Wednesday Afternoon Lunch and Dessert Book Club of San Diego, California, recommends:        

The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan (Riverhead, 2013), Fiction, 416 pages

"The Painted Girls tells the story of three sisters who danced at the Paris Opera Ballet School, and aspired to dance in the chorus.  One sister, Marie, modeled for the statuette by Degas, 'The Little Dancer.' The characters were historical figures, although their relationships to each other and daily interactions were fictionalized.

"The subject of the story (ballet), its beautiful setting (Paris), the inclusion of such a famous artist (Degas), and the experiences of the characters in the ballet school, made this a truly satisfying read and a favorite book club discussion."

Mussels in Garlic Sauce. Photo: Pam Davis, Savoring the Sweet Life Photography

Paired with: "The inspiration for the menu came from the older sister Antoinette's decadent meal of Mussels in

Garlic Sauce and drinks of Cassis, and the book's Parisian setting. On the menu: Crème de Cassis with Sparkling Water, Mussels in Garlic Butter Sauce, Spinach Quiche, and Strawberry Mascarpone Crepes." 

Jenna Blum, author of Those Who Save Us and Grand Central, recommends two novels, one current and the other older, on a similar theme:

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (Little Brown, 1961), Fiction, 482 pages 

I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You by Courtney Maum (Touchstone, 2014), Fiction, 352 pages 

"Yates' 1963 classic shows a young glamorous couple, the Wheelers, who relocate from New York City to the suburbs and how the move exposes the fault lines in their marriage and themselves. 

"Maum's hilarious contemporary novel, a debut in 2014,

features a hapless British artist trying to win back his French wife after he was unfaithful.

"Both novels are speculations on marriage--delicious reads in their own right and fun to compare and contrast!"   

The Evening Chorus by Helen Humphreys 

Wonder by R.J. Palacio