Book Recommendations

When it comes to selecting books, there's nothing better than a recommendation from a book club.
Since 2004, we've been collecting book recommendations from book clubs around the country.
We've also included some menus from their meetings. Each title links to a book club recommendation.
To receive new recommendations throughout the year, subscribe to our quarterly newsletter, Book Bytes.

You can purchase all recommended books through The Book Club Cookbook's Amazon store.

Happy Reading!

Spring , 2008

Sworn Sisters Book Club of Indianapolis, Indiana, recommends:  
Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran (Random House, 2005), Fiction, 240 pages

“This is the story of three sisters who flee Iran and end up in a rural village in Ireland, where they open an enchanting Persian restaurant.  We enjoyed the characters, the scenery, the cultural differences (Iran vs. Ireland) and the sensuous descriptions of the sisters' culinary creations.  We would have liked the book to be a bit longer, with more details about the sisters' situation in Iran.  It was difficult to grasp how the one sister so quickly became entangled with extremists, when she was not naturally inclined to do so.  This is a great book for those who enjoy serving book-related food as part of the meeting, as each chapter of the book begins with a recipe.  We enjoyed making and eating some of the Persian dishes that were mentioned in the book.”

Paired with: Baklava, Hummus, Red Lentil Soup Fesenjoon (chicken in a ground walnut and pomegranate juice sauce), Rice Elephant Ears (from a recipe in the book - not the kind that you would find at the county fair)

Coffee Clutch Book Club of Pueblo, Colorado, recommends:
Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir (Miramax 2001), Memoir, 304 pages

“Our book club read this book awhile ago but it still is on our minds.  This is a memoir of an extraordinary woman who was imprisoned with her family for two decades. It surprised our book club that the story  took place in the 1970s and1980s, when we were all very young and took our freedom for granted. The family in the story was similar to our own families, but it was dealing with  hardships and unjust conditions while we were enjoying proms and graduations with plenty in our bellies. We talked about howone’s life can change very suddenly, and what one needs to do to cope when that happens.”

Paired with: Simple food and veggies, because the people in the story  were happy and thankful to eat rotten foods

The Reading Club of Englewood, New Jersey, recommends:
Unless by Carol Shields (Fourth Estate, 2002), Fiction, 224 pages
“Unless evoked for all the women of our group the passions, frustrations, and pains of motherhood.  The ‘ordinariness’ of the family life she portrays confirms our own experience (we are an older group) that extraordinary events take place often in that ordinary context.  The impact of the behavior of a single child affects the marriage, the siblings, and nearly each relationship among them.  A story beautifully and honestly told, Unless explores parenting and in what, in contemporary--and perhaps all-family structures (a good topic for discussion)--the differences between ‘fathering’ and ‘mothering’ may consist.”

Winter, 2007

The Hawthorne Neighborhood Book Club, Bloomington, Illinois recommends:
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (Ballantine Books, 2007), Fiction, 384 pages“This author's first novel is beautifully written and made several of us want to delve deeper into the accomplishments of Frank Lloyd Wright. Horan draws on years of research to weave little known-facts into a compelling narrative portraying the conflicts and struggles of Mamah Borthwick Cheney as she strives to justify her clandestine love Frank Lloyd Wright. She is forced to choose between the roles of mother, wife, lover, and intellectual, seeking to find her own creative calling in the world. Her choices that reshape her notions about love and responsibility lead to a stunning conclusion.Most of us agreed we did not like the behavior of the main characters, but the book was so intriguing and rich in detail we could not put it down.

"Fortunately for us, one of our members is a cousin to Nancy Horan and we were delighted to have a conference call conversation with her during our discussion. The book's cover is classic F. L. Wright design, complete with shadowy profile, perhaps symbolizing the complexities of his life. We closed our discussion questioning the title and wondered ‘Who was it who loved Frank?”

The Regional Readers and the Travel Book Club of the Library recommend:
The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips (Random House, 2004), Fiction, 416 pages

"The Egyptologist was a wonderful book to discuss as there were so many facets to explore. It provided a fascinating, in-depth historical glimpse into Egypt and archeology, and including real-life explorer Howard Carter added to the authentic feel. The group was absorbed with the author's use of truth, Lies and perspectives as the story progressed. Following the discussion our group made a trip to the North Carolina Museum to have brunch and a tour of the Egyptian ‘Temples and Tombs’ exhibit.”

The Broward County Library, Stirling Road Branch Book Club of Hollywood, Florida recommends:
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead, 2007), Fiction, 384 pages“A Thousand Splendid Suns provides an interesting comparison/contrast toHosseini's first book about his native Afghanistan. The Kite Runner was about male companionship, whereas this book is about female friendship and character. It provides background for excellent discussions of several themes, especially love and loss.Hosseini's descriptions keep readers so engaged, most people can’t believe they finished such a novel in so little time! Researching Hosseini, I was able to find wonderful interviews that revealed the author's favorite books and movies which I turned into a handout for book group attendees.

"Our discussion group was treated to a question-and-answer session with a co-worker of mine from Pakistan. This really enhanced the session since everyone there was female, so no one felt inhibited in their questions. We are eagerly awaiting release of The Kite Runner movie in November, as well as hoping for a third book by Hosseini."

