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. 

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - November 24th 2025

This month's meeting was hosted by Michèle who served pastries from La Maison du Kouign-Amann in Kanata and Apple-Bran muffins.  Present were Betty, Carla, Marg, Michèle and we welcomed a new member Cathy. 

This month's book choice was The Correspondent by American author Virginia Evans.  She studied at James Madison University in Virginia and also completed a M.Phil in Creative Writing at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.  This is her first novel.  

 The book is written in an epistolary style. Sybil the main character is a retired lawyer, divorced.  She communicates with friends, family and even close neighbours by letter.  She seems to have no filters when she writes to friends and family, sometimes upsetting and insulting her chosen correspondents.  Sybil has two suitors, her neighbour Theodore, who helps her with tasks around the house and her garden and Mick (or Harry) from Texas.  She has several other correspondents, a friend Rosalie, her daughter, her son, a young teenage boy and also several "official" correspondents with customer services. 

With the exception of a couple of our members, the book was not particularly enjoyed.  Many found that Sybil has a mean streak and does not mince words when she is unhappy with a service or a comment from a friend or family member.  Some members would have appreciated some text between letters to allow more information about Sybil's life and her family.  Some felt it took too long via the correspondence to reveal the obvious emotional and dark time of her life. 

Those who liked the book felt that her character and personality was revealed through her correspondence. The back and forth with her suitors, especially Mick from Texas, added humour and allowed us to peek a bit into her younger self, when emotional baggage did not colour her life as much. 

As usual, a book that our members react to in different ways, always generates good conversation and some debate.   

Books and Meetings 2025

This list will be updated as members choose their book choice.

January 27 - Colette's choice, Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, Marg hosts

February 24 - Betty's choice, The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore, Shirley hosts

March 24 - Sharon's choice ,  Held by Anne Michaels,  Carla hosts

April 28 - Marg's choice, Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon, Michèle hosts

May 26 - Michèle's choice,  The Beauty of Humanity Movement by Camilla Gibb,  Linda hosts

June 16 - Carla's choice, The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer, Colette hosts

September 22 -Linda's choice, The Briar Club by Kate Quinn, Sharon hosts 

October 27 - Shirley's choice, The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris, Betty hosts

November 24 - Michèle's choice, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, Michèle hosting

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris - October 27, 2025

 This month's meeting was hosted by Betty.  Present members with Betty were Colette, Linda,  Marg, Michèle and Shirley.  Betty had lovely cinnamon rolls along with fruit and coffee, perfect for a Monday morning meeting. 

Nathan Harris is a young American author and The Sweetness of Water, a historical novel, is his first novel.  It quickly became popular making Oprah's Winfrey's Book Club list and Barack Obama summer reading list.  It made the Booker Prize long list and several other literary lists.  

The story begins as the Civil War ends and the Emancipation Proclamation is declared.  We meet two former black slaves, Prentiss and Landry who are determined to go north and find their mother and a white Georgian farmer George who would like to hire them to clear his land.  We also meet Isabelle, George's wife.  The story revolves around the reality and impact of emancipation, the realities of life after war and the acceptance of the south's loss and surrender to the North.  

Members thought the book is very well written, the prose is beautiful, well constructed. The characters were well described. It is a compelling story that includes loss, sadness, anger, frustration and grief.  Relationships such as the ties between brothers Prentiss and Landry, the growing wall between George and Isabelle and others are well defined as the story develops. 

We discussed the meaning of the title The Sweetness of Water.  Water is a symbol of life , the cleansing of the soul. The "sweetness" can be seen as the hope for a more peaceful and meaningful life after the Civil War.  

Members agreed that it was a book well worth reading.  Sharon brought up another book with a similar theme by Canadian author Kai Thompson, In the Upper Country. 

Thank you Shirley for the book choice.  

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn - September 22, 2025

Our meeting was held in Sharon's new home, way up in the sky!  Sharon and Norm have moved to a beautiful apartment.  Present were Betty, Carla, Colette, Linda, Marg, Michèle, Sharon and Shirley.   Sharon had a lovely spread for us including the cake that Lina made for the Pillsbury Bakeoff. 

We discussed Linda's book choice The Briar Club by Kate Quinn.  

