<![CDATA[The Gardens Gazette​ - Book Clubs]]>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:53:56 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Garden Book Club]]>Sun, 04 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.thegardensgazette.org/book-clubs/garden-book-club-book-candidatesShort URL: https://tinyurl.com/club-books
Join Garden Book Club with Contact Form: Attention "Book Club"
Club meets on Zoom 1st & 3rd Fridays at 2:30PM
Zoom invitations are emailed the Thursday before the meeting.
February-March 2024: 
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult:
A Memoir of Mental Illness
and the Quest to Belong Anywhere
by Maria Bamford
Feb-16 2:30 PM - Zoom only.
March-1 2:30 PM - Craft Room & Zoom.
 
February-March 2024:  #32
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult (Amazon)
​by Maria Bamford (Wikipedia)
Selected by John, Billie, & Susan T.
​
Borrow to Listen or Read   Sure, I'll Join Your Cult
​SPL Catalog ​| LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook
KCL Catalog | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook 

​Buy to Listen or Read  Sure, I'll Join Your Cult
Amazon: Book | Kindle | Audible 
Thriftbooks.com: Hardcover
Powels.com: Hardcover
​Abebooks.com: Hardcover
HPB.com: Used $14.49
Bookshop.org: 
​Libro.fm: 

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult
Author website: Maria Bamford
YouTube.com:  Title Search (several links)
Wikipedia.org: Maria Bamford
Bookbrowse.com:  Summary & Reviews
NPR.ORG: Interview with Jesse Thorn 
Publishersweekly.com: 
Fandom.com: 
Tvtropes.org
January 2024: 
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store (F)
 
January 2024:  #31
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
​by James McBride
Recommended by John, Billie, & Susan T.
​
Borrow to Listen or Read   The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
​SPL Catalog ​| LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook
KCL Catalog | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook 

​Buy to Listen or Read   The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
Amazon: Book | Kindle | Audible 
Thriftbooks.com: Hardcover
Powels.com: Hardcover
​Abebooks.com: Hardcover
Powells.com: Hardcover
HPB.com: Used $14
Bookshop.org: 
​Libro.fm: 

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
Author website: m
YouTube.com: Audio by Chapter (added 1/19/24)
YouTube.com:  Title Search (several links)
YouTube.com: The Story of James McBride (4 minutes)
Wikipedia.org: James McBride
Bookbrowse.com:  Reviews & a Guide
NPR.ORG: Review (7 minutes)
Publishersweekly.com: 
Fandom.com: 
Tvtropes.org
December 2023: #30 Doppelganger (NF)

December 2023: #30
Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World (NF)
​by Naomi Klein
Recommended by John
​
Borrow to Listen or Read   Doppelganger
​SPL Catalog | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook
KCL Catalog | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook 

​Buy to Listen or Read   Doppelganger
Amazon: Book | Kindle | Audible
Bookshop.org: Hardcover 
​Libro.fm: Audio Book
Thriftbooks.com: Hardcover
Powels.com: Hardcover
​Abebooks.com: Search
Powells.com: Hardcover
HPB.com: not listed
PaperBoatBookSellers.com: Paperback

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews Doppelganger
Author website: Naomi Klein
Youtube.com:  Search
Publishersweekly.com: Summary
Wikipedia.org: Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
Bookbrowse.com:  not listed
Fandom.com: 
Tvtropes.org
Nov-Dec 2023: #29 Dinners with Ruth (NF)

November-December 2023: #29
Dinners with Ruth (Memoir)
​by Nina Totenberg
Recommended by Diane
​
Borrow to Listen or Read   Dinners with Ruth
​SPL Catalog | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook
KCL Catalog | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook 

​Buy to Listen or Read   Dinners with Ruth
Amazon: ​Dinners with Ruth | Audible
Bookshop.org
​Libro.fm: Audio Book
Thriftbooks.com
Powels.com: Search
​Abebooks.com
Powells.com
HPB.com
PaperBoatBookSellers.com


Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews Dinners with Ruth
Youtube.com:  Search
Publishersweekly.com: Summary
Wikipedia.org: Nina Totenberg
Bookbrowse.com
Fandom.com: 
Tvtropes.org
October 2023: #28  Still Alice (Fiction)
October 2023: #28 
Still Alice (Fiction)
​by Lisa Genova
Recommended by Billie
​Still Alice
​Buy, Borrow or Listen    
Amazon: ​Still Alice (Paperback) | Audible: Still Alice
​SPL: Still Alice | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook
KCL: Still Alice | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook 

Bookshop.org: Paperback
​Libro.fm: Audio Book
Thriftbooks.com: Paperback
Youtube.com:  Search
Abebooks.com: Paperback
Powels.com: Paperback
​

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews
YouTube.com: Movie Trailer 
Publishersweekly.com: Summary
Tvtropes.org: Tropes
Wikipedia.org: Summary
Bookbrowse.com: Summary and Review
Fandom.com: 

