Powell’s City of Books in downtown Portland has just about any kind of book you are looking for. There are so many floors of books! You could stay there for a whole day and still want to go back the next day to see more. . Located in downtown Portland ,the store pretty much fills up a city block . That’s kinda cool to think about….a city block of multiple floors of books. Wow! A book lovers dream. . So grab your list of books you are looking for and go.. you are sure to mark a few off your list .If you have been there , let me know what you love in the comments ⭐️
Our March Book Club pick was Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur. . Once a Queen is a fairytale fantasy that weaves real life family dynamics with magic portals , secret gatherings and magic woven tapestries. You meet 14 year Evie as she travels to England to meet a grandmother she has never met before who lives in a beautiful estate that has an intriguing staff. The staff is one we would all want if we were as privileged. . It starts off slow but then quickly starts to wrap you into the story as it unfolds. As the characters unfold , and the story is weaved ,and you get glimpses of the white stag, you can’t help but to start to step into the magic of the story . Definate Narnia vibes throughout that awakened my childlike faith in reading this. . Our bookclub enjoyed reading this and several of us are adding the other books to our list!
A Fifth of the Story was our February Bookclub pick .It is a CIA thriller that tackles current social ideology and terriosm on the home front. I really loved how the author intertwined how it can affect more then one side of the battle and how our enemies are often not who we think they are .
Brock, one of the main characters, sees the bonds of brotherhood, friendships and loyalty tested .He quickly realizes the war he has fought is now on his home front. The book is filled with action and our whole book club agreed this could be made for tv .
It is a debut novel by Katherine Hutchison-Hayes that was nominated and a finalist in the First Novel category of the 2024 Christy Awards.
A huge thank you to the author for doing a zoom with our bookclub ❤️This was such an amazing gift and gave us a behind the scenes glimpse into the writing as well as the characters. Katherine was so authentic and real in our conversation of how the characters of the book came to be that it gave the whole story an incredible amount of depth that weaved it all together in a beautiful testimony of grace, perseverance and love.
1. Character Dynamics: How does Brock O’Reilly’s relationship with Andrew Pang and Matthew Shuggs evolve throughout the novel? What key events influence these changes?
2. Themes of Betrayal: The revelation of Matthew Shuggs’ true allegiance is pivotal. Were there subtle hints leading up to this twist? How did this betrayal impact your perception of the story?
3. Moral Dilemmas: Brock faces numerous ethical challenges in his quest to uncover the mole. How do his decisions reflect the broader moral questions posed by the novel?
4. Role of Patti Pang: Patti Pang’s strained marriage with Andrew adds depth to the narrative. How does their relationship influence the story’s progression and the decisions of the main characters?
5. Leadership and Trust: Dr. Harper, as the CIA Director, plays a crucial role in the unfolding events. How does her leadership style affect the team’s dynamics and the story’s outcome?
6. Race Against Time: The novel’s pacing intensifies as Brock races to identify the intelligence breach. How does the author build suspense, and what techniques are used to convey the urgency of Brock’s mission?
7. Exploration of Extremism: Matthew Shuggs’ involvement in a white supremacy organization introduces complex themes. How does the novel address the issue of extremism, and what commentary does it offer on such ideologies?
8. Setting as a Character: The various locations in the novel, from CIA headquarters to clandestine meeting spots, play significant roles. How do these settings enhance the story’s atmosphere and tension?
9. Title Significance: Reflect on the title, A Fifth of the Story. In what ways does it encapsulate the novel’s central themes or plot twists?
10. Personal Reflections: Considering the novel’s exploration of trust, loyalty, and deception, how did it resonate with your own experiences or beliefs? Were there moments that challenged your perspectives? These questions aim to foster a deep and engaging discussion about the intricate layers of A Fifth of the Story.
Bonus questions: Food plays a vital role in A Fifth of the Story. What were your favorite meals? Which ones would you want to get a recipe for to try for yourself?
Wow! What a year we had! As you can tell we read all genres this past year . I definitely came through these with some of my new favorite authors ❤️ So many of them gave such different perspectives into my faith.
Each book was unique and I love that! Just an FYI on how we decide as a book club what to read – Our curator gathers 3 books for our whole club to vote on when we gather once a month to discuss the current book we have read. We then announce the next months book once we have taken a paper vote. Some months , there is a clear winner and others we need a tiebreaker .
Below you will find a few highlights of things I loved about each book or that I found challenging . Think of it as a quick review of each book. ⬇️
⭐️ The Prophetess -Loved how the author brought a full story to Deborah which gave me something to ponder. It was fictional but made me see her in a whole new light.
⭐️ The Italian Ballerina -One of my favorite reads! It gave me a glimpse into WW2 that I had never explored with the Syndrome K sickness and the London ballet stage. Loved all the historical references throughout and the beauty from such heartache.
⭐️ Yesterday’s Tides – Another one of my favorite picks from 2024. I discovered something I had never heard of , Okracoke Island . I loved how the author combined WW1 to WW2 in such a beautiful way. We also had the opportunity to zoom with the author during our book club which was a fun treat!
⭐️ The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip – Wow! I want to be a Mrs.Kip! Such a great read and left me feeling that it is never to late to share Gods love❤️
⭐️ The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon – This one started out slow but I was so thankful that I stuck with it. We all need a neighbor like Mabel . I may just one day step into a funeral to celebrate the life of someone I have never met because of her .
⭐️ Drawn in Ash– This one was out of my comfort zone but I’m so glad I read it. It took a bit to understand all that was happening, but gave a glimpse of how things can change when we spend time talking to others instead of going with preconceived ideas. It is based on the story of Esther.
⭐️ The Number of Love – A beautiful story of the secretive Room 40 during WW2 and the power of prayer.
⭐️ Blink of an Eye– Thrilling but left me wanting a better ending . We discovered in book club that there are two editions of this and the first was better in our opinion
⭐️ Daughter of Eden – This fictional story of Adam and Eve gave me so much to ponder ! It gave me lots to think of with how pride and selfishness separated the relationship with God and left me yearning to have what Adam and Eve had before the fall.
⭐️ The Screwtape Letters – This is such a deep book . I have read it several times and each time get something different from it. It really highlights the spiritual warfare that is all around us and from the enemy’s perspective.
⭐️ The Last Exchange -This is such a beautiful unexpected love story . It is thrilling and just when you think it is all predictable. Watch out the turn you never saw coming is right around the corner. One of my favorite quotes of the book is “A life laid down is better than one picked up.
⭐️ We Three Kings -This Christmas Novella follows three generations of the Weise Family as they seek Jesus throughout each one. This was the perfect Christmas Book.
I hope our Book Club list from 2024 helps encourage you to start your own Book Club or gives you some new books to read ❤️ I would love to hear if you already do a Book Club and how yours works or if you would like to hear more about how we do ours send me a message .
And yes our 2025 Book Club has already started! Looking forward to a New Year and some new reads!
This was such a great read! It had all the feels of Downtown Abbey with mystery and faith mixed in. I loved the lineup of characters. The author did a great job layering and weaving the characters throughout the story . This is book 3 but can totally be read on its own. The other books explore some of the other characters you meet so I’m looking forward to reading those as well ❤️
