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Book Clubs - January 2018 Book Selections



Ladies & Gents, I've somehow managed to get myself into three book clubs. 

Let me explain...

The most enduring book club was started by a friend of mine a few years back.  In Under the Covers Book Club we try to select one book a month.  We read the book and then meet up at the end of the month, or the beginning of the next, to discuss.  I think the original intention to was select easy, fun, romance novels.  While we still do occasionally read a romance novel, our monthly selections are as varied as the reading tastes of our members. 

This month we picked Moonheart by Charles de Lint.


This book is, so far as I can tell at a mere 6% read, an urban fantasy novel.  The protagonist is part-owner of a thrift/antique shop.  While de-cluttering the back room, she discovers a beautiful painting and a medicine bag with an eclectic collection of items still locked inside.  Instead of marking them for sale, she decides to keep them for her own.  I assume things are about to get interesting, but right now that's as far as I've read. 

Luckily, we don't yet have a meet up date scheduled.  I have time to finish.  I'd really not even be concerned about finding the time to read this book if I hadn't started another book club.

I had reasons!  While I love my friend's book club, the books we read there are rarely classics.  And I want to read more classics.  Mostly just so I can say I have... we've discussed I have a book-related psychosis, right?

So, after I created this List Challenge, my mom, me, and my cousin, Vanna, all decided we'd like to knock a few of these classic titles off our "some day I'm going to read that" list.  Thus, the Friends & Family Book Club was born.  I've since added one friend, so the name fits.

Our first classic is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.


I'm happy to report I can now cross this one off my Classics TBR.  I managed to start and finish this book earlier this month.  Thank goodness.  It was not a joy to read, but at least now I can say I've read it. 

Yes, I have thoughts on this book, but no spoilers for our Google Hang Out meet up in the beginning of February!  Mom can hear my thoughts then instead of reading them here. 

Now, two book clubs a month for me really shouldn't be a big deal.  I read often and relatively fast.  However, if you read my last post, you'll know the month of January has been a bit unusual.  My dad's unexpected bypass surgery threw my reading patterns completely out of whack!

Even with The Bell Jar behind me, I still have most of Moonheart to get through, so adding one more must read book to the pile for January is adding some stress to my reading life.  Luckily, it's a little book with big ideas. 


We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is, according to Amazon, a mere 65 pages long.  This is a book I should be able to read in one sitting.  Because I believe I can read it quickly and easily, I'm postponing starting this book until the last week of the month.  (Holy cow, that's next week!) 

I have to have read the book by noon on Friday, January 26, 2018 as that is when the Women's Commission Book Club meeting for university employees and students is scheduled to meet.  No problem.  I've got this.

Really.  I've got this.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy.



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