November 2021 - In Five Years
At our October meeting, we discussed Michael J. Fox's No Time Like the Future. Most of our members didn't realize that Fox has written several other books. The group enjoyed it and learned a lot about Fox and his life with early onset Parkinson's Disease.
During the meeting, the members picked title for 2020. We only selected 2 non-fiction titles since the group had a harder time narrowing down the fiction titles. The 2022 list will be distributed at our December meeting so watch for it here!
Book's Summary:
"When Type-A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Cohan is asked this question at the most important interview of her career, she has a meticulously crafted answer at the ready. Later, after nailing her interview and accepting her boyfriend's marriage proposal, Dannie goes to sleep knowing she is right on track to achieve her five-year plan. But when she wakes up, she's suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. The television news is on in the background, and she can just make out the scrolling date. It's the same night -December 15 -but 2025, five years in the future. After a very intense, shocking hour, Dannie wakes again, at the brink of midnight, back in 2020. She can't shake what has happened. It certainly felt much more than merely a dream, but she isn't the kind of person who believes in visions. That nonsense is only charming coming from free-spirited types, like her lifelong best friend, Bella. Determined to ignore the odd experience, she files it away in the back of her mind. That is, until four-and-a-half years later, when by chance Dannie meets the very same man from her long-ago vision."
Best books of 2021
As we get to the last few months of the year, we're starting to see the first "best books of 2021" lists. Whether you're looking for gifts or titles to pack your own to-read list, these are a great way to peruse the top books of 2021. I'll post updates as I see more of the lists appear.
Barnes & Noble Best Books of the Year - usually includes more popular reads
Publisher's Weekly - has a variety of categories and is usually one of the first to come out
Vulture's Best of 2021 (so far) - qualified list as far as October 2021
Esquire's 43 Best Books of 2021 (so far) - another qualified list
Book Riot's Top 25 Books for 2021 from Goodreads - highest ranked books averaging 4.25 out of 5 on Goodreads with at least 10,000 reviews
Added 11/12/21:
Esquire's 46 best books of 2021
Added 11/23/21:
Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best
Added 12/9/21:
Library Journal's Best Books 2021
Bookbrowse's Top 20 Books of 2021
Amazon's Best Books of the Year 2021 and Best Children's Books of 2021
October 2021 No Time Like the Future
Book summary:
The entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in Back to the Future; as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties; as Mike Flaherty in Spin City; and through numerous other movie roles and guest appearances on shows such as The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Diagnosed at age 29, Michael is equally engaged in Parkinson's advocacy work, raising global awareness of the disease and helping find a cure through The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, the world's leading non-profit funder of PD science. In No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, Michael shares personal stories and observations about illness and health, aging, the strength of family and friends, and how our perceptions about time affect the way we approach mortality. Thoughtful and moving, but with Fox's trademark sense of humor, his book provides a vehicle for reflection about our lives, our loves, and our losses.September 2021 Twenty-One Days
At our September meeting, we discussed the book, Twenty-One Days by Anne Perry. We followed the discussion sheet and everyone seemed to like the book. This group really enjoys a good mystery and this book delivered a cozy, fun read. Most members had not read any Anne Perry books before and were pleasantly surprised by her writing style. We had tea and biscuits for refreshments.
Miss Kopp Investigates - online book launch
Amy Stewart graciously skyped into our January 2020 book group meeting when we were discussing, Girl Waits with Gun. Now she is launching another book in that series and anyone can attend the launch party! This is a free event and takes place on September 16th. Just go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/miss-kopp-investigates-book-launch-registration-164546371627?mc_cid=99e8358eac&mc_eid=93e536d0a8 to register.
August 2021 - The Farm
We discussed The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch at our July 26th meeting. Everyone who attended loved the book and felt that it continues to be inspirational even almost 15 years after his death.
Our next book group meeting will be on Monday, August 30 at 3pm in the library's small meeting room. Our book sale will be going on in our large meeting room so that room is unavailable. We are reading The Farm by Joanne Ramos. Copies are available for pickup at the library desk. Discussion sheets can also be picked up or are available online.
