TYC Book Club 2026 

     Welcome to the TYC book club. Any TYC member is welcome to join us.

       In addition to sharing some interesting books, book club has become a place for us to connect with each other, hear a variety of perspectives, and get to know each other better.  We strive for a variety of books in various genre. Sometimes we love the books and sometimes we do not, but either way our discussion makes us think more deeply about the books, about what we like and what we don't, and we always have a good time.

                During the boating season, we meet at the TYC clubhouse once a month from May to September on Sunday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. During the off season--February, March and  October, we meet at the home of a club member on a Sunday from 12:00 to 2:00. 

              Even though we  have some very regular members,  we always look forward to seeing both long time and new members. Please know you are all welcome. 

     At our last meeting, we collected some suggestions for book choices. We have begun to assemble our list selecting a variety of books from a variety of authors in a variety of genre.  Below is the list we have selected so far. More to come!

Linda Maddigan and Denise David 

 Meeting Dates for 2026

Feb. 1          Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamati

March 8      Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon

May 17       Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

June 14      Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs

July 12       The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped                         Win WW II  by Christopher Gorham  

August 16th

September 20th

October TBA

 

Fuller Descriptions of the book choices.

Choice #1 

Feb 1.    Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamati 

              Meeting at Claudia Lewis' home 12:00-2:00 

              Please call her ahead of time to let her know if you are planning to attend. 

 

This is an an amazing book about the friendship between two young girls who grow up in Iran. It begins in Tehran in the 1950's, following the lives of these two  friends well into adulthood.  We will have some thoughtful discussions about this book --a story of  friendship, the resilience of the human spirit, and the power of love and courage. We  think you will love this book. 

 Choice #2 

March 8th      Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon

                Meeting at Claudia Lewis' home from 12:00-2:00. Please call Claudia ahead of time to let her know you are coming.

 

  

This book is by the author of Frozen River, which everyone liked so well. This novel documents the flight of the Hindenburg and the story of why it crashed. It reads like a detective novel, but brings a moment in history to life. Flight of Dreams has been described as a nail biter even though we know this is the last flight of the amazing airship, the fastest way to cross the Atlantic at the time. 

 
 

 

Choice #3  

May 17th  Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

                Meeting at TYC from 12:00--1:00. 

 

 

This historical fiction novel is set in 1930's London. It focuses on five well-known women crime writers who are sick of being treated as second class writers by their male counterparts. They work together to solve an actual murder, a young woman found strangled in a park in France.

If you have enjoyed the other Marie Benedict books we have read, you will probably enjoy this one as well. 

      

 

 

 

Choice #4

June 14th Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs

   Meeting at TYC at 12:00 to 1:00

 

 Wayward Girls  takes place in Buffalo, New York during the 1960's. It is based on the true story of teenage girls condemned to forced labor at Good Shepherd, a Catholic reform school for girls who were pregnant, gay or just hard to control. It is a frightening, secret institution controlled by the Sisters of Charity nuns. 

The book is described as "life-affirming" and a story of survival, friendship and redemption" for six girls housed at this reform school. It should make for an interesting read.

 

 

Choice #5  

July 12th The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win                                               WWII by Christopher Gorham

 Meeting at TYC from 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.

 

According to Life Magazine, "This is the story of the most important official woman in the world."  It is the story of an American heroine. Anna Rosenberg is a woman who has been largely forgotten by history. Her story is described as "extraordinary and inspiring." She became Franklin Roosevelt's special envoy to Europe in WW II. She was among the first Allied Women to enter liberated concentration camps. She guided the direction of such diverse aspects of the war as the G.I. Bill of Rights and the Manhattan Project. She was an immigrant from modest roots. The book is described as an "eye-opening biography. "

 

Choice 6   August 16,  2026. TBA 

 

Choice 7  September 20th, 2026 TBA

 

Choice 8 October TBA

   

 

  

TYC Book Club 2025 Season

 

     The following are our  selections for the new season of the TYC Book Club.  We strive for a variety of books, from a variety of sources: some are suggested by members, or other friends  or from  book reviews.  Some promising titles have found their way to this year's list.

