The 100 Year Old Man Who Jumped Out the Window and Disappeared
By Jonas Jonasson
Discussion Questions
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July/August 2015
All the Light We Cannot See
By Anthony Doerr
Discussion Questions
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June 2015
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A Storied Life of AJ Fikry
By Gabrielle Sevin
Discussion Questions
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May 2015
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Nothing to Envy-Ordinary Life in North Korea
By Barbara Demick
Discussion Questions
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April 2015
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The Light Between Oceans
By M.L. Stedman
Discussion Questions
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March 2015
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
By Mark Twaib
Discussion Questions
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January/February 2015
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The Circle
By Dave Eggers
Discussion Questions
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November/December 2014
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Those Who Save Us
By Jenna Blum
Discussion Questions
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October 2014
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Freedom Road
By Howard Fast
Discussion Questions
Google Page
September 2014
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Lean In
By Sheryl Sandberg
Discussion Questions
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July/August 2014
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ONE SUMMER-America, 1927
By Bill Bryson
Discussion Questions
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June 2014
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The Good Lord Bird
By James McBride
Discussion Questions
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May 2014
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The Art of Hearing Heartbeats
By Jan-Philipp Sendker
Discussion Questions
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April 2014
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Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker
By Jennifer Chiaverini
Discussion Questions
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March 2014
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The Aviators Wife
By Melanie Benjamin
Discussion Questions
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January/February 2014
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Gifts from the Sea
By Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Discussion Questions
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January/February 2014
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Wonder
By R.J. Palicio
Discussion Questions
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November 2013
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The Orphan Train
By Christina Baker Kline
Discussion Questions
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October 2013
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The Secret Keeper
By Kate Morton
Discussion Questions
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September 2013
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Inferno
By Dan Brown
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July/August 2013
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Where's You Go Bernadette?
By Maria Semple
Discussion Questions
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June 2013
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The Paris Wife
By Paula McLain
Discussion Questions
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May 2013
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The Night Circus
By Erin Morgenstern
Discussion Questions
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April 2013
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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
By Rachel Joyce
Facebook Page
March 2013
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Gone Girl
By Gillian Flynn
February 2013
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Winter of the World
By Ken Follett
November 2012-January 2013
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Ordinary Heroes
By Scott Turlow
October 2012
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Steve Jobs
By Walter Isaccson
A fascinating and fair-handed biography about Apple's founder, Steve Jobs, a brilliant man who was a bit heavy-handed and self-centered in his corporate decision-making. Yet, it is obvious that Steve Job's contributions to the world put him at the top of his class in the world of technology corporate leaders. I admire his artistic style and constant drive to find beauty and simplicity in design. Pam - September 2012
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Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948
By Madeleine Korbel Albright
July 2012
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The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
By Bill Bryson
June 2012
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The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins
May 2012
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The Forgotton Garden
By Kate Morton
April 2012
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The Cats Table
By Michael Ondaatje
March 2012
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The Barbarian Nurseries
By Hector Tobar
January 2012
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Unbroken
By By Laura Hillenbrand
November 2011
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Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt
By Beth Hoffman
October 2011
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Emily Alone
By Stewart O'Nam
September 2011
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Major Pettigrews Last Stand
By Helen Simonson
July 2011
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Room
By Emma Donoghue
I like the summary of this book at the “A Book a Week” blog: "Inspired by real-life events, Room is the story of a mother and son who are imprisoned in a garden shed by the mother’s rapist. It’s also the story of their rescue and reintegration into society. The narrator is the son Jack, who was born in the shed, and is 5 years old when the story begins."
I always love stories that are told from an unexpected perspective, and Jack’s perspective is what particularly held my interest and kept the story moving. Because his mom does an amazing job of building a loving, educational and very structured environment for Jack in their tiny shed, the narrative isn’t as horrifying as it would be from his Mom’s perspective, so we can keep on reading. (Our group measured out the size of the shed at our meeting and we were shocked at how tiny the space really was.)
I also liked how the book continued after their rescue in unexpected ways. The fact that their rescue didn’t result in an immediate “happily ever after” added more dimension, interest, and realism. The news at the time we were reading this book was full of the trial of the kidnappers of Jacee Dugard, which made the book even more “real”. I would highly recommend this book!
