f2f Book Club Selection

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Alice is a renowned professor of cognitive psychology at Harvard University. She has taught there for 25 years, has written numerous book and case studies, travels around the world lecturing, and is one of the best in her fields. All that begins to change when Alice slowly starts to forget things. Sometimes it is a word or phrase from a lecture she has given countless times and sometimes it is forgetting the way home in the middle of a run.

Alice is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease and must cope with the lose of her career, her future plans, and her health.

This was a very good read and very well written. It generated a lot of great discussion for the book group!

YA

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelley

It is 1899, just before the turn of the century. And while other girls Calpurnia's age are learning manners, sewing, and how to be proper girls, Calpurnia is far more interested in naturalism. Along with her grandfather, Calpurnia observes, collects, and studies insects, plants, and animals. She learns about Charles Darwin and the idea of natural selection.

Great tale of friendship

Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah

This was a great story of a lifelong friendship, love, family, and loss. Firefly Lane follows the story of two best friends, Kate and Tully, through their childhoods in the 1960's, their teen's in the 1970's, college years of the 1980's, their blossoming careers in the 1990's, and adulthood into the 2000's. It was a great and moving story.

Another Virgin River book

Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr

In the aftermath of the passing of her mother, Shelby packs up her things and heads to Virgin River. She plans to live with her Uncle Walt to rest and relax before embarking on a new life. Shelby wants to do some traveling and then begin college at the age of 25 to be a nurse. She has her future planned out until she meets the handsome new stranger in town, Luke Riordan. Luke is instantly attracted to Shelby, but with his older age and painful past, he feels he is all wrong for her. Elsewhere in Virgin River, we get caught up with all of our favorite characters including Mel and Jack, Preacher and Paige, Mike and Brie, Vanessa and Paul, Dr. Cameron, and more!

This is the sixth book in the Virgin River series and it is one of my favorites. I just really love these characters and they feel like old friends.

Middle Reader

Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell

Sahara has always been a little different. Navigating an inner city Chicago school is tough enough as it is, but it is even harder when you are a special education student. She hates getting pulled out in the hallway to work with the special ed teacher and she hates how the letters she writes her Dad (whom she doesn't know) get taken away and put in her school file. All she wants is to grow up and be a writer. Life begins to turn around for Sahara when her mother decides to have her repeat the 5th grade and declines special ed services for her daughter. With a new creative and unconventional teacher on her side, Sahara begins to find her voice and make real friends for the first time. She discovers just how special she is.