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Book Club Reads – January 2025

Retirement Reflections


This month, I’m spotlighting recent book club reads. I’m a member of two book clubs—one local and one online. Both have broadened my reading horizons and introduced me to unexpected literary gems. What I treasure most is how each group provides a safe, welcoming space to share ideas, think critically, and gain fresh perspectives. Without further ado, here’s a glimpse into our recent selections.



4 Stars
Read for Classics Book Club with the cohosts of this linkup.
Chosen By: Jo

Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray provides a wonderful dip into classic Gothic literature and a deep exploration of human nature, morality, and art.

Wilde’s prose is stunning, as is his creation of a rich, atmospheric world where beauty, corruption, and consequence intertwine. The tension between art and life is both central and highly provocative.

The novel’s heavy reliance on dialogue often gives it the feel of a play script rather than a traditional narrative. While this style perfectly showcases Wilde’s wit and intellectual sharpness, I sometimes felt it detracted from the story’s flow. Additionally, the lengthy descriptions of Dorian’s decadent pursuits—especially in Chapter 11, where he becomes engrossed in perfumes, music, jewels, and tapestries—significantly slowed the narrative for me. While these passages emphasize the gulf between Dorian’s outward beauty and inner corruption, they also contribute to the novel’s uneven pacing.
Although this is not a long novel, I couldn’t help but wonder if its impact might have been heightened by streamlining it into a novella—tightening the prose while preserving the essential themes and provocative ideas.

Despite these distractions, I agree with critics and readers who praise The Picture of Dorian Gray as a thought-provoking and exquisitely written work, a testament to Wilde’s genius and candid examination of beauty, morality, and the human soul.

As an interesting aside, I read the entire novel carefully (honest) in book form and thought throughout that the novel’s title was “The Portrait of Dorian Grey.” I wasn’t alone. other book club members thought the same thing! 😀

4 Stars
Read for my local Real/Reel Book Club

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams reminded me that I often enjoy historical fiction more than I realize. In this novel, Williams steadily weaves a fictional tale of a young woman’s journey of self-discovery with the eye-opening true story of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Although I found the beginning of this novel a bit slow (perhaps a reflection of my own time and place), I quickly became engrossed in Williams’s detailed research into the dictionary’s creation and how much it reflected a white man’s world. While a few fortunate women could contribute, they were excluded from the table of final recognition.

There are so many reasons to read this book: if you love words, enjoy women’s history, or simply crave a heartwarming, bittersweet tale, this could be a great selection for you.

4 Stars
Recently recommended by me for our next Classics Book Club read.

I was looking for a short, uplifting classic novel for my Classics Book Club. The problem is that we had already read Anne of Green Gables, and few other titles appeared in my searches.

One book that did repeatedly pop up was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It was first published in 1988 and was listed as a ‘modern classic.’  Initially, I hesitated, believing that literary classics needed to be at least 50 years old. But, Pan Macmillan Publishers describes a literary classic as “having complexity and depth, addressing universal themes, and offering fresh perspectives to readers of any era” – thus having more to do with timelessness than the year published. I then proposed The Alchemist to my book club, and everyone agreed. I am delighted that they did.

Reading reviews of The Alchemist, I noticed it tends to divide readers. Critics often dismiss it as “new-age, quasi-religious trite.” Conversely, admirers frequently celebrate its lyrical prose and profound yet simple message about following one’s dreams.

While I wouldn’t call myself an ardent fan, I appreciated the book’s straightforward and captivating storytelling, thought-provoking themes, and abundance of memorable quotes. Most importantly, I was relieved to find it genuinely uplifting—a rare and welcome quality in books both old and new.

I also loved the afterward from the author about his journey to publication. If reading this book, definitely do not skip that part.

I did read a couple of other books this January. They were not for a book club, and this post was already long, so I have saved them for next month’s post. If curious, you can see my reviews on my Goodreads page.

* Are you part of a book club?
* Do you have a favourite classic novel recommendation?
* Do you have a favourite book turned into a movie recommendation?
* What have you been reading lately?

My cohosts and I would love to hear from you!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Co-Hosts

Debbie Harris from Deb’s World
Sue Loncaric from Women Living Well After 50
Joanne Tracey from And Anyways
Donna Connolly from RetirementReflections

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Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

81 thoughts on “Book Club Reads – January 2025”

  1. I made myself read The Picture of Dorian Gray when I was homeschooling my girls. And I was so glad I finally read it! I had no idea what the story was about. I also am part of an in-person book club and an online book club, and I love both, even though they are very different from each other. 🙂

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    1. Hi, Lisa – I am also glad that I’ve read ‘The Picture of Dorian Grey’…although next time I would refrain from reading it during the Christmas holidays. 😀
      I’m glad to hear that you are also in an in-person and an online book club. I love having this diversity. Is there a particular fiction book that you’ve read for one of your book clubs that you would recommend to one of mine?

