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| Our storefront didn't look exactly like this one! But I love the reflections! |
West Lafayette, Indiana, Borders store
the last 4 years this company was in existence.
Once the store closed when Borders declared
bankruptcy, a core group of the book club members decided they wanted to keep the book club active,
despite the loss of a meeting site.
I was thrilled to think this would continue
despite the loss of my "dream job"!!
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| So very very sad! :( |
I have so enjoyed reading throughout my lifetime, but I now realize that sharing reactions and opinions with others just completes the process, and expands my own horizons far beyond my own unique interpretations of what I read!
It is so enlightening!
This monthly book club has been active since 2010,
having read and discussed more than 50 books as of September 2014.
having read and discussed more than 50 books as of September 2014.
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| This reminds me of my nametag! *sniff* |
but I am now trying to establish a routine of creating a post for each book we read and discuss so that not only our members can share with each other, but we can also share with you,
and hopefully, you will share with us in this online forum.
Feel free to link to a review you may have posted
about this same book, or another book you feel
is very closely related in some way,
or just leave a comment/reaction to the book and/or our posting!
However it may work for you is great!
I do have vivid memories of the very first book I selected for discussion at the inaugural meeting of this Book Club. It was Apologize, Apologize! by Elizabeth Kelly, which had been selected as a "make book" by Borders. Why do I remember that discussion so clearly?
It was one of the most important lessons I've ever had: just because I or someone else likes a book, that doesn't mean any other person does! The same is also true of disliking a book! Lesson learned! That initial meeting began my journey in facilitating and participating in book discussions, which never ceases to amaze and surprise me each and every time!
I hope these book discussion postings will provide some enjoyment for you as well!
PAST READS:
June 2016: Smashed, Squashed, Splattered, Chewed, Chunked and Spewed
by Lawrence Carbuncle
Let's just say that my fears we might not like this were, unfortunately, confirmed.
And...none of us would recommend it, though one member did comment it had a
"sweet ending" which saved it for her. This was the least popular book in our 6 years.
everyone enjoying it!
December 2015: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
September 2015: The Second Sister by Marie Bostwick
It was one of the most important lessons I've ever had: just because I or someone else likes a book, that doesn't mean any other person does! The same is also true of disliking a book! Lesson learned! That initial meeting began my journey in facilitating and participating in book discussions, which never ceases to amaze and surprise me each and every time!
I hope these book discussion postings will provide some enjoyment for you as well!
UPCOMING READS:
October 2016: Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Literary Society
by Amy Hill Hearth
One of our members read this and loved it, it was funny! I am anxious to read it myself!
November 2016: Body Surfing by Anita Shreve
One of our members has read several her books and liked them. We're going to try this
one. I expect it to be intense.
December 2016: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
We all think this looks like a good one!
January 2017: Dead Man's Switch by Tammy Kaeler
I do not remember how I discovered this first installment of the Kate Reilly Mystery
series, but it looks like something a bit different in mysteries and worth a try!
February 2017: Eggs in Purgatory by Laura Child
One of our members read this and liked it and thought we all would like it! It is the first in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series.
March 2017: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
I read this years ago while working at Borders. I think everyone will like it since it has just
a bit of magical realism to it. I really liked the writing!
April 2017: Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams by Sue Watson
This just looks and sounds like it must be fun!
May 2017: The Accidental Book Club by Jennifer Scott
I am fully expecting something along the lines of The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe.
This came from a listing of books for book clubs! :)
June 2017: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Seriously, if you have not yet read this book, put it at the top of your TBR listing! It is
amazing! This man is amazing! Definitely one of my "forever" heroes!!
July 2016: A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley
Since everyone loved the bit of magical realism in Creech's Season of the Dragonflies,
I felt that Kearsley's writing would resonate well with all of us. I have read and loved
The Firebird, so have high hopes for this, her newest release on April 7, 2015. Update:
while each member enjoyed it, there was none of the magical realism that I had
experienced in The Firebird! :(
August 2016: We Could Be Beautiful by Swan Huntley
We all received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Penguin Random House!
