The stage was set in the Holliday Farms Social Club, in the Caldemeyer Room. Some folks enjoyed a glass of wine or a cocktail while we gathered to discuss our second book, The Frozen River, in the second meeting of the Holliday Farms Book Club (HFBC).

What can happen when you group book lovers with a fantastic read? Pure bliss.

Some may argue that time travel doesn’t exist, but without much effort, we were transported back to the winter of 1789–1790, standing on the frigid banks of the Kennebec River in Hallowell, Maine.

Once we all put on our imaginary heavy coats, gloves, and hats, we shared the lines we loved—from white foxes and the symbolism of the frozen river as human equality to Martha Ballard, the real-life midwife who broke the stigma against female healers in an era when women’s voices were nearly nonexistent…and of course, a solved murder mystery!

Participants enjoyed sharing ideas, offering personal angles, and adding anecdotes from their own lives, which made the evening even more engaging. By the end, we even learned that one of our members has been part of her own separate book club for over three decades!

Our third meeting is now set for Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the HF Social Club—Caldemeyer Room.

As part of the HFBC, we rotate two fiction books followed by one nonfiction. This time, we’re shifting gears into memoirs—true stories that read like novels.

Voting closed on Monday, September 22, but if you missed the polls, we will post the winner in an updated version of this link:

Or simply scan the QR code below.

Whether or not you finish the book, everyone is welcome. Our goal at HF Stroll Magazine and the HFBC isn’t just to read, but to build community, one story at a time.

Stay tuned for more details, future events, and special thanks to everyone who has helped bring this book club to life…you know who you are!