November Book Club 2026

Arnora hosted our November Book Club. Here we are, already winding down the year. Halloween is behind us; Thanksgiving is a couple of weeks away. My tree is already up! 

We missed Janie and Barb. But everyone is always with us in spirit, and in the 10th anniversary photo Arnora brings out to greet us. It always makes us laugh!

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page. Someone shared a photo from our lunch and field trip to the Marland Mansion in Ponca City for Diana's birthday. We also have a group photo of our recent lunch with Lou.

Arnora provided our main dish: Cheesy Mexican Stuffed Chicken. Pam brought a huge salad. Lis brought Cranberry Jalapeno dip, crackers, and roasted squash. Carla A brought Mexican casserole, Denise brought cornbread, and Diana brought some really good adult beverages. Laura topped off the meal with Sopapilla Cheesecake. 

For me, this has been the best year for books that I can remember in a long time.  We are coming into the home stretch with another winner. 

Viola Davis gives us an in-depth and deeply personal look at her life. She was born on a plantation in South Carolina, raised in poverty in Rhode Island, and went on to become an Oscar-winning actress. 

This is not a gossipy, Hollywood "tell-all." This is the unvarnished, vulnerable story of a girl growing up in extreme poverty and all that it encompasses. There was hunger, domestic and sexual abuse, and she was severely bullied in school. Though Viola did not engage with drugs, many of her family members did, and she dealt with the fallout. 

Viola knew from an early age that she wanted to act, being inspired by Cicely Tyson. She saw someone who looked like her making a name for herself as an actor. It gave her hope, even though, given her circumstances, it seemed unlikely. Somehow, she saw, in those early days, that becoming someone else when you were acting could have the power to heal you emotionally. She could channel it all into acting. 

Ron Stetson, an actor and coach, came into Viola's life when she was 14 and helped her get into a summer program called Upward Bound, and from there she received a scholarship to Rhode Island College. Then she auditioned and was accepted into Juilliard. 

She saw something in Cicely Tyson that inspired her, and Ron Stetson saw something in her. The chain of events did not happen overnight. Nothing changed in her dysfunctional family, but she was determined, worked hard, and it all paid off. 

It is, no doubt, difficult to read about the harshest of human behaviors perpetuated on children. Viola did her best and continued to help her family as she could. She showed a lot of grace in the end as her father was dying. 

Viola exposed herself in the most vulnerable way as she narrates her path to radical self-acceptance, healing childhood trauma, breaking generational cycles, and finding herself in an often indifferent world. 

I would describe it as well-told, compelling, and inspiring. The book rated 5. 

We will meet in December at Laura’s, and our book is Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame.

I also believe we landed on The Calamity Club for January. Correct me, please, if I am wrong. This is a long novel, so we thought we’d push it out to have enough time to finish.

October Book Club 2026

 

Carla G hosted us on a beautiful fall day.  There was light cloud cover and a high of 78 degrees. A welcome relief from the hot drought of a very long summer. We were able to enjoy our discussion outside. 

We were sorry to miss Janie, but otherwise everyone, including Leslie, made it. We even had a pop-in moment by Darby when she shared a short piece from the author’s talk at her college. 

Carla made chicken lasagna, and Laura brought a tart for dessert. Diana brought homemade focaccia bread. Pam brought a green salad. Liz brought a delicious fruit and cheese tray that included fresh

figs. Arnora brought the beautiful flowers and mixed nuts. 

October's book was Bruce Holsinger's “Culpability.”

This story was not what I expected at all. It starts off benignly enough. A well-to-do family is heading to their son’s LaCrosse game. The son, Charlie, is driving the AI-powered car. Noah, his lawyer father, rides shotgun. Lorelai, the mother, rides in the back with younger daughters Lizzie and Alice. 

We’ve barely been introduced to the family when Alice screams from the backseat; Charlie looks up, grabs the wheel, overcorrects, and flips the car. Now we are involved in a two-car collision where the first vehicle is turned on its roof and the second car bursts into flames, killing a retired couple. 

