Let’s talk about reading.

The longer I homeschooled children, the more books I read. It became an obsession - stay one step ahead of the kids and learn many exciting things! I started a #bookstagram account and enjoyed the camaraderie I found there.

Then, as part of a crazy New Year’s reading resolution, I thought - Why not start a Facebook group where we could gather and talk books? Now, Homegrown Book Picks is my favorite place to be online - and I often hear that from our members as well.

Someone in the group asked,“What are your favorite books for book clubs?”. I had so many exciting suggestions, and I would like to share that list with all of you.

Ten Book Recommendations for Book Clubs

The Woman with the Cure - Historical Fiction
I had the pleasure of hearing the author, Lynn Cullen, speak at our local library a few months ago. My interest peaked when she spoke about Warm Springs, GA (about 30 minutes from where we live) and Eleanor Roosevelt’s involvement with Polio victims there. This book explores a little-known woman behind the cure for Polio and a very interesting story about the race to find the vaccine. There’s a lot to talk about after you read this book! (It might be a perfect pick during Women’s History Month.)
If I Were You - Christian Historical Fiction
Lynn Austin is always a sure bet for me when choosing books. I will always learn something and am assured of a storyline that will ultimately point to God. In this book - a dual timeline between WWII London and postwar America - we follow Eve and Audrey, friends from very different backgrounds, whose lives become intertwined in a VERY interesting way after the war. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but I bet some great conversations would occur along the lines of “What would YOU have done?” after you read this book!
Rough Sleepers - Non-Fiction
This is the true story of Dr. Jim O’Connell, and his mission to bring healing to the homeless people surrounding the hospital where he works in Boston. The many stories of the homeless shared in this book bring humanity to a population we tend to dismiss and make assumptions about. What does it mean to care for the vulnerable in this day and age? We can learn much by following Jim O’Connell through Boston’s web of homeless.
American Sirens - Non-Fiction
I learned so much from this book. It is the story of the black men who became America’s first paramedics. “Until the 1970s, if you suffered a medical crisis, your chances of survival were minimal. A 9-1-1 call might bring police or even the local funeral home. But that all changed with Freedom House EMS in Pittsburgh, a group of Black men who became America’s first paramedics and set the gold standard for emergency medicine around the world, only to have their story and their legacy erased—until now.” Now, each time I see an ambulance, I am reminded of the history of EMS and the skill of paramedics.
Dear Mr. Knightly - Christian Fiction
Give this book five stars on the cuteness factor, but it is also touching and inspiring. Everything Katherine Reay writes is wonderful, so you can go ahead and add ALL of her books to your list! Dear Mr. Knightly, her debut novel, features a 23-year-old orphan, Sam, who finds herself with an anonymous, Dickensian benefactor calling himself Mr. Knightley, offers to put Sam through Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress. As Sam learns to trust others and sheds her protective persona, it shows us the power of honesty and vulnerability.
Counting by 7s - Middle Grades Fiction
Middle Grades is always a go-to genre for me. Not only is this book beautifully written, but it also features a multicultural cast of characters that are each endearing and interesting. The main character, Willow, is on the spectrum - she is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. She experiences a tragedy at the beginning of the book, but the author (Holly Sloan) turns this tragedy into triumph. I couldn’t stop talking about this book after I read it!
Joy in the Morning - Fiction
Most people know the author Betty Smith because of her famous book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. She also wrote Joy in the Morning, which I consider almost as good! The setting is 1927 - Brooklyn, NY - Carl and Annie’s (only 18) are married, and the first year together is much more difficult than they anticipated as they find themselves in a faraway place with little money and few friends. Annie is one of my favorite female characters of all time because of her innocence, bravery, quick wit - and ultimately a knack for not only surviving but thriving. If you’re looking for a lovely and witty romance, this is your book!
The Things We Cannot Say - Historical Fiction
Spoiler alert: This WWII novel will rip your heart out. It is a dual timeline story between Nazi-occupied Poland and the modern day. “Since she was nine, Alina Dziak knew she would marry her best friend, Tomasz. Now fifteen and engaged, Alina is unconcerned by reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, believing her neighbors that they pose no real threat, and dreams instead of the day Tomasz returns from college in Warsaw so they can be married. But little by little, injustice by brutal injustice, the Nazi occupation takes hold, and Alina’s tiny rural village and its families are divided by fear and hate.” This book is a stark reminder of the devastation when truth is silenced.
The Island of Sea Women - Historical Fiction
If you want to say, “I never knew about that!” - read this book! The Island of Sea Women takes place over many decades, beginning during Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, and the Korean War, through the era of cell phones and wet suits for women divers. (Learning about the skill and training required to be one of these divers was SO interesting - ) Throughout this time, the residents of Jeju find themselves caught between warring empires. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator. Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo (female divers) and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers in their village. But, as war so often does, their friendship is severely tested. This can be a hard read and it can get long, but I found it well worth the effort!
All Over But the Shoutin’ - Memoir
Rick Bragg grew up poorer than poor in rural Alabama, yet somehow, despite so many odds stacked against him, he eventually became a Pulitzer Prize winning author. He tells the story of his father - a “hard-drinking man with a murderous temper and the habit of running out on the people who needed him most”. His mother, however, was his savior, who made countless sacrifices so Rick would always have what he needed. There is much to discuss as you process this book, including the great love (and suffering) that occur in all families. You will want to read more by Rick Bragg after you read this book!