Novel Ideas Book Group

Accessible World

Novel Ideas on Accessible World. Meets the third Friday of each month at 8pm Eastern. Facilitator leads the discussion of that month's novel. Sponsored by Helping Hands for the Blind. read less
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Episodes

Novel Ideas will be discussing the Book The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel. Db 115102. 01/19/2024
Jan 22 2024
Novel Ideas will be discussing the Book The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel. Db 115102. 01/19/2024
The Synopsis from Bookshare is below.   From the bestselling author of the “heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism” (People) The Book of Lost Names comes a gripping historical novel about two mothers who must make unthinkable choices in the face of the occupation. Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change. Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it. The Paris daughter DB115102 Harmel, Kristin; Maby, Madeleine Reading time: 11 hours, 53 minutes. Madeleine Maby; Kristin Harmel Friendship Fiction Historical Fiction Women War Stories "Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change. When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it. More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble—and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those last, terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. This book can be found on Bookshare at this link: https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5490294?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPXRoZSUyQnBhcmlzJTJCZGF1Z2h0ZXI Host: Randi Shelton   E-Mail: rshelton820@gmail.com   Co-Host Ruth ann Acosta,   E-Mail: ruth1244@gmail.com
Novel Ideas to discuss Haven DBC 00693 by Sherry Gomes. 09/15/2023
Sep 18 2023
Novel Ideas to discuss Haven DBC 00693 by Sherry Gomes. 09/15/2023
Novel Ideas will be taking the summer off. We hope everyone has a great time whether you're attending conventions, taking a vacation, or just enjoying a staycation at home. When we meet in September, we will be discussing the book Haven by Sherry Gomes. DBC 00693. This book is currently not available on Bookshare but is available on Audible with a different narrator for those with Audible accounts. The synopsis from BARD is below. She would not give up not ever. Holding her head high, she vowed that somehow someday Rosie would be with her again. Elizabeth Bennet arrives in Haven Valley seeking healing after her emotionally abusive unscrupulous ex-husband uses his family's political influence to gain sole custody of their daughter solely on the basis that Elizabeth is blind. At Haven Valley church, Michael Kelly's grief for his wife is fresh as when he lost her three years ago, but he focuses on his love for the son he is now raising alone. A good man, a good father, and a good Pastor to the community, he deeply longs for companionship and love. These two people nearly broken by disaster meet on a snowy night that will change their lives. Through this town its people and two very special children, Michael and Elizabeth begin to create their safe haven though the past relentlessly places stumbling blocks in their path. Can they keep the love and healing they've found? September's discussion will have a different format than usual. We will be joined by the author who will start us off with a brief presentation followed by questions and conversation with the audience. We hope to see you there. Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: rshelton820@gmail.com Co-Host Ruth ann Acosta, E-Mail: ruth1244@gmail.com
Novel Ideas will be discussing The Measure by Nikki Erlick. DB 109475. 05/17/2023
May 22 2023
Novel Ideas will be discussing The Measure by Nikki Erlick. DB 109475. 05/17/2023
The synopsis from bookshare is below. Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice. It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out. But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live. From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise? As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they'll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge? The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn't have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything. Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is a sweeping, ambitious, and invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest. Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: rshelton820@gmail.com Co-Host Ruth ann Acosta, E-Mail: ruth1244@gmail.com
Novel Ideas to discuss Being Heumann: An unrepentant Memoir DB 100399 by Judith Heumann 04/21/2023
Apr 22 2023
Novel Ideas to discuss Being Heumann: An unrepentant Memoir DB 100399 by Judith Heumann 04/21/2023
Novel Ideas will be taking a break from reading fiction for the month of April. We will be reading Being Heumann: An unrepentant Memoir by Judith Heumann. DB 100399 The synopsis from Bookshare is below. One of the most influential disability rights activists in US history tells her personal story of fighting for the right to receive an education, have a job, and just be human. A story of fighting to belong in a world that wasn't built for all of us and of one woman's activism—from the streets of Brooklyn and San Francisco to inside the halls of Washington—Being Heumann recounts Judy Heumann's lifelong battle to achieve respect, acceptance, and inclusion in society. Paralyzed from polio at eighteen months, Judy's struggle for equality began early in life. From fighting to attend grade school after being described as a "fire hazard" to later winning a lawsuit against the New York City school system for denying her a teacher's license because of her paralysis, Judy's actions set a precedent that fundamentally improved rights for disabled people. As a young woman, Judy rolled her wheelchair through the doors of the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in San Francisco as a leader of the Section 504 Sit-In, the longest takeover of a governmental building in US history. Working with a community of over 150 disabled activists and allies, Judy successfully pressured the Carter administration to implement protections for disabled peoples' rights, sparking a national movement and leading to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Candid, intimate, and irreverent, Judy Heumann's memoir about resistance to exclusion invites readers to imagine and make real a world in which we all belong. Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: rshelton820@gmail.com Co-Host Ruth ann Acosta, E-Mail: ruth1244@gmail.com
Novel Ideas will be discussing Defending Brita Stein by Ronald Balson. DB 110534. 03/17/2023
Mar 20 2023
Novel Ideas will be discussing Defending Brita Stein by Ronald Balson. DB 110534. 03/17/2023
