More News Tomorrow is a fast read because you will not be able to put it down. It has everything a reader wants: beautiful language, mystery, suspense, and unforgettable characters. The book takes us on two journeys in time. Georgiana's trip in 2008 and her parent's trip in 1941. Georgiana is haunted by the murder of her mother and her father's confession to the murder. As an anthropologist, Georgie believes her ability to research and discover the facts will help her solve this mystery. Instead it leads her and her family on a dangerous trip up the Bone River.
Susan Richard Shreve has given us a story of love, hate, racism, antisemitism and family relationships. There is much to think about and to discuss in this novel.

Anatomy of a Miracle by Jonathan Miles is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The story takes place in Mississippi and from there we are on a journey that has us questioning our faith, our trust in science, the power of the internet and even the meaning of life.
The novel is written in a journalistic style, full of details, which has us asking is this fact or fiction. You will have to decide. The main character, Cameron lives with his sister Tanya, who is his main caregiver. He has returned from the war in Afghanistan with a severed spine and has been told he will never walk again. For four years he has been confined to a wheelchair. On one of those hot, muggy Mississippi days Tanya wheels him down to the convenience store to pick up a few necessities. While Tanya is inside, Cameron suddenly feels overcome by a strange sensation. He isn't sure what he feels. Suddenly he stands up and begins to walk. And that is where the debate begins. What happened, how did it happen, why did it happen? As you continue reading you begin questioning your own beliefs. This, of course would make this a great book for discussion. It certainly left me thinking for a long time after I finished the book.

I was really back and forth between poor and average. There really was a great deal that bothered me about the book. First, there was never a reasonable explanation of the title, it was left floating out there like unfinished busy. Second, the manner in which the book was written, nonlinear, often caught you unawares. You could put down the book, planning on picking it up where you left off, only to find you were several decades away. Third, would be the extra (I considered them, not needed) stories. There was so much to be said about the main story that I did not feel it necessary to add Lily's story. A totally different topic. And a book of its own. Finally, I did not feel that our main characters were fully developed. There was so much more that I wanted to know about them.

I was as surprised by this book as Joan was about finding herself pregnant. It is the life story of Joan and the stories written by Joan. She finds herself trying to answer that question that all women asked themselves, "Can I do it all?" It is the story of motherhood, sacrifice, great love, and all the burdens that come with life and love. For a debut novel, it deals with far reaching questions in simple yet beautifully written language. Joan goes on the journey of life and takes us with her,(and without a room of her own). The main character is no longer just a character, she becomes our friend, our neighbor, and at times she is me. Totally enjoyed this book and would strongly recommend it for reading clubs.

Castle of Water is a novel about survival and so much more.
The novel's two characters are on their way to their dream island when disaster strikes and the two are stranded on a small, unknown Pacific island. Two very different personalities, Sophie Ducel, on her honeymoon, watches as her new husband is torn from her arms by sharks and Barry Bleeker, determine to leave his old life is washed ashore by luck. All their hopes and dreams are washed away - survival becomes the only goal.
More than just another castaway story, Castle of Water is the story of differences. Sophie and Barry are forced to overlook their differences and to work together in order to survive. From that comes hope and love.
The story is simply written in short chapters describing various episodes in their lives. I enjoyed this book and looked forward to the next chapter to know more about the two characters who had become my friends.

Wow- I think we all wonder what the afterlife will be like. What will be our last feeling? Will it be one of love, fear, anticipation or revenge?

Joanna, our main character is in her mid forties and is dying of breast cancer. Joanna has her next life planned. This fantastic story is a ghost story and a love story taking place in New York City and on social media. It is the story of relationships. Mother-daughter, siblings, mother-lover and yes the family pet and how they all handle death.

The story is profound, yet comic. It is fast moving and would make for enjoyable discussion.

In this debut novel, Molly Prentiss achieves not only a fresh style, but creates a powerful flow of emotions that make you care about the characters. The story begins as one decade ends and a new one begins; bringing new life adventures to our characters. The story follows the life of Raul, the artist, James, the art critic, who has a little known condition known as synesthesia ( I suggest the reader look up this condition as it will add more depth to the character) and Lucy, who turns out to be both their muses.

The story is fast moving and depicts life in the Art World in New York City in the 1980's. The writing is beautiful and descriptive. It is the story of relationships, love and lose, and inspiration. I would strongly recommend this book to all readers, especially anyone interested in art. It is a great book for book clubs since the characters are so finely developed, there is much to discuss.

Do the secrets of the past follow us into adulthood? This is the theme so beautifully developed by Nayomi Munaweera in this stunning novel. The story reads like a memoir as we follow the thoughts and confessions of this young girl as she is forced to leave her home in Sri Lanka and assimilate to life in America as a teenager. The writing is so crisp and full we become lost in our own memories.
We know this will not end happily for her as the opening sentence tells us "the walls of my cell are painted industrial white...Yet we continue to want the best for this girl, whose name we do not know, but whose life we have followed for decades.
The story is beautifully written in the lyrical language of a poet, yet it captures the devastating and brutal turns that life can take. You will be unable to put this book down. Not only do I recommend this book, I would consider it a "must read".

My book club will be discussing this book this month on my recommendation. The research for the book was thorough and required as we know so little about the customs of a country we are so involved with. I had no idea that this custom was so common place. Since it appears that we will be involved in Afghan politics for a long time to come, I believe this should be required reading for high school students.

Written and well researched by investigative reporter Jenny Nordberg, it reads like a novel. You cannot but help to become involved in the lives of the "characters" Azita, Zahra, Shukria and Nadar. In a culture ruled by men, how do some women survive? The book is the story of the hidden custom called Bacha Posh; a custom that will both amaze and shock the reader. In a patriarchal society the birth of a son is a celebration; the birth of a daughter is a hardship. Without a son the family is disgraced and often shunned. A mother who cannot produce a son is considered guilty of not trying. It therefore becomes necessary to produce a son by any means possible.
This book will be a powerful, thought provoking learning experience for most readers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have recommended it to my book club. The peaceful setting belies the horror of some lives. It is the story of three women, their husbands and children. The story is both comic and dark at the same time. Even the little children in this suburban community have their secrets. Secrets that lead to a riot, a body and a police investigation. Beautifully written by Liane Moriarity.

Peter is the narrator of his story. He tells the story of being transgender through a series of memories and conversations. His voice is so clear that we feel his desperation, confusion and frustration. Culture, generation, gender, finding oneself all play a part in his story. Kim Fu wrote a beautiful, very candid and sensitive story. I strongly recommend this book.

The story takes us beyond sisterhood into the dynamics of family life. In this case the dynamics of a multi-cultural family. Actually families would be more accurate. One present day and one from the 1100's. I found the present day family to be much more interesting and became involved in their lives. It was difficult to make the transition back to the earlier family and the connection between the two stories often blurred. The focus of the story, the bonding between sisters is always apparent.

The book begins as an easy reader, but the reader soon finds themselves in the middle of love, grief, hopelessness and surprises. Told by two narrators, both flawed, we are set up to know there is more to come. Set in the beautiful countryside, the weather, the river all become metaphors for life's vagaries. The story of Arthur and Elizabeth and where it all went wrong. I would recommend the book.