As a writer, I find I read so much of my own work that I no longer make time for leisure reading. Yet, whenever I find the time, I always wish I’d read more. I finally decided to do something about it and organized my first book club. Accountability is everything, so knowing there’d be an expectation to actually read the book; I knew this would the best way to buckle down and read away.

Following a “host’s choice” format, I selected the first book and held the first gathering. As I hear many book club’s go, we sipped on wine and chatted less about the book and more about typical GNO (girl’s night out) topics. However, when the wine glass clinked, it was time to get down to business.

The club concurred that our first pick, “The Silent Sister,” by Diane Chamberlain, was a good read.

Synopsis from Good Reads

In The Silent Sister, Riley MacPherson has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. Now, over twenty years later, her father has passed away and she’s in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now? As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality.

The Review

Let me begin by saying that I couldn’t put The Silent Sister down.  That’s always a good sign because I get bored pretty quickly. But the writing here was very compelling and moved the story along at a good pace and with adequate detail. The twists and turns were captivating, if not a little contrived at times.

There were at least a few times when some drama was revealed that I thought, oh really, they’re going there? And then there were other times when I felt the outcome was a bit predictable.  In great part because the foreshadowing at certain points was so blatant that I felt the end was given away a touch early.

To this point, everyone in the club agreed that many of the book’s loose ends were wrapped up too soon.  With still a good bit of the book to read, we felt we had all of our answers.

That said; it didn’t prevent any of us from getting to the end and declaring The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain a club-worthy book.

Next up in November…

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.  I’ll report back with the club’s opinion.

Read along and share your thoughts.