How did that happen, you might ask? I tend to receive email messages every once in
awhile from publishers announcing a book giveaway for a book club. I only enter about
half of these, since I screen the book to determine whether the Borders Book Club
members would genuinely be interested in reading it or not. I felt this one would be
interesting to all of us, so I entered the giveaway and WON!! :) We just discussed this
one in the Keep Turning Pages group on Goodreads. We adjusted our schedule by
bumping a book out from next spring that we had reconsidered (The Corrections by
Jonathan Franzen), at least for now.
September 2016: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
We were discussing Truman Capote in relationship to Melanie Benjamin's newest
release, The Swans of Fifth Avenue and decided to read this novella by Capote! :) Only
one of us has read this, so it should be a good experience! (I've yet to read anything
written by the man, so I'm excited!)
Since everyone loved the bit of magical realism in Creech's Season of the Dragonflies,
I felt that Kearsley's writing would resonate well with all of us. I have read and loved
The Firebird, so have high hopes for this, her newest release on April 7, 2015. Update:
while each member enjoyed it, there was none of the magical realism that I had
experienced in The Firebird! :(
August 2016: We Could Be Beautiful by Swan Huntley
We all received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Penguin Random House!
How did that happen, you might ask? I tend to receive email messages every once in
awhile from publishers announcing a book giveaway for a book club. I only enter about
half of these, since I screen the book to determine whether the Borders Book Club
members would genuinely be interested in reading it or not. I felt this one would be
interesting to all of us, so I entered the giveaway and WON!! :) We just discussed this
one in the Keep Turning Pages group on Goodreads. We adjusted our schedule by
bumping a book out from next spring that we had reconsidered (The Corrections by
Jonathan Franzen), at least for now.
September 2016: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
We were discussing Truman Capote in relationship to Melanie Benjamin's newest
release, The Swans of Fifth Avenue and decided to read this novella by Capote! :) Only
one of us has read this, so it should be a good experience! (I've yet to read anything
written by the man, so I'm excited!)
October 2016: Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Literary Society
by Amy Hill Hearth
One of our members read this and loved it, it was funny! I am anxious to read it myself!
November 2016: Body Surfing by Anita Shreve
One of our members has read several her books and liked them. We're going to try this
one. I expect it to be intense.
December 2016: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
We all think this looks like a good one!
January 2017: Dead Man's Switch by Tammy Kaeler
I do not remember how I discovered this first installment of the Kate Reilly Mystery
series, but it looks like something a bit different in mysteries and worth a try!
February 2017: Eggs in Purgatory by Laura Child
One of our members read this and liked it and thought we all would like it! It is the first in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series.
March 2017: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
I read this years ago while working at Borders. I think everyone will like it since it has just
a bit of magical realism to it. I really liked the writing!
April 2017: Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams by Sue Watson
This just looks and sounds like it must be fun!
May 2017: The Accidental Book Club by Jennifer Scott
I am fully expecting something along the lines of The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe.
This came from a listing of books for book clubs! :)
June 2017: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Seriously, if you have not yet read this book, put it at the top of your TBR listing! It is
amazing! This man is amazing! Definitely one of my "forever" heroes!!
PAST READS:
June 2016: Smashed, Squashed, Splattered, Chewed, Chunked and Spewed
by Lawrence Carbuncle
Let's just say that my fears we might not like this were, unfortunately, confirmed.
And...none of us would recommend it, though one member did comment it had a
"sweet ending" which saved it for her. This was the least popular book in our 6 years.
May 2016: The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and felt it would be a nice breather between
some other "heavier" more emotionally intense reads. And so it proved to be, with everyone enjoying it!