The Preschool Moms Book Club of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, recommends:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (HarperOne, 2006), Fiction, 192 pages

"This is the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy, who has a dream about finding a treasure in the pyramids of Egypt. Hesells everything he owns and travels to Africa to start his quest. Along the way, he falls in love with a young woman and faces many challenges as he travels through the desert. While this book was one of the shortest and most simple books we have read, we couldn't help but feel that the messages in it were universal. The book challenged us to look within ourselves to determine our dreams, and reminded us to work to attain these dreams.”

Reading between the Wines of Ridgewood, New Jersey, recommends:
The Romance Reader by Pearl Abraham (Riverhead, 1995), Fiction, 296 pages“This book gave us the opportunity to explore coming of age in a Chasidic family from the perspective of the daughter of a rabbi. The protagonist was in a swim club and struggled with issues of dress, reading forbidden romance books, and walking out on an arranged marriage. We explored strict upbringings, whether in a Jewish family or a Christian one. Discussing the rebellious Rachel Benjamin afforded us the opportunity to discuss how each of us reacted to the dogmatic rules we faced in our homes or religious life.”

Paired with: Food one might have in a home on the Jewish Sabbath, such as pareve (not meat or dairy) dried fruit, nuts and olives, and rugelach and pound cake for dessert.

Fall, 2007The Book at Hand Club of Irving, Texas, recommends:
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Algonquin Books, 2006), Fiction, 335 pages

“In this superb novel, the author depicts Jacob Jankowski both as a young man in 1931 - when in an act of desperation brought on by tragic circumstances he hops a circus train car - and in the present day, when he's an old man weak in body but strong in memories. The history and lore of the circus add a richness to the story of Jacob and his love for Marlena, an equestrian star married to August, the circus's violent animal trainer. The novel interweaves a poignant love story with the eccentric existence of the circus performers.

“Our club enjoyed reading of this bygone era, and we were also struck by a deeper understanding of what it feels like to age physically but still feel the same on the inside.The side stories of the animals, in particular, Rosie the elephant, made us laugh and cry.”

The Blue Anklets Book Club of Arlington Heights, Illinois, recommends:
A Midnight Carol: A Novel of How Charles Dickens Saved Christmas by Patricia K. Davis (St. Martin’s, 2000), Fiction, 208 pages

“This first-time novel written by a woman who had a deep and abiding love for Charles Dickens' work, relates the story of Charles Dickens’ struggle to publish A Christmas Carol in 1843. Patricia Davis details his effort while he teetered on the brink of personal failure and financial ruin. It also highlights the 'underworld' of life on the streets in London at the time, the poorhouses and crooked publishers. There's nice tension and it's beautifully written. This is a great example of creative historical fiction, and it’s the book to reach for now as the holidays approach.”

The Breakfast Book Club of West Hartford, Connecticut, recommends:
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon (HarperCollins, 2007), Fiction, 414 pages

“We had an interesting discussion about The Yiddish Policemen’s Union because some of our members found the tone of the book to be anti-Semitic. The Jews of Sitka were basically corrupt survivors, except for a few noble ones. The most evil people were the most religious ones. The hero of the novel, Meyer Landsman, was the most admirable of those characters, and even he was drawn with all his flaws revealed. We also discussed how this alternative history could have happened, and what if it had. As with The Plot Against America, we shivered at the harsh concept of what our world would be like today if certain decisions were made sixty years ago.  We discussed the establishment of Israel as a refuge for the survivors of the Holocaust, and its struggle to survive. One of our members was traveling on a mission to bring a group of Ethiopian Jews into Israel several weeks after our book group met. We compared the experiences of the Ethiopian Jews to those of the European Jews who arrived in droves at Sitka, Alaska after World War II.”

The Bookies Book Club in Littleton, Colorado recommends:
Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors (New American Library, 2006), Fiction, 344 pages "This historical fiction about the creation of the Taj Mahal in the mid-1600's was written in the first-person voice of a young princess, Jahanara. After the tragic death of her mother, Jahanara's father commissioned the building of the Taj Mahal, a grand mausoleum, as a testament of his love forhis wife. Jahanara tells the mesmerizing tale, while sharing her own life of forbidden love. Our group had a wonderful discussion with the author, about the fact that, even though Jahanara was a princess, her views weren't accepted because she was a woman."

Paired with: A traditional Indian dessert, called Gulab Jamun. These ball-shaped pastries are soaked in rose scented syrup and served with whipped cream.

Read Between the Wines Book Club of McHenry, Illinois, recommends:
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin, 2007), Nonfiction, 352 pages

"Our book club consists of thirty-year-olds, so we jumped at the opportunity to read this adventurous true story about the author. Elizabeth Gilbert is a woman in her thirties who takes a year to figure out her life by traveling to Italy, India, and Indonesia to discover balance, happiness, spirituality, and good food. She has humorous and also touching experiences in each location and meets some lovely people along the way who help enhance her journey towards self-discovery. We had a wonderful discussion on where we would travel if given the opportunity, what we feel about all the issues she presents as a woman in society today, and what we would title our own memoir. It has been voted the best book we have read to date by all members."

