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.