The rest of the story takes place over the next week as the family recovers from the shock of the accident and their injuries. There is an ongoing police investigation. The family decides to spend the next week at a beachfront vacation home where they become involved with their billionaire neighbor and his teenage daughter, who further add to the drama and trauma. 

I thought this story was cleverly told and held a lot of suspense. Diana said it was certainly a page-turner. As the story evolves, just when you think the author is going to zag, suddenly he zigs, and more information comes to light. 

The gist of the story is that the entire family was on some kind of device at the time of the accident.

Everyone was distracted. The father and mother fear their son might be charged. The father, the responsible parent, could also be charged, and Lorelei is guilt-ridden over her part in creating the AI software. 

As more information surfaces, the responsible and culpable parties shift as withheld information comes forward. 

The story provoked a very interesting conversation about who is culpable versus who is responsible. Words that have a similar but different meaning. And the various ethical and environmental ramifications of AI. 

Overall, I think everyone really liked the book; it rated a 4.7. It certainly left us all with a lot to think about as technology keeps moving us forward into an unknown future

November’s book is “Finding Me,” a memoir by Viola Davis. 

September Book Club 2026

Before I get into the book discussion, I want to remind everyone that on October 4, we will meet at Carla G's. Our book is "Culpability." Our November book club will meet on the 8th, as Arnora is out of town the first week. November's book is "Finding Me."

This month's Book Club replaces a retreat. We decided to have lunch out and visit The Paper Pages Book Store in Crescent, OK, to discuss Mona's Eyes. 

We met at Twin Lakes Restaurant for lunch and then met at the bookstore for our discussion. We missed Carla A, whose son and daughter-in-law were in town. Tammy and Maria were going to join us, but Tammy wasn't feeling well.  We also missed Barb and Janie. 

The novel, written by Thomas Schlesser, shows the healing powers of slow looking at art.  Mona is ten when she has a medical event that causes her to temporarily lose her sight. At first, they cannot find a diagnosis for the condition, and they decide to monitor her as well as prescribe hypnosis. 

Her grandfather, a former war photographer, has another idea and decides to take her to a museum once a week instead of therapy. He introduces Mona to a different masterpiece each week, where they practice "long looking" at and discussing the piece at length. 

Mona's family is also struggling at home. Her father's vintage-goods and curiosity shop is failing. He is hiding his fears and shame in alcohol.  Mona’s mother is working hard, trying to hold the family together. 

Mona's grandfather ignores the therapist's appointments. Instead of taking her to the appointments, he takes her to a museum.  Each week they talk about one painting, its history, and the artist. He looks at the pieces with Mona and asks her questions to consider that teach her life lessons. They visit the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou. 

As their year comes to an end, Mona discovers that it is a locket from her deceased grandmother that triggered the loss of her eyesight. The story of her grandmother's activism and deliberate plan to die triggered the psychosomatic event.

Along the way, Mona finds a figurine that is worth a lot of money, and her dad's business is saved. Mona and her dad are healing at the same time. 

When we look at art, we are always confronting the past. We confront the artist's past and the historical details of the times they lived in. While we confront that past, we are allowed to connect and confront our own, if we but take the time. 

Art is often someone else's processed trauma. You cannot truly see the present until you dare to look slowly and deeply at the past. Slow looking at art, slow reading literature, and listening to soft instrumental music regulate the nervous system. It can be as healing as meditation.

I was confused, at first, by the cover art. Why use The Girl with the Pearl Earring when Mona is named for the Mona Lisa? It turns out that Vermeer's painting is nicknamed The Mona Lisa of the North. It hangs in The Hague and not in Paris. Using it as the cover expands the discussion of the art. 

The book had mixed reviews. Some had a hard time getting into it. Most enjoyed the discussions of the art, but a few had a difficult time connecting to the family drama. Overall, the book was rated 3.91.

