Cut to the chase book reviews
Short book reviews with a Go Beyond book mark rating that will give you a heads up on amazing reads and the so-so reads. In the end, it's our book clubs opinion only and what we may see as a four or five book mark rating you may view it differently and that's ok. Happy reading!
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Set in 1958 Havana, Cuba as well as present day, Next Year in Havana, is filled with 'forbidden passions and family secrets' during political unrest. Rich in history as well as developed characters this recent release was a great read for a Valentine's Day book club. The love interests among the characters was well written and only added to the charm of this book. Include a Cuban dinner for your reading group and ahi esta!
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Even though Tara's true life story was filled with moments that were hard to read and process it was a book club worthy read with an endless amount of material for your discussion. A tough read that will give the reader some hope that the author eventually finds her way out of a dysfunctional family and begins a whole new life in Educated a memoir on Amazon.com.
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A novel about a bookseller, a book barge and France? That is the exact kind of reader dose of medicine we want but in actuality our group was split down the middle for The Little Paris Bookshop. Some of us loved the life lessons of dealing with grief and the old adage 'to embrace every moment of life' and of course new love.
Pros are for half of the group and cons are for the other cynical half Pros: Bookseller, book barge and France Easy fun book club read L'amour French recipes in the back for your 'diner francais'! Jean Perdu's Emergency Literary Pharmacy in the back - medicine for your book soul Cons: Not enough bookseller and Literary Apothecary (book barge) L'armour Slog reading Lost in translation |
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Based on true life events 'Before We Were Yours' uncovers long ago buried secrets and scandal discovered by a multi-generational family desperately seeking answers.
*Worthy of the four bookmark rating, 'Before We Were Yours', was a quick read and comes highly recommended by our group. One of our best discussions to date as we dove into the makings of this novels real life transgression and the horror that was going on right under this country's nose. Book club recommendation: Southern food for your book club dinner |
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A fast paced novel with a few technical slow downs for detailed inventing descriptions The Last Days of Night is based on a time when inventors ruled and their inventions meant life or death. Author Graham Moore's writing style was a reading win for our book club even though it came across a bit modern for the Gilded Age of New York City 1888. Starring true life inventors, Thomas Edison, Westinghouse and Nikola Telsa The Last Days of Night will suck you into its web of deception, mystery, legal battles and even romance! Quotes from past and present inventors at the beginning of every chapter is an added bonus as well.
The man who controls electricity will control the very sun in the sky |
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Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and the sequel, Tears of a Giraffe were past book club reads. In discussing what to read next we decided it was time to visit Smith's other works. La's Orchestra Saves the World is a stand alone novel set in England before, during and after WWII. It centers around a young woman named La, short for Lavender, who finds herself without her husband and no real plans for her future. She grabs the opportunity to move out of London and into the country to make a fresh start and that is where her adventures begin.
La's Orchestra Saves the World is an inspiring, quiet, light read and not at all like the other WWII novels we've read such as The Nightingale, The Book Thief or Suite Francaise. These novels have a heavier war-torn theme which La's Orchestra does not. One issue, (a rather large one), is that the title of this book doesn't really reflect what the story should be about, an orchestra. Don't worry the orchestra in itself is in there but only as a background prop. The highly recommended Alexander McCall Smith's Detective series is a must book club read! |
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CS Lewis once said,
A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good 
Peter Pan, our classic holiday pick was a perfect reading way to end the year. Some favorite quotes from the novel stood out for us, “Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough. You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.”
and, another: “To die will be an awfully big adventure.” Filled with unforgettable characters, Peter Pan - the boy who could fly, Tinker Bell (she was one mean fairy), Wendy, Jonathan, Michael, The Lost Boys and of course the evil Captain Hook all in Neverland a place where one can have the best adventures and ponder the meaning of growing up. This book is not just for children (darker than we expected) and with deep themes |
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Fahrenheit 451 written in the 1950's by author Ray Bradbury is bleak indeed. A dystopian future where the firemen don't put out fires they start them - by burning books
It was a pleasure to read Fahrenheit 451 and 'not burn' as the first words of Chapter 1 goes. A dark futuristic novel, yes, but a necessary one. Bradbury's message had to hit a one two punch with his readers and leave you with the 'what ifs?'. What if books were banned and burned forever? What if people only latched onto technology to control and shape their lives instead of letting the words in books transform them? A great thought provoking Bradbury quote, "You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them." Fahrenheit 451 was a Halloween book club success even with its gloomy message of doom for book lovers. This classic novel is a must read with four bookmarks from our book club |
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You will want to sip tea, eat tea cakes while dining at the Boyarsky with Count Alexander Rostov! With superb writing, amazing characters and a nail biting ending, A Gentleman in Moscow made our best books list and shall forever be one of our favorite novels of all reading time. We applaud author Amor Towles for his beautifully written novel and giving our book club insight into the life and volatile times of early 1900's Russia at a luxury hotel spanning 30 years.
