The February Edition

Books...the key to my soul!"

Matchbook Book Club presents:  The February Edition   Dear Members, Family/Valentine's Day long weekend has come and gone. Already we are getting nearer to Spring, which means more exciting things are coming our way! One of the great things about this book club is the opportunity to take on books that we often probably wouldn't have given a second thought, and appreciating that we did! Such an instance could be said of The Danish Girl. Telling a story that contains heavy subject matter can go one of both ways: very well or a big miss. So I was very glad to hear that everyone quite enjoyed this read! The Danish Girl was a wonderful and eye-opening account on what it means to be human, and just how far one would go for love. A big thanks to David Ebershoff  for making our month, in answering our questions for our Author Q & A! It's always such a special treat to hear more of the behind-the-scenes of our reads and to hear their thoughts. See you next month! Joanne Thank you to everyone who attended this month's meeting. It was a very lovely brunch at Colette Grand Cafe! Below, is the Q & A for David Ebershoff. Enjoy! Lauren's Question: Q: Which character did you like to write - Greta, Lili, or Einar? Which was the most difficult or which one surprised you the most? A: I love these characters for different reasons. Lili, for her courage, determination, and sense of wonder and belief in the future. Metaphorically, Lili’s story is one of rebirth. So this was an interesting writing challenge. The challenge with Greta was to write her in a complex way — to show her remarkable love for Lili, her seemingly bottomless support, while also showing her complicated responses to what was happening to her spouse and to her marriage. Greta is both selfless and selfish, and I needed to show that in a nuanced, empathetic way. Barbara's Question: Q: Did you know what happened to Gerda after separating from Lili? Did Gerda move to the U.S.?  Did she actually become a Baroness? A: She ended up marrying an officer from the Italian Air Force, someone who had many of the qualities that Hans has. She never stopped drawing/painting Lili and a few years after Lili’s death she tried to buy back one of her favorite Lili paintings that she sold in 1928. She died in 1940, mostly forgotten, just as Lili was mostly forgotten until somewhat recently. Shirley's Question:  Q: My main question is why dedicate so much of the book to Greta? I would have liked more of what was going on in Einar and Lili's mind.  Why did he change Gerda to Greta? Why change her from Danish to a brash rich American woman? Am very interested!  A: As much as this is a story about identity it’s also a story about love and marriage. Lili’s life would have been different if she had had to transition on her own. For me, I decided the way to tell this story was as a love story. I also find Greta’s journey as complex and uncharted as Lili’s. Both women had to navigate their lives, and their paths forward, without any kind of role models or examples to look to. Both were pioneers. Joanne's question: Q: If you could invite anyone, dead or alive for dinner, who would it be? A: Right now, my answer has to be Lili Elbe.I’m going to Dresden in April to participate in a ceremony to lay a new headstone at her grave (her original headstone is missing — probably destroyed in World War II). Lili is very much on my mind and I would like to spend time with her and toast her and thank her for being so brave. This Month's Selection: Member's Choice   On a spontaneous whim, this months' choice was Member's Choice- at this month's meeting, I discussed what genre we should pursue and non-fiction was the popular choice. After a few suggestions, Cheryl Strayed's "Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar" became a pick that everyone wanted to give a shot. So let's give it a go! Happy Reading! Summary: Life can be hard: your lover cheats on you; you lose a family member; you can’t pay the bills—and it can be great: you’ve had the hottest sex of your life; you get that plum job; you muster the courage to write your novel. Sugar—the once-anonymous online columnist at The Rumpus, now revealed as Cheryl Strayed, author of the bestselling memoir Wild—is the person thousands turn to for advice. Tiny Beautiful Things brings the best of Dear Sugar in one place and includes never-before-published columns and a new introduction by Steve Almond.  Rich with humor, insight, compassion—and absolute honesty—this book is a balm for everything life throws our way. Future Event Our next meeting will be taking place in the middle of March! A location has been set: Lisa Marie's on Queen Street! Visit the Doodle here: http://doodle.com/poll/kq9r7hygvwamdsqk   Lovely bookish interiors: this one's a dream! Bookstores always remind me that there are good things in this world. — Vincent van Gogh

