While I enjoy my association with our Library very much, another connection also gives me great interest and that is the Book Clubs of Lions Bay.  We have three active clubs of women who meet monthly, with chosen books to review, a glass of wine and friendship to enjoy. My club “Chapter Three” has enjoyed a wonderful selection of books read over the past 4 years.

This year’s choices were no exception.  Our selections included Vancouver writer Wayson Choy’s “Jade Peony”, which gives the history of the Chinese settling in Vancouver and their struggle to make a livelihood and maintain their old world habits and religion.  We all thought this was an awesome choice that many of us would not have read if not for book club.
Also read was “Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures” by Vincent Lam, which garnered the author the Giller Prize.

In June, our last book is “A Long Way Gone” by Ismael Beah.  This autobiography is about life in Sierra Leone and the author was indeed a young boy, who watched his family and village decimated, was kidnapped by the Army, was drugged and brainwashed and made to commit horrendous acts of violence. Is Ismael Beah salvageable and can he survive the violence he became involved in, in order to stay alive?  This book is not for the faint of heart, and makes one treasure our freedoms, as we do live in the most beautiful country and our children and grandchildren are blessed.

Speaking with members of “Friends through Fiction” book club, they too choose some meaty tomes. Susan Loutet found “The Book of Negroes” a vibrant and compelling story, told by an African woman and her journey from Baro (as a captured slave) in 1745 to London in 1892.

They also read “Three Cups of Tea” and celebrated with a tea party of their own. In Pakistan & Afghanistan they drink three cups of tea, the first cup as a stranger, the second as a friend and the third an invitation to become family. This true story of an American, Greg Mortenson determined to build schools for the illiterate children of these countries. He has indeed succeeded against much hardship and managed to built 55 schools.

Trudi Luethy found “The Cellist of Sarajevo” such a tragedy, a war occurring in an area as close as Calgary is to Vancouver. That being the Bosnia/Serbian war, with the beautiful city of Sarajevo  suffering almost total devastation as the world looked on.

Joan Mc Cullough said of the book “Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, “We all loved this book. It had a personal touch for me. (I am lucky enough to have relatives living on the Island, and have travelled to Guernsey many times. My favorite cousin's husband's father was brought over by the Germans from Holland as a slave, so I understand and can relate to a lot of the war-time difficulties).  Our Book Club's thoughts on the book was it had all the elements of a good read (it touched our hearts in every way).” I loved the preface, "I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers?".

“Between the Lions” ladies have enjoyed their choices from the year’s selections among which are:

“Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood  Pal” was laugh out loud funny at times, which seems to be a trait with Christopher Moore novels.  This fiction follows the story of Jesus, leaving the holy land at thirteen in search of the Three Wise Men who visited him at birth.  It did offend some members who may not have appreciated the typically non humorous subject matter, but was indeed a ‘lighthearted’  fictional look down the Silk Road 2000 years ago.

“Freakonomics” by Dubner & Levitt, explored the truths and myths of finances and provided challenging unconventional assumptions about economics models.   A surprisingly interesting easy read (slightly repetitive) and refreshing approach to the normally dry topic of economics.

“Late Nights on Air” by Elizabeth Hay was a popular choice, about a northern radio station and the interesting characters competing with one another, both on and off air. If you like the CBC you will love this book.

From a previous years book list, “The Many Lives and Secret of Sorrows of Josephine B” by Sandra Gulland, is part of the wonderful trilogy of Josephine Bonaparte. A great start for a fun summer read.

In closing, your library volunteers hope that you will continue using the Library during our summer months.  We have lots of new books, magazines and a new area called “Beach Reading”, thanks to donations made by a resident. We have just returned from a major shopping trip and will be placing 65 new books on the shelves this month.  Come on in and enjoy!

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