April 2016: Room by Emma Donoghue
I admit I'm a bit hesitant about reading this one, but one of our members has already
read it and really wants the rest of us to do so. She loved this book! It was excellent!!
And it was great for discussion!
And it was great for discussion!
March 2016: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
I initially read this for the campus book club to which I belong in December 2014,
and re-read it for this meeting and discussion. I love this book so very much!
and re-read it for this meeting and discussion. I love this book so very much!
As one member said, "It broke my heart, but I LOVED it."
February 2016: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
The first installment of one of my very favorite series of all!
He makes me feel as if I know what it is like to be in Africa!
And I love these characters, especially experiencing their growth and development
throughout the series!
He makes me feel as if I know what it is like to be in Africa!
And I love these characters, especially experiencing their growth and development
throughout the series!
January 2016: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
I loved this book! So poignant and sweet!
December 2015: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Oh, my!!! I just cannot say enough good about this book, writer, and the series.
I am currently (as of January 5, 2016) starting to read the 6th installment!
I am currently (as of January 5, 2016) starting to read the 6th installment!
Winspear is amazing!!! Each book is so very different and yet so enthralling...and the
same in many ways! I cannot adequately describe how much I love each one!
same in many ways! I cannot adequately describe how much I love each one!
November 2015: At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
Review to come. We all really liked it to loved it!
I just can't imagine she ever tops Water for Elephants for any of us though.
October 2015: Season of the Dragonflies by Sharon Creech
I just can't imagine she ever tops Water for Elephants for any of us though.
October 2015: Season of the Dragonflies by Sharon Creech
I liked this one, and as I suspected, the other members liked it more than I did, overall.
They really enjoyed the bit of magic!
They really enjoyed the bit of magic!
September 2015: The Second Sister by Marie Bostwick
We really liked this one! All of us did. It yielded material for great discussion. I have
begun drafting a review to post, but am in the midst of other reads right now and don't
have time to give it full justice, so it will appear at a future date! In the meantime you can
read my review of A Single Thread, the first in her Cobbled Court Quilt series. Three of
us continued on and read the rest of the books in this series and loved them all! Though
we agreed that we felt her writing improved as the series progressed.
August 2015: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
I loved this one and followed up immediately by reading the sequel, The Rosie Effect, for
which I will post a full review in the future.
July 2015: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
I actually initially read this in May 2015 for another book club, attended that meeting,
then reread it and discussed it with my own book club in July. This is, in my opinion, a
genuine classic and absolutely one of my all-time favorite reads. And for this reason, it
will take me awhile to compile a post. Some books are like that for me... However, in the
meantime, I strongly recommend that you read this one! It is one Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
award with which I wholeheartedly concur! The larger book club in which I first discussed
this book was unanimous in that all of us felt it to be one of the best books we'd ever
read, however, the members of the smaller book club which I facilitate were not so
inclined. Several of them felt it was just "okay." :)
meantime, I strongly recommend that you read this one! It is one Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
award with which I wholeheartedly concur! The larger book club in which I first discussed
this book was unanimous in that all of us felt it to be one of the best books we'd ever
read, however, the members of the smaller book club which I facilitate were not so
inclined. Several of them felt it was just "okay." :)
June 2015 brought us laughter and hilarity!
We read The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society and I read the second in this Cadillac,
Texas series, The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off. Although Carolyn Brown was unable to speak
with us on that day, she did grant us an author interview! And I read the third (and
perhaps final) installment for this series,
The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop.
May 2015: One Day by David Nicholls
I want to read his newest release, Us!
April 2015: Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
We read The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society and I read the second in this Cadillac,
Texas series, The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off. Although Carolyn Brown was unable to speak
with us on that day, she did grant us an author interview! And I read the third (and
perhaps final) installment for this series,
The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop.
May 2015: One Day by David Nicholls
I want to read his newest release, Us!
April 2015: Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
I love Trigiani's writing and really want to read the rest of this series! We all really
enjoyed this one!
enjoyed this one!
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