"I meant what I said and I said what I meant.... an elephant's faithful -- one hundred percent!" This was the beginning of a delightful read of "Water for Elephants." Everyone agreed that they liked the book and gave it a rating of 3 out of 5. It covered a variety of topics including treatment in nursing homes, growing old, life in the circus, family taking care of their own - "Take a chance a piece" (I'm not sure I got that phrase right), running away, dealing with abuse, love, sex and insanity; I think it covered just about everything. I especially like the excerpt Roe read about growing old and seeing the "Appalachian apple doll" in the mirror and it made me smile when at 90 something, he ran away to join the circus. One of those things everyone says and very few do because the circus is actually kinda creepy.
After our book discussion we listed all the books that will be read this year. We did agree that next time we will announce books up to 2 months prior to our hosting the bookclub rather than having a list set up at the beginning of the year.
Welcome to Pat Fogel our old / new member.
Louisa handed out yummy smelling bookmarks. It was a nice change after discussing nursing homes and getting old. I feel like a little kid again.
I will email everyone an address and phone list of all the members. Please let me know If there are any corrections. I won't post it on the blog site for security reasons.
Both Grace and I contacted the library and ask them to set aside our book selections for the month. Please contact Bernadette Whalen at the Martinsburg Public Library one month before you host the meeting. You can email her at bwhalen@martin.lib.wv.us. Check the the library web site first to see how many books are available at http://www.youseemore.com/MartinsburgBerkeley.
Please send me your top 2 choices for the books we read last year. Summary of Books Read 2009 - 2010 is listed under Books Read in this blog. I will announce the results at the November meeting.
Next month we will read "Stiff - the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" by Mary Roach and meet at my house on November 18. Don't be too creeped out by the title.
Happy Halloween
KAthy G
September 16 Meeting at Sharon's
Tonight we conclude our 2nd year of "Good Time Girls Book Club". We're read quite an assortment of books over these past two years and I look forward to reading some more.
Sharon greeted all her soggy guests with wine and cheer because it finally rained. Praise Allah! After the usual catching up of events over the past month, we were treated to baked chicken, zucchini & rice, salad and Chapati bread.
Now we come to the main purpose of our meeting - to discuss the book we read (right girls??) --"Three Cups of Tea" about Greg Mortenson. He’s an incredibly likable guy, with a passion to fulfill his promise to build schools for Pakistan girls. All agreed he's a driven individual who's sacrificed family, health and personal gain but I had to admit I didn't like the book. I thought the author had too many jabs against Americans, he thought that Mortenson could single-handedly solve the problems for these people and "everyone wasn't doing their fare share" and it just made me mad, but I'm not sorry I read this book.
OK, now to the business part of our meeting. Grace passed around a sign up sheet to host next year's book-club meetings. Next meeting all members need to present their book titles. We decided not to change any of the rules, however, if we do not like the length of a book we will conduct a "bitch session" at that meeting. A list of all members current information will be passed out at the next meeting. Grace will contact the library to try to hold books for our meetings.
Sorry to say, Gayle decide to opt out of our bookclub to pursue her singing career. We will miss her. She always read the books and then some! Edna will ask Nora Porterfield to take Gayle's place.
Our next meeting will be at Grace's house on Oct 28 and we will read "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen.
Good night Gracie,
KAthy G
Sharon greeted all her soggy guests with wine and cheer because it finally rained. Praise Allah! After the usual catching up of events over the past month, we were treated to baked chicken, zucchini & rice, salad and Chapati bread.
Now we come to the main purpose of our meeting - to discuss the book we read (right girls??) --"Three Cups of Tea" about Greg Mortenson. He’s an incredibly likable guy, with a passion to fulfill his promise to build schools for Pakistan girls. All agreed he's a driven individual who's sacrificed family, health and personal gain but I had to admit I didn't like the book. I thought the author had too many jabs against Americans, he thought that Mortenson could single-handedly solve the problems for these people and "everyone wasn't doing their fare share" and it just made me mad, but I'm not sorry I read this book.
