Library Groups
Book Club
The VAPL Winding Road Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month for a brown bag lunch and book discussion at 12:00 noon. Check the calendar in case some dates have been changed. The upcoming selections are:
2025
January - West with Giraffes - Lynda Rutledge
2025
January - West with Giraffes - Lynda Rutledge
February - Shelterwood - Betsy Reavley
March - Arthur the Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home - Mikael Lindnord
April - The Bookwoman’s Daughter - Kim Muchele Richardson
May - Don’t Let Me Go - Catherine Rya Hyde
June - The Silver Ladies Do Lunch - Judy Leigh
July - When Harry Met Minnie - Martha Teichner
August - The Coffeeshop of Curiousities - Heather Webber
September - Where Butterflies Wander - Suzanne Redfern
October - The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate - Jaqueline Kelly
November - Becoming Madam Secretary - Stephanie Dray
December - Christmas by the Book - Anne Marie Ryan
2024
January – The Personal Librarian – Marie Benedict
February – Murder at the Book Club – Betsy Reavley
March – The Crazyladies of Pearl Street – Trevanian
April – American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of the American CSI – Kate Winkler Dawson
May – When Crickets Cry – Charles Martin
June – Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Peit
July – The Wind Knows My Name – Isabel Allende
August – Where the Forest Meets the Stars – Glendy Vanderah
September – The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club – Faith Hogan
October – The White Lady – Jacqueline Winspear
November — The Last Thing He Told Me – Laura Dave
December – The Reindeer Keeper – Barbara Briggs Ward
Past Selections:
February – Murder at the Book Club – Betsy Reavley
March – The Crazyladies of Pearl Street – Trevanian
April – American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of the American CSI – Kate Winkler Dawson
May – When Crickets Cry – Charles Martin
June – Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Peit
July – The Wind Knows My Name – Isabel Allende
August – Where the Forest Meets the Stars – Glendy Vanderah
September – The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club – Faith Hogan
October – The White Lady – Jacqueline Winspear
November — The Last Thing He Told Me – Laura Dave
December – The Reindeer Keeper – Barbara Briggs Ward
Past Selections:
2023
January – This Tender Land – William Kent Krueger
February – A Friend Like Henry – Nuala Gardner
March – The All-Girls Filling Station – Fanny Flagg
April – Book of Lost Friends – Lisa Wingate
May – The Kitchen Front – Jennifer Ryan
June – Years of Wonder – Geraldine Brooks
July – Running on Red Dog Road – Drema Hall Berkheimer
August – American Dirt – Jeannie Cummins
September – The Body Guard – Katherine Center
October – The Badass Librarians of Timbuktu – Joshua Hammer
November – Still Alice – Lisa Genova
December – Santa’s Little Yelpers – David Rosenfelt
2022
January – The Henna Artist – Alka Joshi
February – The Ghosts of Eden Park – Karen Abbott
March – The Second Mrs. Astor – Shana Abe
April – Fresh Water for Flowers – Valerie Perrin
May – The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
June – House On Endless Waters – Emuna Elon
July – The Slow March of Light – Heather B. Moore
August – Fifty Words for Rain – Asha Lemmie
September – The Peacock Emporium – Jojo Moyes
October – Furious Hours – Casey Cep
November – The Deep Deep Snow – Brian Freeman
December – The Christmas Book Shop – Jenny Colgan
2021
May – Carrying Albert Home – Homer Hickman
June – I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
July – My Dear Hamilton – Stephanie Deay
August – The Lost and Found Bookshop – Susan Wiggs
September – The Amateur Emigrant – Robert Lewis Stevenson
October – More Things in Heaven and Earth – Jeff High
November – The Magnificent Dappled Sea – David Brio
December – The Red Bird Christmas – Fanny Flag
June – I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
July – My Dear Hamilton – Stephanie Deay
August – The Lost and Found Bookshop – Susan Wiggs
September – The Amateur Emigrant – Robert Lewis Stevenson
October – More Things in Heaven and Earth – Jeff High
November – The Magnificent Dappled Sea – David Brio
