MARCH 2026 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, The Weight of Lies, Emily Carpenter

18 Bookers met at the home of Virginia Gandy to discuss this month’s selection, a gripping psychological thriller and family drama featuring a young woman who investigates the forty-year-old murder that inspired her mother’s bestselling novel, discovering devastating truths and dangerous lies.

Bookers showed once again why these ladies are special in so many ways. A celebration of the publication of my novel, Wings Against The Wind, included champagne, a yummy cake, and a beautiful orchid framed in a heart-shape. I managed not to cry…until I got home. The only words I have is thank you…from the bottom of my heart!

Business

Patsy Dehn announced on behalf of Pinnacle Bible Study a six-week course featuring Max Lucado’s latest, In the Footsteps of the Savior, “a guided tour of the Holy Land.” 

The PWC overnight trip this year is slated for April 22-24^th and conflicts with the annual Books in Bloom luncheon scheduled for noon on Friday April 24^th at Athens Country Club. The luncheon benefits the Henderson County Clint W. Murchison Memorial Library. Bookers has always supported this event and this year the speaker will be Dallas author, Sarah Damhoff, who wrote The Bright Years, which is our summer read. Tables of 8 are available for $500.00 and require the hosts to furnish a floral centerpiece for the table. Cost would be $62.50 each, or $65.00 for individuals sitting at no-host tables. Checks payable to Public Library Fund and mailed to Beth Faulk, P. O. Box 1171, Athens, Texas 75751. Beth can be reached at 903-286-6862 or PLFBooksinBloom@gmail.com. If anyone is interested in spearheading this event, please let me know and I’ll be glad to assist in the process. I got a notice today that the tables were selling fast.

Our April 14^th meeting has been moved from Carla Russo’s home to Kathleen Mackey’s  We will be discussing When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin, the moving story of a man with a painful past, a little girl with a doubtful future, and a shared journey toward healing for both their hearts.

Tanya Holstead has been our volunteer Pinnacle library organizer, which involves tidying up and rotating books out at least once a quarter and donating the overflow books to Bookish. She has asked us to find someone else to take over this responsibility. Since the lower level of the clubhouse will soon be undergoing a construction project, Patty Evans will check to see what the status of our library will be during this time and going forward.

Sunshine

Please keep Ann Ireland’s husband, Charles, in your prayers as he has been readmitted to the hospital. 

About the Author

Emily has been writing since she was a little girl growing up in Birmingham, Alabama. Her debut was a highly plagiarized version of The Pokey Little Puppy; the narrative following word for word and came with detailed Crayola illustrations and bound with staples by her ever-patient mother. When not copying other authors’ books, she was walking, sitting, or lying down with her nose in a library book. After graduating from Auburn with a B.A. in Communications and minors in Journalism and Theater, she moved to New York City with her husband landing a job at CBS in the Daytime Drama division where she oversaw production of soaps, “As the World Turns” and “Guiding Light.” One of her responsibilities was creating summary paragraphs of the show’s daily script for the local newspapers with copy that read like…Roger freaks out when he realizes Holly’s been faking amnesia, and Billy’s back from rehab only to find Mindy in bed with Frank – typical soap’s plots. Moving back to Atlanta she wrote a few spec soap scrips to no avail and tried her hand at screenplays which were rejected by the best companies – Steven Spielberg, Mel Gibson, and Rob Reiner.

With her three boys in school full-time she decided the time was right to take the leap and pen a book, joining the Atlanta Writers Club and a local critique group. Having never had a formal creating writing class, she devoured several how to books and in 2011 began working on her first manuscript, a romantic comedy, receiving some encouraging comments from agents, but no one took a chance on her. Changing genres, she wanted to write something really creepy, atmospheric and southern gothic, the result, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, landed her first agent and a two-book deal. What’s she’s learned so far – have unending patience, be relentlessly diligent, and stay stupidly optimistic.

Synopsis

Emily Carpenter spins a compelling tale grounded in family drama and mystery. Meg Ashley, a reformed party girl, lives under the shadow of her mother, Frances, a successful horror novelist whose cult classic, Kitten, was inspired by a long-ago murder catapulting the author into fame and success while painting a vibrant picture of a life most would envy. However, for Meg, this fame comes with a darker undertone. The mother-daughter relationship is fraught, with Meg feeling neglected and resentful towards her mother’s relentless pursuit of celebrity. Desperate to escape Frances’ grasp, Meg agrees to write a scandalous tell-all memoir, the decision propelling her into a quest for truth and validation. The memoir is not just a way to expose her mother’s past; it allows Meg to reclaim her own narrative. As she begins researching Kitten, Meg travels to Bonny Island, Georgia, the setting of her mother’s notorious novel hoping to unravel the secrets buried deep within their family history and confront the lies that have dictated her life. The novel draws heavily from Meg’s evolving identity as she discovers the truths behind her childhood trauma and as the weight of lies surrounding her mother’s legacy escalates, choices that are made not only threaten her life, but those around her as well. The novel is not simply a murder mystery or tale of family betrayal; it’s an exploration of the intricacies of human relationships and the legacies we inherit asking readers to reflect on the darker elements of love and ambition highlighting the quest for truth can both liberate and ensnare.

