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Burst of Brilliance for a Creative Life by Teresa Funke
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
There There by Tommy Orange
The Tatooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris.
The Laws of Gravity by Liz Rosenberg.
East Wind:West Wind by Pearl Buck

1 Neither Wolf nor Dog: : On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder by Kent Nerburn
2 Magpie Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
3 The Rent Collector by Caron Wright
4 The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
5 The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir by Ruth Wariner

6 Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

7 A Gentleman from Moscow by Amor Towles

8 Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

9 Before the Fall by Noah Hawkeyes

10 The Books That Matter Most by Ann Hood

11 The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

12 Being Mortal by Atul Gwande

13 Beneath a Scarlet Sky, by Mark Sullivan

14 Asrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil Degrasse Tyson

15 Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson’s Lost Pacific Empire:
The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir by Ruth Wariner

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner (A Memoir)

Davita’s Harp by Chaim Potok

The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed our Minds by Michael Lewis

I would like to recommend “Inside the O’Briens” by Lisa Genova. Heartwarming story about an Irish family dealing with Huntington’s disease. Enlightens us on this condition as she did with Alzheimer’s disease in “Still Alice”. And it is being made into a movie.

Another recommendation is “The Condition” by Jennifer Haigh. It is the story of a family dealing with “Turner’s Syndrome” , a rare genetic condition keeping one trapped in a child’s body for life. Explores family dynamics when confronted with this situation in one of their children.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I would like to recommend “The Winter do our Discontent” by John Steinbeck. His last published book before he died, it is about declining morals in the 50’s and 60’s. Not as well recieved as his more well-known books, it became more popular as time went on. I really enjoyed this book as I have his others.

Thanks Bobbie

The Year of the Hare by Arto Passallina

.First published in 1975 at the height of the back-to-nature movement, Paasilinna’s charming, low-key allegory pursues a journalist abandoning his Helsinki life heading for the countryside for the companionship of a pet hare.
(Comic novel)

The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley
Great historical fiction, alternating between magical Wharton Park and Thailand during WWII. Filled with twists and turns, passions and lies and redemption. Beautiful, romantic, poignant. I loved this book!

I thought Jodi Picoult’s “The Lone Wolf” was a good read. (But, then, I’ve loved all her books). It deals with a family whose patriarch is more concerned with understanding the dynamics of wolf pack famiies than he is with the dynamics of his own human family. It also deals with end-of-life issues and sibling disputes when he is severelky injured in a car accident. These two very different issues are woven into a very readable novel (after , or course, much research by Jodi and/or her research team.)

Janet has heard that “Protect and Defend” by Richard North Patterson is a good read. She hopes to read it soon.

It has to do with presidential politics, Supreme Court justices and the issue of pro-choice/pro-life.  A quote from the jacket: “Protect and Defend is an engrossing and deeply informed portrait of the inner sanctums of politics and law. —- a brilliantly realized novel of public llfe at the dawn of the 21st century.” 

Written by a former trial lawyer in Washington and San Francisco who was also the SEC liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor. Currently serves on the boards of Common Cause, the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Ohio Wesleyan Universit

Books talked about at July Book Club as good reads:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Beautiful Ruins by Wes Walter

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

I just finished two books that I absolutely loved!
One is CAPITAL by ? Lanchester
The other is THE ANGRY BUDDHIST by Seth Greenland. In fact, this one was so good, now I want to read Seth Greenland’s other book, SHINING CITY, as well.

And…I am still suggesting we read BEAUTIFUL RUINS by Jess Walter. I have three news articles (TIME, The Oregonian, etc.) that recommend Beautiful Ruins, so let’s go for it! (No, i haven’t read it yet)
Perhaps we could replace one of out upcoming to-read selections with Beautiful Ruins. ????