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

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

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.

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

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

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