she left Ava as a young girl.

Many members thought Ann Hood’s use of great literature throughout the book was too simplistic and shallow. One member stated, “I read the novel, as it was written, with little insight into the great works of fiction and in that way, the books were just a part of the story. They were not meant to be symbolic or deep.”

Resources:Listen as Ann Hood discusses her novel The Book That Matters Most:

For books and audiobooks in our collection by Ann Hood, please click here.

Read-a-Likes:

As a tie-in to the PBS program The Great American Read and the novel The Book That Matters Most, members were asked to bring 1-3 most beloved book titles to the September club meeting. Members discussed their favorite books. Titles onlyliked learning about Germany in the aftermath of World War II. Members felt the book shed light on how difficult it is to rebuild after a war. Many members gained new insights into the complexities of life that many ordinary Germans experienced. Members somewhat sympathized with decisions made by ordinary Germans living in dangerous, unsettling times. The groups discussed how difficult it is to make decisions without prior knowledge of consequences farther down the road. Members enjoyed Shattuck’s ability to make the reader really care about these flawed women. One member thought that she had her mind made up about the three women, only to change her opinion at the end—the member gives Shattuck credit for creating well-drawn characters.

Many members liked the novel more than they thought they