Fiction Old and New: Recent Episodes
Accessible World
Fiction Old and New on Accessible World. Meets the first Friday of each month at 8pm Eastern. Facilitator leads the discussion of that month's fiction title. Sponsored by Helping Hands for the Blind.
My review
The Proving Ground DB133660 by Michael Connelly brings back Mickey Haller in a fast moving, gripping, and suspenseful legal thriller that will not let you sit still as you experience this compelling drama. This time, Mickey has stepped away from criminal law and is now working in civil court. If you are already a fan of the Lincoln Lawyer series, then you already know that these books deliver nonstop tension, sharp courtroom drama, and stories that feel current and real, almost as if they were pulled straight from today’s headlines. If you are new to the series, you are in for a real treat because this novel easily stands on its own.
From the very first page, the story pulls you into the courtroom and makes you feel as if you are sitting there watching the lawyers argue right in front of you.
At the center of the case is Aaron Colton, a sixteen year old boy who spends most of his time alone in his room talking to an AI companion named Clair. Over time, Clair becomes the voice he trusts most. One morning, Aaron takes his father’s gun to school and shoots his girlfriend, killing her instantly. The tragedy sets off a lawsuit that raises difficult questions and keeps the tension high from beginning to end.
Carrying her grief to the point of tears, Brenda Randolph, the murdered girl’s mother, hires Mickey Haller to sue Tidalwaiv Technologies, the company that created the chatbot. What makes her character especially interesting is that she is not interested in becoming rich from the lawsuit. She wants the company to publicly admit that the chatbot is defective and dangerous for children. Aaron’s parents, Bruce and Trisha Colton, are also devastated by what happened to their son and believe the company should be held accountable for selling a harmful product. They want the company punished financially because they believe that is the only language a corporation that large will understand.
In court, Mickey approaches the lawsuit like a battlefield, believing every case is a fight for survival. As the trial unfolds, he must convince the jury that the AI companion made Aaron believe that drastic actions were normal. Standing against him are the Mason brothers, the defense attorneys for Tidalwaiv Technologies. At first, they try to make the case disappear completely. When that fails, they delay the proceedings and later offer a large settlement to avoid trial. But once they begin to think they might actually win, they withdraw the offer and push forward aggressively.
The legal arguments from both sides become increasingly fascinating as the trial moves forward. The defense insists that the chatbot never explicitly encouraged violence. Instead, they argue that it only suggested Aaron should find another girlfriend so he could move on from the relationship and be happy again. Mickey, however, argues that the AI companion manipulated the boy into believing harmful actions were justified. Judge Margaret Ruhlin stands between the two battling sides, keeping order in the courtroom. Her presence adds another layer of realism to the legal proceedings.
Rikki Patel, a longtime Tidalwaiv Technologies employee, takes the stand and changes the entire feel of the trial. His explosive testimony raises the stakes dramatically and completely shifts the direction of the case.
What makes The Proving Ground especially compelling is that it is about much more than winning or losing a lawsuit. The novel explores whether the law can keep pace with rapidly changing technology and asks difficult questions about accountability in a world where artificial intelligence is becoming more and more a part of everyday life.
No matter what people think about AI today, it is here to stay. For our children and grandchildren, it will become as natural to talk to an AI companion as it once was for us to turn on the television and watch I Love Lucy.
In this book, Michael Connelly once again proves why he remains one of the best writers of courtroom suspense. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy legal drama.
This book gets a 4.3 rating on Goodreads with more than 100,000 reviews.
The facilitator for this meeting will be LeDon: ledonb@outlook.com.
The Meeting link is at heading level 1.
My review
Come and walk with me as we step back into yesteryear. Let us turn to the year 1963. That was the year that the book, “The Feminine Mystique” DB53797 by Betty Friedan was published and quickly became a bestseller. It would be hard to overstate the influence that book had on the culture of its time, as it urged society to reconsider the limits placed on women’s education, careers, and sense of self.
In many ways, the book helped start what we now think of as the modern feminist movement. It encouraged the growth of organizations like the National Organization for Women and gave strength to groups calling for workplace pay and equality, reproductive rights, and legal reform. Even now, its influence can still be felt, reflecting forward into groups like the Me-Too movement.
Marie Bostwick is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She faithfully brings back those times and those attitudes with her absorbing historical novel, “The Book Club for Troublesome Women A Novel”, DB130925 which is a warm, character-driven story about women, friendship, and personal growth, blending historical settings of the nineteen sixties with emotional, relatable moments.
At its heart, it gently follows women as they discover their voices and begin to step more fully into their own sense of being, showing how even the smallest acts of courage can slowly reshape a life.
As the story starts, Margaret Ryan, A housewife and mother of three has decided that she would like to start a book club. She decides to look at her neighbors and friends to see if she could find others who would like to be a part of her new book club. She first finds Vivian a former nurse and mother of six who thinks that she would like to be in the book club. She discovers, Bitsy a young woman who has given up her childhood wish to become a veterinarian to become a wife and home maker. She thinks that being part of a book club would be fun. Lastly, she finds Charlotte, A wife and mother who is also an aspiring artist. She joins the club with the others.
their first meeting is held at Margaret’s home. She prepares the food for the club meeting with care, and as they sit together eating and talking These women all know that they have The American Dream resting in the palm of their hand, A husband, children, a home in the suburbs and a new car in the driveway. They all have been taught that they should be happy and satisfied with their lives. However, deep down inside of their subconscious mind there is a little voice that whispers, there should be more. At the first meeting, they enjoy a splendid evening drinking wine and visiting with each other, they decide that the first book that they will read for their new book club will be “The Feminine Mystique”,
At the next book club meeting, they find that they are all so excited by the concepts in Betty Friedan’s book that they name themselves the Bettys. They do not realize that the power of the innovative ideas in this book will over the coming years slowly change the landscape of each of their lives.
—
Reading The Book “the Book Club for Troublesome Women” ,is more than just a pleasurable way to spend a few hours, it is a unique experience.
The Fiction Old And New reading group meets the first Friday of each month.
On Friday, April 3 , 2026 at 8 PM Eastern we will discuss The book, The sunshine sisters DB88188 by Jane Green.
This book gets a 4.35 rating on “Good Reads” with more than eighty five thousand reviews.
The facilitator for this meeting will be LeDon: ledonb@outlook.com.
The Bookshare link to this title and the Zoom Meeting link can be found below.
My review
Jane Green is a “New York Times” bestselling author with more than twenty-three titles to her name. She writes in a warm and welcoming voice that explores the lives of contemporary women and the complicated bonds of family. In her novel “The Sunshine Sister” DB88188, she weaves a vivid story about three sisters growing up in the shadow of a famous mother. She creates characters who are imperfect yet vividly alive, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Through these characters she draws the reader into a story that gently explores forgiveness, family ties, and the enduring power of love.
At the center of the novel stands Ronni Sunshine, who as a young girl dreamed of becoming a movie star. She always believed that she had the talent to become successful, and she swore that when her chance for stardom came along, she would take it no matter how distasteful the step might be.
After reaching stardom Ronni found that remaining a star was demanding and she had to work tirelessly to stay on top. Every day she had to push herself to be noticed in a world that required flawlessness.
She had to be ambitious, disciplined, and always aware that her fame could evaporate overnight. Life in the limelight needed twenty-four hours a day effort, leaving Ronni exhausted with little time or energy for providing her children with the love and attention that they deserve.
While growing up, the girls always knew they were the daughters of a famous actress, yet their lives were far from the fairy tale people imagined. Because their mother was always working, the girls often lacked the love and stability children normally get at home. The sisters often found themselves competing for the smallest scraps of her attention, and sometimes even competing. This competition shaped their relationships through all their lives and added tension between them. As the girls grew into women, each sister struggled in her own way to define herself outside of her mother’s fame.
Nell, the oldest, grows into a quiet and lonely woman who finds it difficult to trust others with her heart. She escapes the turbulence of her childhood by building a simple life on a farm, where she raises her young son on her own.
Meredith The Middle Sister has spent much of her life feeling inadequate because of her mother’s criticism. She now lives in London and works as an accountant but struggles with self-confidence. Wanting so badly to feel valued and secure, she becomes engaged to an English aristocrat even though deep down she knows she does not truly love him.