OK, now to the business part of our meeting. Grace passed around a sign up sheet to host next year's book-club meetings. Next meeting all members need to present their book titles. We decided not to change any of the rules, however, if we do not like the length of a book we will conduct a "bitch session" at that meeting. A list of all members current information will be passed out at the next meeting. Grace will contact the library to try to hold books for our meetings.
Sorry to say, Gayle decide to opt out of our bookclub to pursue her singing career. We will miss her. She always read the books and then some! Edna will ask Nora Porterfield to take Gayle's place.
Our next meeting will be at Grace's house on Oct 28 and we will read "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen.
Good night Gracie,
KAthy G
August 26 Meeting at Linda's
Well fiddle dee dee, Here we are at "Terror".
After nimbling cheese and crackers and dipping Jumbo Shrimp, Harlot and Rat Marrissa, the French side of Scarlett's family, presented a Southern repast of "Poke" chop, "sweeeet" potato with pecans, wonderful mashed potato and green beans cooked with country ham.
We all sauntered on the the veranda with our meals complete with several bottles of wine. After all were quite full, Linda commenced the discussion of Scarlett. Pam thought she was a terrible mother who neglected her children. Linda defended her as being a Southern woman who did what she thought was in their "best interest". Scarlett was said to be childish, selfish, naive but a good business woman. Those who read "Gone with the Wind" agreed that it was by far a better book but Alexandra Ripley did a decent job of continuing the saga of "Scarlett".
Sharon then introduced her book -- "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson to be read for the next meeting on September 16.
Please think about when you want to host bookclub next year and your suggested book.
Rekon, we'll see y'all next month.
KAthy G
After nimbling cheese and crackers and dipping Jumbo Shrimp, Harlot and Rat Marrissa, the French side of Scarlett's family, presented a Southern repast of "Poke" chop, "sweeeet" potato with pecans, wonderful mashed potato and green beans cooked with country ham.
We all sauntered on the the veranda with our meals complete with several bottles of wine. After all were quite full, Linda commenced the discussion of Scarlett. Pam thought she was a terrible mother who neglected her children. Linda defended her as being a Southern woman who did what she thought was in their "best interest". Scarlett was said to be childish, selfish, naive but a good business woman. Those who read "Gone with the Wind" agreed that it was by far a better book but Alexandra Ripley did a decent job of continuing the saga of "Scarlett".
Sharon then introduced her book -- "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson to be read for the next meeting on September 16.
Please think about when you want to host bookclub next year and your suggested book.
Rekon, we'll see y'all next month.
KAthy G
July 15 Meeting at Louisa's
After our picnic of crab dip, Cobb salad and fruit cup, Louisa told us how the book "Twilight" was born. Stephenie Meyer had a very vivid dream about two people having an intense conversation in a meadow in the woods, one was your average girl and the other a fantastically beautiful, sparkly vampire and they were falling in love. You read the book so you know how it all turns out, or do you. You'll need to read the entire series to find out!
Louisa asked us several questions which elicit responses from everyone. We discussed how Meyer’s vampires had traits different than those of Hollywood and no one was particularly interested in living forever. Most liked the book. I though it was a great book for teenagers, it was a simple read which encouraged book reading and it also introduced abstinence in a different light.
“Twilight, again. Another ending. No matter how perfect the day is, it always has to end.“(Edward) and thus our meeting concluded.
Next month we will meet at Linda’s house sans her porches.(you had to be there) We will read "Scarlett: the Sequel to Gone with the Wind" by Alexandra Ripley and meet on the Fourth Thursday - August 26. We will also need to set up a new schedule for next year, so think about what month you want to host and what book you would like to introduce.
Don’t forget Berkeley Bells will be performing at War Memorial Park on August 19 at 7:00.
Click here for more info on the headless chicken.
Ok girls, pleasant dreams and I hope someone has a good one that turns into a best seller.
KAthy G
June 17 Meeting at Pam's
Well tonight we really got into the book - "The Help" by Katherine Stockett. First we had our dinner which was wonderful. Pam set out brie, apples and dips and crackers, chips, then chicken salad and very good cheese bread and wine.
Edna announced that she signed us up (the Good Time Girls Book Club) to create an "artist pallet" for next years Wine and Arts Festival. Any ideas and suggestions are appreciated.
