The Giver of Stars -- by JoJo Moyes. September 1, 2020

 

We met once again via Zoom (thank you Maureen for helping to arrange that meeting) to discuss The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes. I was happy that so many bookworms liked the book, and most of us agreed that although the setting was virtually the same as The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, the stories themselves, were vastly different from each other.

The book is set in Kentucky during the depression, and follows the life of Alice Wright, a British woman who marries Bennett Van Cleve, an American from Baileyville, Kentucky. Alice struggles in her marriage, and in her new town. She becomes a Pack-Horse Librarian, following Eleanor Roosevelt's program, and brings books to the rural residents of Appalachian Kentucky. The librarians have many obstacles to surmount in bringing books to the masses. As they face the many challenges together, the story is one of friendship, love, family, sexism, racism, domestic violence, and of course - books.

I loved the characters in this book, and was so sad when I finished reading it. The companionship and true friendship of the Pack Horse Librarians reminds me of our friendship with this book club. I just reread the poem that Fred Guiser reads to Alice in the novel, and placed it below for you to reread. It touched my heart.

See you in October!

XXOO

Robin L.

The Island of Sea Women - by Lisa See - August 3, 2020

 

 

Who would think that during this COVID era that good things would arise?

The first blessing for me is that I've been able to join our Neary Book Club meetings after missing 5 years. Via Zoom and Maureen's help, we met to discuss a new Lisa See book: The Island of Sea Women, on August 3. The author is not unfamiliar to us, as we've read Shanghai Girls, Dreams of Joy, and The Tea Girl foHummingbird Lane, all wonderful stories. 

The Island of Sea Women is about the lifelong friendship of two haenyeo women. The Haenyeo are part of sea diving collectives on Jeju Island off South Korea, which had a matrifocal society where women were the wage earners. There are still Haenyeo women today, but they are mostly seniors since younger women seek less dangerous work. This historical fiction novel revolves around women's relationships, with the backdrop of constant war either with China, Japan, North Korean, and even U.S. involvement. Their hardships were unbearable, and yet some survived. The theme of forgiveness is central to the story, and very well done.

Our second blessing is that Lisa See, the author, was able to join our meeting! Since she can't do book tours during this pandemic, she has the time to meet with book clubs! Having her present was such an honor! And she is so down to earth, wise, and humble. She told us that Bob Dylan's music helps to inspire her with his words. She told us about how she went about her research on Jeju Island. She interviewed many women, ate their food, and tried to go diving herself. She did an immense research on the history of Korea, as is apparent in her story.

She's already written her next book, though not in print yet. It's on the pandemic of 1918. I so look forward to it! And I look forward to meeting with our bookworms as long as I can...bittersweet times! Stay safe! 

Love,

Lourdes L.

The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick -- June 1, 2020

The Girls with No Names

By Serena Burdick

I am so glad you all enjoyed this book . I too had enjoyed it and wanted to share it with my book club buddies. It was so nice to see everyone!!!  I’m so sorry that I had technical difficulties. Thank you  Maria R. for reading most of the questions and all of you for giving me a helping hand.  I Love you guys!!! 

  Growing up in New York City in the 1910s, Luella and Effie realize that even as wealthy young women, their freedoms come with limits. When they discover a shocking secret about their father, Luella becomes emboldened to do as she pleases. Effie suspects her father has sent Luella to the House of Mercy and has herself committed to save her sister.  Effie’s own escape seems impossible unless she can trust an enigmatic girl named Mable.  They rely on each other to survive.  Through the inherent cruelty of the world these characters inhabited, it  made this an upsetting read at times. Although there was a consistent presence of hope and resilience.  It portrayed a tale of hope, courage and sisterhood of the girls confined in the House of Mercy for daring to break the rules. 

Wishing you all good health and staying safe,

With Love, Millie

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens May 4, 2020

Hi Everyone!

We won't let a pandemic interfere with out Neary bookclub! We had our May meeting on Google Zoom. The book was Where the Crawdads Sing.  A great discussion was had by all. We made the best of social distancing and connected using the latest technology. It is not the same as in person, but better than not meeting. Love you all and hope to see you all in person soon --

Irene

Caleb's Crossing - by Geraldine Brooks - April 6 by ZOOM

On April 6, 2020 our book club met virtually for the first time due to Coronavirus. In a time of uncertainty and self quarantine, we were able to meet together through  Zoom. As a result some of our book club members who live far away were able to join us. It was great to see everyone! This month's book was Caleb's Crossing by Geradine Brooks. This story is a historical fiction that takes place on Martha's Vineyard in the year 1600's. It is a story about a friendship between Bethia Mayfield a daughter of a putitan preacher and Caleb the son of a chieftain of the Wampanoag tribe. Each has to overcome societal limitations of their time period. We had a lively discussion to these prejudices and related them to prejudices that exist during our lifespan. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at our next book club meeting when we will be discussing the story Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

                                             ------- Maureen 

The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek - March 9, 2020

Hi Bookworms!!

On March 9th we met to discuss, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by KIm Michele Richardson. It was a nice size group at Ben’s. As always we missed those that could not make it.

This was such an interesting historical fiction with many facets. These are my favorite books to read. A story of a young girl named Cussy Mary. She was a librarian for the Kentucky Pack Horse LIbrary.  She rode on her mule to remote, hard to reach places to bring the poor people books, and introduce them to the love of reading. Cussy also had blue hued skin, a rare genetic disorder, caused by an enzyme deficiency in the blood.  She was treated poorly and as an outcast. Cussy was such a hard and dedicated worker. Her mom passed away and her father was ill from working in the mines. He tried to marry her off to a completely abusive man. 

I enjoyed the way she described the families she encountered and the relationships she built. I was happy she met Jackson Lovett, although I wasn’t happy with how they were forced to continue their relationship  - because of discrimination they endured.

I look forward to next month’s read, 4/6th , Caleb’s Crossing hosted by Maureen Degnan

Be Blessed!!

Mary

MRS. EVERYTHING Feb. 3, 2020

Last Monday, we may have had a small group but we sure did have huge conversations. Everything from family, friends, "expensive" necklaces, travel, retirements, "signs", and of course chocolate!

Oh yes, the book too!!

It is believed that Jennifer Weiner based Mrs. Everything on her mother's life. We talked about the relationships between sisters.... sisters and mothers and how through the decades the main characters transformed and so did their relationships. In some way or other we were able to understand and relate to these woman.

We missed those of you who were unable to attend. See you next month.

Happy Valentine's Day! Relax and Enjoy our mid-week break. Have fun!

Love,

Jill

Ask Again, Yes!

We enjoyed a lively discussion about the novel  Ask Again, Yes.  Our discussion centered  around a delicious Italian meal at Joe & Joe’s Family Restaurant, formerly of the Bronx, where author Mary Beth Keane was born, now located in Pearl River, Keane’s current residence.  It is also the setting for the book, known in the novel as the fictional town of Gillam.

This book debuted earlier this summer on the NY Times best seller list as one of the 20 Best Books of the Year so far.  Keane, who is now 42,  has published other novels such as Fever and The Walking People and was honored in 2011 as one of the best young authors with a 5 under 35 award from the National Book Foundation.  The book, Ask Again, Yes is a domestic novel about two families of NYC  rookie police officers, Brian Stanhope and Francis Gleason, who end up living next door to one another in Gillam,  set in the 1970’s.  It follows the complicated lives of these two families over the course of 40 years, especially the lives of two of their children, Peter and Kate. The families are intertwined by Peter and Kate’s ongoing love story, but also by an unusually violent act by Peter’s mother, Ann that changes all of their lives forever. I found Ask Again, Yes to be an incredibly moving account  of  the forces that drive people together and away from one another through love, devotion and sometimes even fear.  It is a multi- faceted love story that often drove me to the edge of my seat with tears, frustration and heartbreak.

What a wonderful way to begin the new year and decade!  Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy 2020!

                                                              ---Robin A.

Call the Midwife - December 9, 2019

We met at Hudson’s Mill in Garnerville to discuss Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth. As usual we enjoyed discussing a wonderful book, eating a delicious meal and most importantly spending  quality time with good friends. If you weren't at the meeting, you were truly missed.

Worth’s memoir is an unforgettable story of motherhood, a struggling community and the hopes and dreams of an extraordinary young woman. It’s a powerful and captivating story based on true events and set in London’s East End. 

“At the age of twenty-two, Jennifer Worth leaves her home to move into a convent and become a midwife in post war London’s East End slums. The colorful characters she meets while delivering babies all over London-from the plucky, warm-hearted nuns with whom she lives to the woman with twenty-four children who can’t speak English to the prostitutes and dockers of the city’s seedier side-illuminate a fascinating time in history. Beautifully written and utterly moving, Call the Midwife will touch the hearts of anyone who is, and everyone who has a mother.”  (The Deliberate Reader:  Publisher’s Description )

Looking forward to reading and discussing many more good books in 2020 with my favorite

reading buddies!   

Warm hugs,

Maria Pages