Paired with: An Italian feast in honor of Gilbert's journey to Italy and the wonderful food she ate while gaining some much needed weight: Pellegrino, red wine, grilled chicken Caesar salad, Creamy Asparagus and Parmesan Risotto, and for dessert, homemade hazelnut gelato (in the book, the author loves to splurge on different flavors of gelato)

Summer, 2007

The No-Name Book Club of Anchorage, Alaska recommends:
The Kids From Nowhere by George Guthridge (Alaska Northwest Books, 2006), Nonfiction, 326 pages

”In 1982, George Guthridge brought his wife and two young daughters to Gambell, Alaska, a small village on the edge of the remote blizzard-swept St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. Guthridgewas there to teach at a Siberian-Yupik school.  The school district enters the students into one of the most difficult academic competitions in the nation and George resolves to coachthem to a state championship. Similar to an Alaskan version of Stand and Deliver, this is a story of triumph over adversity that provides a fascinating view of a remote Alaska Native village. Truly inspiring.”

Paired with:  “Pilot Bread crackers with salmon spread and wine. Rice is a staple in Alaskan villages, so dinner was served with rice, and flowers were put in empty cans as a centerpiece. Dessert was baked Alaska and coffee was served with canned milk for cream.”

Novel Ideas of San Antonio, Texas recommends:
Blessings by Anna Quindlen (Random House, 2002), Fiction, 240 pages

“We had alively discussion regarding relationships in this story about a baby abandoned at an old estate, Blessings, and cared for by the newly hired handyman, Skip.  All agreed that the baby brought out long-suppressed feelings and regrets for Mrs. Blessing regarding her relationship with her own mother and later with her daughter. Skip had experienced a poor, almost non-existent relationship with his parents. We enjoyed reading the book because many of us could identify with the relationship dynamics in one way or the other (personally or professionally).”

Moms Reading of Wakefield, Massachusetts recommends:
Why I'm Still Married: Women Write Their Hearts Out on Love, Loss, Sex, and Who Does the Dishes by Karen Propp and Jean Trounstine (Hudson Street Press, 2006), Nonfiction,  304 pages"During our club’s discussion of this compilation of essays on marriage written by famous women authors, we  were able to open up to each other about our husbands and our marriages. We shared our favorite essays and we even each took turns reading aloud our favorite passages. We would highly recommend this as a good 'bonding' book: group members really got to know each other better."

Paired with: "Our husbands' favorite foods! Apple pie and cheesecake were a hit. One member broughtthe homemade lasagna her husband loves, and another broughtthe homemade American chop suey that her husband loves. The food this night was exceptional!"

The Renaissance Book Club in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey recommends:
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult (Atria, 2004), Fiction, 432 pages

“This is a story of a 13-year-old girl who demands medical emancipation from her parents.  She was a ‘designer’ baby for thesake of her older, very ill sister and has decided not to do this anymore.  The description of the legal dilemma, the plight of the youngsters, the despair of the parents and the ensuing turns of this beautifully crafted and well-written story make for one you will be drawn to from the very first paragraph, and will rememberlong after the last paragraph is read.  The ensuing discussion willhold you in awe and you will feel that, should any of these characters walk into the room, you would know them instantly, the ones with whom you can identify and the ones withwhom you can't.”

Spring, 2007

Moms Reading of Wakefield, Massachusetts recommends:
ALL SOULS: A FAMILY STORY FROM SOUTHIE by Michael Patrick Macdonald (Beacon Press, 1999), Nonfiction, 266 pages

"ALL SOULS is the true story of an Irish family in Boston, Massachusetts. The author was one of six children. There was no father in the house and the mother was not the perfect picture of motherhood. However, there was a strong bond between the mother and this son, and in our discussion, we explored our bonds with our own children Our group members live about twenty minutes outside of Boston and many of us are Irish, so we all could relate to this book on so many levels. The book described growing up in the city, with issues such as the Irish mafia and bussing, and members recalled these incidents. Those of us who were too young to remember, really enjoyed what everyone else shared. The bottom line was that this was an interesting story that we all related to. The fact that it was true was the icing on the cake."

Paired with: A menu based on the colors of the Irish flag: ricotta pie (white), sweet potato casserole (orange), and broccoli salad (green).

Saturday Morning Pre-Oprah Book Club of Dallas recommends:
THE HISTORY OF LOVE by Nicole Krauss (w. w. Norton & Company, 2005), Fiction, 252 pages

"This is a hauntingly beautiful novel about two characters whose lives are woven together in such complex ways that even after the last page is turned, the reader is left to wonder what really happened. The book spans a history of sixty years, moving from Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe to present-day Brighton Beach. The central character is Leo Gursky, a retired locksmith who immigrates to New York after escaping SS officers in his native Poland. His story is interwoven with that of 14-year-old Alma Singer, who lives with her widowed mother Charlotte and 10-year-old brother Bird (who is convinced he may be the Messiah). Loneliness, loss and love tie the characters together in surprising ways. It’s such a complicated plot that we spent most of our discussion sorting out how everything fit together and appreciating the poignant beauty of the writer’s language and descriptions."

