The CatNip Book Club

01/13/2024

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

When Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Stuck in a dead-end job in Hawaii, and longing to travel the world after a family tragedy, Lux is eager to climb on board The Susannah and set out on an adventure. She’s also quick to bond with their passengers, college best friends Brittany and Amma. The two women say they want to travel off the beaten path. But like Lux, they may have other reasons to be seeking an escape.

Shimmering on the horizon after days at sea, Meroe Island is every bit the paradise the foursome expects, despite a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and even rumors of murder.

MY THOUGHTS - this book was a really fun easy read. Definitely a page Turner with lots of surprise character developments including toxic relationships, and narcissism. Very good plot twist at the end that I think everyone will enjoy. I highly recommend this book for people that are looking for a light read with a very intriguing plot.

01/07/2024

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Su***de & Substance Abuse

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

MY THOUGHTS - WOW what a surprise! I stumbled upon this book suggestion simply from a YouTube book review video I came across. The plot sounded intriguing, so I gave it a shot. I was completely shocked by the impact it had on me. As you would have read in the summary above, this book is heavily focussed on the regrets that we reflect upon, especially towards the middle of our lives. I myself have been reflecting on many of my life regrets prior to reading this book and, I felt that the storyline spoke to how I often fantasize about going back in time and making different choices. I know that this sounds quite depressing but I can assure you that although this book tugs at your heartstrings and psyche, the message it has in the end is impactful, life-changing, relatable, and so very meaningful. I recommend this book to everyone especially those in their 30s and 40s despite the types of genres you normally read. This book was quite moving for me and will be a very special addition to my library.



***de

01/07/2024

TRIGGER WARNING: Substance abuse, domestic abuse, disability, overdose.

Kasher In The Rye by Moshe Kasher

Rising young comedian Moshe Kasher is lucky to be alive. He started using drugs when he was just 12. At that point, he had already been in psychoanlysis for 8 years. By the time he was 15, he had been in and out of several mental institutions, drifting from therapy to rehab to arrest to...you get the picture. But Kasher in the Rye is not an “eye opener” to the horrors of addiction. It’s a hilarious memoir about the absurdity of it all.

When he was a young boy, Kasher’s mother took him on a vacation to the West Coast. Well it was more like an abduction. Only not officially. She stole them away from their father and they moved to Oakland , California. That’s where the real fun begins, in the war zone of Oakland Public Schools. He was more than just out of control-his mother walked him around on a leash, which he chewed through and ran away.

MY THOUGHTS - this memoir truly spoke to the social work advocate in me. I am currently completing my bachelor of social work degree with hopes of the near future becoming a counselor. I knew in advance what this memoir was about, but I didn’t expect how much it would resonate with me and the material I am currently studying. It was truly amazing to see the perspective of those who are struggling, especially children. Often children do not have a voice, and it was really amazing to have insight as to what the impact adolescence combined with addiction can have. This book is beautifully written with a hint of comedy, which keeps the reader engaged. I highly recommend this to everyone, despite the type of genre, you enjoy reading. I think the message that Moshe Kasher brings forward in the book is something that everyone can relate to, and encourages us all to be more empathetic to those who are having a difficult time.

12/05/2023

The Apartment by

It’s an opportunity she can’t refuse. The woman before her tried…
Freya Miller needs a miracle. In the fallout of her husband’s betrayal, she’s about to lose her family home, and with it the security she craves for her five-year-old daughter, Skye. Adrift and alone, she’s on the verge of despair until a chance meeting with the charismatic Dr Marsden changes everything. He’s seeking a new tenant for a shockingly affordable flat in a fashionable area of London.
Adder House sounds too good to be true… But Freya really can’t afford to be cynical, and Dr Marsden is adamant she and Skye will be a perfect fit with the other residents.
But Adder House has secrets. Even behind a locked front door, Freya feels as if she’s being watched: objects moving, unfamiliar smells, the blinking light of a concealed camera… and it’s not long before she begins to suspect that her dream home is hiding a nightmarish reality. Was it really chance that led her here—or something unthinkably dark?
As the truth about Adder House starts to unravel, can Freya and Skye get out—or will they be locked in forever?

MY THOUGHTS - unfortunately, the story wasn’t as good as I was hoping it to be. I am a huge fan of psychological thriller novels, and I was really excited for this one. The concept in the storyline was excellent. I really liked the twist and where the author went with it. My issue is that it had a very late start to the thrill. Once it got there, the author then rushed to finish the storyline. It didn’t become a page turner until the last two or three chapters. In my opinion, if the feeling of the thrill started earlier in the novel, I would’ve really enjoyed it. But I felt that the author was really quick to wrap it up in the end and created too much build. There were a few characters I wish were more elaborated on only appearing a few times in the novel who seem to have a larger impact in the end.

03/04/2023

The Silent Patient by .michaelides

Suggested read from .jtb & .parso

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....

MY THOUGHTS - I really enjoyed this one. I have a huge interest in psychotherapy as this is a clientele I often work with in my human service career. I also found it was a page turner with a fantastic twist at the end. Super easy, comfortable read, still leaving you intrigued at the end of each chapter. I highly suggest this for people who enjoy a psychological whodunit thriller.

12/05/2021

By Liane Moriarty

Could ten days at a health resort really change you forever?

These nine perfect strangers are about to find out...

Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be.

Frances Welty, the formerly best-selling romantic novelist, arrives at Tranquillum House nursing a bad back, a broken heart, and an exquisitely painful paper cut. She’s immediately intrigued by her fellow guests. Most of them don’t look to be in need of a health resort at all. But the person that intrigues her most is the strange and charismatic owner/director of Tranquillum House. Could this person really have the answers Frances didn’t even know she was seeking? Should Frances put aside her doubts and immerse herself in everything Tranquillum House has to offer—or should she run while she still can?

