THS Book Club: The Sunflower Boys

Thanks @jimmysmum @Newpetlover @Maeve @MerryPuppins @Debbie, let’s go with the 7th July. Same time as usual!

@Landbiscuit I hope you will be able to join us, but apologies if not. I also hope you’ll be able to join us @MerryPuppins :crossed_fingers:

Thank you all for being flexible and understanding!
Jess

Here’s the table with our meeting time for the discussion on 7th July. I’ll send the Google Meet link two to three days ahead.

Jess, Congrats on your upcoming citizenship.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the discussion on the 7th. I am interested in what you all thought of the book. I listened to the audio book and would rank it as one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Thank you! I’m sorry you can’t join us on the 7th. I’m still enjoying the read, it’s been fantastic so far. If you’d like to send me any of your thoughts as a direct message I can share them with the group in the call.

Just writing to let you know I’ve DM’d the Google Meet LInk for our discussion this Tuesday the 7th. It will be led by Jess Holmes, a gifted discussion leader.

Please drop me a line if you’d like to attend but haven’t received Google Meet link.

A shout out to @MaggieUU who recommended this excellent book.

I look forward to seeing everyone.

I also listened to it and I agree it’s very good, probably the best that I’ve read this year and probably the best debut novel I’ve ever read.
I also think it’s amazing that the author was only 25 and that he was born and raised in the USA. I was convinced that most of it was somehow based on direct personal experience. But we’ll discuss that on Tuesday.

https://www.npr.org/2025/08/16/nx-s1-5418986/sam-wachman-discusses-his-debut-novel-the-sunflower-boys-a-powerful-survival-story

An interview with the author that you may enjoy

Many thanks again :folded_hands:to Jess @hitchedandhiking for leading a great discussion of this special book. We all agreed this was a remarkable debut novel that brings home the personal toll of the Ukraine War in a way that news coverage does not.

Head over to this topic for what’s to come in the Book Club.

Hi @mohsin,
Welcome to the forum!

I felt the same, when I started, I wasn’t too enthusiastic but as you said, it grew on me gradually at a steady pace until the end.

Hi @mohsin.
My case was a bit different as I read it almost a year ago before it was a Book Club pick and I don’t recall finding it a hard-to-get-into read. Perhaps it changes when the book becomes an assignment or task. Regardless, it is a wonderful and moving work and I don’t think you would regret reading it.

I read the book once it had been chosen by the book club. Like @MaggieUU I didn’t find it hard to get into. The first partvwas slower paced, then it turned into a real page turner that was hard to put down. The slower paced part was still interesting and enjoyable to read. It’s a fantastic book!

Please let us know what you thought of the book after you’ve read it @mohsin.

Cheers