December – The Red Bird Christmas – Fanny Flag
2020
January – Educated – Tara Westover
February – A Twist of Tobacco – Rita Holcomb
March – Sweet Tea & Sympathy – Molly Harper
April – The Blue Tattoo – Margot Mifflin
May – The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt
June – Sold on a Monday – Kristina McMorris
July – Carrying Albert Home – Homer Hickam
August – I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
September – My Dear Hamilton – Stephanie Dray
October – Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
November – The Giver of Stars – Jojo Moyes
December – Christmas Bells – Jennifer Chiaverini
February – A Twist of Tobacco – Rita Holcomb
March – Sweet Tea & Sympathy – Molly Harper
April – The Blue Tattoo – Margot Mifflin
May – The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt
June – Sold on a Monday – Kristina McMorris
July – Carrying Albert Home – Homer Hickam
August – I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
September – My Dear Hamilton – Stephanie Dray
October – Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
November – The Giver of Stars – Jojo Moyes
December – Christmas Bells – Jennifer Chiaverini
2019
January – Tending Roses – Lisa Wingate
February – Watership Down – Richard Adams
March – The Winner – David Baldacci
April – Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman
May – Still Me #3 of the trilogy – Jojo Moyes
June – The Reader – Bernard Schlink
July – Into the Water – Paula Hawkins
August – The Little Paris Bookshop – Nina George
September – Circling the Sun – Paula McLain
October – Whistling Past the Graveyard – Susan Crandall
November – The Chilbury Ladies Choir – Jennifer Ryan
December – On Strike for Christmas – Sheila Roberts
February – Watership Down – Richard Adams
March – The Winner – David Baldacci
April – Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman
May – Still Me #3 of the trilogy – Jojo Moyes
June – The Reader – Bernard Schlink
July – Into the Water – Paula Hawkins
August – The Little Paris Bookshop – Nina George
September – Circling the Sun – Paula McLain
October – Whistling Past the Graveyard – Susan Crandall
November – The Chilbury Ladies Choir – Jennifer Ryan
December – On Strike for Christmas – Sheila Roberts
2018
January – Raven Stole the Moon – Garth Stein
February – Goodnight from London – Jennifer Robson
March – The Woman in Cabin 10 – Ruth Ware
April – Woman of God – James Patterson
May – The Life we Bury – Allen Eskens
June – Britt-Marie Was Here – Fredrik Backman
July – The Lilac Girls – Martha Hall Kelly
August – Ape House – Sara Gruen
September – Snake Bluff Lodge – John Moody
October – Night School – Lee Childs
November – Before We Were Yours – Lisa Wingate
December – No-One Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day – Tracy Bloom
February – Goodnight from London – Jennifer Robson
March – The Woman in Cabin 10 – Ruth Ware
April – Woman of God – James Patterson
May – The Life we Bury – Allen Eskens
June – Britt-Marie Was Here – Fredrik Backman
July – The Lilac Girls – Martha Hall Kelly
August – Ape House – Sara Gruen
September – Snake Bluff Lodge – John Moody
October – Night School – Lee Childs
November – Before We Were Yours – Lisa Wingate
December – No-One Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day – Tracy Bloom
2017
December – The 12 Dogs of Christmas – David Rosenfelt
November – Older But Wilder – Effie Leland Wilder
October – Dog On It – Spenser Quinn
September – A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
August – The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid – Bill Bryson
July – Saving CeeCee Honeycut – Beth Hoffman
June – The Secret Garden – Francis Hodson Burnett
May – Hidden Figures – Margot Lee Shetterly
April – Having Our Say – Sarah & A.Elizabeth Delany
March – I am Malala – Malala Yousafzai
February – The Week Before the Wedding – Beth Kendrick
January – After You – Jojo Moyes
November – Older But Wilder – Effie Leland Wilder
October – Dog On It – Spenser Quinn
September – A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
August – The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid – Bill Bryson
July – Saving CeeCee Honeycut – Beth Hoffman
