Book Reviews and Gift Ideas

Today I have a review of our final two book club selections of the year and they would both make great gift ideas!

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion can best be described as a romantic comedy and it is totally adorable!

*Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count his friends on the fingers of one hand. Conceding to the statistical probability that there is a significant someone for everyone, he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner that he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical - most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker or a late-arriver. Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent - and on a quest of her own. As an unlikely relationship blooms, the scientifically minded geneticist confronts the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

Thoughts ... My book club absolutely loved this book. It is fun, quirky and light-hearted. Don is certainly socially challenged, but absolutely charming at the same time. We were rooting for him from page one and we appreciated that it was his quirkiness that made him so endearing. And clearly the whirlwind Rosie was exactly who he needed in his life! ... This is definitely a book that you finish and want to pass along to your mother, sister or friend to read - a great gift idea!

Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a love letter to one baby girl written from her two mothers - one by birth and one by adoption.

*Frances “Khaki” Mason has it all: a thriving interior design career, a loving husband and son, homes in North Carolina and Manhattan—everything except the second child she has always wanted. Jodi, her husband’s nineteen-year-old cousin, is fresh out of rehab, pregnant, and alone. Although the two women couldn’t seem more different, they forge a lifelong connection as Khaki reaches out to Jodi, encouraging her to have her baby. But as Jodi struggles to be the mother she knows her daughter deserves, she will ask Khaki the ultimate favor…

Thoughts ... We thoroughly enjoyed this touching story of one baby girl, told in alternating chapters from the perspective of her two mothers. Khaki and Jodi really were about as different as two woman could be, but they shared the love of one little girl named Carolina and redefined the meaning of family. We enjoyed Kristy's soft, sweet writing style and the way the lives of the characters were distinctly written, yet tightly woven together. ... And as a added bonus, we scheduled a video chat with the author during our book club gathering and found Kristy to be absolutely delightful. She shared her background, the writing process and the heart and soul of Dear Carolina. It was such a treat to have her join us, like sitting down with an old friend and catching up on life. We were prepared with a long list of question and she so graciously answered each and every one. We are already looking forward to her next book and another book club chat with Kristy. ... Dear Carolina would also make a wonderful gift idea. Read the book with a group of friends, co-workers or family members and schedule a chat with Kristy!

Happy Reading!

*The synopsis of each book was taken directly from the author's website.

Catching up on books, part 2!

I started the year with the best of intentions to share my book club journey with my blog friends, but I quickly fell behind. Now I'm working on getting you all caught up! 

So far I've already shared our thoughts on ...

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Steadman

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

And now, here are our next three books ...

In June, we read An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff & Alex Tresnioroski.

In the author's own words...

*An Invisible Thread  is the inspiring true story of Maurice and me. We met on 56th street in Manhattan in 1986, when I was a 35-year-old single, successful ad sales executive, and he was an 11-year-old homeless panhandler. He asked me for spare change; I said no and kept walking. But something made me stop, and turn around, and go back to him, and that day I took him to lunch. We met the following Monday, and every Monday for the next four years, and hundreds of times after that.

Almost 30 years later, we are still great friends.

An Invisible Thread  is the story of how we changed each other’s lives forever.

Thoughts ... This book reminded us of The Blind Side. It is a true story that exemplifies how one decision can change everything and that one person can in fact make a difference in someone's life. And the author keeps it real. It's not a fairy tale where everything goes perfectly. We sometimes questioned Laura's decisions, but never her motivations. And we challenged ourselves to find ways to make a difference in our own little world. Overall, an interesting and uplifting read.

In July, we read Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.

*Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by luck or chance. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?

As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.

Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community-service position helping an elderly widow clean out her attic is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they appear. A Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past.
Moving between contemporary Maine and Depression-era Minnesota, Orphan Train is a powerful tale of upheaval and resilience, second chances, and unexpected friendship. 

Thoughts ... Orphan Train moves seamlessly through time periods to connect the lives Vivian and Molly in this touching story based on true events in American history. The orphan trains were designed to offer hope and an opportunity for a better life for children, but of course that was not necessarily always the outcome. This one was hard to put down and truly touched our hearts!

In August, we read Run by Ann Patchett.

*Since their mother's death, Tip and Teddy Doyle have been raised by their loving, possessive, and ambitious father. As the former mayor of Boston, Bernard Doyle wants to see his sons in politics, a dream the boys have never shared. But when an argument in a blinding New England snowstorm inadvertently causes an accident that involves a stranger and her child, all Bernard cares about is his ability to keep his children—all his children—safe.