Diana closed out the meeting by reading to us from her photo book of the rescued Pelican from Ski Island earlier this year. We brainstormed some ways to fundraise for Wild Care Oklahoma who rehabbed the Pelican and returned it to the wild. 

August Book Club 2026

Laura was our host for August. We were excited that Tammy and Maria were able to join us from Sayre. It was good to meet Maria!

We missed Carla A, whose son got married, was in Dallas. Both Janie and Denise had family in town. Carla G was in Dallas! 

We had a light summer supper. Laura provided a smoked chicken salad and a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Barb and Diana brought delicious cheeses and crackers. Tammy and Maria brought Shrimp Ceviche and chips. Arnora brought the flowers and nuts. There was plenty of wine and cold beverages.

I apologize for not getting to this sooner, but I’ve been distracted with my move back to Norman. I have wanted this for a long time and am glad it’s finally here. But the logistics of moving are exhausting. I’m on the last of it, thankfully! 

Ann Patchett’s most recent novel is titled “Whistler.” The cover, at first, seemed confusing. The story didn’t seem to be about the horse. But the story was more layered and nuanced than I first thought. The story revolves around Daphne, who is married to Jonathan. On a trip to the MET in New York City, Daphne is reunited with a stepfather, Eddie, whom she hasn't seen in over 40 years.

Over the next months, Daphne and Eddie reconnect while Jonathan helps his sister clean out their mother's home in Wisconsin. Both Daphne and Eddie are reflecting on their pasts and their families of origin. 

While Daphne and Eddie spend time together, Daphne learns information about the two years that Eddie lived with her mother and her sister. She and Eddie bonded over books. Eddie and her mother both worked at a publishing company. There is a car accident at the end of the two years. Eddie and Daphne survive, but Daphne's mother blames Eddie and divorces him. So goes the story Daphne is told. 

Whistler is the name of a horse in a story that Eddie was trying to get published. It was the true story of a horse who came back for his rider after several days, after an accident, and rescued her. Eddie tells Daphne the story to distract her while they are trapped in the car. Whistler comes back for his rider, in a way, like Eddie comes back for Daphne. He didn't come back for Daphne's sister, Leta. 

Though there is a big reveal about why they truly divorced. Ann Patchett has a subtle way of introducing the information. 

Daphne's life holds a lot of trauma. Her biological father is emotionally distant when she was a child. But they reconnect when she is an adult, and he is dying. She takes him on a trip, and he dies next to her on a plane. The story ends with Eddie and Daphne at the MET. He leans into her and closes his eyes. You are left wondering if he has died or not. Patchett starts the book with them meeting in the MET and ends it there. 

Throughout the story,  Daphne is always stoic. She is writing about all of the things she is discovering, but we don't see an emotional reaction. In fact, the only emotional reaction is Daphne's mother sobbing when she is leaving Eddie and his friend, Polly, sobbing because she thinks Eddie is dying. 

There are so many levels to this story and so much more that could be said, and it made for a great discussion. We even cycled back briefly to my Antonia.  The book, on rounding up, rated a 5. 

Our September book club (can you believe we are there already?) will be our day trip to Paper Pages Bookstore in Crescent. We will be discussing Mona's Eyes. 

Our October Book is "Culpability" by Bruce Holsinger, and we will meet at Carla G's. 

We had a really good discussion, and the book, rounded up, is rated 5.

 

July Book Club 2026

Barb, Sammy, and Asia hosted the book club for us on a beautiful July night. Not quite as hot as it has been, but not quite cool enough for the patio.

We were thrilled that Darby arranged some of her summer vacation to visit with us. We missed Lis and Arnora, who are on a mission trip to Costa Rica. 

Barb made a cold Gazpacho soup and peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Carla G brought chicken salad and crackers, and Carla A brought a green salad with a homemade vinaigrette. Janie brought both regular and guacamole deviled eggs. Diana brought croissants and chocolate croissants. 

Denise brought corn and bean dip with Fritos. Pam brought Sangria, we had red and white wine, and tea. 

