"The cure for anything is saltwater...sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen
A wonderful time was had by all.
We missed you Louisa.
September 22 - 26 Meeting at Pat's Beach House
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande is a life changing look at the issues and concerns of illness, aging, living, and dying. It sparked meaningful and emotional discussion for our group. ...appropriate that we shared this book at the beach.
"The cure for anything is saltwater...sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen
A wonderful time was had by all.
We missed you Louisa.
"The cure for anything is saltwater...sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen
A wonderful time was had by all.
We missed you Louisa.
August 25 Meeting at Carol's
Canceled, all members on vacation or otherwise engaged. "Roses" by Leila Meacham will be discussed in September Meeting.
June 16 Meeting at Rosemary's
Book club met at Rosemary 's on Wednesday, June 16th. The book, "Tumbleweeds" by Leila Meacham, was discussed after dining on sandwiches,
salads. Most everyone enjoyed the book about the three main characters,
Cathy, John, and Trey, and the events that greatly impacted their lives. The
authors previous novel, "Roses" was mentioned and regarded as one of her better
ones as compared to "Tumbleweeds". Carol Mason decided to choose "Roses" as her
August book club selection.
The discussion of the book concluded with various desserts. We missed
Pat, Sharon and Grace, and look forward to our next Book club meeting at Pam's
home on July 21.
Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable summer.
Rosemary
May 26 Meeting at Carol's with Alice hosting
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by S. Ryan Stradal
A review and summary by Alice McCarthy
I saw this book at the South Jefferson Library in Summit Point (what a gem of a place, check it out sometime) and it jumped into my hand. I read a page of two, and then saw recipes sprinkled here and there, I was hooked. (Like Momma’s Carrot Cake and the Onion Soup, yum).
It’s a mysterious story about Chef Eva Thorvald that moves forward from birth to adulthood in a not always completing the details style that was disconcerting and confusing to some….well, I liked it! Also, there is keen detail on the modern take on food: using specific varieties of tomatoes and corn, wine pairings for specific meats and fish; an adventure catching the perfect fish, and red pepper jelly/growing hot peppers, and serving that Caesar Salad.
My favorite chapter was on the Bar Cookies~ what a hoot! (Sooo typical of those Midwest ladies, have seen it before with my own eyes at the 4-H Fair and County Fair in Princeton, IL where I spent time every summer, 100 west of Chicago. Yes, in the midst of flat land and endless cornfields and big gardens and canning food and freezers full of beef).
And all this taking place and literally imagined (cause writers write what they know) out of where the author grew up in Minnesota, Iowa, and Chicago plus that fabulous isolated locale for the fine dining ending amazing 7 course meal…. And Eva’s mom showing up at the end…..
The title pulled me in since I grew up in the various locations in the Midwest, too: born in Iowa City, IA; Tiskawa, IL; and Cincinnati, OH.
And when I took my own boys there, to the family farm in Illinois, they hated it! (They loved going into big city Chicago for the Cubs baseball games and to see the aquarium. That’s the way it goes!)
Thanks Carol for the support, great kitchen table, fabulous patriotic decorated tree and the Red White and Blue color scheme. That was the best!! And in the GTG Book club, we never have to worry about our wine pairings- we drink anything! Bon appetit!
A review and summary by Alice McCarthy
I saw this book at the South Jefferson Library in Summit Point (what a gem of a place, check it out sometime) and it jumped into my hand. I read a page of two, and then saw recipes sprinkled here and there, I was hooked. (Like Momma’s Carrot Cake and the Onion Soup, yum).
It’s a mysterious story about Chef Eva Thorvald that moves forward from birth to adulthood in a not always completing the details style that was disconcerting and confusing to some….well, I liked it! Also, there is keen detail on the modern take on food: using specific varieties of tomatoes and corn, wine pairings for specific meats and fish; an adventure catching the perfect fish, and red pepper jelly/growing hot peppers, and serving that Caesar Salad.