The Evening Book Club (Harris County Public Library, Barbara Bush Branch) of Spring, Texas recommends:
THE SPEED OF DARK by Elizabeth Moon (Ballantine, 2003), Fiction, 352 pages

"THE SPEED OF DARK was a different choice for us. This book was listed as science fiction (which most in the club won't read) because it takes place a few years in the future when there is a cure for autism. The story takes you inside of the mind of a high-functioning autistic man who is asked to undergo a new, experimental treatment designed to cure autism. Most autism is corrected at birth, but Lou was born too soon to benefit from that procedure. He has a good life, a good job, and many friends. Will the ‘new’ Lou remember the ‘old’ Lou? Is being normal worth the risk? If the cure will change who you are fundamentally, should you take the chance? We talked about several other issues: the accommodations made in the workplace for these workers, and their friendships, fights, and sexual attractions."

Classics (Teen) Book Club of the Harris County Public Library. Cypress, Texas recommends:
REBECCA by Daphne Du Maurier (1938), Fiction, 448 pages

"How would you like to be constantly compared to your predecessor, especially one in marriage? The nameless young heroine marries the cosmopolitan Max De Winter and moves into his household on the country estate Manderley, not long after his first wife Rebecca has died. Can the heroine ever fill the shoes of the beautiful, talented Rebecca? Or, does she even want to? A twist to the story lets us know, but we must wait until the very end. Everyone in the group, female and male, enjoyed reading this 1938 gothic novel, and for the first time in 4 years we’ve had a 100% approval rating for a book. Mystery, intrigue and romance kept us glued to the storyline from the famous first sentence, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again” until the surprise ending. Character analysis occupied a majority of the discussion. The 1940 Alfred Hitchcock thriller by the same title won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1941."

The Reading Hearts of Media, Pennsylvania recommends:
THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak (Knopf, 2006), Fiction, 560 pages

"This is a story about a German family in Nazi Germany, but the narrator is Death. This book gives a different perspective of Germany during the war. It shows the horrors of war but also how it affected the German people who did not support it: those who were sympathetic with the Jews and tried to uphold their values and morals. The main character is a young girl, and her love for reading sustains her and others through many harrowing experiences. The unique perspective of Death as the narrator gives this book a fresh and unusual look at a topic that has been the theme of many other literary works.

Paired with: Pea soup, which the characters in the book ate, and sandwiches on dark bread, a luxury they did not have.

Fall, 2006

The Book Divas of Marlton, New Jersey recommend:
THE KNOWN WORLD by Edward P. Jones (Amistad, 2003), Fiction, 400 pages

"What type of leadership is best in a situation where blacks own blacks? It amazed us to consider a person, black or white or otherwise, who could actually own another individual, let alone consider a person who has seen or experienced slavery first-hand becoming a slave owner themselves. Some slave owners chose to be hard-edged while others were much more easy-going and friendly to their slaves. Does an easy-going, friendly approach make owning slaves "okay"? We all liked this book because it opened our eyes to a whole world that we were unaware of, and made us think about the many ways people bend rules to fit their own situations. We also discussed the cover design and how the author used an actual map from a slave family."

Paired with: Southern fried chicken, collard greens, sweet potato casserole, grits with corn bread, and pecan pie from a Southern bakery.

Portola Hills Book Group of Trabuco Canyon, California recommends:
HOW TO BE LOST by Amanda Eyre Ward (MacAdam/Cage, 2004), Fiction, 290 pages

"There's a bit of a mystery and twist to the plot in this story of three sisters and the disintegration (in a way) of the family after the youngest girl goes missing at the age of five. The narrator is the oldest daughter as an adult and the family is trying to bring closure to this tragedy that happened so long ago. We appreciated how the author developed the characters: they all seemed so believable, even the few oddballs. We found the book’s structure – with two story threads subtly woven together - intriguing, and we discussed how the book’s use of letters tied all the many characters together in a way that kept some of us wondering right up until the very end."

Paired with: Gumbo and peach martinis (since the narrator lives in New Orleans and tends to drink).

The Book Club of Austin, Texas recommends:
THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger (MacAdam/Cage, 2003), Fiction, 518 pages

"We all enjoyed this book and our excellent discussion. A good discussion point was whether the time-travel element adds or detracts from the story. In other words, would the story be a good love story if it had been told in a linear fashion? There is the always-waiting aspect of the story – the girl/woman never knows when her boy/man is going to disappear or reappear in her life, and whether he’ll come in the form of a boy or man, in the past or the future. Is this just a cute gimmick or does it actually instruct us in any way or give us insights into relationships or the human heart or state of mind?"

Mintz, Levin Literary Discussion Group of Boston, Massachusetts recommends:
THE GARDENS OF KYOTO by Kate Walbert (Scribner, 2001), Fiction, 288 pages

"This is a stunning first novel about a young woman coming of age in the period between World War II and the Korean War. The novel provided one of the best discussions our group has had. The recurring themes of deception and secrecy were explored, as each character was guilty of either keeping or revealing secrets. We considered what it was like for women who were pregnant and unmarried during this period, and we discussed other ways in which women of that era were constrained by cultural norms and expectations. One of the more interesting discussion points was about Kyoto's historic gardens, and the ways in which the various gardens were metaphors for other themes in the book. One of the characters conducts a campaign to protect the most famous garden in Kyoto from being bombed. Our group wondered what, in America, would we consider such a natural treasure that we would protect it above all others from destruction?"