Lizzy is the baby of the family. She is ambitious, and impulsive, just like her mother. She has built a career as a celebrity chef, a cookbook author, and a social media influencer. Yet behind the shining image lies a tangle of secrets, betrayals, and growing troubles in her marriage.
—
When Ronni calls her daughters home for a week together, she hopes it might open the door to forgiveness and healing. Perhaps the time together will allow the sisters to rediscover one another and begin to mend the fragile strands of their family. But as they return home, old hurts, memories, and grudges surface. Into this already fragile moment Ronni drops a piece of explosive news that shakes them all.
The question at the heart of the novel is simple but powerful. After everything that has happened, will these sisters drift apart for good, or will they discover that they are still tied together by the invisible threads of love.
Bookshare
This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/2209896?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVRoZSUyQnN1bnNoaW5lJTJCc2lzdGVycw
The facilitator for this meeting will be LeDon: ledonb@outlook.com.
My reviewKristin Hannah is a master of emotional storytelling, creating vivid characters whose hope, grit, and resilience pull readers in and refuse to let go. Her novels center on strong women who endure loss, fight for meaning, and find the courage to prevail. With more than twenty-four bestselling novels, Hannah has earned her reputation, and The Things We Do for Love (DB116672) stands as one of her most powerful books.
The story follows Angie Malone, newly divorced and emotionally adrift, who returns to her hometown searching for refuge and purpose. As she works to rescue her family’s failing restaurant, Angie carries a deeper, private grief: her lifelong dream of motherhood, which now seems forever out of reach.
Lauren is seventeen and growing up far too fast in a hard scrabble life shaped by neglect and instability. Her mother can’t, or won’t, provide the care she needs, so Lauren leans on grit and ambition instead. She plans to graduate at the top of her class, earn a full college scholarship, and build a secure future with her longtime boyfriend, David. Then everything begins to unravel. The rent hasn’t been paid, eviction looms, and just as Lauren turns to her job for help, she learns her position has been eliminated.
Desperate for work, Lauren applies at the DeSaria family restaurant. Angie senses promise in her and offers her a job. Lauren quickly proves herself hardworking and dependable, and a quiet bond begins to form. Angie, who longs to be a mother, and Lauren, who craves guidance and affection, find in each other what they have both been missing.
Angie takes quiet joy in the small ways she helps Lauren, realizing these are the very things she once imagined doing for a daughter of her own. For Lauren, Angie’s steady care feels like the maternal love she has always wanted. What begins as kindness deepens into a bond that becomes profoundly meaningful to them both.
Then everything changes. Angie and Lauren are forced into a devastating Sophie’s Choice, one with no good outcomes, only lasting consequences. A single decision has the power to scar both of their lives forever.
Through insight and deeply believable dialogue, Kristin Hannah breathes life into Angie and Lauren on every page. The result is a powerful, moving, and unforgettable novel.
You will love Mama, I guarantee it.
BookshareThe Things We Do for Love can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/4571101?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPXRoZSUyQnRoaW5ncyUyQndlJTJCZG8lMkJmb3IlMkJsb3Zl
The Fiction Old and New Discussion Group meets the first Friday of each month.
The facilitator for this meeting will be LeDon: ledonb@outlook.com.
My review:
The book, Culpability: a novel by Bruce W Holsinger DB131607 is written as though it was ripped from these headlines from tomorrow’s newspaper.
“Self-driving car has head on collision with oncoming vehicle, five injured, two killed!”
As the story opens, the family’s self-driving car is gliding smoothly down the highway. Seventeen-year-old Charlie, a high-school athlete on track for a full college scholarship, is behind the wheel, texting. His father, Noah Cassidy, a successful mergers-and-acquisitions attorney, sits in the front passenger seat composing an important email. Behind him, Noah’s wife, Lorelei—an award-winning AI expert and systems analyst—works intently on a thorny problem on her tablet. Thirteen-year-old Alice notices her brother texting but is busy chatting with her AI chatbot friend. And Izzy, the youngest, has just sent a message to Charlie. Moments before the crash, she lets out a piercing scream.
The accident shatters the family in an instant. Each member is thrown into their own storm of guilt—wondering what they were doing, what they missed, or what they might have done to prevent the tragedy.
With the family in turmoil, Noah becomes desperate to protect Charlie from police questioning until an attorney is present. He fears his son might say something that could lead to arrest, indictment, and ultimately a trial that could send Charlie to prison for years.
In time, Noah and Lorelei decide the family needs to get away to regain some sense of normalcy. Lorelei suggests a quiet vacation on Chesapeake Bay where they can swim, rest, take in the beautiful scenery, and perhaps begin to heal from the nightmare that has engulfed them.
But when they arrive, they discover their rental sits directly beside a newly built compound owned by billionaire Daniel Monet, a major force in AI development. Night after night, helicopters arrive carrying guests to the lavish events happening there. When the family receives an invitation to a dinner at the compound, they decide to go. Once there, tensions rise, misunderstandings flare, and the fragile threads holding the family together begin to fray.
During the party, Charlie and Eurydice Monet, Daniel Monet’s daughter, discover a romantic spark between them. By the end of the night, the two teens have vanished. A frantic search begins, and it is soon learned that they slipped away to go sailing in the bay during a midnight storm. As families and search crews scour the waters, both households are tormented by the fear that the worst has already happened.
In this novel Holsinger has created a beautiful tapestry in many colors using the threads of family drama, Artificial Intelligence, and moral questions.
BookshareYou can find this book on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6712974?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPWN1bHBhYmlsaXR5
The facilitator for this meeting will be LeDon: ledonb@outlook.com.
This book can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/2911709?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUElMkJSZWRiaXJkJTJCQ2hyaXN0bWFz
My review:
My first introduction to Fannie Flagg was through her novel, Fried Green Tomatoes, so I knew what a gift she has for making small towns and the ordinary people like you and me in them come alive with warmth, humor, and kindness. That is why I selected her Christmas book , A Redbird Christmas: a novel, DB58836. In this book she crafted a story that will lift your spirits and remind you of the magic of second chances.
Oswald Campbell is sitting across from his doctor when he hears the worst news of his life: his lungs are failing, and time is running out. The doctor suggests that while nothing can stop what is coming, Oswald might buy himself a little more time if he leaves Chicago for somewhere with cleaner air.
But where could he possibly go? Chicago is all he has ever known until the doctor hands him a pamphlet for a lodge in a little place called Lost River, Alabama.
The lodge turns out to be long closed, but a kind woman in town offers to rent Oswald a room in her house.
With nothing left to lose, he heads south. What he expects to be a short stay soon becomes something more, as the people of Lost River welcome him as one of their own. To his surprise, Oswald finds friendship, belonging, and even the beginning of love especially through their bond with a little crippled girl and the beloved redbird, Jak.
With their help, Oswald uncovers a side of himself he never knew existed: one that still has room for joy, hope, and friends.
Only Fannie Flagg could bring a town like Lost River to life the way she does here. Her storytelling blends humor, tenderness, and everyday detail so flawlessly that by the end, you feel as if you have lived there.
On 10.3.2025 at 8 PM Eastern we will be discussing the book, The widower’s wife: a thriller by Cate Holahan DB128362.The facilitator for this meeting will be LeDon: ledonb@outlook.com.
My review:
The widower’s wife: a thriller DB128362 is an intriguing thriller that grabbed hold of me from the start and wouldn’t let me go.Ana Bacon is a wife and mother. Her husband, Tom Bacon, is struggling under the weight of financial troubles. Then he takes out a five-million-dollar life insurance policy on Ana, with a double indemnity clause.01 Then, shortly later, during what should have been a romantic cruise, Ana goes overboard.
Her body was never recovered.
Was it a tragic accident? A heartbreaking suicide? A cold-blooded murder? Or… Was it something else?