Set over a period of twenty-four hours, Run takes us from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard to a home for retired Catholic priests in downtown Boston. It shows us how worlds of privilege and poverty can coexist only blocks apart from each other, and how family can include people you've never even met. As in her bestselling novel Bel Canto, Ann Patchett illustrates the humanity that connects disparate lives, weaving several stories into one surprising and endlessly moving narrative. Suspenseful and stunningly executed, Run is ultimately a novel about secrets, duty, responsibility, and the lengths we will go to protect our children.

Thoughts ... Ann Patchett is the author of one of my all-time favorite books - Bel Canto. I can't even tell you how much I loved that book. Those characters have stayed in my head for years. It's a must read! Run on the other hand was a little uneven for us. The story takes place over a twenty-four hour time period, which is a very interesting concept, but it felt a little rushed. And we were a bit overwhelmed by the range of themes - race, religion, social class, politics, adoption, science and the meaning of family. Run was an interesting read and provided a great discussion. It wasn't our favorite Ann Patchett book, but her writing is always eloquent and definitely worth your time. 

In September, we had a very special guest at our book club gathering. 
Can't wait to tell you all about it!

*The synopsis of each book was taken directly from the author's website.

Catching up on life and books!

Many of you know that I've been in a neighborhood book club for almost fourteen years. We just finished our 152nd book together! Our gatherings include food and wine, lots of laughter, sometimes sprinkled with a few tears and no matter what book we read, a really great discussion. 

Back in January, I thought it would be fun to have you all join us and I shared a few months of book reviews. Actually, I shared exactly two books. Then I pretty much fell off the blogging wagon. No excuses, life just got really busy. You know the saying ... I can do anything, I just can't do everything. ... Well that is just so true and perfectly sums up my life at the moment!

So today I'm making an effort to get back on track and catch you up on what you've missed in book club over the last few months. I hope you find a book that peaks your interest. And better yet, I hope you share it with a friend!

In March, we read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than her tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and he is not interested in exploring a new one.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, Lou sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

Thoughts ... This one really got to me and thoughts of Louisa and Will are still swirling around in my head. The moment I finished it, I needed to talk about it. It is beautifully written, tender and touching, but it will break your heart. And it will bring up topics that are sensitive, compelling and thought-provoking. If you need a light, uplifting read, you might want to skip this one. But this is the perfect read for a cold winter night, wrapped in a blanket when you need something deep and gritty. Read it with a friend and be prepared for a great discussion!

In April, we read The Boys In The Boat by Daniel James Brown.

The Boys in the Boat celebrates the 1936 U.S. men’s Olympic eight-oar rowing team—nine working class boys who stormed the rowing world, transformed the sport, and galvanized the attention of millions of Americans.

The sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers from the American West, the boys took on and defeated successive echelons of privilege and power. They vanquished the sons of bankers and senators rowing for elite eastern universities. They defeated the sons of British aristocrats rowing for Oxford and Cambridge.  And finally, in an extraordinary race in Berlin they stunned the Aryan sons of the Nazi state as they rowed for gold in front of Adolf Hitler.

Against the grim backdrop of the Great Depression, they reaffirmed the American notion that merit, in the end, outweighs birthright. They reminded the country of what can be done when everyone quite literally pulls together. And they provided hope that in the titanic struggle that lay just ahead, the ruthless might of the Nazis would not prevail over American grit, determination, and optimism.

And even as it chronicles the boys’ collective achievement, The Boys in the Boat is also the heart warming story of one young man in particular. Cast aside by his family at an early age, abandoned and left to fend for himself, Joe Rantz rows not just for glory, but to regain his shattered self-regard, to dare again to trust in others, and to find his way back to a place he can call home.

Thoughts ... This is the true story of an unlikely group of young men who rowed their way into history and you will be rooting for them right from the beginning. The details of the story have been meticulously researched and we found ourselves totally engrossed in the mechanics of a sport we knew little about before reading the book. The grit and determination of these young men will amaze and inspire you and you'll get a history lesson in the process. Not only did everyone in book club love it, but everyone in my family read this one too. It's a wonderful read!

In May, we read The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

Thoughts ... Well you can hardly miss the comparisons to Gone Girl. If you like psychological thrillers, definitely read this one. The characters are a bit messy and not particularly likable, but they will definitely keep you guessing. I love books where you take nothing at face value and nothing is as it seems. We were particularly fascinated by the thought of Rachel riding the train each day and imagining the lives of the people she observed along the way. Don't we all do that in our own lives? We see people every day and imagine what their lives are like. If we only knew!

I'll be back soon with our next three books!

*The synopsis of each book was taken directly from the author's website.

February Book Review: The Light Between Oceans

This year, I'm inviting my blog friends to join my real life book club!