The January Edition

Matchbook Book Club presents: The January Edition Dear Members, A new year means a fresh start: new goals are made, plans are fixed, and adventure is right around the corner! Best of all, it's exciting to know that we will be reading so many new books from authors new and old! 2016 also signifies that this book club has been around for five years. Five years! And as we approach our sixth year, it gives me butterflies in my stomach knowing that you, dear members, have made this little love project possible. So let's sit back on our favourite armchair, grab our choice of beverage (whether it be a glass of red or a cup of tea), sit by the fire with our book on our laps, and drink a toast to many more brighter and happier memories in the months to come. Thank you all, Joanne Thank you to everyone who came to this month's meeting! Despite the last minute change of venue (drats to places who do not accept reservations...we were NOT going to be waiting for 45 minutes at Insomnia, thank you very much). We trekked on over to Hey Lucy's for brunch at the Annex! In light of discussing our first read of the year, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, there were mixed reviews of this classic. Those who watched the films compared and contrasted with what took place in the book. Additionally, fun questions were asked, including whom Jo would be friends with from other books (Hermione Granger and Anne Shirley were top choices!) Summary: Now a major motion picture starring Eddie Redmayne and directed by Tom Hooper, THE DANISH GIRL is a shockingly original novel about one of the most unusual and passionate love stories of the 20th century. Loosely inspired by a true story, this tender portrait of marriage asks: What do you do when the person you love has to change? It starts with a question, a simple favour asked by a wife of her husband while both are painting in their studio, setting off a transformation neither can anticipate. Uniting fact and fiction into an original romantic vision, The Danish Girl eloquently portrays the unique intimacy that defines every marriage and the remarkable story of Lili Elbe, a pioneer in transgender history, and the woman torn between loyalty to her marriage and her own ambitions and desires. The Danish Girl is an evocative and deeply moving novel about one of the most passionate and unusual love stories of the 20th century. I can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts about this book! Read the book, watch the film! Curious about the film? Check out the trailer here - both Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander have both been nominated for the Oscars this year! Love to hear your thoughts! “My Best Friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.”  - Abraham Lincoln

Copyright © 2016 Matchbook Book Club. All rights reserved. www.matchbookclub.blogspot.com

The December Edition

t's the most magical time of the year!

Matchbook Book Club presents The December Edition Dear Members,  'Tis the season to be jolly! Despite the lack of snow, December still holds a magical presence around us. It's that time of year where we get together with our beloved family and friends, bake lovely sweet goodies, and drink apple cider and mulled wine! The holiday season is also a time of reflection. We should always appreciate the simple things in life, and have gratitude for the positive things that take place in our everyday lives. Lastly, a major thank you to all of you dear members. We have shared a lot of happy, bookish memories and I look forward to many more in the new year. Have a safe and wonderful holiday season! Joanne   Christmas Gift Suggestions   To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.  'Twas a very festive time indeed with members all happy with their books and treats! A big thank you to everyone who came out to this month's meeting: with Christmas sweaters and gold paper crowns to boot, it reminded us of how lucky we are to be among friends and family. This holiday season, be with the ones you love. Thank you to everyone who voted on this month's pick! I couldn't have chosen a more fitting title to cozy ourselves with this holiday season! Enjoy! Summary: The charming story of the March sisters, Little Women has been adored by generations. Readers have rooted for Laurie in his pursuit of Jo's hand, cried over little Beth's death, and dreamed of travelling through Europe with old Aunt March and Amy. Future writers have found inspiration in Jo's devotion to her writing. In this simple, enthralling tale, both parts of which are included here, Louisa May Alcott has created four of American literature's most beloved women.  Watch: the film trailers for the classic Little Women with Judy Garland and Natalie Wood, as well as the1994 version! “The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing others’ loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays.” - W. C. Jones Our kind of tree! Future Event A new year dawns: I'll be seeing you all in 2016! A Doodle will has been made so vote for your dates and timeshere.  In the meantime, enjoy the holiday season! A very super touching John Lewis ad for the holiday season. Watch it here.

The July Edition

“Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity.”

Matchbook Book Club presents: The July Edition Theme: How Far We've Come Dear Members, What a glorious weekend we've had! With sunnier days and warmer nights, I hope everyone has been enjoying themselves! This month's pick will look at reads that will further deepen view of the human condition, whether it's about self-discovery, injustice overcome, or being inspired by the unexpected. Thank you to all who have voted for this month's selections! It was safe to say that it was an overwhelming yes for Harper Lee's  "Go Set A Watchman", the much anticipated runner-up to the classic, "To Kill A Mockingbird". "Go Set a Watchman" will debut on July 14th, and as a result, our upcoming meeting will be pushed a little later: regardless, for the ambitious readers among us- there's room for opportunity to read the first book as a refresher, or better yet, watch the film (who doesn't love Gregory Peck, my ultimate dream man?!) I think it's safe to say that this book will definitely lead a hearty round of discussions for our next meeting! I can't wait to hear what you have to say! In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine and stay bookish! Joanne “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”  - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird Summary: Originally written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman was the novel Harper Lee first submitted to her publishers before To Kill a Mockingbird. Assumed to have been lost, the manuscript was discovered in late 2014. Go Set a Watchman features many of the characters from To Kill a Mockingbird some twenty years later. Returning home to Maycomb to visit her father, Jean Louise Finch—Scout—struggles with issues both personal and political, involving Atticus, society, and the small Alabama town that shaped her. Exploring how the characters from To Kill a Mockingbird are adjusting to the turbulent events transforming mid-1950s America, Go Set a Watchman casts a fascinating new light on Harper Lee’s enduring classic. Moving, funny and compelling, it stands as a magnificent novel in its own right.  Happy reading!

