March 21 Meeting at Dricka's

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

The book dealt with loneliness and because of it, there are times

of feeling isolated.

I felt the characters in this book felt at times so alone.  This loneliness

was more than a person can sometimes deal with, so they sought out

someone who they felt could understand their need to confide with to

make them feel they weren't alone.  John Singer was that person.

John Singer who was deaf and had things he couldn't cope with.

So when his closest friend died, he felt he couldn't deal with his loss,

so he took his own life.  Maybe if he could talk to the same people

who sought his friendship and confidence, he too would have

someone who could give him the comfort he gave others.

I know most everyone wasn't happy with this book, but maybe we could 

understand after reading the book the need  some people have to

be comforted by someone else.

I enjoyed the girls in  my home and preparing an evening that

I hope you all enjoyed.

love, Dricka 

February 21 (Oliver's birthday) at Roe's

Bookclub at Roe’s.    The first to arrive was Kathy, Louisa and Nancy.   Kathy bought with her news of her first grandchild, a son born to William and Dana, born 2/21/13, named Oliver William Gerken, 7 lb, 4 oz., in Kentucky.   Kathy was beaming and we are all so thrilled for all of them.    Exciting and great news!    Baby, mom and dad are doing very well.    Glad to hear that Ryan and Dana’s triplets, all over 3 pounds, (2 boys, 1 girl), doing well with expectations of delivery around end of March.   Nancy soon to be a grandma, (hope knee gets better and your shoulder also, Louisa).

The rest of the group came shortly after, and offered congratulations to the new “grandlady” Kathy. 

I  announced the recent engagement of my son Adam and Kim, wedding to follow sometime next year.  Can’t wait!   After much toasting, laughter, baby talk, photo sharing we went ahead and enjoyed (I hope they enjoyed), taco soup, corn bread, salad.   

Clear the table, throw the dishes in the dishwaster, get the coffee and tea started (watch stove burner, so you don’t burn the house down, thanks Pam) and let’s talk about the book.

Remember  it is “bookclub”.   The book,”Dear Cary”, My life with Cary,” written by Dyan Cannon, his 4^th wife.   The book was enjoyed by most of us.   Ellen mentioned she had listened to an interview with Dyan shortly after his death (1986) and it was very unfavorable to him.   The interview I saw was many years after his death, and after she wrote the book in 2011.   It was more positive and painted a better picture of the Hollywood legend.   He was domineering, controlling and persuasive in getting her to try LSD.   Comments were made that Dyan seemed to be a strong personality and in control of her life until she became involved with him.  She tried to please him to the point she experimented with this life changing drug and became more submissive.  I found it was a good biography of Cary, and even more so of Dyan Cannon.   She commented during her interview in 2011, that while she was hurting and at the bottom, one can change their life, by finding the love inside themselves and realizing that because one has been hurt they can still heal, finding their inner strength, not turning to drugs, alcohol, but to those we love and who love us.   Not an easy task but one she managed to accomplish.    Discussion about Cary Grant’s movie's followed, among the favorites, “An Affair to Remember”, “North by Northwest”, one of my favorites, “Charades”, so many.    I know he was controlling, and not always pleasant, but he had the “presence” and the “Charisma”and in my mind and in many, a true movie idol.  

Along the lines of nostalgia, Grace mentioned some old timers and favorite movies, let’s not forget, “BackStreet”- Susan Hayward and John Gavin,  a favorite movie of Grace’s, Drika, myself and others.  We went on an old movie journey, discussing Rock Hudson, Deborah Kerr, Jane Wyman, and on and on. 

We took a breather, and moved along after the book discussion to have dessert, pastries, Choc. Chip cookies, brownies, cheesecake, and dark chocolates (we had to have something healthy).

We toasted Kathy’s grandson, Oliver, Adam and Kim’s engagement and also friendship.  Another toast, but heck, an excuse for more wine.  

The next book will be “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter “ by Carson Mccullough, and that will be at Drika’s home in March.  Sharon, we missed you.

I want to thank all of you for coming, for reading my book selection, for eating my meal.  Note to self, keep the cheesecake, loved the soup, but next year, it will be “Italian”.  

In closing, the words of another great personality, Red Skelton,  MAY GOD BLESS!

Love you ladies

         Roe

January 17 Meeting at Edna's

"And Merry Christmas, everyone" 

Yes, you read it correctly.  It was not "Christmas with Tiny Tim" or "Christmas with the Kranks"; but our "Christmas in January" book club dinner/meeting had just as much going for it!!
Everyone seemed to enjoy listening to the Christmas music playing on the tree and the gum drop lights in the kitchen!  I must admit I am glad I left it all up so that I could celebrate with my friends and fellow readers!!! 

The evening had a great send off with an old favorite: bourbon slush! After slushing our way through our snacks (something had to be used to suck up the bourbon); we retired to the dining room where we feasted in true Christmas fashion!!

Our discussion of the book "The Middle Place"  turned out better than I had anticipated.  I shared with the group how the book had seemed to call to me because of the breast cancer theme and because of the family dynamics. Several others also had experiences similar to this.  Louisa spoke how  eerie it was that her daughter is experiencing some of the same feelings now that she is dealing with her Dad's cancer.

The middle place, where childhood and parenthood overlap, seemed to strike a chord in several other members as well.  Nancy said how coming to the  meeting was an oasis of peace for her right now as she is sandwiched between the worry over her son and daughter-in-law's pregnancy and taking care of her Mother.  Everyone had some comment to share that brought more discussion. Some people had a hard time getting through the book and found it repetitious but most everyone felt that it had a lot of good writing in it. 

