No matter how busy you may think you are, your must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”                                                                                                              –Confucius                                                                                          

“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”

–William Styron

“Read 500 pages every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. 

-Warren Buffet

“More than at any other time, when I hold a beloved book in my hand my limitations fall from me, my spirit is free.”     

-Helen Keller                                                                                                                                            “No two persons ever read the same book.”

–Edmund Wilson

“You cannot open a book without learning something.”

–Confucius

“That is what literature offers – a language powerful enough to say how it is. It isn’t a hiding place. It is a finding place.”

-Jeanette Winterson

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”

-Cicero

Each month the club suggests a new book that will grow you!    The main monthly choice will be a book that is recently published – it will be new to most of us.  We’ll also have a bonus book that is either a classic, a not well known read,  something to learn from,  one we may have missed from the last year or so, another great newly published book, a great re-read for you to consider, or a selection from a favorite author.  These I have read already and I’ve included them here as they created growth, emotion, depth, learning, contemplation, surprise, or just great reading for me.

Please share your thoughts, reviews, comments below (at the bottom of the page) on each book.   Add books you’d like to see included as well.  

What are you reading??

*2023 – 2024 monthly posts will be shown on this page.  Archives for previous years of Sapphire Girl’s book club picks, 2014 – 2022, can be found by clicking on the tab above for Sapphire Girls, then drop down to Book Club, then slide to side tab for Book Club Archives.

Sapphire Girls Book Club Reads

2024

January

Monthly Choice: What The Bears Know, Steve Searles and Chris Srskine

Another awesome gift, this one from Steve for my birthday. I loved it so so much. Searles is the bear whisperer of Mammoth Lakes, California – a beautiful place west of Yosemite National Park that I’ve been to several times. A mountain town, ski town, and a bear town. The author is a skier turned bear eradicator, turned bear manager, turned bear advocate, turned a believer that coexistence between bears and humans is absolutely possible, turned creator of creative non-lethal means to move bears away from people, turned deep lover of the creatures. He taught himself to employ non lethal tactics of all kinds that proved effective in moving bears away from encounters, so they can live their lives and the humans can live theirs successfully.  It is a way of life in Mammoth Lakes now, and Searles has taught the techniques to others around the country. He’s a beautiful soul who recognizes the souls of the bears he comes to know so well. And he lets us see them too. I loved the mountain man tone and folksy, humorous way of telling his story. He thinks he’s a gruff manly man, but he’s a mush inside. That’s clear. Srskine is the writer from the LA Times, that writes the story that Searles conveys to him – they collaborate in a bromance, fractious, endearing way.  I’ve read so much about bears, and still I learned much more about them here. These are black bears, not grizzlies, and their temperaments are as individual as all bears are, and very different from griz. I sure am having a wonderful reading journey so far this year, this winter. “So many problems are education problems” Steve says. Yep. Published 2023.

Bonus Book: An Echo in the Bone, Diana Gabaldon

Because, OUTLANDER! This has been my guilty binge watching this long and beautiful Montana winter. So engrossing, passionate, historic. Season one through six now watched. From Scotland to America in times of deep trouble – revolution, disquiet of all kinds, the characters persevere. I have come to know these characters… Claire, Jamie, Brianna, Roger, Young Ethan, Fergus… all flawed, damaged, unique, brave, awesome. All a reflection of their times, BUT three of the characters (Claire, Brianna and Roger) are time travelers so they are the reflection of two time periods, two hundred years apart. Interesting plot twist! The characters all have unique gifts. And of course there are lessons in that. There’s too much violence (but it IS historical), and lots of passionate sex, so just be ready. I originally began watching this with my Mom, and let’s just say it was… uncomforable. The author said she wanted to explore love and passion through time, within a marriage, instead of it being a woman meets man, love happens, end of story. And she’s done that, and I am invested. Season 8 to be filmed soon (!), this is book seven. Published 2009.

February

Monthly Choice:  Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus

Second book of 2024 and it’s a really absorbing read. Garmus is funny and poignant, raises really difficult and complicated issues and covers a lot of ground. Lack of women’s rights, voice, authority, and opportunity in the 50’s is front and center and there’s a parallel time line to the present where we witness the extreme pain and damage of these injustices, assault, limitations. But too, there is Elizabeth bucking all the traditional roles, a brilliant chemist who refuses to toe the line of gender and expectations. She is keenly intelligent, innovative, steadfast, honest, in spite of a horrific past and her ongoing tragedies. She has incredible resolve and strength. Garmus wraps the timelines up nicely and positively, thankfully, in her ending, and I closed the last chapter with a smile on my face, happy with all I gleaned from this read. Thank you to Mela for this gift of an absorbing read. Published 2022.

