Bookclub was great fun. We missed you, Pam.
Treats from Ireland and discussion about that beautiful land.
I wanted to share one of my favorite authors, Robyn Carr, so chose "The Family Gathering". It is the third in a series of three, the first two being "What We Find" and "Any Day Now". Carr has a Virgin River series that I have enjoyed over the years. Her characters feel like family and friends. I somehow appreciate her predictability. Therese Plummer records Carr's books and is amazing!!
We talked about the Great American Read, airing on Tuesday evenings on PBS. Link is pbs.org/greatamericanread
Carol has knee surgery October 3. We are already praying and keeping you close in thought. All will be well.
Thanks, Pat
August 16 Meeting at Sharon's
A lively discussion centered around the definition and practice of racism addressed in Jodi Picoult’s novel, small great things. We also “centered” around (we missed you, Pat) an array of food, which included chicken tenders with various sauces, a zucchini/tomato/cheese casserole, and a blackberry cobbler, along with goodies provided by others. We never go hungry! The title of the book and the heart of the story were taken from a Martin Luther King quote: “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” The thoughts and actions of a white supremacist character were disturbing enough for at least one member that she couldn’t read the chapters attributed to him (Turk). The concept of equality vs. equity was also discussed in relation to the book and in the world today. We welcomed Edna’s English cousin, Pat, who had also read the book and shared with us the issues surrounding race in England.
Sharon
Sharon
June 20 Meeting at Louisa's
The girls showed up in a terrible rainstorm. Alice, Grace, Kathy, Pam, and Pat
couldn't join us. We missed you.
Elizabeth made stuffed green pepper soup and we had Italian bread
with it. After dinner we discussed the book. Everyone enjoyed "The Heist". I
chose it because I thought it would be a fun summer read. We decided Nick was
really smart to be able to devise such elaborate cons. Edna and Carol are
reading the other books in the series. We talked about how we like Janet
Evanovich books. She usually makes you laugh.
We had dessert of vanilla butter nut cake, candy that Dricka brought,
and Rosemary's lemon bars. I surprised the girls with a box of small Toblerone
in honor of Nick who always leaves one on Kate's pillow.
Recipe for Crockpot Green Pepper Soup
Recipe for Crockpot Green Pepper Soup
Louisa
May 24 Meeting at Kathy's
Thank you everyone for coming to my book club. It was wonderful as usual. The high light of the night for Grace, Pam, Edna, Dricka and of course Rosemary, was visiting with the "twins" - our newest neighbors and Rosemary's grand babies - Ada and Conner.
Before during and after, we gathered around to catch up on all the happenings over the past month: trips, illneses, surgeries and everything else. I think we need a chart of who has what!
We then ajourned to the dinning room to partake of pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, baked beans and corn. After dinner, I gave a brief history of the typewriter since the book didn't go in to any detail. My old Smith Corona was passed around for everyone to practice on and reminisce about the good old days before computers and internet.
Sharon, Pam and myself really enjoyed "The Blind Contessa's New Machine", a novel based on the true story of a nineteenth-century inventor and his innovative contraption. I thought Carey Wallace did a amazing job describing the process of going blind and how well Carolina adapted to her new condition with imagination and total recall of her surroundings. Others weren’t thrilled with the choppiness of the story and how it went from one converstion to another. Edna didn’t care for her having an affair and ruining her and Turri’s marriage. I found it interesting that her mother said “"A girl does not have many choices. This is the most important one. There must be no whisper against your name until you are married." ...... "After you are married," her mother continued, "many things may happen. You will not speak of them. Neither will your husband, if he is a gentleman." …….. "Do you understand?" ; as if it’s OK to take on a lover but only after you are married. We all agreed that the ending was not satisfactory, perhaps this was because it was the author’s first novel. I really enjoy historic fiction and although I generally do not like books with a lot of detail, I thought this was essential to visualize ( dare I say this) what this blind Contessa was experiencing.
Next month on June 21, we will meet at Louisa’s and read “The Heist” by Janet Evanovich. I have the ebook which will be emailed soon.
Pat, Alice and Carol, we missed you guys.
Arrivederci,
KAthy G
Before during and after, we gathered around to catch up on all the happenings over the past month: trips, illneses, surgeries and everything else. I think we need a chart of who has what!
We then ajourned to the dinning room to partake of pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, baked beans and corn. After dinner, I gave a brief history of the typewriter since the book didn't go in to any detail. My old Smith Corona was passed around for everyone to practice on and reminisce about the good old days before computers and internet.
Sharon, Pam and myself really enjoyed "The Blind Contessa's New Machine", a novel based on the true story of a nineteenth-century inventor and his innovative contraption. I thought Carey Wallace did a amazing job describing the process of going blind and how well Carolina adapted to her new condition with imagination and total recall of her surroundings. Others weren’t thrilled with the choppiness of the story and how it went from one converstion to another. Edna didn’t care for her having an affair and ruining her and Turri’s marriage. I found it interesting that her mother said “"A girl does not have many choices. This is the most important one. There must be no whisper against your name until you are married." ...... "After you are married," her mother continued, "many things may happen. You will not speak of them. Neither will your husband, if he is a gentleman." …….. "Do you understand?" ; as if it’s OK to take on a lover but only after you are married. We all agreed that the ending was not satisfactory, perhaps this was because it was the author’s first novel. I really enjoy historic fiction and although I generally do not like books with a lot of detail, I thought this was essential to visualize ( dare I say this) what this blind Contessa was experiencing.
Next month on June 21, we will meet at Louisa’s and read “The Heist” by Janet Evanovich. I have the ebook which will be emailed soon.
Pat, Alice and Carol, we missed you guys.
Arrivederci,
KAthy G
April 19 Meeting at Rosemary's
GTG book club met at Rosemary's home on Thursday, April 19, 2018.
We enjoyed a dinner of chicken parmigiana, salad, spaghetti (made with my
recipe and not the one mentioned in the book). Somehow nutmeg in my Italian
sauce was beyond my culinary exploration. I am sure it is good in some parts
of Italy. After dinner we discussed the book chosen, "Kiss Carlo" written by
Adriana Trigiani. The story was primarily set in South Philly in an Italian
neighborhood post WW II, early 1950s, and focused on family conflicts, dreams,
and emotional vendetta's.
The storyline centered around the main character "Nicky Castone", with his
many conflicts within himself, romantically, as well as trying to discover the
meaning of his life and his identity within "la famiglia".
Most of us agreed that the book was well written but had too many spinoff
plots and the writer may have gotten three books out of the over 500 page
novel. Having read several of Adriana Trigiani's books and the fact it was
written around an Italian family theme and background was the reason I chose
the book. I enjoyed reading about the many characters and family situations,
I just didn't like it as much as others I've read by her.
We missed Pat,Pam, Alice and Grace.
See you ladies at the next bookclub meeting at Kathy's.
Thanks for coming,
Rosemary
