Reader’s Choice: SPL Book Club 2025
Twenty twenty-five is the year of the reader at SPL. (Yes, yes. Every year is the year of the reader at SPL. The opening was too good to resist.) Our 2025 book club theme is Reader’s Choice. Eleven book club members have picked eleven titles, specifically works of fiction, and will lead the monthly discussions. Their choices range from science fiction to spy thriller and from juvenile fantasy to young adult graphic novel. There’s a classic, and there’s a retelling of a classic. There are two Maine novels, and there are novels set in Korea, Vietnam, and Burkina Faso. Read on to learn about the readers and the books they selected.
As a rule, the SPL book club meets on the fourth Monday of every month. Exceptions are noted below, and we take a break in August to gather and enjoy each other’s company over a potluck dinner. Participants are far flung from Isle au Haut to California, and there are options to participate via Zoom or in person at SPL. Book club welcomes all readers. We encourage all interested readers to join our separate mailing list for the latest book club news. Email us to receive updates.
Monday, January 27, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Ellen Shockro
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
MILS catalog record
“Violet Powell, a twenty-two-year-old from rural Abbott Falls, Maine, is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher. Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest. Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn’t yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed. When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland, their lives drastically change course.” – From cover jacket
About Ellen
Hometown: I was born in Brooklyn, but from age 4 lived in Scarsdale, NY, where I also attended high school before leaving for college.
Current residence: I currently live in Newport Beach, California.
Connection to the island: My island connection was through Peggy McIntosh, who owns the iconic small yellow house on Indian Point Road. I met her in 1981. Her parents found the house when sailing by, and they came up the hill to knock on the door—sometime in the late 1950s I believe. I visited and stayed there probably half a dozen times before buying our own home in 2001. I come in mid-May, and sometimes have a few trips in between, but I leave sometime in late September or early October.
Why do you read? Reading is a large part of my life. I do not watch much television. When I find an author I like, I tend to read all of their books. I read both fiction and nonfiction. In an average summer, I read 40-50 books.
What genre do you hate to read? I don’t like rambling and overly detailed books. I really dislike poor writing. I do not like so-called “romance” novels nor do I like fantasy, with a few exceptions.
Last book you LOVED: I LOVED Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I had never read anything about gaming, plus I was taken up by the relationships among the three main characters. I also LOVED Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See. I’ve read each of those through twice.
Currently reading: I usually read three books at once, depending upon my mood. So I am reading Fiona Hill’s book, There is Nothing for You Here, for one. I have just started James by Percival Everett. My third book currently is The Fraud by Zadie Smith. I’ve read all of her books, this one is so different.
Why did you choose How to Read a Book? I like Maine authors. Monica Wood, Lily King, and Christina Baker Klein are among my favorite Maine writers—there are others. I have read all of Monica Wood’s books. I went to her talk at the Chase Emerson in July 2024; I have watched two very long interviews or discussions with her online; and I find her extremely thoughtful. She also has a good sense of humor. I think the main characters in the book are well drawn and are each very interesting in themselves. I am fascinated by programs trying to help inmates. I wished that the book club itself was more of a focus in the book. My sister teaches at San Quentin, which is all men. I have visited there most years, although not during Covid. I reread this book, and it was even better the second time around.
Monday, February 24, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Kendra Chubbuck
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
MILS catalog record
“Set on the Korean island of Jeju, The Island of Sea Women follows Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls from very different backgrounds, as they begin working in the sea with their villages’s all-female diving collective. Over many decades—through the Japanese colonialism of the 1930s and 1940s, World War II, the Korean War, and the era of cellphones and wet suits for the women divers—Mi-ja and Young-sook develop the closest of bonds. After hundreds of dives and years of friendship, forces outside their control will push their relationship to the breaking point.” – From cover jacket
About Kendra
Hometown: Bath, Maine.
Current residence: Isle au Haut.
Connection to the island: My connection dates back five generations on my mother’s side to the late 1790s. I live on Isle au Haut year-round—all 12 months.
Why do you read? My mother was an avid reader, and she taught us to love books at a young age. So I would say I’m a lifelong learner from reading various genres of books. I read for information, escape, relaxation, knowledge, understanding of certain subjects, and to escape from life sometimes.
What genre do you hate to read? I will not read horror. I don’t like the feeling of being petrified and being shocked or scared. I have nightmares and bad dreams.
Last book you LOVED: The Convenant of Water and Cutting for Stone. Both are by Abraham Verghese.
