack at MoMA. The boy steals a picture that his mom is looking at – called The Goldfinch. Eventually the painting is returned…and the novel is about what happens along the way.

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Stephen Galloway

A favorite reread of Tallulah’s, this novel is about 3 people’s separate lives in war-torn Serajevo. A cellist witnesses the death of two dozen people. He sits where they died and plays Albinoni’s Adagio once a day for each of them. It’s very hard hitting but also poignant – especially so with the war in Ukraine right now. Talullah shared that it has some very evocative passages…like a mini tableau in a movie. The scenes really stick in the mind.

The Orphanage by Serhiy Zhadan

Fleming briefly mentioned this book as another novel that echoes the current struggle in Ukraine.

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A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering will be on Sunday, October 9th at 1pm SLT. All are welcome – bring a friend!

Hello, reader…

A very special guest joined us for our August meeting…Piki!

Not sure why, but Piki found his furry way into our readers lounge and meandered underfoot while we chatted about our latest reads…

Church of the Old Mermaids by Kim Antieau

This novel is about a woman named Myla Alvarez who lives near the desert in Tucson, Arizona.

Every day she walks out into the desert and picks up whatever miscellaneous items she finds.

Once a week she goes into town and sets up a table outside a book store. She lays out her found items, along with a cigar box labelled “Church of the Old Mermaids – Donations”. When people come along and ask her about an item on the table she gives it to them and tells a story around the item, a story always involving the old mermaids who once lived in the sea that dried up and became the desert. When the sea dried up the old mermaids had to learn to live on the land in the desert. The person then puts a donation in the box and goes off with the item.

She uses the donations to help people she finds lost in the desert, undocumented migrants who have been abandoned by their guides, or simply gotten lost. And of course Myla has her own story.

Bernice loved this intriguing novel and intends to read other titles by this author (who also happens to be an RL librarian!).

A Divine Language by Alec Wilkinson

When Mieke was a grad student, she was asked to make a course by the YWCA for math-phobics. She hadn’t until then realized the depth of panic and fear that some people have over numbers – even to tears and running out of the room. So when she saw A Divine Language in the NY Times, she just had to read it.

The author, Alex Wilkinson, was a total failure in math in high school but squeezed through by cheating, he admits. At the age of 65 he was determined to go back and try to learn algebra, geometry and calculus and the book is about his struggles and what he learns about himself and math in general.

Mieke found the book fascinating and joked that it’s not really as dry as it sounds!

Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy

Binchy’s first novel, Light a Penny Candle is about two ten-year-old girls ~ one English, the other Irish ~ whose mothers knew each other when they were young girls and best friends in school.

The Blitz was starting to go full force in London during World War 2, so Elizabeth White was sent to live with the O’Connors in a tiny town near Dublin where she meets Aisling (pronounced Ashleen). They become best friends over the next five years until the war’s end finds Elizabeth headed home.

The story follows both their lives into their 30s, weaving together a story of strong friendship, their trials and tribulations shared mostly through letters.

Goodreads reviews showed mostly accolades for the book by Binchy fans except for the ending which most people said went too quickly and saw Aisling forsake her deep Irish Catholic roots. FireWoman read the reviews before the book which did not spoil anything for her.

She did see what other readers saw with the ending, but felt that maybe Binchy’s writing was showing how quickly life moves as we get older; finding the 30+ year old women being swept up and into chaotic situations that end with them being together again, still fast friends, nearly alone, ready to face the new days ahead of them.

Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates

A novella based on Senator Ted Kennedy, Mary Jo Kapeckne and Chappaquitick that FireWoman also read in the past month. She felt it was a great short example of Oates’ command of words.

Gray Mountain by John Grisham

A young New York lawyer gets downsized and has trouble finding a job. He ends up in a small town in West Virginia, crusading against mining companies.

Its reader, Veyot, commented that Grisham is quite dependable, if you want a legal mystery with good characters.

Still Life by Louise Penny

Poppy decided to sample Louise Penny’s thriller series featuring the Canadian detective, Armand Gamache, who is sometimes described as the Canadian Hercule Poirot. She finished the first book and started on the second but there she got stuck. Verdict: the jury’s still out.