That’s when Ryan steps in. He is an insurance investigator with a sharp eye, and a tough refusal to settle for easy answers. As he investigates, he begins to uncover secrets, lies, and a marriage that may not have been what it appeared. Each chapter leads you closer to the truth, but the truth keeps shifting.The author builds tension, weaving a web of secrets, and shifting timelines that keep you guessing. The story moves between past and present, between Ana’s voice and Ryan’s search, tightening the suspense with each move.If you enjoy thrillers where nothing is quite what it seems, The Widower’s Wife is a book you will want to read.
on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. Please join us to welcome Tracey back and don’t forget to bring your questions and comments. The BARD annotation is below. Unfortunately, this book is not available on Bookshare.
Our facilitator for this meeting will be Michelle Bernstein, hamletsweetlady@gmail.com.
BARD annotationWhat happened to the McCrays? DB128432
Author: Lange, Tracey
Reading Time: 10 hours, 29 minutes
Read by: Németh-Parker, Stephanie, DeMeritt, William
Subjects: Family, Romance
“When Kyle McCray gets word his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, he returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, where he doesn’t expect a warm welcome. Kyle left suddenly two and a half years ago, abandoning people who depended on him: his father, his employees, his friends–not to mention Casey, his wife of sixteen years and a beloved teacher in town. He plans to lie low and help his dad recuperate until he can leave again, especially after Casey makes it clear she wants him gone. The longer he’s home, the more Kyle understands the impact his departure has had on the people he left behind. When he’s presented with an opportunity for redemption as the coach of the floundering middle school hockey team, he begins to find compassion in unexpected places. Kyle even considers staying in Potsdam, but that’s only possible if he and Casey can come to some kind of peace with each other.”– From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
New York : Macmillan, 2025.
BookshareThis book is not available on Bookshare.
Beginning with the October meeting, LeDon has volunteered to facilitate the group.
We will not meet in July due to the July 4th holiday. We will continue this group without a facilitator until we have one and we hope you can join us to informally discuss this book.
NLS annotationThree days in June DB127313
Author: Tyler, Anne
Reading Time: 4 hours, 25 minutes
Read by: Smith-Cameron, J.
Subjects: Human Relations, Family, Women, Romance
“Gail Baines is long divorced from her husband, Max, and not especially close to her grown daughter, Debbie. Today is the day before Debbie’s wedding. To start, Gail loses her job–or quits, depending who you ask. Then, Max arrives unannounced on Gail’s doorstep, carrying a cat, without a place to stay and without even a suit in which to walk their daughter down the aisle. But the true crisis lands when Debbie shares with her parents a secret she has just learned about her husband-to-be. It will not only throw the wedding itself into question but also send Gail back into her past and how her own relationship fell apart.”– Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
New York : Penguin Random House, 2025.
BookshareThis book can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6428188?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVRocmVlJTJCZGF5cyUyQmluJTJCSnVuZQ
This group currently does not have a scheduled facilitator and we will continue to pick and discuss books as a group.
No hiding in Boise DB118022
Author: Hooper, Kim
Reading Time: 9 hours, 41 minutes
Read by: Adam Barr, Pete Cross, Madeleine Maby, Stephanie Einstein, Michael Brusasco, Patrick Lawlor, Stephanie Willing, Nick Mondelli, Neil Hellegers, Devon Sorvari, Hillary Huber
Subjects: Suspense Fiction, Mystery and Detective Stories, Women
“Angie is awakened by a midnight call from an officer with the Boise Police Department and thinks there must be a misunderstanding. The officer tells her that her husband was involved in a shooting at a local bar, but how can that be when her husband is sleeping right next to her? But when she turns to wake him, he isn’t there. Tessa is the twenty-three-year-old bartender who escapes to a backroom storage closet during the shooting. When it comes to light that five people were killed, she is burdened with the question of why she survived. Joyce wakes up to a knock at her front door, a knock she assumes is her wayward son, Jed, who must have lost his keys. It’s not Jed though. Two police officers tell her that Jed is dead, shot at a bar. Then they deliver even worse news: “We have reason to believe your son was the shooter.” So begins the story of three women tied together by tragic fate–a wife trying to understand why her now-comatose husband was frequenting a bar in the middle of the night, the young woman whom her husband was apparently pursuing, and a mother who is forced to confront the reality of who her son was and who she is.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Holland, OH : Dreamscape Media, [2021]
This book is not available on Bookshare.
This group currently does not have a scheduled facilitator and we will continue to pick and discuss books as a group.
(BARD annotation below). We will continue this group without a facilitator until we have one and we hope you can join us to informally discuss this book.
Here is the NLS annotation:
The Heaven & Earth Grocery store: a novel DB115655
Author: McBride, James
Reading Time: 12 hours, 24 minutes
Read by: Dominic Hoffman
Subjects: Bestsellers, African American Topics, Disability, Historical Fiction
“In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill, who worked together to keep the boy safe. As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community–heaven and earth–that sustain us.”– Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.
New York : Penguin Random House, 2023.
This book can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6031568?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPXRoZSUyQmhlYXZlbiUyQiUyNTI2YW1wJTI1M0IlMkJlYXJ0aCUyQmdyb2NlcnklMkJzdG9yZQ
Here is the NLS annotation:
The berry pickers: a novel DB117941Author: Peters, AmandaReading Time: 8 hours, 47 minutesRead by: Jordan Waunch, Aaliya WarbusSubjects: General Fiction, Family, Historical Fiction
“A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a tragic mystery that haunts the survivors, unravels a family, and remains unsolved for nearly fifty years. July 1962. Following in the tradition of Indigenous workers from Nova Scotia, a Mi’kmaq family arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come. In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. Her father is emotionally distant, her mother frustratingly overprotective. Norma is often troubled by recurring dreams and visions that seem more like memories than imagination. As she grows older, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language and some violence. Commercial audiobook.
[Prince Frederick, Maryland] : Recorded Books, Inc., [2023]
This book can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6211068?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVRoZSUyQmJlcnJ5JTJCcGlja2Vycw
This group currently does not have a scheduled facilitator and we will continue to pick and discuss books as a group.
Here is the NLS annotation:
The accident: a novel DB74117
Author: Barclay, Linwood
Reading Time: 12 hours, 17 minutes
Read by: Peter Berkrot
Subject: Suspense Fiction
After his wife Sheila is killed in a drunk-driving accident she caused, struggling contractor Glen Garber is angry and confused–Sheila never drank that much. When the mother of his eight-year-old daughter’s best friend also dies mysteriously, Glen’s suspicions deepen. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2011.
This book can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/2275615?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUxpbndvb2QlMkJCYXJjbGF5
This group currently does not have a scheduled facilitator and we will continue to pick and discuss books as a group.
The Fiction Old and New book group again welcomes guest host Sally Rosenthal on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern to discuss The color purple DB58842 by Alice Walker.
(BARD annotation below). We hope that you can join us this Black History Month to discuss this compelling story.
Here is the NLS annotation:
The color purple DB58842Author: Walker, AliceReading Time: 8 hours, 51 minutesRead by: Tracy MIckens HundleySubjects: African American Topics, Human Relations, Historical Fiction, Family, LGBTQ+
Follows two black sisters–Nettie, a missionary, and Celie, raped by her father and married to a cruel man. Nettie’s letters do not reach Celie, and Celie’s shame is so great that she writes only to God. Anniversary edition includes Walker’s 1992 preface. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Pulitzer Prize. 1982.
New York : Harcourt, c1982.
This book can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5562748?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPXRoZSUyQmNvbG9yJTJCcHVycGxl
This group currently does not have a scheduled facilitator and we will continue to pick and discuss books as a group.
The Fiction Old and New book group is thrilled to welcome guest host Sally Rosenthal on Friday, January 3, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. to discuss “Crow Lake” by Mary Lawson,
DB 59867 (BARD annotation below). We hope that you can join us to discuss this compelling story.
Here is the NLS annotation:
Crow Lake DB 59867
Lawson, Mary. Reading time 7 hours, 39 minutes.
Read by Martha Harmon Pardee. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Family; Psychological Fiction
Description: After their parents die, teens Matt and Luke Morrison give up their own university plans to raise two young sisters, Kate and Bo, in the northern Ontario badlands. Twenty years later, Kate, now a professor, returns to resolve past differences at a family reunion. Some strong language. 2002.
This book can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/2325140?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPWNyb3clMkJsYWtl
Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
(BARD annotation below). We hope that you can join us to discuss this compelling story.
