Book clubs – both online and in person – offer camaraderie, thought-provoking discussions, and introductions to authors and books we might not otherwise discover.
My online book group came together during the pandemic. For the past several years, every six weeks-ish, a dozen ladies join together on Zoom to discuss our chosen book and share what else we’ve read (and watched!) lately.
From Kansas, California, New York, New Zealand, and beyond, our tight-knit group has supported and encouraged each other through illnesses, travels, weddings, the births of many grandchildren, and the highs and lows of living life post-60. We learn from the books we read – and each other.
The following novels – and one non-fiction book – make great book club choices!
The Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers
Calling all historical fiction fans! And those readers who remember when cigarette advertising laws in the United States were forced to change. With its mountain of positive reviews and praise, I can’t understand why it took me so long to read this gem.
Bright Leaf, North Carolina is tobacco country. Although World War II was ending and the men would soon return, the local women still operated the machines in the town’s tobacco plant.
When Maddie’s mother plops her with Aunt Etta, Maddie plans to spend the summer assisting her beloved aunt with her dressmaking business. Together, they’d fashion glamorous gala outfits for the tobacco executives’ wives.
Her summer doesn’t go quite as Maddie expected… Although she creates gorgeous gowns and hats for the tobacco wives, she also discovers jarring secrets about the cigarette industry. She is at the forefront of women fighting for their rights in the workplace.
Based on what we now know, it’s incredible to realize doctors once recommended that pregnant women smoke cigarettes to ease their nerves and frustrations. Myers’ debut novel is entertaining, engaging, and informative. I enjoyed learning a slice of history that took place not all that long ago.
Do the Next New Thing by Pamela Lamp
True confession – I am the author of this book. This quick-paced read is the story of what we might do when we don’t know what to do next.
Many of us have been there. Because of life changes – kids are grown and gone, divorce, relocation, retirement, death, health issues – we ponder what’s next and try to determine a direction for our lives. We’re often stuck – wanting to do something but not knowing what that something is.
Like many Personal Growth or Self-Help books, this one is not “preachy.” It shares the tale of my steps to making friends, building community, and finding a purpose and passion for the rest of my life.
It worked for me. It can work for anyone.
Book club discussion questions are available on my website, and I am happily available for Zoom visits.
Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams
Although classified as historical fiction, this novel read more like a romance to me – and one I could not put down!
Mystic, Connecticut, 2022. Mallory learns her 10-year-old son ate a toxic death cap mushroom at summer camp. Airlifted to the hospital and fighting for his life, Sam must face dialysis and regimented activities. Three years later, Mallory searches for a donor kidney that will give Sam the chance to have a more normal childhood.
Mallory’s search leads her to Monk, her childhood buddy and now a music superstar.
For some readers, the novel may include a bit too much flip-flopping between timelines. I was occasionally confused, but since I loved the characters, I persevered. Confession – I preferred the present-day timeline. Although interesting, I didn’t feel the Egypt timeline added much to the story.
The House on Cold Creek Lane by Liz Alterman
“OK, this is so much bigger than Pinot Grigio. We’re going straight to scotch.”
When Laurel was 12, her mom was murdered. Days before Christmas. She’s tiptoed through life on eggshells ever since, always a little skittish, restless, and skeptical. Her husband, Rob, the eternal optimist, views the world – and everyone in it – as one big, happy opportunity.
Rob snaps up their new home on Cold Creek Lane without Laurel touring it. Despite languishing on the market with no buyer interest, he thinks the house will be the perfect place to settle down and raise their family.
I zipped through Liz Alterman’s latest thriller, with all its twists and turns and broken characters with their issues and dark sides. Don’t we all have those dark moments in our lives? Attempting to protect our children or spouses or parents or ourselves, we don’t recognize who we’ve become. We step back and wonder, What in the world am I doing?
Liz, who has won awards for her young adult fiction, is a master at seamlessly weaving storylines and keeping readers guessing until the bitter end. The book includes questions for group discussions, and Liz is available to meet with book clubs via Zoom.
How fun would THAT be to discuss this novel or her 2022 book, The Perfect Neighborhood, with this author?!
The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian
Chris Bohjalian – of The Flight Attendant and The Lioness fame – writes novels that my husband and I both enjoy. We read his smartly crafted books simultaneously, exchange opinions, and compare notes. His latest, set on the Vegas strip, is another thriller with a sharp, twisty plot line.
Two look-alike sisters grew up in a small town in Vermont. Crissy lands in Las Vegas, impersonating Princess Diana in a musical cabaret at Buckingham Palace, a casino that’s seen better days. (Stay with me here!) Betsy, her teenage daughter, and Betsy’s seemingly successful boyfriend move to Vegas to begin fresh lives in the cryptocurrency business.
When acquaintances and colleagues begin turning up dead, Crissy’s and Betsy’s worlds are both flipped upside down. A riveting romp into Las Vegas, organized crime, cryptocurrency, and family secrets.
The Caretaker by Ron Rash
“But to love a person enough that you’d want them to love someone else instead of you – that’s hard.”
A huge thank you to bestselling author Fiona Davis for putting this gem on my radar. A gripping, tender tale of the lengths some parents might go to determine what’s best for their child.
It’s 1951 in Blowing Rock, a North Carolina town at the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Blackburn, a societal outcast due to polio deformities, is the caretaker of a cemetery. 16-year-old Naomi, also an outsider and a hotel maid, elopes with Blackburn’s only friend, Jacob. Despite his influential and wealthy parents’ threats and wishes for him to marry “proper” and attend college, Jacob leaves home to serve in the Korean War. Disinherited, Jacob asks Blackburn to look after his pregnant wife while he is away.
The perfect book club pick!
Happy reading!
Let’s Discuss Books:
Are you in a book club? What genre of books does your group typically read? Do you enjoy reading books you might otherwise not choose?
