Never in a million years would anyone imagine this group of people coming together for any reason let alone a book club. But come together they did and what followed was the best example of the family we make can be. Meet the members of THE LONELY HEARTS BOOK CLUB by Lucy Gilmore: Sloane Parker, a librarian, who lives a quiet life by not expressing much emotion; Arthur MacLachlin, a rude and condescending regular at the library where Sloane works (to put it mildly, he is a real piece of work); Mateo, Sloane's coworker, a gem who is talented, gifted and kind; Maisey, Arthur's neighbor and a telephone psychic with a teenage daughter whose father is a former rock star; and last, but not least, Greg, Arthur's estranged grandson who doesn't understand why these people are involved in his grandfather's life. But involved they are, and for a good reason.
There is so much about THE LONELY HEARTS BOOK CLUB that makes it worth reading. Lucy Gilmore skillfully brings together lonely people who may not share the love of the same books, but do share something just as important. That is the heart of this wonderful story. The dialogue is often witty, and when least expected, readers will find themselves laughing out loud. Told in the voices of the characters, readers will get to know them quite well and they are well worth knowing. Packed with emotion, wisdom, and the power of second chances, readers are in for a real treat. Highly recommended.
A young librarian and an old curmudgeon forge the unlikeliest of friendships in this charming, feel-good novel about one misfit book club and the lives (and loves) it changed along the way.
Sloane Parker lives a small, contained life as a librarian in her small, contained town. She never thinks of herself as lonely…but still she looks forward to that time every day when old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her. Their sparring is such a highlight of Sloane's day that when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned. And then another day passes, and another.
Anxious, Sloane tracks the old man down only to discover him all but bedridden...and desperately struggling to hide how happy he is to see her. Wanting to bring more cheer into Arthur's gloomy life, Sloane creates an impromptu book club. Slowly, the lonely misfits of their sleepy town begin to find each other, and in their book club, find the joy of unlikely friendship. Because as it turns out, everyone has a special book in their heartโand a reason to get lost (and eventually found) within the pages.
Books have a way of bringing even the loneliest of souls together...
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