The No-Sense Book Club

Back in October, my sister and my daughter, Charlie, came to stay with D and me for a week. My sis is from North Carolina, a beautiful state. My daughter from sunny Florida. We spent one of those days shopping and we visited our favorite bookstore, Barnes and Noble. 

Charlie was picking out a fantasy book and my sister said she’d get the same book to read. I’m not into fantasy so much but jumped in and said that I’d read it as well. That’s the moment when we decided to start our girls book club. It would help us to remain closer between the miles. I bought a book for my oldest daughter in Chicago and one for my youngest daughter who lives an hour and a half from me. 

We came up with the name, No-Sense Book Club because with of all the chattering, we just don’t seem to make much sense. It’s kind of funny actually. My sister, Denise, says, “Nothing makes sense. Except when it does.” Maybe this is hard for others to understand. Well…welcome to our world. 

We take turns choosing a book each month. We read it then FaceTime to discuss the book. We have our own text group too. It’s been fun doing this with my sister. She adds so much fun to the group. 

Since October, the four books we’ve read are:

the SPELLSHOP, by Sarah Beth Durst

Dreadful, by Caitlin Rozakis

Vanishing Treasures, A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures, by Katherine Rundell

The Happiest Man on Earth, the Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor, by Eddie Jaku

And the book assigned for February is Double Deal, by Michael Corbett with Sam Ciancana.  

It’s been fun reading books I would not have otherwise chosen. Some I like more than others. Currently, the unanimous vote for best read so for is The Happiest Man on Earth. (Two of the girls haven’t read it yet.) Two of my girls read it in one day. I agree. You just don’t want to put it down. I will say that this true story will grab you by the shoulders and shake you. It will touch the deepest recesses of your heart, pierce your soul, and question many things about the world in which we live. And about the cruelties of war…and sadly, of people.

I bought copies now for each of my boys. I think the message is important. I have decided that I will read this book once a year, every year. So I never forget. 

I also bought The Happiest Boy on Earth, written by the same author, Eddie Jaku. It was written for his great-grandchildren with a much gentler approach to his life’s trials and triumphs. I will read this to my grandkids. I actually wish I could have met this humble man. But through the tenderness of his writing you are his friend. And I love that. 

If you love to read, or even if you don’t, I encourage you to find time for The Happiest Man on Earth. It’s one of the most powerful books you will ever read. 

♥️

Andi