Rating System:

0 – aka The Susan – wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy. (Susan is special – no one else has a rating named after them!!)

1 – put your money back in the piggy bank

2 – borrow, don’t buy

3 – good beach read

4 – borders on your favorite read ever

5 – order now, include in your will

Discussion:

Several Bookers rated the read between a 2 and 2-1/2…the murder of a child fueling the low rating. The majority agreed it was a 3 fitting into the good “beach” read category – a page-turner, the plot nothing too terribly complex…putdownable. The 4’s and 4+’s agreed it was fast-paced, kept readers interested with great character development, with a series of twists and turns at unexpected times. Our lone 5 listened to the audio version and has the heir designated in her will.

Many thanks to Jane Shaw for taking the lead by providing her in-depth character analysis and discussion points. We explored the many flaws of Meg – whiney, spoiled, an entitled trust fund baby…and wondered what drove her to detest her mother so much…she was at times difficult to feel sorry for her plight in life – the “daughter” of a highly successful author. Asa, the agent, was a whiney, slimy snake capable of convincing Meg she had to write a tell-all about her mother, promising all she had to do was give the details and a ghostwriter would make it into a bestseller, basically throwing it in the face of Frances’ celebration of the 40^th anniversary of her novel, Kitten. We mused that maybe Asa knew by approaching Meg to write the memoir, he may have suspected the truth would surface and he would play both ends against the middle and see if Frances or Meg had the upper hand and go with the winner…we can add manipulative to his character profile. The comatose Edgar was somewhat confusing as his role might have been simply to facilitate Meg’s torrid story between her and her mother and maybe be cast as the only father-figure Meg knew. What role would he play if he survived? What can we say about Frances Ashley’s character? She certainly was not going to be awarded ‘mother-of-the-year’ but she was a dynamic character as her narrative was more developed than to supplement the role of the male characters. Was she likeable…did we feel sorry for her…she created a life for herself and provided in a financial way to ensure her daughter was taken care of…was that all she could give…maybe in her world…yes. Meg was immediately drawn to Doro…she was a bohemian…one with nature and seemed genuinely engaged with Meg and her journey…she was the glue that bound all the characters together on the Island…but as the truths unfolded, we saw the fierce, cynical, savage side of the woman who turned out to be Meg’s biological mother. We find out Billy Kitchens is very much alive and his interaction with Meg was pretty bizarre. Koa was the obligatory love interest and at the end, Meg’s birth father, Peter Darnell, resurfaces and all the loose ends are wrapped together in a tidy bundle…a sequel or a movie might be the next time we hear of these characters. One of our favorite scenes was ‘pie night’…we talked about mother-daughter relationship dynamics – nature versus nurture; how the isolated setting was a character in itself; and how memories can be manipulated. We also shared our own humorous horse tales, and it became clear that none of us are destined to be equestrians, but more inclined to giddy-up on a stick horse.

Happy Reading,

JoDee  

FEBRUARY 2026 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, Speak to Me of Home, Jeanine Cummins

                         “This is my way back; you are the lighthouse. Speak to me of home,” Daisy.

15 met at the home of Kittie Minick to discuss this multigenerational saga told through the voices of three women navigating the complex terrain between Puerto Rico and the American Midwest, exploring what it means to call a place home.

Business:

We’ll meet on March 10^th, 10:00 a.m. at the home of Virginia Gandy, 261 St. Andrews Drive, Pinnacle Golf Club to discuss The Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter, a gripping psychological thriller and family drama featuring a young woman who investigates the forty-year-old murder that inspired her mother’s bestselling novel, uncovering devastating truths and dangerous lies.

As a reminder, if you have not purchased your tickets for PWC’s major fundraiser, Casino Night, to be held on February 28^th at the CR Legacy Event Center in Gun Barrel City, the deadline of February 16^th is fast approaching. Tickets are $125.00 per person, and all proceeds benefit the local charities who depend on our generosity to support their missions. It’s in our hands to make this an event to remember and show our support for these worthwhile causes.

About the Author:

Jeanine Cummins was born in 1974 in Rota, Spain where her U.S. Navy father was stationed and her mother was a nurse. She’s of Irish and Puerto Rican heritage and spent her childhood in Gaithersburg, Maryland and attended Towson University majoring in English and communications. After graduating she spent two years working as a bartender in Belfast, Northern Ireland before moving back to the United States in 1997 beginning work at Penguin in New York City spending ten years in the publishing industry.