August+September 2023: #27
The Plains of Passage (Prehistoric Fiction)
August+September 2023: #27 
The Plains of Passage (Fiction)
​by Jean M. Auel
Recommended by Mieke
​
​Buy, Borrow or Listen 
Amazon: The Plains of Passage (Kindle) | Audible: The Plains of Passage
​SPL: The Plains of Passage | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook
KCL: The Plains of Passage | LibbyApp eBook |  Audiobook | Gmap 

Bookshop.org: 
​Libro.fm: Audio Book
Thriftbooks.com: Paperback
Youtube.com:  
Abebooks.com: Hardcover Used
ThriftBooks.com: Paperback
Powels.com: Paperback & Hardcover
​

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews
YouTube.com: Summary
Publishersweekly.com: Review
Tvtropes.org: Novels by Jean M. Auel
Wikipedia.org: Summary
Bookbrowse.com: 
Fandom.com: Plot Summary 

​

July 2023: #26 Between Earth and Sky (HF)
July 2023: #26 
Between Earth and Sky (Historical Fiction) 
by Amanda Skenandore | News and Reviews
Recommended by Sue
​
​Buy, Borrow or Listen 
Amazon: Between Earth and Sky | Audible: Between Earth and Sky
SPL: Between Earth and Sky | LibbyApp eBook | Audiobook
KCL: Between Earth and Sky | LibbyApp eBook | Gmap 
Bookshop.org: Paperback
​Libro.fm: Audio Book
Thriftbooks.com: Paperback
Youtube.com:  
Abebooks.com: 
​

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews
Goodreads.com: Between Earth and Sky
Southernladymagazine.com: Q&A with author
RandeeGreen.com: Review
Publishersweekly.com: Review
Tvtropes.org: 
Wikipedia.org: 
Bookbrowse.com: 

​

June 2023: #25 Just David (young fiction)
June 2023: #25 
Just David (Young Fiction) 
by Eleanor Porter
Recommended by Ingrid
​
​Buy, Borrow or Listen 
Amazon: Just David | Audible: Just David 
SPL: Just David | LibbyApp Just David eBook 
KCL: Just David | LibbyApp Just David eBook | Greenbridge Library
Bookshop.org: Just David Paperback
​Libro.fm: Just David Audio Book
Youtube.com:  Just David (FULL Audiobook)
Abebooks.com: 

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews
Goodreads.com: Just David 
Tvtropes.org: Just David 
Wikipedia.org: Just David
Bookbrowse.com: 

Book Resources

SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY 206-386-4636 / Ask Us​Kindle
May 2023: #24 Slaughterhouse-Five (fiction)
May 2023: #24 
Slaughterhouse-Five 
by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Recommended by Sue and Billie
​
​Buy, Borrow or Listen > Dying of Politeness
Amazon | Audible 
Seattle Public Library | LibbyApp eBook > Audio
King County Library | LibbyApp eBook > Audio | Greenbridge Library
​Independent Book Stores: Paperback | Digital Audio
YouTube: Audio Book in 10 Parts

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews

GoodReads 
TV Tropes
Wikipedia
BookRags
Grade Saver Study Guide
​​Litchart 

Study Guides not available at:
BookBrowse

April 2023: #23 Dying of Politeness (memoir)
April 2023: #23 
Dying of Politeness: A Memoir
by Geena Davis 
Recommended by Ingrid
​
​Buy, Borrow or Listen > 
Amazon | Audible 
Seattle Public Library | LibbyApp eBook > Audio
King County Library | LibbyApp eBook > Audio | Greenbridge Library
​Independent Book Stores: Paperback | Digital Audio

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews
YouTube: Podcast Interview (29:23)
GoodReads 

Study Guides not available at:
Wikipedia
TV Tropes
BookRags
Grade Saver Study Guide
BookBrowse
​Litchart 
March 2023: #22 The Orphan Collector (historical fiction)
March 2023: #22 
The Orphan Collector
by Ellen Marie Wiseman 
(Website) (Instagram) (Twitter) (Facebook) (BookBub)
Recommended by Mieke
​
​Buy, Borrow or Listen > The Orphan Collector
Amazon | Audible 
Seattle Public Library | LibbyApp eBook > Audio
King County Library | LibbyApp eBook > Audio | Greenbridge Library
Independent Book Stores: Paperback | Digital Audio
Youtube Audiobook:
 The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman [Part 1] (8:18:08) 
 The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman [Part 2] (7:35:08)

Study Guides, Documentaries, Interviews, and Reviews
YouTube: Query | Ellen Marie Wiseman Interview (41:20)
  Ellen Marie Wiseman Interview (55:49) More information
  Book Review of The Orphan Collector (13:27)
GoodReads 

February 2023: #21 Breath (nonfiction)
February 2023: #21 
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
by James Nestor
Recommended by Ingrid

​Buy, Borrow or Listen > Breath
Amazon | Audible 
Seattle Public Library | LibbyApp eBook > Audio
King County Library | LibbyApp eBook > Audio | Greenbridge Library
Independent Book Stores: Hardcover | Digital Audio

