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

The Day The World Came to Town by Jim DeFede

We met at the Mt. Ivy Cafe on December 3, 2018 to discuss Jim DeFede's book The Day the World Came To Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland. I chose this book after we read White Chrysanthemum, because I needed to find something uplifting. Although this book brought us back to some terrible memories of 9/11, DeFede's book was filled with stories that reaffirmed our faith in humanity, and the inherent goodness in people.

We discussed many issues, including where we had been at the moment the WTC was hit. We also talked about some of the characters in the book, and which we related to the most. Laughing and learning about "Newfie language" was fun. I shared a few of the pictures Steven and I have of our wonderful summer vacation in Newfoundland.

I was disappointed in Mt. Ivy Cafe as a restaurant, and did not like that there was not a round table big enough for the 12 of us. Instead, we were seated at one big round table, and a smaller round table pushed up against it. However, the company and the discussion made up for the mediocre food and place settings. Perhaps over the summer, we can get together to see the Broadway play, entitled Come From Away, based on the book.

Wishing you all meaningful time with your families and loved ones on the holidays, and a Happy 2019 New Year!

XXOO,
Robin L.

WHITE CHYSANTHEMUM

We had a wonderful evening sharing our thoughts about White 
Chrysanthemum! I am so sorry this blog is tardy!!!

Although we found this historical- fiction novel to be intense and 
suspenseful (many of us had to put the book down a few times). We all 
agreed that we learned so much about Korea and Japan during the 1940s.

Hana, the elder sister had enjoyed  lived her life as a haenyeo, a 
female diver. She enjoyed her independence until the day she saved her 
younger sister Emi's life. Both sisters dug deep and continually  persisted with their lives 
as haenyeo women ---- with Power and Strength!!! 

Wishing all my Powerful, Strong Bookworm Women a Happy and Bountiful 
Thanksgiving!!!

XOXO
Jill

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

Hello My Bookworm Amigas!

How exciting it was for us to kick off our 10th year with the discussion of The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. How nice it was to see so many of you attend the meeting at The Pancake Factory in Stony Point, to discuss this book, which everyone seemed to like.

Did we all like it because the book focuses on topics such as magic, fortune telling, death? Aren't all those topics mysterious, intriguing, and perhaps strikes a nerve in all of us?The story revolves around these topics as the four Gold siblings live their lives "knowing" the exact date of when they are going to die, as predicted by a fortune teller they visited in their Lower East Side neighborhood as young children.

The novel is filled with references to the characters' destinies and whether these destinies can be altered by their actions. Would knowing the day they are going to die cause them to unconciously or intentionally to act a certain way to ultimately influence their destiny?

As we discussed those thought provoking topics, we shared many of our own fears, superstitions, and beliefs...bringing us all to the conclusion we don't want to know our destinies -- no need for added stress!

Looking forward to seeing you all on October 22- we decided to take November off, and will resume bookclub on Dec. 3. After that we are meeting the first Monday of every month for the rest of this school year.

Love you all,
Maria P.

THE GREAT ALONE -- June 4, 2018

     We met on June 4, at City Line Diner for our last book of the year The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. The book was well loved by everyone, however there were mixed feelings about visiting Alaska. Kristin Hannah’s portrayal of Alaska is so vivid, it almost makes you feel like you are there. It is not a glamorous, resort type of place -- but rather a down to earth, smell the air, and take in the beauty of the grandeur.

     Cora and Leni are pulled to the unknown land of Alaska by their father, Ernst, in search of a new beginning. Little do they know that this adventure will lead to many unexpected and unwanted events.  The troubled relationship between Cora and Ernst brings to the surface the question of “Why do women stay in an abusive relationship?”.  As we all agreed on this, there are many reasons why, and few good endings.  Many topics surfaced while discussing the book, including the effects of war and PTSD, the relationships between parent and child, and the need for survival in many ways.  We all loved the strength in the characters of the women in the book - from Large Marge to Leni - a young woman with extraordinary wisdom.  

     This book grabs your attention and makes you want to keep reading. Thank you all for coming, enjoy the summer and see you in September!!

XOOX,

Maria Rego

May 7, 2018 ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr

Hello Bookworms,

A little late, but wanting to capture our last meeting before we meet again! We read All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel by Anthony Doerr. We met on May 7, at Alain’s French Bistro, in Nyack. We  had a lively conversation over some pretty nice food!! The book, if you can still recall, takes place during one of the last battles of WWII in a small, fortified town in Brittany, France. The narrative flows back and forth in time. The story was mainly about a girl whose inner light guides her as she manages to appreciate beauty despite her blindness, as opposed to greed and vanity - which led to so much suffering and violence. Some of us liked it better than others - “Vive la difference”. We were all in agreement however, that although the story and writing itself was rather good, it paled in comparison to the sonorous accolades the book and author received. Well, enjoy the weekend and hopefully the beginnings of summer!!! 

A bientot!

Maria Rodriguez