Her 2004 memoir, A Rip in Heaven, is a story of a tragic night in April 1991 on the Old Chain of Rocks bridge which spans the Mississippi River just outside of St. Louis, Missouri when her two cousins, Julie and Robin Kerry were murdered and her brother, Tom barely escaped. Her cousin Julie’s death inspired her to become a writer as she was Jeanine’s role model and a very gifted writer in her own right. Cummins felt a sense of responsibility to carry on her legacy. Her next book, The Outside Boy, published in 2010 is a poignant coming-of-age novel about an Irish gypsy boy’s childhood in the 1950s. The Crooked Branch followed in 2013 centered around the Great Famine of Ireland. January 2021, Bookers chose American Dirt, published in 2020. Our reviewer, Rebecca Brisendine, admitted she almost put it down after the first chapter which begins with the massacre of 16 people at a family barbeque in a pleasant neighborhood in Acapulco, Mexico…but she was glad she didn’t. The novel sold over three million copies in thirty-seven languages but also gained controversy within the American literary community for perceived cultural exploitation and inaccuracy in her portrayals of both the Mexican and migrant experiences. Her book tour was cancelled in 2020 as specific threats to booksellers and to the author surfaced causing the organizers to believe a real peril to their safety existed.

She and her husband, who is an Irish immigrant who lived illegally in the U.S. for ten years, have two daughters and she is currently researching another novel.

Synopsis:

Speak to Me of Home is a sweeping, multigenerational novel that explores the complexities of family, migration, and the search for belonging. Through its interwoven timelines and richly drawn characters, the book examines how trauma, exile, and assimilation shape identity—not just for individuals, but for entire families and communities. The novel is unflinching in its portrayal of racism, classism, and the quiet violence of exclusion, yet it is also deeply hopeful, celebrating the resilience of women and the power of storytelling to heal and connect. The DNA test, hurricane, and vintage shop are not just plot devices but metaphors for the ways in which the past is always present, and the future is always being rewritten. Ultimately, the novel argues that home is not a fixed place or a pure inheritance, but something we build together—through honesty, forgiveness, and the courage to claim our own stories. In a world marked by displacement and uncertainty, Speak to Me of Home offers a vision of family as both sanctuary and adventure, and of identity as a living, evolving tapestry.

Mixed bag of Reviews:

Kirkus Reviews are considered in the industry as the gold standard and this novel was described as having “flat characters and full of cultural cliches making for a disappointing read. She indulged in tired tropes such as Rafaela’s mother who is a black-haired beauty from the countryside who shimmies her hips and claps back at the aristocratic women who snub her. Although Daisy does almost die in a hurricane, a natural disaster is not character development. Indeed, none of the characters here emerge as real people. Even the dramatic revelation that animates the novel’s final act fails to provoke much in the way of conflict or change.” Ouch.  

On the flipside, The Bookish Elf, says the author has “crafted a novel that is at once intimate and expansive, tackling big ideas through the lens of one family’s deeply personal story.” The novel is “a testament to the power of roots, the complexity of identity, and the enduring strength of family bonds. With its lyrical prose, richly drawn characters, and thoughtful exploration of what it means to belong, this novel is sure to resonate with readers long after they turn the final page. It is a journey worth taking, one that invites us to reflect on our own sense of home and the stories that shape who we are. Jeanine Cummins has once again proven herself to be a master storyteller, capable of illuminating the universal through the deeply personal.”

Rating System:

0 – aka The Susan – wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy. (You are special – no one else has a rating named after them!!)

1 – put your money back in the piggy bank

2 – borrow, don’t buy

3 – good beach read

4 – borders on your favorite read ever

5 – order now, include in your will.

Our discussion:

We talked about the credibility of today’s resources such as Wikipedia versus the “old school” Encyclopedia Britannica and The World Book. Wikipedia provides quick information and is a “good starting point” as it’s a collaborative online encyclopedia that allows anyone to edit its articles – all editors are volunteers.  The New York Times calls it “a factual netting that holds the digital world together.” This open model has led to both strengths and weaknesses in its credibility. The accuracy of AI models depends on the quality of their training data, but these models are also fundamentally unable to cite their original source for their knowledge, thus AI users use Wikipedia knowledge without knowing that Wikipedia is its source. Be careful what you quote!

Speak to Me of Home was well received as the majority of our ratings fell between 3 and 4. Our discussion covered the relatability and development of the characters. Rafaela Acuña’s life spanned privilege, loss, and reinvention with her marriage to white American, Peter Brennan, while still agonizing about giving up the love of her life, Candido. She navigated through scandals, exile, widowhood, and the slow erosion of memory to finely find contentment. Peter was both loving and limited, unable to fully understand his wife’s identity or the racism she endured…his intentions were good, his love for his daughter, Ruth, genuine, and his eventual acceptance of the family’s truth, an act of grace. Ruth is forced to reinvent herself after her husband’s death eventually embracing the messy business of family. Daisy, fiercely independent and determined to reclaim her Puerto Rican heritage, suffered a life-threatening accident, her recovery forcing her to confront her own fragility and the depth of her family’s love. When she opened her vintage shop, The Double Down, it became a living archive of family history – a place where the past was honored and the future imagined. Benny’s character was transformative and a favorite as he became a pillar of strength for his family – he was practical, loyal, and quietly wise. Carlos, Ruth’s youngest son, became Daisy’s confidant acting as the bridge between generations.