Book Summary:
Nestled in New York's Hudson Valley is a luxury retreat boasting every amenity: organic meals, private fitness trainers, daily massages--and all of it for free. In fact, you're paid big money to stay here--more than you've ever dreamed of. The catch? For nine months, you cannot leave the grounds; your movements are monitored, and you are cut off from your former life while you dedicate yourself to the task of producing the perfect baby. Jane, an immigrant from the Philippines, is in desperate search of a better future when she commits to being a Host at Golden Oaks, or the Farm as residents call it. But now pregnant, fragile, consumed with worry for her own family, Jane is determined to reconnect with her life outside. Yet she cannot leave the Farm or she will lose the life-changing fee she'll receive on delivery. Heartbreaking, gripping, provocative, The Farm pushes our thinking on motherhood, money, and merit to the extremes, and raises crucial questions about the trade-offs women will make to fortify their futures and the futures of those they love.
July 2021 - Last Lecture
Reflections of a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor who lectured on "Really achieving your childhood dreams," shortly after having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His advice concerned seizing the moment while living, rather than dying.
June 2021 - Island of Sea Women
For our June Book Club, we read Island of Sea Women by Lisa Sea. It's been so good to see more and more of our regular members returning! Most of the group said that they would have never picked up this book on their own but they greatly enjoyed reading it. We learned a lot about the diving women, haenyeo, and Korean history. Our refreshments included persimmon leaf tea, traditional Korean yakgwa cookies and Jeju mandarin orange candies. The discussion sheet is available online.
I've updated our Book Discussion list (this is our 18th year) and it can be found here.
May 2021-I Feel Bad About My Neck
At our April 26th meeting, we discussed Unbound by Ann E. Burg. This was a book in verse, and it was a new experience for our members in attendance. The group liked the book and felt that the author did an extraordinary job with this format. Everyone was happy to be back together meeting again in person inside the library.
We have reviewed the book discussion titles to include some of the books we chose for 2020 but missed because of the pandemic. Here is the updated list as of 4/29/21:
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January 25 |
James Harriot |
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February 22 |
Celebrate Black History Month
and pick a book by an African American author |
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March 29 |
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April 26 |
Pick a poem by US Poet Laurate, Joy Harjo
or read Unbound
by Ann E. Burg |
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May 24 |
Nora
Ephron |
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June 28 |
Lisa See |
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July 26 |
Randy Pausch |
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August 30 |
Joanne Ramos |
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September 27 |
Anne Perry |
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October 25 |
Michael J. Fox |
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November 29 |
Rebecca Serle |
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December 13th @ 3pm —Coffee Chat about your 2021
favorites & get our new list for 2022 |
||
I made an executive decision and added 3 titles so that we could finish out the schedule.
Our next meeting will be Monday, May 24th at 3pm and we will meet in the large meeting room. The meeting has been moved up a week due to the Memorial Day holiday. Please wear a mask in the library building. The title selected is I feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron. Copies are available in regular print, large print, audio, and eaudio formats at the LME Library desk. Copies of the discussion sheets can also be picked up or are available online.
With her disarming, intimate, completely accessible voice, and dry sense of humor, Nora Ephron shares with us her ups and downs in I Feel Bad About My Neck, a candid, hilarious look at women who are getting older and dealing with the tribulations of maintenance, menopause, empty nests, and life itself.
April 26 - poetry
We have several options for April. Originally, we were going to pick a poem by US Poet Laurate, Joy Harjo but since everyone seems to prefer to read the same title, I've also ordered the book, Unbound by Ann E. Burg. Although this is a juvenile book, it is a moving story set in "novel in verse" form.
So--I've left it up to book group members: choose either a poem by Joy Harjo or the book, Unbound. Discussion sheets can be picked up or are also online.
Some copies of Joy Harjo poetry book, American Sunrise, are available for pickup plus it is available for simultaneous use through ADML. Copies of Unbound are available for pickup at the library or through electronic format. The summary of Unbound is available here:
With candor and compassion, Ann E. Burg sheds light on a startling chapter of American history--the remarkable story of runaways who sought sanctuary in the Great Dismal Swamp--and creates a powerful testament to the right of every human to be free.
