Book Club

Senior Planet Book Club: Vote For Our Next Book!

By Rebecca Altneu Tuesday, March 1, 2022 10 Comments Share This:

Thank you to everyone who participated in our discussion both in the comments section of SeniorPlanet.org and at our meeting over Zoom about “Arsenic and Adobo” by Mia P. Manansala.

Now it is time to select our next reading!

Each Tuesday, we’ll post a thread on SeniorPlanet.org inviting your comments on the next section of the book and then we’ll host a discussion over Zoom the final week of reading the book together.

But first! We’ve put together a shortlist engaging books suggested by our members and staff. Now it’s up to you pick which one we’ll read together next. Read on for details about each book, then take the poll at the end and tell us: What should the Senior Planet Book Club read next?

We’ll announce the result of the poll in addition to how you can access a copy of the chosen book next Tuesday!

Have any feedback on book club? Tell us what you think in the comments or email supporters@seniorplanet.org!

The Books:

White Ivy by Susie Yang

“Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar—but you’d never know it by looking at her. Raised outside of Boston, she is taught how to pilfer items from yard sales and second-hand shops by her immigrant grandmother. Thieving allows Ivy to accumulate the trappings of a suburban teen—and, most importantly, to attract the attention of Gideon Speyer, the golden boy of a wealthy political family. But when Ivy’s mother discovers her trespasses, punishment is swift and Ivy is sent to China, where her dream instantly evaporates.” – GoodReads.com

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

“The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own. Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true. – GoodReads.com

Midnight at Malabar House by Vaseem Khan

“As India celebrates the arrival of a momentous new decade, Inspector Persis Wadia stands vigil in the basement of Malabar House, home to the city’s most unwanted unit of police officers. Six months after joining the force she remains India’s first female police detective, mistrusted, sidelined and now consigned to the midnight shift. And so, when the phone rings to report the murder of prominent English diplomat Sir James Herriot, the country’s most sensational case falls into her lap.” – GoodReads.com

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

“Fledgling, Octavia Butler’s new novel after a seven year break, is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly inhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling conclusion: She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted – and still wants – to destroy her and those she cares for and how she can save herself. Fledgling is a captivating novel that tests the limits of “otherness” and questions what it means to be truly human.” – GoodReads.com

Take the poll!

Photo by Paul Schafer on Unsplash

COMMENTS

10 responses to “Senior Planet Book Club: Vote For Our Next Book!”

Judith Ronat:

Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 5:32pm

I recommend A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. IT is historical fiction which gives a clear picture of what the Spanish Civil was like. The treatment of refugees is far more realistic than the pap we are fed today about the Ukrainian refugees, and the continuing struggle of refugees from Africa.
And the translation into English from the Spanish is superb.

Reply to Judith Ronat
Sally Jan:

Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 2:42pm

I am a new participant in the book club but find the choices to vote on are not to my interest. I don’t expect you to cater to me but how are these titles chosen ? I read around 80 books a year and mostly have not come across, with the exception of 2 titles in the last 5 months, titles I’m familiar with. Can anyone suggest a book? What are the criteria for books up for discussion? I saw some time ago you read Klara and the Sun but nothing like that seems to have come up

Reply to Sally Jan
1. Rebecca Altneu:
  
  Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 10:07am
  
  Hi Sally, thanks for your questions! We aim to highlight authors of traditionally underrepresented people groups, whose stories may not have been widely shared in the past. We also try our best to make sure that each selection is accessible at local libraries. If you have any book suggestions, we would love to hear them! You can email supporters@seniorplanet.org
  
  Reply to Rebecca Altneu
  1. Sally Jan:
    
    Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 3:28pm
    
    Wow. Thank you for the explanation. This is such an original and forward looking perspective on choosing books to read.
Paul J. Gammarano, Sr.:

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 9:31pm

Hi – As a member of Senior Planet, with the privilege of being selected as one of the five year-2022 Senior Planet Team Sponsored Athletes, and author of seven books, I’m interested in learning how to propose five of these seven books.
Three books are in the “regular” novel format, and two books are poetry (including one which is poetry / music lyrics & short stories).
As part of this process, an explanation of how & where the proposed books are submitted is also much appreciated !
E-rsvp/thx!

Reply to Paul J. Gammarano, Sr.
1. Rebecca Altneu:
  
  Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 9:43am
  
  Hi Paul, thank you for commenting! You can suggest books by emailing raltneu@oats.org their titles/links.
  
  Reply to Rebecca Altneu
Helen Stewart:

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 3:45pm

I would like to read them all

Reply to Helen Stewart
1. Rebecca Altneu:
  
  Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 4:26pm
  
  So happy to hear this, Helen. Hope to see you at the next Zoom discussion!
  
  Reply to Rebecca Altneu
  1. Raquel Fok:
    
    Friday, March 18, 2022 at 4:54pm
    
    Good Afternoon Rebecca,
    
    When is the next meeting for Senior Planet Book Club and how do I get to the zoom? Do we start the new book: “Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra?
    I appreciate your kind response.
    
    Many thanks and best regards,
    
    Kay
  2. Rebecca Altneu:
    
    Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 10:36am
    
    Hi Kay,
    
    Yes, please start the new book. I am going to post the article that mentions when the next meeting is later this morning. So excited to have you reading with us this month.