Ravenous Readers of Vero, Beach, Florida recommends:
TALES OF A FEMALE NOMAD: LIVING AT LARGE IN THE WORLD by Rita Golden Gelman (Crown, 2001), Nonfiction, 320 pages

"This account of very different cultures and parts of the world is fascinating. The author lives in Central America for a few years, and then she goes to Bali, where she rents a room for many years and learns the country's language and culture. She also uses Bali as a base to travel to other, less developed locations in Indonesia. In a sense, she creates a new family for herself from those she meets abroad, and the personal connections she makes shows that travel is as much about people as it is about places. The book depicts the situation many middle-aged women find themselves in--empty nest and divorce-- and shows that for some women those endings open the door to freedom, travel, and an entirely different life. We found that message inspiring, although we also realized that not everyone would embrace the option she chooses."

WOW (Women of Words) of Green Valley, Arizona recommends:
FIRST MOTHERS: THE WOMEN WHO SHAPED THE PRESIDENTS by Bonnie Angelo (William Morrow, 2000), Nonfiction, 451 pages

"Our book club really enjoyed FIRST MOTHERS. Angelo, a veteran reporter and writer for TIME, gave factual accounts of the presidents' mothers along with colorful background information. The book is fairly long so we divided the chapters among our members with each reviewing one of the mothers. We discussed how each mother was a "pusher" for success. Education was stressed in their homes. The biggest difference seemed to be money. Some were from impoverished but hardworking environments and others were from wealthy backgrounds. After all the mini- reviews we had a general discussion and discovered that we all had read more than our own assigned chapter."

Paired with: a fruit pie from the chapter on Richard Nixon's mother, "Fifty Pies Before Breakfast." "(Nixon's mother used to get up very early and bake fifty pies to sell in their roadside market. Nixon would drive the truck into the city at the crack of dawn (or earlier!) to pick up supplies, and spend the pre- breakfast hours with his mother cutting fruit, rolling dough, and baking the pies.)"

Thoreau Reading Group of Concord, Massachusetts recommends:
WILL IN THE WORLD: HOW SHAKESPEARE BECAME SHAKESPEARE by Stephen Greenblatt (Norton, 2004), Nonfiction, 386 pages

"We were overwhelmed by the depth and breadth of Greenblatt's knowledge of Shakespeare and his ability to write in such an accessible manner. Most of us learned an enormous amount about Shakespeare and the world he lived in. We discussed Shakespeare's religion, writing processes, business sense, family relationships, sexual orientation, and, most of all, his impact on the theater and his ability to produce plays that still feel current and relevant. We were also struck by the number of new words that Shakespeare created in his work."

Bookenders of Lee's Summit, Missouri recommends:
SO BIG by Edna Ferber (1924; Harperperennial, 2000), Fiction, 272 pages

"At the age of nineteen, Selina finds herself teaching in a farm town outside of Chicago after the loss of her father. Having grown up accustomed to finer things, she is now living in a farmhouse without conveniences. She marries a widower and after a few years, becomes a widow herself with a young son, and is determined to raise him to be successful. Ferber writes of all classes of people in turn-of-the-century Chicago: the poor, the farmers, the working class, a woman in a man's world, and the rich. We talked about the physical characteristics Ferber refers to in people, such as their hands, their smile, their eyes. Ms. Ferber was a noted feminist, and in this book she made her female characters strong and at times controlling. Money was another strong theme. The characters who earn their money, respect it, and those who inherit money, do not. Ms. Ferber's small book has more details, characters, themes, and layers, than most books written today. A must read."

Paired with: apple desserts to reflect the book's farm setting, including apple pie and applesauce spice cake (see recipe)

Summer, 2006

The Book Club of San Diego, California recommends:
THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeanette Walls (Scribner, 2006), Nonfiction, 304 pages

"We were unanimous in our enthusiasm for this provocative memoir. Jeanette Walls's story of growing up in a deeply dysfunctional family is both engaging and uplifting. We appreciated Walls's matter-of-fact style as she tells about her childhood experiences with an intelligent but alcoholic father, and an irresponsible mother who the doctors in our group believe was probably mentally ill. We discussed whether court intervention could have helped this family. The resilience and resolve of the children in this story are impressive, and make this book uplifting rather than depressing. The book also made us feel that, as parents, we ourselves are doing pretty well!"

The Bookwomen of Encinitas, California recommend:
MARCH by Geraldine Brooks (Viking, 2005), Fiction, 288 pages

"Our group agreed that it was quite bold for a contemporary author to undertake writing a companion book to a classic like LITTLE WOMEN - and that she did so successfully. Based on the diaries of Bronson Alcott, the novel LITTLE WOMEN, and extensive Civil War research, MARCH allowed us a glimpse into the familiar story of the March family from a completely different perspective. We enjoyed our discussion of how Reverend March's high ideals impacted his decisions, and ultimately his family. The familiar historical figures and events, from key figures of the Transcendentalist and Abolitionist movements to the gruesome realities of the Civil War, lent the book a sense of depth and vitality. After reading MARCH, we all viewed Marmee and her daughters a little differently, and some of us went back and re-read LITTLE WOMEN."

Paired with: a dinner of grilled summer vegetables (eggplant, peppers, portobello, onion, zucchini, and yellow squash), corn pudding, and a garden salad, all in keeping with Reverend March's vegetarian sensibilities, and boysenberry-apple pie for dessert.

