Welcome to Week 1 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.
The Online Book Club, if you’ve never joined us before, is a book discussion group that takes place entirely online. Each week, I write a new blog post that talks about different aspects of the book, and you can interact directly with me and other readers by leaving your comments. Check back each week and see what new topics we’re talking about.
The Boys in the Boat follows an 8-oar crew that headed to the Berlin Olympics in 1936 to challenge Hitler and the dominant German rowing team. The book follows the members of the team as they go from inexperienced freshman rowers at the University of Washington to unexpected powerhouses in the sport. Running parallel to the story of the boys is the story of Adolf Hitler’s need to dominate the 1936s Olympics to show the world the power of the new German government. It’s a heartwarming and inspirational story that’s really interesting, even if you know nothing about rowing!
If you want to follow along with us but you aren’t interested in reading the book, you can always watch the movie versionthat was directed by George Clooney. Check out the trailer above if you want to get a feel for the how the story plays out on screen. Feel free to still leave comments on the blog posts, even if you’re only watching the movie and not reading the book.
We’ll read the first six chapters for next week, so make sure to read those before checking the next blog post!
Hello, Crafters! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to get back into crafting! This month, we’re making quilted bookmarks. These can be hand sewn or done on a sewing machine. I will show you two different methods.
Included in your kit:
fabric
batting
ribbon
Not included in your kit:
scissors
sewing machine (if desired)
I got the idea from these cute bookmarks I found on Pinterest:
Instructions (Method One) – This method uses pinking shears (or rotary blade). If you don’t have those, move on to method two.
1. Cut two pieces of fabric approximately 3″x8″.
2. Trim the piece of batting about a quarter of an inch smaller than the fabric pieces.
3. Make sandwich with the fabric and batting with right sides of the fabric facing outward.
4. Insert the ribbon into the sandwich with the cut edges inside (making a loop at the top). Quilt or hand sew all the pieces together making sure to secure the ribbon as well. You can use any design you want or make it up as you go like I did. (The ribbon isn’t in this picture because I goofed and had to go back and add it later).
5. Lastly, use your pinking shears or pinking rotary cutter to trim all the outside edges to prevent fraying of the fabric.
Instructions: Method Two
Cut two pieces of fabric approximately 3″x8″.
Cut the batting slightly smaller than the fabric pieces.
Lay the batting on the wrong side of one of the pieces of fabric. Quilt or hand sew those two pieces together. Use any design you want or make it up as you go like I did.
Next, put the right sides of the fabric together and sew around the outside edges leaving an opening at the top.
Turn your bookmark inside out using the opening at the top. Fold the top fabric pieces inward and insert the ribbon (cut edges inside the bookmark making a loop at the top. I realize this is different than what’s in the picture). Sew across the top closing the opening and securing the ribbon inside. I used a zig zag stitch just to make sure the ribbon is secured.
Welcome to Week 4 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Christmas Train.
Well, I can safely say that I did not see anything from that ending coming. That ending was quite a doozy! What did you think? Did you enjoy the ending? Or did you think it was a little over the top? I think there were too many reveals right at the end. I think one surprise would have been enough.
At the end of the book, the thief is finally revealed. Were you surprised that it was Father Kelly? That was a real surprise. It was sad that he returned to crime after his wife died. It’s too bad that he was all alone. What did you think about the fact that Agnes was really an undercover police officer for Amtrak? I wouldn’t have guessed that. Do you think the thief storyline was necessary to the plot? Do you think it added anything to the story?
Also, at the end of the book, we find out that Max organized this whole trip and hired actors to make sure that Tom and Eleanor got together. What did you think of this reveal? I didn’t like it. It was just too out there for me. I just don’t see how Max could have organized all of those details and could have accounted for everything that could ever go wrong. It just seems too far-fetched. Were you surprised that Tom wasn’t more upset when he figured out what Max had done? I guess he was just so happy that Eleanor had agreed to be with him.
How did the end of the book make you feel about Eleanor and Tom? I feel like I never really got to know Eleanor. I didn’t think she was very fleshed out. I thought it was weird that she wasn’t open with her feelings to Tom at any point. I wish she had been more honest with him and would have told him earlier why she wasn’t interested in being with him. Tom showed himself to be a hero when he was willing to ski to safety, but I still didn’t feel like he was a very likeable character. I feel like I really didn’t get to know him very well either.
