Email the church office at office@stjudeschurch.net to join!
St. Jude's Book Club
A club for readers who like to discuss books
Our Current Read
Meeting on June 3, 2025
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.
Please note: This meeting includes a guest appearance by the author, Natalie Jenner. Anyone interested in joining this month's meeting must register with Amanda in the church office.
St. Jude's Book Club
What we have read and are planning to read next...
| Date | Title | Author | Rating | Comments |
| Aug 2025 | In The Upper Country | Kai Thomas | ||
| Jul 2025 | The Clementine Complex | Bob Mortimer | ||
| Jun 2025 | The Jane Austen Society | Natalie Jenner | ||
| May 2025 | The Reading List | Sara Nisha Adams | 5/5 | We were all really touched by this book. It brought up some incredible discussions about loneliness, grief, mental health struggles, and the importance of community. |
| Apr 2025 | The Rose Code | Kate Quinn | 5/5 | This book was loved by everyone, even those who were reading it for the second and third time! |
| Mar 2025 | Anxious People | Fredrik Backman | 3.5/5 | This was a re-read for some of the group, which gave us the opportunity to discuss what a second reading of a book can bring. The way that the narrator omitted descriptions of many of the characters until later in the book added to the mystery and caused some confusion. |
| Feb 2025 | The Lost Apothecary | Sarah Penner | 4.5/5 | Another big hit with our group! This book spawned a lot of discussion about difficult marriages, women's roles in society, and when/if murder is ever acceptable. |
| Jan 2025 | Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt | 4.5/5 | This was a great choice for our first book. Many people in the group said that this isn't something they would normally pick up, and they were pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoyed the book. |
Our ratings:
5 - Loved it! A new favourite!
4 - Really liked the book. Would recommend to others.
3 - It was a good book but not my favorite.
2 - It was just okay.
1 - I really didn't enjoy this book at all.