The novel is steeped in symbolism such as the banyan tree with its ability to turn branches into roots mirroring the family’s journey of loss, adaptation, and return. The hurricane serves as a metaphor for the family’s upheaval as it disrupts, destroys, and exposes vulnerabilities but also brings a family together in crisis…old wounds are exposed and the possibility of renewal emerges. Family secrets collide with fate as the past shapes the present and the role prejudice plays in the story is on full display in the American Midwest, but we learn how a home is both a place and a choice. Storytelling across generations, languages, and mediums is a central theme as it becomes a way to survive trauma and to claim identity, underscoring the idea that we are made by the stories we inherit and the ones we choose to tell.

 Happy Reading,

JoDee

JANUARY 2026 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, Sugar Birds, Cheryl Grey Bostrom

                                        “The word sorry erupted from her like a train, its horn blaring.”

17 Homo sapiens and Bookers’ very well-behaved strawberry loving mascot, five-month-old micro teacup Schnauzer named Beretta Russo, met at the home of Debbie Yarger to discuss this coming-of-age novel set in the 1980s in Northwest Washington State.

Food for Thought:

There is a metaphor about recognizing the people who have ‘packed your parachute’ meaning those who have offered guidance and encouragement needed to overcome challenges and succeed. Take a moment to reflect on those who enabled you to get to where you are today and thank them for believing in your potential. Many of my parachute packers are sitting in this room today and all the others near and far hold a special place in my heart.

Business:

Our next meeting will be February 10^th 10:00 a.m. at the home of Kittie Minick, 372 St. Andrews Drive, Pinnacle Golf Club. We will be discussing Speak To Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins, a multigenerational saga told through the voices of three women navigating the complex terrain between Puerto Rico and the American Midwest, exploring what it means to call a place home.

Tickets for PWC’s major fundraiser, Casino Night on February 28, 2026, are selling fast with a maximum limit of 200. Help our organization to benefit over 20 local nonprofit organizations in Henderson and Kaufman counties by supporting this event. Tickets are available at https://pwccf.ejoinme.org/2026event until February 16th. $125.00 per person.

Susan Cunyus has volunteered to take care of wrapping the baskets for the Casino Night’s auctions. She needs baskets of all sizes or decorative boxes; ribbon…any color or amount, and filler paper like you would add to a clear gift bag. If you can help, feel free to leave your donations on her front porch, 395 St. Andrews Drive.

Suzy and Kurt Penner have filled a need in our community by coordinating recycling efforts at their home at 119 St. Andrews Drive. Every Tuesday we can drop off aluminum cans which they in turn take to their church which helps support eighteen local charities. On the first Wednesday of every month, they accept all types of glass, rinsed out and without lids and are adding ONLY plastic drinking bottles, also rinsed and without lids on that same date.

Patsy Dehn extended an invitation to their Pinnacle Church Women’s Luncheon to be held at the Pinnacle Club on Saturday, January 31, 2026, 12;00-2:30 featuring keynote speaker, Kylie Jean Tannehill. Please contact Patsy at 214-478-5135 or patsydehn@gmail.com for more information on this very special event.

About the Author:

A keen student of the workings of the human heart and the natural world, Pacific Northwest author Cheryl Grey Bostrom captures the mystery and wonder of both in her lyrical fiction. Sugar Birds and Leaning on Air, which is set twelve years later as ornithologist, Celia Burke, and veterinary surgeon, Burnaby Hayes plunge into a romance, have received critical acclaim and more than two dozen fiction awards. What the River Keeps, which features a reclusive biologist who returns to her childhood home where she must untangle her mysterious past or lose her mind, was awarded a prized Kirkus Star and named to their Best Indies Book of June 2025. She is also working on a sequel to Sugar Birds…working title, Because of Burnaby. She lives in rural Washington State with her husband and a pack of half-trained Gordon setters.

I reached out to Cheryl to let her know we had selected Sugar Birds for our January meeting, and she emailed me a “book club kit” with some inside information and discussion questions. She also is offering a giveaway for just our book club of either a paperback or audiobook of any one of her novels, Sugar Birds, Leaning on Air, or What the River Keeps. Anyone interested? If so, let me know and I’ll forward your email to her, and she’ll notify me of the winner. She’ll also add your name to her once-a-month letter and will include her nature photography and musings.

Sugar Birds evolved from a sketch she submitted to a critique group about a young, rural girl who hid in the woods after she accidentally lit a horrific fire. Afterwards that girl began awakening Cheryl at night, seeing her in trees as she went through her days and before long, memories from her own childhood resurfaced…hours climbing to perilous heights in Pacific Northwest fir trees, seeking solace from a tough home life in the rugged forest she knew so well, and the story unfolded from there. She thinks everyone should do at least once in their lives – something hard, brave…and alone. Her hope is that readers will recognize the story of human resilience written in a suspenseful narrative that highlights both tender and broken relationships, and a tale filled with awe, forgiveness, and redemption and where each of us runs and hides from heartbreak and how we deal with tragedy.