I've also revised our May title to: I feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron. This was a title we had decided to read last year but didn't due to COVID. There are several other titles we had planned on reading including:
Island of Sea Women by Lisa SeeLast Lecture by Randy Pausch
Farm by Joanne Ramos
We'll discuss if we want to continue with these titles this year or choose something else at our April meeting.
February 22 - African American Authors
For our February 22 book group, members werer to chose a book by an African American author. We only had 2 members participate online. One book club member read two books by Mary Monroe, Remembrance and Over the Fence. She used these three words to describe them: historical-fiction, Alabama, segregation. The reader said that it was an accurate portrayal of what she saw growing up in the south during segregation. She thought it was well written but sad.
I read the book, Snapped, by Alexa Martin. This is the fourth book in her Playbook series and I've enjoyed reading all the books in the series. Three terms to describe this book are: romance, NFL, social justice. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes contemporary romance.
For our March 29th book group, we will be reading a novel by Ernest Hemingway or a readalike. Discussion sheet is available for pickup or online.Whatever title you pick, please make a note of the following:
Title:
Author:
Why you chose the book:
3 key words (examples: historical-fiction, western, hopeful):
Would you recommend--yes, no, or with reservations
PLEASE NOTE: If the weather is nice, we will meet at LME Library in the Hosta garden on March 29th at 3pm (by the picnic tables).
Any library patron can join the book group—for more information read our blog posts at: http://talkaboutagoodbook.blogspot.com/
February 22 - African American Author
For February 22, we are celebrating Black History Month with each member choosing a book by an African American author. I have a book display at the LME Library if you need some ideas. You can also browse some titles in the library catalog or through eReadIL.
Whatever title you pick, please make a note of the following:
Title:
Author:
Why you chose the book:
3 key words (examples: historical-fiction, western, hopeful):
Would you recommend--yes, no, or with reservations
Members can participate online through Zoom on February 22 at 3pm or email me their responses and I'll post here. My email address is bethd@lmelibrary.org.
Join Zoom meeting online
https://zoom.us/j/99771606421?pwd=OWdnaUJMTXhGL1Q1a01CTlRZeHA4QT09
Dial by phone
1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 997 7160 6421
Passcode: 316874
January 25 - All Creatures Great and Small
To join by telephone, dial: 1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 985 7742 1899
Passcode: 339445
PBS has just launched a new initiative called PBS Books and we will be focusing on their schedule through the next months. In January they will be launching the new series based on James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small so we will read (or reread in some cases!) and discuss it at our January 25th meeting. Books are available at the LME Library and there are some great resources from PBS Books listed below:
- Interview with Ben Vanstone who adapted the Harriot books for the new PBS series
- Q&A page about the new series
- About the author, cast and books (Did you know James Harriot is the pseudonym for James Alfred Wight?)
In addition, here is a book guide from the publisher and also a link to our shorter discussion sheet.
Tentative, the schedule outlined below should take us into the spring. The rest of the bookgroup selections will be decided together after the weather improves and/or restrictions have been lifted.
2021 (Our 18th year)
January 25 | James Harriot | |
February 22 | Celebrate Black History Month and pick a book by an African American author | |
March 29 | ||
April 26 | ||
May 24 | ||
June 28 | TBD | |
July 26 | TBD | |
August 30 | TBD | |
September 27 | TBD | |
October 25 | TBD | |
November 29 | TBD | |
December 13th @ 3pm —Coffee Chat about your favorite books of 2021 & get our new list for 2022 | ||
Book group for 2021
We had a Zoom meeting yesterday for book group and had 2 members attend online and 2 other members gave me their opinions of the book to share. We discussed The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott. Overall, most felt that it was difficult to keep track of the characters but that the historic period was well portrayed.
We will not have our normal gathering in December due to COVID restrictions. However, we will try to meet again in January 2021 online in Zoom. I will post again in early January with details.
Some of the best of 2020 book lists are coming out--here's some links:
https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=975
https://time.com/collection/must-read-books-2020/
https://bookriot.com/best-books-of-2020/
https://www.nypl.org/125/best-books-2020
https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=covers&year=2020
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2020
Happy reading and enjoy your holiday season!
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