I found the story more upbeat than a downer.  I thought the way it was written was more humorous than your typical cancer story.  And the e-mails in the book written to her friends keeping them updated on her progress reminded me of the reason why I am in such a great book club with such a great group of people!!! Here's to many more such gatherings!!!  And so we go on to next month, Feb. 21st at Roe's house where we will dissect Cary Grant!!!

Until then adieu, dear friends!!
Love, Edna

A special thanks to all for their lovely food and wine contributions.  Kathy's  rutabaga was an interesting addition!!!
Sorry about Alice's Dad.  We understand why you did not feel like coming out.
Missed you also, Ellen and Pam!!

November 15 Meeting at Nancy's

Over the river and through "The Woods" to Nancy's house we go. We all enjoyed a nice meal and great discussion of "The Language of Flowers".  It's hard to imagine a bad evening with the Good Time Girls. I am thankful this Thanksgiving for being able to be a part of such a wonderful group of ladies.

 Everyone said they liked the book.  We discussed the potential seen in Victoria as a child and as a mother. She had an amazing ability to speak the language of flowers to her customers; a premarital counselor, of sorts. Her life, in and out of foster homes, caused her to struggle with the meaning of family; with Elizabeth, with Grant, and with her own newborn daughter.

 The importance of food was evident in Victoria's everyday life, whether hungry or gorged. It was more than just nourishment.

 We agreed that Victoria is a survivor, wise and strong. She finally learned to ask forgiveness and experience true love and mercy. If I may quote a wise person we all know and love (Pam): "We'd all be in sorry shape if we only got what we deserved".  Well said!

 My wish for this group is a big bouquet of freesia!!



Nancy

October 18 Meeting at Grace's

"Well Here I Go”

 First let me say I love you girls and how much I enjoy our times together, congratulations to us on starting our Fifth year.

We had a wonderful evening as usual, great friends, great book, great minds. The general consensus is that everyone seemed to enjoy the book.  And what never ceases to amaze me is how we can discuss anything. 

“The Invisible Thread”

“An old Chinese Proverb” An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet – regardless of time, place and circumstance.  The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break.  We discussed how this proverb holds true in our own lives. 

When asked “what would you do if you were Laura” some said they would have helped, others felt that there are panhandlers out there that really don’t need the help.

Laura felt that somehow her mother was instrumental in making her turn back to Maurice that day he asked for money on the street.  At first she walked away but something in her made her turn back. Her turning back to help this young man also helped her.  They were both missing something in their lives.  They developed a lifelong relationship that not everyone has the privilege of experiencing. 

We discussed how when Laura was growing up the times dictated how woman would just put up with their lives because so many were dependent on their spouse and would not make any waves.  I think that is what made Laura a stronger person.  It took her awhile but she finally did take up for herself against her husband Michael.  She truly loved him but he did not love her enough in return to give her the one thing she wanted most out of life and that was to have her own family and to be a mother.

It is amazing how the things we take for granted were so important to Maurice - simple things like having a brown bag lunch and a family dinner at a large table with people who cared and loved each other.

I am tired of writing now.  I hope this will do.  Kathy do whatever to edit this.   

“Whew I am done until next year."

Grace

Sepember 20 Meeting at Louisa's

Fall is creeping slowly our way.  There is a coolness in the air and light is fading but we have book club tonight and our lively bunch of women have gathered once again, so let's get our glass of wine and toast to all that is good.  First of all a big fat congrats to Edna who doesn't require chemo....YEH!!!!!! and Roe's mom-in-law just turned 90.  Good job Evelyn!

Louisa is making the most of  her retirement.  She laid out a wonderful assortment of treats for tonight, mostly lots of wine from her retirement parties and baked huge potatoes which we topped with all sorts of ingredients, just too good.  She also made her "world famous oatmeal butter cookies" - yum yum

OK we are done with the eating part of our meeting, on to the discussion of Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Louisa picked this book because it was a big hit with the kids at school and then became a must read for adults as well.  Rue and Katniss were the favorite characters. Rue who added tenderness to a very brutal story and Katniss because she represents a positive, strong and smart model for teenage girls.  Louise posed several questions to reveal the contents of this saga.  It's entertaining, and incredibly disturbing all at once.  Despite the many alarming images, there is little if any gratuitous gore. The descriptions emphasize the horrible plight of the tributes and the gross desensitization of the Capitol dwellers. Although it is fiction there is a lot of scary truth to the story ie government control over our lives. It's happening now with the likes of NYC mayor's proposed ban on the sale of large sodas in the city.   Where will it end? Having seen the movie, I was quite please that the movie pretty much followed the book.  The book does however give a lot of context as to how the characters feel and how things have come to be the way they are. I will read the rest of the trilogy because I am interested and hoping that this world gets turned around.

Next month we begin our fifth year of our book club.  We passed around a sign up sheet to host the 2012 - 2013 meetings .  We will lose one of our members. Pat Fogle emailed us earlier this month and opted out of the club, so we now have an opening.  We will miss you Pat. We will either fill the vacancy or go out to dinner on the open month.

Grace will host the October 18 meeting on Louisa's big 60th birthday. We will read "The Invisible Thread" by Laura Schroff. Alas, Louisa won't be there, she'll be out celebrating with her daughter.

I have a suggestion for this upcoming year.  I would like to give each member a chance to write their description of the book they have chosen.  I have been writing the blog over the years but feel that you are only given my take on the book and the discussion that follows.  I know I don't always agree with your point of view and now you have the opportunity to express yourself.

Starting with October, that means you, Grace, can write the blog after the meeting.  I can send instructions on how to post the blog through emails or you can simply send the "manuscript" to me and I will post it.  I will update the blog to make all the necessary changes.

I will post next years schedule ASAP.  Please send me your book title when you've decided what book you would like us to read.

Take care and keep reading,
Kathy G