Ladies of the Lake Book Group of Encino, California recommends:
SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN by Lisa See (Random House, 2005), Fiction, 272 pages

"SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN is a beautiful, enchanting, sometimes sorrowful story of two young women growing up in nineteenth-century China, and the friendship they develop that sustains them throughout their lives. Snow Flower and Lily meet at the age of seven and despite isolation and repression manage to communicate in a secret written language called 'nu shu.' Our group was reminded of the oppression of women for centuries and in all cultures, and the crucial role female friendship has played in giving women solace and in helping them advance. The period detail, especially as it relates to foot-binding, is emotionally charged. A 'must-read' for women!"

Danner's Books Mystery Book Club of Muncie, Indiana recommends:
BONE COLD by Erica Spindler (Mira, 2001), Fiction, 512 pages

"Anna North survived an attack by a madman twenty-three years ago in which the attacker cut off her little finger. Anna has become a writer of thrillers, but she writes under a pen name and finally feels safe. Then the letters from a disturbed fan start to arrive and a very close friend of hers disappears. Could her past be linked to the disappearance of her friend and the murder of three women in New Orleans? Our group was intrigued by the fact that, even after twenty- three years, Anna still wasn't safe from the madman. The book left you with the feeling that even though you take precautions, if someone wants to do you harm, they will find a way. We talked about how believable the characters were and how well Spindler developed them. This was a real page turner - you had to read just one more page before going to bed."

Paired with: Homemade peach - bone cold - ice cream.

Spring, 2006

The Weaver Library "Mostly Fiction" Book Club of East Providence, Rhode Island recommends:
THE COFFEE TRADER by David Liss (Random House, 2003), Fiction, 400 pages

"David Liss was a new author for us, and most agreed that his work was a delicious find! This is an historical novel of investment intrigue presenting both male and female characters who are lively, complicated, driven, and mysterious in a setting so vivid that members felt they could smell the teeming streets and canals of 17th century Amsterdam. The novel's plot captured us with its multi- layered twists and turns, raising moral and ethical questions applicable to today's financial markets and dealings. It revolved around a community of Portuguese Jews who had escaped from the Inquisition, a subject about which members wanted to learn more. Finally, Liss's use of language excited us with several members reading aloud the elegant sentences they wanted all of us to remember."

Paired with: Dark Chocolate Coffee Beans (one of the characters in the book chewed them)

The Thomas Jefferson Book Club of Falls Church, Virginia recommends:
THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Penguin, 2004), Fiction,
496 pages

"This wonderful novel with many layers takes place in Barcelona beginning in 1945. Everyone in our women's book group loved the book. We discussed how our perception of Lain Coubert changed as we discovered who he really was, and that re-reading passages we once thought were sinister could actually make his character appear sympathetic. We had an extended book discussion because different people would bring up an aspect that the rest of us missed and we wanted to hear more."

Paired with: Spanish foods (tapas) - Spanish olives, serrano ham, manchego cheese, chorizo, almonds, dried apricots, magdalenas, Maria cookies and non-alcoholic sangria

The Martha's Vineyard Reading Group of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts recommends:
SUMMER by Edith Wharton (Bantam, 1917), Fiction, 224 pages

"Edith Wharton is well known for her major works that fully describe the New York social strata that she inhabited. The less well-known SUMMER is so amazingly complete, and the characters so well formed because Edith Wharton understood people and human behavior. She did have a way of knowing and understanding the working class, and it occurred to us that when she was building the gardens at her home in Lenox, Massachusetts she knew the workmen and knew what their family lives were like. Thus stories such as ETHAN FROME and SUMMER are not contrived, or 'a stretch', but ring true. Our reading group loved SUMMER,and it gave us an enjoyable and memorable evening's conversation and discussion."

East Regional Library Travel Book Club, Knightdale, North Carolina recommends:
MCCARTHY'S BAR: A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY IN IRELAND by Pete McCarthy
(St. Martin's Griffin, 2003), Nonfiction, 352 pages

"We loved McCarthy's account of his return to West Cork, where his travels around the South and West of Ireland culminate in a pilgrimage to the ancient retreat Lough Derg. We were fascinated by the pilgrimage he did at the end, recreating the fasting and prayers that the knights went through. We enjoyed our discussion of the tourism McCarthy describes versus preserving the natural charm of the area."

Paired with: Homemade Irish Pudding with Caramel Sauce, Kerry Apple Cake, Irish Breakfast Tea, Irish Soda Bread and Irish Butter

Winter, 2005

The BBC (Breakfast Book Club) of West Hartford, Connecticut recommends:
SATURDAY by Ian McEwan (Nan A. Talese, 2005), Fiction, 304 pages

"This was our first co-ed book discussion. Our husbands love political thrillers and this book, which spans 24 hours in the life of a neurosurgeon on his day off, took place during London's anti-war rallies. Our hostess displayed a map of London and traced all the stops the protagonist made during the day."

Paired with: Poached salmon and chilled shrimp (the protagonist served fish to his guests) and all the wines mentioned at the end of the novel.

The BookEnds of Glencoe, Illinois recommend:
DEATH OF INNOCENCE: THE STORY OF THE HATE CRIME THAT CHANGED AMERICA by Mamie Till-Mobley and Christopher Benson (Random House, 2003), Nonfiction, 320 pages

"This true story highlights the role that author Mamie Till-Mobley played as a leader in the civil rights movement in the 1950s. We all were teenagers when Emmett Till was killed and we still vividly remember the incident, which took place in nearby Chicago. This book deals with faith, values, family support, courage, determination, and a mother’s devoted love."

