Category Archives: Book Groups

Any posts or media related to AAUW Sacramento Book Groups.

Book Groups Update

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please refer to the “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.

November Book Groups

Book Group 1:
Middlessex, by Jeffrey Eugenides, on Nov. 14; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 3: 
No meetings in Nov. and Dec.; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
The Wager, by David Grann, on Nov. 13; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6:
Horse, by Geraldine Brooks, on Nov. 18; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8:
The Book of Lost Names, by Kristin Harmel, on Nov. 23; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
The Reporter Who Knew Too Much, by Mark William Shore , on Nov. 21; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride, on Nov. 7; coordinator is Linda Cook

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. We will discuss chapters 9 through the Conclusion chapter (pages 162-236). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Book Groups Update

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please refer to the “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

September Book Groups

Book Group 1:
Absolution, by Alice McDermott, on Oct. 10; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 3: 
Will be selecting books for the next period, on Oct. 23; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tosarczuk, on Oct. 9; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
Waiting to be Arrested at Night, by Tahir Amul, on Oct. 21; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8: 
The Bookbinder, by Pip Williams, on Oct. 28; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
A Land Twice Promised, by Noa Baum , on Oct. 17; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Sold, by Patricia McCormick, on Oct. 3; coordinator is Linda Cook

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. We will discuss chapters 5 through 8 (up to page 162). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Book Groups Update

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please refer to the “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

September Book Groups

Book Group 1:
The Indomitable Florence Finch, by Robert Mrazak, on Sept. 12; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 3: 
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride, on Sept. 25; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby VanPelt, on Sept. 11; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
The Buddha in the Attic, by Julie Otsuka, on Sept. 16; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8: 
The Bookbinder, by Pip Williams, on Sept. 23; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
Secret Harvests: A Hidden Story of Separation…., by David Mas Masumoto , on Sept. 19; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
The Great Divide, by Cristina Henriquez, on Sept. 5; coordinator is Linda Cook

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. We will discuss all chapters through Chapter 4 (up to page 78). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Book Groups Update

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please refer to the “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

June Book Groups

Book Group 1:
Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt, on June 13; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 2:
After Lives, by A. Gurnah, on June 4; coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles, on June 12; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese, on June 22; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese, on June 17; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8: 
Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover-up, by Lesley Blume, on June 24; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
(Summer Barbecue) on June 20; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr, on June 6; coordinator is Linda Cook

Looking for Readers!

The Tahoe Park Book Group (Group 1) is looking for new members, whether they live in the Tahoe Park area or anywhere, meeting the 2nd Thursday at 1:30.  Contact coordinator Joy Clous for more information.

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, The Four Pivots: Reimaging Justice, Reimaging Ourselves, by Shawn Ginwright, PhD., on May 1st at 7 p.m. We will discuss Pivots 3-4 (from page 151 to end). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Book Groups Update

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

Reminder there is a “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).  If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please find the books page and take a look.

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

May Book Groups

Book Group 1:
Master Slave Husband Wife, by Illyon Woo, on May 9; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 2:
Brave Companions, by Ash Davidson, on May 7; coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
Lila, by Marilynne Robinson, on May 22; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
Astor, the Rise and Fall of an American Fortune, by Anderson Cooper, on May 8; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I, by Raja Shehadeh, on May 20; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8: 
The Personal Librarian, by Marie Benedict, Victoria Murray, on May 27; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
Dinners with Ruth: a Memoir of the Power of Friendship, by Nina Totenberg, on May 16; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann, on May 2; coordinator is Linda Cook

Looking for Readers!

The Tahoe Park Book Group (Group 1) is looking for new members, whether they live in the Tahoe Park area or anywhere, meeting the 2nd Thursday at 1:30.  Contact coordinator Joy Clous for more information.

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, The Four Pivots: Reimaging Justice, Reimaging Ourselves, by Shawn Ginwright, PhD., on May 1st at 7 p.m. We will discuss Pivot 2 (pages91-150). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Book Groups

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

Reminder there is a “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).  If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please find the books page and take a look.

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

April Book Groups

Book Group 1:
Foster, by Claire Keegan, on April 11; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 2:
Damnation Spring, by Ash Davidson, on April 2; coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan, on April 24; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride, on April 10; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride, on April 15; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8: 
Madame Restell: the Life, Death and Resurrection…, by Jennifer Wright, on April 22; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
Horse, by Geraldine Brooks, on April 18; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver, on April 4; coordinator is Linda Cook

Looking for Readers!

The Tahoe Park Book Group (Group 1) is looking for new members, whether they live in the Tahoe Park area or anywhere, meeting the 2nd Thursday at 1:30.  Contact coordinator Joy Clous for more information.