Study Guides, Documentaries, and Reviews
Wikipedia: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
YouTube: Query | Book Summary (15:50)
GoodReads 

Study Guides not available at:
TV Tropes
BookRags
Grade Saver Study Guide
BookBrowse
​Litchart 
Dec>January 2023: #20 Year of Wonders
 Dec + January 2023: #20 
Year of Wonders
by Geraldine Brooks
Recommended by Sue

​Buy, Borrow or Listen
Amazon | Audible 
Seattle Public Library | LibbyApp > Audio
King County Library | LibbyApp > Audio    Greenbridge Library
Independent Book Stores 
YouTube Part 1/8 | Part 2/8 | Part 3/8?

Study Guides, Documentaries, and Reviews
Wikipedia | Geraldine Brooks
YouTube Review 5:56
Youtub Geeraldine Brooks Interview 6:24
YouTube Geraldine Brooks 2016 National Book Festival 36:51
​GoodReads 
BookRags
Grade Saver Study Guide
BookBrowse
​Litchart 

Study Guides not available at:
TV Tropes
November 2022: #19 Maid
November 2022: #19 
​Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive 
by Stephanie Land
Recommended by Sue

​Buy, Borrow or Listen
Amazon | Audible 
Seattle Public Library | LibbyApp  
Independent Book Stores | Pagasus | Paper Boat 
Watch miniseries on Netflix | Read about on IMDB or on Wikipedia

Study Guides, Documentaries, and Reviews
Wikipedia Stephanie Land
YouTube | Stephanie Land on Being a Maid and the American Dream (6:44)
YouTube | Interview: Stephanie Land: MAID (40:08)
​GoodReads 
BookRags
Grade Saver Study Guide
BookBrowse

Study Guides not available at:
​Litchart 
TV Tropes
October 2022: #18 The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy
October 2022: #18 Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Recommended by Billie

​Buy, Borrow or Listen
Amazon | Audible 
Seattle Public Library | LibbyApp  (both have waiting lists)
Independent Book Stores 
YouTube | Full Animated Audiobook 4:34:36
YouTube | Full Audiobook 4:56:47
YouTube | Full Movie in 33 segments

Study Guides, Documentaries, and Reviews
Wikipedia 
YouTube | Search
YouTube | Best Bits
Netflix | IMDB
​GoodReads 
BookRags
​Litchart ​
Grade Saver Study Guide
TV Tropes

Study Guides not available at:
BookBrowse

September 2022: #17 The Botany of Desire
September 2022: #17 The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
Recommended by Patricia

​Buy or Borrow
Amazon | Audible 
Seattle Public Library | LibbyApp
Independent Book Stores 

Study Guides, Documentaries, and Reviews
Wikipedia 
YouTube | PBS Botany of Desire (1:56:28) | 10-minute reading
YouTube | Lecture (59:47) | Tedtalk: A plant's eye-view (17:29)
​GoodReads 
BookRags
SuperSummary 
BookBrowse​​

Study Guides are Unavailable at:
Litchart 
GradeSaver: Study Guide
TV Tropes
August 2022: #16 The Last Day of John Lennon
August 2022: #16 The Last Days of John Lennon by James Patterson
Recommended by Ingrid

​Buy or Borrow
Amazon | Audible 
Seattle Public Library | LibbyApp
Independent Book Stores 

Study Guides and Reviews
YouTube: 2010 Documentary
​GoodReads 
Kirkus Reviews is a negative hit.
    The critic recommends the book by Kenneth Womack

July 2022: #15 Another Roadside Attraction 
July 2022: #15 Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins
Recommended by Billie 5/15/2022

Buy or Borrow
Amazon | Audible (unavailable at Audible)
Seattle Public Library
Scribd eBook (unavailable)
LibbyApp

Study Guides and Reviews
Litchart (unavailable)
BookRags
SuperSummary 
Wikipedia
YouTube: Plot Summary (unavailable)
GradeSaver: Study Guide (unavailable)
TV Tropes (unavailable)


June 2022: #14 The Handmaid's Tale 
June 2022: #14 The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Recommended by Billie 5/15/2022

Available at
Amazon | Audible
Seattle Public Library
Scribd eBook
Youtube Full Audio Read by Claire Danes (7:50:00)
LibbyApp
Video: The Handmaids Tale (1990) 720p (1:48:40) IMDB 

Study Guides and Reviews
Litchart
BookRags
Wikipedia
YouTube: Plot Summary (7:50)
GradeSaver: Glossary | Study Guide
TV Tropes


May 2022: #13 To Kill a Mockingbird

May 2022: #13 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Recommended by Sue 

Available at
Amazon
Seattle Public Library
Scribd
Youtube Full Audio
LibbyApp

Study Guides and Reviews
Litchart: To Kill a Mockingbird
BookRags: To Kill a Mockingbird
Wikipedia To Kill a Mockingbird
Y ouTube: Summary: To Kill a Mockingbird  (7:38) > PDF
GradeSaver: To Kill a Mockingbird
TV Tropes: To Kill a Mockingbird