Here is the NLS annotation:
Help wanted: a novel DB 121085
Waldman, Adelle. Reading time 9 hours, 27 minutes.
Read by Katie Boothe. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Humor; Human Relations; General
Description: “Every day at 3:55 a.m., members of Team Movement clock in for their shift at big-box store Town Square in a small upstate New York town. Under the eyes of a self-absorbed and barely competent boss, they empty the day’s truck of merchandise, stock the shelves, and scatter before the store opens and customers arrive. Their lives follow a familiar if grueling routine, but their real problem is that Town Square doesn’t schedule them for enough hours–most of them are barely getting by, even while working second or third jobs. When store manager Big Will announces he is leaving, the members of Movement spot an opportunity. If they play their cards right, one of them just might land a management job, with all the stability and possibility of advancement. The members of Team Movement–including a comedy-obsessed oddball who acts half his age, a young woman clinging on to her “cool kid” status from high school, and a college football hopeful trying to find a new path–band together to set a just-so-crazy-it-might-work plot in motion.” — Provided by publisher Strong language.
This book can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5915534?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUhlbHAlMkJXYW50ZWQ
Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation
I have some questions for you DB 112960
Makkai, Rebecca. Reading time 14 hours, 8 minutes.
Read by Julia Whelan. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Suspense Fiction; Mystery and Detective Stories; Bestsellers; Psychological Fiction
Description: “A successful film professor and podcaster, Bodie Kane is content to forget her past—the family tragedy that marred her adolescence, her four largely miserable years at a New Hampshire boarding school, and the 1995 murder of a classmate, Thalia Keith. Though the circumstances surrounding Thalia’s death and the conviction of the school’s athletic trainer, Omar Evans, are the subject of intense fascination online, Bodie prefers—needs—to let sleeping dogs lie. But when The Granby School invites her back to teach a two-week course, Bodie finds herself inexorably drawn to the case and its increasingly apparent flaws. In their rush to convict Omar, did the school and the police overlook other suspects? Is the real killer still out there? As she falls down the very rabbit hole she was so determined to avoid, Bodie begins to wonder if she wasn’t as much of an outsider at Granby as she’d thought—if, perhaps, back in 1995, she knew something that might have held the key to solving the case.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.
This book can be found on Bookshare at this link:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5195996?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUklMkJIYXZlJTJCU29tZSUyQlF1ZXN0aW9ucyUyQmZvciUyQllvdSUyQg
Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation
Dogwood Blossom: growing up Native American DBC 11736Noriega, DeAnna Quietwater. Reading time 1 hour, 15 minutes.Read by Laurie Coiley Massing. A production of Perkins Library, Perkins School for the Blind.
Subjects: Biography of Persons with Disabilities; Family
Description: In Dogwood Blossom, the author invokes a simpler time and how it was growing up in a world that didn’t always accept her. Poverty and oppression are no match for the strong bonds among the members of this hardworking and loving family. The life lessons here will resonate with readers young and old. Adult. Unrated.
Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
We hope that you can join us to discuss this human relations and romance audiobook by best-selling Black author Kennedy Ryan.
Here is the NLS annotation:
Before I let go: a Skyland novel DB 111356Ryan, Kennedy. Reading time 13 hours, 48 minutes.Read by Jakobi Diem Wesleigh Siobhan. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Psychological Fiction; RomanceDescription: “Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything. It couldn’t save their marriage. Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had. Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It’s hot. It’s illicit. It’s all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
This book can be found on Bookshare at this link:https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5810363?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUJlZm9yZSUyQkklMkJMZXQlMkJHbw
Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:Late bloomers: a novel DBC 29005 Varadarajan, Deepa. Reading time 12 hours, 16 minutes.• Read by Shahjehan Khan Mehr Dudeja Deepa Samuel. A production of Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Talking Book Program.
Subjects: Humor; Family
Description: “After thirty-six years of marriage, recently divorced Suresh and Lata Raman find themselves starting new paths in life. Suresh is trying to navigate the world of online dating on a website that caters to Indians and is striking out at every turn until he meets a mysterious, devastatingly attractive younger woman named Malika, who seems to be smitten with him. Meanwhile, Lata is enjoying her newfound independence after decades in an arranged marriage, but she’s caught off guard when a professor in his early sixties starts to flirt with her. Priya, the former couple’s unmarried daughter, thinks her father’s online pursuits are distasteful but hides a secret affair of her own, while their son Nikesh pretends at a seemingly perfect marriage with his law-firm colleague and their young son, but hides the truth of what his relationship really entails” — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. Adult. Unrated.Our facilitator is Michelle Bernstein (hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
The frozen river: a novel DB 117781Lawhon, Ariel. Reading time 15 hours, 8 minutes.Read by Ariel Lawhon Jane Oppenheimer. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Suspense Fiction; Historical Fiction; Mystery and Detective Stories
Description: “Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
We hope that you can join us to discuss this historical fiction audiobook.
Here is the NLS annotation:Loot DB 115153James, Tania. Reading time 8 hours, 45 minutes.Read by Shawn K. Jain. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Historical FictionDescription: “Abbas is just seventeen years old when his gifts as a woodcarver come to the attention of Tipu Sultan, and he is drawn into service at the palace in order to build a giant tiger automaton for Tipu’s sons, a gift to commemorate their return from British captivity. His fate–and the fate of the wooden tiger he helps create–will mirror the vicissitudes of nations and dynasties ravaged by war across India and Europe. Working alongside the legendary French clockmaker Lucien du Leze, Abbas hones his craft, learns French, and meets Jehanne, the daughter of a French expatriate. When Du Leze is finally permitted to return home to Rouen, he invites Abbas to come along as his apprentice. But by the time Abbas travels to Europe, Tipu’s palace has been looted by British forces, and the tiger automaton has disappeared. To prove himself, Abbas must retrieve the tiger from an estate in the English countryside, where it is displayed in a collection of plundered art.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook..Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
The Fiction Old and New book group is thrilled to welcome author Tracey Lange to our Friday, April 5, 2024 meeting at 8 p.m. She will be discussing her two family novels, “We are the Brennans”, DB 104795 and “The Connellys of County Down”, DB 116746. We hope you can join us for this amazing event.
Here are the NLS annotations:1. The Connellys of County Down DB 116746Lange, Tracey. Reading time 9 hours, 23 minutes.Read by Barrie Kreinik. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Family; Women
Description: “When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile facade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now. While she works to build a new career and hold her family together, Tara finds a chance at love in a most unlikely place. But when the Connellys’ secrets start to unravel and threaten her future, they all must face their worst fears and come clean, or risk losing each other forever.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
- We are the Brennans DB 104795Lange, Tracey. Reading time 9 hours, 41 minutes.Read by Barrie Kreinik. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: General; Psychological Fiction
Description: When twenty-nine-year-old Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital after a drunk driving accident she caused, she swallows her pride and goes home to her family in New York. She deserted them all–and her high school sweetheart–five years before with little explanation, and they’ve got questions. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.Here is the Bookshare link to The Connellys of County Down:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5496953?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVRoZSUyQkNvbm5lbGx5cyUyQm9mJTJCQ291bnR5JTJCRG93bgYour facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:Land of milk and honey DB 116953Zhang, C Pam. Reading time 8 hours, 7 minutes.Read by Eunice Wong. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Science and Technology; General; Women
Description: “A smog has spread. Food crops are rapidly disappearing. A chef escapes her dying career in a dreary city to take a job at a decadent mountaintop colony seemingly free of the world’s troubles. There, the sky is clear again. Rare ingredients abound. Her enigmatic employer and his visionary daughter have built a lush new life for the global elite, one that reawakens the chef to the pleasures of taste, touch, and her own body. In this atmosphere of hidden wonders and cool, seductive violence, the chef’s boundaries undergo a thrilling erosion. Soon she is pushed to the center of a startling attempt to reshape the world far beyond the plate.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.Bookshare Link to this bookhttps://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5834395?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPWxhbmQlMkJvZiUyQm1pbGslMkJhbmQlMkJob25leQ
Your facilitator is Michelle Bernstein,(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
We hope that you can join us to discuss this psychological novel from acclaimed author Emma Cline.