Synopsis:

For years, Harris Hayes taught his daughter, Agate, nicknamed, Aggie, the ways of the northern woods. So, when her mother’s depression worsens, he shows the ten-year-old how to find and sketch the nests of wild birds as an antidote to sadness. Aggie loves nothing more than climbing the massive fir trees that stand near her family home and is perched in a tree far overhead when her unpredictable mother spots her demanding she stay on the ground, forbidding her to climb. Angry and sulking over the recent punishment, Aggie lights a small campfire that unintentionally torches the woods by her family’s cabin burning it to the ground. Believing her parents are dead and afraid of what might happen if she’s blamed for the crime, she flees downriver, landing her boat near the untamed forest where she hides among the trees and creatures, whom she considers her only friends, determined to remain undiscovered.

Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old, Celia Burke, upset at her parent’s breakup, is dropped off by her father at her grandmother’s house for an undetermined amount of time…far away from her life and friends in Houston. She also plans to flee the scene, but when she learns of the fire and that Aggie is missing, she joins the hunt and meets two irresistible young men – one autistic and the other dangerous – and she’s compelled to stay and can’t help but get involved in the search for Aggie.

As Aggie tries to stay alive and Celia attempts to find her, their stories become increasingly intertwined. Aggie’s character is scrappy and she knows how to survive off the land while Celia is full of suburban angst and sarcasm…but both are equally strong characters whose strengths and weaknesses feed off each other.

Tidbits of Interest:

Anyone familiar with fuzz sticks also known as feather sticks? Maybe if you were a Girl Scout or a Campfire Girl you might have been introduced to these. They’re short sticks of dead wood prepared to create a cluster of thin curls used as a fire starter when dry tinder is scarce. Aggie used this to start the fire that burned down their home.

It wasn’t until late in the story – page 248 – in the paperback edition that we learned what the title, Sugar Birds, meant. I spent too much time Googling and came up only with a South African songbird which didn’t make much sense for this novel. It’s a term used by Celia’s grandfather to describe someone desperate, scratching, pecking, and clawing for a sweet seed that will soothe an aching heart. Celia says, “we’re all sugar birds.”  Something to ponder.

“Consider the birds” appears in the books’ front matter – Matthew 6:26 which is a powerful message illustrating birds do not worry about their needs, yet God provides for them – a reminder that if He cares for the smallest creatures, He will certainly take care of us like a loving parent. And birds symbolize freedom – the ability to soar high and break from limitations- physically, emotionally, and spiritually representing hope and change in the novel.

Forgiveness is the gift we give ourselves. It’s a journey to let go of anger and resentment towards those we feel have wronged us. Aggie’s path to forgive her Mama and herself was necessary for healing her trauma. She did this by acknowledging her feelings toward her Mama and why she felt that way and examined how she viewed herself and why. Aggie made a conscious decision to let go of the negative thoughts and preconceived notions she had unfairly formed and absorbed the reality that her Mama’s illness caused her actions and were not directed at Aggie as a form of punishment, tough love, or lack of love.  

Most loved and most loathed characters? Burnaby’s autistic character was developed with authenticity…brutally honest, loyal, and reliable.  Cabot of course was the character everyone loved to hate, however, his caustic personality was well developed with the contrast between his sugar-coated nature and conniving personality was convincing. If he had any redeeming qualities besides his good looks, they were well hidden.

Rating System Discussion:

0 – our new category – I wouldn’t recommend to my worse enemy.

1 – put your money back in the piggy bank

2 – borrow, don’t buy

3 – good beach read

4 – borders on your favorite book ever

5 – order now, include in you will.

It’s a well-known assumption that if you pick a book that most everyone loves, the discussion suffers. The book selection committee tested that theory with Sugar Birds and as it turns out we were successful…we had a lively conversation with the majority of the comments centered around too much attention to the details of the story and the setting and not enough character development; the plot didn’t move until the end and then it felt rushed; too much about trees, bones, birds, and dissecting animals rather than more about Aggie’s mother’s mental illness issues. Several ranked it as a “good beach read” with some concern that a ten-year-old child could be resourceful enough to survive the elements on her own; and two went out on a limb (catch the tree analogy – LOL) with strong 4s touting outstanding characters – 3 courageous, resilient, spunky kids – a lyrical novel filled with life lessons; and the other one loved being transported to the Pacific Northwest, the interactions between the characters, the symbolism of birds, the themes of forgiveness and how that journey resulted in the healing process and applauded how the author tied up all the ends. I personally love the fact we can as a group freely and without judgment share our thoughts as it has always been the mission of Bookers to foster conversation. Thank you for making the second Tuesday, September through May enjoyable and memorable!

On a positive note, next month’s read is receiving good feedback from several Bookers so if we all sit around on our hands in February, we’ll test our theory once again!

Happy Reading,

JoDee

 

 

DECEMBER 2025 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, The Shack, Wm. Paul Young

“Emotions are the colors of the soul…and tears can be the best words the heart can speak.”

26 met at the home of Suzy Penner to toast the holiday season with our wonderful group of Bookers’ friends and astute readers. Many thanks to Rebecca Robinson for coordinating our food and beverages and to all who provided an array of tasty dishes and festive spirits ensuring we did not leave hungry or thirsty as we embraced a new Bookers’ tradition – lunch instead of brunch – for our December meeting.

