Anybody Any Minute
Book Club Picks

Book Club Picks: Anybody Any Minute

On her way to visit her sister in Montreal, Ellen Kenny makes a pit stop and ends up charging a house to her credit card. She's not even sure why she did it. She just knows that some force is drawing her to this particular place, this particular house, like a magnet.

When she decides to move to Eagle Beak for the summer, she and her husband Tommy become decidedly estranged. They barely talk and Tommy reveals to Ellen that he's thinking of having an affair. As Ellen was a "flower child" hippie, Tommy can't see why this would be a problem. So Ellen stays in Eagle Beak forging unlikely friendships with two odd men, one old enough to be her father and the other with a penile disorder. Obviously neither are meant to be sexual relationships.

News that her sister's love has been in a near-fatal accident brings little Oliver to stay with Ellen for the summer as well. After she acquires Mutley the dog, her life in the country is officially an alternate universe compared to her life in New York City.

The summer brings about a much needed change in Ellen and Tommy's relationship and Ellen manages to breathe life into a town where some life is desperately needed. With little Ollie in tow, Ellen manages to open the hearts and minds of all the people around her. The only thing that remains to be seen is how much of her old life she is willing and allowed to take back.

Book Club Picks: Anybody Any Minute Opinion

Ellen is a fantastic character! She's introspective and endearing, loyal but nutty, hilarious but rash. She is such a typical woman! Mars writes her so that we can identify with many of the things she does and giggle because we would NEVER be caught in these situations in public. Incorporate kooky Rayfield, gentle Rodney, sweet Oliver, and lazy Mutley and the stage is set for a funny but heartwarming tale.

The most notable feature of this book is the ease with which the reader becomes a part of the story. There are no monumental events. By monumental I mean that there are no wars, no murders, no screaming divorce. There are, however, plenty of smaller, every day events some sad, some happy, and some insignificant except to those involved. Like Rodney bringing the donuts and eating at Ellen's table each morning or Cocho's accident, Mars shows us simply that life happens and it is in our nature to survive. We have the innate ability as humans to pick up and move on. This book is human. These are people that could be your next door neighbors, your sisters, even yourselves. Let's just hope if we lose our way in life like Ellen does, that we have the umph to find it back again and learn a lesson or two in the process.

Book Club Picks: Anybody Any Minute Discussion Questions

1. Do you think Ellen "left" Tommy or do you think she just wanted to spend some time "finding" her former self?
2. Did you like Rayfield or Rodney better? Why?
3. How would you have reacted to Tommy's news about his yoga instructor?

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