The Violin Conspiracy - Brendan Slocumb

This was a great choice for the last book club book of this year. What I know about being a musician couldn't fill a thimble, but the author is able to infuse the story with his own musical talent and knowledge such that even a musical dunce like me can really understand how it feels to get lost in the music when playing. I loved Ray, the protagonist, and I was wrapped up in his story, how he had to battle at home and in the world to be who he really is. A page turner that didn't shy away from issues and opened my eyes to things I had never really given any thought. Recommended. 

There There - Tommy Orange

Found this book through a list of recommended reading for Native American history month compiled by my local library and it was well worth the read. Much like The Seed Keeper, there is plenty of sadness here, and definitely characters that are difficult to like, and plenty of poor decisions - but isn't that one of the many universal parts of being human? I liked meeting all of the characters and getting an opportunity to live in their minds and experience parts of their lives. A difficult but enlightening read. 

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

Are you ever just in the mood for some classic dystopian fiction? I read this book ages ago, and decided it was time for a reread. It did not disappoint. I remember liking the book but I didn't remember any details, aside from the main premise, so it was like experiencing the story for the first time. There were so many elements of this book that resonated - how books were devalued, how thinking was devalued, how using your mind or your imagination had been turned into something beneath contempt... I could go on, but you get the idea. What really struck me was how anyone who was different from the "average" or the "norm" was viewed with extreme suspicion at best. I'll avoid spoilers but this is a timeless book and one everyone should read. Recommended. 

The Seed Keeper - Diane Wilson

This was a great book club selection for November. A story about loss and tragedy and how people (and cultures) process these things, seen through a Native American lens, this book is often sad, but at the same time, I think the title is an indication of hope. Seeds are potential, and symbolize so much - growth, new life, sustenance, livelihood, the beginning of things but also the continuation of things. A new start, a new crop, a new era. A new generation. Something living on. Potential. But also, something that can really only thrive under the right conditions, and won't sprout at all if not given what it really needs. 

Enough rambling, obviously this story had a lot to think about, not only about history but about the future. Recommended. 

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

This is a classic that I have read before but it was so long ago I wanted a refresh. Is it a cautionary tale about the danger of only pursuing surface pleasures and worrying about appearances above substance? The title character is certainly selfish and narcissistic, but he definitely gets what is coming to him, even if he takes many people down with him. Much food for thought here. 

Still Life - Sarah Winman

So I have to confess that on the first couple pages of this book, I thought I wouldn't get into it - but then it clicked for me and I ended up really liking it. The book takes place over a span of many years and we are along for the ups and downs in the lives of a group of people that share a connection across time and distance. One thing I will say is the lack of quote marks did become needlessly confusing from time to time. But overall I enjoyed this book. 

The Last White Man - Mohsin Hamid

Stumbled on to this book at the library and immediately grabbed it based on my love for Moth Smoke. This deceptively slim book was more like a fable than a "regular" novel and it seems incredibly timely considering the state of affairs in the world right now. Comparisons to Kafka seem inevitable and I would say in this book the protagonist's sense of alienation is more grounded in reality than in Metamorphosis.  

Black Cake - Charmaine Wilkerson

Another good book club choice. I really liked how the story unfolded - just enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. Some of the characters are more sympathetic and likable than others but I think the motivations for some of the decisions in the book become clear by the end, even if we as readers might not agree or have made the same decision. 

Last Summer at the Golden Hotel - Elyssa Friedland

This was a very enjoyable book club choice. I'm a huge fan of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and although this book is set in the present, if you like that TV series you will probably enjoy this book. 

A Game Maker's Life - Jeffrey Breslow with Cynthia Beebe

FTC Compliance Statement: I received a free electronic review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review, which is provided below. I have not been otherwise compensated for this review in any way and my opinion is my own. 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to design toys and games for a living? Look no further than this fascinating book, in which "A Hall of Fame Game Inventor and Executive Tells the Inside Story of the Toy Industry." The author's career in toy and game design is the stuff of dreams, involving highs and lows, world travel, celebrity encounters, and even workplace tragedy. 

If you are of a certain age, like I am (cough cough), you have most likely played with many, if not all, of the toys and games the author worked on in his time in the toy industry. Or maybe you have kids that play with these games and toys now - Ants in the Pants, Mouse Trap, Simon, Guesstures, UNO Attack, and many more. Now you can read about how these games were invented straight from the source. The author's voice is very conversational, and the book reads like an enjoyable dinner with an old friend. I'm seriously sad that I will never be a member of the Brez Birthday Club! 

This was a fun, fast read and would make a great gift for any game and toy enthusiast!

The book will be available for purchase on August 30, 2022.