Bernice read the entire series in order and loved them

Orlando by Virginia Wolff

Poppy also read this novel and thoroughly recommends it.

After Orlando, she read Portrait of a Marriage by Nigel Nicolson, Wolff’s son. Virginia and her husband Harold had an open marriage which lasted a lifetime as they gave each other the freedom to have other partners, usually of the same sex, throughout the 1920s. To say it is unusual for someone to write about their parents’ lesbian and homosexual affairs is putting it mildly but he does so with such delicacy. Virginia was widely considered to be frigid. His mother Vita Sackville West was the subject of Virginia’s hero/heroine Orlando who changed sex throughout the book which spans several centuries. Poppy considered this a far easier read than Orlando.

52 Ways to Walk: The Surprising Science of Walking for Wellness and Joy, One Week at a Time by Annabel Streets

Each chapter of this non-fiction title features a different “walk” – walk to improve your gait…take a foraging walk…walk deep and seek out fractals, etc. Though there’s a chapter on walking with a dog, there’s none on walking with a cat. Zoe is still making her way through it but is enjoying thus far!

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A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering will be on Sunday, September 11th at 1pm SLT. All are welcome – bring a friend!

Hello reader…

We decided to enjoy our July meeting in our cozy Book Lovers Lounge, over heaping bowls of fruity halo-halo, a Filipino dessert. Refreshing both ourselves and our TBR lists, lots of fascinating reads were mentioned…

By the Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah

Recent Nobel Prize winner, Abdulrazak Gurnah, intertwines backstories from Zanzibar with the refugee life in England in this novel about an elderly gentleman seeking asylum in Great Britain. Our friend Fleming found this book to be “wonderful”…and very interesting since it’s asking quite surprising questions like why people help asylum seekers and the stereotypes involved.

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

The second book of Atwood’s MaddAddam series, its reader, Mieke, found it mildly entertaining.

The Poetry of Strangers: What l Learned Traveling America by Brian Sonia-Wallace

To Veyot’s surprise, this memoir was among her results of a search using the term “poetry”. It recounts the author’s experiences sitting in diverse corners across the U.S., typewriter on a tv table, waiting for people to chat. From rock festivals to the Mall of America, Sonia-Wallace connects with folks from all walks of life, using poetry as his conversational currency.

The King Arthur Case: A Brittany Mystery by Jean-Luc Bannalec

This latest installment of Bannalec’s Brittany Mysteries is set in a forest that is traditionally associated with the Forest of Broceliande of Arthurian legend. Inspired by the myths and legends shared by Bannalec in these “love letters to Brittany”, Bernice found herself wanting to plan a trip to see all the locations for herself. She hopes he continues the series for a long time.

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

Published in English in 2019/2020 (originally published in Japanese), this book centers on a writer, whose name we don’t know…at least not yet (it’s a current read for Sierra). She lives on an island where things have been ‘disappearing’ for several years – roses…perfume…emeralds…hats…ribbons. When something disappears, it happens one day, or maybe overnight. The objects themselves leave the island completely…one day all the birds fly away for instance. And, interestingly, the people forget these things…except a few who don’t – and that’s where the Memory Police come in. They take these remember-ers away by force, never to be seen again.

Sierra said that there’s kind of a surreal aspect to the premise that drew her to this novel. It reads well and she’s enjoying it.

The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson

The second in a historical fiction series, this novel shares the story of 16 year old Honey Lovett, the daughter of a blue-skinned packhorse librarian. Returning to the remote hollers of Appalachia after her parents are imprisoned for miscegenation, Honey fights for her independence while also forming strong bonds with other trailblazing women in the area. Zoe enjoyed this book very much.

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A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering will be on Sunday, August 14 at 1pm SLT. All are welcome – bring a friend!