After dinner we started our discussion about the book - The Help. Pam asked several very pertinent questions and we did our best to answer. First, who had a black maid? Linda who lived down south enlightened us with what it was like living in the South before, during and after the Civil Rights Movement. Roe told us what it was like to be a minority in her New Jersey School. Ellen elaborated on how things were in West Virginia and just about everyone had a story to tell. Alice equated parts of the book to “To Kill a Mocking Bird”. Edna said her daddy had a black maid who help raised him. I recalled events in my life when black people were coming into our school and how it affected us. This was a most interesting book to review since we all lived through this era. It really hit home.
As Linda mentioned, here is the web site for Katie Couric's interview with Katherine Stockett and two book clubs. It's long, about an hour.
Click HERE
After the discussion we had Ellen’s birthday cake with ice cream and fruit. Several books were shared.
Next meeting will be at Louisa’s house and we will read “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer.
Have a wonderful summer and see y'all in a month.
KAthy G
Edna announced that she signed us up (the Good Time Girls Book Club) to create an "artist pallet" for next years Wine and Arts Festival. Any ideas and suggestions are appreciated.
After dinner we started our discussion about the book - The Help. Pam asked several very pertinent questions and we did our best to answer. First, who had a black maid? Linda who lived down south enlightened us with what it was like living in the South before, during and after the Civil Rights Movement. Roe told us what it was like to be a minority in her New Jersey School. Ellen elaborated on how things were in West Virginia and just about everyone had a story to tell. Alice equated parts of the book to “To Kill a Mocking Bird”. Edna said her daddy had a black maid who help raised him. I recalled events in my life when black people were coming into our school and how it affected us. This was a most interesting book to review since we all lived through this era. It really hit home.
As Linda mentioned, here is the web site for Katie Couric's interview with Katherine Stockett and two book clubs. It's long, about an hour.
Click HERE
After the discussion we had Ellen’s birthday cake with ice cream and fruit. Several books were shared.
Next meeting will be at Louisa’s house and we will read “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer.
Have a wonderful summer and see y'all in a month.
KAthy G
May 20 Meeting at Gayle's
Tonight we assembled at Gayle's house once again to discuss our book, but unlike those in "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" we were free to assemble and not under any threat. We are very lucky.
Gayle set up a "lovely" tray of cucumber sandwiches among other English treats. She made two versions of Potato Peel Pie complete with potato peels. It was all very good so I'm sure it did not compare to what those on Guernsey had to eat during the war. For dessert we had lemon bars and English Short Bread from a shop in NYC - all very lovely.
After dinner, Gayle asked several pertinent questions relating to the book and a varied discussion commenced. Of course topics strayed to illegal aliens, empty nest syndrome and then back to the book to discuss the characters and what is was like during the war to send children away to strangers to protect them. All liked the book and the epistolary style with the exception of Grace who just couldn't get into it. And that is what is great about our group, we are not "sheeple".
Next month we will assemble at Pam's House after reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.
Bon Voyage to Ellen who is going on a cruise.
See you all in a month if not sooner,
KAthy G
Please read the Biography of Mary Ann Shaffer born in Martinsburg, WV in Comments above. (Thanks Sharon)
Gayle set up a "lovely" tray of cucumber sandwiches among other English treats. She made two versions of Potato Peel Pie complete with potato peels. It was all very good so I'm sure it did not compare to what those on Guernsey had to eat during the war. For dessert we had lemon bars and English Short Bread from a shop in NYC - all very lovely.
After dinner, Gayle asked several pertinent questions relating to the book and a varied discussion commenced. Of course topics strayed to illegal aliens, empty nest syndrome and then back to the book to discuss the characters and what is was like during the war to send children away to strangers to protect them. All liked the book and the epistolary style with the exception of Grace who just couldn't get into it. And that is what is great about our group, we are not "sheeple".
Next month we will assemble at Pam's House after reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.
Bon Voyage to Ellen who is going on a cruise.
See you all in a month if not sooner,
KAthy G
Please read the Biography of Mary Ann Shaffer born in Martinsburg, WV in Comments above. (Thanks Sharon)
