Well-Kitchen Well-Read Book Club

Our June 2025 meeting at the Wonderful Well-Kitchen Cafe

The themes for our June meeting were Inspiration and Impossibility.  Some very thought provoking choices and a wide-ranging discussion as always. Thank you so much for hosting us, Amita. 

• The President’s Hat by Antoine Laurain. President Mitterrand goes out for lunch and leaves his hat behind. A man picks it up and keeps it. A feel good story about the adventures of the hat and the people who wear it.
• Still Life by Sarah Winnman. Ulysses Temper, a young British soldier meets Evelyn Skinner, an art historian, in Italy during World War II. Their chance encounter sets in motion a series of events that connect their lives across decades, from war-torn Florence to the streets of London. 
• Tin Man by Sarah Winnman. The lives of Ellis, Michael, and Annie intertwine. The story centres on Ellis and Michael's deep friendship and the impact of that relationship on their lives and the lives of those around them.
• The Impossible Life of Mary Benson by Rodney Bolt. Mary Benson was married to Archbishop Benson - they had five children. This is the tale of a dysfunctional family - though whether Mary’s life was actually ‘Impossible’ is debatable…
• Monte Cassino by Matthew Parker. Parker tells the tragic story of Europe’s largest land battle, which saw the destruction of the ancient monastery of Monte Cassino. He dramatically conveys the heroism and misery of the human face of war.
• The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell. Tom, a young English teacher rescues a penguin, Juan Salvador, from an oil slick in Uruguay. He smuggles the penguin back to his boarding school apartment in Argentina. Juan Salvador becomes a beloved roommate and friend, bringing joy to everyone around him. (Warning: tissues required!!)
• If You Tell… by Greg Olsen documents the true story of Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek, sisters who survived living with their mother, Shelly Knotek, who would ultimately be responsible for the infamous Raymond torture killings in Washington State. An horrific but compelling read.
• Nora Webster by Colm Toíbín is a novel set in Ireland, in the late 1960s. It focuses on young widow Nora Webster as she copes with the death of her husband and rebuilds her life. Nora grapples with grief while raising four children and navigating the small town's social dynamics.
• The Dragon Lady by Louise Treger. An historical novel following the life of Lady Virginia Courtauld, a wealthy, unconventional woman, and her husband as they navigate social and political upheaval in the 1950s. From Italy, to Eltham Palace, to Scotland and then to Southern Rhodesia, this novel is a compelling blend of fact and fiction, weaving history, crime, and romance. 

Next Meeting: Saturday 5th July at 1.30. Randomly Generated Themes:  Coming of Age & Conspiracy

There will be no Meeting in August.

Sue Brice

If you would like to know more talk to Amita or Sue on suzeou@gmail.com.

 “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss