NNO Book Club: The Teller of Small Fortunes

For a lot of years, we’ve done short stories in August, but I will be honest – I am running of short story collections that really fit our overall theme (speculative, sci fi, fantasy, etc.) so we will just fit short stories in wherever – maybe December for something a little easier at the end of the year or January.

ANYWAY – I am not sure about everyone else, but I need something non-soul crushing to read so let’s try some cozy fiction with found family and traveling and a magical cat. This month we are reading “The Teller of Small Fortunes” by Julie Leong.

Side question – the summary for this one mentions Travis Baldree who is very fun but leans a bit more romance than we usually read. For those that read “Legends and Lattes” (or any of his other books) – are we cool with that level of romance??

***Book summary from Goodreads***
A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna.

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells "small" fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences…

Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a knead for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat.

Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past are closing in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

***This month's restaurant selection***
It is about time we did some Cuban food and, while I love La Terasita, they are super inconsistent and can be crazy loud so let’s trying something else a bit down the street, shall we? We are going to check out Havana 86. You can check out the menu here: https://www.toasttab.com/local/order/havana86.

***Not sure about book club or never been to one before? ***
Read the book (or some of the book). Come to the Meetup. Eat yummy food and chat with folks about what you thought about the book. REPEAT!

***Not sure where to get the book? ***
All books we select have a decent number of copies (at least 3-4 across all formats) at both the Hillsborough and Pinellas County Library. And, of course, you can always buy a copy.

***Didn’t finish/hated this book?***
Come to the Meetup anyway! If you didn't finish - just be aware, there will be spoilers. If you hated it, come and rant! In my experience, the books that generate the best conversations and the books we really love are rarely the same books.