Living the Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron

Creativity is crucial. Important. A vital ingredient in who we are. Having read Cameron’s The Artist’s Way decades ago, and having experimented with Morning Pages all those years ago too, I was intrigued with this 6 week course to “experience the artist’s way”. The subtitle is “An Intuitive Path to Greater Creativity” The chapters are invitations, to grounding, stamina, optimism, strength, calm, and commitment to and morning pages are the cornerstone. Three hand written pages, flow of consciousness, unedited, each and every morning, first thing. And I do them, each and every morning and I now absolutely and unequivocally, GET how very much they infuse my day with centeredness, with connectedness with calm and presence. How awesome is that. She has three other foundations, Writing for Guidance (did that too), Once a Week Artist Date (go explore something creative), and Walking. All my things.  Published 2023.

March

Monthly Choice: The Women, Kristin Hannah

This month it’s all about the women. The book cover inside jacket sets the stage for the story, “Women can be heroes.” Well, of course they can and ARE, but possilby our heroine at 20 years old didn’t fully know or embrace that. The novel is set in Vietnam and its aftermath, the story is close to the bone. Readers experience the real raw life of a war emergency room nurse – the lives saved and those hands that were held as the brave young soldiers left this world, and everything in-between. Horrific injury.  I have loved Hannah’s writing, The Nightengale and The Four Winds, so  her new novel was eagly awaited.  Just published, 2024.

Bonus Book: The Women of Chateau Lafayette, Stephanie Dray

These unsung heroines womened up during the 1780’s and this saga takes us from that time through World War II, as the women continue to ensure the survival of each other and the castle they inhabit, the castle they keep in the heart of France, Chateau Lafayette. The Epigraph at the beginning of the novel says, “Most castles are defended by men. This one, by women.” Historical fiction is such a riviting combination for me. The characters created to compel, but the history all too real. I will learn here. Published 2021.

April

Monthly Choice:  Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl

Spring!  Everything about being outside in nature and the immense world that becons and is unearthed day by day here in northwest Montana is so sweetly exhilarating and welcome including this book.  The author is a New York Times opinion writer and wrote the bestseller, Late Migrations. She was compelled to write The Comfort of Crows during Covid, exploring the experiences available to her in her own backyard.  She found immeasureable beauty there and coorelations to her own life as seasons passed. Her brother is the illustrator.  Ann Patchett wrote of the book that it is a “howling love letter to the world”  and we are promised by the Amazon review “a luminous book that traces the passing of seasons, personal and natural.” That’s the line that got me interested in reading it. For me, the natural is deeply personal.  Published late 2023.

Bonus Book: An Immense World, Ed Young

Everything about this book drew me in. The many accolades, the subtitle (How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us), its status as one of The NY Times 10 Best Books of the Year and its winning the Carnegie Medal for excellence in nonfiction all were reasons to make this an easy choice and a must read. How is the world truly perceived by our fellow creatures?  Can we even know? I look so forward to exploring these questions and all the questions I didn’t even know that I had. Published 2023. I’ve never read this author, Ed Young, but I see too that he’s won The Pulitzer Prize.

May

Monthly Choice: North Woods, Daniel Mason

This novel was on every best new books list and the reviews were intriguing, especially this one found on the cover, “To read it is to travel tothe limits of what the novel can do” (The Guardian). All the lives that intersect through generations on one patch of glorious woods, where a mysterious unique apple grows, and a wild presence is omnipresent are the cornerstone of this engrossing novel. Secrets are held in the house, the grounds, in the trees… stories known only to a few, or no one. Strangeness. And a wildness stalking, protecting, ever present. I’ve never read Mason before but now will be on the lookout for more stories told from his creative mind. Published 2024, new novel and new author for me.

Bonus Book: Stone Yard Devotional, Charlotte Wood

I’ve learned that novels shortlisted for the Booker Prize are always so carefully considered and chosen that I enjoy them immensely.  The review that promises a “tender meditation on hope and humanity” was the why in this choice for bonus book – hit me on all levels – hope, humanity, meditation, tender… This bonus book is now in my stack of new candidates to read. Published March, 2024. 