The Falmouth Newcomers "Secret Bees" of Falmouth, Massachusetts recommend:
SISTER OF MY HEART by Chitra Divakaruni (Doubleday, 1999), Fiction, 336 pages

"This story takes place in India and, as you read, you can almost smell the mangoes growing! The main characters, two girls, know each other from birth and continue to be best friends through childhood and into their marriages. We loved the friendship and sisterhood that they shared."

Paired with: An appetizer of nuts roasted with chili (chat), tandoori chicken salad, raita, coconut rice, and yogurt pie.

The Brandeis Thursday Night Book Club of Newington, Connecticut recommends:
THE DEW BREAKER by Edwidge Danticat (Knopf, 2004), Fiction, 256 pages

"Set in 1960's Haiti and present day New York, this novel revolves around a loving family man with a terrible secret. The book appears to be a series of unconnected short stories until you realize that the main character(s) in one story are minor characters in another. We discussed the lack of communication among the characters and whether or not we found hope in the book. This is a very serious book, one that makes you think and feel outside your own world."

Fall, 2005

Long Branch Public Library Book Discussion Group of Long Branch, New Jersey recommends:
SERVING CRAZY WITH CURRY by Amulya Malladi (Bantam, 2004), Fiction, 272 pages

"A story about a modern Indian woman stuck between the life she wants to live and the traditional Indian life her family expects her to live. The story revolves around her developing passion for cooking and the healing that this new passion brings her and ultimately her family, and is mixed with descriptions of her recipes as they relate to her varying moods."

Paired with: curried lamb, fruit chutney, and black tea.

East is East Literary Discussion Group of Washington, DC recommends:
THE BOOK OF SALT by Monique Truong (Houghton Mifflin, 2003), Fiction, 272 pages

"We discussed the concept of 'salt' and its various meanings and interpretations, as well as the issue of marginality. One of the main points of the book is that marginalized people don't necessarily have anything in common, or they may have competing aims and interests. For example, quite a few of the main characters are gay, and you might think that means they have a lot in common. However, there are other distinguishing, and perhaps overriding layers, such as gender, race and nationality."

Paired with: Vietnamese fare at Minh's in Arlington, Virginia, including spring rolls, lemongrass satay sticks, fried rice, and Saigon beer.

Second Sunday Book Club of McComb, Mississippi recommends:
ISAAC'S STORM: A MAN, A TIME, AND THE DEADLIEST HURRICANE IN HISTORY by Erik Larson (Crown, 1999), Nonfiction, 336 pages

Note: Book club member Christy Keirn sent this recommendation along with her report on Hurricane Katrina.

"This is a nonfiction account of the 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston, Texas, and the story of the man, Isaac Cline, who was the meteorologist for the U.S. Weather Bureau in the area. Some of the miscalculations (the magnitude of the storm was underestimated) were eerily similar to what happened in New Orleans. Cline's personal tragedy and the guilt he felt were just incredible and make for a moving discussion. Thankfully, the loss of life here will not be as great as in the Galveston hurricane, where 6,000 people died, but the town of New Orleans, like Galveston, might never be the same."

Spring, 2005

The Unnamed Book Club in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts recommends:
WAITING FOR SNOW IN HAVANA by Carlos Eire (Free Press, 2003), Nonfiction, 400 pages

"This is a memoir of a young Cuban boy growing up during Castro's revolution, who was separated from his parents and airlifted out of Cuba to the United States. The book is beautifully written, almost poetic with its dream-like memories and metaphors."

Paired with: pineapple rum cake

"Just Here For the Food" Book Club of Goffstown, New Hampshire recommends:
THE MASTER BUTCHER’S SINGING CLUB by Louise Erdrich
(HarperCollins, 2003), Fiction, 400 pages

"Fidelis Waldvogel grew up during World War I and the war haunted him throughout his life. We liked reading of how he came to America and made a life here, bringing some of the old European traditions with him, including his work as a butcher and memories of the singing clubs of his past. We’re sure that the many twists and turns in this novel will keep you turning the pages into the wee hours of the night as it did our members!"

Paired with: German chocolate cake, German potato salad, kielbasa and sauerkraut, potato and cabbage stew, and St. Pauli Girl Beer.

The Gourmet Readers of Attleboro, Massachusetts recommends:
LOST HORIZON by James Hilton, (Pocket, 1933), Fiction, 240 pages

"Written in the 1930s, LOST HORIZON foreshadows dire things to come (war and devastation), and explores Eastern philosophy and ideas which seemed so new twenty or thirty years ago. You'll find some interesting thoughts on meditation, aging, the art of 'moderation,' and of course, a description of Shangri-La."

Food recommendations: Chinese food, because the book is set in Tibet, especially Pomelos (an Asian grapefruit), which are mentioned in LOST HORIZON.

BBB Book Club of the San Francisco Bay Area recommends:
WHEN THE EMPEROR WAS DIVINE by Julie Otsuka (Knopf, 2002), Fiction, 160 pages

"We all felt that Otsuka’s story of local Japanese being taken to internment camps during World War II went right to the heart. She set up the difficult scenario of a mother preparing to be wrenched into the unknown without her husband by her side (he had already been taken prisoner and sent to an unknown location). The descriptions were exquisitely simple and yet full of irony. After reading the book group members researched the period and visited internment sites in the San Francisco Bay Area. We were surprised to find just how wide the hysteria from the bombing of Pearl Harbor had stretched."