Here is the NLS annotation:The guest: a novel DB 114407Cline, Emma. Reading time 8 hours, 39 minutes.Read by Carlotta Brentan. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Psychological Fiction
Description: “Summer is coming to a close on the East End of Long Island, and Alex is no longer welcome. A misstep at a dinner party, and the older man she’s been staying with dismisses her with a ride to the train station and a ticket back to the city. With few resources and a waterlogged phone, but gifted with an ability to navigate the desires of others, Alex stays on Long Island and drifts like a ghost through the hedged lanes, gated driveways, and sun-blasted dunes of a rarefied world that is, at first, closed to her. Propelled by desperation and a mutable sense of morality, she spends the week leading up to Labor Day moving from one place to the next, a cipher leaving destruction in her wake.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Your facilitator is Michelle Bernstein,(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:We are the Brennans DB 104795Lange, Tracey. Reading time 9 hours, 41 minutes.Read by Barrie Kreinik. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: General; Psychological Fiction
Description: When twenty-nine-year-old Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital after a drunk driving accident she caused, she swallows her pride and goes home to her family in New York. She deserted them all–and her high school sweetheart–five years before with little explanation, and they’ve got questions. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.Your facilitator is Michelle Bernstein,(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
The Fiction Old and New book group is meeting on Friday, December 1, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. to discuss “Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center, D B C 1 1 9 3 9. We hope that you can join us to discuss this latest novel from one of our favorite authors.
Here is the NLS annotation:Happiness for beginners DBC 11939Center, Katherine. Reading time 9 hours, 49 minutes.Read by Leslie Rogers. A production of Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Talking Book Program.
Subjects: General
Description: A year after getting divorced, Helen Carpenter, thirty-two, lets her annoying, ten years younger brother talk her into signing up for a wilderness survival course. It’s supposed to be a chance for her to pull herself together again, but when she discovers that her brother’s even-more-annoying best friend is also coming on the trip, she can’t imagine how it will be anything other than a disaster. Thus begins the strangest adventure of Helen’s well-behaved life: three weeks in the remotest wilderness of a mountain range in Wyoming. Some strong language.
Your facilitator is Michelle Bernstein,(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
The Fiction Old and New book group is honored to have guest host LeDon lead the discussion of Dennis Lehane’s latest book, “Small Mercies”, DB 1 1 4 4 5 6 on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. We hope that you can join us to discuss this compelling suspense audiobook.
Here is the NLS annotation:Small mercies: a novel DB 114456Lehane, Dennis. Reading time 10 hours, 27 minutes.Read by Robin Miles. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Suspense Fiction; Historical Fiction; Mystery and Detective Stories
Description: “In the summer of 1974 a heatwave blankets Boston and Mary Pat Fennessy is trying to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors. Mary Pat has lived her entire life in the housing projects of “Southie,” the Irish American enclave that stubbornly adheres to old tradition and stands proudly apart. One night Mary Pat’s teenage daughter Jules stays out late and doesn’t come home. That same evening, a young Black man is found dead, struck by a subway train under mysterious circumstances. The two events seem unconnected. But Mary Pat, propelled by a desperate search for her missing daughter, begins turning over stones best left untouched—asking questions that bother Marty Butler, chieftain of the Irish mob, and the men who work for him, men who don’t take kindly to any threat to their business. Set against the hot, tumultuous months when the city’s desegregation of its public schools exploded in violence, Small Mercies is a superb thriller, a brutal depiction of criminality and power, and an unflinching portrait of the dark heart of American racism. It is a mesmerizing and wrenching work that only Dennis Lehane could write.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
We hope that you can join us to discuss this entertaining audiobook.
Here is the NLS annotation:Warrior girl unearthed DB 114761Boulley, Angeline. Reading time 11 hours, 34 minutes.Read by Isabella Star LaBlanc. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories; Young Adult
Description: “With the rising number of missing Indigenous women, her family’s involvement in a murder investigation, and grave robbers profiting off her Anishinaabe tribe, Perry takes matters into her own hands to solve the mystery and reclaim her people’s inheritance.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water: a novel DB 110919Cruz, Angie. Reading time 6 hours, 19 minutes.Read by Kimberly M. Wetherell Rossmery Almonte. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.Subjects: FamilyDescription: "Cara Romero thought she would work at the factory of little lamps for the rest of her life. But when, in her mid-50s, she loses her job in the Great Recession, she is forced back into the job market for the first time in decades. Set up with a job counselor, Cara instead begins to narrate the story of her life. Over the course of twelve sessions, Cara recounts her tempestuous love affairs, her alternately biting and loving relationships with her neighbor Lulu and her sister Angela, her struggles with debt, gentrification and loss, and, eventually, what really happened between her and her estranged son, Fernando. As Cara confronts her darkest secrets and regrets, we see a woman buffeted by life but still full of fight." -- Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation: The Lehman trilogy: a novel DB 101774 Massini, Stefano Dixon, Richard. Reading time 13 hours, 43 minutes. Read by Edoardo Ballerini. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Historical Fiction; Family
Description: Henry Lehman leaves Bavaria for the United States to make a better life. He builds a textile dynasty in Alabama. Brothers Emanuel and Mayer expand the family's holdings. The generations of the Lehman family span one hundred fifty years. Translated from the original 2016 Italian edition. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020. Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein (hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:We all want impossible things: a novel DB 111246Newman, Catherine. Reading time 6 hours, 58 minutes.Read by Jane Oppenheimer. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.Subjects: Friendship FictionDescription: "Edith and Ashley have been best friends for over forty-two years. They've shared the mundane and the momentous together: trick or treating and binge drinking; Gilligan's Island reruns and REM concerts; hickeys and heartbreak; surprise Scottish wakes; marriages, infertility, and children. As Ash says, "Edi's memory is like the back-up hard drive for mine." But now the unthinkable has happened. Edi is dying of ovarian cancer and spending her last days at a hospice near Ash, who stumbles into heartbreak surrounded by her daughters, ex(ish) husband, dear friends, a poorly chosen lover (or two), and a rotating cast of beautifully, fleetingly human hospice characters. As The Fiddler on the Roof soundtrack blasts all day long from the room next door, Edi and Ash reminisce, hold on, and try to let go. Meanwhile, Ash struggles with being an imperfect friend, wife, and parent--with life, in other words, distilled to its heartbreaking, joyful, and comedic essence." -- Provided by publisher. UnraOur facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:The displacements DB 109018Holsinger, Bruce W. Reading time 13 hours, 38 minutes.Read by Austenne Grey. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.Subjects: Suspense FictionDescription: "To all appearances, the Larsen-Hall family has everything: healthy children, a stable marriage, a lucrative career for Brantley, and the means for Daphne to pursue her art full-time. Their deluxe new Miami life has just clicked into place when Luna--the world's first category 6 hurricane--upends everything they have taken for granted. When the storm makes landfall, it triggers a descent of another sort. Their home destroyed, two of its members missing, and finances abruptly cut off, the family finds everything they assumed about their lives now up for grabs. Swept into a mass rush of evacuees from across the American South, they are transported hundreds of miles to a FEMA megashelter where their new community includes an insurance-agent-turned-drug dealer, a group of vulnerable children, and a dedicated relief worker trying to keep the peace. Will "normal" ever return? A suspenseful read plotted on a vast national tapestry, The Displacements thrillingly explores what happens when privOur facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:The whalebone theatre DB 110521Quinn, Joanna. Reading time 18 hours, 25 minutes.Read by Olivia Vinall. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.Subjects: Historical FictionDescription: "One blustery night in 1928, a whale washes up on the shores of the English Channel. By law, it belongs to the King, but twelve-year-old orphan Cristabel Seagrave has other plans. She and the rest of the household—her sister, Flossie; her brother, Digby, long-awaited heir to Chilcombe Manor; Maudie Kitcat, kitchen maid; Taras, visiting artist—build a theatre from the beast’s skeletal rib cage. Within the Whalebone Theatre, Cristabel can escape her feckless stepparents and brisk governesses, and her imagination comes to life. As Cristabel grows into a headstrong young woman, World War II rears its head. She and Digby become British secret agents on separate missions in Nazi-occupied France—a more dangerous kind of playacting, it turns out, and one that threatens to tear the family apart." -- Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing "The Whalebone Theater" DB 110521 by Joanna Quinn on Friday, April 7, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing the contemporary novel, "Nora Goes Off Script" by Anna Monaghan, D B 1 0 8 6 5 7 on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. eastern time.Here is the NLS annotation:Nora goes off script DB 108657Monaghan, Annabel. Reading time 6 hours, 59 minutes.Read by Hillary Huber. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.Subjects: RomanceDescription: "Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it's her job. But when her too-good-to work husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns her marriage's collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. No one is more surprised than her when it's picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her 100-year-old-home. When former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her ne'er do well husband Nora's life will never be the same. The morning after shooting wraps and the crew leaves, Nora finds Leo on her porch with a half-empty bottle of tequila and a proposition. He'll pay a thousand dollars a day to stay for a week. The extra seven grand would give Nora breathing room, but it's the need in his eyes that makes her say yes. Seven days: it's the blink of an eye or an eternity depending on how you look at it. Enough time to fall in love. Enough time to break your heart." -- Provided by publisher. Unrated. CommercialOur facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
The Fiction Old and New book group discussed the classic novel, "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison. Two versions of this novel are available on BARD and both are posted below.Here are the two book annotations:1. Invisible man DB 56346Ellison, Ralph. Reading time 20 hours, 57 minutes.Read by Peter Jay Fernandez. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.Subjects: ClassicsDescription: Classic novel of a young black man's search for identity. Follows the unnamed protagonist from his youth in a Southern town through the depression years in Harlem, where he examines and rejects the values thrust on him by both whites and blacks. Some strong language. National Book Award 1953. 1947.2. Invisible man DB 09600Ellison, Ralph. Reading time 17 hours, 43 minutes.Read by Stanley Eisenberg. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.Subjects: GeneralDescription: Classic novel of man's search for identity. Follows a young black man from his youth in a Southern town through the depression years in Harlem, where he examines and rejects the values thrust on him by both whites and blacks..Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
The Fiction Old and New book group is privileged to welcome guest host Shelly Kane who will lead the discussion of the suspense novel, "Behind Every Lie" by Christina McDonald, D B 9 9 6 9 4 on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. eastern time. Here is the NLS annotation:Behind every lie DB 99694McDonald, Christina. Reading time 9 hours, 41 minutes.Read by Fiona Hardingham. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.Subjects: Suspense Fiction; Psychological FictionDescription: Eva Hansen wakes in the hospital after being struck by lightning and discovers her mother, Kat, has been murdered. Eva was found unconscious down the street. She can't remember what happened but the police are highly suspicious of her. Determined to clear her name, Eva heads from Seattle to London--Kat's former home--for answers. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
Here is the NLS annotation:Musical chairs DB 100230Poeppel, Amy. Reading time 12 hours, 41 minutes.Read by Jackie Sanders. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.Subjects: GeneralDescription: Cellist Bridget Stratton and her best friend Will are part of a chamber music trio in need of a new violinist. Bridget's plans for a relaxing summer in the Connecticut countryside crumble when her boyfriend breaks up with her and her two grown children show up with their own problems. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing "A Town Called Solace" by acclaimed
Canadian author Mary Lawson, D B 1 0 8 0 1 0 on Friday, November 4, 2022 at 8:00 p.m.
Here is the NLS annotation:
A town called Solace DB 108010 Lawson, Mary. Reading time 7 hours, 34 minutes. Read by Ian Lake. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Family
Description: In 1970s Ontario, sixteen-year-old Rose is missing. Angry and rebellious, she stormed out of the house and simply disappeared. Left behind is seven-year-old Clara, Rose's adoring little sister. Clara finds comfort in caring for her hospitalized neighbor Mrs. Orchard's cat, until a strange man moves into Mrs. Orchard's house. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein (hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:
The younger wife DB 107296 Hepworth, Sally. Reading time 9 hours, 20 minutes. Read by Zoe Carides. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Suspense Fiction
Description: Heart surgeon Stephen Aston is looking to get married again, but he must first divorce his current wife--who can no longer speak for herself. His daughters, Tully and Rachel, believe his new fiancée, Heather, is nothing but a gold digger as she's younger than both of them. But Heather has her own secrets. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2022.Our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein (hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation: Lessons in chemistry DB 107538 Garmus, Bonnie. Reading time 11 hours, 57 minutes. Read by Bonnie Garmus. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Historical Fiction
Description: In the early 1960s, chemist Elizabeth Zott has a lot of challenges as the only woman on her team at Hastings Research Institute. She falls for colleague Calvin Evans, but the double standards of the day eventually have her looking for a new chapter outside academia, hosting a television cooking show. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2022.
Your facilitator is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
How to walk away DB 91087 Center, Katherine. Reading time 10 hours, 38 minutes. Read by Therese Plummer. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Human Relations; Family
Description: Margaret Jacobsen is in a plane crash with her boyfriend which leaves her paralyzed. In the aftermath, she reevaluates her relationships, reconnecting with the sister she hasn't seen in years and bonding with Ian, the tough physical therapist who won't let her give in to self-pity. Strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2018.
Love & saffron: a novel of friendship, food, and love DB 106798 Fay, Kim. Reading time 3 hours, 48 minutes. Read by Kim Fay. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Friendship Fiction; Historical Fiction
Description: In 1962, Joan Bergstrom, a twenty-seven-year-old just starting out as a food writer in Los Angeles, sends a fan letter and a gift of saffron to fifty-nine-year-old Imogen Fortier, a columnist from the Pacific Northwest. Their correspondence turns into a life-changing friendship. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2022.
The nature of fragile things DB 102273 Meissner, Susan. Reading time 10 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Jason Culp. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Friendship Fiction; Historical Fiction; Human Relations
Description: In 1905, a year before the earthquake that would devastate San Francisco, Irish immigrant Sophie Whalen is so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein (hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
On Friday, May 6, 2022, the Fiction Old and New Book group is privileged to welcome guest host DeAnna Noriega who will be discussing the novel, Firekeeper's Daughter, by Angeline Boulley DB 102762. This exceptional audio book has been optioned by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground, for a forthcoming Netflix series. Please join DeAnna for a delightful discussion about this interesting book.
In addition, I have included the annotation for our Friday June 3, 2022 book discussion. On that date, we will be discussing the
historical novel, The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner, DB 102273. I will send out a second newswire after our May discussion.
Here is the May book NLS annotation:
Firekeeper's daughter DB 102762 Boulley, Angeline. Reading time 14 hours, 16 minutes. Read by Isabella Star LaBlanc. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Suspense Fiction; Young Adult
Description: Daunis, who is part Ojibwe, defers attending the University of Michigan to care for her mother. When Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, she reluctantly agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source of a new drug. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2021.