Currently reading: Walking Sacred Sites: Listening to Their Stories by Maine author Margaret W. Jones.
Why did you choose The Island of Sea Women? I can’t swim, and I’m just not a water person. Yes, I live on an Island! It is a very scary read for me, and it isn’t one that I would have picked up on my own without it coming recommended. The women in this book are something else. They have amazing physical strength; they’re hardworking, resilient, and no-nonsense. In addition to their demanding job, they lived through historical upheavals and massive shifts in their daily lives: from WWII to the Korean War and from pigsty latrines and oil lamps to toilets and electricity. These women worked hard to support their families while the husbands took care of the kids and did very little else. Each female character is deeply flawed and was given lots of room to grow throughout this book, so I could think of these two women as real people upon which this book is based. It was fascinating to learn about their lives, but I don’t think I could have lived their shoes.
Monday, March 24, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Anneli Sundqvist
Enormous Changes at the Last Minute by Grace Paley
MaineCat catalog record (SPL copy on order)
“In this collection of short stories, originally published in 1974, Grace Paley ‘makes the novel as a form seem virtually redundant’ (Angela Carter, London Review of Books). Her stories here capture ‘the itch of the city, love between parents and children’ and ‘the cutting edge of combat’ (Lis Harris, The New York Times Book Review). In this collection of seventeen stories, she creates a ‘solid and vital fictional world, cross-referenced and dense with life’ (Walter Clemons, Newsweek).” – From publisher website
About Anneli
Hometown: I grew up in the north of Sweden.
Current residence: I moved to Deer Isle in 2008, after many years of traveling the world, and have lived here full time since then.
Why do you read? I love to read historical fiction, as it’s always been the only way for me to comprehend that subject. In general I favor books that offers a glimpse into other peoples realities, whichever genre it happens to be.
Currently reading: As has been the case for a while now, I’m reading whatever’s on the book club’s roster, and that’s all I can keep up with, and some odd New Yorker articles.
Why did you choose Enormous Changes at the Last Minute? I was choosing between different short story collections and this came to me sight unseen from a friend in the book publishing industry. I watched a YouTube with Paley reading one of the stories and was immediately infatuated!
Monday, April 28, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Pat Dobbs
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
MILS catalog record
“All Jin Wang wants is to fit in. When his family moves to a new neighborhood, he suddenly finds he’s the only Chinese-American student at his school. • Born to rule over all the monkeys in the world, the story of the Monkey King is one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables. But the Monkey King…wants to be hailed as a god. • Chin-Kee is the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, and he’s ruining his cousin Danny’s life. These three apparently unrelated tales come together with an unexpected twist, in a modern fable that is hilarious, poignant, and action-packed.” – From cover flap
About Pat
Hometown: New York City and Madison, NJ.
Current residence: Stonington, Maine.
Connection to the island: I came to the island for one week each summer for about 40 years until I moved here full time. My sister, Nancy Greene, is also on the island and part of what drew me here.
Why do you read? I love to learn, and I love to go to another place.
What genre do you hate to read? Hmm…probably science fiction and fantasy. But the truth is, it’s not that I hate them. Rather, I’ve never been drawn to them.
Last book you LOVED: I’m a Maisie Dobbs devotee. I loved the latest in the series, The Comfort of Ghosts.
Currently reading: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. It’s really good.
Why did you choose American Born Chinese? The author beautifully talks about self acceptance and racism by weaving three separate stories together. You can just have fun with the stories, but you can also go deeper and learn about yourself from these stories.
Tuesday, May 27*, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Morgan Witham
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
MILS catalog record
“July 1962. Following in the tradition of Indigenous workers from Nova Scotia, a Mi’kmaq family arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. As she grows older, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret.” – From publisher website
*Bumped one day later to avoid scheduling on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.
About Morgan
Hometown: Little Deer Isle, Maine.
Current residence and connection to the island: While I am a direct descendant of Jonathan Torrey, one of the island’s first settlers, my branch of the family migrated to Winter Harbor in the 1800s, didn’t move back to the island until I was the ripe old age of 18 months in 1981—when my uncle was hired to teach art at DI-S High School. So I grew up here, and attended the schools, though eventually transferred to the Maine School of Science and Mathematics after my sophomore year. My family moved off island in ‘05, and I never expected to return to live here. Plot twist: I got a job on Isle au Haut and spent almost five years there, which was my back door into returning to the Deer Isle-Stonington community. I bought my house in 2012, and have been living here year-round ever since, primarily working in the schools.