Our book was "My Antonia" by Willa Cather. She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author for "One of Ours," but we decided on Antonia. 

The story is told in memoir format as Jim Burden remembers his profound, lifelong bond with Antonia Shimerda. Jim is orphaned and sent to live with his grandparents in Blackhawk, Nebraska, where he meets Antonia, a resilient Bohemian girl. It captures the immigrant experience, the harsh prairie life, and the enduring power of memory. The novel covers the time period from the late 1800s to 1910 and bridges the gap between the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Jim is a reliable narrator of events but an unreliable interpreter. He records events correctly but sees them through the eyes of nostalgia.

I thought that “My Antonia” had similar themes of nostalgia to last month’s book, “Travels with Charley.” Both Jim and Steinbeck are trying, in their own ways, to connect with a younger version of themselves. 

Steinbeck realizes the places he left behind have changed, but so has he. He is happy to return to the person he has become and the life he has. It only took him three months and 10,000 miles to figure it out. Antonia, however, helps Jim understand that the people we love, those who have formed us, are never lost to us, they live in our hearts. The book rated a 4. 

We decided to switch books for August. We will be reading Ann Patchett's new book, Whistler. Our host is to be determined. 

June Book Club 2026

 

Books 287, 279 meetings, 23 retreats/outings, and 288 blogs!

This year, we are reading two Pulitzer Prize-winning authors. Willa Cather in July. And this month is John Steinbeck. 

Diana hosted this month and, in keeping with the book's road trip theme, provided us with a lovely picnic-style meal. We enjoyed two types of Croissant Chicken Salad sandwiches, accompanied by potato salad, baked beans, and deviled eggs. We had Angel Food Cake with strawberries, whipped cream, and brownies. She also had Champagne, which we mixed with strawberry lemonade and other assorted wines, and tea. 

Travels with Charley, published in 1962, is considered a travelogue by John Steinbeck. Feeling that he'd lost touch with the America he was famous for writing about, he took off on a 10,000-mile, three-month road trip with his French Poodle, Charley, to reconnect with it. 

The two traveled in a custom camper he named after Don Quixote's horse, Rocinante. He was warned that traveling incognito would be difficult, as he was so widely known. He did take precautions, only to discover no one recognized him at all.  Steinbeck was 58 and not in the best of health when he headed out on this excursion to rediscover what "Americans are like today." 

His travels took him from Long Island through New England and on to the Pacific Northwest.  From Seattle, he follows the coastline to his childhood home of Salinas. Here, he finds the truth of Thomas Wolfe’s novel, “You Can’t Go Home Again.”  

Our consensus was that Steinbeck was really searching for a sense of nostalgia and a longing for the self he'd been when writing those stories. But progress, industry, and population explosion had changed the topography. And, Steinbeck was not the same. 

Steinbeck was looking for the “authentic” America. But America is too big with too many diverse regions. There is no one-size-fits-all American. 

The last leg of the trip finds him road-weary and exhausted; all he wants to do is go home. So, in the end, he did "go home again." But it was to his current self, his current life, his current wife. 

There were those who critiqued the book as not fully factual. He combined characters and left out parts where he stayed in nicer hotels. But, we didn't think it was that kind of travel book. He wasn't recommending places and giving reviews, and he met too many people to record them all. So, making composite characters only made sense. 

I’m glad to have been on the road with John and Charley. It tells me that the more things change, the more they stay the same. It reminded me of the road trips Carla and I took on Rt 66 to complete our passport books. That was a couple of months of memorable experiences I could never have predicted. It started out as a kind of scavenger hunt, but turned into a journey of discovery of our state. 

The book rated a 4. 

Next month, we will be at Barb's on July 12. We have switched our Willa Cather novel to My Antonia.

May Book Club 2026

 

Books 286, 279 meetings, 23 retreats/outings, and 222 Blogs

A beautiful spring day at Denise's for a lakeside discussion of Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. There was a light breeze, but the temperature could not have been more perfect. 

We were all present and accounted for except for Barb and Janie. 

