Books we have read and discussed over the years since we started meeting.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Fiction suggested by Sharon Under house arrest in a luxury hotel, Count Rostov lives an absorbing, adventurous existence, filled with capers, conspiracies and culture. The relationships he forms with staff and guests, his handling of twists of fate, his moral rectitude and his perseverance make for a compelling […]
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh Fiction suggested by Patti The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she […]
The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott Fiction suggested by Barbara Spanning the 20th century, story of a widow and her daughter and the nuns who serve their Irish-American immigrant Catholic Brooklyn community. The optimism of faith, the suffering of reality. On a dim winter afternoon, a young Irish immigrant opens a gas tap in his […]
The Violinist’s Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code by Sam Kean Non-Fiction suggested by Shirley Paganini’s fingers, Einstein’s tiny brain, the role DNA plays in shaping destiny, many enjoyable anecdotes all illustrating various aspects of DNA and genes, an excellent overview of the history of […]
Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Fiction/Non-Fiction suggested by Sharon A young slave’s brutal treatment and desperate run for freedom. The author envisions the underground railroad as physically real. National Book Award Winner, Oprah’s Book Club choice.
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George Fiction/Non-Fiction suggested by Patti From his shop on a barge on the Seine, M. Perdu finds books to mend his readers hearts and souls. Finding two others along the way, he floats south hoping to resolve his own ache from love lost. Charming, romantic, a delightful read.
The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich Fiction suggested by Shirley Amazon: A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, a gripping novel about a long-unsolved crime in a small North Dakota town and how, years later, the consequences are still being felt by the community and a nearby Native American reservation. “Though generations have passed, the […]
Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer Non-Fiction suggested by Toni from Amazon – Why is America living in an age of profound economic inequality? Why have even modest environmental efforts been defeated again and again? Why have protections for employees been decimated? Why […]
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Fiction suggested by Sharon The generations of family who follow from two sisters: one sold into slavery and shipped to America and the other married to a British slaver and remaining in Ghana. Lots of awards and recommendations.
Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice by Adam Benforado Non-Fiction suggested by Terry A child is gunned down by a police officer; an investigator ignores critical clues in a case; an innocent man confesses to a crime he did not commit; a jury acquits a killer. The evidence is all around us: Our system […]