*A Gentleman in Moscow is a bit lengthy (just under 500 pages) so give your group plenty of time to complete |
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A favorite quote from Mary's Papa
And remember, some folks mighta been born to more than you, but none been born better than you 
Based on a true story of young Mary Van Lew Bowser as she goes from a freed slave, to a top scholar in Philadelphia and finally a spy for the Union army during the Civil War. Our book club was blown away by Mary's bravery, persistence, photographic memory and quick thinking in the many dangerous situations she faced in becoming one of the most fascinating key figures in history.
This book contains the authors insights, pictures and Q&A. The Secrets of Mary Bowser Available on Amazon.com |
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The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton appealed to all of my choosiest of book club friends reading palates. It's a novel packed with deep family mystery that spans from modern day all the way back to the turn of the 20th century as the main characters Nell and her granddaughter Cassandra desperately search for unanswered questions to secrets long buried in the past.
A good warning? This novel in a subtle way will remind you of author V.C. Andrews writing style that although may not be as twisted as her famous novels but both have the dark family secrets with tragic consequences therein. If your book club loves sweeping sagas, century hopping and a few disturbing, unforgettable characters then this is the book for you! An added bonus: A reader's club guide at the back of The Forgotten Garden is always a welcomed book club feature |
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I think he is one of the most extraordinary men I have ever met 
Checkout the review of Upstairs at the White House on
The Book Club Blogger and for easy book club ideas click on book party ideas page |
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For your reading information: The Girl From the Train is South African author Irma Joubert's first book to be translated into English
Pros
Cons
Final thoughts: The Girl From the Train is an inspirational fast paced read (Catholic and Protestant situations throughout). If you can get past the history lessons and one dimensional characters this book may be for your reading group. In our book club opinion this novel is at it's best when the story begins in South Africa as the main character learns to adjust to her new loving family, language barriers and haunting past |
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The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry was a quick contemporary read enjoyed by the majority in our book club. With a tug on one's heartstrings characters and surprises sprinkled throughout (spoiler, some parts were hard on the emotion spectrum for some us) The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry has enough plot for discussion as well as questions at the back of the book to get you started. If you love bookstores, tomes, romance and some suspense your group will eat this book up. Favorite quotes from the novel: "Sometimes books don't find us until the right time" and "The only thing a good book party needs is plenty of liquor"
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"You do not take her while I live!" he cried. "Then I'll take her when you're dead," said Captain Blood
With words like that who wouldn't want to jump into this swashbuckling, sea worthy experience like our book club did? Every reading group should shake things up now and then and read a novel that has stood the test of time. Classics are like fine wine, they age beautifully in the literary world. Captain Blood written in 1922 by Raphael Sabatini takes off into a stunning adventure centering around one man's journey from being wrongfully accused and enslaved to being deeply misunderstood. If you love pirates, battles on the high seas and a touch of romance then this classic is for your book club! Check out Captain Blood on Amazon and see book club ideas |
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Review of The Perfume Collector now on Book Club Blogger and a party game inspired from the novel. Go Beyond!
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In love we find out who we want to be.
In war we find out who we are Highly recommended by our group The Nightingale is a perfect read for your book club. A fast read but rich in content makes this book an excellent choice for discussion time. Set in WWII France you will fall in love with sisters, Isabelle and Vianne as they fight for survival and the mending of their relationship through hardships and heartbreak. See book party ideas for The Nightingale |
affiliate links to books are available on Amazon.com
and bookmark rated by a real book club!
and bookmark rated by a real book club!