Karen - June 2011
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Fall of Giants
By Ken Follet
April/May 2011
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The Women
By T.C. Boyle
March 2011
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I Still Dream About You
By Fannie Flagg
February 2011
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Sarah's Key
By Tatiana de Rosnay
January 2011
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Await Your Reply
By Dan Chaon
November 2010
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The Friday Night Knitting Club
By Kate Jacobs
October 2010
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Caught
By Harlan Coben
September 2010
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The Last Town on Earth
By Thomas Mullen
My sister-in-law recommended this book to me after her book club had read it. It takes place in an isolated logging community in Washington during 1918 during a world war, flu epidemic, and the emerging movements of labor and women’s rights, and conscientious objectors. The small community votes to impose a strict quarantine with armed guards in order to avoid the deadly flu. The quarantine is challenged by a couple of soldiers, forcing hard choices with far-reaching consequences. I thought it was a thought-provoking book that examines how commitment to ideals can be challenged in situations of extreme fear and the unknown. The emergence of “swine” H1N1 flu just before reading this book made it seem more real. I was motivated to learn more about the flu epidemic of 1918, which killed more people than World War I.
Karen - August 2010
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The Woman in White
By Wilkie Collins
This book is considered a classic - on the order of Withering Heights, Jane Eyre, etc. It is. But it is surprisingly very muh like a contemporary mystery story that happens to be set around 1850. In fact, it is considered to be one of the first “mystery novels” and even the first British “sensation novels” (mystery, crime, romance all in one). The hero falls in love with a young lady whom has been promised to a friend of her late father. The marriage takes place and it becomes apparent that the groom married her for her money. It is an involved story with lots of twists and turns but all set in an era where a women’s role was quite different than today. A long book but one you can’t put down. A very good read! Kathy - July 2010
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Everything Changes
By Jonathan Tropper
May 2010
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The Wednesday Sisters
By Meg Waite Clayton
Wednesday Sisters takes place in the 60’s in Palo Alto, CA, when women were learning to question the status quo, to speak up, and to have the courage to express their hopes and to take charge. Though not biological sisters, these unique young mothers (and one who yearns to be a mother) meet at the park, seeking friendship and validation. They are all so different, and yet they are all in the same place and are looking for ways to define themselves for more than just their roles as mother, daughter, and wife. Although they don’t meet on Wednesday anymore as the novel evolves, they learn through their common literary bonds and though personal difficulties that their friendship will stand the test of time, hardship and misunderstandings. It has been said that this book is “chick lit” for intelligent women. The one issue that may be a bit contrived is the success of two women as authors and one as an editor. Although this degree of success is possible within a small group, it seems unlikely that so many women from the same small Palo Alto circle would coincidentally achieve such eminence. However, it is a thoughtful, well-written novel that makes us wonder what we might become with a little help from our friends. Hey, that sounds like a good song! Pam - April 2010
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Let the Great World Spin
By Colum McCann
March 2010
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
By Stieg Larsson
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson, is the first in an exciting trilogy of suspense. It is a murder mystery, a love story with an unlikely cast, and a drama of financial conspiracy. Mikael Blomkvist, a gutsy journalist is sued for libel and loses because a corrupt businessman has set him up A brilliant, though odd, tattooed young hacker, dressed in boots and black leather, Lisbeth Salander, is originally hired to investigate Blomkvist. As the story progresses this boy-like, seemingly autistic, sly young woman becomes his ally and literally saves his life through her ruthless tenacity to search for the truth with her unauthorized, brutal methods. The reader is surprised at the ways technology can be used and abused! Blomkvist’s reputation is restored as he solves the Vanger family’s life-long tragedy of what happened to octogenarian, industrialist Henrik Vanger’s beloved great-niece Harriet, missing for many years and believed to have died. There are many twists and turns prior to Blomkvist’s printing the truth, as Vanger family members attempt to prevent the mystery from being solved to keep their personal connections to Harriet a secret. Blomkvist and Salandar are unique characters that will continue to intrigue readers as their personal stories intertwine in books II and III. The movie rendition of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was beautifully filmed in Sweden and the subtitles did little to distract from this exciting story. Pam - February 2010
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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
By Jamie Ford
January 2010
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Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
By Jack Weatherford
November 2009
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The Help
By Kathyrn Stockett
This is a serious book with humorous moments and nostalgia coming together to paint a picture of life in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 60's. Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, and JFK play minor but important roles in this
story about 3 women - a young white girl just home with a degree in journalism from Ole Miss, a black maid who is devoted to the white children she raises but searching for meaning after her own son dies, and
another younger and sassy black maid who can't mind her tongue but is the "best" cook in the area. They come together on a project that is both forward thinking and dangerous at the same time. A great book for book clubs, especially for those
of us who remember these times. Kathy - October 2009
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Olive Kitteridge
By Elizabeth Stout
Olive Kitteridge is not a nice person. Big and blunt, she stomps through her small Maine town, trampling people's feelings
wherever she goes. She is horrid to her sweet husband Henry ("You, Mr. Head Deacon Claptrap") and mean to her son Christopher ("Your wife is so nice, it makes me puke").