     Any  TYC member is welcome to join us at book club. In addition to sharing some interesting books, book club has become a place for us to connect with each other, hear a variety of ideas, and get to know each other better. Some books we love and some we do not, but either way our discussion makes us think and share ideas.  

     During the boating season, we meet at the TYC Clubhouse once a month from May to September on a Sunday from 12:00-1:00 p.m. During the off season, January, March and October,  we meet at the home of a club member on a Sunday from 12:00 until 2:00.

    Even though we have some very regular members, we look forward to seeing both long time and new members.  Please know you are all welcome.

Linda Maddigan and Denise David

Meeting Dates:

February 2      The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

March 23         rescheduled to

March 30        James by Percival Everett

May 18            The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

June 22           The Wedding People by Alison Espach

July 20            Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

August 17        The Half Bird: A Journey of Curiosity,                                               Resilience and Life at Sea by Susan Simillie

September 21  The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

October  19      Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon   

Meeting #1    February 2  The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Our meeting will be held at Claudia Lewis' house. Call her to let her know if you will attend.

     

The Goldfinch is a story of grief and trauma, and finally redemption. The story centers on a thirteen year old boy who loses his mother in a meaningless bombing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The story follows Theodore Decker's life from age 13 to age 27. The painting of The Goldfinch painted by Carel Fabritius in 1654 becomes important in both the plot and the larger meaning of the book. 

Fiction

Meeting #2   March 23  James by Percival Everett

Meeting at Claudia Lewis' home. Please call her to let her know if you plan to attend.

James is a retelling of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, except that in this book the point of view is that of the enslaved Jim, now called James. You do not have to have read Huckleberry Finn to enjoy this book. The book has received much critical attention. You will find it to be an action-packed story that somehow manages to have some humor as well. 

Historical Fiction

Meeting #3  May 18th       The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

This meeting will be held in the TYC Clubhouse from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

 

This mystery/thriller has been described as a "can't put it down" read. It is set in a summer camp in the Adirondacks where a 13 year old camper disappears. There is ample praise for the characters, the setting, the ending. This will be fun to read and discuss.  Barack Obama picked this book as one of his favorite reads of the summer of 2024.

 Mystery/Thriller

 

 Meeting #4    June 22   The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Meeting at TYC clubhouse 12:00 to 1:00 pm.

   This book come highly recommended as a book that has relatable characters that take the reader on an emotional journey. The plot centers around an uninvited wedding guest that shows up a a lavish wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. The books reminds us that small interactions with people can change your life. June is a great time for a wedding! 

 

 Fiction

 

 

Meeting #5   Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

Meeting at TYC from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.  July 20th

Stephanie Dray gives us a powerful historical fiction book covering the life of Frances Perkins, who was the first woman appointed to the presidential cabinet of Franklin Roosevelt as Secretary of Labor.  Perkins is a woman we all should know more about for her role as a woman who changed history. She is an outstanding woman that we generally know far too little about. This book will change that!

 Meeting #7   The Half Bird: A Journey of Curiosity, Resilience and Life at Sea by Susan Smillie

Meeting at TYC 12:00-1:00 pm. August 17th

The Half Bird is a sailing memoir that goes beyond traditional narratives of adventure and survival. It is the story of one woman's solo voyage from Lands End, England to the shores of Greece. Susan Smillie's book has been described as a "beautifully crafted examination of freedom, control, intricate human relationships, and humanity's place with the interconnected web of living systems on our planet." It comes highly recommended. 

Memoir

Meeting #8      The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

 

 

You will remember Matt Haig from an earlier book that we read for book club, The Midnight Library. "When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterraean island by a long lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook, and no plan." This is the story of a life change, a new beginning. You might want to keep in mind that "what looks like magic may just be a part of life we don't understand yet."

