I was planning on doing something simple tonight so our book club meetings could be considered casual. I never really expected hot dogs to be such a big hit. Who knew? So glad many were pleasantly surprised to have a cookout and the weather cooperated. I’m sorry you missed it Ellen, the weather man was wrong again. In addition to hot dogs we indulged in Bourbon Slush and Hoppin John as a compliment to our book "Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl".
I think I picked a good one. This autobiographical book generated a variety of topics to discuss. Harriet Jacobs aka Linda Brent‘s condemned slavery mostly because slaves were considered property. Carol pointed out that in Elizabethan England woman were considered their husband’s property. This has been a theme though out history where man possessed absolute control over others, as Rosemary commented “it's human nature”.
After Linda was freed she faced another obstacle, prejudice, which generated another flurry of discussion. Back when we grew up there was segregation and it was the accepted way of life. Over the years things changed, integration started with some major obstacles. Today some things are better and others not so much, like hate crimes which generated yet another discussion.
After completing our book discussion, I announced next moth’s book club selection – “Skinny Dip” by Carl Hiaasen hosted by Louisa on June 19. Grace then distributed her Creamsicle-Shooters and the next phase of our book club commenced – Dessert. We had an assortment: Roe’s brownies, Dricka’s lemon coconut bars, fruit cocktail and angel food cake.
Our book tonight "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by Harriet Ann Jacobs was made possible through Project Gutenberg. This is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works….. As of March 2014, Project Gutenberg claimed over 45,000 items in its collection.
Thanks girls, I had a really good time tonight.
KAthy G
April 16 meeting at Sharon’s
“Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver was the book discussed at my house. First, the group enjoyed (I hope) a dinner representative of the book’s butterflies and their native home: Mexican enchilada pie and cupcakes from Dolly’s bakery festooned with butterflies. Kathy’s homemade peeps were a treat, as well as Ellen’s brownies and Dricka’s cavatelli. We also enjoyed chocolates from the Greenbrier that Louisa brought back from her luxurious stay. The big news was the recent engagement of Rosemary’s son, Frankie. We missed having Grace and Alice in attendance
Before we got too high on sugar and wine, we talked about
the book, which most seemed to like. Edna felt that the title of the book
symbolized Dellarobia’s desire to flee to another life, as well as the flight of
the butterflies. We felt that her future was closely tied to the butterflies
and that she probably would not have sought a different future if the events
caused by their appearance hadn’t happened. Readers commented that they liked
the depth of the characters and their relationships with each other. The focus
on climate change bothered some, but they still appreciated the overall story.
We talked about the poor circumstances of Dellarobia’s family and the culture
that kept them impoverished: “Sports. That’s huge, a kid can shine if he’s good
at football or baseball. Probably get a job later on in the bank or something
like that.” We all had great hopes for Dellarobia and her son in their new
life.
As expected with this group, the evening was spirited and upbeat.
After you left, Al commented, “you girls sure seemed to be having a good time.”
– how true!
Sharon
March 20 Meeting at Alice's
Limerick and a
fine Summary
There once was a bookish type named Alice
Book: McCarthy’s Bar
by Pete McCarthy (2004)
Celebrating AC or the birth of child is a splendid reason to drink on a weeknight
Celebrating AC or the birth of child is a splendid reason to drink on a weeknight
There once was a bookish type named Alice
Who opened the doors to her Irish palace
The chatty lasses felt no pain
As they knocked back pink champagne
McCarthy’s Bar? Are you blind?… Don’t you see all the empty
glasses?!
Thank you all for attempting to read or God Bless you now,
for reading all about Ireland, everything you wanted to know and didn’t, and
laughing where applicable. We missed you Ellen, this was an all out hooley at
my house (next year, okay?)
This a sentimental choice picked off the bookshelf from the
Irish Anam Cara Gaelic soul that lives at my house, it is a whole collection of
stories from the countryside of west County Cork, Ireland. I really felt it would take a certain kind of
patience and sense of humor to stick with the long winding details of Pete’s
true gift of gab. Ah, he is a delight…a
chip off the block of his beloved mother from Drimoleage.
It was a guy’s story but had wide appeal since it was a
number one bestseller in England and Ireland. Blast from the past/ a great
memory: It is amazing to have been in
West Cork in 1997 for our 25th wedding anniversary and driving
around on the wrong side of the road in the same places. Like foreshadowing. Next time I’ll take the fork in the road and
see the Beara Peninsula, as I want to meet the MacCarthy’s in
Castlebeartown……….and have a shot of Jameson’s in the same place as Pete! I
give him credit: It takes a certain courage and curiosity to actually to do
this and then write it down.
