It seems I wasn't the only one confused which day book club met this month. We
missed you Rosemary. (You too Renee.)
It was a beautiful
Wednesday evening. Everyone enjoyed catching up while having drinks and
snacks. I even had a rum drink.
My sister, Cindy, was gracious enough
to make delicious baked spaghetti for us, since I was still in my shoulder
immobilizer. Cindy and my daughter, Elizabeth, took care of dinner and the
clean up.
Everyone liked the book and Nora Ephron's humor. The best way
to age seems to be able to laugh about it. Cindy discussed her book club and how
it worked and shared what they were reading.
Thanks girls for the wine
and treats to add to the evening.
Grace presented us with wine glasses
to celebrate 5 years of "The Good Times Girls" Book Club. The glasses were
inscribed with " My book club can drink your book club under the table".
Yay us!
Louisa
August 15 Meeting at Alice's
The evening of August 15, 2013, was the monthly meeting of
the Good Time Girls and their books. It
is always important to read the right book(!) that was one lesson learned and
the other is that Spotted Dick pudding is a pretty good dessert (British); along
with layered flashy jello bites (LA) and finally Sharon’s mountaineer brownies
(WV).
The book, the correct The Midwife’s Tale by Gretchen Moran
Laskas was fine West Virginia
family story telling. I liked all the visual pictures described (the land, gardens,
herbs and interiors of houses) and the beau coups of moral dilemmas! We met Laskas last fall at Shepherd University
when she was an author in residence.
Even though Laskas left WV when she was 3 years old her grandmother’s
stories as she grew up pushed and motivated her to eventually write this book.
And I do believe in miracles. (And finding a man at the carnival is one, I
believe. I’ll keep that in mind…)
Also while we were waiting for Kathy and Pam to arrive, we
watched an episode of the PBS series Call the Midwife. It is a loving and honest peek post WWII into
center city London and yes, there was a baby boom but no worries: the young
nurse midwives teaming up with the capable Sisters of St. Raymond Nanatus have
it covered. Tonight, nurse Trixie learns
that she is vulnerable trying to find a male celebrity to host the baby
contest, nurse Jenny Lee finds out how much a mother with 8 kids will do to get
rid of her 9th baby, and elderly Sister Monica Joan is the best
judge of beautiful babies after all.
Reflections: The 3rd part was reading my sister’s
Home Births for Meg
from her own real experiences using midwives in Los Angeles, CA during the
1980’s…she was inspired to have her babies (one girl ‘80, one boy ‘85) born at
home because her good friend Linda Holland trained as a midwife after nursing
duties/ work in the Vietnam War. Linda worked in Texas
so Meg used the nearby Venice
Birth Center! “I was so grateful for the women who guided and
helped me,” Meg Davenport said at the end. So good, we had to have an encore
and read it again. And her sweet kids are all grown up now.
THANKS
everyone for being at my house. – Alice
xo
July 18 Meeting at Kathy's
It was a steamy evening with the faintest hint of summer rain, but alas it did not come. Everyone one arrived on time with the exception of Grace who made a grand entrance complete with applause. Louisa brought along our newest member-to-be Rene who I hadn't seen in, dare I say, 25 years. She looks the same and fits in well ---- she's a talker.
In keeping with the premise of the book "What Alice forgot", I asked the members if their lives have changed over the last 10 years. Compared with "Alice", I didn't think life changed dramatically for me. Edna, Pam and Louisa said their lives had a major change. Edna lost her dad who was her first major family lose since her brother, Pam's husband had a major stroke and has gone down hill ever since and Louisa who's husband's bucket needed filling or something like that. Elizabeth's heartfelt infertility problems were discussed which segued into the topic of adoption. Edna recommended "The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child" by Nancy Verrie for a incite into what is it like to be adopted. Every one seems to like the book, even those who didn't finish it. I especially liked the little twist at the end Alice was going to marry Dominique but the author created the last chapter so Alice and Nick lived happily ever after. We were all glad Alice patched things up with Nick. A nice surprise ending.
Although this is a book club we ended our meeting with dessert, of course and a discussion of trips to take this fall. We are full service.
We will meet next month at our Alice's home on August 15 and read "A Midwives Tale" by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.
Great seeing everyone, thanks for all the wine and food, welcome to the club Rene even if you won't be here next month and so sorry you missed it, Ellen. We will need to get you set up with an e-reader. Louisa will have her book available as an e-book in September. Thank you Dana Gerken for suggesting this book.
OMG where'd the lights go.........electric is off......It's 2003 all over again,
KAthy
Note: September's meeting is WEDNESDAY Sept 18
In keeping with the premise of the book "What Alice forgot", I asked the members if their lives have changed over the last 10 years. Compared with "Alice", I didn't think life changed dramatically for me. Edna, Pam and Louisa said their lives had a major change. Edna lost her dad who was her first major family lose since her brother, Pam's husband had a major stroke and has gone down hill ever since and Louisa who's husband's bucket needed filling or something like that. Elizabeth's heartfelt infertility problems were discussed which segued into the topic of adoption. Edna recommended "The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child" by Nancy Verrie for a incite into what is it like to be adopted. Every one seems to like the book, even those who didn't finish it. I especially liked the little twist at the end Alice was going to marry Dominique but the author created the last chapter so Alice and Nick lived happily ever after. We were all glad Alice patched things up with Nick. A nice surprise ending.