It’s not long before every guest at Tranquillum House is asking exactly the same question.

Combining all of the hallmarks that have made Liane Moriarty's writing a go-to for anyone looking for wickedly smart, page-turning fiction that will make you laugh and gasp, Nine Perfect Strangers once again shows why she is a master of her craft.

MY THOUGHTS
- Get ready for a ton of character development since all nine of these perfect strangers or main characters. Because of this 2/3 of the book is diving into the characters, their backgrounds, and thoughts during the entire story. Because of this, I found the book had a bit of a slow start and it was hard to see where the twist interns were going to be. But once they happened it definitely had a surprised outcome that I was not expecting.

06/22/2021

The Flatshare by

This book was suggested to me by my very dear friend Marci . What a fun read! Fantastic story line, super interesting, definitely not your typical modern day romance. Loved all the characters… Even the crazy ones. These type of genres are not usually my go to but I absolutely loved it and it is definitely a great read to sit by the pool in the sunshine. Throughout the book I even begin to reflect on my past relationships and dating experiences.

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…

06/12/2021

Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson

This book is a beautiful artistic tale of a young first nations woman reflecting on her life, relationships, regrets, and her first nations culture. It is a wonderful representation of first Nations youth and the struggles and the beautiful cultural beliefs they have. I am so glad that I read this as I felt that it gave me a insight into Canadian First Nations People and inspired me to deep dive further and learn more.

Five hundred miles north of Vancouver is Kitamaat, an Indian reservation in the homeland of the Haisla people. Growing up a tough, wild tomboy, swimming, fighting, and fishing in a remote village where the land slips into the green ocean on the edge of the world, Lisamarie has always been different.

Visited by ghosts and shapeshifters, tormented by premonitions, she can't escape the sense that something terrible is waiting for her. She recounts her enchanted yet scarred life as she journeys in her speedboat up the frigid waters of the Douglas Channel. She is searching for her brother, dead by drowning, and in her own way running as fast as she can toward danger. Circling her brother's tragic death are the remarkable characters that make up her family: Lisamarie's parents, struggling to join their Haisla heritage with Western ways; Uncle Mick, a Native rights activist and devoted Elvis fan; and the headstrong Ma-ma-oo (Haisla for "grandmother"), a guardian of tradition.

Haunting, funny, and vividly poignant, Monkey Beach gives full scope to Robinson's startling ability to make bedfellows of comedy and the dark underside of life. Informed as much by its lush living wilderness as by the humanity of its colorful characters, Monkey Beach is a profoundly moving story about childhood and the pain of growing older--a multilayered tale of family grief and redemption.

05/26/2021

Congratulations 🎉

The Canmore Public Library was awarded the Making a Difference Award at the 2021 virtual Marigold Library System Conference for our Appreciation Convoy last year.

05/26/2021

The Au Pair by: Emma Rous, Author

This book came from a suggestion by one of the staff members of and I am so happy that I found it. Starts off very quickly with the storyline and it is 100% a page turner. I could not put it down. I finished the book in three days and I was left wanting more. It is a suspenseful mystery style of family secrets with a very unpredictable ending in storyline. I really enjoyed the character development unique storytelling.

Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of summer at their family’s estate on the Norfolk coast. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.

Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers a family photograph that raises dangerous questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby.

05/14/2021

The Fabulous Story of the Creator of Cirque Du Soleil by Ian Halperin

This book tells a fascinating story from multiple diverse perspectives about Guy Laliberté the creator of Cirque du Soleil. I was blown away with how humble Laliberté’s beginnings were and how his genius created the billion dollar industry we know today. The author investigates in interviews many different people involved in Laliberté’s life gaining multiple perspectives exciting stories.

An adult advisory comes with this book as it can get racy but I still highly suggest it.

In this first-ever biography of Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Lalibert, Ian Halperin, author of the New York Times #1 Bestseller, Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson, takes you from the humble origins of this former French Canadian street performer, through his years of trial and struggle, to his brilliant success in bringing the extraordinary Cirque du Soleil to sold-out audiences worldwide. Ian Halperin details hows this former accordion player, stilt-walker and fire-eater made it to Forbes magazine's list of the world's richest billionaires.

03/27/2021

North of Normal: A memoir of my wilderness childhood, my counterculture family, and how I survived both by

I discovered this book as a suggestion from the Banff library book club which I attend monthly. I was fascinated by the concept of a family living off the land in the Lake Minnewanka & Morley area since I am live in Canmore, Alberta. I wasn’t sure how that worked or what the experience would be like. Little did I know the fascinating world I was entering reading this book. Not only did the book flow so well and the writing was excellent but the story blew my mind. I wasn’t expecting how deep the author went regarding her childhood, relationships, and other experiences. I couldn’t put it down and I did not want the book to end as it really allowed me to peer through the lens of a life of a hippy family in the 1970s. This book has now joined my list of favourite books of all time and I highly recommend everyone to read it.
You will love it!

S*x, drugs, and . . . bug stew? Cea Sunrise Person’s compelling memoir of a childhood spent with her dysfunctional counter-culture family in the Canadian wilderness—a searing story of physical, emotional, and psychological survival.

In the late 1960s, riding the crest of the counterculture movement, Cea’s family left a comfortable existence in California to live off the land in the Canadian wilderness. But unlike most commune dwellers of the time, the Persons weren’t trying to build a new society—they wanted to escape civilization altogether. Led by Cea’s grandfather Dick, they lived a pot-smoking, free-loving, clothing-optional life under a canvas tipi without running water, electricity, or heat for the bitter winters.