To a small girl at Christopher's wedding, she says, "Go away, before I eat you," and then opens her new daughter-in-laws closet to run Magic Marker across a sweater.
Olive spares no one. And yet you can't help liking her. This gorgeously spare book about love and loneliness offers us the gift of forgiveness, for as we absolve
Olive of all the awful things she's done, we also forgive ourselves our own trespasses. Andrea/Time Magazine - September 2009
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Cutting for Stone
By Abraham Verghese
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, is set in Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War. It is the story of Daniel Sempre, the son of a bookshop owner, who selects a book called The Shadow of the Wind
when he is ten years old from the secret “Cemetery of Lost Books”. He becomes infatuated with the book and its author, Julian Carax. In his search for other books by the same author, he discovers that a strange man
has been buying and burning all the books by Julian Carax. Despite being threatened by this mysterious man, Daniel continues his investigation into Julian Carax as he becomes a young man, with the help of a number
of colorful characters. During his research, he finds many parallels between his own life and that of the Carax, as well as the main character in the Shadow of the Wind. This was a very enjoyable read, with many twists
and turns, complete with mystery, murder, politics, history, romance, tragedy and humor! Karen - July 2009
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The Middle Place
By Kelly Corrigan
Kelly Corrigan has written an engaging, funny and poignant recounting of her life -- as a daughter, wife and mother. She's diagnosed with breast cancer, while in the middle place of parenting young children and being a devoted daughter to her parents -- long distance. Honest, well-written and memorable. Andrea - May 2009
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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
During World War II, the island of Guernsey was occupied by German forces. This story is told in letters, explaining how the islanders pulled together in support. The reader gets a good sense of the time, place and people. Perhaps the best story is the real one of the author's niece coming alongside her ailing aunt to help complete the book. Andrea - April 2009
The Pillars of the Earth
By Ken Follett
March 2009
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The Shadow of the Wind
By Carlos Ruiz Zafon
This book is set in Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War. It is the story of Daniel Sempre,
the son of a bookshop owner, who selects a book called The Shadow of the Wind when he is 10 years old from the secret
“Cemetery of Lost Books”. He becomes infatuated with the book and its author, Julian Carax. In his search for other books by the
same author, he discovers that a strange man has been buying and burning all the books by Julian Carax.
This was an enjoyable read, with many twists and turns, complete with mystery, murder, politics, history, romance, tragedy and humor! Karen - November 2008
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The Alchemist
By Paulo Coelho
September 2008
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The Next Thing on My List
By Jill Smolinski
Meet June Parker. She works for L.A. Rideshare, adores her rent-stabilized apartment in Santa Monica, and struggles with losing a few pesky pounds.
But June’s life is about to change. After a dark turn of events involving Weight Watchers, a chili recipe and a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa,
dies, June finds herself in possession of a list, “20 Things to Do By My 25th Birthday.” Even though they barely knew each other, June is compelled by both
guilt and a desire to set things right to finish the list for Marissa. The tasks before her range from inspiring (Run a 5K), to daring (Go braless), to near-impossible
(Change someone’s life), and as June races to achieve each goal before the deadline, she learns more about her own life than she ever bargained for. June Parker
is a heroine who really tries to make a difference in the world. This is a wonderful book with lots of humor and humanity. Jo - June 2008
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The Book Thief
By Markus Zusak
This book is a beautifully written book. Listening to this book on CD while traveling to work/home was a special treat, as the dialects of the various characters really made the story
come to life. One of my favorite things about this book is its creative narrator, "Death," which is initially unsettling, but strikingly unique. Death feels remorse when taking lives and
cares for his victims. The tone of the story is thoughtful and sentimental as young Leisel Meminger, the main character, a foster child living in Nazi Germany, picks up (steals) a book about
grave digging while at her younger brother's funeral. Her new foster parents, particularly her father, enrich Leisel's life and show her kindness and genuine concern for humanity in the way
that they treat others. Leisel's loving foster father, Hans Hubermann, begins to teach her to read using The Gravedigger's Handbook as a start. She soon falls in love with reading and begins
to steal books from anywhere she can, including Nazi book burnings. Constantly compensating herself for her many losses, Leisel is driven to steal many books which give her hours of comfort
and distraction from loneliness. But, when Hans offers to hide a Jew, Max Vandenburg, in his house the story really captivates the reader. Leisel and Max grow to care about each other.
