A Year of Reading

Tonight was the one year anniversary for my adoption book club. Our first year together has been filled with lots of laughter, emotion, support, brownies, wine, and friendship. When I proposed the idea to our larger adoption group, I had no idea that it would grow to become such an important part of my life here. A mix of women, different ages, different backgrounds, different life experiences, but we all share the common bond of being mothers (or waiting to be moms) to children from China and Taiwan. We read books that are related to China, adoption, or parenting. Not always easy reading (which is why we try to mix in some light humor reads), but our monthly gatherings are always lively and interesting. I eagerly look forward to another year of reading!

Here's our 2007/2008 reading list:

January: Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Februrary: Digging to America by Anne Tyler
March: Western Dress and Bound Feet by Pang-Mei Natasha Chang
April: Chu-Ju's House by Gloria Whelan
May: Beyond Good Intentions by Cheri Register and Secret Thoughts of an Adoptive Mother by Jana Wolfe
June: "The Dying Room" (British Documentary about Chinese orphanges)
July: Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah
August: China Doll by Talia Carner
September: And Baby Makes Two by Julie Sheehan
October: The Good Women of China by Xinran Xue
November/December: : The Zhang Empresses (documentary film)
January 2008: China Ghosts by Jeff Gamage
February 2008: I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids: Re-inventing Modern Motherhood
March 2008: Peony in Love by Lisa See (we'll be attending a reading by the author which should be a lot of fun)