My favorite chapter was on the Bar Cookies~ what a hoot! (Sooo typical of those Midwest ladies, have seen it before with my own eyes at the 4-H Fair and County Fair in Princeton, IL where I spent time every summer, 100 west of Chicago. Yes, in the midst of flat land and endless cornfields and big gardens and canning food and freezers full of beef).
And all this taking place and literally imagined (cause writers write what they know) out of where the author grew up in Minnesota, Iowa, and Chicago plus that fabulous isolated locale for the fine dining ending amazing 7 course meal…. And Eva’s mom showing up at the end…..
The title pulled me in since I grew up in the various locations in the Midwest, too: born in Iowa City, IA; Tiskawa, IL; and Cincinnati, OH.
And when I took my own boys there, to the family farm in Illinois, they hated it! (They loved going into big city Chicago for the Cubs baseball games and to see the aquarium. That’s the way it goes!)
Thanks Carol for the support, great kitchen table, fabulous patriotic decorated tree and the Red White and Blue color scheme. That was the best!! And in the GTG Book club, we never have to worry about our wine pairings- we drink anything! Bon appetit!
April 21 Meeting at Kathy's
Welcome back ladies, it's a soft night to discuss "Go Set a Watchman" by Harper Lee
After I read that Harper Lee had died in February and that her “new” book is a must read, I decided that it would make a good choice for our club. However I later learned it wasn't a new book or a sequel but the draft for her Pulitzer Prize winner “To Kill a Mockingbird”. She earlier stated that she didn’t want it published but later gave permission which some think was coerced. I found it to be an educational piece since it demonstrated how a messy draft could turn into a masterpiece. "Go Set a Watchman" was a rambling essay with overly exaggerated characters and with a very negative view of the south and Southerners. Some were amiss that this draft which was not her best work was published and equated it with publishing your diary. It was not for public consumption. All in all even if some found it a bit hard to get through, we agreed that reading a variety of books is the reason we are in this book club. It's all positive even if we must read books we don't like.
We were very happy to have Sharon make it tonight and that Al is doing well. Of course we had tons of food and the dried fruit and nuts, cream cheese and pepper jelly and the main course of taco casserole were a big hit. Thanks to all who brought desserts, wine, fruit and fudge from the beach. As is our way, we had plenty to eat and really think we should rename this dinner club.
Sorry you missed it Edna and Pat.
Next month we meet at Alice's and read “Kitchens of the Great Midwwest” by J Ryan Stradal. It's about food, our favorite subject.
Cheers as I finished off the last glass of Sangria,
KAthy
After I read that Harper Lee had died in February and that her “new” book is a must read, I decided that it would make a good choice for our club. However I later learned it wasn't a new book or a sequel but the draft for her Pulitzer Prize winner “To Kill a Mockingbird”. She earlier stated that she didn’t want it published but later gave permission which some think was coerced. I found it to be an educational piece since it demonstrated how a messy draft could turn into a masterpiece. "Go Set a Watchman" was a rambling essay with overly exaggerated characters and with a very negative view of the south and Southerners. Some were amiss that this draft which was not her best work was published and equated it with publishing your diary. It was not for public consumption. All in all even if some found it a bit hard to get through, we agreed that reading a variety of books is the reason we are in this book club. It's all positive even if we must read books we don't like.
We were very happy to have Sharon make it tonight and that Al is doing well. Of course we had tons of food and the dried fruit and nuts, cream cheese and pepper jelly and the main course of taco casserole were a big hit. Thanks to all who brought desserts, wine, fruit and fudge from the beach. As is our way, we had plenty to eat and really think we should rename this dinner club.
Sorry you missed it Edna and Pat.
Next month we meet at Alice's and read “Kitchens of the Great Midwwest” by J Ryan Stradal. It's about food, our favorite subject.
Cheers as I finished off the last glass of Sangria,
KAthy