The story takes place in a  Washington DC Women's Boarding House.  The book is structured with a chapter for each boarder.  The narrator of the book is the house and a character itself. The characters are well defined and it is easy to imagine their life.  Near the beginning of the story there are two murders of men in the Boarding Room.  The murders do not come up again until about 2/3 through the book as it becomes a mystery story. Each chapter ends with a supper hosted by the newest boarder, Grace March.  A bond develops between the women boarders that help them cope with their lives.

The story often creates a lot of drama from the lives of the boarders, from events such as the Pillsbury Bakeoff.  The biggest drama comes near the end when we finally get more information about the events that lead to the murders of the two mens and the impact it has on the women. 

Most members very much enjoyed the book.  They liked the structure of the book that gave us an excellent description of each character.  We also felt that the atmosphere of those times, Mccarthyism, reminded us a bit of our present time of Trumpism.  It was an enjoyable book to read that had us turning the pages quickly.  

Thank you Linda. 

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer - June 16, 2025

Our last meeting before our summer break was hosted by Colette who was joined with Marg, Carla, Betty and Shirley. In honour of the season, Colette baked and served rhubarb muffins plus rhubarb and strawberry bars to accompany our morning coffee and tea. Delicious.

We discussed Carla’s book choice, The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. Brammer is a writer originally from Tasmania, Australia, who is now based in New York City via France and Spain. This book is her debut novel which she wrote while trying to understand her own anxieties around the topic of death. It was a Book of the Month pick for May 2023, was named a Best Book of Summer 2023 by the New York Times and a Best Book of 2023 by NPR. It was also nominated for the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Debut and Best Fiction. In addition to fiction, Brammer writes about architecture, art, and design for publications including Architectural Digest, Dwell, ELLE Decor, Luxe Interiors + Design, Metropolis, and Surface.

The story begins slowly as Clover’s character is developed. She was witness to the death of her teacher when she was very young followed closely by the death of both of her parents. She is then raised by her grandfather. Clover never seems to fit in so leads a solitary life with no personal friends beyond her grandfather and her grandfather’s friend, Leo. In this book we are introduced to death cafes and Clover as a death doula.

As a death doula, Clover offered emotional, spiritual, and practical assistance, helping people navigate the complexities of death and dying. Death doulas focus on enhancing the quality of life for those nearing death, providing comfort, and helping to create meaningful experiences. Clover kept a record of what she learned from each of her clients divided into three categories: Advice, Confessions and Regrets. As an act of homage to her clients, she tried to fulfil some of the regrets that she heard from her dying clients. The regret that she heard most often was the wish that they had told their families and friends that they loved them and we come to understand the vulnerability in saying ‘I love you’. Clover admits that it wasn’t just the regrets of the dying people she was trying to resolve, it was her own.

Clover learned that each dying client had different needs, and she would ask each one, ‘Would you like to be hugged, helped or heard’. These are wise words that our book club members all agreed would undoubtedly be useful in the future.

Clover’s life changes over the course of the book and for those who like a happy ending, that is to is included. 

Our thanks to Carla for choosing this book. The Collected Regrets of Clover was enjoyed by all our members as it elicited a wide-ranging discussion on death, grief, loneliness and living a beautiful life and, as one of the characters says, ‘to have the wisdom to be cautiously reckless’

The Beauty of Humanity Movement by Camilla Gibb - May 26, 2025

This was our second morning meeting and Linda, our host, provided some lovely muffins, coffee and tea. Perfect!  Present were Betty, Carla, Colette, Linda, Michèle, Sharon and Shirley.

After a great chat discussing summer projects, we discussed Michèle's book choice The Beauty of Humanity Movement  by Camilla Gibb. 

Camilla Gibb is the author of four novels—Mouthing the Words, The Petty Details of So–and–so’s Life,Sweetness in the Belly, and The Beauty of Humanity Movement—as well as numerous short stories, articles, and book reviews. She has won several awards and is presently teaching at the University of Guelph and at the University of Toronto.

The story takes place in Vietnam after the American War.  The Communists have taken over and life is a struggle especially for the poorer people.  Hung the senior, and Pho maker, best soup in Hanoi,  has several people around him that he considers family.  His next door neighbour, Lan who no longer talks to him but that he still provides her with food, Tu and his father Binh who are the son and grandson of his dear friend and artist Dao.  When Maggie, the American Vietnamese young woman arrives in the picture, looking for her father who was also an artist, she also becomes part of his family.  

