Meeting: February 12, 2015

Annie provided wonderful ambiance for our February meeting and our discussion of The Secret Keeper.  Those in attendance were Ellen Bowes, Kathy Day-Carey, Nancy French, Christe Gillespie, Annie Larkin, Judy Lee, and Jo Smith.  As usual, we caught up on what has been going on in each other's lives and enjoyed our time together.

There was a mixed reaction to the book, as some of us had trouble with the young Dorothy (Dolly).  While there are plenty of books that have characters you don't like, her character was troublesome because of her connection with the lovable Jimmy. It was also disconcerting to try to reconcile who Dolly was as a young, self-centered, shallow woman with the mature, loving wife and mother Dorothy became. Originally, Annie stopped reading the book after Dolly masterminded the plot to blackmail Vivian. Christe later convinced her to go back and finish reading the book due to the plot twist near the end.

Jo was bothered by the details in the book that she didn't feel contributed to the story in any way.  She felt that this detracted from the story and left the reader constantly wanting the author to get on with the story.

Christe read a long excerpt that she enjoyed.  

The Nicolson children all knew the story of Greenacres' acquisition by heart. The skeptical old farmer scratching his head when Dorothy knocked on his door, the birds nesting in the parlor fireplace as the farmer poured tea, the holes in the floor with planks laid across them like narrow bridges. Most importantly, no one was in any doubt as to their mother's immediate certainty that she must live in this place.  

The house, she explained to them many times, had spoken to her; she'd listened, and it turned out they'd understood one another very well indeed. Greenacres was an imperious old lady, a little worn, to be sure, cranky in her own way -- but who wouldn't be?  The deterioration, Dorothy could tell, concealed a great former dignity.  The house was proud and she was lonely, the sort of place that fed on children's laughter, and a family's love, and the smell of rosemary lamb roasting in the oven.  She had good honest bones and a willingness to look forwards rather than backwards, to welcome a new family and grow with them, to embrace their brand-new traditions.  It struck Laurel now, as it hadn't before, that her mother's description of the house might have been a self-portrait.

This house would never have spoken to the young Dolly.  I might add that Christe has a wonderful style and tone as she reads aloud.  She could have a new career recording audio books!

Annie shared a quote that struck her. The quote comes after a "sour nurse" gave Laurel the report on how her mother was faring, having bounced back after the birthday party which had tired her.

And then she smiled with a remarkable deficit of warmth and returned her attention to the plastic clipboard she was cleaving. 

Our book for March is Empire of the Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne.  This will be our first non-fiction selection.  The March meeting details are at the bottom of this blog entry.  No decisions have been made for our April book or our April meeting place. 

March meeting:

Book: Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne

Location: Nancy French's

Date: March 19, 2015

Time: 6:30 pm

Meeting: January 8, 2015

We met at Jo Smith's house for our "movie night."  Those attending were Ellen Bowes, Nancy French, Christe Gillespie, Annie Larkin, Judy Lee, and Jo Smith.  While we ate some tasty snacks, we discussed various books we've read.  

Judy was in the middle of reading The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.  She thought it was difficult to get started and found herself re-reading much of the beginning of the book to fully grasp the content.  Ellen talked about All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This was another WWII story, this time about a French blind girl and German orphan boy. Annie talked about The Blue Bear by Lynn Schooler, Leaving Resurrection by Eva Saulitis, and Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne.  For our March read, we chose Empire of the Summer Moon, a non-fiction, historical account of the battle between the Comanche and white settlers.  Annie also mentioned Richard Peck, a young readers author, specifically mentioning his books, A Long Way from Chicago and The River Between Us.

After taking care of upcoming meeting details, Jo popped us popcorn and we were ready to view The Book Thief.  Due to the length of the film, we didn't really have time to compare and contrast the movie and the book.  There were a number of things that had to be left out of the movie, but I didn't feel like this detracted from the movie.  Usually, I'm disappointed with a film if I've read the book, but this was not the case this time.  I felt like most of the actors perfectly portrayed their respective characters from the book.  Perhaps if we ever meet to view a movie in the future, we should start the meeting a tad earlier, unless the film is significantly shorter than this 2+ hour movie.

February meeting:

     Book: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

     Location: Annie Larkin's

     Date: February 12, 2015

     Time: 6:30pm

March meeting:

     Book: Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne

     Location: Nancy French's

     Date: TBA

     Time: 6:30pm

Christmas Gathering - December 11, 2014

In lieu of a regular book club meeting, we got together at Elmaro Vineyard for a holiday gathering.  Spouses were invited to take part.  Ellen and Jeff, Nanc, Christe and Steve, Julie and Bob, Linda and Jim, Annie and Paul, Judy and Scott, and Jo and John were all able to make it.  It was great to get to know the spouses, some of whom I had never met previously.

