March 19 Meeting at Alice's

 Camino Island by John Grisham

It’s thanks to Molly the helpful and smart librarian at North Berkeley (she was just doing her job) for suggesting and calling in seven copies of Camino Island+ gratitude also to Sylvia who filled me in & gave me the scoop on how to get the books for all of us to share and pass around.

Camino Island was a novel based on the author’s own experience in the beach community of Amelia Island, Florida, where he has a vacation home. So the setting was great for all of us sitting in winter weather here in West Virginia. A beach read for us in the winter. Mr Grisham  heard a story about rare books so he combined these 2 ideas to write CAMINO ISLAND. I have also read CAMINO WINDS & CAMONO GHOSTS also excellent!

I felt also that John Grisham was promoting the selling and use of reading a real book ( yes I see all of you with your I-pads & Paper Whites e readers) He created a space w/ main character Bruce Cable’s Bay Books bookstore,  giving authors a place to sell books & be themselves. Constantly talking about books! the beautiful young Mercer Mann, a woman who infiltrated the possibility into the stolen priceless F Scott Fitzgerald manuscripts was certainly a way to keep us reading. Hmmmm, are they in the basement of this bookstore or back in NJ ?!

Overall review: This real honest to God book in my hands was a fine choice for not knowing a thing about this story and then being pretty damn good. 

Thanks ladies again it’s always great to host you all- now in 2026 for an Irish party and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day -seeing all of you fine ladies wearing green sitting around my table, it brings a sentimental tear to my fine eye! It is always fun chatting and hanging out together and you know we just have to keep it up. Slainte!

Love y’all
Alice.

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February 19 Meeting at Sylvia's

 GTG Book Club met at Sylvia’s on February 19.  Lunch was a picnic theme with a sundae bar for desert.  

Discussion followed about February’s book “The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post” by Allison Pataki. The book is historical fiction about the life of Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress of Post Cereal and entrepreneur of General Foods.  Her story begins in Battle Creek, Michigan, and takes us through her rise to wealth, four marriages, hosting presidents, rescuing Russian treasurers, and her philanthropy and extensive charitable works…earning Marjorie the nickname “Lady Bountiful”.

There is significant interest by members to tour Ms. Post’s Washington, DC, home Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens. Stay tuned for a follow-up!

Sylvia

January 15 Meeting at Linda's

 The book club met Thursday at Linda’s house with 6 members present. After a lunch, the 5th book of the Alexis Forrest FBI series,  "Forest of Obsessions" by Kate Gable was discussed. While we were happy to have some closure to the mystery, we feel we’re ready to stop the series. Members can finish the series on their own if  they  so desire.  Many desserts were brought by the members and enjoyed by all along with lots of laughter. We missed those who were unable to attend.

Linda