June

Monthly Choice: Wandering Stars, Tommy Orange

The author’s novel, There There, was assinged reading in my Native American Literature and the West class that I took en route to my Certificate in Native American Studies that I completed last year. After reading many works created by historical writers, the novel was a departure by a contemporary writer. I am so glad that I was introduced to Orange (Cheyenne, Arapaho). His writing is spare, clean, evocotive, and, of course, from a Native perspective. In 1864, the Sand Creek Massacre happened in Colorado. It is a little know horror among many, lost by the tellers of history to the myth of our nation building. The novel begins there, the historical trauma of this and hundreds of other massacres woven into the DNA of our Native American brothers and sisters.  They deserve to be told, heard, witnessed and acknowledged. I can certainly see why Orange was a finalist for the Pulitzer with There, There. Orange writes of intergenerational trauma, no, rather than write about it, he has his characters live it. Feel it. They experience the deep pulsing of pain whose origin cannot be found – and if it is found, the question of where is the outrage, why the deep silence, in this country of proported freedoms, individual expression of happiness, human rights? Where indeed. There’s no there, there.  Published 2024.

Bonus Book: No One Is Talking About This, Patricia Lockwood

“A book that reads like a prose poem, at once sublime, profane, intimate, philosophical, witty and, eventually, deeply moving” (New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice). Like a stream of consciousness treatise on the grip, the insanity, the lifestyle of incessant media absorption the novel explores life that is lived online. This book was shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize – always a harbinger of a good read for me – and a New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year. After the first few pages I wasn’t sure, didn’t get it, but I came to love the book, sad, poignant, a mirror.  The front cover says it is ultimately a love story – didn’t get that either, until I did. “There was nothing trivial left in the room.” And everything was holy. Yes, this after all is a love story – you’ll see. Published 2022.

July

Monthly Choice: The Fox Wife, Yangtze Choo

This month we absorb the world of our fellow creatures who we share our precious planet with. Choo is a new author for me. I know I”m going to love her writing. Set in Manchuria in 1908, we have a Chinese medicine shop, foxes who gather qi, and a mother named Snow, the novel is woven with “singular unforgettable characters, and explores a world of mortals and spirits, humans and beasts, and their dazzling intersection.” I love it already. Published 2024.

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August

Monthly Choice: Black Bird Oracle, Deborah Harkness

The fifth in the Discovery of Witches series, I ordered this novel as soon as it was published. It seems to be a perfect late summer guilty pleasure read. The Oxford scholar, Diana, a witch, and her scienties husband, Matthew, a vampire, continue to combine their mundane day to day life of  raising  twins and holding down demanding jobs while being anything but ordinary. Diana is surprised to learn of a long lost great aunt who is a talented practioner of all things in witchery. Great Aunt agrees to take Diana deeper into her skills and into her darkness. The twins begin to reveal their unique powers inherited from their parents along the way so there are many complexities to navigate.. Just the right combination of wicked intelligence, magic, family drama (and love!), secrets and intense competitiveness amongst the witches. Published 2024.

Bonus Book: Weyward, Emilia Hart

At least once yearly I love reading a novel deeply immersed in nature and wildness and Hart’s Weyward brought these themes, these passions home to me. Page by page the three women in a family lineage that all have ties to a small cottage, its garden, its majestic sycamore tree and the beck that runs amber behind it. These women have had to hide their nature love, their communication with animals, their primal need to have wildness as integral in their lives. They all come to acceptance and joy, and living their true authentic lives, even though they live in very different time frames, their individual years on the planet are 1619, 1942 and 2018.  They all encounter reoccuring themes: pregnancy used as a weapon and control, fear and threats from using natural remedies and being labeled as witches.  They all come into their power, Altha, Violet and Kate, their bloodline strong. I became very immersed in this book. Published 2023.

September

Monthly Choice: Once There Were Wolves, Charlotte McConaghy

Both of these novels chosen for this month made a deep impression and impact on me. In wildly different circumstances, historical time frames, and characters, we are shown the power of the wild ones to heal our hearts – from unspeakable trauma, from loss and heartbreak, from PTSD from war, from addiction, from the depths of despair and hopelessness. I have encountered these themes previously where grizzlies, orcas, and fox have bestowed these gifts of healing as well, so poignant and moving. The themes here engrossed me with new knowledge about wolves, about Scotland and a neurological condition called “mirror touch synshestesia” and expanded eternal themes of family and sisterhood, small community living and politics. The weaving was intricate with a mystery to be solvedl, secrets revealed, love to be discovered, healing to continue, forgiveness, all tied up with an unexpected conclusion. You’ll see! Published 2021, I loved the book.

Bonus Book: West with Giraffes, Lynda Rutledge                                                       I missed the wolves immediately and intuitively selected this book I’d had on the shelf for a year, not even sure when or where I got it. It was a perfect novel to read after my deep dive into wolves. This is a period piece from 1938, historical fiction with a true thread to the “hurricane giraffes” that made it from New Jersey to the San Diego Zoo. An incredible adventure is shared along the way, secrets revealed. How a woman author can so clearly get in the head of a dust bowl seventeen year old orphan is amazing to me. Rutledge did that. So believable. By the end of the book I felt like I made the journey with the “Old Man” “Red” and “Woody Nickel” – such incredibly well crafted characters as well as “Boy” and “Girl” the giraffes. Loved them all and I loved this book. Highly recommended. Published 2021.