Denise had BBQ turkey and beef, BBQ beans, Coleslaw, and White Chocolate Vanilla Bundt cake with ice cream.  Lis brought three different kinds of cornbread. Carla G brought homemade pickles. Arnora brought cherries and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. There was a lot of wine and other beverages.

We had a great discussion about the book. So many of us have connections to rabbits and hares. 

The book inspired talk of more than just hares. Chloe's experience with the hare and leverets inspired her to investigate the hare's environment. As a reporter in her day job, she has started addressing some of the more disastrous effects of humans on wildlife. 

Diana had a rabbit take up residence in her vegetable and herb garden for a couple of years. The rabbit had several kits over that time. Denise's daughter, Lauren, is working on a project with Eagles and Hares. Unknown to us, until the book, there is open hunting of hares. They are the only wildlife that doesn't require a permit or hunting season. Consequently, there is a diminishing population, and that is contributing to a diminishing Eagle population. Hares are a major source of food for Eagles. My son and his family had a rabbit for several years, and they were devastated when she passed away recently. 

The story was entertaining, informative, and poignant. 

I was reminded of Watership Down and saw several comparisons. In Watership, we got the impact of the environment from the rabbits' point of view, and in Raising Hare, we see the impact on a person caring for wildlife and the environment.  

Diana shared some notes from her Fitbit chat Coach. She fed it information about her day, and it asked what book she was reading for a book club. It came back with comments and points for the discussion.

1. The burden and the beauty of caring for something or someone

2.  Trust versus companionship

3.  The concept of freedom

4.  Slowing down. Here, we brought up the effects that slowing down during the COVID pandemic had on people and how it rejuvenated nature. An unexpected consequence.

5.  Domestic versus wildlife. Chloe was determined to let the Hare stay in as wild a Habitat as possible while she protected it. She was determined not to make it a pet.

6. The impact that the relationship with the Hare had on Chloe

7. And, finally, nature versus humans. 

Everyone enjoyed the book, and it rated 4.15 and two, "I liked it very much." 

We decided, for September's book club, we would take a day trip to the Paper Pages bookstore in Crescent. It will be an easy and pleasant drive to include lunch and whatever else we might get up to. 

Our remaining dates for 2026

June 7 - Diana will host our discussion of "Travels with Charley: In Search of America" by John Steinbeck.

July 12 - Barb will host our discussion of "One of Ours”by Willa Cather. 

Aug 2 - Janie will host our discussion of "We the Women," by Norah O'Donnell. 

Sept 12- will be a Saturday day trip to Paper Pages Bookstore in Crescent. We will discuss Mona's Eyes. 

Oct. 4 - our host will be Carla G

Nov 1 - our host will be Arnora

Dec 6 - we will have our traditional Christmas party and discussion at Laura's. 

April Book Club 2026

 

Welcome to April's Book Club hosted by Carla G. We missed Pam this month. 

To our great delight and surprise, Laura, with the help of her daughter, Megan, had used AI to create a wall of pencil portraits of all our members! It was beautiful and emotional. Carla G and Laura were already there. Carla A and I were the next to discover the wall over the coffee maker. Then, we got to watch everyone else discover it as they came in. We got to take our beautiful portraits home. 

The food was amazing as always. Carla G made a Portuguese chicken, and Laura
used the same marinade for the roasted potatoes. For appetizers, we had cheeses, nuts, and fruit, and lemon cake for dessert. Lis and Diana brought Port in honor of Theo, and Arnora brought the beautiful floral bouquet. 

This month's book is Theo of Golden. This book has been getting a lot of great buzz, and Pam recommended it. Written by Allen Levi, the story is about a mysterious, kind stranger named Theo who arrives in the city of Golden, Georgia. Theo begins a mission to buy 92 pencil portraits from a local coffee shop and return them to their subjects. In the process, Theo makes friendships and changes lives with his generosity. Themes explored: Anonymous kindness, wonder, and the power of small, attentive acts. Everyone loved the book, and it received a rating of 5. Carla A loved it so much she actually gave it a number this time! 