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      1. Actually both my book clubs read nonfiction books! But if I even did suggest a novel for my gun safety book club, I’d recommend Jodi Picoult’s book, Nineteen Minutes, about a school shooting. It really personalized all sides of an event like that. Powerful and sad.

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  4. Wait… it’s not The Portrait of Dorian Gray? In my defense, I haven’t read it (but it sounds like I should).

    I did read The Dictionary of Lost Words and enjoyed it. I found some of it hard to picture (all those little pieces of paper), but it was a great historically accurate story. Just think of all the words that were left out.

    I recently read Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi and The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See for my book club and enjoyed them both (4.5 each).

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    1. I know, right? ‘The Portrait of Dorian Gray’ is a much better title. I just checked with AI and asked if Wilde’s masterpiece ever went by this (preferred) title. I was quickly told a resounding “NO.” So much for tact and diplomacy! ❤
      Thank you for your book recommendations. 4.5 stars from you is exceptional. I have added them both to my (very long) TBR pile.
      I look forward to catching up soon!

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  5. Hi Donna – your reviews sounded like they were written by a professional literary critic – maybe you missed your calling? Let me know when Good Reads offers you a place on its staff 😀

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    1. Hi, Leanne – You are way too kind. The other way to look at this is that I spend waaaaay too much time falling down rabbit holes on the books that I read, and then waaay too much time writing my reviews. But I do enjoy writing them, so there’s that. And I greatly appreciate your kind words.

      Sadly, Goodreads has not called to offer me a position of any kind. But they did send me a little badge saying that I was in the top 10% of their reviewers! 😀

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      2. You know, as soon as you get paid for something it takes it to a whole different level. I love this non-paid retirement gig. I can write reviews when I want, and if I don’t, nobody even notices! 😀

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  7. Hi Donna, I read The Dictionary of Lost Words in 2021 and enjoyed it. I have The Alchemist on my TBR list. This month I listened to 84 Charing Cross Road audio book after reading your previous book share and also read The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. I enjoyed both (4 to 4.5 each). Thank you for your book share.

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    1. Hi, Natalie – I’m delighted that you read Charing Cross Road based on my recommendation. My in-person book club recently discussed it, and all members loved it. One member continued on to read Helene’s diary from after her visit to London. And we all watched the film (with Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench) and really enjoyed it. ❤

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  8. I’ve never belonged to a book club and admittedly not motivated to belong to one. I guess I like reading whatever and whenever. Am currently reading non-fiction (as usual): Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez, who is an American writer. He spends time with researchers. Includes detailed descriptions of habits for muskox, polar bears and narwhals.

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    1. Hi, Jean – I love reading your posts and comments. They always make me think. Book clubs definitely are not for everyone. There is also a newish (or atleast new to me) brand of book club called ‘Silent Book Club’. Basically, this is a gathering of people who read together at an organized time and place in a public space.
      We have a Silent Book Club in Nanaimo but it currently meets in the evening when I prefer to be warm and cozy at home. If you are interested, you can read more here: https://silentbook.club

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      1. Interesting…seems like more disciplined quiet time reading …without too much cellphone distractions. Like group effort motivates individual effort in a quiet way.

        But then, long ago we did that in our living rooms, sometimes another family member was reading too. I used to fight over certain newspaper sections with siblings after latest newspaper was delivered.

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  9. I’m not sure if I’ve read “The Alchemist” but definitely read “The Picture of Dorian Grey.” I recall enjoying it, but it was decades ago. Yes, people usually call it Portrait! I also have a local and an online book club. It seems to be common, perhaps due to Covid and Zoom. I like the online club for the long, serious discussions and the variety of books. Local is more social and I like that, too!

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    1. Hi, Eilene – I’ve been relieved to hear that it’s not just me who thought it was ‘portrait’ instead of ‘picture’. For some reason, the word ‘portrait’ just seems to roll off the tongue easier in that title. I love having an online book club and an in-person one. Even when the two groups read the exact same book, at a similar time (e.g The World According to Garp), the discussions were very, very different making it that much more thought-provoking!

