BOok club recommendations

Before We Were Yours: Lisa Wingate
I could not put this down, yet I wanted to cry out to the characters moment by moment. Set in 1939 Tennessee, we learn about a family of children who are dirt poor and happy. Their mom gets sick, goes to the hospital, pregnant and while the parents are away, the children are thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage. This story is based on the corruption that occurred at these facilities. (Fiction, Adult)

Bel Canto: Ann Patchett (Psychological Fiction, Adult) This is a moving and entertaining story. In South America, at a vice president’s birthday party, there is a famed soprano ready to sing. The event and all party goers are held hostage by terrorists. The “siege” takes place long enough that initial panic moves into life. Relationships are forged. This book takes a good look at “Stockholm Syndrome.” It is hard to remember that in the end, these people are two very different sides.

Beneath a Marble Sky: John Shors
(Biographical Historical Novel, Adult) This reminded me of The Devil in the White City
because it was all about the construction of the Taj Mahal, instead of the World Fair. The
story is told by the daughter of the emperor, Shah Jahan, who has commissioned the
building. She tells of the love story between her parents. The story talks about the
political dissent in the country, warring religious differences, and forbidden love.

Between Shades of Gray: Rita Sepetys
I don’t like war books. I don’t like desperation and pain. This book is full of both. It is the
account of the Soviets moving into Lithuania from a 15 year old girl. She talks about how
her life has changed, her family has been separated, and how they are forced to fight for
their lives. Lina finds solace in art and she records everything in her drawings. I loved
Lina and the way she told her story. (Historical Fiction, Young Adult)

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: Kim Michele Richardson
Best book ever! I had no idea there were really blue people. I also knew nothing of the
Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky that ran during 1936. This book covers
discrimination, the importance of literacy, history, and determination. (Historical Fiction,
Adult)

Carnegie’s Maid: Marie Benedict
Clara Kelley swapped her identity with a woman who died. She is no longer a poor
farmer’s daughter. She now can be a lady’s maid. She serves in the household of Andrew
Carnegie. Based on true facts, Clara may have been instrumental in many of Carnegies
decisions. (Biographical Fiction, Adult)

The Choiring of Trees: Donald Harrington
(Historical Mystery/Thriller, Adult) This book was published in 2011. I think I read it in
2012. I still remember it as being one that forever sticks with me. Although, I didn’t
remember a lot of details, I remember liking the man wrongfully convicted of raping a
13 year old girl in the Ozarks in 1914. The way this story was written, the actual
storytelling, is beautiful.

Cold Mountain: Charles Frazier
(Southern Fiction, Adult) Another book that is now a movie. I read this “pre
Hollywood.” I felt so sorry for Inman, who is injured in the Civil War and abandons the
war to go home to his sweetheart, Ada. I felt that Inman was sick, sick of the death,
the pain, the brutality and he just needed escape. While he is making his journey
home, Ada is trying to keep her farm going and survive. I hated the men who did not
go to fight, but instead “protected” those at home, by killing returned soldiers and
preying upon the families who were trying to survive.

The Constant Princess: The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels: Philippa Gregory
(Historical Fiction, Adult) This book was fascinating! I learned so much about Katherine of Aragon. Usually, the wives of Henry VIII are “clumped” together as the many misfortunate and it is more of the story of Henry that we hear. This goes story
goes into so much detail of who Katherine was and the lengths she had to go through to become Henry’s wife.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed
America: Erik Larson
(Serial Killers True Stories, Adult) I do not normally like “true” stories. The gals in the
book club loved the detail that went into the World Fair that took place in Chicago.
Every other chapter goes from the World Fair to the detail and planning of Henry
Holmes, a local doctor who planned and executed the perfect murders of local young
women. I was terrified of the Holmes chapters, but these are what intrigued me.

Fledgling: Octavia E. Butler
Probably one of the most disturbing books I have read. I think of it often, however,
and the issues it brought up. I got it as a “throwaway” vampire novel. I simply wanted
to escape the “today” and was thinking it may end up being good enough to go on my
“fun reads” list. Instead, this book delved deeply into humanity and what this really
means. Great book club book. (Paranormal Romance, Adult)

The Forest of Stolen Girls: June Hur
1426 Korea. Historical-Mystery. The same crime keeps repeating itself: girls go missing and no one seems to care. I was more attached to the event and the history behind it then the actual solving of the crime. I was intrigued by the lackluster performance of anyone putting any effort to solve these disappearances. I was also more involved in the relationship of the sisters than their characters individually. (Historical Fiction, Young Adult)

A Forgery of Roses: Jessica S. Olson For a completely different type of book club book, try A Forgery of Roses. Myra has a special gift, that most think no longer exists and everyone wants to control: she is a portrait artist whose paintings alter people’s bodies. The governor’s wife discovers the truth and threatens to expose Myra if she does not do a special portrait that will bring back the governor’s dead son. The talent Myra has, has creepy overtones if misused. This alone can spark some great conversation! (Historical Fantasy, Young Adult)

The Forty Elephants: Erin Bledsoe
In London, 1920’s life on the streets is hard, really hard. If you are a woman you have little choices. This story is based on the real-life, all-female gang who specialized in theft of high art, the rich, and expensive departments stores. I got caught up in the characters and the circumstances surrounding them. (True Crime Biography, Adult)

The Girl in the Blue Coat: Monica Hesse
Another WWII story. It is, of course, sad. I usually veer away from these types. What I
loved about it? It is about the Dutch invasion-a different perspective. You also have
a spunky girl who wants to change the course of her life with a bike. A young adult
novel that will get a lot of conversation. (Historical Fiction, Young Adult)

The Forest of Stolen Girls: June Hur
1426 Korea. Historical-Mystery. The same crime keeps repeating itself: girls go missing and no one seems to care. I was more attached to the event and the history behind it then the actual solving of the crime. I was intrigued by the lackluster performance of anyone putting any effort to solve these disappearances. I was also more involved in the relationship of the sisters than their characters individually. (Historical Fiction, Young Adult)

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis: J.D. Vance
(Autobiography, Memoir) I only read this because I thought “I should.” I am so glad I
did. It was told in a fabulous story telling way, so it did not come across as dry or
educational. It made me aware of a life that I had not known existed. As a footnote,
J.D. Vance ended up running for Ohio Senate in 2022.

Josephine B Trilogy (Starts with Secret Lives and Sorrows of Josephine B): Sandra
Gulland
(Biographical Historical Fiction, Adult) We read this over the summer, so we read all
three books, one for each month. Then we met in August and discussed all three as
a “whole.” We hear so much about the “men” in history, like Napolean Bonaparte,
but rarely is so much time and detail given to the women behind them. This is a
story of politics, love, and intrigue.

The Journey of Little Charlie: Christopher Paul Curtis Southern history. I just picked this book up to see if it would be a good one to send my niece for 25 Days of Christmas. I got swept up in the story. The story takes place during slavery. I had no idea of the discrimination against share croppers. A young boy has to decide what and who he will become. While it may be *morally* easy to decide who you want to be, what do you do when you have no money and no family? (Historical Fiction, Young Adult)

The Life We Bury: Allen Eskens
Joe is a college student who just wants to complete an assignment. He must interview a stranger and write a biography. He heads to a nearby nursing home and
finds Carl, who is a dying Vietnam Veteran, convicted of murder. Joe’s life is never the same. He gets involved in Carl’s story. He tries to reconcile the war hero with
the callous killer. Joe begins to unravel the facts upholding Carl’s conviction, which not everyone wants. (Mystery/Thriller, Adult)

My Sister’s Keeper: Jodi Picoult
(Fiction, Adult)This is the one book I am recommending that I did not like that much.
I am recommending it because for a book club it has a lot of amazing conversation
points. Anna is suing her parents for medical emancipation. She is the youngersister to Kate. Kate has leukemia and Anna is always required to donate, give blood, etc to Kate. I felt like Anna was conceived for spare parts. However, others in the book club had a completely different point of view. Good conversation book

The Paris Dressmaker: Kristy Cambron
Historical. WW11. Another one with a completely different “skew”. This is all about
saving art and the history that is revealed because of the art preserved. The biggest “warning” I would give is that it has two story lines, although the characters do meet briefly. The difficulty I had is there is a five year difference between the
women’s stories, so I got a little confused at times. Was it worth it? Absolutely, a fabulous read. (Historical Fiction, Adult)

Room: Emma Donoghue:
(Psychological Fiction, Adult) A woman is kidnapped by a man and held hostage for years. She is “visited” by him regularly and eventually bears him a child. This story has so much to discuss, like the way a mother tries to raise a healthy child in unhealthy conditions, the way a child sees this visitor, and how they each view escape.

These is my Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 (P.S.): Nancy Turner
(Historical Fiction, Adult) Set in the early frontier, Sarah meticulously records her
young life through being a mother. She talks about the hardships of the environment,
love, and overcoming. While this story goes into sometimes difficult to read details of
the losses and deaths of frontier life, it is really a love story.

Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All: Laura Ruby Heart wrenching. A ghost is the narrator. There are two stories happening simultaneously. That of the ghost and that of Frankie who lives in an orphanage in WWII era Chicago. Both of the stories are of survival and the obstacles each faced in being young women. (Historical Romance, Young Adult)
Ties that Bind, Ties that Break: Lensey Namioka China, early 1900’s. The practice of foot binding, Ailin sees this happen to her sisters and is full of fear and disgust. She wants to rebel, however, “small feet” are socially considered acceptable and beautiful. We learn a lot from a brief talk with Ailin’s older sister. I liked that I learned about this practice and it makes you questions other “normal” practices “we” do for the sake of a socially attractive appearance.(Fiction, Young Adult)

Unwind: Neil Shusterman
This is probably the best book club discussion book I have ever read…if your book
club can civilly discuss abortion. The book starts in the midst of WWIII, which began over abortion. The two sides are the right to choose and the right to life. The war has gone on for a long time and both sides have suffered huge losses. Both sides recognize “something” has to be done. The “solution” that both agree to is outlined in
this series. Only we see it in three teens and how the decisions of others control their destinies. I remember this book vividly, 10+ years later. While this is disturbing, it is probably the book I recommend the most.

Walk on Earth a Stranger: Rae Carson This is one of my favorite series. It has so many points that can be discussed, yet it is also incredibly entertaining. Lee must leave her home. On the run, she disguises herself as a boy, trades work for passage out West, and joins many heading for the gold rush. I recommended this series on my “fun reads” list as well. If your book club is not “turned on” by this one, get it for yourself, it is so much fun! (Fantasy Adventure, Young Adult)
Where the Crawdads Sing: Delia Owens “Marsh Girl” Kya has lived alone and survived. As she comes to age, bad things happen. She is pretty and considered unintelligent. To top it all off, there is a murder. Incredibly engaging story; you will love Kya and her story. Unfortunately, this book is a movie now. I have only read the book. I can tell you that the way Kya is written, I wanted more, more books, more on her life, etc. (Fiction, Adult)
The Wolf Road: Beth Lewis Probably one of the scariest books I have read, and yet one of the best written and “I never saw that” in the end. An abandoned girl lives with a hermit and comes to call him dad. She later learns he is a serial killer. (And that is not the “I never saw that coming”!) This is one of the books I also have listed on my “fun reads” list. If your book club is up for this type, there is a lot to discuss, otherwise, it is a fabulous read on your own! (Thriller, Adult)

Year of Wonders: Geraldine Brooks
The story of the plague in a small town in 1666. It goes into the desperation
and depravity people who were-close like family go through while experiencing a self-imposed quarantine to keep the disease from spreading. The characterization was strong, so I was immediately involved with who these people were and the dilemmas they faced. I did not expect the ending-I did not expect to see lights of good and hope, it is a devastating event in this village. (Fiction, Adult)