Business:

Our next meeting will be January 13, 2026, 10:00 a.m. at the home of Debbie Yarger, 149 St. Andrews Drive, East, Pinnacle Golf Club. We will be discussing Sugar Birds, by Cheryl Grey Bostrom, a coming-of-age novel set in the 1980s, Washington State, that follows the story of a ten-year-old girl who loves the outdoors but after accidentally starting a fire she flees to the woods fearing her parents are dead. A desperate search ensues in this engrossing tale of survival and redemption.

I did make a $100.00 donation to Friends of the Animals in memory of Pat Faherty as we discussed last month. I know it would make her smile knowing the animals are benefitting from our generosity. We received a nice thank you note from her daughter acknowledging the donation.

Bettie Abio announced an event to be led by her friend, Ann Marie Dell who holds a PhD on the subject, at the Holocaust & Human Rights Museum on Monday, January 12^th, 2:00 p.m. The tickets are $17.00 apiece and can be purchased at the door or online. The facility is located at 300 North Houston Street, Dallas, Texas, 75202. Husbands and friends are welcome, and Bettie thinks there is a Corner Bakery within walking distance for those interested in eating nearby. Please contact Bettie with any questions and if possible, let her know if you plan to attend. 214-868-8277.

Disclaimer:

Bookers chose this novel in 2008, and we decided to revisit this poignant story for our December read. “The Shack” is a work of fiction, and such should not be held to the scrutiny of theological standards and was not intended as a seminary lecture or platform. Young is a storyteller, and he used his creative writing skills to show readers how he dug himself out of his shack serving as a catalyst to get people talking about who God is and how he makes himself known in the world. The underlying tone is of course spiritual, but it is not intended to teach the word of God…only to offer the author’s vision for anyone to see. As a group, we will strive to be respectful of each other’s opinions as we discuss this emotional journey through healing, forgiveness, relationships, and finding a path out of pain.

About the author:

Wm. Paul Young was emotionally distant from his missionary parents; sexually abused by the tribe they lived among in New Guinea; was grief stricken after losing his eighteen-year-old brother and five-year-old niece to tragic accidents, and his mother-in-law died suddenly all the while he was cheating on his wife…he clearly was a mess. After counseling and with the encouragement of his wife, he wrote a book to “open his heart and his thinking to his children.” He hoped his life would unfold like the picture on top of a jigsaw puzzle where all the pieces fit. The book was never intended for publication…although Windblown Media disagreed with him. So, is the book true…yes, but not in a literal way…it’s based on his experiences but is a fictional accounting of his life…he admittedly had numerous conversations with God demanding answers and not getting the right ones until he found a way to “re-turn” to his beliefs and lift the “Great Sadness” from his shoulders…he wants us to see his story in the pages of the book…then see our own.

Synopsis:

We have a man in the depths of “The Great Sadness” … a broken believer struggling to find a way out of his darkness. Three years ago, “on his watch,” his youngest daughter Missy was kidnapped and presumed murdered in a secluded shack in northeastern Oregon, the burden of guilt and despair overwhelming his existence. Out of nowhere, he receives a note in the mailbox: “Mackenzie, it’s been a while. I’ve missed you. I’ll be at the shack next weekend if you want to get together. Papa.” (His wife’s pet name for God.) After much deliberation he spends a few days at the shack in the presence of God, the Father who was a large African American woman with a Southern accent; God, the Son who was a large-nosed Middle Eastern Arab in carpenter’s clothes; and God, the Holy Spirit who was a petite Asian woman called Sarayu of Indian origin meaning the essence of life. And even God’s wisdom was a character named Sophia, a beautiful olive-skinned woman with chiseled Hispanic features. Young effectively used humor to alleviate the gravity of the situation and provide a soothing balm for open wounds, but just as we think Mack’s broken life had healed, the author throws us a curve ball when he wrecks his car and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. As he regains consciousness, he begins to recall the details of meeting Papa and readers are charged with determining the accuracy of his meeting God at the shack…or was it a dream…or a result of a near-death experience…or was he hallucinating…or what?

Homework Assignment:

Bookers’ books are selected to raise our minds to a higher level and have a “talkability” factor that challenges us to go past the obvious and respond. This novel is a simple tale that ask us to think beyond the storyline or simply accept the story on its merits alone…in the end it’s our choice.

The Bible states “God is love” in John 4:16. We asked members to use their imaginations, to be creative, honest and willing to share their vision of God on a blank white canvas using any medium…words, pictures, colors, sayings, quotes, anything that would add an image of their beliefs.

We had four “J’s” sharing our visions; me with a drawing of the tree of life where all life is connected – the roots are the past…the trunk, the present…and the branches, the future. The hearts are God’s love. Joellyn tapped into the author’s descriptions of color and light recounting a personal heartbreak when her stepson passed and how the patterns of color and light appeared to her before she knew of the tragedy. In Young’s words, “we’re able to see one another truly as their personalities and emotions are visible in color and light.” Jean’s perception is clear in every sunset and every ocean…how could their beauty and majesty be anything other than His work. Jane recounted the loss of her only son, Jason, in 2006 and the heart-wrenching emotions tied to this tragedy, finally coming full circle from rock-bottom anger to acceptance and peace as this novel came into her life at the right time.

