MDBW Book Club
Our May Pick
James
by Percival Everett
When Jim learns he's about to be sold and separated from his family, he runs away to find a plan. At the same time, Huck fakes his death to escape his abusive father. Together, they begin a perilous journey down the Mississippi River in search of freedom.
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With sharp humor and powerful insight, James reimagines Jim’s story with depth, intelligence, and heart—offering a bold new take on a classic and cementing Percival Everett’s place in modern American literature.
Join the Mt. Diablo Business Women Book Club for engaging discussions every first Monday from 6:30-8:30 pm. Immerse yourself in a community of inspiring readers and enrich your literary journey with us.
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Past Book Club Picks
Change Your Brain Change Your Life
by Daniel G. Amen, MD
"Change Your Brain, Change Your Mind" by Dr. Daniel Amen explores the connection between brain health and mental well-being. Using insights from neuroscience and SPECT brain imaging, Dr. Amen explains how different brain functions influence emotions, behaviors, and decision-making. He offers practical strategies to improve brain health, manage anxiety, depression, and impulsivity, and enhance focus and resilience. The book provides science-backed tools, including nutrition, exercise, supplements, and cognitive techniques, to help readers take control of their mental health and live more fulfilling lives.
An Echo in Time
by Boo Walker
A woman delves into a centuries-old murder to find the truth behind her self-destructive behavior in a powerful novel about love, loss, and healing by the bestselling author of An Unfinished Story and The Stars Don’t Lie.
All Fours
by Miranda Joy
A semi-famous artist announces her plan to drive cross-country, from LA to New York. Twenty minutes after leaving her husband and child at home, she spontaneously exits the freeway, beds down in a nondescript motel, and immerses herself in a temporary reinvention that turns out to be the start of an entirely different journey.
How to Train a Happy Mind
by Scott Snibbe
Skeptic-turned-Buddhist Scott Snibbe presents an 8-step program in How to Train a Happy Mind, blending ancient Buddhist wisdom with modern science. This book introduces analytical meditation, a practice similar to cognitive behavioral therapy, that goes beyond mindfulness to actively train your brain with simple visualizations. Written in a relatable tone with references to pop culture, it’s perfect for those who see their mind as both the problem and the solution.
Here One Moment
by Liane Moriarty
Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-can’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel.
The Truths We Hold: An American Journey
by Kamala Harris
The Los Angeles Times called it "A life story that genuinely entrances." and the San Francisco Chronicle called it “An engaging read that provides insights into the influences of [Harris’s] life...Revealing and even endearing.”
Remarkably Bright Creatures
by Shelby Van Pelt
After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Remarkably Bright Creatures is an exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
by James McBride​
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In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new housing development, the last thing they expected to uncover was a human skeleton. Who the skeleton was and how it got buried there were just two of the long-held secrets that had been kept for decades by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side, sharing ambitions and sorrows.
Counterfit
by Kristin Chen
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The narrative unfolds around two Asian American women who unite to expand a fraudulent handbag operation into a worldwide enterprise. This is a sharp and dazzling fusion of fashion, criminal intrigue, and companionship.
The Reading List
by Sara Nisha Adams
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In this heartwarming debut, widower Mukesh's quiet life in a London suburb takes an unexpected turn when teenager Aleisha discovers a mysterious list of books in the local library. As Aleisha immerses herself in the novels, each story becomes a source of solace amidst her own challenges. When Mukesh, seeking a connection with his granddaughter, crosses paths with Aleisha, a shared reading journey begins. The magic of fiction becomes a lifeline, helping both lonely souls find joy and escape the weight of their grief.
Hello Beautiful
by Ann Napolitano
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"Hello Beautiful" tells a poignant story of a family confronting love's transformative power. William Waters escapes a troubled childhood through basketball and finds solace in Julia Padavano, a spirited woman with a close-knit family. Yet, their plans unravel when a dark past resurfaces, testing the sisters' loyalty. This narrative explores love's enduring strength amid adversity and celebrates the beauty in embracing someone for their flaws.
Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus
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In the 1960s, Elizabeth Zott challenges norms at Hastings Research Institute. Despite biases, scientist Calvin Evans admires Elizabeth's intellect. Life shifts; Elizabeth becomes a single mother, gaining fame on Supper at Six with her revolutionary cooking. "Lessons in Chemistry" is a witty, observant tale with a vibrant protagonist.
Everything is Under Control
by Phyllis Grant
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This memoir explores the intricate journey of appetite, tracing its evolution through sparse and poignant prose. From Juilliard to New York City's top kitchens, then to California post-9/11 where she embraces motherhood, Grant unveils her life's contours with transparency. The narrative captures the highs and lows of young adulthood, motherhood, and a kitchen-centered life, complemented by authentic recipes. It's a heartfelt yet unsentimental exploration of longing and sustenance.