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  10. Hi Donna, The Alchemist is one of my most favourite books of all time. For many years, I think about 15, I read this book every year in January. I’ve heard that different people pick up different things from this book. For me, it inspired me to reach higher for my goals and be confident that I could achieve whatever it was that I aspired to. Happy Reading in 2025

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    1. Hi, Jennifer – I’m so glad that you enjoyed The Alchemist and that it had such a profound effect on you. Years ago, a good friend of mine met a man on a bus who had travelled from Europe and was heading to Kamloops, BC because of The Alchemist. I think Kamloops may have been his original hometown. Either way, that’s a very powerful book to cause such long travel. 😀

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  11. I love your classic book selections, Donna. These look intriguing. No book clubs, my own TBR is ridiculous with Amazon first reads. One of those was “West with Giraffes.” I think you would like it. It was one of the best books I read in 2024, besides the Anne of Green Gables series. Just finished Anne of Windy Poplars. Netflix had a series too, on Anne of GG, which was fun to watch. Thanks for your reviews and recommendations.

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  12. Hi Donna, I enjoyed Dorian Gray more than I thought I would and as always our book club discussions provides a great learning opportunity. Rachel has brought me tickets to see the play ‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’ which we are looking forward to seeing in May as we both enjoyed the book. I’ve just finished The Alchemist and unfortunately it didn’t grab me. I look forward to our next meeting when perhaps the discussion may again change my mind.

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    1. Hi, Sue – I loved our recent discussion on Dorian. I learned a great deal and ended up appreciating the book even more than I originally had.
      That’s awesome that you and Rachel have tickets to see ‘Dictionary of Lost Words.’ l loved that book and would enjoy seeing if in play form.
      I’m sorry that the Alchemist did not work for you. I greatly look forward to our discussion. ❤

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  13. I’m only in an in-person Book Club and enjoy most of the literary books we choose. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Oscar Wilde, including some of his letters from jail. I didn’t like the Lost Words book much although parts of it were fascinating. I read it so long ago that I don’t remember why I didn’t love it; I really wanted to! In BC, we read one Jane Austen but a couple members disliked the old-fashioned language, so we’ve stayed away from the classics since then. Personally, I adore Austen.

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    1. Hi, Margaret – I actually think that book club discussions are deepest when members have contrasting opinions on what was read. I greatly enjoyed The Dictionary of Lost Words but can definitely appreciate that it would not be the book for everyone.

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  14. I first read The Picture of Dorian Gray quite a few years ago (after seeing the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and yes, it has definitely stuck with me. I think I see it called The Portrait of Dorian Gray often and probably have called it that myself – the mandela effect! I have never read The Alchemist but it looks intriguing.

    It’s been a long while since I’ve been in a book club. I’m currently in a FB book club that focuses on classics and might even be able to participate in their disucssions this year!

    Happy Reading!

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    1. Hi, Kym – I had never thought of the incorrect title ‘The Portriat of Dorian Gray’ being part of a mandela effect or collective false memory. This was a good prompt for me to Google this and see what AI had to say about this mixup. Here were some of its suggestions:

      1. “Portrait” specifically implies a depiction of a person, aligning with the novel’s focus on Dorian’s image,
      2. The Portrait of Dorian Gray” has a smoother, more alliterative flow.
      3. The novel centers on a painted portrait of Dorian Gray, so “portrait” seems like an obvious choice.
      4. Many classic works feature “portrait” in their titles, such as James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
      5. In non-English-speaking countries, translations of Wilde’s novel sometimes use words that mean “portrait” instead of “picture.”
      6. Your suggestion that errors in popular culture, adaptations, or informal references can reinforce the incorrect title. If someone hears “The Portrait of Dorian Gray” often enough, they might assume it’s correct.

      I love rabbit holes likes this. I originally thought this error was mine and mine alone. ❤

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  15. Insightful and careful reviews. I was a member of a book group once – I was the only person who read and reviewed each choice, so I would have welcomed you. Would ‘The Wind in the Willows’ count as a classic novel? – otherwise I am currently reading Juliet Barker’s ‘The Brontës’ any of theirs would be worth recommending

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  16. What a great post Donna! I have read The Dictionary of Lost Words and really enjoyed it too. I enjoyed our discussion of Dorian Gray as it helped me understand it a lot more. I’m so glad we can say what we think and share our thoughts honestly without fearing judgement – that’s what makes our book club so good! I also belong to a local book club and enjoy much the same freedom to voice my opinions, it’s a safe place!

    Thanks for your fabulous reviews, I often think I couldn’t say it any better as you capture the nuances so well!

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    1. Hi, Joanne – Your comment made me ponder about some books being more conducive to written form, and others more conducive to audio. In the case of The Alchemist, I liked reading it in book form because it allowed me to linger over thought-provoking passages and memorable quotes. But I think audio form, with the right narrow, could add to the book’s meditative quality and narrative flow.
      Your comment has nudged me to listen to this book on audio before our book club to see if I notice any differences. I am off to my local library to download it now. ❤

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    1. Hi, Deb – Thank you for reading and commenting when you are on your beach vacation. I hope that all is going very well there and that your flights are all hassle-free.
      Now, I didn’t say that I have become a hard-core fan of Historical Fiction, but the occasional one has been much more enjoyable than I remembered.
      Looking forward to catching up soon!

