Thank you to everyone who participated in our discussion in the comments section of the articles on the website and at our meeting over Zoom about Honor by Thrity Umrigar.
Now, it is time to select our next two readings!
Each Tuesday, we’ll post a thread here on seniorplanet.org inviting you to comment on each section of the book. Then, during our final week of reading, we’ll host a group discussion over Zoom.
But first! We’ve put together a shortlist of engaging books suggested by our participants and staff. Now it’s up to you to pick the books we’ll read in April and May! Read on for details about each book, then take the poll at the end and tell us: What two books should the Senior Planet Book Club read next?
The book with the highest number of votes will be the April read, and the book with the second highest number of votes will be the May read. We’ll announce the result of the poll on Thursday, April 3rd!
Have any feedback on the book club? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
The Books:
“Anna is at a stage of her life when she’s beginning to wonder who she really is. She has separated from her husband, her daughter is all grown up, and her mother—the only parent who raised her—is dead. Searching through her mother’s belongings one day, Anna finds clues about the African father she never knew. His student diaries chronicle his involvement in radical politics in 1970s London. Anna discovers that he eventually became the president—some would say dictator—of a small nation in West Africa. And he is still alive. When Anna decides to track her father down, a journey begins that is disarmingly moving, funny, and fascinating. Like the metaphorical bird that gives the novel its name, Sankofa expresses the importance of reaching back to knowledge gained in the past and bringing it into the present to address universal questions of race and belonging, the overseas experience for the African diaspora, and the search for a family’s hidden roots.” – GoodReads.com
“When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.” – GoodReads.com
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
“Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own. Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.” – GoodReads.com
Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
“At the dawn of the new millennium, Colombia is a country devastated by half a century of violence. Elena and Mauro are teenagers when they meet, their blooming love an antidote to the mounting brutality of life in Bogotá. Once their first daughter is born, and facing grim economic prospects, they set their sights on the United States. They travel to Houston and send wages back to Elena’s mother, all the while weighing whether to risk overstaying their tourist visas or to return to Bogotá. As their family expands, and they move again and again, their decision to ignore their exit dates plunges the young family into the precariousness of undocumented status, the threat of discovery menacing a life already strained. When Mauro is deported, Elena, now tasked with caring for their three small children, makes a difficult choice that will ease her burdens but splinter the family even further.” – GoodReads.com
COMMENTS
34 responses to “Senior Planet Book Club: Vote for Our Next Books!”
I’d like to suggest a nostalgic blended genre novel with mystery, history, and romance. It’s The Phantom Bugatti by WP Truesdell available on Amazon, a 4.3-star overall reader rating and many raves. It’s garnered a top rating from the Literary Titan Awards. “Restoring a car becomes a metaphor for repairing memory and self-worth. The whole thing has this dusty, lived-in feel that reminds you of how deeply things from the past can matter.”
I’m new and read all the comments. It looks to me from the excerpts these books have an underlying theme: running from controlling abusive family or govt and the hardships endured to find answers happiness safety or all the above. I’m not sure what books have been offered in the past, however a wider range is apparently being asked for and I agree! There’s so much happening in our world that a more diverse selection would be welcome. I enjoy (re)reading classics, history, mystery, adventure +++
Welcome, Juls! Love that you took the time to read through all the comments. You’re right, a lot of our recent picks have had that theme. We build our book list based on participant suggestions and we’re always open to new ideas. If you have any specific classics, history, mystery, or adventure books in mind, we’d love to add them to our list! Excited to have you in the book club and looking forward to your input!
Danielle Arceneaux’s “Glory Broussard” mystery series is entertaining. Glory Be, and Glory Daze. Set in Louisiana Bayou.
Ooh, the Glory Broussard series sounds like a fun mystery read! We’ll definitely be keeping that one in mind for future picks. If you have any other favorites, feel free to share!
I agree with Daniel.
Hi Judith! Always great to hear different perspectives. If there are any books you’d love to see in the mix, let us know!
I enjoy the diversity of books . Not just bestsellers, but evocative stories . Great book
book club .
Love that, Casey! We try to keep things interesting with a mix of books. Since we build our list based on recommendations, let us know if you have any favorites you’d like to suggest!
I am a technophobe but I can do zoom if sent a link. I would love to join the book club and hope I will be sent directions and a timetable. And hope you choose Jim for your next book.
tgbreeze@netzero.net
Welcome, Willette! I’ll make sure you get the Zoom link and all the details. We’d love to hear any book suggestions from you too! Excited to have you join us!
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi is the first book in her series The Jaipur trilogy. Maybe we could follow up with the other two books in later months.
This is a great idea, Bernadette! We’ll add The Jaipur trilogy to our list.
Suggest “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers,” or “Dial A for Aunties” or another of Jesse Sutanto’s mostly hilarious novels. She is Chinese-Indonesian.
Yes! Jesse Sutanto’s books are great. We actually read “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” last year. I’m adding “Dial A for Aunties” to our list of possible future picks!
Nice alternatives here. Agree with other comments, there is a need for more variety in the selections.
AARP recently published a list of bookclub recommendations now in paperback with several nice options, here is the link:
12 New Books Available in Paperback
Elaine
Thanks for sharing, Elaine! I’ll check out AARP’s list. It’s always great to have more options. If you see any standouts from that list, let us know!
‘The Silent Second’ a Chuck Restic Mystery by Adam Walker Phillips
That sounds like an interesting mystery! We’ll add it to the list of future picks!
I think we are stuck on a type/topic.
I suggest that we should identify alternate categories, such as
+ History – 19th century and before (US, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan, China, etc.
+Dystopian books – Classic & Modern
+Apocalyptic & post Apocalyptic
+Alternate History
+True Crime
I agree with Daniel – a more diverse group of titles would be a better collections of choices. Not interested in true crimes – see enough of that on the local news!
I agree with Daniel Garvin. We are stuck on a type. It would be a breath of fresh air to have a clever and funny book on the list. One that makes you smile on one page and laugh on the next. Or a spoof commentary on modern manners and habits – in the tech office, at home, at the store, whatever. If non-fiction is allowed, try Holidays in Hell or any PJ O’ Rourke books– anyone who has traveled anywhere has had one day in Hell and will get a laugh.
Love this! A book that makes us laugh sounds like such a fun change of pace. Definitely keeping this in mind.
Agree.
I agree. I don’t participate if I can’t get into the book and I really LOVE this book club.
Love this idea, Daniel! We create our book list based on participant suggestions, so if you have any specific titles in these categories, we’d love to hear them!
I’m just starting the Book Club. I’ve read James and it is fantastic. Happy to read it again or whichever the group chooses.
Excellent book
I’ve also already read James and I liked it so much that I’m ready to read it again with this book club. I’m sure I’ll find new things in it. It’s a great book. I’m just now joining this club and looking forward to the experience.
Welcome, Cindy! Love that you’re excited to re-read James. You always catch new details the second time around.
Welcome, Jackie! So glad you’re here. James has been selected as our May read. Feel free to suggest books for future rounds too!
It was a tough decision, I liked all of the choices. For me it was between The Henna Artist and Sankafa. I will be happy with any of them.
I really enjoy this book club and will defer to the group choice. Always interesting.
As of this date, 3-way tie! Can’t wait to see which comes out the winner.
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