Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Banned Books Club (Original)
Banned Books Club (Original) | Brenda Novak
10 posts | 7 read | 4 to read
"A sharply plotted, emotionally intense novel of family secrets, fresh starts and community" --Jayne Ann KrentzShe left her hometown following a scandal--but family loyalty is dragging her back...Despite their strained relationship, when Gia Rossi's sister, Margot, begs her to come home to Wakefield, Iowa, to help with their ailing mother, Gia knows she has no choice. After her rebellious and at-times-tumultuous teen years, Gia left town with little reason to look back. But she knows Margot's borne the brunt of their mother's care and now it's Gia's turn to help, even if it means opening old wounds.As expected, Gia's homecoming is far from welcome. There's the Banned Books Club she started after the PTA overzealously slashed the high school reading list, which is right where she left it. But there is also Mr. Hart, her former favorite teacher. The one who was fired after Gia publicly and painfully accused him of sexual misconduct. The one who prompted Gia to leave behind a very conflicted town the minute she turned eighteen. The one person she hoped never to see again.When Margot leaves town without explanation, Gia sees the cracks in her sister's "perfect" life for the first time and plans to offer support. But as the town, including members of the book club, takes sides between Gia and Mr. Hart, everything gets harder. Fortunately, she learns that there are people she can depend on. And by standing up for the truth, she finds love and a future in the town she thought had rejected her.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Mpcacher
post image
Pickpick

This is not about books, but it encompasses a lot of other things. It deals with abuse (both spousal & by a teacher), a dying parent, family dynamics and a romance. In spite it being 'a lot', I really enjoyed it and gave up a few hours of sleep because I could not put it down. I loved Gia's strength and the realistic portrayal of what she went through as a teen (legally believed, but a town pariah) . Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 4.5/5

review
TheLudicReader
The Banned Books Club | Brenda Novak
post image
Bailedbailed

I have to bail. I would have bailed on page two, if this wasn‘t our next book club selection. It is virtually unreadable and definitely not the refuge I need from the state of the world right now. 😢

AmyG 😬 1mo
BkClubCare 😟 oh no 1mo
KadaGul @TheLudicReader Oh no, that sounds tough! As @dabbe would say, #HailTheBail 🤣🤣 1mo
dabbe @KadaGul YES! 🤩 #betterbooksahead 🙌🏻 1mo
50 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
JoyBlue
post image
Panpan

It pains me that I can't stop myself from reading every book supposedly about books, bookdragons, and libraries that comes along. . . . [full review to come]

review
Nebklvr
The Banned Books Club | Brenda Novak
post image
Pickpick

This was a sad, sweet story but it felt a bit forced.

blurb
Octoberwoman
The Banned Books Club | Brenda Novak
post image

I‘m posting one book a day from my massive collection. No description, no reason for why I want to read it (some I‘ve had so long I don‘t even remember why!). Feel free to join in!

#ABookADay2024

blurb
Graciouswarriorprincess
post image

Book 198 of the year.

blurb
The_Penniless_Author
Banned Books Club | Brenda Novak
post image

#TLT @dabbe

Only got 12% (26 out of 211). I'd say that I need to start working on this list, but I'll probably just wait for a schoolboard to ban something I'm already reading. ?

Weirdest bans:

? The Bible: "Jesus was a commie!"
? Diary of Anne Frank/1984/Brave New World: "Let's give fascism a fair shake!"
? Nickel and Dimed: "How dare you besmirch the good name of the 1996 welfare reform act!"
? Where's Waldo: "He's not! It's a scam!"

IndoorDame 💯 agree about where‘s Waldo!!! That was so bizarre!!!! 3mo
CBee I had no idea that Where‘s Waldo was banned - that makes me want to burrow under a rock and never come out 😂😩🤪 3mo
See All 17 Comments
The_Penniless_Author @IndoorDame @CBee I love the idea that it's because a majority of schoolboard members couldn't find him, but I'm guessing it's far dumber than that. 3mo
CBee @The_Penniless_Author I mean, sometimes I couldn‘t find him either, but you eventually do. It takes something called patience, which I doubt these ridiculous book banners have an abundance of 🙄 3mo
RaeLovesToRead 32 (15%) woo 3mo
RaeLovesToRead Bone is a weird one. Wholesome 3mo
RaeLovesToRead I think it was banned because one of the MCs plays poker and smokes 🤣 3mo
Ruthiella I‘ve read 50 which puts me at 24%. Apparently Waldo was challenged because in one illustration where Waldo is somewhere on a beach, a woman‘s breast is exposed. 3mo
The_Penniless_Author @Ruthiella Ah, so Waldo's in southern Europe. Mystery solved! 😂 3mo
dabbe @Ruthiella And again I say 😱😱😂 ... seriously, people! 3mo
dabbe @The_Penniless_Author Now THAT\'s funny! 😂😂😂 3mo
dabbe Quite the list, isn\'t it? I couldn\'t believe some of it as I was putting it together. I think the really interesting statistic to know would be of all the people who challenged a book, DID THEY ACTUALLY READ THE DAMN THING? Thanks for playing and sharing! 🧡🍁🧡 3mo
The_Penniless_Author @dabbe Have they actually read anything? 😆 Adding a special 👎 for banning my favorite book, Slaughterhouse Five. 😡 3mo
dabbe @The_Penniless_Author When our school board was deciding whether or not to ban SO YOU\'VE BEEN PUBLICLY SHAMED, one of the board members said, \“Well, I haven\'t actually read the book, but if Dr. Bales (the Superintendent) thinks we should ban this book, then I agree. 😳 What the hell did we vote her in for? The absolute lack of diligence is stultifying. 3mo
CBee @dabbe you just taught me a new word - stultifying 👏🏻👏🏻 thanks! 🤓 3mo
dabbe @CBee 🤩😂😘 3mo
38 likes17 comments
review
Julsmarshall
post image
Pickpick

This was good, a low pick for me because there was so much going on that it felt a little ridiculous. A woman returns home to help hey dying mother and had to come to terms with a difficult past. The small town thinks they know what happened all those years ago but did they? Her sister trying to find her way out of a terrible marriage and that barely scrapes the surface of everything going on. I liked the sisters, was rooting for them, but (cont)

48 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Reecaspieces
Banned Books Club | Brenda Novak
post image
Pickpick
37 likes1 stack add
blurb
SilversReviews
Banned Books Club | Brenda Novak
post image

“For fans of Elin Hilderbrand, a riveting exploration of family, sisterhood, and the transformative power of literature.”

FULL SPOTLIGHT: https://tinyurl.com/3a8dnrej

@authorbrendanovak
@harpercollins