Book Clubbers Recommend….

This past winter BHML hosted another Maine Humanities Council’s “Let’s Talk About It” reading group on the theme: Re-Imagining the American Family.  The skilled facilitator and lively group missed just one meeting due to COVID-19 cancellations, and resumed to finish out the meetings online using Zoom.

“We’ve all enjoyed each others’ company, observations and comments.  Wouldn’t it be interesting to draw from our individual experiences with books that we love?” ~ 2020 Let’s Talk About It Participant

Below find some of the titles the group recommended. We’re excited to share their recommendations to the wider BHML Community!  Maybe you’ll find a new favorite.

BHML owns the titles in green…place a hold for curbside pickup today! Learn more about Curbside Pickup here. 

Book TitleAuthorReader’s comments
Giants in the EarthOle Edvart RolvaggNorwegian immigrant family travel west by wagon to Dakota Territory. Hardships historically accurate.
Stone AngelMargaret LaurenceCanadian.  Ninety year old woman struggles against being put in a nursing home.
The Woman Who Walked into DoorsRoddy DoyleA battered mother of 4 in working class Dublin.
Beautiful and the DamnedF. Scott Fitzgerald
GerminalEmile Zola
King LearWm. ShakespeareThese are the first 10 that came to mind today.  Probably would have a different list on another day.
Anna KareninaTolstoy
MiddlemarchGeorge Elliot
The Return of the NativeThomas Hardy
War and PeaceTolstoy
First novel of the Paliser or Barchester Towers  seriesAnthony Trollope
Wolf HallHilary Mantel
Dead WakeErik Larson
CollapseJared Diamond
The Cat’s TableMichael Ondaatje
MiddlemarchGeorge Eliot
Tortilla CurtainT.C, Boyle
Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsoliveror any of her books
HomeMarilyn Robinson
People of the Book Geraldine Brooks
Nickel and DimedBarbara Ehrenreich
AmericanahNgozi Adichie,
The Hidden Life of TreesPeter Wohlleben
All the Light We Cannot SeeAnthony Doerr
Between the World and MeTa-Nehisi Coates
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s SorryFredrik Backmanor any of his books or short stories
Catch 22Joseph Hellercrazy making but fascinating
The Sociopath Next DoorMartha Stoutit explains so much, especially in today’s world
Needful ThingsStephen KingAhhh, Mr. King, this one is the best.
House of LightMary Oliver“Tell me, what do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life!” from The Summer Day
The Cat Who Went to ParisPeter Gethersguilty pleasure, read years ago and it was just what I needed so it makes my list but not for literary genius
A Yellow Raft in Blue WaterMichael DorrisAgain, right book at the right time
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop CaféFannie FlaggThis is my favorite movie of all time, too.
Kent Family Chronicles and The North and South TrilogyJohn JakesThrowback to high school reading for pleasure
A Tree Grows in BrooklynBetty Smith