April 2022: #12 Dog on It 
April 2022: #12 Dog on It by Spencer Quinn / Blog
Recommended by Norma - March 2022 

Available at
Amazon
Seattle Public Library
Simon & Schuster
Scribd

Study Guides and Reviews
Litchart: nothing here
BookRags: Dog on It

Misc
Honky Tonk Parrot video


March 2022: #11 Brave New World 
March 2022: #11 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Recommended by Billie - January 2022 
Amazon
Seattle Public Library
YouTube
   Brave New World - complete dramatized audiobook
   Brave New World - Radio Drama (1956) - Aldous Huxley as Narrator - 1 Hr 

Google Drive PDF: Brave New World paginated

Brave New World: Guides and Analysis
Feb 2022: #10 The boys in the boat
Feb 2022: #10 The Boys in the Boat 
Picture
​ ​
Feb 2022: #10 The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Recommended by Mieke T. 8/27/2021
Amazon
Seattle Public Library
LitChart: The Boys in the Boat Study Guide | Literature Guide 
BookRags: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics Summary & Study Guide
SuperSummary: The Boys in the Boat Summary and Study Guide 
Princeton Book Review talking points The Boys In The Boat by Daniel James Brown
Wikipedia: The Boys in the Boat
Washington Rowing: The Boys in the Boat 
  1. Bow: Roger Morris
  2. Chuck Day
  3. Gordy Adam
  4. Johnny White
  5. Jim McMillin
  6. Shorty Hunt
  7. Joe Rantz
  8. Stroke: Don Hume
  9. Cox: Bob Moch
Jan 2022: #9 How to be an Antiracist
Jan 2022: #9 How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
2021 book selections
Past Book Selections
April 2021: #1 Where the Crawdads Sing by Owens, Delia 
        
May 2021: #2 Apple Eater by Annemarieke Tazelaar 
        
June 2021: #3 ​Requiem in Red by Norma Roth
        
July-Aug 2021:  #4 Olive Mabel and Me by Andrew Cotter
 
July 2021:  Book #4
Olive, Mabel & Me: Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogs
Hardcover – December 1, 2020
by Andrew Cotter (Author)Recommended by John W

Aug -Sep 2021:  #5 Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger 
Sep-Oct 2021:  #6 The Martian by Andy WeirOct-Nov 2021:  #7  A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Dec 2021:  #8 All The Flowers In Paris by Sarah Jio
PAST PROPOSED BOOKS

​PROPOSED BOOKS
Posted 6-14-2021
Aug 2021:  Book #5 
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

​I have a great book to recommend - it’s called “Ordinary Grace” and it has won 5 book club awards. The only thing is that it costs $12.99 on Amazon currently. Maybe I could fine a better price - or we’ll wait until the Bookmobile finds another lower price. 
It is by William Kent Krueger and was written in 2013. 
It got an Edgar award and 4 other awards: I was really impressed when I read it.  The author is from Oregon.

Recommended by Cynthia M

Amazon

Seattle Public Library

Posted 3-24-2021 > ​Book #6 September 2021
Sep 2021:  Book #6
The Martian by Andy Weir
​The SPL currently has 12 copies of the book.  Five are available.  They also have 7 large print books available, 164 ebooks, and 11 audio books available right now.  So I think it's a viable candidate for consideration.

Recommended  by Billie O.
Posted 7-24-2021
Book  #7
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
The SPL has 26 copies and 14 are on hold  (7/24/2021)
  SPL Audiobooks are available.
Amazon paperback is $7.63

​Recommended  by Mieke T.
Posted 7-9-2021
Book # 8
All the Flowers in Paris
by Sarah Jio
https://sarahjio.com/the-books/
Two women are connected across time by the city of Paris, a mysterious stack of love letters, and shocking secrets, sweeping from World War II to the present—for readers of Sarah’s Key and The Nightingale.

Amazon
Seattle Public Library
Posted 5-28-2021

Midnight in Chernobyl:
The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster (2019)
by Adam Higginbotham
A history of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that occurred in Soviet Ukraine in 1986. It won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction in 2020.   Higginbotham spent more than a decade interviewing eyewitnesses and reviewing documents from the disaster including some that were recently declassified.   Higginbotham considers it the first English-language account that is close to the truth i.e. free of Soviet propaganda.

Amazon Paperback & Kindle: 
https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Chernobyl-Greatest-Nuclear-Disaster/dp/1501134639/

Amazon Audiobook:
https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-in-Chernobyl-audiobook/dp/B07GFRZVZ8/

SPL Catalog: 
https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/item/show/3437529030

Recommended by Norma R. 

