It isn’t what I’d call a typical musical theatre experience so if you’re not big fans of musicals, I still think that you’d likely enjoy Fun Home. It’s a moving, poignant story that is enhanced by the musical form, and not a more typical singing/dancing type form of musical theatre. 
It is in a very small theatre space and that just enhances the experience. If you do see it, let me know what you think!
We had Fun Home for our most successful book club pick ever. The house was packed. Didn’t we discuss it somewhere else here? Was it a CC bookclub pick too?
No, the CC book club hasn’t read Fun Home. Maybe it should!
Those of you who enjoyed Gone Girl and The Girl On The Train might enjoy Rebecca Scherm’s novel Unbecoming. I saw it on a list of best page turners, so I got it on my i-phone and listened to it on a 10 hour drive I took this weekend. It sure kept my attention, and made the drive fly by.
I will second and third the recommendation to see Fun Home. It is so beautifully done, a thrillng theatrical experience and not a traditional feel good, sing and dance musical at all.
I can recommend another graphic book, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast. It’s the author’s memoir taking care of her aging parents at the end of their lives. It won the National Book 2014. For all of us who have gone through this or currently undertaking this task, it rings very true. Poignantly funny and brutally honest.
Has anyone read The Daughters or The Turner House? If so, would you recommend for a book club?
Yes, I saw enough clips of Roz Chast’s book to know it was good, but at the time it was way too close to home. I would like to read it though.
We decided to try reading The Turner House. Will let you know how it is!
I have a life-changing book to recommend. Ten Thousand Joys and Ten Thousand Sorrows, by Olivia Hoblitzelle. In the non-fiction category, it’s a memoir of how Olivia and her husband faced his Alzheimer’s diagnosis together, from before his diagnosis to death.
This book is wise, gracious, inspirational, and loving. Hob and Olivia mindfully look for the joys and gifts in each stage of the disease, using the principles of their Buddhist faith. As a Christian, I was touched and inspired.
Olivia includes helpful coping strategies as well as reflection sections and prayers. I think anyone coping with a long-term illness in their own life or the life of a loved one, would benefit greatly from this book.
I just finished a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend–“A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian” by Marina Lewycka–it starts out charming and funny, gets a little crazy, gets a little sad, and is overall extremely moving. I had read her first novel which I came across by accident, then have spent a while tracking this one down. Really worthwhile; I think it would make a great book club read to. It speaks to family, history, politics, tractors!, in an engaging, very readable manner.
Ok, I read that fast and thought the author was Monica Lewensky.
Quite different.
My current read is “Bad Monkey” by Carl Hiaasen. So far it’s been a fun read. He has a pretty good sense of humor.
Just finished “The Nest”. and loved it. Quick, fun read.
Finally was able to finish “The Boys in the Boat” this time around as I had it on Overdrive and it kept expiring before I had a chance to finish it. Very strong read, very informative and I totally recommend. If well cast and well produced it should make an awesome movie. Now back to Book Two of the Ferrante Neapolitan novels
@FallGirl, I also really enjoyed “The Nest”. Now just starting “Eligible”, Curtis Sittenfeld’s take on “Pride and Prejudice”.
Just finished The Light Between Oceans. What a beautiful book.
Now starting Odds Against Tomorrow, Nathaniel Rich.
I loved “The Light Between Oceans”.
Currently reading " A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara. Beautifully written, but over 700 pages long. This will take awhile.
I just finished listening to My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout and read by Kimberly Park. I thought this short work was very fine. Strout has an ability to capture a mood, in this book–one that’s dark and pensive, but tinged with a glow of hope.