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, The Four Pivots: Reimaging Justice, Reimaging Ourselves, by Shawn Ginwright, PhD., on April 3rd at 7 p.m. We will discuss the Introduction and Pivot 1 (up to page 91). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Book Groups Update

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

Reminder there is a “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).  If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please find the books page and take a look.

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

March Book Groups

Book Group 1:
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, on March 14; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 2:
Untold Powers, by Rebecca Roberts, on March 5; coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
Lost in Shangri-La, by Mitchell Zuckoff, on March 27; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
Five Days at Memorial, by Sherri Fink on March 13; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
The Family Roe: An American Story, by Joshua Praeger on March 18; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8: 
Lost and Found Bookshop, by Susan Wiggs, on March 25; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
The Gondola Maker: a Novel of 16th Century Venice, by Laura Morelli, on March 21; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, by Lisa See, on March 7; coordinator is Linda Cook

Looking for Readers!

The Tahoe Park Book Group (Group 1) is looking for new members, whether they live in the Tahoe Park area or anywhere, meeting the 2nd Thursday at 1:30.  Contact coordinator Joy Clous for more information.

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under The Color Of Law by Richard and Leah Rothstein, on March 6th at 7 p.m. We will discuss Part Four (page 169 to the end). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Our next book, starting in April, is The Four Pivots: Reimaging Justice, Reimaging Ourselves, by Shawn Ginwright, PhD.

Book Groups for February

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

Reminder there is a “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).  If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please find the books page and take a look.

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

January Book Groups

Book Group 1:
The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown, on Feb. 8; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 2:
Horse, by Geraldine Brooks, on Feb. 6; coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes, on Feb. 28; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
The Adventures of Herbie Cohen, by Rich Cohen on Feb. 14; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk on JaFeb. 19; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8: 
Finding the Mother Tree, by Suzanne Simard, on Feb. 26; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
Because Our Fathers Lied, by Craig McNamara, on Feb. 15; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Fifty Words for Rain, by Asha Lemmie, on Feb. 1; coordinator is Linda Cook

Favorite Books from Book Group 4 in 2023

By ranking, most favorite first, followed by a one line description of the book:

  1. Horse, by Geraldine Brooks. A famous racehorse is re-discovered.
  2. Beautiful Country, by Julie Wang Quan. A Chinese family emigrates to the U.S.
  3. (tie) The Promise, by Damon Galgut. One family’s life on a farm in So. Africa.
    (tie) Night, by Elie Wiesel. The story of a man who survived the Holocaust.
  4. (tie) My Sister, the Serial Killer, by Oykinian Braithwaite. One good sister, one bad, in Nairobi.
    (tie) The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, by Michele Kim Richardson. Blue-skinned people of Kentucky.

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under The Color Of Law by Richard and Leah Rothstein, on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. We will discuss Part Three  (through page 167). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Book Groups for January

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

Reminder there is a “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).  If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please find the books page and take a look.

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

January Book Groups

Book Group 1:
The Foundling, by Anne Leary, on Jan. 18; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 2:
Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus, on Jan. 9; coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
Trust, by Herman Diaz, on Jan. 24; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
<Book Selection> on Jan. 10; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
TBD on Jan. 22; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8: 
<Book Selection> on Jan. 29; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
Why We Sleep:Unlocking the Power of Sleep, by Matthew Walker, on Jan. 18; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Travels with Charley, by John Steinbeck, on Jan. 4; coordinator is Linda Cook

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under The Color Of Law by Richard and Leah Rothstein, on Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. We will discuss Parts One and Two (through page 92). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Book Groups for December

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

Reminder there is a “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).  If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please find the books page and take a look.

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

December Book Groups

Book Group 1:
No meeting in December; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 2:
No meeting in December; coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
No meeting in December; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
A History of the Index, by Dennis Duncan, on Dec. 13; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, by Ocean Vuong, on Dec 18; coordinator is Kim Rutledge

Book Group 8: 
No meeting in December; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
Holiday Party, on Dec. 21; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Horse, by Geraldine Brooks, on Dec. 7; coordinator is Linda Cook

Our Favorite Books

From Book Group 3:

1. Mukiwa, by Peter Godwiin. A white boy growing up in Zimbabwe.
2. Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro. In the future we may have artificial friends.
3. Funny in Farsi, by Firoozeh Dumas. An Iranian family gets used to life in the U.S.
4. (3-way tie:) This is How it Always is, by Laurie Frankel, a family raising a transgender child; Our Missing Hearts, by Celeste Ng, in the future a boy loses his mother, who opposes the regime; The Hare with Amber Eyes, by Edmund de Waal, The rise of a rich European family.

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our
own biases, seek actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and
become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our
selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring
other issues related to race and equity. We meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, The Talk by Darrin Bell, on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. If
you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at
charminme@yahoo.com.

Our book for January is Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under The Color Of Law by Richard and Leah Rothstein. We will read 1/3 of the book each month from January to March,