These novels made great book discussions and even inspired book club dinner themes!
Best Historical Fiction
  A group favorite, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - is a quick, WWII based time period, written in letter style. Plan a British theme dinner and encourage your group to bring anywhere from fish & chips, bangers & mash, scones and trifles. The list is endless!
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  These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner is another book club highly praised novel. First in a three part series but this one stands alone. These is My Words begins with the main character, Sarah and her life in the Arizona Territory 1880's. Fast read and truly one of the best books to read with a group.
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It is pure happiness when book club friends agree our chosen novel, My Name is Resolute, was a fantastic read! Not only was it a clear winner but our group happily approved reading more Nancy E. Turner novels in the future. The author of The Water and the Blood wrote a stunning six hundred page saga (it's a fast read so don't let the number of pages scare you!) of one young girl's journey from her plantation in Jamaica to the eventual shores of America in the 18th century. Pirates, Native American Indians, survival, even the start of the American Revolution. This novel was high adventure and ahem, romance, that will not be forgotten.
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Book club books with drama and romance
  Starting in the Italian Alps and then to America, The Shoemaker's Wife is a sweeping romantic saga and a roller coaster of emotions. An Italian dinner theme is a must with this novel!
  Ten year old Velva Jean dreams of becoming a singer in the 1930's Appalachia but life takes her on different paths before she can get there. Recommend reading the rest of the series with Velva Jean Learns to Fly: A Novel and Becoming Clementine: A Novel
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  A young Austrian Jew escapes the rise of Nazi Germany and flees to England at the start of WWII. There she enters service as a maid and the lives of those who inhabit the house. Several in our group love Downton Abbey and enjoyed a touch of it in The House of Tyneford
Book friends are raving about audio books! When you are pressed for time and book club is around the corner Amazon.com Audible lets you listen while shopping, driving, walking, running whenever and wherever! Get your reading done so you won't feel lost come book club. Audio books are another appreciable tool in helping you get that read finished
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Books that show courage and resolve
  My Name is Mary Sutter is moving, gritty and courageous. A must read if your book club appreciates historical fiction. Celebrate My Name is Mary Sutter by making Civil War recipes (and I don't mean hard tack!) for your book club dinner. totalgettysburg.com has authentic Civil War recipes to get you book inspired.
  1960's rural Minnesota, told through the eyes of an 11 year old boy, Peace Like a River begins with a home invasion by two schoolyard bullies that changes his family's life forever. If you enjoy books with faith, miracles and family you will love Peace Like a River
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  A heavy thought provoking read, Molokai proved to be an unique story that will stimulate a deep book discussion. Plan a delicious Hawaiian book club dinner theme with dishes that are centered around the books location.
  Narrated by the voice of Death a young girl discovers her passion for books and how to obtain more of them during 1939 war torn Nazi Germany. Targeted for younger readers The Book Thief reaches out to all ages and is a deep, fast read for your book club.
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With the highly anticipated release of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman it only made perfect sense to read both To Kill a Mockingbird and then Go Set a Watchman at the next get together. Celebrating these two books that are famous for different reasons was something we could not pass by. It was a unique moment in our book club history and we all agreed it was worth the two group meetings immersed in Harper Lee's world. To Kill a Mockingbird is an unforgettable read full of memorable characters, quotes and of course some of the best scenes in literature. Go Set a Watchman, although not on the same caliber as TKAM, stood on it's own as a special novel filled with visits from some of our favorite characters from TKAM in a new and exciting way. Get inspired by book party ideas and more on To Kill a Mockingbird blog. Book club review of Go Set a Watchman on Book Club Blogger
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Recommended Mysteries
  Some of the best novels are the ones with a cast of engaging characters and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency fits that bill. A light hearted mystery this novel was a delightful read and perfect for a book club discussion. We adored it so much we went on to read book two Tears of a Giraffe
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  Mystery, love and Egypt in 1884 what more could your book club want? Author Elizabeth Peters delights her readers with a very spirited heroine that rivals some of the best literature sleuths! Crocodile on the Sandbank is a must read!
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Favorite biographies and true-life fiction
  The Color of Water based on the true story of a black son and his Jewish mother. The struggles and prejudices they go through despite the obstacles, succeed and achieve the American dream. One of our best book discussions.
  Most of us had no clue about the world of horse races, trainers and jockey's but Lauren Hillenbrand's true story of the American legend, Seabiscuit, put that to rest. This novel is filled with descriptive pages on the training of the soon to be famous racehorse and the people that race him. Seabiscuit comes highly praised by our group as well our past read by Hillenbrand, Unbroken. Her books will always be on our must read list and we look forward to her next biography. The story of Seabsicuit at 400 pages of packed filled detail so give your group plenty of time to finish. Check out the Seabiscuit book club side dish idea!
  Half Broke Horses tells the incredible true-life story of Lily Casey Smith the authors grandmother who was a no-nonsense tough as nails woman during the early 1900's American Southwest. Described as a Laura Ingalls Wilder book for adults Lily Casey Smith's story will inspire you. Our book party agreed The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is even a better read.
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  You know you have an extraordinary novel when your reading group could not stop talking about the story way before book club!
Louis Zamperini, the subject of Unbroken, led an amazing life before he enters WWII continues his incredible endurance, hardship and heroism in Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. This tome is not to be missed!   The Boys in the Boat was not only a great read but an inspirational winner! A true story based on nine working-class boys from the American Northwest prove that they got what it takes to compete in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Amazing lives and stories of the students and coaches that pushed themselves to the ultimate limit to get to the top. Discussion time went on longer than usual which makes this a top read!
Read a contemporary or historical fiction novel, then next time a classic or biography. Include holiday books and seasonal to get in the book spirit
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Pure Classics
  Character driven American classic,
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a coming of age story of Francie Nolan in turn of the century Brooklyn, New York. A fast read we highly recommended this treasure for your book club!   Written by a baroness The Scarlet Pimpernel is a timeless swashbuckling classic filled with intrigue, romance and a witty sense of humor. Highly recommend if your group is looking for a classic novel The Scarlet Pimpernel is the one!
A must read book club favorite!  More than a gothic romance and more than school required reading, Jane Eyre gets two thumbs way up. Our group loved the rich detail, the characters and Jane's journey from the hardship of her youth to the twist and turns of adulthood. This novel has it all with mystery, suspense, and of course the infamous, brooding Mr. Rochester!
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  The unabridged version is very lengthy so for times sake our book club read the abridged version. Les Miserables is a beautiful novel that is described by many as 'rich and gorgeous'. A classic that caught our attention and was an adventure to read!
  Before your book club jumps into The Count of Monte Cristo make sure you all agree on which version you are going to read first, abridged or unabridged. Abridged comes in at over 500 pages while the unabridged is twice that. For times sake the abridged version might be your groups best choice but there will be some details of this novel that will be left out. Swashbuckling adventure, revenge, romance, The Count of Monte Cristo is a not to be missed classic.
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To be continued...
Recommended sequels when you are ready to revisit that beloved character and or story line again
Amelia Peabody is at it again and this time it is with Emerson Radcliffe by her side in The Curse of the Pharaohs. Please read Crocodile on the Sandbank before you read book two. You will be hooked!
Tears of a Giraffe is book two of the The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series. We found the first novel to be an enjoyable quick pace mystery with memorable characters so continuing the series was a must.
In another swashbuckling sequel to The Scarlet Pimpernel the adventures of Sir Percy and his wife Lady Marguerite Blakeney continues in The Elusive Pimpernel
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Repeat performance- Yes, there are millions of stories out there to explore but every now and then your group loved a novel so much they want to experience that reading joy again.
*Break out your favorite books of the past when a new book friend joins the group. Best repeat books: To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre and Little Women (Little Women is a terrific holiday book club must read!) |
