ATY and Popsugar reading challenges for 2019!

I have never before participated in one of the more intense long-term reading challenges such as 

Around the Year in 52 Books (ATY) 

or The Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge (Popsugar). 

But that is about to change with the start of a new year!

I have decided to fully indulge my love of listing 

books to read and 'scheduling' my reading!

Since I do not have a ton of spare time due to 

working full-time and still working out at the gym and heated therapy pool at least 10-15 hours per week 

to fully rehabilitate these new knee joints 

and get in the best physical shape I can accomplish, 

I will approach this a bit differently than I might 

if I had more reading time.

I will list the books I must read for the book clubs in which I participate first. Then books I own... 

And then there will, of course, be some books that are new, or at least new-to-me, that I still need to own and read! :)

Rather than select one book for each prompt, 

I will fit each book into as many prompts as possible, 

thereby guaranteeing that I cover all the prompts with fewer books! Pretty nifty, huh?

Did I mention that both of these groups are located on Goodreads? If not, I should have...

And as much as I despise the fact that Jeff Bezos/Amazon 

owns and manages Goodreads, I am still using it. 

Seems as if Bezos encroaches upon everyone's life in one way or another, if not through Amazon or Goodreads, then IMDB...or Whole Foods...or...? 

I just avoid all the other entities except Goodreads, which serves as my "bible" in so many ways!

On to the listing of book club reads 

currently scheduled for 2019!

Although the company has been bankrupt for some years, 

the book club I founded while working there has survived!

I was absolutely thrilled when the core of six reliable members 

chose to continue the book club after our local store closed!

This group meets each month and we currently have books selected through July 2019:

January 2019: We are Okay by Nina Lacour

I am about one-third through this one and am really enjoying it. 

I admit the cover initially confused me--my immediate thought was this was a graphic novel!

It is not... :)

February 2019: Less by Andrew Sean Greer

2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

(We selected this way before the Pulitzer Prize winners were announced!)

March 2019: Chocolat by Joanne Harris

I have such great hopes for this book! I absolutely loved the movie!

April 2019: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Another one I am anxiously anticipating and just hope I won't be disappointed!

May 2019: The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows

That name may look familiar--she was the co-author of 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! 

A book this same club read and everyone loved!

June 2019: On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman

The cover image is quite intriguing!

July 2019: Them Bones by Carolyn Haines

This selection is the result of my having purchased one of the later books 

in this Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series at a library sale for 50 cents.

What can I say? I loved it! 

Sometime this summer we will select another 12 books to read over the following year, 

so there will be at least 5 more books for this book club alone!

The next book club is the Literary Wives online book discussion group.

We "meet" every other month to discuss a book with regard to this question:

What does this book say about wives or about the experience of being a wife?

Our reviews are posted the first Monday of that month.

The cohosts of this club are rather diverse in their opinions and analyses of these books.

It makes for varied reactions and great discussion!

Check it out on Facebook!

Here are the six books selected for 2019...

February 4, 2019: They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple 

This is a Persephone reprint and my copy has already shipped from the UK to me in the US!

I am hopeful it will arrive this week. I believe this one may be intense!

It is a "classic" originally published in 1944.

April 1, 2019: Wait for Me, Jack by Addison Jones

The subject is a marriage that has lasted 60 whole years! Wow!

June 3, 2019: A Separation by Katie Kitamura

August 5, 2019: Ties by Domenico Starnone, translated by Jhumpa Lahiri

Interesting cover image! Makes me wonder!

October 7, 2019: Happenstance by Carol Shields

December 2, 2019: The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Another Persephone reprint that is making it's way to the US and my house!

Anxious to read this role reversal where a stay-at-home wife and mother 

is forced to work outside the home to support her children and newly disabled husband. 

Originally published in 1924!

February 3, 2020: The War of the Wives by Tamar Cohen

(I can cheat and read this in 2019! lol)

Second Flight Books Backlist Bookclub

This club meets monthly at my favorite bookstore!

There is currently only one book scheduled:

January 27, 2019: The Dry by Jane Harper 

I am quite anxious to read this mystery!

I believe it will be a series 

I will want to continue reading!

Never fear, Laura and Justin, the owners, 

will schedule 11 more for 2019!

I have definitely read outside my comfort zone for this group and have had only one DNF! :)

IUPUI Book Club

Perhaps I left this one for last because it is my favorite book club!!

Why? Simple. It offers the greatest diversity among the participants:

including faculty, staff, and students of varied ethnicities, 

geographic origin, and life experience. 

All this variety creates such wide-ranging reactions and opinions! 

I love that!