Paired with: a traditional Japanese lunch - homemade sushi, fresh fruits, tea.

Winter, 2004

The Pre-Oprah Saturday Morning Book Club of Dallas, Texas, recommends:
THE BOOKSELLER OF KABUL by Asne Seierstad (Little, Brown, 2003), Fiction, 320 pages

"This story of an Afghan family is told in searching detail by a Norwegian journalist who lived with bookseller Sultan Khan for three months in the spring of 2002. The book helped us awaken to the joy and abundance of our free and pampered society. We were heartened by the universality of the entrepreneurial spirit. And we enjoyed the small details, such as what it's like for a woman to move about in a burka, covered head to toe and able to see just what is directly in front of her."

The Wormies of Clearwater, Florida recommend:
THE MANY LIVES & SECRET SORROWS OF JOSEPHINE B. by Sandra Gulland
(Touchstone, 1999), Fiction, 448 pages

"We loved this book because of its format - a diary written from a woman's point of view [Napoleon's wife]. We liked that it's historical fiction and a little bit slutty, too. It features a strong woman working in the shadows of a strong man, and really describes the times they were living in."

Paired with: French cheeses with crackers, French wine, croissant sandwiches, fresh fruit, and Napoleons.

The Yet Unnamed Book Club of Viroqua,Wisconsin recommends:
CROW LAKE by Mary Lawson (Dial, 2002), Fiction, 304 pages

"There is so much in this book--children surviving the traumatic loss of both parents; the older son giving up his chance at an education to keep the family together; the rivalry between the two brothers that escalates into a frightening physical battle in their home; an ominous situation with a neighboring family. What we loved about this book is that it made us re-think our own perceptions and opinions. It made us think and feel very deeply."

Reading Moms Book Club of Antioch, California recommends:
WICKED by Gregory Maguire (Regan Books, 1995), Fiction, 416 pages

"WICKED tells the story of Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West. We are drawn into a world so unlike the story we've all grown up on. Painted as a purely sympathetic character, she grows up to set out and make the world a better place by battling the forces of evil. The hostess had several of the many versions of THE WIZARD OF OZ for us to flip through. WICKED will rock your world. We gave it our highest marks...5 out of 5 stars."

Paired with: "Devilish Concoctions," including a dip set inside the head of Frankenstein and a punch made with floating gummy worms and spiders.

The Wine & Words Book Club of Chicago, Illinois recommends:
A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, ONE CHRISTMAS & THE THANKSGIVING VISITOR by Truman Capote (Modern Library, 1996), Fiction, 128 pages

"These stories contain all the hallmarks of great literature distilled to their essence -- what Capote achieves in the space of these few pages many authors would need hundreds of pages to match. I re-read this collection every other year, and I never fail to marvel at Capote's ability to evoke time, place, and emotion in these stories."

Paired with: fruitcake, because much of the story in A CHRISTMAS MEMORY involves Capote baking holiday fruitcakes.

Fall, 2004

Portola Hills Book Club of Orange County, California recommends:
FUNNY IN FARSI: A MEMOIR OF GROWING UP IRANIAN IN AMERCIA by Firoozeh Dumas (Villard, 2003), Nonfiction, 208 pages

"This is a memoir of a Persian woman who moved to America as a child, but had extended family here who had also immigrated from Iran. It is a heart-warming, funny immigrant tale with some profound truths at its core."

Paired with: Mediterranean Chicken Salad, steamed asparagus spears, fresh fruit, baklava and divan (a pistachio candy from Turkey).

Dallas Gourmet Book Club of Dallas, Texas recommends:
THE PURSUIT OF ALICE THRIFT by Elinor Lipman (Random House, 2003), Fiction, 288 pages

"A humorous book that looks at the life of very serious Alice Thrift, M.D., a surgical intern who does not have much in the way of social skills. Lipman deftly weaves in themes of sex roles in social and professional relationships as well as looking at the ways we treat each other in our friendships and families. We laughed a lot while discussing this one!"

Paired with: fudge brownies because Ray, the boyfriend, is a carnival fudge salesman.

No Boys Allowed (NBA) of Miami, FL recommends:
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF CHARLIE ST. CLOUD by Ben Sherwood
(Bantam, 2004), Fiction, 288 pages

"Although it deals with difficult topics of love and death, this is ultimately an inspiring book full of hope for anyone who has ever experienced loss. We absolutely loved this book!"

Paired with: a clambake (to evoke the book's Massachusetts setting) and a drink called "orange cloud" in honor of the protagonist in the book, Charlie St. Cloud.

Erika Gardiner's book club of suburban Boston, MA recommends:
GOING TO THE SUN by James McManus (Picador, 2004), Fiction, 352 pages

"Going to the Sun is a very powerful story about a woman who decides to face a previous trauma in her life and the ongoing difficulties of being diabetic. It is a great book for discussion about new beginnings, health, trauma, graduate school, biking and music. We did not have a thematically related menu, but two of us made CDs for everyone which contained music mentioned in the book. That went over really well!"


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