This Month's Selection: The Good House by Ann Leary

Afternoon Readers

Tuesday, April 14, 1 p.m.

The Good House

by Ann Leary

Hildy Good is a townie. A lifelong resident of a small community on the rocky coast of Boston's North Shore, she knows pretty much everything about everyone. And she's good at lots of things, too. A successful real-estate broker, mother, and grandmother, her days are full. But her nights have become lonely ever since her daughters, convinced their mother was drinking too much, sent her off to rehab. Now she's in recovery--more or less.
Alone and feeling unjustly persecuted, Hildy finds a friend in Rebecca McAllister, one of the town's wealthy newcomers. Rebecca is grateful for the friendship and Hildy feels like a person of the world again, as she and Rebecca escape their worries with some harmless gossip and a bottle of wine by the fire--just one of their secrets.
But Rebecca is herself the subject of town gossip. When Frank Getchell, an old friend who shares a complicated history with Hildy, tries to warn her away from Rebecca, Hildy attempts to protect her friend from a potential scandal. Soon, however, Hildy is busy trying to protect her own reputation. When a cluster of secrets becomes dangerously entwined, the reckless behavior of one person threatens to expose the other, and this darkly comic novel takes a chilling turn.
The Good House, by Ann Leary, is funny, poignant, and terrifying. A classic New England tale that lays bare the secrets of one little town, this spirited novel will stay with you long after the story has ended.-- from the publisher

Join us in person or online for a discussion of this New York Times bestseller by Ann Leary!

What We Thought: An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski

Afternoon Book Club

An Invisible Thread

Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski

March 10, 2015 

“An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, and circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break.”  --  Ancient Chinese Proverb

Readers discussed the author’s story and shared personal stories of their own. They voiced a heartfelt reaction about the author’s connection with young Maurice and supported her activities on his behalf. All were impressed with the introduction of Laura’s family and their acceptance of Maurice into their lives.

Readers wholeheartedly believed in Laura and Maurice and were impressed with Laura’s dedication to Maurice’s welfare and acceptance of his good nature. She believed in him despite his desperate home life. Most agreed that Laura went above and beyond what they would have done for him, but wished that they could have been as generous with their time and resources. Maurice’s expression of gratitude and his acceptance of her good wishes drew the attention of book group members.

There was a brief discussion of the influence of the author’s own family on her relationship with Maurice. Readers felt that the relationship between Laura and Maurice went above and beyond a substitute for what was missing in her biological families, forging a stronger bond. Maurice changed the course of his life as a result of his friendship with Laura and created his own nurturing family dynamic.

All agreed that the author wrote a beautiful story about unique circumstances. There were enough successful outcomes to lighten up the sadness of the character’s lives. The story focused on love overcoming trying circumstances and the redeeming value of true friendship and goodness.

Have you read An Invisible Thread? What did you think? This virtual book club discussion is open to all to comment on.

This Month's Selection: An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski

Afternoon Readers

Tuesday, March 10

1:00 p.m.

An Invisible Thread

by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski

An Invisible Thread tells of the life-long friendship between a busy sales executive and a disadvantaged young boy, and how both of their lives were changed by what began as one small gesture of kindness.

Stopping was never part of the plan...

She was a successful ad sales rep in Manhattan. He was a homeless, eleven-year-old panhandler on the street. He asked for spare change; she kept walking. But then something stopped her in her tracks, and she went back. And she continued to go back, again and again. They met up nearly every week for years and built an unexpected, life-changing friendship that has today spanned almost three decades...

This month's selection is a memoir of an unusual relationship and a life-long friendship. Join the discussion online by commenting below, or come to the book club meeting at the library if you can!

The Invention of Wings

by Sue Monk Kidd

Reading Group Guide: quote from Sue Monk Kidd’s web site :

“Inspired by actual historical figures like Sarah and Angelina Grimké and Denmark Vesey, and enlivened by original creations like Charlotte and Handful, The Invention of Wings is the extraordinary story of two struggles for freedom: the battle of Handful to find the wings her mother promised and the equally intense quest of Sarah to liberate her mind and spirit. This triumphant novel also speaks with wisdom about the nature of evil and injustice, the courage to dare what seems unattainable, and the hope inside of us that the worst darkness can’t extinguish.”

Readers noted similarities between this novel and The island beneath the sea, January’s book selection by Isabel Allende. The invention of wings details the life of Sarah Grimke’ and her dedication to the abolition of slavery and strong advocate for women’s rights. The setting of this novel in Georgia is later in history than Allende’s novel, but the descriptions of life during slavery are just as vivid. Readers discussed the interior lives of Sarah and the fictional character, Handful and the qualities motivating both of them. Another point of discussion was Sarah’s conflict between her campaign against slavery and marriage. She chose not to marry while her sister Angelina did both.

A desire for freedom was the recurrent theme throughout the book. Members discussed the role education and reading played in the advancement of Sarah and Handful as well as the consequences of denial of both. The hypocrisy of the times was demonstrated when Sarah’s father encouraged her to “speak her mind” and then punished her severely for doing so. Slaves were derided for being stupid but were not allowed to learn to read or practice their religion freely. The determination of Charlotte and others to achieve freedom or die trying strongly resonated with the group.

Please share your thoughts in the comments! All welcome!

This Month's Selection: Delicious by Ruth Reichl

Combined Book Club Potluck

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015

6:00 p.m.

Billie Breslin has traveled far from her home in California to take a job at Delicious!, New York’s most iconic food magazine. Away from her family, particularly her older sister, Genie, Billie feels like a fish out of water—until she is welcomed by the magazine’s colorful staff. She is also seduced by the vibrant downtown food scene, especially by Fontanari’s, the famous Italian food shop where she works on weekends. Then Delicious! is abruptly shut down, but Billie agrees to stay on in the empty office, maintaining the hotline for reader complaints in order to pay her bills.

To Billie’s surprise, the lonely job becomes the portal to a miraculous discovery. In a hidden room in the magazine’s library, Billie finds a cache of letters written during World War II by Lulu Swan, a plucky twelve-year-old, to the legendary chef James Beard. Lulu’s letters provide Billie with a richer understanding of history, and a feeling of deep connection to the young writer whose courage in the face of hardship inspires Billie to comes to terms with her fears, her big sister and her ability to open her heart to love.

Bring a potluck dish to share with the group! Have you read this book already? Please share your thoughts about Delicious on the blog!