Fresh Air by Charlotte Vale-Allen

 

This was a nice summer read for our group. And I might add, a fun book--not disturbing, enjoyable, light.

The book summary: A New York Times Bestselling Author Lucinda Hunter has been alone in the Connecticut farmhouse that was once her mother's. Her life has become a small thing. One July morning as she sits near the window, something in the garden catches her eye: a little girl in shorts and a t-shirt, her bare feet in outsize sneakers. Taken with the girl's sweet nature and generosity of spirit, Lucinda gradually finds herself drawn back into the world.

Fresh Air was not exactly an in depth discussion, but it was a nice book.

~This post was originally on Thursday Night Book Group Blog from Butler Public Library's website.  From September 2008.

The Storyteller's Secret

I am enjoying this book so much.  Amisha marries Deepka, the man she was promised to, they have three boys.  Amisha wants to write her stories in English, but doesn't know how to write English.  She finds a teacher, Stephen who helps her learn English in exchange for Amisha teaching at the school where he works.  They fall in love.  Amisha's story is Jaya's mother's story.  Jaya recently suffered a miscarriage, her third and goes to India to spend time away from her husband, Patrick.  Patrick and Jaya are considering separating.  This is a step in that direction, but Jaya stays with Ravi her grandmother's friend and servant and finds out about her grandmother's life, as well as her mother's.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes

I just read Jamie Ford's most recent book, Love and Other Consolation Prizes for my book group and I absolutely adored it.  Bringing together the world's fair along with the immigration of Asians in the early 1900's, this book has history, love and so much more.  Ernest Young, the book's protagonist is a young boy when we meet him.  He has just come to American by boat and has a decent life with Mrs. Irving.  Things change for him when Mrs. Irving brings him to the AYP (Alaskan-Yukon-Pacific) World's Fair to be sold to the highest bidder.  And you thought slavery only happened to African Americans--not true. 

Lolita

Lolita is Nabokov's most famous and controversial novel, which tells the story of the aging Humbert Humbert's obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze.  This is a book that I thought of as one I should read.  In being vaguely aware of what the book was about, it wasn't one that I would have read on my own, but reading for a book group is something that I would do.  Although I knew it was about a relationship of a much older man with a very young girl, it was not as difficult to read as I imagined.  It is truly a classic and I am embarrassed to say it's the first Nabokov book I read.  Thank you book group for the inspiration to read this classic.

The Orphan's Tale

Our Library book club read this book for our June discussion.  My preconception was another WWII Holocaust book--why are there so many?  After reading the book, my view changed and I was amazed as I usually am about how I can learn something new about the Holocaust.  For me, I didn't know that the circus went on during the war.  I wouldn't have thought was so, but I did look it up and it's true that the cirrus was used to boost morale and keep things normal looking.  Not only that, but the circus helped to hide and protect Jews.  Pam Jenoff, the author is new to me and I enjoyed the book very much.

Georgia Bottoms

Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress is a book that reminds me of Fannie Flagg's writing--lighthearted with a serious undertone.  Georgia's clothes, personality and all around beautiful person make her the highlight of the book.  Childress's descriptions make you feel as though you are a character in the book.  Georgia's business which she keeps under wraps very well considering the town she lives is her source of income which helps to maintain the family home for which she is solely responsible.  The people in her life are out of a comedy show--her alcoholic brother and mother with dementia are the family she supports.  Her business is entertaining married men who live in town.  These parts are written with finesse.  Georgia has a best friend and a son who comes back into her life 20 years later.  What a delightful book.  A sure winner without heavy drama.

Andorra

I read Andorra because Peter Cameron ,the author, lived in the town where I work, Pompton Plains and he will be visiting our Library in September.  I enjoyed the book which has a very simple plot.  I liked the setting and the characters.  Alexander Fox is the narrator and he relocates to Andorra and discovers many characters.  I am excited to meet Peter and have several questions for him.  On to Coral Glynn.