Our book for May is Raising Hare, and we will meet at Denise's. 

March Book Club 2026

 

In Memory of

Jacob Tipton

Book Club this month takes on a somber atmosphere as we mourn the loss of Jacob Tipton, son and brother of Tammy, Randall, and Lily. We know that there are no great words of wisdom at a time like this. But what matters is that we show up for each other.  I experienced that with my recent illness and recovery. We show up in the good and the hard times. It doesn't change the circumstances, but it eases the pain to know that we are held in the arms of people who care. I felt that every hug we exchanged was a hug for Tammy by proxy. I look forward to seeing her soon so that we can hug her in person. 

285 Books, 278 Meetings, 23 Retreats/Outings, 221 Blogs 

March Book Club hosted by Arnora was the first time in several months that all of our local members were

in attendance!  Arnora made her delicious "comfort" meatballs and incredibly rich and tasty mashed potatoes. Carla G brought a green salad and Maple Grove Balsamic Dressing. The dressing was very popular. Carla A brought Brussels Sprouts, and Laura brought Strawberry Shortcake. Lis brought a really soft and yummy bread. 

We ate first, and then we did a craft project to send to Tammy. Barb had the idea from our retreat last summer at Tammy's lodge. Our book was "Other Birds," and we made bird mobiles. Barb saved the pattern. We made the birds out of white and gray cardstock to emulate the Mourning Dove, and everyone wrote quotes and prayers for the family, and we embellished them with ribbon. Lis also had a card for her that we all signed. Barb is putting it all in the mail to her. We had Aperol Spritz and a couple of bottles of wine. Arnora, who always brings the flowers, had three bouquets for us. One was flowers from Stan, and another from a casino night. All of them brought in some Spring!

Our book was "The Correspondent," by Virginia Evans, an epistolary novel. The protagonist is a retired, divorced lawyer in her 70s. Sybil von Anrwerp's life is told through correspondence with friends, family, famous authors, and even a customer service rep she befriends. There are themes of aging, forgiveness, finding connection, leading to personal transformation through personal loss, and seeking reconciliation. Everyone enjoyed the book, and it received a 4.4 rating. 

Carla G is hosting on April 12. We moved this month's meeting due to Easter. Our book for April is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. May's book is Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. 

February Book Club 2026

 

Happy Galentine's Day 

(And Groundhog Day)

February 2026

284 Books, 277 Meetings, 23 retreats/outings, 220 Blogs

Welcome to the February Book Club hosted by Pam.  We had a small group this month, and happy that Leslie was able to join us. We missed Janie, Denise, Laura, and Carla G. Diana joined us for the discussion via FaceTime.  Pam and Carla A made an Italian Wedding Soup, Carla A brought a Greek salad, I brought crusty bread, Barb brought an Italian Cream Wedding Cake, and Lis brought beignets. Arnora brought flowers and an Aperol Spritz. The menu was themed to weddings in honor of the book. That it was Italian was just a happy accident. We also got to meet Pam's new puppy, "Birdie." 

The Wedding People by Alison Espach is a novel about Phoebe Stone, a woman who arrives alone at a lavish Newport wedding weekend after her husband informs her he wants a divorce. Feeling despondent, she puts on her nicest dress and takes all the savings she had planned to spend on fertility treatments to an expensive Inn in Newport, RI, where she spends $800 for one night. The book is described as a "dark comedy" because Phoebe has decided she doens't want to live. She has brought her cats' pain medication with the intention of taking it after a nice dinner. But, upon arrival, she meets the bride and forms an unexpected bond with her, leading to humorous and tender revelations about grief, connection, and new beginnings. The book blends dark comedy and domestic fiction, exploring serious themes like depression and loss through a chaotic wedding. It was a 2024 Goodreads Choice Award winner for fiction. Everyone enjoyed the story, and the book received a rating of 4.14.

Arnora is our host for March, and our book is The Correspondent. Carla G is hosting in April, and the book is Theo of Golden. 

