CTL Weekly 09.27

My book club picks our books a year at a time and last week was the week! This is always my favorite meeting of the year and I love that it falls in September because it feels like being back in school and getting a fresh syllabus for the semester.

There are six of us and we each bring a handful of book suggestions to the meeting and take turns telling a little about them. In past years we have chosen two books from each person as we went, but this year we wrote them all down at once and then circled back to start the choosing. Madness!

We try to balance fiction vs. non-fiction and shorter books vs. longer reads (although we did combine two especially short books in one month this time). Here are some questions we asked ourselves as we went…

How much historical fiction is too much?

Are we far enough out from COVID to risk the trauma of revisiting it? (answer: yes)

Are enough of us interested in the Irish Troubles to read Say Nothing? Probably, but let’s read the Irish mystery Northern Spy instead.

Emma was suggested and we were like yes! Let’s do a classic! (Confession: I find reading classics challenging so I’m developing a plan.)

Then came the scheduling:

Julie D. can’t host in January because she has a grandbaby due. (We also got to watch a video of the gender reveal of another book club grandbaby. It’s a girl!)

Lynda and Catherine can’t host in May because they’re teachers. Enough said.

We have to read There’s Always This Year in March, because basketball.

We’ll save The Covenant of Water for the summer because – oof – 736 pages.

Somehow, someway we came up with a plan and I’m really excited for this year of reading. Have you read any of the books we chose?

Here’s more of what I saved to share with you this week:

Tour a pied-à-terre in downtown Charleston. You know we love a small space that’s big on style around here. Don’t miss the piazza!

Speaking of Charleston: a couple revitalizes a rundown Charleston laundromat. I love so much about this story, from how they got the idea to their relationship with the community.

This year’s best fall foliage colors will be in (surprise!) the Midwest. And here are some unexpected ways to take them in.

Amy Poehler updates Seth Meyers on her reading goal. Hilarious.

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen You’ve Got Mail, here’s your reminder to re-watch. And if that’s not on the agenda right now, I think even watching the trailer will make you happy. Also fun: 10 ways to have a Meg Ryan fall.

This made me laugh out loud. Such good boys and girls.

Attorney-turned-writer of legal thrillers Lisa Scottoline shares her home library. From the article: “A few years ago, she ordered engraved plaques to denote each section: Reference, Fiction, Signed, etc. “It makes me feel like a fake librarian,” she joked.” (This is a Washington Post gift link, although you may have to enter your email address to read it.)

On the blog this week: a favorite part of our Boston trip, plus a CTL Boston Guide.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.