October 28 Meeting at Grace's

"I meant what I said and I said what I meant....  an elephant's faithful -- one hundred percent!"  This was the beginning of a delightful read of "Water for Elephants." Everyone agreed that they liked the book and gave it a rating of 3 out of 5.  It covered a variety of topics including treatment in nursing homes, growing old, life in the circus, family taking care of their own - "Take a chance a piece" (I'm not sure I got that phrase right), running away, dealing with abuse, love, sex and insanity; I think it covered just about everything.  I especially like the excerpt Roe read about growing old and seeing the "Appalachian apple doll" in the mirror and it made me smile when at 90 something, he ran away to join the circus.  One of those things everyone says and very few do because the circus is actually kinda creepy.

After our book discussion we listed all the books that will be read this year.  We did agree that next time we will announce books up to 2 months prior to our hosting the bookclub rather than having a list set up at the beginning of the year.

Welcome to Pat Fogel our old / new member.

Louisa handed out yummy smelling bookmarks. It was a nice change after discussing nursing homes and getting old.  I feel like a little kid again.

I will email everyone an address and phone list of all the members.  Please let me know If there are any corrections. I won't post it on the blog site for security reasons.

Both Grace and I contacted the library and ask them to set aside our book selections for the month.  Please contact Bernadette Whalen at the Martinsburg Public Library one month before you host the meeting. You can email her at bwhalen@martin.lib.wv.us.  Check the the library web site first to see how many books are available at  http://www.youseemore.com/MartinsburgBerkeley.

Please send me your top 2 choices for the books we read last year.  Summary of Books Read 2009 - 2010 is listed under Books Read in this blog. I will announce the results at the November meeting.

Next month we will read "Stiff - the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" by Mary Roach and meet at my house on November 18.  Don't be too creeped out by the title.

Happy Halloween
KAthy G