Discussion:

The movie version ends with a song by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, “Keep Your Eyes on Me” encouraging us to find hope and guidance in the midst of grief…when it hurts too much to see…when the light in your heart is too burned out to see…when you can’t find your way home…when you’re lost in the dark…keep your eyes on me. We discussed how the novel deals with the most difficult question in theology. How can an all-powerful, all-loving God allow an innocent child to suffer and how can God ask a person to believe and have faith when they’ve lived through impossible pain and grief? Young tells us heaven is in our future hope, not in our present reality, and he did not intend to tell people how to get to heaven, just inspire them to want to go there. We discussed the weight of forgiveness and the role it plays in healing…it doesn’t mean forgetting, but it does turn the responsibility back to your God to deal with it…it’s all about a path to emerge from your “shack.” The author’s use of portraying God as a black woman stirred comments on both ends of the spectrum but the author’s purpose was to humanize Him asking readers to leave behind the stereotypes and focus on the message…and she was a comforting unassuming type character…and might reach a broader audience…not to mention he needed a cast of characters to keep us turning the pages.

Our rating system

We had none in the newly created “0” category which is interpreted as “what in the world was the selection committee smoking that day…” just kidding of course. We had one rating in the # “1” category – the put your money back in the bank” – as she had an issue with the author identifying with the “universalism movement” who believe all humanity will eventually be saved as Christ’s atonement did atone for everyone’s sins. The # “2” borrow, don’t buy had the majority of those casting a vote, the major issue – the middle section of the book didn’t keep their interest, leaving some ho-humming but that wasn’t the case in the audio version. Our one # “3” felt it was too far-fetched ala “Life of Pi” and our lone # “3.5” thought it was good, not great. One of our # “4’s,” loved it as it reminded her of “The Twilight Zone” a couple saying it challenged you to think about justice and judgments and another saying the words, “grace” and compassion came to mind as well as “Love is patient, love is kind” and reminded her of Randy Travis’ tear-jerker song, “Three Wooden Crosses.” Our three #5’s will have to rewrite our wills as this novel is described as a spiritual read focusing on forgiveness, looking at others without judgment, finding what’s in our hearts and having a relationship with God reinforcing the knowledge that His presence is evident in every blade of grass, in the eyes of a newborn and everything in between…a spiritual closeness that comforts and shines on you even on cloudy days…like tranquility in the midst of chaos.

In closing, we are appreciative of everyone who participated…for your compassion, insight, respect, and thoughtful preparation. For some it was a painful exercise, but we hope you gained some perspective and peace through the process.

Happy Reading,

JoDee

NOVEMBER 2025 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS, First Lie Wins, Ashley Elston

NOVEMBER 2025 BOOKERS MINUTES & MUSINGS

First Lie Wins, Ashley Elston

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything,” Mark Twain

25 Bookers met at the home of Susan Cunyus on Veterans’ Day to discuss this month’s read in hopes of a lively conversation and we were not disappointed, some in attendance no doubt asking what planet the selection committee was on when we chose this one. All kidding aside, there’s a method to our madness – to explore different genres that challenge us to read outside our comfort zone – mission accomplished. As always, member input is welcomed, so if you have a recommendation that you think might be a good Bookers’ book, please pass it on to me, Jane Shaw, Patty Evans, and/or Kat Mackey! Also, FYI, Bookish has chosen a novella, A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly for their December book club. You might enjoy this one if you find time during the holidays.

It was good to see Chris Vaughn again and to welcome new member, Danah Peterson, and a special treat, the very well-behaved three-month old Beretta, a micro teacup Schnauzer in the arms of Mama Russo.

Sunshine:

We are saddened to learn of the passing of one of Bookers’ charter members, Pat Faherty, on October 21, 2025. She was our own St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, who believed in the eyes of an animal, we find a reflection of our own compassion. Pat often volunteered with The Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake assisting in their spay and neutering procedures. Her family has requested donations in her name to www.friendsoftheanimals.org. As no one had an objection, I’ll be contributing $100.00 from our slush fund in PWC Bookers’ name in her honor.  

Business:

Our December 9^th meeting will be our holiday party at the home of Suzy Penner, 119 St. Andrews Drive, Pinnacle Golf Club. Rebecca Robinson, our food and beverage czar, will be in charge of coordinating what volunteers bring to share for this meeting. Stay tuned for an email soon. We will be discussing The Shack, by William Paul Young, a revisit from Bookers 2008, a story about the realities of this world and the hope of the next – the author’s goal – not to tell people how to get to heaven, just inspire them to want to go there.

About the Author:

Elston, a Louisiana-based author and avid reader, was a wedding photographer with three young boys who were starting to play sports and hated that her weekends were consumed with work, so she took a step back from her job and started following her passion. She describes her first book as terrible, but persevered and the next one was published and sold declaring no one was more surprised than her. She’s written six successful young adult novels and First Lie Wins is her adult debut selected by Reese Witherspoon’s book club and is now being adapted into a Hulu series starring Octavia Spencer, which Ashley describes as another pinch-me-moment.