Other books for consideration are:

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whittaker

Mona's Eyes by Thomas Schlesser

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

January Book Club 2026

January 2026

24 years, 283 Books, 276 Meetings, 23 retreats/outings, 219 Blog Posts

Happy New Year 2026

We met at Lis' home for our annual PJs and Nighttime Breakfast. Carla A co-hosted. We've been experiencing unseasonably warm weather since just before Christmas. We set a high of 78 for Christmas Day.

Diana wisely stayed home to avoid catching the flu, but joined us via FaceTime. She very much enjoyed being included in the discussion. Janie was at home recovering from the flu. Pam was returning from a trip. We missed them. 

Lis made sausage gravy with biscuits and a fruit pancake bake. Carla A made a quiche with bacon, and Barb made a quiche with broccoli. Laura brought hash browns, Denise brought scones with lemon curd, and Carla G brought yogurt and fruit parfaits. Arnora brought fresh flowers. We had hot tea nd coffee, OJ and champagne, Sav Cab, Butter Chardonnay, and Merlot

We started our 2026 Reading List with Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles. This book brings us once again into the sphere of J. P Morgan and the Morgan Library. Two years ago, in January 2023, Lis also hosted our book club, and we discussed The Personal Librarian. That book was about Belle de Costa Green and the major impact she had on the Morgan Library. 

Jessie Kit Carson

This story involves J. P. Morgan's daughter, Anne, and her volunteer efforts to run libraries in France during WWI. It is a historical novel set in 1918 and 1987.  Based on the true story of Jessie "Kit" Carson, who is recruited by Anne in 1918 to work with the American Committee for Devastated France, or CARD. Wendy Peterson was an aspiring writer in 1987, in New York during the Cold War. She discovers Jessie's story in the archives of the New York Public Library and decides to write a book about her. She is also trying to uncover what happened to Jessie after the war. The book explores themes of female solidarity, sacrifice, and the power of literature.  Kit Carson rehabilitated four libraries devastated by the war and began training young French women in American librarianship practices. She is credited with making lasting changes in French libraries, particularly by extending services to children who had not traditionally been served by French libraries. 

Anne Morgan and Anne Murray Dike 

Anne Morgan was the daughter of J. P. Morgan. She used her wealth to support relief efforts in France during both World War I and World War II. Among her many awards, she was the first American woman appointed a commander of the French Legion of Honor. Her former home is now the residence of the Uni

ted Nations Secretary General. 

Anne Murray Dike was from Scotland and trained as a physician. She kept impeccable records of CARD and made sure every penny donated went to women and children in need. She was awarded the Croix de Guerre and was the first woman elected to the French Academy of Agriculture. She and Anne were companions until she died in 1929.

Mary Breckinridge

Mary Breckinridge, Founder of the Frontier Nursing Service and a pioneer of nurse-midwifery. She worked with CARD, caring for infants, children, and mothers on the brink of starvation and poverty. 

The book received a rating of 4 stars, with one reviewer saying they "really, really liked it."

Pam will host in February, and our book is The Wedding People. Arnora will host in March, the book is The Correspondence. Carla G will host in April, the book is Theo of Golden. Denise will host in May, book to be determined. 

Other books for consideration:

1. All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whittaker

2. Mona's Eyes by Thomas Schlesser

3. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria, Christopher Murray

4. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom 

5. Theo of Golden by Allen LeviThe Correspondent

December Book Club 2025

 

                                                   Merry Christmas

 23 years, 282 books, 276 meetings, 23 retreats/special outings, and 219 blog posts

In keeping with our December tradition, Laura was our holiday hostess. We are always grateful for our wonderful hostesses and look forward to Laura's at this time of year. In keeping with our book theme, Laura decorated with a woodland, winter solstice theme of bringing in the light.  

Carla and I gave Laura a little extra help with the decor. We foraged our yards for cedar, Magnolia leaves, pine needles, pine cones, and red berries. Laura harvested some Rosemary and Sage. We made "smudge" bundles for releasing energy, added some candles, ribbon, and Voila! a winter celebration of bringing in the
light. 