Hello reader…

Our June gathering was a delight! We made new friends and welcomed back a few who have been missed. As we enjoyed our summer snacks under the warm sunshine, a dynamic array of book recommendations was shared…

How to Be Human: An Autistic Man’s Guide to Life by Jory Fleming

A thought-provoking book primarily presented in interview format, the author shares his experiences growing up with autism, as well as his current views on life. As the first documented Rhodes Scholar with autism attending Oxford University, Fleming offers a unique perspective on how thinking differently and understanding our inner processes can lead to shared empathy and improved quality of life.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley

This British beach read is about a group of strangers who develop a friendship through a mysterious notebook that holds “life truths” about each of them. Zoe enjoyed this easy, breezy fun read.

The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild

Partly a satire on wealthy art collectors, this entirely readable story stars a painting that gives this book its title. The painting makes comments throughout the story and tells a lot about the famous people who have owned it. Mieke said that it was funny and hard to put down!

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Bernice is in the middle of this humorous tale of a group of four friends, living in a retirement home, who meet once a week to discuss unsolved murders. Then a man of their acquaintance is murdered so the quartet decide to investigate the murder themselves.

The Butterfly Lampshade by Aimee Bender

Of the magical realism genre, this book is centered on a woman who is worried that she might inherit her mother’s mental illness. She remembers three peculiar moments where a 2D object turned 3D; one of which was a butterfly that she caught when it flew off of a lampshade of painted butterflies. Throughout the book, the woman continues to revisit these three moments.

The Whistle Blower by Robert Peston

Written by an outstanding UK political journalist, the central character of this novel is a political editor whose sister is killed riding a bicycle through London. He suspects foul play and follows a trail to uncover the truth. The political detail is superbly done and kept Poppy’s attention all the way through.

State of Terror by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny

The central character of this thriller is the Secretary of State in the post-Trump era, following a lead against time to uncover who was behind three bombs that go off in buses in different countries, and what it may mean for the US. There are several fictionalized real-life characters, including a former president who appears at his Florida ‘palace’, thinly disguised.

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

An easy read set in wartime London, recommended at an earlier Book Lovers Coffee Hour gathering. Poppy liked the attention to detail and the way it depicted living in London during the Blitz.

*Poppy also has a wonderful bookshop called The Book Room in 1940s London in Second Life.

White Tears by Hari Kunzru

Fleming just started this one but thinks he’ll enjoy it a lot.

The Books of Jacob by Olga Tocarczuk

For lovers of historical fiction, this is about a very weird historical self-proclaimed Messiah-figure. Fleming noted that it was a fascinating but laborious read. Tocarczuk recently won the Nobel Prize in Literature, though for a different title.

Light Chaser by Peter Hamilton and Gareth Powell

A likely DNF (did not finish) that might appeal to a different reader, Sierra commented that she liked the main character and the universe that was being set up.

Strange Hote by Eimear McBride

Sierra recently picked this one up but noted that the writing style is bugging her some. We talked a bit about the timing of the reader reading a particular book and being in the right state of mind to be receptive to a work.

Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler

A novel about an eccentric guy whose company name is ‘Computer Hermit’. He visits people’s homes when they can’t get to their email. He’s very routined – jogs every morning and is near-sighted…and sees the same fire hydrant every morning but thinks it’s a redhead.

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A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering will be on Sunday, July 10 at 1pm SLT. All are welcome – bring a friend!

Hello reader…

Happy almost summer, y’all!

We took the party outside for our May gathering. Everyone enjoyed picnic finger foods and DIY smoothies as we chatted about recent reads…

Afterlife by Julia Alvarez

This book is about a woman, Antonia, whose husband has recently died and she’s still grieving. She is originally from the Dominican Republic, living now in a small town in Vermont.

One day, one of the undocumented workers employed by the farmer next door comes to Antonia for help. He is trying to bring his girlfriend over from Mexico but the ‘coyote’  helping her has called demanding more money.

She helps him as best she can. Then one of her three sisters, who is bi-polar, goes missing. The other three women are scrambling desperately to find her. At the same time Mario’s girlfriend finally arrives and she is very pregnant, about to give birth any day. 

Bernice enjoyed the book a lot. The characters are very real and the story ends in an unexpected way.