Meeting #9    Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Frozen River is an historical fiction novel that is based on a diary from an 18th century midwife, Martha Ballard. The story centers on a woman who is persistent in seeking justice in a time when women were neither respected nor listened to.  We will learn about life in a past time as we will follow a compelling story.  Several book club members were enthusiastic in their recommendation of this book.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 TYC Book Club Season 2024

         The upcoming reading season promises to be a very good one.  There are some wonderful books finding their way to our list.We strive to include a variety of books, some suggested by members while others have been recommended in book reviews. We strive for a variety of genres and for books that will prompt discussion.

     We look forward to any TYC member attending book club.  In addition to sharing interesting books, book club has become a place for us to connect with each other, hear a variety of ideas and come to know one another better.  Some books we love, some we do not, but we always have discussions that make us think and share ideas.

    Even though there are some very regular members,  we very much look forward to seeing both long time members and new members.

Happy Reading,

Linda Maddigan and Denise David

Meeting Dates:

January 28th    Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

March 10th      The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

May 19th        Hang the Moon by Jeanette Walls

June 30th        Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

July 21st         Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Aug 18th       The Women by Kristin Hannah

Sept 22nd      The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria                                              Christopher Murray

Oct. 27          The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

(Note: This meeting will be held at 12:00 p.m. at Claudia Lewis' home.

Meeting #1  Jan 28 at Claudia Lewis' house from 12:00-2:00 p.m.

    Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.

 

 Several book club members have commented that they could not put this book down. It is long, 735 pages, but we thought January might be the perfect time to read this book. The book has become a word-of-mouth best seller. It is an epic story, an inter-generational story of family, faith, and the power of water. Happy reading!

 

 

Meeting #2   March 10th  The Violin Conspiracy by                                                         Brendan Slocumb 

This book is a mystery, but it is so much more. It is a riveting page-turner about a Black classical musician's desperate quest to recover his lost violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world.

"Utterly original and downright gripping, The Violin Conspiracy is more than a mystery--it's an unflinching peek into the heart and soul of a gifted Black violinist striving to pursue his passion in the face of adversity. Brendan Slocumb's debut is an essential lesson in artistry, prejudice, and persistence."
--Zakiya Dalila Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl

Meeting #3 May 19th   Hang the Moon by Jeanette Walls

 

 

Hang the Moon is a compelling story set in the Roaring 1920's in rural Virginia. Sallie Kincaid is the central character in a story of family, of secrets, of bootleggers and a feisty female character. The book is fiction, but you may remember Jeanette Walls from her amazing memoir The Glass Castle. 

 

Meeting #4  June 30th at TYC 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

 

The book has been recommended by several book club members, but be warned that it is a very emotional book, a tender tearjerker.  It is a story of the relationship of four sisters in an emotionally torn family.  

Meeting #5 July 21, 2024   at TYC Clubhouse at 12:0-1:00

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

This book is unusual. It is the story of a friendship between an octopus and an older woman who works the night shift at the aquarium cleaning up. It is a book about accepting friendship wherever you find it and it is about be willing to change.

 

Meeting #6  August 18th, 2024 at TYC Clubhouse from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

 

In this historical fiction novel, Hannah follows the life of a young nurse who goes to Vietnam and the aftermath of her return home. The book is a page-turning read. It captures the complicated time period of the Vietnam War as well as celebrates the power of friendship among women.

Meeting # 7   September 22nd, 2024 at TYC Clubhouse from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict

 

 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray have teamed up again (last time it was for The Personal Librarian) to tell the story of the friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist, Mary McLeod Bethune. 

Meeting #8   October 27  The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

Meeting to be Held at Claudia Lewis' home.

     The book is the winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.

Book Description: "A four-year-old Mi'kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a tragic mystery that haunts the survivors, unravels the community, and remains unsolved for nearly fifty years."   ~Good Reads