Books and Meetings 2026

As of May 2026, the format of the blog for the Muse & Views Bookclub is being modified .  There will no longer be a resumé of the member comments from each meeting. The first page you will see on the blog is the list of books read and to be read for the current year.  Each book title will be  in red and when you "click" on the title, it will bring you to the Goodreads description of the book and for this year only, the resumé of member comments before May.   

The resumé of comments before May 2026 are still available. On the right hand side, you can click on the year you wish to consult and it will bring you to that year's list. 

This list will be updated as members choose their book. 

January 26  - Betty's choice, The Undertaker's Assistant by Amanda Skenandore - Marg hosts

February 23 - Colette's choice, The Maid by Anita Prose - Carla hosts

March 23 - Sharon's choice,   - Tom Lake  by Ann Patchett, Cathy hosts

April 27 - Marg's choice,   - Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano - Michèle hosts

May 25 - Michèle's choice, Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa - Colette hosts

June 22 - Carla's choice - The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict - Kathleen hosts

September 28 - Kathleen's choice - The Air Raid Bookclub by Annie Lyons - Sharon hosts

October 26 - Book Club choice - Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - Michèle hosts

November 23 - Cathy's choice - The Spoon Stealers by Lesley Crewe - Betty hosts

The Spoon Stealer - by Leslie Crewe - November 23, 2026

Born into a basket of clean sheets—ruining a perfectly good load of laundry—Emmeline never quite fit in on her family's rural Nova Scotian farm. After suffering multiple losses in the First World War, her family became so heavy with grief, toxicity, and mental illness that Emmeline felt their weight smothering her. And so, she fled across the Atlantic and built her life in England. Now she is retired and living in a small coastal town with her best friend, Vera, an excellent conversationalist. Vera is also a small white dog, and so Emmeline is making an effort to talk to more humans. When she joins a memoir-writing course at the library, her classmates don't know what to make of her. Funny, loud, and with a riveting memoir, she charms the lot. As her past unfolds for her audience, friendships form, a bonus in a rather lonely life. She even shares with them her third-biggest secret: she has liberated hundreds of spoons over her lifetime—from the local library, Cary Grant, Winston Churchill. She is a compulsive spoon stealer. 

When Emmeline unexpectedly inherits the farm she grew up on, she knows she needs to leave her new friends and go see the farm and what remains of her family one last time. She arrives like a tornado in their lives, an off-kilter Mary Poppins bossing everyone around and getting quite a lot wrong. But with her generosity and hard-earned wisdom, she gets an awful lot right too. A pinball ricocheting between people, offending and inspiring in equal measure, Emmeline, in her final years, believes that a spoonful—perhaps several spoonfuls—of kindness can set to rights the family so broken by loss and secrecy. 

The Spoon Stealer is a classic Crewe book: full of humour, family secrets, women's friendship, lovable animals, and immense heart.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - October 26, 2026

One spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from…or why…

His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers. 

Theo visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their “rightful owners.” With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered.

A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict - June 22, 2026 - Carla

Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side and understood more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.

But she kept a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: she was a scientist. And she had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis and revolutionize modern communication...if anyone would listen to her.

A novel based on the true story of the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication.

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2019

Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa - May 25, 2026 - Michèle

From Giller Prize and O. Henry Award winner Souvankham Thammavongsa comes a revelatory novel about loneliness, love, labour, and class. An intimate and sharply written book following a nail salon owner as she toils away for the privileged clients who don't even know her true name.

Ning is a retired boxer, but to the customers who visit her nail salon, she is just another worker named Susan. On this summer's day, much like any other, the Susans buff and clip and polish and tweeze. They listen and smile and nod. But beneath this superficial veneer, Ning is a woman of rigorous intellect and profound complexity. A woman enthralled by the intricacy and rhythms of her work, but also haunted by memories of paths not taken and opportunities lost. A woman navigating the complex power dynamics among her fellow Susans, whose greatest fears and desires lie just behind the gossip they exchange.

As the day's work grinds on, the friction between Ning's two identities—as anonymous manicurist and brilliant observer of her own circumstances—will gather electric and crackling force, and at last demand a reckoning with the way the world of privilege looks at a woman like Ning.

Told over a single day, with razor-sharp precision and wit, Pick a Colour confirms Souvankham Thammavongsa's place as literature's premier chronicler of the immigrant experience, in its myriad, complex, and slyly subversive forms.

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2025

The Air Raid Bookclub by Annie Lyons - September 2026 - Kathleen

    London, 1938: The bookstore just doesn’t feel the same to Gertie Bingham ever since the death of her beloved husband Harry. Bingham Books was a dream they shared together, and without Harry, Gertie wonders if it’s time to take her faithful old lab, Hemingway, and retire to the seaside. But fate has other plans for Gert. 

In Germany, Hitler is on the rise, and Jewish families are making the heart-wrenching decision to send their children away from the growing turmoil. After a nudge from her dear friend Charles, Gertie decides to take in one of these refugees, a headstrong teenage girl named Hedy. Willful and fearless, Hedy reminds Gertie of herself at the same age, and shows her that she can’t give up just yet. With the terrible threat of war on the horizon, the world needs people like Gertie Bingham and her bookshop. 

When the Blitz begins and bombs whistle overhead, Gertie and Hedy come up with the idea to start an air raid book club. Together with neighbors and bookstore customers, they hold lively discussions of everything from  Winnie the Pooh  to  Wuthering Heights.  After all, a good book can do wonders to bolster people’s spirits, even in the most trying times. But even the best book can only provide a temporary escape, and as the tragic reality of the war hits home, the book club faces unimaginable losses. They will need all the strength of their stories and the bonds they’ve formed to see them through to brighter 

days.