Rather than the usual half sheet of paper used to let us know what wines and food samples they were serving, they folded ours to make it look like a book.

After the wine tasting was complete, Annie (performing her duties as our unofficial spokesperson) gave a toast.

So our first year as a book club comes to a close.  And a successful year it has been.  On to 2015!

January meeting:

     Book: Report on or recommend any book (optional), we'll also watch The Book Thief

     Location: Jo Smith's

     Date: January 8, 2015

     Time: 6:30

February meeting:

     Book: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

     Location: Annie Larkin's

     Date: TBA

     Time: 6:30

Meeting: November 13, 2014

Judy hosted our meeting this month and provided a variety of food and a cozy meeting space. Ellen Bowes, Nancy French, Christe Gillespie, Linda Jenkins, Annie Larkin, Judy Lee, and Jo Smith were in attendance.  Scott Lee's sister, Sally, who was visiting with the Lee's, sat in on our meeting, as well.

Annie suggested that we try to get together in December with spouses / significant others since we aren't meeting for a book that month.  Annie is going to try to arrange for us to gather at Elmaro Vineyard on Thursday, December 11th.  We would likely start earlier in the evening than our typical book club meeting time.  Stay tuned for further information. (Note: Updated information is listed below the photo taken at Elmaro Vineyard)

We've also made a change.  Instead of discussing The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton in January, we are going to meet at Jo Smith's house to watch The Book Thief. And, since we have no book club book to read between now and February, Judy suggested that we come prepared to report on a book we've read in the interim.  It's possible that one of the books we report on will be chosen as a future book club read. Having a book to report on is not a requirement, however!

Annie was excited to report that CBS will be airing a mini-series based on The Dovekeepers in 2015. Annie doesn't get CBS at her house, but I'll be sure to record the mini-series to assure she'll get to see it.  Perhaps we'll have a book club meeting to watch it together. I think the mini-series will be a total of 4 hours, so we'd definitely want to watch it in more than one sitting if we watch it together.

In discussing The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman, Annie loved the way the story was so cleverly woven as the four women narrate their story.

Judy read this quote from Yael, "I wished for a night without dreams, a world without lions, a year without Av, that bitter, red month."  Judy was also thankful that she was born at the right time because she didn't think she could have endured what these women did.

Jo was impressed with the imagery that Alice Hoffman was able to create with her descriptive passages.  She read two examples.  "It seemed a stone had been dropped into water, and every circle that fanned out moved the tide of our destiny along the course of some inevitable destination."  And also, "I saw it float down among us as if it were a part of the sky that had wrenched away to plummet to earth."

Ellen gave us a bit of a history lesson when she talked about also having read Zealot by Reza Aslan.  Linda admitted limited knowledge of religious history but was fascinated when she listened to a radio program where two guests were discussing religious history and the inaccuracies in how history has been written.  

As our discussion veered off The Dovekeepers, Annie mentioned a must read of The Teacher Wars, by Dana Goldstein.  After Ellen mentioned enjoying The Grapes of Math by Greg Tang and Harry Briggs, Sally said that if we enjoy books about math we might enjoy The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa.

December gathering: 

     Location: Elmaro Vineyard

     Date: December 11, 2014 

     Time: 4:00
     Cost: $15/person

January meeting:

     Book: Any book of your choice, we'll also watch The Book Thief

     Location: Jo Smith's

     Date: January 8, 2015 (tentatively)

     Time: 6:30

February meeting:

     Book: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

     Location: Annie Larkin's

     Date: TBA

     Time: 6:30

Meeting: October 20, 2014

Jo hosted our October meeting where we discussed The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.  After general conversation and veggie soup, we sat down to discuss the book. It appeared that all in attendance loved the book, although Grace expressed some initial trepidation about reading a book that included the topic of slavery.  Those in attendance were Ellen Bowes, Nancy French, Julie Howard, Linda Jenkins, Annie Larkin, Judy Lee, Grace Nicholson-Maly, and Jo Smith.

Grace talked about how our country was supposed to have been built on freedom, but that we have had a really dark side, as well.  Julie amended Grace's statement to say that our country was built on freedom for rich, white men and that this is something we still have not completely overcome.

A variety of members read quotes from the book.  It seemed that there were an unending number of quotes that resonated with us.  I am including a sample of the quotes that were read.

I'm actually not sure who read this quote but I think somebody read Israel Morris' comment to Sarah when she was traveling home after her father's death.  "To remain silent in the face of evil is itself a form of evil."