The harsh cruelty of Nazi Germany and those that ignore this meanness of spirit is a contrast to the caring, loving relationships developing by Leisel, her new family, and Max. This story taught
me a lot about the value of friendship and people who care about others when life's circumstances are at their most difficult. Pam May 2008
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
By Khaled Hosseini
This book is about the lives of two Afghan women and the struggles that they share while under the roof of their abusive, unattractive older husband during harsh wartime circumstances. Their arranged marriages to a tyrannical
selfish husband made the women enemies at first, but as the story progress, they become allies and even friends. This historical fiction story takes place in Afghanistan between 1964 and 2004. The book covers the women's lives
with such captivating details that you feel like you are experiencing a docudrama. The first main character is Miriam, who was born to a poor unwed mother and a haughty, rich father who meagerly supported her but would not claim her.
Her father had a shack built outside of the town for mother and child where no one would see them, and that's where Mariam and her mother resided for 15 years. Mariam's father would visit her every Thursday and bring her presents and
tell her stories, giving her hope of being loved. Mariam soon learns that she can never count on her father's weak promises, although her mother continually warns her not to expect much. Mariam has no prospects for a better life and
thus ends up in the horrible arranged marriage to Rasheed, who later becomes Laila's husband, too. Like Mariam, Laila is vulnerable and has no alternative when a marriage to Rasheed is arranged. Hiding her prior recent pregnancy,
beautiful Laila tricks the evil Rasheed by posing as an innocent virgin. The deception, once discovered, increases Rasheed's angry outbursts. The beloved son that Laila produces becomes a focus of love and devotion for both women,
who have little other joy and who experience many cruelties at the hands of unscrupulous soldiers, their own husband, and a political system that demeans women. Reading this book, one will learn about a different culture while having an
amazing emotional journey. This is a beautifully written, engrossing book that will leave you yearning for more.Pam - April 2008
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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
By Jean-Dominque Bauby
In December 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby was 45 and the editor of the French Elle. He suffered a massive stroke that left him permanently paralyzed,
a victim of "locked in syndrome". Bauby had been an outgoing and witty individual and was now only able to communicate by blinking his left eye. This memoir, written by blinking his eye, is remarkable in the
way he is able to communicate his feelings, describe his days and memories and innermost thoughts. Bauby died two days after the book was published in France in 1997. Kathy - March 2008
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Eat, Pray, Love
By Elizabeth Gilbert
This is a memior written as the author has just gone through a difficult divorce and at 35 is ready to start on a journey to bridge the gulf between body, mind and spirit. Her travels take her to Italy to learn the beautiful
Italian language, to India to live in an ashram to study yoga and finally to Indonisia to spend time with a medicine man, a Javanese surfer and a woman
healer. In Bali she finds balance and love. Kathy - February 2008
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Three Cups of Tea
By Greg Mortenson
and David Oliver Relin
This is a story of one man's journey to counteract extremism in Pakistan by building schools especially for girls. In 1993 Greg Mortenson found his way to
an impoverished village in Pakistan after a failed attempt to ascend K2. The people there nursed him back to health and he vowed to return to build a school. David Oliver Relin, an award winning journalist
and Greg Mortenson put together this account of their journey. Kathy - January 2008
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Slaughterhouse Five
By Kurt Vonnegut
Slaughterhouse Five was written in 1969. This book is considered as a classic and combines science fiction with an analysis of the human condition using time travel as a plot device and the bombing of Dresden
in WW II. It is the story of Billy Pilgrim as he experiences different time periods of his life particularily during WW II after being captured by the Gemans and sent to Dresden. Kathy - November 2007
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Snow Flowers and the Secret Fan
By Lisa See
In 19th century China a seven year old girl called Lily is paired with a laotong, "old same" which becomes a match that lasts a lifetime. The laotag, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan
on which she paints a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women have created to communicate away from the influence of men.
As the years pass the women send messages and learn to deal with their lives, endure the agony of foot binding and develop a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a
misunderstanding arises, it threatens to tear their deep friendship apart. Kathy - October 2007
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Glass Castle
By Jeannette Walls
This is an amazing memoir of a successfull MSNBC journalist who was raised in a very dysfuntional but surprsingly cohesive family. Her father was very intelligent and taught his children
physics and geology but became distructive and brutal when he drank. Her mother was a "free spirit", a sometimes teacher that really wanted to just experience life without constrictions.
The family of five remained together during numerous moves from Arizona to California to West Virginia with all three children eventually leaving for New York.
They lived in poverty but never would accept welfare and managed to survive. The story is told with passion but without being
depressing or sad. Kathy - September 2007
Looking for more? Visit our "What We Have Read" page with a full list of the books we have read since 1993!
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