Posted 4-4-2021

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama. 
​Currently only about 8 regular books available at SPL, none of them large print and or e-books. But that might change by the time we get to it.  I have a copy, myself, but haven't read it.  It was given to me.  This would give me a reason to pull it out.
​
Recommended by Billie O.
]]><![CDATA[Bookmobile Instructions]]>Thu, 25 Nov 2021 06:47:01 GMThttps://www.thegardensgazette.org/book-clubs/bookmobile-instructionsYou may use Seattle Public Library Mobile Services for borrowing books. Deliveries are made to Arrowhead Gardens B Building on the 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 10:30am. Each person is responsible for picking up and returning her book copy to SPL Mobile Services. 

If you would like to use SPL Mobile Services:
  1. Make sure you have an active SPL account: https://www.spl.org
  2. (If you have a King County Library account, you can link that account to an SPL account.)
  3. Place a hold on the book you want.
  4. Contact SPL  to have Mobile Services deliver your books to Arrowhead Gardens
    1. You can use the online Chat at https://www.spl.org/using-the-library/ask-us
    2. or call the SPL main phone: 206-386-4636
    3. When the librarian has your information, she will forward it to Mobile Services.
  5. Mobile Services will contact you to confirm your instructions.
    ​Their e-mail: bookmobile@spl.org

An earlier post on bookmobile is HERE]]><![CDATA[Garden Book Club - Book 3]]>Tue, 08 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.thegardensgazette.org/book-clubs/garden-book-club-book-3Picture
Posted 5-27-2021
Book #3
​Requiem in Red by Norma Roth
is the third book club selection.

Contact Norma to purchase a copy for $11
or download a Kindle copy.

Myrna Schroeder's beauty shines as she goes about her night shift job in the drab factory. Her beauty, however, is a cross she must bear. It's 1952, and no Mrs. is in her name, no gold ring on her left hand. Her child, Scarlett, five, is the result of a night of terror perpetrated by a man whose name she keeps secret. She is the core of Myrna’s life. Myrna has erased all thought of romance from her mind. Then, an accident at the factory brings her to the attention of Mark Weston, unhappily married owner of the factory. Their meeting is like the collision of two atoms, but Myrna rejects his advances. Mark and his wife divorce. He and Myrna almost touch complete happiness until Scarlett's wild, fire-red hair and green Dragon Eyes reveal her father’s identity to Myrna’s aunt Ada. Ada decides to blackmail him, beginning a chain reaction that sets off the explosion which almost destroys Myrna. Can she recover to let love back into her life? Can Mark's love repair her shattered world? Will they live the dream they began?
To continue reading click Read More
Click Green Accordion to Open
Norma submitted a synopsis of her book on 6-15-2021
REQUIEM IN RED SUMMARY
By Norma Roth   6/15/21

The germ of Requiem in Red planted itself deep into my brain in 1954. I worked the night shift in a factory that made automatic switches. One of my coworkers was Peggy, (not her real name) was an unwed mother with a little girl about the age of my daughter, who was five. The child’s name was Scarlett and I thought it was strange that an unmarried mother would give her child that name. I guess she had never read “The Scarlett Letter.”

Peggy was a little strange. She wouldn’t allow her daughter to eat ice cream because she read in some grocery store newspaper that an evil person put ground glass in ice cream; she wouldn’t let Scarlett use Play Dough because it was “dirty.”

Myrna, the protagonist of my story, is not strange. She’s just the opposite.

I often wondered what happened to Peggy and her daughter, and I thought it would make a good story. After many years, Saltwater Writers helped me finally make that story: Requiem in Red

Myrna Schroeder is the mother of five-year-old Scarlett, the result of a date-rape by David Holman, the son of the town’s first family. She kept her pregnancy and the birth of Scarlett secret from him.

Myrna is an orphan raised by her mother’s much-older brother, Ernie, and his wife, Ada. Ada resented having to care for Myrna as a child. She persuaded Ernie to tell Myrna she had to quit high school when she turned sixteen. She went to work on the night shift in Weston Automatic Switch Company. Myrna has longed to finish high school ever since.

One hot evening at the factory, Myrna decided to eat her sack lunch in the company’s parking lot. She chose the top step of a high stoop as her dining table. Before she had a chance to begin her lunch, the door behind her swung open and struck her hard, knocking her to the pavement of the parking lot, about four feet down. The fall broke her arm and stunned her. When she opened her eyes, a pair of dark brown eyes, and the handsome face of a man were staring at her. It was Mark Weston, the owner and president of Weston Switch Company.

Mark was instantly attracted to the beautiful young woman who lay on the asphalt. He followed the ambulance to the hospital and after she was treated, he took her home to the upstairs apartment where she lived with Scarlett.

Mark attempted to woo Myrna, but she knew he was married and had a reputation as a womanizer. After David Holman had raped her and left her pregnant, Myrna wanted nothing to do with men. Especially, not Mark Weston.

On the Fourth of July, Mark went to the park where the city was having a fireworks display, found Myrna and Scarlett and joined them for the evening. Unknown to him, his wife, Noreen’s father had died from sudden heart attack at the dinner table, and she had been trying to find Mark.

No love was lost between Mark and Noreen. Her father was a wealthy doctor and financed Mark’s start in business to manufacture the switch he had invented in grad school. The doctor was the primary shareholder in the company and never let Mark forget who had financed it. Noreen was extremely close to her father. He was the only reason Mark and Noreen had not divorced.

After her father’s death, Noreen went to Reno for a quickie divorce and married a tennis pro from the country club. Mark then pursued Myrna.

Myrna had made a close friend of Lydia McIntire, an African American woman, her age, who had recently come to work in the factory. Lydia was a college graduate but because of her race, could not find work teaching chemistry in the local high school. She lived with her mother, Sarah, who had been a head housekeeper in a Chicago hotel before her retirement. Lydia wanted to stay with her in Newport City, so she went to work in Weston Automatic Switch Company. Myrna and Lydia gravitated toward each other because they were outcasts in the factory department where they worked. Myrna was shocked that Lydia, with her college degree, had to work in a factory. Lydia decided to start a union in the factory, which brought Myrna into conflict with Mark.

Mark was still in love with Myrna after Noreen left and proposed. She knew she loved him, but she was afraid she would be an embarrassment to him because of her lack of education and her working-class background. She accepted his proposal on the condition that he help her finish her education. He promised and also promised to adopt Scarlett as his child.

Then, tragedy struck Myrna. Everything in her life turned upside down. Lydia and Sarah invited her to stay with them until she recovered. She was afraid Mark would take back his proposal, but he surprised her by staying close.
​
Mark started a new business in Seattle, Washington, and he and Myrna began planning for their move. Myrna was excited about living in Seattle; she had always wanted to live somewhere other than Newport City, Illinois. Despite Mark’s reassurance. Myrna still worried that she would not measure up to the demands of a rich man’s wife.

You can download the PDF version here.

Checkout this:
Tea with Mieke and Norma (discussing their books) on  2/25/2018

Mieke Tazelaar and Norma Roth quizzed each other and read passages from their two new books: Requiem In Red  by Norma and Geezer Crossing by Mieke.  Norma's first book is a romance novel and Mieke's fifth book is a collection of fiction and non-fiction short stories. Norma and Mieke answered questions from the audience about how to self-publish books. CreateSpace was recommended as a free service to assist with formatting documents for publication.
Separate audio and video-audio were recorded.
]]><![CDATA[Garden Book Club - Book 2]]>Fri, 04 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.thegardensgazette.org/book-clubs/garden-book-club-book-2Picture
Update 6-4-2021
​
2nd book: May-June 2021
Apple Eater (Paperback & Kindle)
by Annemarieke Tazelaar

​The author is known as Mieke Tazelaar.
She resides in D Building and is the Sunshine Committee organizer.

Mieke will provide some of the book copies for purchase $13.
To continue reading click Read More
About Apple Eater - Mieke
​I was born in Arnhem the Netherlands in 1937, three years before World War II broke out in my country on May 10, 1940, making our country officially part of the Nazi regime and an enemy of the Allies. 
 
My father was born in Grand Rapids Michigan and came to Holland (the other name for the Netherlands) in 1930.  He met and married my mother, and my brothers and I were born during the 30’s.  At one point, he wanted us to emigrate to the US before the imminent war, but by that time, it was too late to carry out those plans. 
 
In retrospect, I am glad that we didn’t leave then, because we were able to form a close bond with my grandparents (Opa and Oma). Because my mother was an only child, it would have been hard for them, actually impossible to have survived without my parents. 
 
We lived nearly normal lives for those earlier years of the war, although food and other supplies were becoming more and more scarce.  We depended a lot on our neighbors for support, companionship, and all the children who lived in our street were watched over and taken care of by this extended family. 
 
On September 17, 1944, our city was the center of one of the most pivotal battles of the European side of World War II.  Many German troops guarded the city to keep it from being taken by the British.  Arnhem was about 10 miles from the German border, and the first Dutch city on the Rhine, over the border from Germany.  Arnhem’s strategic bridge over the Rhine was mainly guarded and used during this time by the Germans. 
 
The English general, Montgomery, figured that if the British could capture that bridge and the city, it would end the war in the Netherlands, and be a major downfall for the Nazi regime. He called it ”Operation Market Garden.”
 
He arranged an airdrop about 8 miles (too far, it turned out) of approx. 35,000 paratroopers dropping from gliders, who landed early in the morning, and the airmen started walking toward Arnhem and over the bridge. 
 
But “Monty” had been warned by the Dutch Resistance and others, that there were too many German troops living in the city, and that they would mobilize quickly and defeat the Brits. 

Which is what happened, aided by a series of blunders by the British troops and their commanders, and it took ten days of a fierce battle.  
 
The city was heavily bombed. Our house was partially destroyed by a bomb while my mother, brothers, and I were sheltering  in a small lavatory. 

The townspeople were given two days to leave their homes and exit the city.  Which we did – about 100,000 of us. 
  
(Look up “Operation Market Garden” for the complete description, or ask Tom D, who still can’t get over the fact that I lived through that battle!  The book by Von Ryan, A Bridge Too Far, tells this story.  It is also a major movie. )
 
We stayed with friends first, in a nearby village until that became too dangerous, and then to another village, until we trekked north with 150 people on horse-drawn wagons.  We ended up in the province of Friesland, where we were taken in by village people util the end of the war. 
 
This is part of our family’s history, but another story, fictitious, weaves through it concerning a Jewish family in Amsterdam. 

More book background details are below ...

Apple Eater Plot

On May 10, l940, German bombs pelt areas close to the Koning home in Arnhem. The next day, German troops overrun the city and other parts of the country. Days later, when Rotterdam is gutted with bombs, the Dutch government capitulates. Soon after, Mark Koning’s brother Lincoln arrives from America. Lincoln's carefree attitude charms the children, but Mark’s wife, Nella, fears he might put her family in jeopardy with his zest for adventure.

In Amsterdam, Jitse Wieringa, a Friesian Christian, worries about his Jewish wife and their 13-year-old daughter, Joslyn. Alecja is a translator for the German government, but when a German officer meets her young daughter and demands that the girl come to live at his villa, Jitse hides his family in his sculpture studio. Fearing this is still not safe, he finds a place for their daughter in an orphanage run by Dominican nuns. He brings her the Apple Eater, his hand-carved statue of a life-sized boy, and it becomes a favorite in the cloister, hugged by starving and diseased children.

Later in the war, the Konings survive Operation Market Garden, as 10,000 British paratroopers land from gliders and march into Arnhem. German forces mobilize quickly and defeat the British. The Konings narrowly escape with their lives, but their house is damaged. All citizens, including the Konings, have to evacuate the city. After a grueling ten-day trek through the snow on open horse-drawn carts, the family ends up in a small northern village. Lincoln survives harrowing adventures, but his devil-may-care attitude changes when his girlfriend is shot and killed. For her own safety, Joslyn leaves the convent and joins her uncle’s family in the northern province of Friesland.

​The Koning family, Lincoln, and Joslyn experience the end of the war in the village, before returning to war-devastated Arnhem.

War Background

​
Arnhem (September 1944)
Dutch records suggest that at least 453 civilians died during the battle, either as a result of Allied bombing on the first day or during the subsequent fighting. After the battle, the residents of Arnhem and its surrounding towns and villages were forcibly evicted from their homes, allowing the Germans to turn the north bank of the Rhine into a heavily defended line. Residents were not allowed to return home without a permit and most did not return until after the war. The Dutch homes were then systematically looted, with the spoils being sent to bombing victims in Germany. The Germans continued to fight Allied forces on the plains between Arnhem and Nijmegen, and the bridge that the 1st Airborne had fought so hard for was eventually destroyed by the Allies to deny German forces its use. On 7 October, it was bombed and destroyed by Martin B-26 Marauders of 344th Bomb Group, USAAF. The buildings of Arnhem were heavily shelled by the Allies over the next few months and suffered further when the city was eventually liberated in April 1945.

]]><![CDATA[Garden Book Club - Book 1]]>Sun, 21 Mar 2021 22:41:42 GMThttps://www.thegardensgazette.org/book-clubs/garden-book-club-book-1Posted 3-21-2021
Previous blog post: SPL Bookmobile Instructions Picture



After a few Zoom meetings, a group of seven AG residents agreed on their first book:
   Where the Crawdads Sing  
   by Owens, Delia

Discussion topics

The Movie at IMDB coming 2022
To continue reading click Read More
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GARDEN BOOK CLUB

If you would like to participate in AG Zoom Garden Book Club:
Contact John Walling ArrowheadResident@gmail.com
We will have meetings on Zoom once or twice per month.
Book Club information is posted here
Clubs > Book Clubs: https://www.thegardensgazette.org/book-clubs

The Book Club will use the Seattle Public Library Mobile Services for borrowing books. Deliveries are made to Arrowhead Gardens on the 2nd Friday of the Month at 9:15am. Each person is responsible for picking up and returning her book copy to SPL Mobile Services.
​
You may get print books, ebooks, or audio books by any means you choose.
Ebook readers can be Kindles, tablets, PCs, or smartphones.
Free Kindle software can be downloaded
   at https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp

If you would like to use SPL Mobile Services:
Make sure you have an active SPL account: https://www.spl.org
(If you have a King County Library account, you can link that account to an SPL account.)
Contact SPL to have Mobile Services deliver your books to Arrowhead Gardens
You can use the online Chat at https://www.spl.org/using-the-library/ask-us
or call the SPL main phone: 206-386-4636
When the librarian has your information, she will forward it to Mobile Services.
Mobile Services will contact you to confirm your instructions.

We will choose some books from SPL Instant Book Group
      https://catalog.spl.org/ibg/default.htm
Those books are available in several copies and were popular in the past year.