IUPUI is a joint venture higher-education institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The school is administered by Indiana University (main campus in Bloomington, Indiana), 

but includes Purdue University School of Engineering and School of Science.  

Unfortunately, this group meets just 3-4 times per year.

The next book selected is An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green. 

Yes, THAT Hank Green! Brother to and cohost with brother John Green. 

Check it out on YouTube: Vlog Brothers!

There will be another three books or so selected for this group in 2019 as well!

Now that I have this posting done, I will work on a page 

for each the ATY challenge and the Popsugar challenge! 

I have at least one book listed for almost all 102 prompts--

52 for ATY and 50 for Popsugar. 

However, there are way fewer than 102 books listed overall.

Remember, I am counting each book for every prompt it fits!

You are welcome to return to follow my progress!

How about you? Have you ever participated in either or both of these events?

If so, please let me know your thoughts!

If not, why not?!? ;)

Happy reading!

--Lynn

It started as just a book club...

The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe

One of our Borders Book Club members wanted us to read and discuss this, because she felt our own club was reflected within this story in many ways. In searching for a cover photo for my posting, I was rather amazed at all of them I found, six in all, with the one directly to the right being the cover on my copy. I guess they all "work" with the story contained within. This book reminded me of many others concerned with a group of women who become close friends, when initially drawn together as a group of strangers, united by nothing more than a common interest...in this case, reading books! 

It showed great fortitude and strength on my part to put this book down on Sunday night (I had begun reading it late Saturday night) with only 120 pages to go. I really wanted to finish it before going to bed, but also knew I had to work the next day, so I went to bed like a good girl should! But I thought about this book throughout the day and what was going to happen in the end.

This was an unexpectedly poignant and rather intense read compared to some other books I have read with a similar premise, I feel as if this one depicted more conflict within the group/between members than others have done. However, it could just be that Monroe's writing made it seem more compelling to me. Monroe's writing was more direct and action-driven than other authors of similarly themed novels I have read--there just seemed to be more unresolved conflict and ongoing tension, though not too much. One of our book club members felt these women spoke to each other a bit too directly, rather disrespectfully at times, whereas, we do not typically do that to each other within our group. (Yay, us! :)) There were spots where the language seemed a bit too "flowery" for one of our members, and I felt some of the "romantic encounters" were a bit more detailed than necessary, plus, in all, I found Eve and Paul's relationship just a bit "too good" to be believed, though I wish each of us could find our "knight in shining armor" as she seemed to do. All of us enjoyed reading this one!

Eve is just one of the five women depicted in this novel. And although we learn many of the more intimate details of all the women's lives, it is Eve's story about which we learn first. Monroe's writing is absolutely excellent, in my opinion. Eve Porter's husband, Tom, is departing on yet another business trip: 
     She was his trusty sidekick, or as Tom often put it, he was the captain and she the 
     navigator.  
        Lately, however, she felt the ship was going down. For no reason she could 
     articulate, she'd begun looking for lifeboats. It wasn't so much that she doubted the 
     competence of Tom, it was just that the buttons of his jacket didn't shine quite as bright 
     anymore. Or perhaps the voyage was just too long. 
        Eve shook these mutinous thoughts out of her mind and stepped out into the morning
     air. "Today will be a good day," she said firmly, silencing her heart murmuring, "He will   
     not ruin my day." (13)

I love the marine analogy Monroe uses here to express the rift that has developed between Eve and Tom. 
     Today was the first day of summer, she realized, her spirits lifting like a kite. She loved 
     milestones of any sort: birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, checks on the calendar, 
     notches on a growth chart. Today would be special, brand-new. She felt it deep inside. 
     ... She was relieved to have the grind of the school year finished. She missed playing 
     with her children. (13)
I had to chuckle at the last comment; that's how I felt when I was a stay-at-home mom. I loved time spent with my children and truly interacted and "played" with them as much as possible. And what a milestone awaited Eve and her children...so much change! As Tom flew out of the house, hurriedly packing his cases in the car, stating he would call later, give her his room number, 
     She nodded and opened her mouth to say goodbye, to wish him a good trip, maybe to 
     say I love you, but he'd already turned his back.
     ... "Her eyes swam in water, and through the white noise of pain in her ears, she heard 
     the car door slam... When the sound of his car disappeared, she felt a tremendous 
     sense of loss. They couldn't continue on like this, she thought, sniffing loudly. When he 
     came home they'd have a long talk, maybe go out to dinner. (18) 
I have felt that same "white noise of pain" in my ears. Have you? That passage perfectly described how I've felt several times in my life. And the idea of not hugging, kissing, or at least saying "I love you," when your loved one leaves...that spoke volumes to me of just how alienated they were from each other. My husband and I have a solemn pact to always kiss each other (at the very least} when we separate for any reason; this was his idea, a carry-over from his relationship with his mother and a very good one, in my opinion! I highly recommend it!

