The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah

We met OUTDOORS and in person -- HURRAY - at The Blu Fig in New City to discuss The Four Windsby Kristin Hannah. Ten of us showed us - yay book club women. It was so much fun to catch up, we almost did not discuss the book. When we finally got around to it, we talked about family relationships, the dust bowl, what a beloved character Elisa Martinelli was, and many of the hardships immigrants to California faced. We also discussed the mother-daughter relationship in the book, and how it changed over time.

I'm so happy to be back in person again. I'm looking for someone to take over the blog, as Steve and I are hoping to winter in Florida. I will be happy to help whoever wants to do it. Please!

XXOO

Robin L.

Zooming for the COVID Year+!

 Enjoy a quick mish mash video of books we read, and meetings we ZOOMED!

XOXO

Robin L.

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   

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

Seven of us met at OD's Tavern on Main Street in Nyack. We had a lovely back room with Cameron, our waiter, who closed the curtains to give us privacy! The food was yummy "farm to table", and there were A LOT of choices for those of us who are vegetarian or vegan. My favorite was the cauliflower steaks as the appetizer.

We spoke about family, religion, faith, and the strong women in the novel. We also spoke about how tragedy brings out both the best, and the worst, in people. Many of us found the beginning until halfway, rather slow. Some of us found the excruciating details of the plague was too much to bear. Most of us were happy with the (unrealistic but happy) ending. I love the way Geraldine Brooks writes, and I very much liked Anna, so I was happy with the novel. But it was her first, and I've seen her growth as an author, through some of the later novels that I read. There is always a lot to learn with historical fiction, and I appreciate her tremendous research to write the novel.

If you weren't there we missed you. Hope to see everyone next month when Maria Pages leads us in Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth.

Happy Reading -- XXOO-
Robin L.

A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mizra

October 7, 2019

A Place For Us, is a story of an Indian-American Muslim family living in California. The family gathers together to celebrate their eldest daughter’s, Hadia’s, wedding. Amar, the youngest brother, reunites with his family for the first time in three years. Rafiq and Layla contend with the choices and betrayals that lead to the their son's estrangement.

We had a great time discussing topics in this book, including family conflicts, addiction, discrimination, religion, and traditions.    ----- Yvette

YEAR 11 BEGINS -- The Wife Between Us

Sept. 9, 2019

As I was browsing through my Libby app, this book, The Wife Between Us, was listed as a recommendation. I decided to read and select it for our book club. I was intrigued by the quick change from chapter 1 to chapter 2. Blissfully happy planning her wedding, to the “too good to be true” fiancé to divorce. Who was controlling whom? Vanessa (Nellie), though she was controlling Robert and Emma, but not until the end did we know who Emma really was.

I believe we had a lively discussion on the different topics presented in the story: love (Maureen’s unhealthy relationship with her brother), friendship, mental illness, hindsight, “gaze detection”, control, etc. This story reminded me of “The Girl on the Train”, which I recently watched again on Netflix. Here is 🍷🥂to a wonderful start to our eleventh year (my fifth)!!! ❤️

                                                             ---Myrna

Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday -- June 3, 2019

Unfortunately, Maria Rodriguez had a family crisis and was not able to come and lead the discussion on Asymmetry, at The Pancake House, in Stony Point. She was kind enough to buy us appetizers, AND to leave us yummy Rockland Bakery desserts, as well as leaving us questions to guide us through our last meeting of our TENTH YEAR!! Yay us!

It was wonderful to have a small group meet and discuss Maria's choice. We talked about the characters in the first section the most - Alice, and Ezra - who was modeled after Philip Roth. Many of us did not see much of a connection between the three sections. Asymmetry dealt with race, gender, nationality, and power.

Thank you to everyone who attended, and looking forward to year 11!

I'd like to help someone else in the book club take over the blogging end of things, so think about if it's something maybe YOU can do going forward. This is the year I can be there to help. After ten years, I'm ready to retire from this job. Please, someone, step up!

XXOO
Robin

An American Marriage - May 6, 2019

Dear ladies,

Thank you for attending our book meeting, where we discussed the book An American  Marriage, by Tayari Jones. We all had a great dinner at a Mexican restaurant and enjoyed reviewing the book. I hope that most of us enjoyed the book. The book created real characters. It spoke about a black couple that was torn apart by a flawed justice system. I felt that Tayari Jones captured a lot of layers of emotion in this book and I enjoyed it. 

                    --- Sandra

SEE ME by Nicholas Sparks -- April 1, 2019

We met at a Mexican Restaurant on Route 202, chosen by Maureen, DPatron. We really missed you Maureen, but when Mary Velez explained you hadn't been feeling well, and didn't want to postpone, we understood. Most of us enjoyed the book, and we liked the characters, Colin and Maria. Our discussion of Nicholas Sparks' book, See Me, was lively and spirited, as always. When we had forgotten to take a picture of all of us, Maria Pages helped take a selfie outside. You'll see it in the video, though not everyone was in it. Sorry about that!

Please keep up your prayers and support for our bookclub buddies who are working towards optimum health. Thank you for being there for each other. Together, I know we can make a difference.

XXOO,
Robin L.

Born A Crime by Trevor Noah - March 6, 2019

So happy many were  able to join me in the WGES Mindfulness room. for our Book Club meeting. Those that couldn’t make it were surely missed.  We spent some time in a mindfulness exercise on gratitude before discussing our book, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. I am ever so grateful for our amazing book club that started 10 years ago with amazing, gifted, caring, committed, faithful women!!❤️ 

Born A Crime  is an autobiography set in a time of apartheid in South Africa. Trevor was born at a time when interracial relationships were prohibited by law. His father was Swiss and his mother black. The union could have been punishable by five years in prison.

This book shared the strong relationship Trevor had with his mother and how she set a strong example of perseverance, hope, and striving to be better.  At times the book was humorous, he was such a mischievous child -- and then it was deeply affecting when his mother was shot.  It was a moving story of survival in what Trevor called "institutional racism", and a coming of age story with deep cultural relationship with his family, especially his mother.

I look forward to next months book See Me by Nicholas Sparks hosted by a lovely lady, my friend , Maureen Degnan.

Be blessed bookworms!!

Mary

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - at O'Malley's in Nyack

The story Is about a young women who suffered a terrible tragedy at the tender age of 10. This horrific trauma affected her life into full adulthood. Eleanor, was critical, judgemental. She became an alcoholic and suffered from loneliness until the day she was befriended by a man name Raymond that showed her how to trust, seek help and restore her life. He was a true friend. The story was funny, sad and very rewarding to read.

I highly recommend it , even though it drags on in the beginning but, I believe it was the author’s way of showing how boring was her life.

                                                        ---Dee

China Dolls by Lisa See -- at Ocean Empire

Happy New Year to everyone! It was so nice to host the first book club for the  new year and to see everyone!  I hope everyone enjoyed the book.  

It was interesting to read about San Francisco in 1938. A time when a

war was brewing overseas, and a city is alive with possibilities. The main

characters, Grace, Helen, and Ruby became friends, relying on one another

through unexpected Challenges. Each one with a secretive pass which gets

exposed as the story goes on.  They find the strength and resilience to reachfor their dreams.  

I wish for all of my book buddies dreams to also come true.

All the best,

Millie