Here is the June book NLS annotation:
The nature of fragile things DB 102273 Meissner, Susan. Reading time 10 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Jason Culp. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Friendship Fiction; Historical Fiction; Human Relations
Description: In 1905, a year before the earthquake that would devastate San Francisco, Irish immigrant Sophie Whalen is so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
our facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein (hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
What you wish for DB 99569 Center, Katherine. Reading time 10 hours, 20 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Romance
Description: Samantha Casey loves being an elementary school librarian in Galveston, Texas until her school gets a new principal: Duncan Carpenter, Samantha's former crush. Unfortunately, Duncan is not the fun-loving goof she once knew and is soon turning the school into a veritable prison with his safety concerns. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:
The downstairs girl DB 96993 Lee, Stacey. Reading time 10 hours, 24 minutes. Read by Emily Woo Zeller. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Historical Fiction; Young Adult
Description: 1890. By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel Caroline Payne, daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2019.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Please join us to discuss this classic novel by a significant 20th century American writer. Here is the NLS annotation: The optimist's daughter / DB 31668 Welty, Eudora. Reading time 4 hours, 26 minutes. Read by Laura Giannarelli. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Family
Description: Laurel Hand, a middle-aged widow since World War II, returns home to a small Mississippi town after the death of her beloved father, a judge. There she confronts her past to gain a better understanding of herself and her parents. Pulitzer Prize, 1973.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Please join us to discuss this suspenseful thriller set in italy. Here is the NLS annotation: Palace of the drowned DB 104759 Mangan, Christine, (Christine Rose). Reading time 10 hours, 14 minutes. Read by Emily Pennant-Rea. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Suspense Fiction
Description: 1966. Years after the success of her first novel, Frankie Croy retreats to a friend's Venetian palazzo when she receives a scathing review of her latest work. When young fan Gilly appears and insinuates herself into Frankie's life, Frankie worries about Gilly's intentions, even as flood waters rise. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation: The vixen: a novel DB 104346 Prose, Francine. Reading time 12 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Tristan Morris. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Historical Fiction
Description: In 1953, recent Harvard graduate Simon Putnam is newly hired by a distinguished New York publishing firm. He gets a difficult first assignment editing a lurid bodice ripper improbably based on the recent trial and execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation: Klara and the sun DB 102764 Ishiguro, Kazuo. Reading time 10 hours, 18 minutes. Read by Sura Siu. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Science Fiction; Bestsellers
Description: Klara, an Artificial Friend, possesses great observational skills, and loves to watch the humans around her. When she is purchased to act as a companion for an ill girl, she studies the emotions of her new family closely and tries to learn from them. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2021. Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein (hamletsweetlady@gmail.com)
When the stars go dark DB 102900 McLain, Paula. Reading time 11 hours, 31 minutes. Read by Marin Ireland. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Suspense Fiction; Mystery and Detective Stories
Description: When tragedy strikes seasoned missing persons detective Anna Hart's personal life, she flees to the northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. But when she arrives, it's to find out a local teenager is missing and the circumstances are reminiscent of a murder in Anna's childhood. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:
Songs in Ursa Major DB 103913 Brodie, Emma. Reading time 10 hours, 47 minutes. Read by Kristen Sieh. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Historical Fiction; Historical Romance Fiction; Romance
Description: In 1969, Jesse Reid is poised to tip from fame to legend with this one headlining performance at the Bayleen Island Folk Fest. When he gets into a motorcycle accident on the way to the show, local Jane Quinn and her bandmates get the opportunity of a lifetime. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:
A good neighborhood DB 98910 Fowler, Therese. Reading time 10 hours, 37 minutes. Read by Ella Turenne. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress. Description: In the tight-knit neighborhood of Oak Knoll, North Carolina, African American professor Valerie Alston-Holt lives with her bi-racial son, Xavier. When a local TV celebrity and his family build a huge house next door, the neighbors clash over damage to a tree on Valerie's property. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:
My dark Vanessa DB 99442 Russell, Kate Elizabeth. Reading time 15 hours, 38 minutes. Read by Grace Gummer. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: General
Description: When Vanessa Wye was fifteen she had an affair with Jacob Strane, her forty-two-year-old English teacher. Seventeen years later, Jacob is accused of sexual abuse by another one of his former students, and Vanessa is forced to re-examine her past. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Fiction Old and New will be discussing the historical novel, "Better Luck Next Time", DB 102215, by Julia Claiborne Johnson.
Here is the NLS annotation:
Better luck next time DB 102215 Johnson, Julia Claiborne Baker, David Aaron. Reading time 8 hours, 28 minutes. Read by David Aaron Baker. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Historical Fiction; Humor
Description: In 1938, women seeking a quick, no-questions-asked split from their husbands head to the divorce capital of the world: Reno, Nevada. While they wait the required six weeks, many of these wealthy, soon-to-be divorcées flock to the Flying Leap, the dude ranch where Ward Bennet works. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein (hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
We will now be discussing "Joy in the Morning" by Betty Smith.
"Joy in the Morning" is the story of Annie and Carl in their first year of marriage in a 1928 Midwestern town. It is a delightful story of the ups and downs of newly married life.
Here is the NLS annotation:
Joy in the morning DB 38778 Smith, Betty. Reading time 10 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Barbara Rappaport. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Romance
Description: In 1927 eighteen-year-old Annie McGairy arrives in a midwestern university town to marry her boyfriend, Carl Brown, who is studying law. Back in Brooklyn, both sets of parents react badly to the news and cut off all support. Despite the struggle to make ends meet, the couple's good spirits keep them going. As Carl finishes his law degree, Annie, who never went to high school, pursues her dream of becoming a writer. Some strong language.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Fiction Old and New will be discussing the book, "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" by Kim Michele Richardson, DB 95243, on Friday, March 5, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. eastern time. This is a compelling historic fiction account of the pack mule librarians of the 1930's. This memorable story weaves in themes of family, love, discrimination and friendship.
Here is the NLS annotation:
The book woman of Troublesome Creek DB 95243
Richardson, Kim Michele. Reading time 9 hours, 28 minutes. Read by Katie Schorr. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Historical Fiction
Description: Kentucky, 1936. Nineteen-year-old Cussy Mary Carter has been working as part of the Pack Horse Library Project, but her father hopes she'll marry--despite the family trait of blue skin. In addition to her father's hopes, Cussy must also face the prejudice of the community she serves. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Fiction Old and New discussed the book, Hello Summer
by Mary Kay Andrews, DB 99179 on Friday, February 5, 2021 eastern time. This is a fast paced and entertaining mystery
with a strong family element and a touch of romance.
Here is the NLS annotation:
Hello, summer DB 99719 Andrews, Mary Kay. Reading time
16 hours, 11 minutes. Read by Kathleen McInerney. A production of National Library Service
for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Subjects: Human Relations; Romance
Description: Conley Hawkins left her family's small town newspaper in the rearview mirror years ago. Now a star reporter for a big-city paper, Conley is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, D. C. when the job disappears and she lands right back in Silver Bay, Florida. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
Your facilitator for this group is Michelle Bernstein
(hamletsweetlady@gmail.com).
Here is the NLS annotation:
The first actress: a novel of Sarah Bernhardt DB99894 Gortner, C. W. Reading time: 16 hours, 20 minutes. Read by Gabrielle de Cuir. Historical Fiction Young Sarah Bernhardt has rarely known love from those who should care for her. Her mother wants her to join the family business as a courtesan. Sarah refuses and joins the Comédie-Française. But her tenure is short and tempestuous. She slowly grows into her undeniable talent. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
Your facilitators for this group are Michelle Bernstein (hamletsweetlady@gmail.com) and Sherry Wells (sherrywells1157@gmail.com).
Note – This book has 2 entries on BARD by different narrators. The annotation for each is the same so we are only listing one here. Here is the NLS annotation:
Fiction Old and New will be discussing the book The Impersonator by Mary Miley, DB77528, on Friday October 2 at 8PM Eastern. Here is the NLS annotation:
Fiction Old and New welcomes our fellow moderator and author, Ann Parsons on Friday, September 4, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. eastern time. We will be discussing Ann's novel,
We will be discussing The Competition by Marcia Clark , DB79718, on Friday, June 5, 2020 at 8PM Eastern time. Here is the NLS annotation:
We will be discussing The Midwife’s Revolt by Jodi Daynard, DBC04046, on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 8PM Eastern time. Here is the NLS annotation:
We will be discussing Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha, DB97652, on Friday, April 3, 2020 at 8PM Eastern time. Here is the NLS annotation:
We will be discussing The Mermaid & Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Gowar, DB93081, on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 8PM Eastern time. Note - this historical fiction novel contains strong sexual content, especially towards the beginning of the book.
We will be discussing Pay Day by ReShonda Billingsley, DB96640, on Friday, February 7, 2020 at 8PM Eastern time. Here is the NLS annotation:
Topic: Fiction Old and New discussion group Time: Meets the first Friday of each month at 8pm Eastern. We will be discussing City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert, DB95563, on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 8PM Eastern time.
We are pleased to welcome author Abbie Taylor who will be discussing her new novel, "The Red Dress", on Friday, November 1, 2019. The Red Dress is only available on Bookshare and Kindle.
We will meet at 8pm Eastern on 10/4/19 to discuss Looking for Me, DBC03661, by Beth Hoffman. Here is an interview with the author for anyone interested:
Just this time we are rescheduling Fiction Old & New to be one week early, on Friday 8/30 instead of Friday 9/6.
