Left Standing: The Miraculous Story of How Mason Wells's Faith Survived the Boston, Paris, and Brussels Terror Attacks

We combined our November and December book club evenings into one, partly because November fell on the day before Thanksgiving, which was not gonna happen, and partly because this time of year gets so busy that having one in early December seemed to work best for us! The book we chose was “Left Standing” by Mason Wells.

This is an autobiographical account of a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who was one of four missionaries injured in the Brussels airport bombing in March 2016. The missionary, Mason Wells, had previously been a close and firsthand witness at the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013, and was serving in the France Mission when Paris endured a terrorist attack in November 2015.

The book was an expression of his experiences, but also he shared the deeply personal connection and gifts from God as he went through difficult challenges. The powerful testimony of God’s love expressed in physical and spiritual ways during the crisis of being involved in a bombing and the aftermath of recovery is both uplifting and tender. He speaks of his dreams and goals, and the things that drove him to achieve and recover to move forward in his life.

Though the story does not delve into the details of the other members who were with him during the bombing, it is a powerful witness of both the terror of such violence, the natural reactions to such an experience, and the grace of God in helping us through mortality. Our book club agreed that while it may not have been the most well written of all books it was also powerful and a strong witness of God’s love.  There were parts of the story that were difficult to put down, and other sections that were more philosophical about his views on love, forgiveness and God’s plan for us, as one might expect from an LDS missionary. It was a good choice and a different kind of book and one that left a lasting impact.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

What a quirky and eclectic choice we had for October book club! “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman seemed to come out of left field but was difficult to put down. Eleanor is such an intriguing character with such decided opinions and yet a clear inability to fully grasp social norms, she became a delight to meet in this novel.

The storytelling style is funny and interesting and the reader may find themselves fully engaged in the details and what will happen to this clearly damaged, yet resilient character. The story starts out when Eleanor and a goofy and slightly awkward IT guy, Raymond, from her office end up helping Sammy, an elderly man who has fallen on the sidewalk. The compassion and kindness of Raymond is dramatically contrasted to her awkward and distant sense of self. Their friendship blossoming despite the clear differences, and then similarities, is beautiful to behold.

The story of what happened to Eleanor in the past and as she tries to press forward into her future is told in a tightly folded tale that is both sad and charming. There are sections that are beautifully painful as depression is described in an honest and heartbreaking way, and the beauty of true kindness and friendship is on full display. This delightful read was immensely enjoyed by our group.

“If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn't spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say.”

― Gail Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

“Sometimes you simply needed someone kind to sit with you while you dealt with things.”

― Gail Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Looking for Me

“Looking for Me” is the second book by Beth Hoffman that we have done in book club and it too was a lovely choice and enjoyed by all. The author has a beautiful talent for storytelling and can bring the vivid colors, smells and sensations of the world alive. Teddi Overton shares her story, full of Southern charm and antique furniture detail, and allows the reader to learn the deepest pains and joys of her life.

Teddi grows up in Kentucky and falls in love with furniture restoration at a young age. She uses her ingenuity, creativity and natural talent for seeing something magical in old items to build her life as an antique restorer. She is mentored by some delightful characters, has both strong and challenging relationships with her family and friends, and weaves the past with the present to tell her tale.

Her relationship with her brother, in particular, is deep, kind and interesting. The strong relationship he has with nature and the wild country just beyond the borders of her Kentucky home is beautifully described. She has a challenging but very real relationship with her parents, and all the history behind the love and hurt felt by family feels honest and tender.

The story is full of small little nuggets of wisdom and kindnesses, along with showing how true friends behave, how passions can be both extreme or tamed into a path bringing satisfaction and happiness. There are funny gems and passages that bring tears, but the overall impression was that it was a really good book that we enjoyed.

“Sometimes it's not what we hold on to that shapes our lives--it's what we're willing to let go of.”

― Beth Hoffman, Looking for Me

The Westing Game

Our ‘back to school’, August pick was “The Westing Game” by Ellen Raskin. This little story was a fun choice. It was published originally in 1978 and is a skillfully written mystery that pulls in a fun and eclectic group of characters who try to play a game directed by a wealthy man who has passed away. Each player is specifically chosen, and for the reader, it is loaded with hints and twists as the characters try and solve the clues to win the prize.

Though there are a few things that you can tell the story was written 40 years ago,  most of it is clever and just as fun to read as if it was written in 2018. Interestingly, some of the characters are strong and dynamic in ways that maybe would not have really been seen as much in literature of 1978, and yet are as vulnerable and challenged by similar problems as today.

