The fiction book club I lead at One More Page Books kicks off the new year by talking about our favorite reads of the previous year. We call it a book club potluck: instead of food we bring book recommendations! This aren’t necessarily book club picks, but books we’ve read outside of book club that we’ve really enjoyed. Additionally, they don’t have to have been published recently, simply books we’ve read in the last year.
We had quite the meeting, including the reunion of a member from three years previous. She had an amazing story to tell about her absence. She’d been experiencing health issues and her doctor told her it was “just” depression. It wasn’t until she went to her eye doctor for sight issues that she learned she had a brain tumor the size of her fist! It was removed and she’s recovering, but what a story! We were so glad to see her return!
Yes, we did talk about our favorite books! We had quite a few! All are listed below! I’ve placed asterisks by those who were recommended by more than one person. I’ve included links to order them from OMP!
The Ensemble by Aja Gabal
The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne (one of my favorite books read in 2017!)
Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak (another of my recommendations from 2017!)
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
The TMJ Healing Plan by Cynthia Peterson (this is about more than just TMJ! A must read!)
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson *
Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchhill by Sonia Purnell
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (recommended, not realizing this is the book we’re discussing next month!)
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Spark of Light by Jodi Piccoult
Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck (One of our book club reads!)
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee *
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
American Marriage by Tayari Jones (another future book club pick!)
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Educated by Tara Westover
Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (the audio is a must-listen!)
Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
Elevation by Stephen King (my pick, of course)
They Both Die in the End by Adam Silvera (although I read this just last week, it was fitting that I mention the connection with the book store.
Quite the list, right!? Does your book club do anything like this? How do you kick off the new year?