Why do you read? In my late 20s I moved from being a fiction addict to a non-fiction glutton. I am a sucker for biography, memoir, health/well being, Eastern European history, the history of science, religion, philosophy, sexuality, math, the social sciences, American history...I love learning how people have spent their lives as a means of figuring out how to invest mine. For escapism I read murder mysteries/police procedurals…usually British.
What genre do you hate to read? Anything having to do with organized crime, unless it happened to be a part of a political regime (in which case it becomes a genre I am more likely to read about than not).
Last book you LOVED: The Sandman audiobook series by Neil Gaiman.
Currently reading: The Visionaries: Arendt, Beauvoir, Rand, Weil, and the Power of Philosophy in Dark Times by Wolfram Eilenberger.
Why did you choose The Berry Pickers? Because I needed to pick fiction [for the book club prompt] I surveyed family and friends, and this was on the recommendation of my mother—she’s a pretty clever person, and I always want more windows into understanding the dynamics of this region we call home.
Monday, June 23, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Shannon Lindsay
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
MILS catalog record (SPL copy on order)
“Inheriting your uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who’s running the place. Charlie’s life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan. Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie. But becoming a supervillain isn’t all giant laser death rays and lava pits.” – From publisher website
About Shannon
Hometown: I was born in Calgary, Alberta, but really consider Maine to be the place I come home to.
Current residence: Deer Isle, Maine.
Connection to the island: I came to the island in 2021 as a winter renter in Stonington without having ever been to the island. Everyone said it was beautiful here, but I literally gasped when I crossed the causeway. Now I’ll never leave.
Why do you read? I read to learn, to escape and to imagine the world differently.
What genre do you hate to read? Anything with too much fighting or cruelty. No escape there.
Last book you LOVED: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley.
Currently reading: You Only Call When You’re in Trouble by Stephen McCauley. (MEH.)
Why did you choose Starter Villain? My sister-in-law is a librarian, and recommended this book because it’s so funny and quirky and weird. (Also, CATS!) She knows my taste well.
Monday, July 28, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Andrew Stoessel
American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
MILS catalog record
“It’s 1986, the heart of the Cold War, and Marie Mitchell is an intelligence officer with the FBI. She’s brilliant, but she’s also a young black woman working in an old boys’ club. Her career has stalled out, she’s overlooked for every high-profile squad, and her days are filled with monotonous paperwork. So when she’s given the opportunity to join a shadowy task force aimed at undermining Thomas Sankara, the charismatic revolutionary president of Burkina Faso whose communist ideology has made him a target for American intervention, she says yes.” – From cover jacket
About Andrew
Hometown, current residence, and connection to the island: My wife, Sue, and I moved to Stonington in June of 2022. We are permanent, year-round residents here. Prior to our move we lived in Marblehead, Massachusetts. I have been coming to Little Deer Isle and Deer Isle since the 1970’s when our family rented a house on Little Deer Isle. I have returned nearly every year since then. Sue fell in love with the area when she first came in the 1990’s. We decided to move here when we retired from our respective jobs, doing both in 2022!
Why do you read? I read for all the reasons Chris Ross suggests [in original question to readers: information, escape, relaxation and commitment to a specific topic]. For relaxation, escape and insight, I lean towards fiction and poetry: novels (a favorite genre for escape are mystery, detective, and spy novels), poetry (solace and inspiration). I take on the occasional non-fiction as well (history, biographies, current issues).
What genre do you hate to read? And last book you LOVED: I enjoyed reading the SPL October selection, The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean. Horror and science fiction are not my favorite genres, but I did enjoy this book!
Currently reading: I am currently reading Keys to Bonhoeffer’s Haus: Exploring the World and Wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Laura M. Fabrycky as part of another book group.
Why did you choose American Spy? I first read, or rather listened to, American Spy while driving to Stonington from Massachusetts in 2019. The book was highlighted in a NY Times review, and I also heard an interview on NPR with the author, Lauren Wilkinson. This coincided with some work I was doing around anti-racism awareness. In 2022 SPL was featuring books by people of color. Chris asked for suggestions toward the end of the series, and I suggested American Spy. There were other notable books that were chosen, but I am glad to revisit and re-read American Spy this year.