 "The old man as special power - he is the heart of this place, was the heart of the Beauty of Humanity Movement - he brings people together, keeps them fed. " pg 252

All members very much enjoyed the story.  All said that the writing, the text was soothing even when difficult aspects were described, the words, the descriptions were easier to read. There was romance and intrigue.  The story kept you reading, wanting to know what would happen next to Hung and his family/friends.  Would Maggie find clues about her artist father? 

There is a happy ending enjoyed by many of our members.  Some however felt that the end was too wrapped up in a ribbon, Hung has a shop again, he and Lan are talking and together serving the family and clients of the new shop.  Artists and professors from the Hanoi University of Fine Arts have a table at the shop.  Maggie has found her father's story and one of his paintings hangs in the shop.  It is all happy endings wrapped in a ribbon, leaving you with a warm, soothing feeling. 

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon - April 28, 2025

Our April meeting, the first "day" meeting was held at 10 am at Michèle's home.  Present were Betty, Carla, Colette, Marg and Michèle.  We began our meeting by celebrating Betty's birthday with a glass of mimosa and a piece of coffee cake that Marg provided.  Bran & Apple muffins and Banana & Almond flour were also offered.  

We discussed Marg's book choice Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon.  Marg chose this book because we had all enjoyed a previous book by this author The Frozen River.  

This story was enjoyed by all members present,  This is a Historical novel, very close to the actual facts, very well researched.  It is based on the life of a young Australian woman, Nancy Wake who fought with the Resistance in France during WW II.  The book is sort of divided into two periods,  as the Nazis arrive in Paris, she is trying to begin a journalist career and meets her future husband Henri Fiocca,  and when she is fully into her involvement with the Resistance in 1944.  

Members felt that it was well written, a type of story that you didn't wanted to put down, wanted to see what would happen next.  You could identify it as a true love story and an adventure as she embarks into training and working with the French Resistance . She showed courage and determination and the ability to organize men and women in her group. As she takes on different roles her code name changes. As Lucienne she smuggles people across the border to Spain. The Germans nickname her White Mouse as she successfully evades capture. Her British code name is Hélène and finally when she is air dropped into France she is Madame André.  Our members were impressed by the description of how to kill a man with the hand, and we all practiced the manoeuvre, very impressed and aware that it would take practice.  We also all noted her ever present lipstick "Victory Red" 

Thank you Marg for a book selection that had us all living adventure and a true love story. 

Held by Anne Michaels - March 24, 2025

Our March meeting was hosted by Carla and attended by Colette, Linda, Marg, Michèle, Sharon and Shirley.    Carla had an excellent variety of cheese, olives,  asparagus rolls and a wonderful Milk cake or some call it a Lazy Daisy cake.  Many of us mentioned that it is a cake that our mothers used to make.  

We discussed Sharon's book choice Held by Anne Michaels.

We also discussed the possibility of changing the time of our meetings now that we are all retired.  We have decided to try the 4th Monday of the month at 10 am., coffee, tea and muffins or scones, whatever we prefer to serve.  

Sharon gave us a short bio of the author Anne Michaels.  She is a poet and novelist.  She has written two other novels, Fugitive Pieces that was adapted into a feature film and The Winter Vault. She has also published several poetry books, including All We Saw.  She has won several awards, The Giller Prize 2024 for Held ,  It was also short-listed for the 2024 Booker Prize. She received the Canadian Authors Association Award for Poetry.  She was Toronto Poet Laureate from 2015 to 2018.  

Most members found the book difficult to read and not enjoyable.  They felt that it had no easily understood plot and little character development.  However, many found that her texts were poetic and quite beautiful.  A couple of our members felt that it was more poetry than a novel.  

A couple of our members did enjoy the book.  The language was beautiful and it was interesting to connect John and Helena's descendants throughout the book.  The story begins with John in WWI, lying in the fields injured, thinking of his life and goes through to the 21st century.  Ms Michaels describes well the change in women's roles and their increasingly important lives through Mara who is a doctor and who travels the world to help where she is needed.