336pages, Hardcov

First published July 11, 2023

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano - May 27, 2026

 This month's meeting was hosted by Michèle . We had British scones, better known as biscuits here with whipped cream and strawberry jam, bran muffins and fruit salad. Coffee and tea were offered. Present were Carla, Colette, Kathleen, Marg and Michèle.  

We discussed Marg's book choice Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano.  Ms Napolitano is an American novelist and writer and this is her 4th novel.  It is the 100th book selection of Oprah's book club. Her third book, Dear Edward, has been adapted into a series on Apple TV.  

The novel is about 4 sisters who grow up together and are close.  Julia, the oldest marries and young man, William who comes from a loveless family and he is overwhelmed by the family and though he loves the interaction between the parents and sisters, when Julia becomes pregnant, his family background and trauma that was caused by parental neglect kicks in and he refuses to bond with the child.  Sylvie, one of  the other sisters realizes that William is struggling when he tries to commit suicide and with his friends, she helps him restore a life that he can accept and they eventually fall in love. 

Almost all of our members loved the novel. Everyone found  the complexity of the sisters' relationships and that of William dramatic.  A couple of us found that the interactions between family members and others to be similar to a soap opera, full of drama, difficult interactions and sometimes unbelievable scenes. One of our members who is a soap opera watcher, could hardly put the book down, like a soap opera, what is going to happen next?

Most found the book well written, the characters well developed, the interactions between the sisters, between William and his friends very believable and often touching.  We all liked that it ended with the reunion of the sisters and their children, Rose the mother and William well integrated and emotionally stable. 

Marg's choice was excellent and it generated a lot of discussion not only about the novel but about family dynamics .   Thank you Marg.  

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett - March 23, 2026

 

This month's meeting was hosted by Cathy, one of our new members.  We had lovely home-made muffins and bread with a variety of preserves, fruit and veggies with lovely dips.  Coffee that was wonderful and tea.  Present were Betty, Carla, Cathy, Colette, Kathleen, Linda, Michèle and Sharon.

We are discussing Sharon's book choice, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Ms. Patchett is an American writer whose has written several books.  We read one other of her novels, Commonwealth in January 2017.  She has won several awards and prizes for her writing including the PEN/Faulkner Women's Prize. She co-owns a Parnassus Bookstore in Nashville and is a spokesperson for independent booksellers.  

The story, Tom Lake, is about a family with three grown daughters who come home during the first year of the pandemic to help with the harvest of the family's fruit farm.  As they pick the cherries and other fruit, they ask their mother, Lara about her youth and her time as an actress.  She tells them about her life as a budding theatre actress and her relationship with a young actor, Peter Duke, who has become a famous movie star. 

The iconic play Our Town is an integral part of the story.  Lara in her youth and time as a young stage actress stars in the play as the character Emily and Peter Duke who stars by her side, becomes her lover.  Lara's daughters are curious of the relationship and question her constantly. 

Members in general, enjoyed the novel and felt it is a feel good story about the dynamics of a family during the pandemic.  The story reminded many members of the importance of asking questions of family members and keeping family stories alive. 

Thank you Sharon for the book choice.  Thank you Cathy for hosting, what a pleasant gathering we had! 

The Maid by Nita Prose - February 23, 2026

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by. 

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life's complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection. 

But Molly's orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what's happening, Molly's unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it's too late? 

A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.

This description comes from Goodreads

The Undertakers Assistant by Amanda Skenandore

This first meeting of the year 2026 was hosted on January 26th at Marg's home.  We discussed Betty's book choice The Undertaker's Assistant by Amanda Skenandore. Along with Marg, Betty, Carla, Kathleen and Sharon attended despite the significant snowstorm that we had on the weekend. Because there was a street parking ban on all Ottawa streets, there was a last minute frenzy of contacting neighbours to obtain enough parking for the attendees,  Car pooling and taking the bus helped the situation.Betty chose the book because she likes historical fiction and the members had previously read another of Amanda Skenandore's books, The Nurse's Secret, last year.

The main character is Effie Jones, a former slave who learned the skill of embalming from an army surgeon whom she lived with after being freed as a slave.

Another prominent character was Adeline, a Creole women of a higher class status than Effie but was not wealthy.

Also, Samson Green, a black man, former slave, an elected public official.

Themes in the book of resilience, identity, racial injustice, personal growth and social change in the post-civil war era in New Orleans, USA.

Most people felt that the book had a slow start and it took them a while to "get into it"

Everyone liked it but didn't love it.  Overall, those who read the Nurse's Secret by the same author, liked it better.

Several people didn't really like the topic of embalming.  We felt Effie likely had some form of Asperger Syndrome as she was very smart but  had difficulties socially.  She was probably a unique person as a former slave who could read and write and had a practical skill which enabled her to be employed and earn money.

Sharon felt there was some good historical info and liked the historical context.  Felt there were lots of pieces in the novel - post-civil war issues, embalming, and romance.

Kathleen felt Samson's character could have been further developed.  Cathy felt it was a very slow start and again, felt it was likely not representative of the typical freed slave.

Carla noted that the reason for Effie leaving Indiana was not well developed.  She also felt that the romance part between Effie and Samson didn't really work.  Also it was a bit unusual for Effie and Adeline to be friends after Adeline had gotten together with Samson.

Betty felt the book was a fascinating and interesting read.

Marg listened to an audiobook and, once she got into it after a slow start, found it interesting.