Monday, September 22, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Laura Watson
The Eyes & the Impossible by Dave Eggers
MILS catalog record
“Johannes is a free dog, a fast dog. He lives in an urban park by the sea, and every day, he runs through the park, seeing all, missing nothing, and reporting what he sees to the park’s three ancient Bison, the Keepers of Equilibrium. But the Equilibrium has been disrupted. Mysterious rectangles are hypnotizing Johannes, the humans are erecting a mysterious new building, and an entirely new kind of animal has arrived in the park. Johannes must see better, run faster, and ultimately do more than run and see—he must liberate those he loves.” – From cover jacket
About Laura
Hometown and current residence: I was born and raised in Chicago and still live there, none of this suburban stuff. I mean that I live within the city limits. My house is near Lake Michigan on the northside of the city. I am a very urban person outside of Maine and childhood summers in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Water is a very strong element in my interests and life. I think that I was born with a “water gene.” I love to sail, kayak—be out on water.
Connection to the island: My Maine connection is through my brother-in-law, Ron Watson, a local business owner. Ron moved to Stonington in the 1970s to build 54-feet fishing boats. At that point my husband, Bob, and I started to come to Maine in the summers to visit with Ron. I typically visit in July or August for about a month. I plan to continue that even though Bob died in 2022.
Why do you read? I have always liked reading since childhood. I snuck a flashlight under my blanket to keep reading past my bedtime. I took out the maximum number of books allowed at my school and local public library. It transported me to new places, new experiences and new ideas. It could be exciting, adventurous and at times, thrilling. For a while when my kids were very young and I was working, I didn’t have much time to read and I missed it. Now I belong to two book clubs, probably because of the isolation of Covid. I want to be exposed to literature/books outside my comfort zone, knowledge or usual interests. I like to be challenged, listen to other people’s observations and perspectives, and share pleasures of a book or talk over ideas or passages which perplexed me.
What genre do you hate to read? I really dislike dystopic fiction, which has made me shy away from sci-fi and murder mysteries or explorations of depression. That does not mean that I do not read fairly grim non-fiction or historical fiction—in those cases, it happened anyway and I need to deal with that.
Last book you LOVED: Forgive me for naming two books that I loved this year. 1. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver for so many reasons. I adored the beginning of the book. It grabbed me almost immediately and wouldn’t let me go. 2. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. It is so beautifully written and it made me cry. (That’s a high compliment).
Currently reading: I am currently reading Sonata in Wax by Edward Hamlin.
Why did you choose The Eyes & the Impossible? I became aware of this book first as an audiobook. I didn’t even realize that it was a middle school book until I was nearing the end. I liked the unusual narrator, Johannes a wild dog. It was joyous, humorous and imaginative to see the human world and natural world through an animal’s eyes. It borders on fantasy fiction because the animals can communicate, they meet together and plan, and we can understand them. On the other hand, the animals are not magical, they are mostly restricted to behaving like animals of their species. The humans in the story continue to see them as animals. I think that it explores and supports strong, positive (human) characteristics like trust, loyalty and community. I believe that it a well-told story which can delight and speak to all ages.
Monday, October 27, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Katherine Page
James by Percival Everett
MILS catalog record
“When Jim hears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. This brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim’s agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before.” – From cover jacket
About Katherine
Hometown: Livingston, New Jersey (Essex County, north Jersey about an hour from NYC).
Current residence: Lincoln, Massachusetts and Deer Isle, Maine.
Connection to the island: We came to the island in 1958 to Goose Cove Lodge. I had my 11th birthday there that July. It was a very rustic place in a breath-taking location with three delicious squares a day from the island women working there and nature walks and excursions, including ones on his large sloop, provided by the owner, botanist Dr. Ralph Waldron. My parents, Alice and William Page, bought 2 acres of shorefront on Southeast Harbor in 1964 and built a small cottage in 1969. My husband and I bought a small house next door in 1998. I haven’t missed a year and this July marked my husband’s 50th, our son’s 40th. My parents rest in Mt. Adams cemetery, so we’ll be here a while longer.
Why do you read? All of the above [listed in the original question to readers: information, escape, relaxation, commitment to a specific topic]. I don’t really know why I read except for the fact that I can’t remember not being able to read, (I wasn’t an infant prodigy, but growing up in a house filled with books, probably teethed on some). Reading is an everyday activity like waking up, eating, moving around, talking, sleeping and breathing.
What genre do you hate to read? Horror.