Being a visual person because of her photography background, the inspiration for this novel began seeing a group of people sitting around a table imagining what they were discussing and thinking…what if someone was there that shouldn’t be and then continued to “what if” as the story progressed until the plot had developed. Louisiana became its own character through her descriptions and southern culture was dominant like her references of the characters attending a Kentucky Derby watch party – which most likely would not happen north of the Mason-Dixon line. She’s currently in the very early stages of writing a new book.

Synopsis:

First Lie Wins refers to the old saying that the initial lie told often sets the narrative and influences what people believe to be true and once established it can shape perceptions and control the truth for a period of time – the concept suggesting the first untruth can lead to further dishonesty and complicate the situation. In Ashley Elston’s cat and mouse type suspense novel, it proves that the first lie is a game changer. The story involves a mysterious woman, Evie Porter, with a fake identity who is trying to stay one step ahead of her past when she realizes there’s something suspicious going on that she’s involved in. Instead of a psychological thriller where people mess with each other’s heads, this novel turns out to be an “I’m-going-to-break-all-your-fingers-and-blackmail-you-type thriller.” The story unravels slowly, with flashback chapters sprinkled in to help flesh out her past and explain who Evie really is and what she’s up to.  

Evie has a handsome, caring boyfriend named Ryan Sumner, the perfect house, and a group of fun friends. What could possibly be wrong with her life – as it turns out Evie isn’t actually real. Her name is Lucca Marino and she’s pulling a con, and the target is her lover. She’s been hired by the mysterious Mr. Smith to carry out several jobs including retrieving sensitive information to blackmail clients; however, she turns the tide in her favor eventually gaining the advantage over her boss.

In all sorts of twists and turns, readers find out what Ryan was really doing with his “legitimate” trucking business; the real identity of Mr. Smith; the surprising role Amy Holder played in the schemes; who ordered the fake Lucca and James to die and why it was necessary; why Evie Porter does not reclaim her real name; and why Evie and Ryan connected in the first place and his role working with Mr. Smith. In the end, the pair decide to stay together with a little wink and a nod as neither are squeaky clean characters, but both are likeable crooks and perfect for each other.  

Our discussion:

Before we begin our rating system, let’s address a couple of questions. Both Evie and Ryan are morally gray but despite her life of crime, there were a few lines she would not cross – refusing to leave Miles unattended after his mother was injured; giving financial advice to Tyron; changing critical information about Ryan’s business so Mr. Smith wouldn’t be able to take it from him. Does this redeem her in any way? We’ve got a tough crowd – overwhelmingly No.

The story alternates between the present and a series of flashbacks – the purpose being to give readers insights into Evie’s actions or thought processes in the present…what happened in the past driving both. Did you find these distracting and slow the pace of the novel down? Some thought it did impact the pace especially in the middle of the book where some of the flashbacks went on too long. Having said that, without these references, her motivation would be muddled. “All Evie’s jobs in the past were short cons, but this was a long con that would not have made sense without the flashbacks,” said two astute Bookers!

Evie left behind origami swans after each job was completed…it was her calling card and an art she learned from her mother. In Japanese culture, this gesture wishes the recipient good luck, prosperity and longevity, a happy and healthy life. The character, Mr. Smith, proved to be the exception.

At the end, Evie is set to take over Mr. Smith’s business. Many hoped she would give up her life of revenge and crime and settle into an ordinary relationship with Ryan. But that Pollyanna outlook probably would not fit with her character profile – once a con always a con.

Life is full of “firsts” and Bookers experienced that today as we began offering our assessments of the novel using our rating system. Leading us off a couple of members created a new category, 0 to 0.5: which must be a slight step below “put your money back in the piggy bank,” the issues being the alternating chapters (at least the author titled whether the chapter was present day or a flashback – otherwise it would be difficult to keep up with the storyline) – the back and forth was annoying, the ending was flat, and overall they just didn’t enjoy the book – the only positive comment was kudos to the author for her knowledge in creating the intricate plans. The two’s (borrow don’t buy) thought it was fun but silly with unrealistic and underdeveloped characters and couldn’t wait to turn the last page. The majority chose three (good beach read) as it was clever, a page-turner, good characters, twists and turns at every chapter; looking forward to the movie; some redeeming qualities at the end but most didn’t like the way it ended – would rather Evie and Ryan give up the cloak and dagger lifestyle and just be regular newlyweds. Our two fours loved a good con artist and a page-turner, and no one felt the urgency to include this one in their will.

Jane Shaw shared with us that on a recent river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, she visited the ship’s library to find only one book in English – First Lie Wins. Kinda’ like one of those woo-hoo moments when the unexpected happens. And to close out our meeting our unofficial “official” photojournalist, Karla Lawson, placed her phone on the mantel for a group photo when it fell behind the glass door of the fireplace below, giving an all-new meaning to the “find my phone” option whereby our hostess’ husband had to be summoned to save the day. Thank you, Ronnie!

Happy Reading,

JoDee