The Spoils of Poynton (or anything, really) by Henry James

Henry James came up in our conversation as a writer whose books just “seem to….stop”…but those who’ve read him agreed that they enjoyed his writing.

Charles Lenox mysteries by Charles Finch

Set in 1850s-60s Victorian London. Alas started this series at about #12 – The Vanished Man, which turned out to be a prequel. She enjoyed the book, and the writing, but in terms of a mystery – well, there was a clue about a third way through that gave it away for her. It didn’t ruin the book though, and she enjoyed the series.

anything by Robinette Waterson

Speaking of series, the Victorian Steampunk Erotica genre came up in conversation. Robinette Waterson’s titles were recommended for those looking for steamy Victorian romance with a steampunk twist.

Music is History by Questlove

Highlighted by The Big Read, this collection of essays covers 50 years of music, primarily told in a unique “chatting” writing style. FireWoman enjoyed learning about the various music genres though she did lose interest through the more technical parts.

Driving Miss Norma: One Family’s Journey Saying ‘Yes’ to Living by Tim Bauerschmidt and Ramie Liddle

 It’s about a 90-year old woman who, newly widowed and recently diagnosed with uterine cancer, opted to spend the remainder of her life traveling around the U.S. in an RV with her son and daughter-in-law.

The book is told from the son and daughter-in-law’s points of view. Overall, Zoe enjoyed it but wished she could hear Miss Norma’s side of the story

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Originally recommended by FireWoman last summer, it was finally available last month at Zoe’s library. Zoe enjoyed it overall, though she felt a bit frustrated with the main character’s self-sacrificing at times.

She intends to read the recently published sequel, The Book Woman’s Daughter.

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A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering will be on Sunday, June 12 at 1pm SLT. All are welcome – bring a friend!

Hello reader…

Greetings, friends!

Many intriguing reads were shared during our cozy April gathering…

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

This book reminded Sierra a bit of ‘The Fountain’, which had a similar structure of spanning three different time periods and covering events in each, while still having a kind of continuity among all three. It was recommended by a friend who is generally not into science fiction, but really liked it

Cloud Cuckoo Land spans some of the years leading up to the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans, through more contemporary times in a midwestern town, and to the distant future. It is drawn from the old Greek story of Aethon, with which the main character in each time period has an association. Sierra is still early in the book but will share further thoughts at a future gathering.

Doerr also wrote ‘All the Light We Cannot See’, for which he won a Pulitzer.

M Train by Patti Smith

Having recently read and enjoyed Just Kids, Bernice picked this up and thought it excellent as well. In a series of non-linear essays, Smith talks about books and authors she loves and recounts trips she has taken to various parts of the world, sometimes to visit places connected to authors and books she loves. Through it all, it seems Smith is recounting her journey through grief after her husband died.

Bernice thought that it was a fascinating look into an interesting and varied life, and loved it.

Dog Dish of Doom by E.J. Copperman

A cozy mystery with lots of conversation, where plain people solve mysteries while the police follow along.

Leonard Cohen on Leonard Cohen by Jeff Burger

A collection of interviews and encounters of and about Leonard Cohen. Veyot recommends this if you like Leonard Cohen’s singing voice because you can imagine his voice as he gets interviewed.

When asked about the most surprising thing she learned about Cohen from the book, Veyot shared that Cohen had spent years without performing at all and once lived in a monastery in Greece.

Librarian Tales by William Ottens

A collection of tales about being a public librarian.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

On the surface, this “beach read” is about a classic movie star’s rise to fame – sort of an amalgam of Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, and a few others of that time period. Evelyn, the movie star, shares her life story with a young, no-name biographer who is handpicked for the job for mysterious reasons.

Aside from the gossipy stories of Evelyn’s career, the novel is really a story about a deep and lasting love between two people who are forced into impossibly tight boundaries by Hollywood’s relentless rejection of diversity.

Zoe thought it was well-written and unputdownable.

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A short list of these books may be found here.

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Our next gathering will be on Sunday, May 8th 15th at 1pm SLT. All are welcome – bring a friend!