Pete McCarthy never met a stranger. I connect with that kind of real time
-ability to strike up a conversation with anyone-disposition (especially
thinking here of my dear departed late husband.) In England, Pete was an actor, TV
personality, and writer of comedy; it all came together during a motivated time
of old home week in his mother’s homeland, where he spend every summer of his
youth.
There once was an author named Pete
He could drink like the best
The locals put him to the test
Pete thought: this all goes in a book that can’t be
beat! They can pull it out and read
about themselves again, which is really neat!
Alice
February 19 Meeting at Dricka's
The book club was held at my
house with nine people attending. We missed Sharon, Ellen and Pat. The meeting
started with a brief discussion on procedures and policies for future members
joining our group. Any new member needs to be unanimously voted by
current members. All members unanimously decided that Pat Fogle was welcomed to
rejoin the book club. We also decided that twelve members is the maximum.
We started the evening with
snacks, followed by chicken parmesan, manicotti, and sausage and meatballs.
Everyone loved Rosemary’s famous cheesecake and my rice pudding, jello mold and
cakes. Everyone seemed to say they enjoyed the book – “Husband’s Secret”. The husband’s
secret impacted many lives when his wife, Cecelia, read his letter and kept
his secret. The evening ended with Alice
giving gifts to everyone at the meeting.
Thank you all for coming for a fun
night.
Dricka
January 16 Meeting at Rosemary's
After some snacking, chattering, and wine, we toasted Angel and Wyndham who recently got engaged. Congrats to them and to Edna, Glen and the rest of the family. We then adjourned to the dining room for vegetable barley soup, lasagna roll ups, Italian sausage and meatballs.
Meal over, so now we discuss the Book. The selection was, let me think, hmmm, yes, "Remember Me" by Mary Higgins Clark. A short bio was discussed about the author, and the many successful publications she has written over the years. Most everyone enjoyed the mystery written by this seasoned mystery author. The book touched upon spirits that were believed to have resided in the 18th century Cape Cod home rented by Menley and Adam Nichols. This opened the conversation to anyone who may have had spirit- like experience at any time. Edna shared an experience relating to her dad and a passage in a book, that offered her comfort and peace of mind regarding her dad's passing. A beautiful story that we were glad she shared with us. "Remember Me" was an enjoyable mystery with a surprise twist at the end that most of us didn't expect.
Well, the book discussion done and over and now desserts, too numerous to mention, but I will.
A variety of brownies, various cookies, pizzelles, trifle. But no cheesecake, oh well, omps, sorry folks, next month. Not everyone likes cheesecake you know, frankly, I am sick of it. Not really, It is good and I will bring it to the next book-club, "crackfree " for those who like it.
A reminder the book next month is "The Husbands Secret" by Liane Moriarty at the home of Drika.
Thanks all for coming and sharing your comments and making it a memorable meeting.
You are a special bunch of ladies!
Rosemary
November 21 Meeting at Grace's
Baker Towers, by Jennifer
Haigh
After appetizers and dinner as we
were all sitting around the dining room table trying to get on the subject of
the book.
We had a hard time getting
started to discuss the book, since we are such an interesting group and everyone
has so much to say about everything. At
one point I think we were all talking at once.
The overall feeling was that the
book was boring and I don’t think anyone really enjoyed it. There were many characters and not one of
them was really that interesting.
Basically, they all had some kind of issue one way or the other. But, one thing is for sure, everyone knows a
family like this, or knows of someone who does.
This is a small mining town and you have the sons who leave, you have the
one daughter who is the glue of the family or at least she tries to be and is
not appreciated. You have one loony sister who shacks up with one of the locals killed in the mining accident, and she goes off the deep end completely. The youngest sister who is very spoiled but thanks to her
older sister who is the responsible one
in the family does get her to graduate college and become a responsible
person.
We have a Polish father and an Italian
mother. She caters to her husband and to her children. The mom has low
self-esteem which carries over to her daughters. The two sons are only concerned with themselves and feel they have no family
obligations.
The story jumped around quite a
bit and it was hard to follow a timeline.
No one was impressed with this author or the characters.
After book discussion, we
discussed our limo trip to DC. We also
decided that we were going to try and recruit a new member to bring the total
back up to 11.
Love Ya All
Grace