As always, the food was outstanding. Laura made Butternut Squash Soup, crockpot Focaccia, and a stunning Yule Log. Carla A brought Hungarian Mushroom Soup. Carla G brought Ramen Salad, Diana brought deviled eggs, Arnora bought fresh flowers, and mixed nuts. Laura also provided some champagne, along with other assorted wines, tea, and water with lemons and berries. 

We were sorry that Barb ended up unwell at the last minute, and Denise was traveling. 

This year, we decided on a novel described as "heartwarming and cozy," blending elements of romance, psychological fiction, and family saga. It is considered a favorite festive read and a magical Christmas book. It explores themes of family connection, loss and grief, hope and renewal, and the spirit of Christmas.  

The book received a rating of 4.15 from those who read it. Diana loved it and was glad for the journey back to Scotland it took her on. She found the author's descriptive writing put her in the story. 

I know Barb, Pam, and I had a hard time with the narration. Barb said she loved it after switching to the

book. Diana has loaned me her copy, and I plan to give it another try. Laura said she loved how all the characters, after going through trying times, were returning to the light. 

And, that's a wrap for 2025. What a lovely way to end another year of books, great food, and fun times together. As we finished our meal, we revisited the miraculous ways we were brought together and expressed gratitude for the bonds we have formed. 

Our next meeting is Jan 4 at Diana's. We will discuss "Miss Morgan's Book Brigade," by Janet Skeslien Charles. Carla A will be co-hosting.

Pam is hosting in February, and our book is "The Wedding People," by Alison Espach.

Arnora will host on March 1

Carla G will host on April 5. 

Denise will host in May 

Books we are strongly considering for the future:

1. All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whittaker
2. Mona's Eyes by Thomas Schlesser
3. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria, Christopher Murray
4. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom 
5. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

November Book Club 2025

 

We met this month at Carla G's house, as is often our tradition. Our November book is The Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. We have previously read her book, "The Ten Thousand Doors." 

We are having beautiful fall weather just right for Carla's sweet potato and black bean, turkey chili. She also provided cheese and crackers, and assorted cobblers for dessert. Pam brought salad, and Laura brought stuffed dates. Denise brought cornbread with honey butter. Lis brought wine and ice cream for the cobbler. Diana brought "mead", Sherrie brought wine, and Arnora brought mixed nuts and the gorgeous fall flowers. We missed Carla A, who was out of town. 

The Starling House seemed like a good choice for an end-of-October, early November book. 

Published in 2023, it is described as a modern Gothic fantasy novel. The story is set in the fictional town of Eden, Kentucky. The protagonist is Opal, a young woman who becomes entangled with a mysterious house and its reclusive heir. Opal investigates the house and her own connection to it. She uncovers a dark family history and confronts literal nightmares threatening the town, all while looking for a place to call home. 

All the elements of Gothic literature are there: a dark, foreboding house that sets the stage for paranormal activity. In a gothic mystery, the setting is the most crucial element of the story. The house is set in the fictional town of Eden, Kentucky. Opal and her brother are orphans, of course. They have to find a way to survive by their wits.  Opal takes a job as a housekeeper in Starling House to pay for their living expenses and her brother's tuition. The house has a dark past, including mysterious deaths and a sinister history tied to a reclusive author who published a book called Underland. The dark history is combined with the social damage caused by the powerful Gravely family. That name was a bit too "on the nose" for me, and the town's name, "Eden," suggests that all isn't right in the garden. 

The story just didn't work for most of us. It didn't hold my attention, and we agreed the plot wasn't very mysterious. I am not sure when I knew that Opal was a Gravely, but I knew before she did. And, it's obvious from the beginning that she will be the next caretaker of the house.  Also, everyone expected her to end up with Arthur. We rated the book a 3. 

Our December book is Winter Solsice, and we'll have our annual Christmas Party at Laura's.