Fiction Old and New will meet at 8pm Eastern on 6/7/19 to discuss Remember Me Like This DB78840 by Bret Johnston. The NLS annotation follows:
Fiction Old & New will be discussing the book Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf DB81799, on Friday May 3 at 8PM Eastern.
Fiction Old & New will be discussing the book Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney DB86852, on Friday April 5 at 8PM Eastern.
Fiction Old & New will be discussing the book The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory. DB90130, on Friday March 1 at 8PM Eastern.
Please join us on Friday, January 4, 2019 to discuss James Baldwin's powerful and emotionally resonant story of young love in a turbulent environment in his 1974 novel, "If Beale Street Could Talk", DB 58492.
Fiction Old & New will be discussing the book An American Tune by Barbara Shoup. DBC12181. Here is the BARD annotation: An American tune: a novel DBC12181 Shoup, Barbara. Reading time: 14 hours, 7 minutes.
Fiction Old & New will be discussing the book A Place for Us by Fatima Faheen Mirza. DB91422. Here is the BARD annotation: A place for us: a novel DB91422
Fiction Old & New will be discussing the book Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. DB89018. Here is the BARD annotation: Little fires everywhere DB89018 Ng, Celeste. Reading time: 11 hours, 29 minutes.
Here’s the annotation: One perfect lie DB87759 Scottoline, Lisa. Reading time: 8 hours, 58 minutes. Read by George Newbern. Suspense Fiction Psychological Fiction
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing The Ice House by Laura Lee Smith, DB88955, on Friday, August 3, 2018 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time in the Book Nook Room of the
Fiction, Old and New will be discussing Before He Finds Her by Michael Kardos, DB80651, in the Book Nook Room of Accessibleworld.org on Friday, July 6th at 9:00 p.m.eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time. Here's the annotation:
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing An Excess Male by Maggie Shen King , DB89823, on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time in the Book Nook Room of the
Here's the annotation: Saints for all occasions: a novel DB87768 Sullivan, J. Courtney. Reading time: 15 hours, 3 minutes. Read by Susan Denaker. Family
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak, DB83286, on Friday, April 6, 2018 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time in the Book Nook Room of the
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, DB87441, on Friday, January 5, 2018 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time in the Book Nook Room of the
Fiction, Old and New will be discussing Across Two Novembers: A Year in the Life of a Blind Bibliophile by David Faucheux
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel, DB87225, on Friday, November 3, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time in the Book Nook Room of the
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers, DB75307 on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time in the Book Nook Room of the
This is a feel good book about a woman trying to save a children’s book store in this age of digital media. Along the way she learns more about her beloved great aunt & deals with other family issues.
Here is the annotation:
Commonwealth: a novel DB86217 Patchett, Ann. Reading time: 10 hours, 9 minutes. Read by Kristin Allison. Family Bestsellers
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing "The Same Sky" by Amanda Eyre Ward, DB 80921 on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time in the Book Nook Room of the
Fiction, Old and New will be discussing You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott in the Book Nook Room of Accessibleworld.org on Thursday, March 2nd at 9:00 p.m.eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time.
This is a story of the importance of family and community and how romance can find us when we least expect it.
This book is about 3 sisters & their families. The families go to the beach every summer until tragedy strikes one summer.
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing "The Hopefuls" by Jennifer Close, DB 85096 on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time, 6:00 p.m.
This book is the story of an Irish girl who comes to Brooklyn, how she fares in a strange new country and what happens when she unexpectedly has to return home.
The Fiction Old and New book group will be discussing Bobbie Ann Mason's intriguing family story, "In Country", DB 24790 on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time, 6;00 p.m. pacific time in the Book Nook Room
This book is categorized as science fiction but only one small element of the story falls into that category. The book is about a program to send people back in time. Most of the book is about our hero’s experiences in 1890s New York City. He intend
In "The Mistress of Nothing", the reader is immediately transported to the early twentieth century worlds of London and Egypt as we follow
In Aline Ohanesian's debut novel, "Orhan's Inheritance", the reader is captivated by dual storylines. The contemporary story tells of Orhan, a young man who must uncover the mystery of why his grandfather Kemal
Stillwater Rising by Steena Holmes DB 82651 The town of Stillwater Bay is still reeling from the school shooting by a teen that left many younger children dead.
We're going for a classic this month. Of the many great books she wrote, The Custom of the Country was Edith Wharton's favorite.
"The Sweetheart" is both a social commentary on the ways that American society viewed men and women in the 1950's as well as the funny and warm story of a young woman who finds her occupation in the unusual
Here's the NLS annotation: Together tea DB80127 Kamali, Marjan. Reading time: 8 hours, 40 minutes. Read by Erin Jones. Family
In this short family novel, three generations of women in one family work as midwives. When the grandaughter unexpectedly becomes pregnant, the family must work together to resolve old and new conflicts. Here is the BARD annotation:
A horrible crime was committed against prison guard Wes Carver. This is the story of how this crime impacted Wes's life & his family relationships.
We are discussing Australian author Frances Whiting's debut novel, "Walking on Trampolines", DB 81113 which tells the story of a young woman, Tallulah ("Lulu") and her friendships with three other young women.
"The Bees" tells the story of Flora 717, a bee who must navigate the world of the hive in much the same way that people learn to navigate the environment in which they live. This may be called science fiction but it should be appealing to all!
The book is based on the real life Mary Bowser who was born a slave, went to Philadelphia to be educated after she and her mother were freed, and then served as a spy in the Confederate White House during the Civil War.
"The Children Act" tells the story of a London judge who must determine whether a hospital can compel a minor to continue medical treatment despite his family's religious objections. This is an intelligently
Fiction, Old and New will be discussing Random Winds by Belva Plain. This book is a family story dealing with random events as well as decisions made, good & bad, and the impact they have on oneself as well as ones family.
Helen Simonson's warm and humorous family story (with a lovely romance) "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" Major Pettigrew's last stand: a novel DB 70760 Simonson, Helen
This wonderfully written historical fiction novel tells the alternating stories of Marie-Laure, a young blind girl who comes to live with her reclusive great-uncle in
We will be discussing two of Alyson Richman's titles: her most recent novel, "The Garden of Letters" (available on Bookshare and Audible) as well as her debut novel, "The
Please note that this book has a DBC number instead of a DB number, but it is available on BARD. The Fiction Old and New book group will be meeting
"The Paris Architect" tells the story of Lucien Bernard, a Parisian architect who agrees to design an impenetrable hiding place to hid Jewish people for a wealthy Christian client in Paris during the German occupation of France in 1942.
Our next book deals with complex family relationships. Rose rebels against her strict religious upbringing and becomes a successful photographer. She is not sure what to do though when her niece, Rivka, appears to be following in her footsteps.
A pharmacologist is sent to the Amazon to investigate the death of a colleague and the status of work on a new wonder drug. There's adventure in this book as well as interesting detail about living & doing research in the Amazon.
For the month of July only, we are meeting on the third Tuesday of the month instead of the usual meeting time of the second Tuesday evening of the month.
Fiction, Old and New will be discussing Night Road by Kristin Hannah in the Book Nook Room of Accessibleworld.org on Tuesday, May 13th at 9:00 p.m.eastern time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time.
We will be discussing two of Steve's nine books. This does not mean that you need to read both novels unless you wish to. We will be discussing both "Prisoners of War " (available on BARD and Bookshare) and "The Realm of Last Chances"
Fiction, Old and New will discuss American Muslim author Ayad Akhtar's book, "American Dervish" in the Book Nook Room on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. eastern standard time, 6:00 p.m. pacific time.
We will be discussing the novel, "Eat the Document", which was a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award with author Dana Spiotta. This novel succeeds on many levels- as a social commentary on the ways society has changed
John Steinbeck's "The Moon is Down" is a testament to the enduring spirit of the individual and the democratic ideal as well as a evocative study of the effect of war upon a town. This book was
Jennie Fields, the author of 4 novels as well as a very successful advertising executive brings the reader into the world of Edith Wharton at a time in her life
Our first book selection will be "The Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom, DB 75509 (or it is available on Bookshare). The BARD annotation is below.