A New Excuse to Read

As if I didn't read enough already, I am helping form a book club this year. We had our first meeting last week, and I very much enjoyed it. Nothing quite like talking about books you've all read. Last month, we read Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts. It's fiction, but based on the true story of L. Frank Baum's wife Maud and how everything happened to get him to the point of writing The Wizard of Oz and then later how she was involved (or at least tried to be) with the making of the movie. It was fascinating and sweet, but also sad because of the reality of the times.
We've set up our list of reads for the rest of the year, and I'm looking forward to delving into several I've read in the past as well as quite a few new to me, including a few mysteries, not usually my go-to genre.
So, why are groups like this important? Well, not only for the camaraderie and joy, but also because it gets me a little more out of my comfort zone. I might never have discovered that book if my friend hadn't recommended it for our club to read. And then to be able to discuss things about the story that bothered us or encouraged us, sometimes can bring to light little details someone else might have missed in their reading. It adds depth to the experience.

Want to know what we're planning to read the rest of the year? Here's what we've penciled in.

Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen - March 2
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder - Joanne Fluke - April 6
Willa of the Wood - Robert Beatty - May 4
The Shack - Sam Worthington - June 1
Designer Bag at the Garbage Dump - Jackie Macgivrin - Jul 6
Of Literature and Lattes - Katherine Reay - Aug 3
The Language of Flowers - Vanessa Diffenbaugh - Sept 14 (cause 7th is Labor Day)
The Masterpiece - Francine Rivers - Oct 5
Saving Grace - Amy Anguish - Nov 2
A Redbird Christmas - Fannie Flagg - Dec 7
Anything sound good to you? Are you in a book club? I'd love to hear what you're reading, too. This is a great way to find new books we might otherwise miss! Happy reading!