Were you surprised by the avalanche section? Weren’t you so worried for everyone? I didn’t think that anyone would end up dying, but I did find that part of the book stressful! That would be such a horrible scenario! I can’t imagine being trapped like that. It would be so stressful to be running low on food and not know if anyone could come help. I couldn’t believe that they even had to evacuate the train. That would have been really scary.
What did you think of Lelia in this last section? I think I was glad when it was revealed that she was acting the whole time. I was so confused when she showed up and claimed that she wanted to marry Tom. That seemed so out of character for their relationship. It makes much more sense that she was acting and was not really that interested in Tom. Do you think she and Kristobal will end up together? The end of the book seems to hint that they might try to make a go of things. What do you think that relationship would be like?
Are you glad you read the book? What part was your favorite? Did you have a favorite character? Did the book help to put you in the Christmas spirit? If you liked this book and would be interested in watching and reading similar titles, make sure to check out this list I created. Let me know if you end up checking out anything on the list!
Make sure to check out the video below to hear Dermot Mulroney talk about the movie and the original song he created for the movie!
Thanks for following along all month. I hope you enjoyed the book. Make sure to let me know what you thought of the ending in the comments! And, make sure to check back next month as we read The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.
Welcome to Week 3 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Christmas Train.
This section sure ended with a bang, didn’t it? Did you see that ending coming at all? I really didn’t. I was shocked when Lelia showed up.
What do you think about Tom’s relationship to Lelia? I don’t really understand why they stay together at all. It doesn’t seem like they like each other very much. And, obviously, Tom isn’t that attached to her if he is willing to try to reconcile with Eleanor. Why do you think Lelia would come all the way to the train to see Tom? That seems like a lot of effort for someone that you aren’t really committed to. I thought the whole section where Tom tricked her “full-body therapeutic technician” was really weird. Again, I don’t really feel like I like Tom as a character. He was so jealous of that massage therapist and treated him really poorly. And then, he was so willing to lie to Lelia to cover his tracks. I don’t think Tom is a very trustworthy person. Do you like him? Are you rooting for him?
Were you surprised that Max agreed to pay for Steve and Julie’s wedding? I thought that was a nice gesture. It’s nice that their wedding will be more of an event than they first imagined. It seems like Steve and Julie might have a few reservations about their wedding, so it will be interesting to see how things go as they get closer to the ceremony.
Who do you think is the mysterious figure who is breaking into cabins and stealing things? I don’t have strong suspicions about anyone on the train, even though I know the book is trying to have me think that Agnes it the criminal. I think they all seem like relatively nice people. The Merryweather guy who was so angry about his missing items doesn’t seem nice, but he obviously isn’t the thief since he had something stolen from his room. What did you think of the fact that they tricked that man with the big snake? I’m not really sure how a snake that big could get in the train in the first place, and I didn’t really like that they played that trick on him. It seemed overly mean. What did you think?
What do you think Tom’s story is really going to be about? What parts of the train journey do you think he will end up writing about? Do you think he’s having the type of trip that he thought he would?
What do you think is going to happen in the last section? What will happen with Lelia? And, will Eleanor ever forgive Tom completely, especially now that Lelia has shown up? Who do you think will be revealed as the thief?
Before you go, check out the clip below to hear David Baldacci talk about writing great characters. Do you think you would classify Tom as a great character?
I hope you’ll let me know what you thought of this section in the comments! Make sure to finish the book before checking back next week!
Welcome to Week 2 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Christmas Train.
Did you enjoy reading this first section? I had a bit of a hard time getting into the first couple of chapters, but once the train journey really started, I enjoyed the story more. I’m not sure what I think about Tom Langdon, though. I’m not really sure that I like him as a character. What did you think about the fact that the book started with him being really rude and aggressive at the airport? I think readers were supposed to think it was funny and relatable that he was so mean towards the TSA agent, but I thought it was pretty inappropriate. I think he deserves to not be able to fly for a while.
Do you think it would be fun to go on a train ride? I think train travel sounds really romantic and exciting. If you’d like to see some pictures of what the Capitol Limited, the train that Tom takes at the beginning of his journey, check out this blog post. Does the train look like you expected it to look? I was surprised at how small the beds and spaces were in the train. I now understand why Tom felt like he would not fit in his bathroom.
Were you surprised when Eleanor showed up on the train? I thought that was an interesting twist. It seems like they have a really interesting past with each other. I can’t believe how many adventures they have gone on together. With all of that history, it seemed a little weird that Eleanor just decided to leave him one day without much explanation. There must be more to the story. It will be interesting to figure out what really happened between them as the story progresses. They sure won’t be able to stay away from each other long since they are in such tight quarters!
What do you think about the other people on board? Agnes is quite the character. What do you think she’s hiding? She doesn’t seem to be very forthcoming about her past and her family and her reason to be on the train. Do you think you would be able to get married on a train like the young couple, Julie and Steve? I don’t think getting married like that would be my first pick, but it would make for an interesting story. The Hollywood people that are on the train with Eleanor seem nice enough, but I wonder if they will continue to be nice as the train ride continues.
Do you have any guesses about anything that will happen in the next section? Do you think Tom and Eleanor will start to get along? What about the other people on board–how will they add to the story?
Before you go, check out the video below to hear the star of the movie version talk about his experience filming the movie. Do you think you will watch the movie after you finish the book?
I’m excited to read about your first impressions of the book in the comments! Make sure to check back next week after you read through chapter 22!
Welcome to Week 1 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Christmas Train by David Baldacci.
The Online Book Club, if you’ve never joined us before, is a book discussion group that takes place entirely online. Each week, I write a new blog post that talks about different aspects of the book, and you can interact directly with me and other readers by leaving your comments. Check back each week and see what new topics we’re talking about.
The Christmas Train tells the story of Tom Langdon, a journalist, who is forced to travel across the country by train after he is banned from commercial flight. While on the train, he meets a lot of interesting characters and is even reunited with an old flame. As the journey progresses, Tom confronts his past and changes the course of his future through his interactions with those he meets on the rails.
If you want to follow along with us but you aren’t interested in reading the book, you can always watch the movie versionstarring Dermot Mulroney. Check out the trailer above if you want to get a feel for the how the story plays out on screen. Feel free to still leave comments on the blog posts, even if you’re only watching the movie and not reading the book.
We’re reading the first 11 chapters for next week, so make sure to read those before coming back next week for the next blog post!
I’m thankful for our volunteers, community partners, donors, and everyday people who share with neighbors all that’s available through the library. Did you realize that with your support of the Greene County Public Library Foundation we have created over 19,000 individual success stories through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library locally? With your continued support, we look forward to doing so much more in the coming years!
A library is only a building, and we are excited for the completion of renovations at Xenia Community Library in 2025, but it’s the people that make it a special place. A library that’s dedicated to the public and to the community.
So until I see you next, I wish you and your’s a blessed holiday season,
Karl Colón, Executive Director Greene County Public Library
Welcome to Week 4 of the Online Book Club discussion of Still Life.
Did you guess who the murderer was before the end of the book? Were you shocked? The end was pretty exciting, and I genuinely was surprised when I found out who committed the crime.
At the beginning of the section, it still looks like Philippe is the one who killed Jane. I really believed he would turn out to be the murderer. Were you surprised that Matthew was willing to go to jail for his son? Do you think he ever would have said anything about the crime had they not found Philippe’s arrow in the tree? Clara definitely helped the case immensely by finding that arrow in the tree. Weren’t you sad for Philippe that he believed he had accidentally killed Jane? I did feel bad for him, because I’m sure he was scared to death, but I was also disappointed that he would hide the fact that he might have committed a serious crime from everyone in his family. That’s not a great reaction.
I was not surprised at all that there was another will. It was just too unlikely that Jane would leave all of her money and property to a niece that she wasn’t getting along with. And, the fact that there was another will helped to prove that Nichol was not doing her job. Did you expect that Clara was really the one that Jane had left everything to? Do you think she will do well with the money?
When you found out that Ruth had betrayed Jane in the past, did you wonder if Ruth was the killer? I wondered that for a few pages, but I just couldn’t imagine Ruth committing a murder. That was sad that Ruth had told Jane’s parents about Jane’s boyfriend. I wonder if Jane and her boyfriend would have had a happy life together had Ruth not interfered.