If you missed our January pick (Station Eleven) be sure to check out our review here. We are still talking about that book and recommending it to all our friends!

Our February pick was The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman.

1926. Tom Sherbourne is a young lighthouse keeper on a remote island off Western Australia. The only inhabitants of Janus Rock, he and his wife Isabel live a quiet life, cocooned from the rest of the world.

Then one April morning a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a crying infant - and the path of the couple's lives hits an unthinkable crossroads.

Only years later do they discover the devastating consequences of the decision they made that day - as the baby's real story unfolds ...

{via Random House Books}

The Light Between Oceans is a debut novel that quickly became a New York Times bestseller and the movie release from DreamWorks is scheduled for later this year. You can check out IMDb for the cast list.

Our thoughts ...

Well first of all, the cover of the book is beautiful and mesmerizing! Of course you can't judge a book by it's cover, but covers and titles are part of the package. Take a walk through a book store. Yes, a real book store! With so many books to choose from, it's the cover and title that often prompt you to reach out and pick up a book in the first place, don't you think?

The Light Between Oceans is beautifully written and life on Janus Island is richly detailed. It takes on an almost magical feel. And the meticulous work of the lighthouse keeper is fascinating. We felt like we were truly stepping back in time. But this is the heartbreaking story of love and loss. Decisions made with the best of intentions and from a place of love result in devastating consequences. 

If you are looking for a light uplifting read, save this for later. This is a book that pull at your heartstrings from the very first page. We all felt emotionally invested in the characters. We hoped for the very best for each and every one, but knew that was not entirely possible. 

The Light Between Oceans provided for a great discussion. Are right and wrong absolutes? What motivated each character to make the decisions they made? Can you imagine yourself in the position of the characters? What choices do you think you would have made?

If there was one thing we wished for, it was for more detail in the later chapters of the book. The early chapter were so detailed and we desperately wanted to know more about what happened to the characters after all the secrets were revealed..

Overall, The Light Between Oceans was a great read and one that we would recommend! Have you read it? We'd love to hear what you think!

Our next book pick is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. 

Feel free to read along with us!

January Book Review : Station Eleven

I've mentioned my book club on the blog from time-to-time and wrote a detailed post here. Our group just celebrated 13 years together and we have now read a total of 144 books. We have shared laughter and tears and everything in between!

Our January book was Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. 
The moment I finished it, I knew I had to share. 

I am a pretty fast reader and generally start most books within a week or so of our discussion so it's all still fresh in my mind. Well I didn't have to worry about finishing this one on time because I read it in one day! I was totally hooked on page one. There just weren't any good stopping points for me. I became completely lost in this book. I could see, hear, smell and feel every single page. It was almost like watching a movie. I could not put it down for more than a few minutes at a time!

Paraphrased from the author's website .....

One snowy night a famous Hollywood actor slumps over and dies onstage during a production of King Lear. Within hours, a flu epidemic begins and the world as we know it begins to dissolve.

 Moving back and forth in time—from the actor's early days as a film star to fifteen years in the future, when a theater troupe known as The Travelling Symphony roams the wasteland of what remains—this suspenseful, elegiac, spellbinding novel vividly depicts life before and after the pandemic and charts the strange twists of fate that connect the main characters.

  Sometimes terrifying, sometimes tender, Station Eleven tells a story about the relationships that sustain us, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the beauty of the world as we know it."

Okay, I know what you're thinking ... you want me to read a book about a flu epidemic that wipes out most of the world's population? How depressing is that!

That's exactly what I thought when a friend recommended this book to me. The words post-apocalyptic usually make my eyes glaze over. But that's the great thing about being in a book club. Sometimes you take a chance on a book you never would have picked on your own. And believe it or not, we've had some great discussions on books we really weren't too fond of!

In short ... our book club found Station Eleven to be beautifully written and provided us with hours of discussion. If the post-apocalyptic genre is your thing, this book is really probably too mild for you. But it was perfect for us. It took us out of our comfort zone just enough. We loved the way the connections between the characters unfolded and the importance of art and culture in survival. It also made us think about all the things that we find so important in our world today. I could go on and on. But most importantly for me, I cared about the characters and I know they will stay with me for a long time to come!

And funny thing ... my favorite spot to read is a big comfy leather chair in my sunroom. Last week I shared my winter mantel on a snowy day. I actually read this book on the same day I took the pictures for that post. The book opens during a snowstorm and I read it during a snowstorm. Every time I looked up from my book, I saw the snow. Talk about a perfect book for a perfect day!

Our next book pick is The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. Feel free to read along with us. If you're interested, I'll let you know what we think at the end of February!

