What we thought: One plus one

Afternoon Readers Book Club

December 2015

One plus one

JoJo Moyes

Readers were attracted to the book by the blurb on the book jacket, “Suppose your life sucks. A lot.” That’s the core of this unlikely romance populated with quirky characters.

Readers said they liked the book for the most part but found the adults immature and the children interesting. Norman, the big dog was a hit with everyone. Jess, the mother was very nurturing and put her children needs ahead of her own. She was determined to be the good mother and this resonated with readers. Ed, a geeky tech millionaire runs into legal trouble but redeems himself under Jess’s influence.

One plus one is both hilarious and poignant. The story covers serious themes about perseverance and devotion and how things work out in the end, at least in this book. Readers routed for all of the characters except for Jess’s Ne'er–do–well ex-husband and the Fishers, her horrible neighbors. Readers spoke about how events in the book connected with their own lives. They discussed family issues relating to feelings and actions of the characters This led into discussions about husbands and life after children have grown up and moved out.

One plus one was a new book for readers, but some have read her other books and everyone said the they will read more of them; Me before you, After you, The girl you left behind and The last letter from your lover, all of which were received with wide critical acclaim.

Have you read One plus One?  What did you think? Please share your thoughts in comments.

What we thought: Weekends with Daisy

What We Thought: Weekends with Daisy by Sharron Kahn Luttrell

Afternoon Book Club

Weekends with Daisy

Sharron Kahn Luttrell

November  2015 

“The weekend program for prison-raised service dogs sounded perfect. Pick up a puppy on Friday; return it on Sunday. A new puppy each year, no strings attached. Except that the pup is a Golden Labrador called Daisy…and Daisy is not a no strings-attached dog.”  -- Sharron Luttrell

The Afternoon Book Club Members and drop in fans of Daisy came together to share feelings about the Halifax Reads book selection for 2015.

Everyone said they whole heartedly enjoyed the book, even those who were not dog people as well as those who don’t currently have dogs. Several readers recommended the book to friends and family going so far as to purchase copies and send them along. The author touched the hearts of everyone and elicited deep feelings about companion ship and the connection between humans and their dogs. Some told deeply personal stories about profound experiences they had witnessed with dogs and children, the elderly and people with disabilities. One reader asked if anyone in the group was as interested as she was to be a puppy raiser. No one else expressed an interest in training a service dog but they wished that they could do it.

The afternoon book discussion met after the Saturday author’s visit with her current dog, Samurai aka Sam. Readers who attended the visit were reassured to know that the dogs are not subject to working round the clock; they can play and when placed relax with their handlers. The bottom line is that they like to work and live to please their owners. Readers decided that this was just not a story about a woman and her dog but also about letting go and how a greater good will result from having the strength to recognize what needs to be done. Sharron Luttrell influenced readers with her story of how her dedication to Daisy changed her life and those around her. Everyone was glad that they took the opportunity to read Weekends with Daisy and were eager to talk about the book. The discussion went beyond the allotted time and no one noticed.

Have you read Weekends with Daisy? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in comments.   

What we thought Sweet Potato Queens

What We Thought: The Sweet Potato Queen’s first big ass novel, stuff we didn’t actually do, but could have, and may yet by Jill Connor Browne with Karen Gillespie

Afternoon Readers Book Club October 2015

  

  “In trying times, such as the ones we currently find ourselves mired in the middle of, one wants a distraction from one’s troubles and I find it most helpful to plan and engage in a pleasant outing or two with close and like-minded friends. Or you could go gator huntin’. Jill Connor Browne, Fat is the new 30: The Sweet Potato Queens’ guide to coping with (the crappy parts of) life.

Jill Conner Browne, Boss Sweet Potato Queen (SPQ), has written five non-fiction bestsellers. Now she has moved to fiction. The Sweet Potato Queens’ first big ass novel is a humorous story about the lives of childhood friends who remain devoted to each other thorough out their adult lives weathering good and bad times. Jackson, Mississippi provides the back drop of southern flavor for the feisty group of women and one guy. Readers enjoyed the book and appreciated the attachment the characters had for each other. The bonds they formed were as strong as blood as they created their own family to help them deal with situations of class, career and romance locally and in the wider world.

 Members enjoyed reading the book and readily connected with the characters’ stories. They loved the descriptions of their individuality and quirks. Readers smiled when they talked about Jill, Patsy, Mary Bennett, Tammy and Gerald. They readily identified characteristics of their own in the behavior of all of them. The satisfaction of dealing with a long time bully, pulling together to rescue friends from romance lost or gone bad and encouraging development of self-esteem resonated with the book group.

Comfort food was liberally consumed throughout the book and miraculously the recipes were included after the last chapter. Everyone read them and some were inspired to create their own. Some of the recipes from Rest in Peace, a restaurant the Sweet Potato Queens would open serving only Southern funeral food; Promised land pasta salad, boys’r’ us beans, blessed bacon biscuits, maketh me to lie down in mac’n’ cheese, Beulah land boo-boo pie, Hershey bar pie, and delicious death dump cake are just a sample of the yummy treats highlighted.

