Cinnamon and Gunpowder

by Eli Brown

For March we will read Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown.

What Happened to Hannah

by Mary Kay McComas

Our next read is What Happened to Hannah by Mary Kay McComas.

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

This month we read The Book Thief, a wonderful World War II story about a little girl who loves to read. We enjoyed the different perspective of the Germans and realized that many of them were victims as well, they weren't all evil as most assume. It is a heart-wrenching book but well worth the read. Now we can watch the movie!

We met at Rubio's in Salt Lake City and enjoyed some yummy fish tacos.

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

This month we read an old classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. 

We met at Archibald's in Gardner Village.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened

by Jenny Lawson

This month was the entertaining but racy book Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, writer of The Bloggess blog. Most of us had fun laughing to this book but a few of us were offended by the vulgar language.

We met at Twig's at Station Park in Farmington. Good food and good company.

The Book of Tomorrow

by Cecelia Ahern

This month we read The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern. Not our favorite, we found the story to be a bit far-fetched.

We met at the Joy Luck Chinese restaurant in Bountiful for some good Chinese food.

Best Friends Forever

by Jennifer Weiner

We all enjoyed Best Friends Forever this month, a fun story about two childhood friends that reconnect as adults. 

This month we met at Desert Edge Brewery in Salt Lake City's Trolley Square. The food was delicious and it was fun to sit outside on their deck, a very enjoyable evening.

Orphan Train

by Christina Baker Kline

This month we read Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. Most of the group described this book as emotionally difficult but definitely worth reading in the end.

This month we met at the Rio Grande Cafe in Salt Lake City.

Crocodile on the Sandbank

by Elizabeth Peters

This month we read the first in a series of Amelia Peabody mysteries written by Elizabeth Peters. Set in Egypt in 1884, the story is an account of Amelia's travels to Egypt to learn about the pyramids and all things Egypt. As the mystery unfolds one can't help but respect and admire Amelia's courage and non-conformity.

Our venue this month was the Tin Angel Cafe in Salt Lake City, a quaint and delicious little place across the street from Pioneer Park. Their wild boar dish was amazing, a great chance to try something different. Everyone enjoyed their food and the staff was very attentive.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

This month we enjoyed a wonderful historical fiction novel set during World War II on the island of Guernsey. The German occupation of the island during the war plays a significant part in the story but with unexpected twists helping you to realize that even German soldiers were human too. The format of the book is simply a series of letters written to and from the characters in the book, a unique and clever way to show the perspective of each character. We all loved this book and found that we could not put it down.

Our restaurant this month was Macaroni Grill in Salt Lake City. Tasty but not amazing, we enjoyed some good Italian food.

Wish You Well

by David Baldacci

For March and April we read a very touching novel called Wish You Well. A departure from Baldacci's thriller-type books, this story was inspired by his mother's upbringing in Virginia. Set in the 1940's, it is the story of two children who move from New York City to their grandmother's farm in Virginia. Their grandmother is a hearty old woman who teaches them a great deal about farming and about life.

Our meeting spot was El Rocoto, a small Peruvian restaurant. The staff was very friendly and the food was good - large plates of meat and potatoes, very hearty.

The Buddha in the Attic

by Julie Otsuka

This month we read The Buddha in the Attic, an interesting book written with a different perspective. Rather than focus on one story and one set of characters, the author writes in general about a group of people - a group of Japanese women who came to America for arranged marriages. The story follows the lives of these women throughout the hardships they face in America, leading up to World War II and the Japanese internment camps. Most of us liked the story although some found the 'group' writing style to be confusing and would have preferred more focus.

We met at Fuji Sushi in Centerville and found their bento boxes and their sushi to be quite yummy.

Angels in the Gloom

by Anne Perry

This month we read Angels in the Gloom, a World War II book set in England. Although this is the third book in a series, it was self-contained enough to read on its own. We found this to be a great story with wonderful characters. A great way to learn about history.

We met at PF Chang's in Salt Lake City and enjoyed some delicious Chinese food.

A Redbird Christmas

by Fannie Flagg

This month was a light read since we are all so busy at holiday time. A Redbird Christmas was a delightful novel to inspire some Christmas spirit. We all enjoyed it.

We met at the Village Inn in Bountiful and savored some yummy comfort food.

Half Broke Horses

     

by Jeannette Walls

This month we read Jeannette Walls' novel that she loosely based on the life of her grandmother, Half Broke Horses. Most of us really enjoyed the book and found it very entertaining. We thought it was more upbeat than Glass Castles. We liked the first-person perspective of the story and thought Walls made the right decision to make it a novel and use the first person instead of writing a more serious biography of her grandmother.

We met at Sizzler in Bountiful for a steak-and-salad meal which we enjoyed but found to be a bit salty. We don't usually splurge for dessert but at Sizzler its included with the meal so we indulged in some yummy brownies and ice cream.

The Fairy Godmother

     

by Mercedes Lackey

This month we read The Fairy Godmother by the prolific Mercedes Lackey. A combination of romantic fantasy and fairy tale, the plot hints at Cinderella with many unexpected twists and turns. A fun read.

We met at Granny Annie's in Bountiful for a diner-style meal that was quite tasty.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

     

by Rebecca Skloot

This month's book was a departure from our typical fiction book with the true story of Henrietta Lacks and her famous cells. We enjoyed the book and commented about how patient the author was with Henrietta's family. Her persistence paid off and the family eventually came to trust her which made her story even more interesting and authentic. The science of the cells and their replication was fascinating and the contribution to modern science is nothing short of incredible.

We met at Mikado in Bountiful for a delicious Japanese meal in our own private tatami room.

The Light Between Oceans

     

by M.L. Stedman

This month's book was a gripping tale of love and despair. Even though the book was full of sadness (we all admitted to some tears), it was a real page-turner since the resolution to the conflict was so unpredictable. Stedman is an amazing writer - we all agreed that her descriptions of Janus Rock were wonderful, we could really picture the island. We sympathized with both Isabel and Hannah, as well as the child, so even though we didn't agree with Isabel's decisions it was hard to find fault with her given her situation.

We met at Boba World in Bountiful for a delicious Chinese dinner. The food was amazing! We tried beef noodles, pineapple shrimp, sweet and sour chicken and sauteed green beans - all were wonderful! Two in our group tried the Boba drinks and both enjoyed them.

I've Got Your Number

     

by Sophie Kinsella

This month we read a fun, entertaining book written by the Shopaholic queen, Sophie Kinsella. We all enjoyed it but a few in our group thought the main character, Poppy, was a bit of a wimp and we couldn't understand why she didn't just stand up for herself. She seemed to be constantly mired in self-created turmoil. But overall it was a fun book to read.

Our restaurant this month was Iggy's Sports Grill in Centerville. Good food, good service, good company, what more do you need?

The Secret Keeper

     

by Kate Morton

This month's selection was The Secret Keeper, another book set in England which recounts the tale of two women whose lives were intertwined. Later in life, the daughter of one of the women tries to piece together the story as her mother approaches death. What she discovers in the end is an unexpected twist in the story that none of us expected. We all enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it. The book prompted discussions about our own mothers (and mother-in-laws) and we digressed so much that we hardly discussed the book! 

One of our book club members generously invited us to her house for dinner this month. We enjoyed a delicious meal and had a peek at her beautiful home. We also got to meet a new baby brought by another member, a beautiful boy that we took turns holding while he chewed on our fingers :)