We enjoyed this read and though it is targeted at grades 5-7, it is clever and full of wordplay and sly humor. As the mystery unfolds, there are surprises and insights in both plot and motivation. Some members of our group had read it in childhood and for many it was the first time reading it. It was a fun choice!

“Life, too, is senseless unless you know who you are, what you want, and which way the wind blows.”

― Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game

Holes

For our July 2018 book choice we read “Holes” by Louis Sachar. This short novel was the basis for the Disney movie of the same name that was released in 2003. The book is a Newberry Award Winner and is cleverly written, telling the story of Stanley Yelnats a boy unjustly sent to a juvenile detention center in the middle of Texas. His tale, being arrested for possessing stolen shoes (that landed on him from an overpass) intertwines with the stories of other kids at the center, his own great-great grandfather’s past, and the legendary tale of Kissin’ Kate Barlow.

While Stanley labors at digging holes in the dry lake bed of Camp Green Lake, he grows stronger, learns about himself, others and what he is willing to do for friends, for safety and for his family. He becomes friends with another boy called Zero, who is quiet but incredibly good at digging holes. The story shines a light on bullying at a teenage level, as well as bullying from unscrupulous adults.

Stanley soon learns that digging holes is not just to ‘build character’ but it is clearly the method the warden uses to find something long lost. As the tale moves along, we learn more about the character of Stanley, his new friend, and the history of his family ‘curse’ that seems to parallel his own tale.

The movie is a very close adaptation of the book and worth watching, but the book is more detailed and very tightly written. Our discussion was fun and the book was a delightful, and refreshingly uplifting read.

"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs,

"The bark on the tree was as soft as the skies."

While the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely,

Crying to the moo-oo-oon,

"If only, If only."

— Louis Sachar, Holes

"When you spend your whole life living in a hole, the only way you can go is up. (Zero/Hector Zeroni)"

— Louis Sachar, Holes

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Our book club reviewed “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt” by Beth Hoffman for our June 2018 meeting. This was a beautifully written and engaging story of a young girl facing some difficult challenges in 1967. CeeCee has a mostly unsympathetic, distant and out-of-the-picture father, and a mother who is mentally ill. CeeCee faces these challenges as a twelve year old and finds solace in her only friend, an elderly woman next door, Mrs. Odell.

When her mother unexpectedly dies in a tragic accident, CeeCee taken in by her great aunt Tootie who lives in Savannah, Georgia. The new setting and new characters bring both healing, joy and surprises to CeeCee, who learns to begin living anew in an environment of eccentric and strong women. The setting in Savannah is beautifully described and the adventures of the young girl become quite hilarious, such as photographing a neighbor’s brassiere in various locations about the town.

The story is sweet and the relationships were at times quite tender and real for a girl in turmoil. The book had a nice mix of some serious problems, lighthearted antics, challenges that felt genuine for a twelve year old, and issues that were a part of the fabric of southern society in the late 60’s. It was a choice that our group all quite enjoyed and were able to discuss at length.

“Life is full of change, honey. That's how we learn and grow. When we're born, the Good Lord gives each of us a Life Book. Chapter by chapter, we live and learn.”

— Beth Hoffman, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

The One-In-A-Million Boy

In May 2018 we chose “The One-In-A-Million Boy” by Monica Wood. This was a delightful read that was enjoyed by everyone in attendance and prompted a lot of discussion.

Though the title indicates it is about a boy, the story mostly is focused on the spunky 104 year old Lithuanian immigrant Ona Vitkus. She has a long and rich history that is slowly pulled out as she becomes acquainted with a unique and sweet Boy Scout assigned to help her in the yard. As their relationship develops, the boy’s obsession with Guinness records leads Ona to start considering the possibility that she could achieve a world record.

After weeks of their budding relationship, the boy suddenly dies, and his oft absent father takes his place helping in the yard. While he starts helping out of an obligation to fulfill his son’s Boy Scout badge, Quinn-the boy’s father- begins to build a friendship with Ona. Their relationship grows on the bond that the boy had forged and he learns about his son through the elderly woman.

Told with quirky flashbacks, wonderful interactions filled with reality, and interspersed with music, passions, and the realities of life, the story is well written and difficult to put down. This is a rich and beautiful novel that shows grief and pain, but also delight and joy. It’s a fun, unique and rewarding read. Though it tackles some emotionally challenging topics, such as death of a child and pain of broken relationships, it is an uplifting and tender read.

“Because the story of your life never starts at the beginning.”

― Monica Wood, The One-in-a-Million Boy