Our February Edition

Matchbook Book Club presents: The February Edition Dear Members, I hope all is well! We're into the second month of the year and already we can't help but feel a bit dapper with the weather that we're having. However, Valentine's Day and Family Day long weekend is right around the corner, so hopefully everyone has the opportunity to unwind a little and enjoy a couple of good reads (or a few rather, for some!) In the meantime, continue to stay warm and I'll see you next month! Joanne Thank you to everyone who have turned up on a cold and snowing Sunday afternoon! I apologize for the slight wait and the lack of items on the menu that we really wanted (the waffles...why?!) I hope that the next time will be a lot better! We discussed our latest read, The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Khan. Overall, it was a fantastic read. Although slow at first, the plot thickened and was a page-turner right to the very end. The subject matter that ranged from the Bosnian War to domestic violence was worth discussing about while also noting that all too often, the world can sometimes be an unjust place. We are very lucky to be able to hold a Q & A with the author herself, thanks to Sonya's offer! Should you have a question or two, send me an e-mail as soon as possible. Otherwise, stay tuned for Ausma's answers! When it came to this month's selection, we encountered for the first time in our book club history, four titles  (Etta and Otto, The Remains of the Day, A Spool of Blue Thread, I Capture The Castle) that were caught in a tie! To be fair, the next fair step was to draw these titles out of a toque- and the winner: Summary: From the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning author--now in the fiftieth year of her remarkable career--a brilliantly observed, joyful and wrenching, funny and true new novel that reveals, as only she can, the very nature of a family's life.       "It was a beautiful, breezy, yellow-and-green afternoon." This is the way Abby Whitshank always begins the story of how she fell in love with Red that day in July 1959. The whole family--their two daughters and two sons, their grandchildren, even their faithful old dog--is on the porch, listening contentedly as Abby tells the tale they have heard so many times before. And yet this gathering is different too: Abby and Red are growing older, and decisions must be made about how best to look after them, and the fate of the house so lovingly built by Red's father. Brimming with the luminous insight, humor, and compassion that are Anne Tyler's hallmarks, this capacious novel takes us across three generations of the Whitshanks, their shared stories and long-held secrets, all the unguarded and richly lived moments that combine to define who and what they are as a family. Enjoy!!

Our March Selection Already wondering what our next month's theme is? It's definitely one with a twist: The Book You'd Grab If You Could Take Only One Book With You Your house goes on fire and you could only rescue one book out of the many you have in your shelves. What would it be? It could be a classic from your childhood days that you've cherished, or a recent book you've relished and just can't put down. You decide, dear members! "Beware of the person with one book." -Thomas Aquinas Well said! Future Event Our next meeting will be taking place during the middle of March. A Doodle has been created, so check your inbox. Next month's location will possibly be at the wonderful Grapefruit Moon for brunch! I'm still working out reservations with them, so stay tuned!