June – The Secret Garden – Francis Hodson Burnett
May – Hidden Figures – Margot Lee Shetterly
April – Having Our Say – Sarah & A.Elizabeth Delany
March – I am Malala – Malala Yousafzai
February – The Week Before the Wedding – Beth Kendrick
January – After You – Jojo Moyes
2016
December – A Quilt for Christmas – Sandra Dallas
November – The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah
October – The Lake House – Kate Morton
September – The Collectables – James Kaufman
August – Me Before You – Jojo Moyes ***Book club readers – see note below
July – All The Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr
June – The Light Between Oceans – M.L. Stedman
May – People of the Book – Geraldine Brooks
April 2016 – Go Set a Watchman – Harper Lee
March 2016 – To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee
February 2016 – Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen – Susan Gregg Gilmore
January 2016 – Thunder Dog – Michael Hingson
November – The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah
October – The Lake House – Kate Morton
September – The Collectables – James Kaufman
August – Me Before You – Jojo Moyes ***Book club readers – see note below
July – All The Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr
June – The Light Between Oceans – M.L. Stedman
May – People of the Book – Geraldine Brooks
April 2016 – Go Set a Watchman – Harper Lee
March 2016 – To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee
February 2016 – Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen – Susan Gregg Gilmore
January 2016 – Thunder Dog – Michael Hingson
***The August selection is Me Before You not You Before Me as we discussed at the meeting.
2015
December 2015 – A Blue & Grey Christmas – Joan Medilcott
November 2015 – Ruth’s Journey by Donald McCraig
October 2015 – Saving Grace by Terry Lee
September 2015 – Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
August 2015 – A Sudden Light by Garth Stein
July 2015 – The Quaker Cafe by Brenda Bevan Remmer
June 2015 – The Story Teller by Jodi Picoult
May 2015 – The Good Pig by Sy Montgomery
April 2015 – The Caldera Incident by John Meechom
March 2015 – The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
February 2015 – Dogtripping by David Rosenfelt
January 2015 – The Tenth by Joanne E. Moudy
November 2015 – Ruth’s Journey by Donald McCraig
October 2015 – Saving Grace by Terry Lee
September 2015 – Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
August 2015 – A Sudden Light by Garth Stein
July 2015 – The Quaker Cafe by Brenda Bevan Remmer
June 2015 – The Story Teller by Jodi Picoult
May 2015 – The Good Pig by Sy Montgomery
April 2015 – The Caldera Incident by John Meechom
March 2015 – The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
February 2015 – Dogtripping by David Rosenfelt
January 2015 – The Tenth by Joanne E. Moudy
Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Van Alstyne Library is a volunteer group dedicated to helping support our wonderful Van Alstyne Public Library. We work to provide funding for books, vital resources, and programs, such as the immensely popular 8-week Summer Reading Program!
So how can you help?
- Monthly Meetings - Join us on the 4th Tuesday of every month at the library at 6:00 pm
- Book Fairs - Volunteer at our biggest fundraiser, the famous Spring & Fall Book Fairs
- Donate Books - Bring gently used book donations to support our book fair inventory. Drop off inside the Library lobby on Mondays (limit to 2 boxes per family each week)
- VA Cars & Coffee Volunteers - Hand out coffee, children's books, and swag at the Friends of the Library table
- Club 50 - Become a donor and have your name or the name of a loved one featured on our beautiful donor tree in the Library lobby
- Lend a Helping Hand - Volunteer your time around the library for Judy, the coolest librarian in town!
- Tell a Friend - Invite a friend or neighbor to join you for a trip to the library or for one of their fantastic community events
- Keep in Touch - Follow us and the Library on social media or visit our websites for all the latest happenings
- Corporate Sponsorship - Have a local business? Ask about becoming a Corporate Sponsor!
For more information, find us on Facebook or visit our website: