Just finished The Far Country by Shute. Typical Shute story, good summer read. Not for book group, I'd give it 3+ stars.

Liane Moriarty's crime thriller The Husband's Secret. A wonderful treat, as she's a great observer of human nature and social interaction. There's depth and humour and horror.

To be honest, I'm not crazy about women writers, as most struggle to construct a plot. Please don't pounce on me, ladies. I'm a woman myself :)

To make things worse, her writing is unabashedly feminine, which gets on my nerves, but as fate would have it, I got stuck without nothing else to read, so I plodded on and got hooked after the first few pages. Unputdownable.

Re Steinbeck's East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath, I re-read both a couple of years ago, having read them as a teenager. Conclusion: Steinbeck only gets better with age. A different league from Moriarty. This is real greatness.

I think we get better with age too!

I am reading Hester and so far, it's pretty good. It seems to be a tie in with Salem, Hawthorne, and I don't know what else yet, but very entertaining.Hester link

I just read Hampton Sides' new one: The Wide, Wide Sea. It might have been recommended here, if so, thank you a bunch. It was a 5 star read for me

The book details Captain Cook's last voyage in the late 1700s during which he ran into Hawaii, as well as explored up along the western, now USA coast up through Alaska. Although Side's discussion of the intersection between native peoples and European explorers was interesting and possible book club fodder, it is a long and detailed history better suited to individual reading, in my opinion.

I was fascinated with all those details, and Sides' attention to Cook's personality and emotional state during this trip just brought the whole voyage to life. As I was reading the sections on Cook's West Coast explorations, I kept googling things, realizing how little I know about how 13 colonies took over a continental landmass. Highly recommend for history buffs.

I just finished listening to an amazing audiobook, the autobiography of Dr. Katalin Kariko - Breaking Through : My Life in Science. Dr. Kariko, together with her colleague Dr. Drew Weissman, won the Nobel Prize in 2023 in Medicine or Physiology for their work in developing mRNA vaccines which ultimately led to the creation of the first Covid vaccines and are changing the future of medicine. Dr, Kariko was born and spent the first part of her life in Hungary which was under Communist rule. Events prompted a move to the U.S. where her employment sponsor threatened her with deportation back to Hungary. She persisted, however, in her intense interest in scientific research despite other setbacks she encountered. In her book, she notes that serendipity played an important part in her life and discoveries, for example, when project funding ceased and she had to look for another opportunity; even having to wait her turn at the photocopier and falling into conversation with an individual she had not previously met. Just an excellent read about a very remarkable woman - 5 stars. This is a short YouTube video of Drs. Kariko and Weissman.

The Reverberator, which I would term entry-level Henry James. It's the usual: wealthy, naive American family travelling in Paris, looking to marry off a daughter to a title. It's short-under 200 pages-and the most amazing thing is that in 1888, James foresaw newspapers like National Enquirer and magazines like People.

I'm reading House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng, and I'm very much enjoying it. A beautifully descriptive historical novel set in Panang, with a literary character (Somerset Maugham), other compelling and interesting characters, as well as a murder (based on fact).

I'm also reading (I have a habit of having multiple books going) Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton. It was slow going at first, but it's starting to gain some traction.

I read The Orphan Master's Son long ago, and remember it as having been gripping. It was based on extensive research (a friend of mine knew the author and told me about that). Remarkable novel.

I read another Stella Gibbons book, The Bachelor. Imagine a family living together in a London suburb during WWII. An old maid sister who believes that if she doesn't acknowledge the war, it isn't real. A passive-aggressive cousin. A brother who has never married because he was turned down by someone a long time ago. The woman who turned him down, and her Communist son. The elderly lothario father. It was really funny to see the interactions, but I felt that the ending was contrived. But that was only the last 30 pages. Before that, it was great.

I finished Heaven & Earth Grocery Store for book group. It was good and I think we'll get some good discussion out of it. I also suspect most will have enjoyed it. I give it 4 stars.

I liked Hester and thought it was nicely written and a good storyline. I do wish I could remember The Scarlet Letter more. I know it was required in high school, and I can remember having to read it but I only remember the name Hester Prynne. I think I may attempt to re- read it and will probably appreciate Hester more. Anyway, I think it would be a good book club book, and I did enjoy it without being very "up" on the Scarlet Letter. It was good historical fiction.

I would give it 3.5 to 4 stars.

I think I'm taking a break for a few days from reading books.

@Annie Deighnaugh - I totally enjoyed ”Heaven and Earth Grocery Store”. I’m now reading ”Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade” by Janet Skeslien Charles. She also wrote ”The Paris Library” Miss Morgan’s takes place in WWII France & is about the CARD group of American civilian women working in war ravaged areas of France. I generally stay away from any writings about any war time events but I do like these historical fiction stories that feature women & focus on the characters & what they’re doing & the war events become more incidental to the stories.

I liked this one a lot. I wasn’t sure at first, but it got better and better. Cute story.

I have just started The Women by Kristin Hannah, about military nurses in Vietnam. I've heard great things about it.

The Safekeep, by Yael van der Wouden, is longlisted for the Booker, and I can see why. I refuse to ruin it by giving away too much. The main character is a lonely young woman, suspicious of everyone and very careful of her family's possessions. She encounters a stranger. The resolution of the plot was just incredible. The only caveat is that the middle section has a lot of sexual description that may not be to everyone's taste. I thought to myself, "What's going on here?" , but I am glad I kept at it.

Kk, I loved The Women.

Oh YAY! I've only just started it.

The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. Just delightful. 4.5 stars. First time reading this author who I think was recommended here. Wish my library had more of his work in digital form.

Oh yes! Ivan Doig is wonderful and that might be my favorite of his. Just the sweetest and yes delightful. ( i also loved Last Bus to Wisdom).

Added The Safekeep to my TBR list.

I'm still on a reading break.

I just finished Tan Twan Eng's The House of Doors. Five stars; beautiful language, fascinating characters (some characters and story elements based on fact), and a compelling tale.

In a similar vein as the Ivan Doig books is Montana 1948 by Larry Wats. Highly recommended, excellent characters, deceptively simple yet meaningful language, a lot to dig into for discussion.

I’m working on Far from the Tree by Andrew Solomon. It’s a big book, non non-fiction, about difference / disability and cultural identity. I’m finding it fascinating.

After going to the Met Museum's Harlem Renaissance exhibit, I started reading books by authors from that group. Nella Larsen, of course, and Jessie Redmon Fauset. I have discovered Dorothy West's The Living is Easy. The main character, born in the South, comes up to Boston and reinvents herself by marrying a rich business owner (for his money, of course). She is mean, controlling, greedy, and other endearing qualities. The ending is a little abrupt and contrived, but I did enjoy this.

The Orphan Masters Son, a fascinating novel, was shocking , almost dystopian, and horrifying because it is based on fact. A crazy , mind boggling and ’can this be real’ , account of the buried world of N. Korea. It has stayed with me . Excellent writing, with just one caveat…and likely only my issue, Somewhere in the middle I had difficulty figuring out the main characters. Would love to know if this was an issue for you Salonva, or kkay_md?

I just finished Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. I believe someone here recommended it and it was really good. 4 stars, may be good for book group.

I wasn't the first to recommend Crow Lake, and I found a few other Lawson novels to be just as good. (Unfortunately, I believe the author is deceased.)

The Hare with Amber Eyes, de Waal, is a fascinating memoir by a descendent of a wealthy Russian Jewish grain and banking family -- a family that began to prosper in Odessa in the 18th century. The family status and wealth can be compared to the Rothschilds. However, its members failed to recover financially from the horrors of HItler's Germany. It's uneven and sometimes wanders a bit, but I thought it was well worth my time. 4 Stars. (The 'hare' of the title is one of a huge collection of marvelous Japanese netsuke that tie the story together -- in more than one way.)

Also touching on Jewish exiles during WWII is The Storyteller of Casablanca. I thought this felt rather Young Adult, but it's a believeable plot, saved by the concluding chapters. 3 Stars.

I'm still on a reading break, but I am reading here, so.. I read Crow Lake several years ago and enjoyed it. I know I read something else by that author and also liked it...The Other Side of the Bridge. I just looked at goodreads and I gave them both 4 stars.

Re Orphan Master's Son. I can't recall it too well, but that does sound familiar about confusing characters. I think the major unpleasantness of the story, along with not being certain who was who had me not fan of the book and wondering why I pushed myself. ( I'm sure I was hopeful it would come together for me but it did not).

Based on the recommendation here, I read The House of Doors and enjoyed it very much. I looked into what else Tan Twan Eng may have written, and found his earlier novel The Gift of Rain. A stunning, intense, heartbreaking historical book that takes place during WW II. Five stars.

I am about to start trying to read Project 2025. I mentioned it to DH and he has started. It is so long, but I suspect scanning parts of it will be enough.

lascatz, here's a handy online guide: https://www.25and.me/?topics=

I am reading non-fiction, usually not my go-to type of book. It's The Bookshop, by Evan Friss. It's a history of bookshops in America. It is written in a very conversational way, not dry at all.

Just finished The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, and it was a very good read. First off, it's slim so you can read it in bed. There should be a law setting a max weight of 250 grams for a novel. Having read about a third of it, I jumped to the end and read the last few pages. Then I went back and read it through with great relish right to the end. I don't always do this. Only with really fine thrillers, so I can enjoy both the what and the how all in a single read.

Just finished Knife by Salman Rushdie. First book of his I've read. It was short and really good...his memoir of getting stabbed multiple times and his recovery. 4 star, not for book group.

If you're at all interested in the history of India, his Midnight's Children is a masterpiece. Teeming and kaleidoscopic like the country, it won the 'Booker of Bookers' prize: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-of-bookers

And for those of us who love physical books, here's an essay by Margaret Renkl: My Bookshelf, Myself

I need to read it again, Midnights Children. I got so caught up in the wonderful ( and funny!) writing that I gave too little attention to the actual history. 5+ stars. P.s. My bclub hated it, so not your average readers cup…

Link to Midnight's Children - free on Internet Archive. Very useful site that also offers old classic films. No payment required. You register in order to borrow the book for 1 hour - renewable as many times as you wish, provided nobody else wants it.

https://archive.org/details/MidnightsChildren/mode/2up

I've been wondering what makes a book suitable for a book club? If the book is meant to function as a trigger for group discussion, just about any book will do. No doubt some books won't be liked, but you don't have to like something in order to develop an interesting discussion about it.

The Plot, for instance, is quite shocking, as it depicts cold, calculated cruelty that goes unpunished and yields great rewards. It's a chilling kind of book, and won't be to everybody's taste, but it does provide many subjects for discussion. To mention but two: how easily people fall into a crack, and how danger lurks beneath the surface of everyday humdrum life.

I started reading again. I had reserved The House of Doors a while ago due to all the praise and just got the ebook version so I'm in. I'm at the beginning but what a beautiful writer.

Just started “The Women”. Just finished “Covenant of Water” and before that, “Horse.” My most recent 3.

Wintercat, "I've been wondering what makes a book suitable for a book club? If the book is meant to function as a trigger for group discussion, just about any book will do. No doubt some books won't be liked, but you don't have to like something in order to develop an interesting discussion about it."

What makes a book good for book club is if it's a book with more universal appeal so likely to be liked by most if not all. "Liked" meaning interesting enough so people will want to read it. No not everyone will like a book, but it does mean spending hours with a book, so at least the plot should be interesting enough to be inviting to the group in general. EG, a book on vampires I would doubt to be of interest to anyone in our group.

Another key element is if the book has enough "meat" to it to lead to good discussion. That means are there topics of discussion imbedded in the book, be it perspective on a historical event, moral issues, and/or characters who are complex. The best books for discussion are those that people can relate to and trigger discussions, not only of the book, but side topics where people can share their relevant experiences. For example, a book by Agatha Christie will be enjoyable and loved by many, but it doesn't really lend itself to much discussion. A book like My Sister's Keeper which deals with moral issues around life and death medical decisions, personal sacrifice, interesting characters with unique perspectives on the issues and an interesting plot that unfolds in a way that keeps your attention was a winner.

Finally, it should be a book that most if not all have not yet read...at least not recently. We did have success with re-reading Rebecca which some had never read, and those of us who had, read it decades ago so it was good to read again. But if it's so popular that most have read it already, then it's off the list.

Our group comes up with a list of books once a year that we vote on and the top 12 make it to the list for the coming year. We've had a lot more success with books that have 4 star ratings on goodreads than those that do not.

martinca, I read The Orphan Master's Son some time ago, shortly after I read a review of it in the NYT if I recall correctly. But yes, I recall that there was a point in the novel where the narrator or characters became unclear to me. I decided that that confusion was deliberate, a reflection of the terrible conditions and stress that was being described, reflecting someone being in a fugue state and confronting an untenable situation.

Ali Smith gets another four stars from me. I'd appreciated Autumn, and feel the same way about Winter. Iced-over generations thaw when a stranger's simple grace enters the mix -- twice! It's not long, but it deserves a thoughtful read.

Annie Deighnaugh, Thanks for the detailed explanation. I guess the makeup of a book club is the key to success.

SPOILER ALERT for My Sister's Keeper and The Rector's Wife

I got curious, so read up on My Sister's Keeper on Wiki. How disappointing that such a great plot gets ruined by the deus ex machina of the traffic accident. Anna is deprived of her free will and becomes an organ bank, so the novel loses the moral dilemma that is its driving force. It's like the author chickened out.

This reminds me of how Joanna Trollope chickened out in The Rector's Wife, where a rector, whose marriage is disintegrating, gets passed over for promotion by the new archdeacon. The rector's wife, however, instantly develops great chemistry with the new archdeacon. For a while the plot seems to be heading towards the delicious moral dilemma of: Will the rector's wife leave the rector in favour of the archdeacon? How can she?! How can the archdeacon?! The world well lost for love?? But what did Trollope do? She conveniently killed the rector off in a traffic accident (another deux ex machina literally speaking). That solved the rector's wife moral dilemma, as she conveniently turned into a rector's widow. Then Trollope proceeded to solve the archdeacon's moral dilemma by equipping him with a brother who is a philosopher - the secular version of a clergyman - and pairing him off with the rector's widow. I wonder if a man writer would have chickened out like that in either My Sister's Keeper or The Rector's Wife. (Don't pounce on me, ladies. I'm a woman too).

wintercat, I wish you would edit to add spoiler alert to your post's heading for those who may not have read the books you mentioned.

Annie Deighnaugh - Done :)

I don't care how well Joyce Maynard emotes describing the lives of her 'everybody's cracked' characters in How The Light Gets In. I'm full to the gills of these parades of sad people. Ain't nobody *happy*. As if one brain-damaged kid isn't enough, we get a second on whose alcoholic mother is looking for a new meal ticket. (I skipped to the end to find the second sob story, and then I BAILED!) I can't rate this because it doesn't 'rate' with me. 'Unbalanced' is too mild a term for this.

If I had had a relationship with J.D. Salinger, I'd probably be into crazy too.

I checked out The Catcher in the Rye from the library a couple of months ago. I read it in my teens and wanted to revisit, but the magic didn't work this time around. It's a great, wonderful book. Maybe it's me who hasn't aged well. I developed a sort of reader's schizophrenia. I didn't know one could feel such admiration for a book and at the same time be so irritated with it. Holden's verbal ticks nearly drove me up the wall.

I havent kept up with this thread so not sure if any of these have been mentioned in recent months. I have had a pretty eh reading year with mostly 3-star books and DNFs ... but things have turned around this month so i thought I'd share my 4-star reads and two potential 5-star books*!

* I am fairly stingy with 5-star ratings. For me to rate a book 5 stars, it needs to not only be well written and engaging but it needs to change me in some way ... it may just stick with me for a long time or it may change my thinking, perspective or reading tastes.

The God in the Woods - Liz Moore's recent release. This is very different than her other books but I liked it.. it is a slow, multilayered mystery set in a summer camp in the 70s. It is dark and slow paced ... I could have enjoyed a slightly faster pace but this kind of story needs to unfold slowly.. it isnt going to be a "page turner' pace. FWIW most of my reader friends liked this-- some more than me-- but also, a few DNF'd it as "boring and slow". 4 stars and definitely a good book for a book club imo.

The Hunter - Tana French's sequel to The Searcher (which I recommend reading first) is also a slow-paced dark mystery set in the same irish town and with many of the same characters as The Searcher. I gave them both 4 stars but I much preferred The Hunter .. Tana French continues the development of the main characters -- as well as the interpersonal dynamics of the characters and of the small irish community. I highly recommend this to all who love Tana French but do note that is is much darker and more emotionally complex than the Dublin Murder Squad series! 4.25 stars and an excellent sequel to The Searcher!

James by Percival Everett ... I have been eager to get to this and finally started it last night. I am not very far but already I am loving it. Perhaps premature but it feels like a 5-star contender! It is clever and beautifully written and I can't wait to get back to it later today! I would think this would be an excellent book club option.

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan - is a series of journal entries and sketches that chronicle Amy Tan's escape, self healing and evolution with her life changing experience with bird watching and nature journaling. I will be reading this slowly but I have paged through the sketches and am so very enamored with it. I have purchased special editions for 3 family members and my bff. I expect this to be a book I cherish!

Funkyart’s note on The Backyard Bird Chronicles reminded me of a book I read a couple years ago. ”Other Birds” by Sarah Addison Allen. It was nominated for 2022 Best Fiction. The genre is a blend of mystery, romance, paranormal, magical realism etc. The story has a marvelous ending. It is a very different premise and would be a great book for a book club.

Link to September 2024