We’re in the second year from our book club and some time ago we decided which books we will be reading the coming year. Read on to find out!

First of all I’d like to say that I love our little book club… it has made me read so much more this past year and I have read books that I never would have read if it wasn’t for our book club. So a big thank you to all our members!

Talking about those members… a little has changed. Two members stopped, but we have gained two new members so we’re still with 7 which is in my opinion a good number for a book club. We can easily spread 7 books over one year without it being too much for anyone of us.

How did we decide on the books we will read?

During the first meeting of our second year we decided which books we will be reading the coming year. To make that decision, everyone of us brought 3 books we wanted to read or re-read.

As true saleswomen, we promoted our books and from each bookclub member one book was chosen.

Which selection did I put forward?

The diary of a young girl – Anne Frank

This book is actually a diary, written by Anne Frank. She was a young jewish girl and she, her family and some other people, had to hide during the second World War. Unfortunately at the very end of the war, their hiding place was discovered. Her diary was found and after the war, now 70 years ago, it was published.

It’s been ages since I’ve read this book about Anne Frank, but I do remember the impact it had on me. The first time I read it, I was about the same age as Anne Frank and I just couldn’t believe how she survived all those years in her hiding place, not being able to talk or move during the day as not to be discovered and yet still trying to live a life, as normal as possible in those circumstances.

In my opinion, this book should be on any school kid’s reading list as not to forget this horrible time.

Recently I have bought it again as I really want my kids to read it… so far they haven’t, but I really hope they will one day as it is a story that must not be forgotten!

Jane Austen, onder vier ogen – Anke Werker

One of the books I read in 2017 was ‘Jane Austen, onder vier ogen’ (you could translate that as ‘Jane Austen, in private’) by Anke Werker, a Dutch writer. I was so moved by the story that I wanted to put it forward.

This historic novel is actually a double portrait about Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra. The story jumps from 1809 to 1843 and 1845 and is based on the letters Jane and Cassandra wrote to eachother.

It gives a intimate look in Jane Austen’s personal life. Not everything is real in this story, but the author has done a fine job in combining fiction and reality. And once you let go of the thought ‘what really happened and what is fiction’, you really are absorbed by this story!

Maeve Binchy – Evening Class

Last year we have read several books in which the author tells the story seen from different characters and in the end all the stories come together to make the bigger picture. And everytime we discussed such a book I always thought ‘ok, this was very good, but Maeve Binchy does this so much better’.

That’s why I wanted to put a book from Maeve Binchy forward as she excels in weaving stories together. I decided on ‘Evening Class’ a novel about people attending an Italian evening class. Everyone has his or her own reasons to follow the course and Binchy lets you in on all of their lives. You sympathize with every character and it’s simply one of those books you can’t put down.

Maeve Binchy writes about ordinary people, during their ordinary life and yet everytime she manages to make each book so special! Everytime you’ve read one of her books, she leaves you with a warm heart… and that’s an art in its own!

Which books will we read during the next year?

This is the selection of books we will be reading in 2018:

• “Het smelt” – Lize Spit (this is a Flemish book and the title could be translated as “It melts”)
• “The nightcircus” – Erin Morgenstern
• “The only girl in the world: a memoir by Maude Julien” – Maude Julien
• “The diary of Anne Frank” – Anne Frank (yip, my fellow bookclub members chose this one from my three books!)
• “The solitude of prime numbers” – Paolo Giordano
• “Be my knife” – David Grossman
• “Angela’s ashes” – Frank McCourt

To which book do I look forward to most to read?

I’ll put it differently… the only book I am not so keen on reading is “The only girl in the world” by Maude Julien. The summary didn’t appeal to me, but oh well… it’s on the list so I will read it and it will probably be just fine 🙂

All the other books that were chosen, were actually also my own choice so my fellow members chose well 🙂 I will be glad after finishing “Be my knife” though as that seems to be the most difficult read of all of them.

The book club on my blog

And of course I will all keep you informed on the books we will be reading. After every gathering I will give you a brief summary and our thoughts on the book we have read. So if you’re as much of a booklover as I am, keep an eye on my blog!

Love, Kathleen