January 18 2018 Meeting at Dricka's

Author, Kristen Hannah, presented an account of France during World War II when Germany invaded. It brought to light the struggles of the French people with emphasis on sisters, Isabelle and Vianne.

Much of the story told how different they were.  Isabelle was strong, rebellious and impulsive. Vianne was nurturing, cautious and always protective of her family. Both sisters needed to be loved because they felt rejected by their father when he lost his wife and had changed in personality after he returned from the Great War.

Isabelle known as the "nightingale" was patriotic by helping airmen to safety by traveling to the British consulate thru hazardous conditions. Vianne was protective of children who were Jewish and separated from their family by changing their identity and finding shelter for them with a Catholic orphanage. She took her best friend, Rachel's son into her home and pretended he was adopted from a member of her family who had died.

In the ending of the story, they both found the love they both were searching for was always there. In memories: wounds heal - love remains.

Our meeting was only 6 members, so we missed Alice, Edna, Grace, Pam and Pat. We had a supper of chicken franchaise and pork chops with various sides. After our discussion, we had tea and an array of desserts: peach cobbler, rice pudding, coconut brownie and apple cake. Everyone at the meeting concluded that the book was very good!!

"Till we meet again",
love to all, 

Dricka