Fourth Monday Book Group is open to all. Just read the month’s book and come to Calvin Lounge the fourth Monday of any month (except December) at 10:00 a.m. Current plans call for:

January 24 - Olive Kitteridge (Elizabeth Strout) -- Bev Smiley
grade math teacher moves through the lives of pharmacist husband Henry, son Christopher, and other townsfolk in this "novel in stories" revealing loneliness, hope, and humor of everyday life in coastal Maine over a period of 30 some years.

February 28 - Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Jamie Ford) -- Barbara Yates
Retrospective novel alternates between 1944 and 1986 in Seattle as Chinese American Henry, now dealing with the challenges of the older years revisits his teenage relationship with Japanese Keiko who was deported to a camp during the war.

March 28 - The Forest Lover (Susan Vreeland) -- Judy Kutz
This fictionalized account of the work of Canadian painter Emily Carr details her passion for preserving respect for totem pole art during the early years of the 1900’s. Vreeland draws on Carr’s travel journals, following her into remote parts of early British Columbia and into the lives of the native people.

April 25 - of a Thousand Hills: My life in Rwanda (Rosamund Halsey Carr) -- Shirley Morrow
The personal story of a remarkable New York fashion illustrator who followed her hunter husband to Africa in the 1940’s. By the time the marriage ended, she had fallen in love with Africa. She stayed until forced to leave by the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She has since returned, rebuilt her home, and in her 80’s runs an orphanage for 100 children.

May 23 - Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (Lisa See) -- Fern Tully
In this carefully-researched novel set in 19th century remote China, 80-year old Lily looks back at her life, including excruciating footbinding and a special friendship with Snow Flower. The culture, vastly different from ours, is backdrop for universal emotions and bonds between women. From Publishers Weekly: “Most impressive is See's incorporation of nu shu, a secret written phonetic code among women.”

June 27 - TBA -- Quinn Carpenter

July 25 - The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein) -- Linda Senter
A heart-wrenching and hilarious story of love, tragedy and redemption, narrated by a dog. This perceptive observer of the human and canine condition brings us his insights and some useful life lessons.

August 22 - Hostage Bound, Hostage Free (Ben Weir) -- Dottie Villesvik
“Ben and Carol Weir were Presbyterian missionaries living in the Middle East. At the time of his kidnapping, they were living in Beirut, Lebanon. . . . He was also elected as the PCUSA Moderator in 1986 and he and Carol traveled around the country during that year and we were privileged to host them here in our church. In recounting their compelling story, the couple alternate between what was happening to Ben in Beirut and what Carol as doing to keep pressure on those who might help end his captivity.”

September 26 - The Sea Runners (Ivan Doig) -- Mary Grosse
Four men struggle to survive a journey down the dangerous Pacific Coast in this story based on an actual incident. According to The New York Times Book Review, The Sea Runners “goes beyond being ‘about’ survival and becomes, mile by terrible mile, the experience itself."

October 24 - All the Little Live Things (Wallace Stegner) -- Dottie Hawkins
couple’s plan for a placid ranch retirement in late ‘60s California is interrupted by the arrival of a hippie and a beautiful young pregnant woman with her husband and child. Revelations regarding ethics, relationships, life and death dominate this “absolutely glorious work of fiction.” [JANA]

November 28 - TBA -- TBA

Join us on the Fourth Monday of each month except December (or as announced) at 10:00 a.m. in Calvin Lounge at the church. Thanks to the efforts of Dottie H. and Mary, we are now registered as “4th Monday Book Group" with Sno-Isle Regional Library. If you are not on the e-mail reminder list, please contact the church office.