January 18 2018 Meeting at Dricka's

Author, Kristen Hannah, presented an account of France during World War II when Germany invaded. It brought to light the struggles of the French people with emphasis on sisters, Isabelle and Vianne.

Much of the story told how different they were.  Isabelle was strong, rebellious and impulsive. Vianne was nurturing, cautious and always protective of her family. Both sisters needed to be loved because they felt rejected by their father when he lost his wife and had changed in personality after he returned from the Great War.

Isabelle known as the "nightingale" was patriotic by helping airmen to safety by traveling to the British consulate thru hazardous conditions. Vianne was protective of children who were Jewish and separated from their family by changing their identity and finding shelter for them with a Catholic orphanage. She took her best friend, Rachel's son into her home and pretended he was adopted from a member of her family who had died.

In the ending of the story, they both found the love they both were searching for was always there. In memories: wounds heal - love remains.

Our meeting was only 6 members, so we missed Alice, Edna, Grace, Pam and Pat. We had a supper of chicken franchaise and pork chops with various sides. After our discussion, we had tea and an array of desserts: peach cobbler, rice pudding, coconut brownie and apple cake. Everyone at the meeting concluded that the book was very good!!

"Till we meet again",
love to all, 

Dricka

December 11 Christmas Luncheon

Merry Christmas!!  

We missed you, Pam and Carol.

November 16 Meeting at Grace's

This book "Breaking Night" by Liz Murray was selected after I heard the author give a talk on her life at Shepherd University, she was so inspirational.  
 I was amazed at how far she had come in her life with all the obstacles she had faced, as well as her living conditions and her home life.   She did not attend school because she felt this strong need to be there for her parents who were both drug addicts   She had one sister who was not as tolerant as Liz when it came to her parents.    What was unbelievable to so many of us was the love that she had for her parents, especially her mother.  I believe everyone liked the book and we had a very good discussion.  No one in this group could really relate to the life style that the author experienced.
We all agreed Liz Murray was very intelligent and mature for her age.  She enjoyed reading and was self educated. When her family hit  rock bottom and she was placed in a home, she realized she wanted more for her self.  She was given an opportunity to complete school and to enter a program for college bound students through the NY Times.  She was number one in her class and was accepted in to Harvard University where she excelled.
The movie "Homeless to Harvard" is based on this book and  the life story of Liz Murray.
This was a special evening for us ladies as we celebrate our ten year anniversary.  
So much to be THANKFUL for as we approach Thanksgiving.  Good Friends. Good Food and Good Times
Love you ladies, thank you for being in my life, I am truly blessed. 
Love to All.  
Grace 

October 19 Meeting at Carol's

Everyone appeared to have a good time during our Halloween festivities.  The costumes were great and I love that you all entered into the holiday fun.  I hope the decorations weren't too scary or over the top.  The food was uncomplicated (pizza, veggies, cheese and crackers, chips and salsa and fruit) and way too many desserts like usual.  The book was not so successful.  I think most of us agreed the story lines were very good, but way too short.  The author jumped around from character to character and never delved far enough into the different lives.  I felt we were left hanging from a cliff too many times.  My disclaimer is I had not read the book previously and went on a recommendation from a friend.  I want next October so you can start thinking of your next costume.

Carol

September 28 - October 2 at Pat's

Our Sept. meeting was held at the beach.  We had 4 days of beautiful weather, beautiful ocean, fun if not too productive shopping, good company, and plenty of delicious food, from still warm choc. chip cookies to homemade scrapple.  Our book discussion was spirited and covered many topics including organ transplant, loyalty, and monetary impact on healthcare.  The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears and the sea.

Pat

August 17 Meeting at Sharon's

Responses to The Midwife of Hope River were very positive. We talked about the depression era environment in which Patience lived and worked and how tough it would be to live under those conditions. Several felt that for them the isolation would be the hardest to endure. We felt we learned a lot about midwifery and different approaches used in delivering babies that best fit the individual mother’s needs and comfort level. Some of us have relatives who had their children by midwives and we discussed how the practice is becoming popular again. We were also impressed that the author shared a practice as a nurse-midwife with her ob-gyn husband in Morgantown, WV, until 2003 when the drastic increase in liability insurance forced them to give up deliveries. 

We missed having Drika and Pat join in the discussion with us. Kathy set up a group photo for us to send with a card to Ellen who is recovering from emergency surgery. 
Sharon

Get well soon, Ellen!