Judy read a quote from Sarah after she and Nina were asked to turn down their rhetoric on women's rights so as not to diminish their message on slavery.  "We don't wish the movement to split, of course we don't -- it saddens me to think of it -- but we can do little for the slave as long as we're under the feet of men.  Do what you have to do, censure us, withdraw your support, we'll press on anyway.  Now, sirs, kindly take your feet off our necks."

Annie had several quotes that she read including the message that Lucretia Mott sent to the Grimke's, "Press on, my sisters." and Sue Monk Kidd's recollection of theologian Mary Daly, who said, "Only women hearing each other can create a counter-world to the prevailing reality."  Also, Handful's comment to Sarah, "My body might be a slave but not my mind. For you, it's the other way round."

Linda liked the author's note stating that she was inspired by the words of Professor Julius Lester, which she kept propped on her desk, "History is not just facts and events.  History is also a pain in the heart and we repeat history until we are able to make another's pain in the heart our own."

Our November book is The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman.

Next meeting:

     Location: Judy Lee's

     Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014

     Time: 6:30pm

There will be no December meeting due to everyone being busy with the holidays.

January's book will be The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton.  The meeting will be at Annie Larkin's home.

Meeting: September 18, 2014

Christe pinch hit for an ailing Annie at the last minute, hosting our September meeting. I believe Annie provided most of the tasty food.  Those in attendance were Ellen Bowes, Kathy Day-Carey, Nancy French, Christe Gillespie Linda Jenkins, Judy Lee, and Jo Smith.

We settled down to discuss Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.  Judy hadn't finished reading the book, but okayed everyone discussing the end.  Linda explained what happened near the end involving Father Mike, Milton, the ransom, and the accident that claimed Milton's life.  Milton died on impact, but Cal imagines Milton reflecting on his life and visiting all the places that meant something to him before his death.

Kathy thought the ending felt rushed, but that the book was well written with the detail that she covets.  Ellen said that there were a lot of weighty things said about gender that gave the reader reason to examine one's own perceptions.

Judy read a quote from when Lefty and Desdemona first came to America and saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time.  Lefty commented that he'd seen enough torches to last a lifetime, but Desdemona was more optimistic, "At least it's a woman," she said. "Maybe people here won't be killing each other every single day."

One of the main themes of the book was that no matter how bad life may seem, you can reinvent yourself or create a better life for yourself, and then you can succeed.

Our October book is The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.

Next meeting:

     Location: Jo Smith's

     Date: MONDAY, October 20 (People had crazy schedules!)

     Time: 6:30pm

Also, we picked books for the next couple of months.  

     November:  The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman (Judy will host)

     December: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Meeting: August 13, 2014

Ellen Bowes hosted our July meeting, another delightful evening with delicious snacks. The topics we discussed, prior to reviewing the The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, covered recycling, being aware of where our trash ends up, solar energy, and (of course) the state of education.  Our group of attendees included: Ellen Bowes, Nancy French, Julie Howard, Linda Jenkins, Annie Larkin, Jo Smith, and Liz Webster.

Due to Jo's request that we not discuss the end of the book because neither she nor I had finished reading the book, we were limited in our conversation.  Many of us thought the book moved slowly, at first, as the characters were introduced, but the story picked up considerably about a third of the way into the book.  Now that I've finished the book, I can say that I was disappointed in the end, because I felt like the author tried to tie up the loose ends too quickly.

Liz felt that the book was "Brothers Grimm meets The Arabian Nights."  Annie loved the way the narrator wove the story.  It was interesting to see how the author interlaced the folklore from two different cultures to give us a glimpse into the experience of being an American immigrant at the turn of the century.  Ellen noted that the book did a good job of exploring what it is to be human.

Julie surmised that these folklore stories may have come about as an explanation for mental illness and other unexplained phenomenon.

It would seem that most of us took a liking to Chava (the golem), in particular, as her character was serious, timid, and selfless, while Ahmad (the jinni) was impulsive, a bit amoral, and selfish.  Jo felt for Chava when she read the list of Rotfeld's desires in a wife: "Obedience. Curiosity. Intelligence. Virtuous and modest behavior."  We also enjoyed many of the secondary characters, particularly Ice Cream Saleh.

On a humorous note, Annie said she could identify with Chava being restless at night as she has been having sleep issues due to menopause.

Our September book is Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.

Also, our October book will be The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd

Next meeting:

     Location: Annie Larkin's

     Date: Thursday,  September 18 (3rd Thursday so Judy, who chose the book, could attend)

     Time: 6:30 pm