I started the Pennlyn Reads book club three years ago as away for my friends and I to get together and chat about books, and it has become one of my very favorite things and something I look forward to each month. The group has expanded, and includes family, lifelong friends, friends of family, and we all (about 10 of us, give or take) get together and chat about books we love. I’m a strict discussion leader, and we actually TALK ABOUT the books we read pretty thoroughly (along with some Prosecco, of course), and we get into some great discussions. It’s just a really great thing, and in 2019, I’m working on a few ways for people who aren’t in the group of us that meets every month to participate from home. People tell me all the time, “I read the books!! I just can’t come to meetings!” and I’d love to be able to help them get more involved. Without any further introduction, these are the books from our first year!
Luckiest Girl Alive, by Jessica Knoll. I had been thinking of starting a book club for a while, but after reading this book I knew I had to talk about it. It deals with very ‘real’ things, namely date rape, teenagers, and a school shooting, and the legal situation that follows from the perspective of a high school student, written by an author who knows first-hand what it’s like to deal with aspects of this situation. It’s not light reading, but as someone who works with teenagers growing up in the world we live in today, it’s important reading. Most of the group members liked it a lot, and even for those that didn’t, there was a lot to discuss.
The Husband’s Secret, by Liane Moriarty. With the success of Big Little Lies on HBO, I don’t need to tell you how fabulous Liane Moriarty is, and I think this book isJUST as good as what’s been adapted by Reese Witherspoon. It’s dramatic, surprising, and fast-paced, and you’re on the edge of your seat during the whole book. A plus is that it’s set in suburban Australia, and I really enjoyed reading about suburban Aussie life!
Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng. This is a great story about family dynamics and the sometimes misunderstandings that come along, too. It also was a great perspective into what life is like for someone who’s viewed as an ‘outsider’ in a very homogenous community. And it has a bit of a mystery…it definitely kept us talking!
The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins. This book was HUGE when we read it, and we had one of our largest meetings and a really lively discussion. This book uses an ‘unreliable narrator,’ which I usually don’t like, but for this – it works. And it works really, really well. Rachel rides past a house and seemingly ‘perfect couple’ every day on her way to work. One day, for a number of reasons, she believes a crime has taken place and does whatever she can to make it right. It had a lot of hype, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and so did the rest of the group! It’s the kind of book that you NEED to keep reading… you NEED to know what happens! I’ve been meaning to catch the movie version with (Emily Blunt as Rachel), as well!
The Other Daughter, by Lauren Willig. This book was OK. Not a bad read, but not too much to discuss, especially after Girl on the Train. It’s a perfect vacation or beach-read for someone who likes historical fiction and uncovering family secrets!
Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes. This was another book that was surrounded by a lot of hype when we read it, due to the release of the movie and the sequel right about the same time. This is the story of Lou, who applies for a job as a caretaker for a man who is disabled. The relationship has a rocky start, but ends up being a beautiful thing. Another book that is really good but not necessary a light read…there were TEARS! And lots of them, from all of us – especially when we went to see the movie as a group. But it’s a worthwhile story that leaves you smiling.
The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah. It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t read or at least heard a lot about this book! The group LOVED it. Set during WWII and focusing on two French sisters’ difficult (to put it mildly) experience during the war, Hannah shines a spotlight on the French resistance, and just how far people would go to do what was right in the midst of so much wrong. It’s a great read!
Images: Krista Brackin Photography