“As Queens, we make no bones about it, we KNOW HOW TO EAT. We love to eat, and whenever we can get away with it, we eat the most fattening crap we can get our paws on. We are not too proud to eat stuff made with Cool Whip and cream of mushroom soup—if somebody’s mama made it and it’s really yummy. If it tastes good, we’ll eat it. We offer no excuses for our plebian selves.” Jill Connor Browne

Have you read The Sweet Potato Queens? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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This Month's Selection: The Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-Ass Novel: Stuff We Didn't Actually Do, But Could Have, and May Yet

What We Thought: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Afternoon Readers Book Club

September 2015
I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

“Why didn’t I buy a new phone earlier? Why don’t I always walk around with a spare phone? It should be a law, like having a spare tire.” -- Poppy, I've Got Your Number

“If it’s in the bin, it’s public property.” -- Poppy, I've Got Your Number

Afternoon book club members welcomed two new readers to the group discussion this month!

Readers agreed that the book was humorous eliciting plenty of laughter. Most said it was a quick read and hard to put down. Although many of the situations the characters found themselves in were unrealistic there were enough twists and turns to keep readers interested in the outcomes. The main characters were like able and charming even though they did not seem to be compatible with each other. Although bride-to-be Poppy Wyatt had self-esteem issues, she was so delightful, considerate, and helpful that readers said they wanted to have a girlfriend just like her.

The ridiculous situations moved the story along and generated a lot of discussion. Readers were captivated by the loss of the engagement ring -- a sentimental family heirloom -- and Poppy’s inventive ways to cover it up while desperately trying to recover it.

Most of the episodes were memorable and recalled fondly by readers; the wedding planner who made Poppy do her work, Magnus who didn’t care about the wedding vows, the quirky in-laws who were more worried about their son’s dedication to Poppy than how she would fit into the family, a hilarious family Scrabble game, Sam and Poppy’s purchase of a fake engagement ring, and Willow, Sam’s ex, who didn’t know that their relationship was over, are just a few of many favorite parts of the book that were mentioned.

Readers said they plan to read more books by Sophie Kinsella, who also writes as Madeleine Wickham, as well as similar titles like Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding.

This Month's Selection: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

I've Got Your Number

 

by Sophie Kinsella

 

Tuesday, September 15

 

1:00 p.m.

“Utterly charming . . . Put Sophie Kinsella’s Number on speed dial.”—USA Today

 
Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill, but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!
 
Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.
 
What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents, she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

Summer Pot Luck Selection: The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

All three of the Holmes Public Library book clubs will come together in one big group on Tuesday, August 18, at 6 p.m. to share a pot luck supper and talk about The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz, a fun summer read. Hope you can make it!

What We Thought: The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

Afternoon Book Club
July 14, 2015

All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion

by Fannie Flagg

“Whom the heart first loves does not know or care if they are related by blood.”

 Fannie Flagg

The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion is a story of two family histories and a decades old secret that ties them together. Mrs. Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama is looking forward to a relaxing retirement when a secret is revealed that takes her back in time to the 1940’s Pulaski, Wisconsin. Sookie is horrified to learn of her true family heritage but grows to love and appreciate the richness of both backgrounds.This plot line stimulated a lot of discussion about genealogical research and surprises in book club member’s own lives which paralleled the All-Girl story.

Members enjoyed reading the book and readily connected with the characters’ stories. They loved the descriptions of their individuality and quirks. Everyone had a favorite, but Sookie’s mother, Lenore, the force of nature was liked by all. She had great friends and was well loved and more than tolerated by her husband in spite of her eccentric ways.

The story goes back and forth from southern culture in the present with Sookie’s family and friends to Fritzi Willinka Jurdablalinskie’s Polish family in 1930’s and 1940’s and their Wisconsin Phillips 66 Filling Station to Howard Hughes Airport and Avenger Field in Texas during World War II, ending up in the Danish settlement Solvang (Sunny Fields), California, complete with windmills. The author effortlessly ties up loose ends and family connections.

Several discussions about the importance of religion and morality in family life during the World War II era compared to how life has changed in our time added another dimension to the conversation. Some felt that the changes were for the good and the openness in contemporary society is more beneficial to children who would have been ostracized in earlier years.

Another strong theme was the actual history of the WASPS (Women Air Force Service Pilots), women pilots who were recruited and trained to fly military planes so they could fly the new planes from the factories where they were built on to military bases for male Air Force pilots and their war missions. This part of military history had been sealed and classified for thirty-five years without recognition. This was an unexpected revelation to most readers but not surprising due to the strong characterization of the women in this story.

Billy Bevins  “Hiya, Pals”   

Polish strudel from a bakery