October

Monthly Choice: An Unfinished Love Story, Doris Kearns Godwin

A combination history and love story by the excellent historian, Godwin, winner of the Pulizer Prize. It is Godwin’s personal history of the 60’s.

Bonus Book: Left on Tenth, Delia Ephron

So many pearls of hard earned wisdom here, after the author’s two most loved people died from long term illness – her oldest sister, and her husband of thirty-five years. The healing effects of nature, and new love Peter, help Ephron through her long journey back to help. She comes to know deeply that death coming close helps us to face and understand the privilege and sanctitcy of life itself and force a close examing of the questions we all inevitably ask ourselves of what we could, should have done differently, and what we can do now. Ephron is raw and authentic, brave in speaking her truth, and in how she lived these tragedies, and her healing, for better and for worse. Doing the best that she could. Her road to wellness is harrowing – but worth it. I checked, she’s still here, age 80, writing and loving and contributing. Yes, the journey was absolutely worth it. Gloria gave me this book as the bone marrow cancer that Delia writes about is what her husband has been diagnosed with. They live with this every day. And the day after I finished reading, another very close friend called and shared that her husband too has this diagnosis. I am glad that I have some understanding of the disease and the cure, and the road between them, for any support I can give along the way to either of these good friends and their supportive wives who are especially good friends. Published 2022.

November

Monthly Choice:  A Year of Living Constitutionally,

At my local bookseller I found this on the front table and was immediately intrigued. I purchased it for Craig’s birthday knowing he would enjoy it after consulting with the bookstore owner and reading a few pages right there in the store. Of course it’s perfect timing with the election this month. Unprecidented in its importance is this election in my humble estimation. Published 2024 – timely!

Bonus Book: A Year of Living Biblically

So then I found that the author had taken the same approach to actually living the tenants of the Bible, and in the same vein as The Good Book, I knew the perspective would fascinate me. Interpretation. We all decide how to absorb these words, principles, directives… but I think that’s the point, how do we decide our truths, how do we interpret ancient words today? Even divinely given, there are endless and quite disparate ways to interpret and live the exact same words. Published 2008.

December

Monthly Choice: How to Age Disgracefully, Clare Pooley

It’s my birthday month, so you know, why not? Actually this seems like an ideal choice, and the first few pages validate that it is humorous, and also sadly true in the way Pooley creates characters and their lives who all experience the aspect of aging that is so prevalent – that of becoming invisible, set aside, made superfluous, all that diminish those that have lived incredibly interesting, valuable, intriguing lives. True that. Fasinating characters who are unequivocally who they are at this point in their lives – unapologetically! Published 2024, a really fun read, recommended by by niece Ashley.

Bonus Book: Conclave, Robert Harris

A behind the scenes look at the choosing of the new Pope by the Carndials who meet in seclusion in the Vatican until they can agree on the candidate. What power they hold, and what intrigue is inherent in the process. The bell curve of humans vying for this incredible privilege and powerful position, from those who are power hungry and egotistical to those who are truly serving their God in the best way that they can while fully realizing their humanity. The questioning, the ancient rites, the rules and processes are fascinating. Very surprising twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.  The book has been made into a movie that is nominated for awards in this new season of accolades so it’s getting new notice, and the nominations are what got my attention. Published 2016.

Sapphire Girls Book Club Reads

2025

January

Monthly Choice: Water Moon, Samantha Sotto Yambao

The premise of this new novel was so intriguing to me – a ramen shop that contains a portal to “another realm.” Customers can exchange a “regret” to change their lives. One review promises, “a breathtaking, magical story that feels like a dream.” What could be better for the first book choice of the year? Just published this month, January, 2025.

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February

Monthly Choice: Atlas Obscura – Wild Life

What an incredible treasure trove of wonder! A true gift that  teaches, informs, delights, strikes cords of wonder…and Love! This earth’s endless diversity and unique expressions hold my heart, and this book is a beautiful comprehensive tapestry of some of the rarest of these wonders. I absolutely love this book and appreciate it. It was a Christmas gift from my brother Greg and sis in law Laura – a book I had coveted. A book I will enjoy for all of my days. The jacket promises, “All around us on planet Earth is a world we humans rarely get to visit….encounters with these wild creatures are transformative and stepping into their realm is one of travel’s greatest gifts.” Published 2024.

Bonus Book: Our America, A Photographic History, Ken Burns

Ken Burns of course is a master of story telling, historical story telling. In this remarkable collection of historic black and white photos from 1839 – 2016, he has curated photographs that tell the story of our country. The photos stand alone and speak volumes – speak for themselves.  Only locations and dates are given on the photo page but if more info is desired, it’s available at the back of the book, and lend even more depth to the images. My book was a gift from Gloria & Smitty and is signed making it extra special. Gloria and I share lots of book recommendations and I always so appreciate her gifts and suggestions. I love the juxtaposition of these books as monthly picks – both collections so different, so beautifully curated. Published  2022.

March

Monthly Choice: Elphie, Gregory McGuire

How can you not be entranced by McGuire’s reworking of fairy tales? Before Wicked became such a huge cultural phenomenon, I loved his creative take on the wicked witch from Oz from 1995, and also his Mirror, Mirror and A Lion Among Men. Entertaining, enchanting, creative and poignanat. And now he’s offering us the childhood of Elphaba and I can’t wait. Out this month, published March, 2025.

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April

Monthly Choice: Sirens, Emilia Hart

Hart’s Weyward was a favorite of mine from 2024, and I was elated to see she had a new novel out this month. I was engrossed in Weyward, its bit of witchery, and more of women through time finding their authentic self – and their power.  Her new novel promises “magic, sisterhood, dreams and resilience” all themes that prevail in a powerful authentic life – themes we women will need more and more of in our own lives as this year unfolds. Published this month, April, 2025.

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May

Monthly Choice: The Emperor of Gladness, Ocean Vyong

“There are books you read, and books you experience.” The review had me intrigued immediately. Then I learned that the author is a poet, photographer and bestselling author… a compelling combination for story telling in my book. Looking forward to this new author to me. Published this month, May, 2025.

Bonus Book: My Name is Emilia del Valle, Isabel Allende

Instead of a favorite from the past, a classic, a must read or a just uncovered and missed previously book choice, this month I chose another brand new publication, this novel by well loved author Isabel Allende. This novel too will be published this month, May 2025 and is highly anticipated because of Allende’s previously well received excellent novels including a favorite of mine, House of the Spirits. Can’t wait for the “love, coming of age and war” themes entertwined in this story.

June

Monthly Choice: Fox, Joyce Carol Oates

Because, Joyce Carol Oates!! The author alone is enough to direct this month’s choice. Carol Oates is a writer that I was introduced to decades ago in a literature class at The College of William and Mary. I wish I could remember which of her books was assigned – but no matter, I’ve been a fan of hers ever since.  The reviews are high praise as is expected, “dreamlike, hypnotic, spellbinding, mesmerizing, provoking, and beautifully written.” Truly looking forward to being swept away by this one. Published this month, June, 2025.

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July

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August

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September

Monthly Choice: The Secret of Secrets, Dan Brown

Robert Langdon returns in Brown’s page turning series that began with the daVinci code. I look forward to reading his new novel on a weekend, with no other plans. The research and intrigue are always first rate in this series and it’s been years between installments – this is sure to be immensely popular. Brown says of his new novel, “The Secret of Secrets is by far the most intricately plotted and ambitious novel I’ve written to date… and also, I believe, the most fun.” Can’t wait to uncover the story line from this talented story teller. Published this month, September, 2025.

Bonus Book: Leonardo da Vinci, Walter Isaacson

This beautiful book was a gift from Gloria from Christmas 2024. It is signed and has lovely paper quality, incredible research, a treasure trove of information that was all new to me. What a creative mind, what a brillant questioner, and how wonderful to live in such awe and wonder, how incredible to use your questioning/awe/wonder to create masterpieces of art, new technology and propel science forward. Somehow this bonus book made sense to me here this month with a Dan Brown since his mega bestseller The daVince Code, has the Leonardo component. Published 2017.

October

Monthly Choice: The Black Wolf, Lousie Penny

Louise Penny is addicting and I confess. The characters and the locations in Three Pines are present again and again in Penny’s series, in the bookshop, the bistro, the B&B, the grocery, the small chapel, and the poet, the bookstore owner, the bistro owners, and the artist in addition to their neighbor and friend Chief Inspector of Homicide and his wife I know will all be interwoven into Penny’s new story line. In Janaury I finished Penny’s 19th installment in the Three Pines series, The Grey Wolf and I always anticipate her new novels – it’s like Christmas! This is her 20th in the series and highly anticipated – she keeps it current, and always a page turner. Published October, 2025.

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November

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December

Monthly Choice:

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