There are so many details I would love to include in a review, but I will do my best to pare it down. :) Doris is the stay-at-home mom who organizes everything and everyone, down to the smallest detail and is seen as rather overbearing, particularly by Annie who is the successful lawyer/professional woman of the group with the perfectly romantic marriage. Gabriella is the plump mother of four who begins working more and more hours as a nurse to makeup for the fact her husband is unemployed. Midge is the single bohemian artist living in a loft, and like Doris, does not have the socially-acceptable svelte slender body type, but does have an overbearing and very judgmental mother. *(I could relate to that!)

Doris and Annie are the two book club members who are probably the least compatible among the five. I had to laugh at her inner dialogue as Doris watched Annie:
     No matter how much money she spent, Doris knew she'd never look like that. Deep in   
     her heart, Doris was convinced it was a secret cult that thin, attractive, successful 
     women kept to themselves just to drive plump, dumpy women like herself crazy. (25)
Hah! And yet, my heart went out to Doris, for I could relate to her feelings of inadequacy based upon nothing more than her physical appearance! So sad that our society makes us feel this way. And although she had money, her marriage was perhaps not what she thought it had been for the past 25 years. Annie develops her own challenges later on, as does Gabriella, as well as Midge. Though I think I could relate most to Midge's challenge of accepting the fact that her mother was moving to be near her:
     As far as she's concerned, everything I do is wrong. She doesn't want to talk, she wants 
     to tell. She doesn't want to just shop, she wants to dictate what I buy. Who I see. What I 
     do. God, that woman is so controlling. I moved out of her house at eighteen because I 
     couldn't stand it then. What makes her think I can stand it now? Why does she think I 
     live alone? (164) 
Following my divorce, my mother was determined to live with me--she even made herself homeless in the hopes I would relent! Midge's description exactly reflects my own mother, with the exception that Edith at least had her own friends, whereas my mother did not, so she was even more smothering! Yep! I resonated with Midge on this 100%! Poor woman...

I loved the discussions about what books should be selected for their book club:
     But we still have to read all kinds of books, books we might never pick up on our own. 
     And there's no way I'd dissect and study a book on my own as much as we do in the 
     group. So sometimes a book I think I'll hate turns out to be wonderful after all. ... I think 
     it's a mistake to only read literary books, or nonfiction, or classics. Or any one genre. 
     Then we'd be stuck. I'm curious about those books that get the buzz, or make the Times 
     list.  (113-114) 
And that sums up what we try to accomplish with the Borders Book Club; we always try to select a variety of books to read and discuss. I agree that diverse reading experiences help develop our understanding of writing styles, themes, and most importantly, others' perspectives. 

I could relate to these realizations of returning to full-time work:
     She wasn't young anymore. She didn't have the same energy. She expected more 
     respect. And now she also had her children to care for. (151)
I notice the decreased energy and my intolerance for those who cannot respect others, particularly me, within the workplace! :)
        Friendships were easy when life was going smoothly. What was hard was to be there 
     for your friend when life got rough and the friendship was neither easy nor fun. The 
     challenge was to forgive the friend when she failed. (343)
And this sums it up so very well. This book demonstrated the ways in which as a group we can all try to help each other as much as possible, yet no one person can always be there for the other every single time...and that's okay, we must learn to forgive and be grateful for the help from those who are available and capable of giving it at the time. 

I think you would definitely like this book if you have enjoyed Kate Jacobs' Friday Night Knitting Club series (The Friday Night Knitting Club, Knit Two, Knit the Season), Marie Bostwick's Cobbled Court Quilt Series, or Terri Dulong's Cedar Key series (Spinning Forward, Casting About, Sunrise on Cedar Key, Postcards from Cedar Key, Secrets on Cedar Key, Farewell to Cedar Key). And I'm sure there are many others. Strangers can become close friends who love and genuinely care for each other. 

Have you read this book? Did you feel it was realistic? Intense? Similar to others?

You can be assured that I will read more of Mary Alice Monroe's books in the future! 

Any recommendations? 

Is it just reading with your Mother?