Future Event In light of the Pan Am Games, we figured it would be best to meet more uptown this month. Location is to be announced- however due to the nature of the book's late release into the month, there is only one day we can call the meeting (the following weekend is a long weekend) here is aDoodle to vote for the times! Bookish love: a personal library shot from a beautiful home in Dallas. Beauty!

June Edition

Good reads under a summer breeze...

Matchbook Book Club presents: June 2015 Dear Members, I hope that everyone is having a wonderful start to this month so far! My goodness does time fly: already we are heading into the summer season and with a touch of lovely weather we've been having here and there, I'm looking forward to warmer afternoons! Thank you to everyone who came out to our last meeting at Cibo Wine Bar- it was a delicious brunch buffet and definitely worth a visit! In terms of our previous pick, we enjoyed H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald. There were some bones to pick, such as the preference of eliminating segments where she talks about T.H. White out of the book, and more focus on both her personal moments and her father's interesting past! Overall, the book was well-written and definitely worth passing on to bird-loving friends! Looking forward, I can't wait to discuss our next pick: for those who loved Still Alice, I'm excited to hear everyone's thoughts on this one! Enjoy! Joanne Thank you to everyone who submitted their votes! In light of this month's theme, the kick-off read to our summer season is: Summary: From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova comes a powerful new novel that does for Huntington’s Disease what her debut Still Alice did for Alzheimer’s. Joe O’Brien is a forty-four-year-old police officer from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts. A devoted husband, proud father of four children in their twenties, and respected officer, Joe begins experiencing bouts of disorganized thinking, uncharacteristic temper outbursts, and strange, involuntary movements. He initially attributes these episodes to the stress of his job, but as these symptoms worsen, he agrees to see a neurologist and is handed a diagnosis that will change his and his family’s lives forever: Huntington’s Disease. Huntington’s is a lethal neurodegenerative disease with no treatment and no cure. Each of Joe’s four children has a 50 percent chance of inheriting their father’s disease, and a simple blood test can reveal their genetic fate. While watching her potential future in her father’s escalating symptoms, twenty-one-year-old daughter Katie struggles with the questions this test imposes on her young adult life. Does she want to know? What if she’s gene positive? Can she live with the constant anxiety of not knowing? As Joe’s symptoms worsen and he’s eventually stripped of his badge and more, Joe struggles to maintain hope and a sense of purpose, while Katie and her siblings must find the courage to either live a life “at risk” or learn their fate. "There comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page and closing the book. "-Josh Jameson Future Event There are a couple of options to vote from in terms of meeting dates. Unfortunately, June 14th and June 21st are out of the equation as I will be running the Nike Womens 15K on the 14th and it will be my birthday on the 21st! As a result, the only dates availble this month would be Sat the 13th, the 20th, and the weekend of the 27th and 28th should anyone be interested in a later date. Vote here! Bookish love: we are loving this room. How inspiring!

Copyright © 2015 Matchbook Book Club. All rights reserved.

April/May Edition

Dear Members,

I hope everyone is doing well!

I am currently in Norway at the moment- so far, Scandinavia has been wonderful and there will be many tales to tell when upon return!!!!!!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to create a newsletter this month- rather, I wanted to touch base with you all:

Thank you to everyone who came out to our last gathering at the AGO for Sunday brunch: we all had tasty picks, and am happy to hear that our recent pick, The Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracey Chevalier had a positive feedback by all. Definitely a read worth passing on! 

The film adaptation is also worth a watch if you haven't seen it already!

This month's pick: thanks to all who submitted their votes for this month's non-fiction picks! 

H Is For Hawk by Helen MacDonald:

I hope everyone has been enjoying it so far! 

Upcoming events:

Vote for our dates and time on the Doodle here! http://doodle.com/c9y4fh4pi99wcax7

Location is to be determined!

In the meantime, take care and I'll see you all soon!

Have a great weekend,

Joanne