Last book you LOVED: North Woods by Daniel Mason.
Currently reading: Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch, The Black Box by Henry Louis Gates Jr., The Village of Eight Graves by Seishi Yokomizo, and Something Lost, Something Gained by Hillary Rodham Clinton (I usually have a few going at a time).
Why did you choose James? I have read other books by Percival Everett and admire his writing very much. When I read about James: A Novel before it came out, I was intrigued. I put a hold at the library and when I picked it up, read it straight through. Aside from the link to Twain, it works as a stand alone book. However, what made it special for me as a former teacher was the correction it offered on the racism in Huckleberry Finn. That was always a problem teaching it. I think the group will have much to say about James and, if possible, reading Huckleberry Finn afterwards would add to our discussion (but not mandatory!!). Stephen Spielberg has acquired the rights. The film will be out in 2026, so more to talk about then!
Monday, November 24, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Sally McConnell
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
MILS catalog record
“The Sympathizer is a blistering, award-winning exploration of identity, politics, and America, wrought in electric prose. The narrator, a Vietnamese army captain, is a man of two minds and divided loyalties, a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist sleeper agent in America after the end of the Vietnam War. A powerful story of love and friendship, and a gripping espionage novel, The Sympathizer examines the legacy of the Vietnam War in literature, film, and the wars we fight today.” – From back cover
About Sally
Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Current residence: Williamsburg, Virginia and Stonington, Maine.
Connection to the island: Our connection to the island dates to 1985 when we visited Deer Isle for the first time and rented a cottage belonging to Robert McCloskey. We’ve spent time here every summer since then and now reside in Stonington from April through November.
Why do you read? Reading is the greatest gift!! I used to read fiction almost exclusively, but now that I’m retired, I read more non-fiction and memoirs.
What genre do you hate to read? I can’t tolerate superficial or poorly researched biographies.
Last book you LOVED: The last book I LOVED was The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck.
Currently reading: I just finished reading These Precious Days by Ann Patchett, and I’m now reading The Hours by Michael Cunningham.
Why did you choose The Sympathizer? I chose The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, because the author creates a character with a dual identity who defies American stereotyping.
Monday, December 15*, 6:30pm
Reader’s Choice: Sue Stoessel
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
MILS catalog record (SPL edition does not match edition pictured below)
“As much a part of Christmas as mistletoe and carolers, Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ was once read publicly on Christmas Eve each year by Dickens himself. This heart-warming tale continues to stir in us the same feelings of repentance, forgiveness, and love that transformed Ebenezer Scrooge from grumbling, ‘Bah! Humbug!’ to sharing Tiny Tim’s happy ‘God bless us, every one!’” – From Penguin Random House website
P.S. Join the community reading of “A Christmas Carol” at the Opera House next month on Sunday, December 15. Learn more and sign up to be a reader here.
*Third Monday in December to put a little more space between the book club discussion and the holidays.
About Sue
Hometown: Andrew and I are from Marblehead, MA.
Current residence: We built a house in Stonington in 2018, and were there seasonally until 2022 when we both retired and became permanent residents.
Connection to the island: Andrew and I spent summer vacations on Little Deer Isle for over 30 years, although Andrew’s first time there was as a teenager. We’ve also stayed in Stonington for a few winter breaks beforehand. We got to know the area and the people well and knew we’d like to retire here.
Why do you read? I read for all the reasons you’ve listed [in the original question to readers: information, escape, relaxation, commitment to a specific topic], but lately, maybe more for escape. ;-)
What genre do you hate to read? I read everything, with a preference for science, nature, non-fiction and poetry. My least favorite genre is the post-war wealthy suburban/urban angst novel. First world problems.
Last book you LOVED: I adored Still Life with Oysters & Lemons by Mark Doty that we read in [SPL] book club [2023]. I have gotten my own copy and already re-read it a couple of times.
Currently reading: I’m currently reading a compilation of the writings of 13th century Islamic poet and mystic, Rumi.
Why did you choose A Christmas Carol? I chose A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens because I have an antique volume that belonged to my mom that she read to us every year as kids, and that I have continued reading every Christmas since. I think a lot of folks have seen film versions or plays of A Christmas Carol but not as many have read it. I especially liked the section of the Ghost of Christmas Present who shows Scrooge the poverty hidden under the magnificence of the Victorian British Empire. It was one of the first books that made me aware that not everyone benefited from the capitalist expansion brought about by the industrial revolution.