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  19. You’ve reminded me, I REALLY need to read some Oscar Wilde. He’s been on my list for some time, and I keep pushing him back.

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  20. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fabulous read. Oscar Wilde was first and foremost a playwright so it’s no surprise that the book read like a play. I did find Chapter 11 a bit too much but writing was like that in those days. As for the Alchemist, it’s one of my favourite books of all times. I have read other books by Paulo Coelho, he’s a great writer. All great choices. Happy reading!

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      1. I absolutely love The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde and have since I was a child. I own a beautifully illustrated copy that I pull out and read again every now and then. I also love his plays and I enjoy his wit, even though it is a bit outdated.

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  23. Our book group read The Dictionary of Lost Words some time ago. We’ve also read The Bookbinder of Jericho by the same author – it’s not a sequel, though some of the same characters flit through. (Jericho is an area of Oxford, I was a bit confused by the title when I first saw it). They were both my choices – I really liked them both with their emphases on books, words and young women with ambition.

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  24. The Dictionary of Lost Words was the first book Sarah read and recommended to me – she didn’t begin enjoying books until after she’d finished uni. I’ll always treasure it because of that.

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    1. That’s the same sentimental reason that I have all of Creighton’s old Goosebump books (followed by CSI books, followed by Michael Crichton books, followed by Bill Bryson books) still dominating my bookshelf. It such a delight to see our grown (or growing) child immersed in reading. I haven’t been able to part with these books yet….even though I really need the shelf space (yes, I could put them in boxes, but then I woudn’t be reminded of them regularly). 😀

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  25. I really must get onto the Alchemist….Been meaning to read it for years. I didn’t love Lost words but most of my book club did. I didn’t go to the play but they all went, less fans of that…

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    1. Hi, Lydia – It’s so interesting to for me to see a divide in popular books (like Dictionary of Lost Words and The Alchemist). It’s said that no two people ever read the same book. I have begun to believe this more and more! Thank you for reading and commenting. ❤

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  26. Hurrah for book clubs! Apart from the social side they’re a way for us to learn more about the books we’re reading- we might not always agree with each other’s point of view but there’s no harm in that is there.
    I’d be lost without ‘my two’ although I did give up on another casual ‘tell us about what you are reading’ drop in one.
    Too many ‘know it all’s’ ‘my opinion is what counts’ ‘how could you read that trash’……twice I came away thinking ‘get a life, it’s a book’ – no need to ridicule the reader just because it’s not something you would read.

    I’ve always thought of Oscar Wilde as being a playwright not a novelist. Has he written anything other than Dorian Gray?

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      1. lol you don’t get to 82yrs old without realising we’re all different with different likes dislikes opinions, some we agree with others not.
        I might have been hasty in criticising in my younger days but now differences just roll off my back like water on a duck’s. Some I can’t ignore, there’s no need for me to stay and think/mutter nasty unseen/unheard thoughts so I walk away and find enjoyment elsewhere.

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  29. Hi Donna, I’ve been meaning to read The Picture of Dorian Gray for a long time and it’s sitting on my shelf just waiting for me! I love that you’re in a classics book club. There are so many excellent ones that deserve attention 🙂

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  32. Hi Donna. Or should I say from one classic to another? 🙂 I smiled at your description of a ‘classic.’ I remember when my son read The Alchemist in middle school and then several people gave it to him when he graduated from high school. I find it interesting that some readers find spiritually uplifting stories, including myths, as ‘trite.’ I thought it was a great graduation gift. Fascinating how some books that give thoughts of our ‘insides’ and perhaps our souls are scary to some. Perhaps I’m sensitive because many of my stories kind of bend toward the spiritual (in very subtle ways, I hope). Anyway, Wilde, who I think was a genius, writes about our ‘outsides,’ and how arrogance and the love of what we look like, what material things we own, and how people perceive us sends us down a sad and depressing path in the end. I loved the book when I read it (several times I believe) and I always thought the title was THE PORTRAIT of… Huh! Loved your reviews. Thanks.

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    1. It’s awesome to hear from you! I agree that The Alchemist is a very inspiring read. We haven’t had our official book club discussion yet, but a couple members have already commented that the book fell flat for them. I greatly look forward to that discussion to learn more of their thoughts on this (and to try to articulate my own). ♡

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      1. I’m sure you’ll articulate well. I tend to get passionate (but in a nice way, I hope) so I’m working on biting my tongue a bit more. 🙂 Sorry I’ve been slower with blogging – lots of stuff to deal with, but all is love and love heals all. (Oops, is that in The Alchemist?) haha.

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