And if you have any book recommendations for us, we'd love to hear!

An Evening with My Book Club

From time to time, I've mentioned that I'm in a book club. Yesterday as I was getting ready to host the girls at my house, I thought I'd snap a few pictures and share a little bit about our group and our evening together.  

Book club gatherings are not a fancy affair, but it's fun to make it a little extra special.

 I started in the morning by going outside to pick some flowers from the garden - daisies, oak leaf hydrangeas, astilbe, yarrow and ferns - in white pitchers and blue mason jars.

I already had seashells out for summer and just added some vintage book bundles because, well, we're a book club!

And since my flowers were yellow and white, I added some fresh lemons to the table.

For beverages, I mixed up a big batch of peach sangria, made fresh lemonade and of course had a pitcher of water.

I didn't follow an exact recipe for the sangria, but it's basically a mix of 2 bottles of dry white wine, some peach nectar, lemon-lime soda and lots of fresh fruit. The day before, I cut up three peaches, an apple and a pear and put them in a big pitcher with the wine and the peach nectar. Just before serving, I added the soda. I really don't think you can mess up sangria. And oh my, the fruit is so yummy! Fruit is good for you, right?

 Have you ever had the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad from Panera? Well I make that at home all the time. Just chop up your favorite greens and top with strawberries, blueberries, fresh pineapple and mandarin oranges. Serve with Sugared Pecans (my recipe here) and Poppyseed Dressing - homemade or store bought, depending on time. This is so delicious and refreshing!

I served the salad with a Tomato and Fresh Corn Quiche - it was totally awesome! It's chock full of garden fresh onions, corn, tomatoes, basil and chives. And that pile of cheese on the top doesn't hurt either. I found the recipe at A Touch of Honey. I'll definitely be making this again!

I made two, leftovers are a good thing!

Easy, delicious and oh so pretty!

We gathered in the sunroom for dinner and discussion.

A little nautical décor.

We collect sand, seashells and rocks on every family vacation. You'll find them all over my house in the summertime. They just make in smile!

The sailboat was a recent thrift store find. I have wanted one for the longest time!

More Sugared Pecans and Tag Sale Chocolate Cookies - wait till Karla finds out I'm now adding mini-chocolate chips to this recipe!

More flowers, seashells and a yummy vanilla candle.

I love having a garden!

Our book this month was The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore. The story follows the friendship of three women known as the Supremes, as they weather the ups and downs of life in a small mid-western town over the course of their lives. Earl's All-You-Can-Eat is their gathering spot and holds the heart of the entire community. We all thoroughly enjoyed the book and it made for a great discussion. We are always amazed by male writers who can totally capture the voice of the female characters with such humor, wit and honestly. Definitely a great addition to your summer reading list!

And you didn't think I was going to send you home without dessert, did you? How about a slice of Lime Mousse Cheesecake? This one is a definite keeper - creamy and delicious! I forgot to buy a lime for garnish, but the lemon goes with my theme. Let's just say I planned it that way! The recipe is from Barns and Noodles. I love trying out new recipes on the girls. As you can see, I was making good use of my Pinterest boards!

Now for a little bit about our group. .....We've been together for over 11 years and we've read 128 books together.  We celebrated our 100th book with a weekend getaway! There are 11 of us and we all live in the same neighborhood. The core group has remained the same, with a few people moving away and a few new additions. I think proximity is one of the secrets to our longevity. Even on a busy evening, you can usually at least put in a quick appearance for hugs and a glass of wine. Although I tend to think of us as being the same age, we actually have about a 20 year age range. We have members who are married, divorced and widowed. And our children range from elementary school age to 30-somethings.  I think our bit of diversity makes us more interesting as a group!

Some of us have close friendships outside of book club, others come together just once a month. We read a really diverse selection of books. Don't you love the thought of becoming completely lost in a book. If the characters stay with me long after the last page, then that's a great book! And then I just can't wait to talk about it. But I really think we could read just about any book and still turn it into a great discussion. We don't always see a book in the same way, but that's the beauty of it! Sometimes the discussion can actually change your mind about the way you feel about the book. Even if you are just a casual reader, I highly recommend starting a book club of your very own!

{via Pinterest}

My friend Amanda from Mommy is CooCoo recently shared a post at our Tuesday party with 10 Tips to Start a Book Club. You should definitely check it out!

And if you need any book recommendations, I have 128 of them for you!

{via Pinterest}

Thanks for joining us for book club this month!

I'm sharing with...

Flamingo Toes 

Three Mango Seeds

Beneath My Heart

Create Inspire

A Delightsome Life

No Minimalist Here

A Glimpse Inside

The Shabby Nest

My Romantic Home