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December, 2025
December, 2025
The Sea, by John Banville
The Sea, by John Banville
The author of The Untouchable (“contemporary fiction gets no better than this”—Patrick McGrath, The New York Times Book Review) now gives us a luminous novel about love, loss, and the unpredictable power of memory. The narrator is Max Morden, a middle-aged Irishman who, soon after his wife’s death, has gone back to the seaside town where he spent his summer holidays as a child—a retreat from the grief, anger, and numbness of his life without her. But it is also a return to the place where he met the Graces, the well-heeled vacationing family with whom he experienced the strange suddenness of both love and death for the first time.
The seductive mother; the imperious father; the twins—Chloe, fiery and forthright, and Myles, silent and expressionless—in whose mysterious connection Max became profoundly entangled, each of them a part of the “barely bearable raw immediacy” of his childhood memories. Interwoven with this story are Morden’s memories of his wife, Anna—of their life together, of her death—and the moments, both significant and mundane, that make up his life now: his relationship with his grown daughter, Claire, desperate to pull him from his grief; and with the other boarders at the house where he is staying, where the past beats inside him “like a second heart.” What Max comes to understand about the past, and about its indelible effects on him, is at the center of this elegiac, vividly dramatic, beautifully written novel—among the finest we have had from this extraordinary writer
About
About
Each month, we embark on a new literary adventure, exploring a captivating book together. Our monthly discussions are engaging and varied — we gather at the library with snacks, sip tea at members' homes, enjoy outdoor picnics, visit restaurants, and sometimes watch a movie related to the book. These gatherings are more than just discussions — they’re a chance to spark curiosity, deepen friendships, and share some laughs.
Reading or finishing a book is optional! Whether you've finished every page, are halfway through, or are just curious to hear others' perspectives, you're welcome to join us. Our discussions blend structure and spontaneity: we take turns sharing our thoughts, followed by lively debates and reflections on the questions and themes the book inspires. It’s a warm, inclusive space where ideas flow freely, connections grow, and fun is always on the agenda.
July 2025 to December 2025 Books:
July 2025 to December 2025 Books:
07/31/2025: The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood
08/28/2025: Brooklyn, by Colm Tóibín
09/25/2025: The Next Day, by Melinda Gates
10/30/2025: The Collected Regrets of Clover, by Mikki Brammer
11/20/2025: People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks
12/18/2025: The Sea, by John Banville
For the ambitious readers, the other recommended books are as follows:
The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future, by Keach Hagey
Book Women of Troublesome Creek, by Michele Richardson,
The Lincoln Highway, by Amor Towles
The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
Fractured Soul, by Akira Mizubayashi
Missing Person, by Patrick Modiano
The Berry Pickers, by Amanda Peters
Disgrace, by JM Coetzee
Dear Edward, by Ann Napolitano
March, by Geraldine Brooks
Whole Earth: The Many Lives of Stewart Brand, by John Markoff
Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, by Richard Hofstadter
Short url of the club homepage: http://tinyurl.com/pvwc-bookclub
Club Goal:
Club Goal:
We read books and share our reading experiences to enrich our lives, gain knowledge, keep up mental stimulation, connect with and learn from each other, and just simply relax and have fun!
We invite you to join us on this wonderful journey of self-discovery, making friends, and learning about the world through reading and sharing.
Book types: classic literature, science fiction, popular science, award-winning literature, and No political books.
Meeting Frequency: 1 book/month
Meeting: 1 PM - 2:30 PM, last Thursday of each month, at PV Library private room.
Format: Casual. You do not need to finish the book to participate in the discussion; if you find it difficult to finish a book, we understand - everyone has a different taste, and some times a book just does not work for you; no worries, you are still welcome to come and hear what others have to say about the book and why or why not they like it.
Movies: We may choose to view movies of the books we read before discussion.
Member Recommendations: Members are encouraged to recommend their favorite book to the club. While we are a small group, members could recommend up to 3 books
Moderator: Members of the club volunteer and take turns to be moderators for the monthly discussion.
Vote: A new poll will be posted on the Vote for Next Book page in June and December. Each voting period will choose 6 months' book.
Online Summaries: If you are not able to attend the monthly meeting, we encourage you to check out our Discussion Summary page to see what has been talked about.
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