Although this is a book club we ended our meeting with dessert, of course and a discussion of trips to take this fall. We are full service.
We will meet next month at our Alice's home on August 15 and read "A Midwives Tale" by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.
Great seeing everyone, thanks for all the wine and food, welcome to the club Rene even if you won't be here next month and so sorry you missed it, Ellen. We will need to get you set up with an e-reader. Louisa will have her book available as an e-book in September. Thank you Dana Gerken for suggesting this book.
OMG where'd the lights go.........electric is off......It's 2003 all over again,
KAthy
Note: September's meeting is WEDNESDAY Sept 18
June 20 Meeting at Ellen's
Bookclub review of The Quickie, by James Patterson at
Ellen's house.
Kathy, Drika, Edna and Ellen went swimming, the water was cold but we persevered. Rosemary, Pam, Grace, Louisa came at 6:00. We had snacks and of course wine, Grace had ginger ale and still got woozie. After dinner we reviewed the book with desert and coffee and tea. Everybody seemed to like the book. It was not a quickie, it was quite complicated but it was an easy read and that is what we all seemed to like.
Ellen
Kathy, Drika, Edna and Ellen went swimming, the water was cold but we persevered. Rosemary, Pam, Grace, Louisa came at 6:00. We had snacks and of course wine, Grace had ginger ale and still got woozie. After dinner we reviewed the book with desert and coffee and tea. Everybody seemed to like the book. It was not a quickie, it was quite complicated but it was an easy read and that is what we all seemed to like.
Ellen
May 23 Meeting at Sharon's
The book club's Fit and Flexible Fab Five - Kathy, Ellen,
Drika, Luisa, and I - met for the rescheduled May book club meeting. We were
happy to later be joined by Alice, who came after dinner with her mother,
Dorothy, on their way home from a school piano recital. The menu was simple with
sloppy joes and salad topped off with a host of yummy desserts, thanks to those
who attended.
After the horrific story told in last month's book, everyone seemed relieved to be reading about the quiet life of an 80-year-old widow in Pittsburgh. All of us could see parts of Emily in people we know, even in ourselves at times. We were impressed that the author, a man, wrote so well about the thoughts and day-to-day activities of an old woman. Since we've come to expect sudden crises or plot twists in novels, this story was refreshingly different in that it depicted an ordinary character in an ordinary situation – no big surprises. We agreed that Emily was heroic in a sense. She was able to change her life, become more independent, and discover the hidden strength to accept and endure a world that has moved beyond the memories of her generation.
After the horrific story told in last month's book, everyone seemed relieved to be reading about the quiet life of an 80-year-old widow in Pittsburgh. All of us could see parts of Emily in people we know, even in ourselves at times. We were impressed that the author, a man, wrote so well about the thoughts and day-to-day activities of an old woman. Since we've come to expect sudden crises or plot twists in novels, this story was refreshingly different in that it depicted an ordinary character in an ordinary situation – no big surprises. We agreed that Emily was heroic in a sense. She was able to change her life, become more independent, and discover the hidden strength to accept and endure a world that has moved beyond the memories of her generation.
Ellen says next month’s book, The Quickie, by James
Patterson, is another easy, entertaining read. Looks like we’re on a roll!
Grace, Edna, Pam, and Rosemary – we missed you.
--
Sharon Henderson
Sharon Henderson
April 25 Meeting at Pam's
Sorry I'm late getting this blog written. It's been a busy month.
We had a dinner of chicken salad, fresh bakery bread, shrimp and lots of desserts. Thank you all for your contributions. The "Orphan Master's Son" was rather controversial. It was enjoyed by some and disliked by others. However, that's the best thing to happen in a book club. We aren't going to like the same things and it was a distressing story. Alice had brought several articles concerning the book and author, which really added to the conversation. I think everyone had a good time. Next year I'll remember to have my Grandson put the leaves in my table so we aren't cramped.
The book for next month is "Emily Alone" by Stewart O'Nann. Please get your copy and enjoy a good story. It will be at Sharon's on May 16th. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Pam
We had a dinner of chicken salad, fresh bakery bread, shrimp and lots of desserts. Thank you all for your contributions. The "Orphan Master's Son" was rather controversial. It was enjoyed by some and disliked by others. However, that's the best thing to happen in a book club. We aren't going to like the same things and it was a distressing story. Alice had brought several articles concerning the book and author, which really added to the conversation. I think everyone had a good time. Next year I'll remember to have my Grandson put the leaves in my table so we aren't cramped.
The book for next month is "Emily Alone" by Stewart O'Nann. Please get your copy and enjoy a good story. It will be at Sharon's on May 16th. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Pam
