Book clubs are social platforms where like-minded people -notably lovers of books-congregate at specific times to recommend, discuss and exchange works of literature. They range from small informal groups that read a single title at a time to larger, more organized setups. For years, book clubs members could only meet face to face at libraries, parks or members' homes to discuss their pre-selected book. But as the Internet became a staple of daily life, online versions sprung up where members interact through an online platform like a website or social media page. Though organized and convenient, these latter versions of the book club have lost much of the drama and emotion that is stirred up in face to face interactions. The simple reason being that members who regularly meet are bound to become friends, enemies or frenemies. It's no wonder that many authors have used book clubs as their topic of choice, weaving together an intricate tapestry from the different lives that are brought together and changed-mostly for the better-by a book club. And these five noteworthy books do just that.
The End of Your Life Book Club
A rare type of hepatitis has Mary Anne seeking medical assistance and her frequent visits to the doctors' means spending several hours, waiting for treatment. Her son accompanies her on these doctor visits and each, in conversation, begin to ask what what book the other is currently reading. As Mary Anne continues treatment, it is discovered that she now has a form of pancreatic cancer. Equally significant, is the realization that she and her son Will, are reading the same book and this prompts them to form a book club of two.
Through their shared love of books, mother and son continue to draw closer together even as Mary Anne's health fails her. They both learn to appreciate life and find humor, comfort and peace through those trying times. This superb true-life account is written by Will Schwalbe and will certainly have you counting your blessings as you flip through the pages.
The Book Club
Five friends from various walks of life meet once a month at a book club where they share their hopes, triumphs and heartaches. Doris' marriage has all but fallen apart and Annie's tries to start a family after years of devoting her life to her career. Gabriella's annoying portrayal of perfection belies the vulnerability she feels and Midge just might be a lesbian!
Through her characters, Mary Alice Monroe tackles themes that most readers are familiar with and include adultery, sexual identity, death, loneliness and love. These women turn to each other for support and find renewed strength through friendship. The story is told in a laid back and sometimes light-hearted way and the book won't win any awards for originality. But it certainly is an easy read whose characters' life lessons are something that the reader can completely relate to.
The Rejected Writers Book Club
The Rejected Writers Book Club members all have one thing in common, every manuscripts that each one has sent off to publishers has been rejected. They are so good at rejection that they have so far accumulated in total 475 rejection letters. These thick-skinned women are not the sort to wallow in self pity, they much rather have tea and lemon cake!
So when one of their members' manuscripts is accepted, the status of the club is at peril and they enlist the help of Janet, the local librarian, to help put things right. This involves a road trip to San Francisco to convince the publisher to reject the already accepted manuscript as it contains some damning information about another club member. Will Janet survive the club or the trip to San Francisco? You have to read the book to find out!
The Jane Austen's Book Club
Karen Jay Fowler's fifth novel delves into the lives of six people who are members of a book club in the California city of Davis. Each member's story is told in a dedicated chapter whose themes bear similarities to Austen's works specifically; Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Mansfield Park and Pride and Prejudice. Jocelyn, is similar to Austen's titular character
Emma
upon the reader's first encounter, in that they are both unmarried. Now in her mid-fifties, she splits her time breeding Rhodesian Ridgebacks and the monthly book club meetings.
Allegra's connection with Sense and Sensibility is a little more ambiguous but the sometimes impetuous nature of this character links her to Austen's Maryanne. Grigg compares to Northanger Abbey's Henry Tilney and Prudie is an intelligent French teacher who experiences conflicting emotions about love much like Anne's character in Persuasion. Fowley proceeds to compare Sylvia's life to Mansfield park and Bernadette's to Pride and Prejudice. Austen's books all had happy endings for the lead characters. Will the same happen for members of the book club? You'll have to read it to find out!
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