What We Are Reading:

Book Clubs’ Favorites

By Nancy K. Crevier

This month, we asked local book clubs to consider the many books they have read and recommend some favorites to readers, as well as provide some insight into how their book clubs select the books that they read.

The Juliets have read approximately 100 books in the ten years that their group has been meeting, reports member Lee Jawarski.

“To choose two that stand out was a challenge, but we all agreed on A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, and River of Doubt by Candice Millard. A Fine Balance is set in India between 1947 and 1977 and tells the story of four characters from very different backgrounds. The club loved the insight and compassion with which that novel was written. The story of survival and courage ‘in a world we could never imagine’” is what made River of Doubt, Theodore Roosevelt’s journey down an unexplored part of the Amazon, stand out for these readers.

The Non-Fiction Book Club read Tracy Kidder’s Strength in What Remains for December, said Dottie Evans, “to mixed reviews.” The account of an educated Burundian refugee who narrowly escapes death during genocide war in West Africa, his survival on the streets of New York City, and his ultimately unsatisfying return to his native country inspired the readers, but they found the author’s narrative style to be “fractured and confusing.”

This group is looking forward to its February pick, Cyber War by Richard Clark, which like the others has been randomly selected by a member. This method of book selection ensures that the topics are widespread and interesting, said Ms Evans.

“I read books here that I would never have picked up otherwise,” said member Nancy Fansher. “It’s good for me and I enjoy it.” The Non-Fiction Book Club welcomes new members. Contact them at pondmom@aol.com.

The Ladies’ Literary League had many favorites during the past year, reported Lina Williams.

“Two that we would definitely recommend are Without Reservation by Jeff Benedict and The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Without Reservation is the story of establishing recognition for the Pequot Tribe in Connecticut and the building of the subsequent casino. The Help examines life and race relations in Jackson, Mississippi, in the 1960s. Three characters come together for a clandestine project that puts them all at risk,” noted Ms Williams.

To choose books, The Ladies’ Literary League votes on a list of 15 books recommended by members at the September meeting. First they choose five to carry them through March, then in the winter, they select three or four more. This group reads a summer book to discuss in September.

The book club Barbara Cottingham represents has been meeting since 1986.

“For years we chose our books in a sort of exuberant, free-for-all of suggestions and recommendations from which we would pluck ideas,” said Ms Cottingham. In recent years, that has changed. “In December, we place in a hat, eleven genres of all kinds from which each member pulls a suggestion,” she said. Following some research on that genre, the member provides a title for the group to read. “It has been brilliant in nudging us to read all  kinds of books we would not normally reach for,” Ms Cottingham said.

The best book read by this group last year was My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor, about a young neuroanatomist who suffers a debilitating stroke. “She gives an insider view of the world of a stroke patient. We all learned so much reading this book,” reported Ms Cottingham. “You felt like you were working through the experience with her,” said another member, Rosalind Liljengren.

Olive Kittredge by Elizabeth Strout turned up several times in a vote from another local group of readers as a favorite from 2010.

“I loved the book and the discussion,” commented one member, while another mentioned that while not everyone had loved it, it had been a marvelous book for discussion.

Also receiving numerous mentions was the apocalyptic novel The Road by Cormac McCArthy, and another futuristic novel, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, both of which led to in-depth discussions for this book club. How they choose these and other novels each year is very hit or miss — a suggestion from a friend, The New York Times Best Seller list, or a book that one member has read and wants to talk about. It all leads to a broad selection of books read each year.

Another book club read too many great books to come up with a favorite for 2010. Some liked Case Histories by Kate Atkinso, other liked Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson, Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire, and Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum.

The Sandy Hookers discussed The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff in December.

“We all enjoyed the book, especially considering how much the topic of polygamy is in the news, with the reality TV show Sister Wives. The historical aspect of the novel filled a gap for several of us in or knowledge about the history of the Mormon Church,” reported Mary Ann Jacob. Next, they are reading Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian.

Each month, a different member hosts this book club and that person selects the next book. “Some of our recent favorites have been The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, Still Alice by Lisa Genove, The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and Little Bee by Chris Cleave,” said Ms Jacob.

The Mystery Mavens recommends several of their favorite authors. “Nevada Barr, Deborah Crombie, Aaron Elkins, Elizabeth George, Sharon McCrumb, and Dana Stebnow,” said the group’s representative. “Finding new authors that write within our criteria is a challenge,” she said, explaining that while they all love a mystery, none of them tolerate descriptive violence. “The murder is secondary. We enjoy the puzzle and process of solving the crime, and the characters have to be well developed. We love books that teach us something,” said this group representative.

Member Donna Renzulli reported on a recent Mystery Mavens read, Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger.

“The main character Ridley Jones,  is a magnet for lies. Her supposedly happy childhood is one big beautiful falsehood. It isn’t until she becomes an adult that she discovers there isn’t one person in her family capable of telling the truth to her,” said Ms Renzulli. The club had an interesting discussion exploring the questions like “Is your fate determined by inevitable course of events?” The book was recommended to them by a volunteer at the Friends of Booth Library Annual Book Sale. Most of them enjoyed the fast pace of the book, but overall, found the first person voice of the novel to be problematic. Still, they found it to be worth reading, and Ms Unger deserving of accolades.

What will 2011 bring for our local book clubs? Watch The Newtown Bee for upcoming “What We Are Reading” articles. In the meantime, visit our Facebook page to comment on these book club recommendations, or to make your own. To be a part of the Newtown Bee Facebook Club, contact Nancy Crevier at nancy@thebee.com.