When a book has been selected by the club, you can use the SPL catalogue to put a copy on hold with Mobile Services. Books need to be put on hold for up to 3 weeks before delivery to assure arrival on time.
     Example:
     "Where the Crawdads Sing" is available
​      in large print, regular print, and ebook.
      https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/item/show/3400549030

I put one copy on reserve 3-18-2021 for delivery 4-9-2021.

-- John Walling D424

]]><![CDATA[SPL Bookmobile Instructions]]>Thu, 18 Feb 2021 23:10:00 GMThttps://www.thegardensgazette.org/book-clubs/spl-bookmobile-instructionsUpdate 3-22-2021

From: Seattle Public Library <mobile@spl.libanswers.com> 
Mar 22 2021, 11:07am 
Hi John,
Thanks for reaching out to officially get on the list for bookmobile delivery at Arrowhead. I've updated a couple of codes in the system so that we know which day to deliver to you, and you are all set. I see that a copy of the book group book is already in transit to us downtown to await delivery on April 9 -- everything looks good.
Let us know if you have any questions.
Best, 
Tyler 
Mobile Services 
The Seattle Public Library
To continue reading click Read More
Update 3/19/2021

Mar 19 2021, 08:29am via System
Hello,
Thank you for your question about putting a book on hold for delivery to Arrowhead Gardens.
First, if you have never used the bookmobile before, please contact the library so that we can update your library card.  After your card is updated, your holds will all be delivered by Mobile Services.  To request to become a Mobile borrower, please contact the library the following ways.  Be sure to tell us that you live at Arrowhead Gardens.
  1. Email bookmobile@spl.org
  2. Call 206-386-4636
  3. Visit www.spl.org and click 'Ask Us'
Second, to put a book on hold for Mobile Services, contact the library as above.  You may also place a hold using the online catalog.  Got to www.spl.org and click 'Go to catalog'.  Be sure to select 'Mobile Services' as your pick up location.  The book will be routed to our offices and held until the next delivery day to Arrowhead Gardens.
As you know, we make no-contact deliveries in the morning on the second Friday of each month.  The next delivery will be April 9.
I hope this information is helpful.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  And the best of luck launching your book group!
Sincerely,
Carrie
Mobile Services
206-386-4636
bookmobile@spl.org

Update 3/3/2021

Hi John,
I just checked out the link you provided to The Gardens Gazette.  I noticed the comment from Judi regarding e-readers.  While the larger library does not have e-readers to loan, Mobile Services has a collection of iPad Minis that can be used as e-readers.  These devices are part of a program to promote access to technology and digital literacy for older adults living in low-income communities like Arrowhead Gardens.
To request an iPad and have it delivered by Mobile Services, your neighbors can call the library (206-386-4636) or email bookmobile@spl.org.  If they are not already set up to receive their holds through Mobile Services, we'll need to do that, too.
Please let me know if you have or if you hear of any questions.
​
Carrie

Mobile Services
206-386-4636
bookmobile@spl.org

Update 2/24/2021

Fyi.   My report for today......contacted the library and they are not giving out e readers now.  
Judi
Question: 
​
I live at Arrowhead Gardens with 500+ senior residents. We are looking to start a Zoom book club. The SPL Bookmobile visits us once per month on 2nd Fridays at 9:15am  Is there a way to reserve 5-10 books and have them delivered at one time via Bookmobile?
Response:  (Feb 18, 2021)

Dear John,

Thank you for your question about starting a book group at Arrowhead Gardens.  I am from Mobile Services and will do my best to provide an overview of how book groups work with the bookmobile.  Please send any follow-up questions and replies to bookmobile@spl.org.

Borrowing Books
Books will be delivered on the same day that Mobile Services visits your building.  Depending on your preference, they will be checked out to a single library card or each member of the group individually.  I suggest that each book group member check their own book out on their personal library card so that no one person is responsible for all of the books.  Books are due the next visit.

Reserving Books
Please plan to request your group’s next title at least three weeks before each visit.  If going the individual route, each member will need to contact the library to reserve the book on their library card.  Books are pulled from circulating copies in the library’s regular collection and it takes time to secure all of the copies we need.  

Identifying Books
Since we’re using books from the library’s regular collection there is no set list of books to choose from.  Availability is dependent on the library’s holdings.  We have a handy, preset catalog search for books with multiple available copies that makes this process easier.  Check it out here:  Instant Book Group.  
In general, I find it is useful to think about books that were popular or had a lot of buzz about a year ago – these are titles we probably purchased a lot of copies of, interest has waned so they are available, and we have not yet weeded surplus copies. 

I hope the information above gives you some background and a starting point.  Please let me know what additional questions you have.
​
Sincerely,
Carrie

Mobile Services
206-386-4636
bookmobile@spl.org
The Seattle Public Library
Central Library
1000 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
www.spl.org
All Library locations remain closed to limit the spread of COVID-19.  Select locations are now offering curbside services 3-5 days a week, and many locations are accepting returns daily.  www.spl.org/RoadToReopening
]]>