Fascinating read about leper colony on Molokai. Most book club members didn't know the history of the island or how recent leprosy was in the history of the US. The way the characters are isolated and ostracized was sad and at times difficult to read. But overall, they formed a strong community and found joy despite their circumstances.

A book club choice that led to a lot of discussion. The book itself is relatively short but includes a lot of heavy topics. Peronally, I found myself thinking about this book long after I finished it. I couldn't give it a five-star review as there were things that were a bit too strange for me - but definitely a good book to discuss if you are not afraid of getting into religious debates.

This is a dark read about a difficult time period. The insight into the characters led to a lot of interesting discussion about what you would do for your own safety, for your family, for those you love. You can never really know how you would react to such extreme tragedies but the author tries to help us understand the motivation behind individual's actions. Given the subject matter, it was a difficult read at times but worth the effort.

The start of the book seemed a little slow but ended as a dramatic adventure story - all the more amazing because it is a true story. One book club member had a version with actual pictures from the journey and it was great to see what the ship and crew members looked like. Definitely recommend this as an interesting read that leads to a lot of good discussion.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The writing style of different points of view for each chapter really came through and the author did a good job of assuming the voice of each character. The characters were at times frustrating and difficult to understand - but that is what made them more real. There is a message to be considered as well and it will have me thinking for a while...

Sadly, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought that I would. The premise and the history contained in the book seemed to be promising for a good read. I found there to be just too much detail at parts and it was hard to get through some of the sections. In the end, there was a lot that I skimmed over trying to complete the book.

This was a very difficult book to get through. There is a lot of information about the plight of women around the world. The stories are graphic and disturbing but it certainly gives you a different perspective about life in various countries. Overall, it is worth reading and does make some concrete suggestions about what can be done to help and agencies that are making a difference.

Good read that really keeps you interested all the way through. Even with (very) limited knowledge of tennis, this book provided insight into an athlete's life and the challenges he faced through all stages of his career.

This book was so disturbing that you didn't want to keep reading it but couldn't stop. Certainly offered a lot of interesting topics for book club discussion.

This was fun read although a little unsettling at times. I enjoyed the book overall and would look into reading other books by this author.

Jodi Picoult always keeps me attention rough her books and this one didn't disappoint. You are still left wondering about a lot of things at the end...but it is certainly thout provoking.

Offered interesting insights into the life of a political wife. Interesting to speculate about what parts were based in fact and what were truly fiction. Overall a good read that would lead to a lot of discussion.

Read this book in two days while on vacation. Extremely addiictive - but also very violent...not sure that it's really appropriate for teens. Glad that the other teo books are out already as I'm not sure how long I can wait before reading them!

Read through this one just as quickly as the first and found it just as addictive. It does leave you at the end wanting to jump right into the third book to learn the resolution.

This book seemed a little slow getting started but was really enjoyable as it continued. Especially as it continued into the final section, it seemed to go in an entirely new direction. There will be lots of content for book club discussion.

A quick read and an endearing story.

A quick read....can't wait for the other books to be released. This leaves you with a lot to consider in the picture that it paints of a future society. Am looking forward to seeing where the rest of the series leads.

I have enjoyed all that I have read of Geraldine Brooks and was excited to read this novel. While I would recommend it, this one was not my favorite. I liked the premise of telling the story behind Mr. March of Little Women. However, I found his character to be unsympathetic at times and hard to relate to. Overall, I would still recommend this book for bookclubs as there are a lot of good discussion topics.

A really interesting read that gives some insight to Hemingway, his first wife, and the experiences that inspired much of his writing. It definitely made me want to read more of his writing and more about his life - although he certainly comes across as a tormented soul.

I had borrowed this book from my father and held onto it for years before finally starting it. I was worried that it would be too dark and depressing. While the story definitely is dark, it is also written in such a compelling way that you just cannot put the book down. Similar to other reviews, I found myself talking about it to anyone who would listen. This would definitely make for good book discussion as well. We have previously read Endurance about Shackleton's voyage and there was some interesting compare and contrast between the two.

Listened to the audiobook read by Tina Fey and it was great. Hearing the anecdotes in her own voice made it even funnier. There was also more depth than I was expecting and had some insight about women in business, in comedy, and at home.

A quick read...a collection of essays about mountain climbing and the people drawn to such a dangerous sport.

Recommend this as an interesting read and a good book club choice. The amnesia provides a unique backdrop to the story and you're never quite sure what to believe.