Already this year, 2024, our book club has voted for one book that received a vocal unanimous vote. This book is a memorable ride through life in 1952 on the back of a horse. I couldn’t wait until January to give you this title. It is a must read for every woman young or old.
THE RIDE OF HER LIFE: THE TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN, HER HORSE, AND THEIR LAST-CHANCE JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA by Elizabeth Letts.
Can you, in 2024, even imagine getting on a horse and traveling from the East coast to the West coast without a map, without a phone, no GPS, no relatives to contact in case of an emergency, and very little money? Then join Annie, Tarzan her brown gelding and her faithful mutt and begin the journey. I assure you that you will not be disappointed.
READERS IN THE ROUGH HIGHLIGHTS
A par rating must meet the following criteria: a solid plot showing person against person, person against self, person against society and/or person against nature. Beyond plot development it must show character changes, a theme or take away that we can discuss and understand, a point-of-view and voice that lends itself to telling the story. One underlining element is that it must be a worthy topic for our group.
We then give the books a numerical rating:
1 bogey—does not meet the criteria but a few read it
2 par—meets the criteria
3 birdie—meets the criteria for a par and creates a excellent
discussion
4 eagle--meets the criteria for a par/birdie and is long remembered perhaps for
different reasons, and highly recommended to others.
5 hole-in-one—meets the criteria above and rises to the top of
expectations in plot, character development, theme and voice. This book will
continue to be highly recommended to others.
2023 Highly rated books
One book received a “Hole-in-One” or 5 points and nearly a
standing ovation—
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus.
https://www.bonniegarmus.com/lessons-in-chemistry
Five books received overwhelming agreement for an “eagle” or
4 points:
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt
MAD HONEY by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O’Farrell
LADY TAN’S CIRCLE OF WOMEN by Lisa See
TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett
The MAGNIFICIENT LIVES OF MARJORIE MERRIWEATHER POST
received the biggest mix of votes : 3 voted for a Par, 3 voted a Birdie, 2
voted an Eagle, and 2 voted it a Hole-in-One. In the end, it received a “birdie”
rating.
2022 Highly rated books.
No book received the highest rating in 2022. However, we did
discuss and try to persuade one and another to vote this book as a hole-in-one.
In the end, our votes added up to an “Eagle” rating for--
THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Armor Towles
Curiously enough “9” novels received a BIRDIE rating which
is still quite a compliment to the authors. Our readings took us from Africa to the Pink
City of Jaipur India; from Nebraska to NYC; Oxford, England, to Iceland; Paris
and to Bombay; the Sunset Strip in LA to J.P. Morgan’s vast library in NYC.
These novels received a “birdie” rating:
THE HENNA ARTIST by Alka Joshi
THE NO.1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY by Alexander McCall Smith
THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS by Pip Williams
MEET ME IN BOMBAY by Jenny Ashcroft
DAISY JONES AND THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid
THE SECRETS OF THE SPRAKKAR by Eliza Reid
THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict and Victoria Murray
A MOVEABLE FEAST by Ernest Hemingway
THE PARIS WIFE by Paula McLain
2021 Highly rated books.
THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah received a ‘hole-in-one” vote with one person voting it a par because the ending was so very difficult. Sometimes stories of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression strike too close to our hearts.
The “eagle” ratings went to:
THE ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn
2020 Highly rated books.
LILAC GIRLS by Martha Hall Kelly received a “hole-in-one”
rating.
Two book received an ‘eagle” rating:
THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE BY Lisa See
THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett
2019 Highly rated books.
No book received a “hole-in-one” rating.
Three books received an “eagle” rating:
BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate
THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict
NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA by Chanel Cleeton
BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark Sullivan
A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW by Amor Towles
Two books received an “eagle” rating:
EDUCATED by Tara Westover
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON by David Grann
Between 2015—2017 I joined two book clubs and devoured some
griping novels, some of which come under the new heading of “literary fiction.”
For more information on these books click here: Intriguing Readings https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7852702753078267542/4116389582679811196
No comments:
Post a Comment