The Synopsis from Bookshare is below. One of Newsweek's 20 New Books to Cozy Up With this FallDefending Britta Stein is a story of bravery, betrayal, and redemption—from Ronald H. Balson, the winner of the National Jewish Book AwardChicago, 2018: Ole Henryks, a popular restauranteur, is set to be honored by the Danish/American Association for his many civic and charitable contributions. Frequently appearing on local TV, he is well known for his actions in Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II—most consider him a hero.Britta Stein, however, does not. The ninety-year-old Chicago woman levels public accusations against Henryks by spray-painting "Coward," "Traitor," "Collaborator," and "War Criminal" on the walls of his restaurant. Mrs. Stein is ultimately taken into custody and charged with criminal defacement of property. She also becomes the target of a bitter lawsuit filed by Henryks and his son, accusing her of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.Attorney Catherine Lockhart, though hesitant at first, agrees to take up Mrs. Stein's defense. With the help of her investigator husband, Liam Taggart, Lockhart must reach back into wartime Denmark and locate evidence that proves Mrs. Stein's innocence. Defending Britta Stein is critically-acclaimed author Ronald H. Balson's thrilling take on a modern day courtroom drama, and a masterful rendition of Denmark's wartime heroics. Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: rshelton820@gmail.com Co-Host Ruth ann Acosta, E-Mail: ruth1244@gmail.com
Novel Ideas to discuss The Magnificent Lives Of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki DB107797. 01/20/2023
Jan 22 2023
Novel Ideas to discuss The Magnificent Lives Of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki DB107797. 01/20/2023
Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood's biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweather Post lived an epic life few could imagine. Marjorie's journey began gluing cereal boxes in her father's barn as a young girl. No one could have predicted that C. W. Post's Cereal Company would grow into the General Foods empire and reshape the American way of life, with Marjorie as its heiress and leading lady. Not content to stay in her prescribed roles of high-society wife, mother, and hostess, Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process. Before turning thirty she amassed millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the United States. But it was her life-force, advocacy, passion, and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy. And yet Marjorie's story, though full of beauty and grandeur, set in the palatial homes she built such as Mar-a-Lago, was equally marked by challenge and tumult. A wife four times over, Marjorie sought her happily-ever-after with the blue-blooded party boy who could not outrun his demons, the charismatic financier whose charm turned to betrayal, the international diplomat with a dark side, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would shake Marjorie and all of society. Marjorie did everything on a grand scale, especially when it came to love. Bestselling and acclaimed author Allison Pataki has crafted an intimate portrait of a larger-than-life woman, a powerful story of one woman falling in love with her own voice and embracing her own power while shaping history in the process. Join us in this zoom meeting to discuss this great book. Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: rshelton820@gmail.com Co-Host Ruth ann Acosta, E-Mail: ruth1244@gmail.com
Novel Ideas will be discussing the book Eternal by Lisa Scottoline. DB 103254 02/18/2022
Feb 20 2022
Novel Ideas will be discussing the book Eternal by Lisa Scottoline. DB 103254 02/18/2022
The synopsis from Bookshare is below. #1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline offers a sweeping and shattering epic of historical fiction fueled by shocking true events, the tale of a love triangle that unfolds in the heart of Rome'''in the creeping shadow of fascism What war destroys, only love can heal. Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro grow up as the best of friends despite their differences. Elisabetta is a feisty beauty who dreams of becoming a novelist; Marco the brash and athletic son in a family of professional cyclists; and Sandro a Jewish mathematics prodigy, kind-hearted and thoughtful, the son of a lawyer and a doctor. Their friendship blossoms to love, with both Sandro and Marco hoping to win Elisabetta's heart. But in the autumn of 1937, all of that begins to change as Mussolini asserts his power, aligning Italy's Fascists with Hitler's Nazis and altering the very laws that govern Rome. In time, everything that the three hold dear—their families, their homes, and their connection to one another—is tested in ways they never could have imagined. As anti-Semitism takes legal root and World War II erupts, the threesome realizes that Mussolini was only the beginning. The Nazis invade Rome, and with their occupation come new atrocities against the city's Jews, culminating in a final, horrific betrayal. Against this backdrop, the intertwined fates of Elisabetta, Marco, Sandro, and their families will be decided, in a heartbreaking story of both the best and the worst that the world has to offer. Unfolding over decades, Eternal is a tale of loyalty and loss, family and food, love and war—all set in one of the world's most beautiful cities at its darkest moment. This moving novel will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of readers. Join us in this zoom meeting to discuss this great book. Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: rshelton820@gmail.com Co-Host Ruth ann Acosta, E-Mail: ruth1244@gmail.com
Novel Ideas to discuss The Midnight Library DB 100906 by Matt Haig led by guest host Carla Hayes 01/21/2022
Jan 22 2022
Novel Ideas to discuss The Midnight Library DB 100906 by Matt Haig led by guest host Carla Hayes 01/21/2022
We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and that 2022s a much better year for all of us. To kick off the new year, guest host Carla Hayes will lead us in the discussion of the book The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. DB 100906. The synopsis from Bookshare is below. Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?” A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived, from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time. Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better? In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig’s enchanting new novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place. Join us in this zoom meeting to discuss this great book. Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: rshelton820@gmail.com Co-Host Ruth ann Acosta, E-Mail: ruth1244@gmail.com Guest host Carla Hayes E-Mail: lengual@verizon.net