 The End of Your Life Book Club 

                      by Will Schwalbe

This book had so much to say...about reading...about books...about sharing reactions...about love...about pride...about parent/child relationships, especially in adulthood. 'Cause Will and his mother, Mary Ann, definitely (in my opinion, at least) had a remarkable friendship and camaraderie which seemed to culminate in their shared reading experiences. Personally, it is difficult for me to imagine such a give-and-take relationship with my own mother...suffice it to say, she was nothing like Mary Ann. To me, Mary Ann was the quintessential mom, depicting my idealized version! Will did an amazing job of memorializing her in this book, while simultaneously demonstrating the purpose of literature! 

Literature as defined by Merriam-Webster online: (1) written works (such as poems, plays, and novels) that are considered to be very good and to have lasting importance, (2) books, articles, etc., about a particular subject, (3) printed materials (such as booklets, leaflets, and brochures) that provide information about something. To me, "literature" can be virtually anything we read, but it is in the sharing of written materials that meaning and so much more is determined; each individual providing their own unique interpretation of and reactions to the written word. Mary Ann believed "books are the most powerful tool in the human arsenal" and that reading all kinds of books "is how you take part in the human conversation." (p. 326). Our book club demonstrates that! As she stated: 
                    The appeal of reading...lay in its indifference: there was something undeferring about 
                    literature. Books did not care who was reading them or whether one read them or not. 
                    All readers were equal, herself included.
Refugees would always request books, especially for their children, "sometimes even before medicine or shelter" (p. 110)

Courtesy NY Times
Robert H. Chapman/Courtesy Will Schwalbe
Mary Ann Schwalbe and her children,
including Will Schwalbe, at left;
circa 1967.

This picture of mother and children speaks volumes! You can definitely "see" Mary Ann's delight in her children reflected in her own expression. And...just look at that smirky little grin on Will's face! I believe the attitude behind that grin was accurately reflected in Will's daily life. His mom instituted a mandatory Sunday School attendance policy about which Will was not overly thrilled. However, he eventually selected the Christian Science Sunday School, mainly because "the cookies were store-bought and of the highest quality" and Tang was served. "It was fun to both follow the rules--I was going to Sunday School--and cast my lot with the outlaws [Christian Science believers]." (p. 94) 

Religion played a large part in their discussion of Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Although I am do not believe in a deity, nor ascribe to an organized religion, I was fascinated with this book and the story, but not at all put off by John Ames' Christian foundation for his understanding of life. And typically, that would be a distraction for me. Mary Ann felt that this book should make Will "want to have faith," however, Will states he feels the same as John's friend's son who "describes himself not as an atheist," but rather that he is in a "state of categorical unbelief." This appears to frustrate Mary Ann and she changes the subject; one of the few times it seems she disagrees with one of her children and persists in trying to change him. 

Mary Ann had what Will termed "a slightly socialistic streak" when it came to treats and possessions. If one of the 3 children tried to "hog" more than their fair share of a treat, she would redistribute the portions, making certain that same child received "the smallest portion by far." (p. 85) Likewise, when it came to their possessions, mandatory sharing was the policy. I totally agree with the treat reapportionment, but I believe it is healthy for each child to have at least a few items they can feel are theirs alone and they are not compelled to share with their siblings, unless they choose to do so. But perhaps that is simply the result of my being an only child.

I could appreciate Will's description of the one single most effective tool they could use as children to avoid household chores, etc.: "Like churches during the Middle Ages, books conferred instant sanctuary. Once you entered one, you couldn't be disturbed." (p. 68) Therefore, if you could prove you were actively engaged in reading, you were exempt from common chores. I would have never had to do anything as a child since I virtually always had my "nose in a book," as they say! In fact, my grandmother would become a bit angry with me for walking through the house while reading! She always feared I would fall! I could relate to Mary Ann's dismissal of hypocritical double standards: "Mom was always a little amazed at parents who thought their kids should be reading more but who never read themselves." (p. 68) She and her husband read during the week and would sometimes spend whole weekend days reading! Wow...that would have been my dreamworld as a child! 

So many people noted Mary Ann's bravery and courage to travel internationally visiting refugee campus, monitoring elections, etc. However, she did not believe herself to have been courageous, as she had chosen these actions. In her opinion, people who qualified as courageous had to endure and overcome challenging situations into which they were placed by no choice of their own, and in fact would certainly never have chosen. 

Each of our book club members greatly admired Mary Ann on so many levels, especially with regard to the unique relationship she developed with each of her children. She learned who they were, about their strengths and challenges, and then enabled and guided their development overall, all while working full-time outside the home and traveling much of the time. We loved the discussion of books and appreciated the fact that many of those listed were ones we've read and discussed in book club and/or on our own. This prompted listing and ordering of many different books!! In fact, just one or two people could use the book discussions contained within to have their own "book club"! :)

Have you read this yet? I would definitely recommend it. What are your thoughts?