It is a novel that certainly took us out of our comfort zone. Some of us will re-read it and some of us will go on to something else.  Thank you Sharon, you have certainly had us push ourselves, some to the limit of our reading enjoyment but some of us accepting new writing styles.  That is what Book Clubs are meant to do, I believe! 

Anne Michaels introduces Held

The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore - February 24, 2025

For our February meeting we (Linda, Colette, Betty, Marg, Sharon, Carla, Shirley) discussed Betty's book choice, The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore.  Tonight's host Shirley provided some snacks to eat along with the book discussion: sausage rolls, goat cheese topped with pistachios, fig preserves and honey, and a Bakewell cake with ice cream for dessert. 

Betty provided background on the author who has written four other books to date, including The Second Life of Mirielle West and Between Earth and Sky. Skenandore struggled with dyslexia in school and found reading difficult, but she persisted and says that even now she doesn’t read fast but reads often and wide. Coming from a family of readers and a family of professionals; she is an infection prevention nurse which gives credibility to the medical jargon in tonight’s book.

The Nurse’s Secret is set in New York in the so-called Gilded Age and is a stark depiction of the political corruption of the time, the two distinct classes – extreme wealth and extreme squalor. This was a time, 1873, when Bellevue Hospital started to train nurses instead of using convicts to staff the hospital. The main character of the story, Una Kelly, who is talented pickpocket, liar, and grifter decides to hide in plain sight as a nurse trainee when she is accused of a murder she did not commit.

This is a historical novel with a murder mystery, albeit one where the murderer is telegraphed early in the story. There were a few incredulous incidents with respect to solving the murder which was a detraction from the story. The characters, however, are well described and well developed. It was noted by some that the opening section where we meet Marm Blei held an uncommon similarity to Charles Dickens’ Fagan. The description of the medical procedures of the time were interesting as it was a time when Lister’s new concept of cleanliness was dismissed as being radical and totally unnecessary. Yikes!

Una, in her life as a loner and a thief, has set herself Rules, many Rules, to live by. Her first rule of survival on the streets was to ‘keep your head down and look out for yourself’. Over the course of the story, Una is transformed under the tutelage of her roommate Dru and begins to see the benefits of helping others.

Thank you, Betty, for introducing us to this author and this book with so many points of discussion.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr -January 27, 2025

Present were Betty, Colette, Linda, Marg, Michèle et Shirley.  Marg had for us, a very nice variety of cheese, crackers, nuts and raisins, wine and some lovely non-alcoholic drinks. We also had a very nice baklava. 

This month's book recommended by Colette, was Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr.  We all very much enjoyed All the Light we Cannot See by the same author and we looked forward to reading this story by the Anthony Doerr that has excellent reviews.  Unfortunately of our members present only one person said that she enjoyed the book, though like other members found it a challenge to read. 

The book is a collection of 5 stories in different time periods from the 15th century to a future century and each story line has a main character and minor characters.  The stories are connected through a lost book by Antonius Diogenes.  The challenge is being able to follow the stories and trying to find a connection between the stories.  

One of our members who was not able to be present at our meeting found the book captivating and she sent her opinion of the book.  It is copied here because it can help all members better understand the stories and the connections.  Here is Carla's opinion of the book.

"I didn’t read any reviews before I began reading the book. I found myself confused as to what was going on. Eventually I realized that Diogenes Folio was the thread that tied the stories together. 

The main message as I see it is that, stories, books, can unite us, educate us , calm us, and even heal us.  The love of ,  reading  learning, libraries, and protecting books ran through all the stories. 
The characters were very well described as were their motivations which helped me keep track of them as the story jumped from one time period to another. I wanted to know what was going to happen to them and was happy with the resolution of their story lines.  Anna and Omeir were able to escape their circumstances and make a life together and have a family. 
There was redemption for Seymour ( that must have been gratifying for Linda). Konstance escaped the Argos.  Her storyline was captivating. 
I began the book being annoyed at all the jumping around but as I continued reading and got into the rhythm of the book, I was captivated. 
The book within a book was an interesting vehicle to tie the storylines and timelines together and it was challenging because the book within the book was fragmented, incomplete and needed to be not only translated but interpreted and filled in as needed."

Thank you Marg for being a lovely host on this wintery evening.