What did you think of the reveal of Jane’s house? I was so confused when they went in the first time and it just seemed like Jane was a really tacky interior designer. I couldn’t imagine that was enough to stop Jane from showing her house to everyone. And, it seems like if she had decorated her house like that, she would have liked it and would not have felt bad about showing it to others. Were you surprised when they found Jane’s drawings all over the wall? It was interesting that she recorded the town in that way.
Jane’s painting ended up being the key to the murder. I can’t believe that painting is what caused Jane to be murdered. If only she hadn’t put Ben in the painting. What did you think when they first realized that someone had been covered up in the painting? Did you immediately think of Ben? I didn’t. I was shocked when it turned out that he was the one who had committed the crime. After the whole details were revealed, it totally made sense that he was the murderer, but I didn’t put it together before it was explained. I was shocked when Clara showed up at his house, and he attacked her in his basement. That was wild. I can’t believe that he killed his mother, too. He just wasn’t who I thought he was at all.
Everything seems to be pretty wrapped up at the end of the book, but I worry for Peter. I think he will be affected by the betrayal of his best friend. Do you think he will be able to move on quickly from learning that his best friend wasn’t who he thought he was?
Did you enjoy the book? Do you think you would read more from this author? Did you like the setting and the characters? If you liked this book and would like to read or watch similar items, check out this list I created. Make sure to let me know if you check out anything on my list!
Before you go, check out the clip below with Louise Penny and Alfred Molina. Do you think you’ll check out the Amazon Prime series after reading the book and checking out the clips?
Thanks so much for following along this month! I hope you really enjoyed the book. Make sure to leave me a comment to let me know if you figured out the murderer before the end of the book! And, make sure to check back next month as we discuss The Christmas Train by David Baldacci.
Welcome to Week 3 of the Online Book Club discussion of Still Life by Louise Penny.
What did you think of the reading this week? Are you enjoying the story? Are you feeling like you have figured out the crime?
Do you feel like you’ve grown closer to any of the characters? I definitely find myself rooting for Clara and Peter. I don’t expect that they have anything to do with the murder of Jane, but if that were the big twist at the end of the story, I would be really heartbroken. I really appreciate Inspector Gamache. I like that he is a positive figure in the story, and I like that he doesn’t have some dark secret or dark backstory. I am curious about the past case that has gotten him in so much hot water, but it seems like he wasn’t in the wrong. He might have been too on the ball about his investigating.
A lot of this section followed Matthew Croft. Do you think he’s innocent of the crime? I know he looks guilty because the bow was at his house, and they were trying to hide evidence. But, I really think he was just covering for his son. I think, if he were responsible for the crime, he would not have spent so much time talking about archery in the town hall meeting. I think he was too open about his knowledge and expertise, and I think he would have been more secretive if he were the perpetrator.
What do you think of Agent Nichol? I felt sorry for her at the beginning of the book because she seemed like she was trying hard but was awkward. But, now, I feel like she is just really unpleasant. I think she’s so busy trying to make a name for herself, and she is not interested in working with everyone else. What did you think about the fact that she lied about the will? She didn’t investigate at all to make sure that it was the latest will. I just can’t imagine that the will they found is the most recent. It’s just so weird that Jane would leave her house to her niece when it seems like they don’t have a relationship.
What do you think of Yolande, Jane’s niece, and Andre, her husband? They seem so weird. I feel like they are both hiding something. Why do you think Yolande is so set on being inside of Jane’s house? I really feel like there is something in there that is really important. Do you think Jane had a lot of hidden money or priceless antiques? There must be something really important in her house.
Do you have any guesses about who could have committed the crime? Who do you think is the most likely suspect? What do you think will happen in the last section?
Before you go, check out the video below to learn more about author, Louise Penny. She seems like such a nice person! I really enjoyed getting to see more about her in this video.
Thanks for following along this week! I can’t wait to hear what you thought of the section and what you’re thinking about the mystery. Make sure to leave a comment to let me know what you thought! Check back next week after finishing the book!
Happy Holidays, Crafters! This month, we’re making cute gift tags out of buttons!