Annual Holiday Dinner

The Locale: Bella Bella

Summary:
We had our annual holiday dinner at Bella Bella, 6pm on December 16th. And...we have already lost the member in the middle, Jennifer, who had just recently joined us.  Is it something we said?

Up Next: The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach will be discussed on January 12th at Yeline’s house.

Next to Present: Susan

Then:

• Brenda
• Lori
• Sarah
• Susan H.
• Meredith
• Jennifer
• Diana
• Tassy
• Yeline
• Jennifer
• Carmen

The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles

The Locale: Tassy's

The French Lieutenant's Woman

John Fowles

The Book: In this contemporary, Victorian-style novel Charles Smithson, a nineteenth-century gentleman with glimmerings of twentieth-century perceptions, falls in love with enigmatic Sarah Woodruff, who has been jilted by a French lover.

Of all John Fowles' novels The French Lieutenant's Woman received the most universal acclaim and today holds a very special place in the canon of post-war English literature. From the god-like stance of the nineteenth-century novelist that he both assumes and gently mocks, to the last detail of dress, idiom and manners, his book is an immaculate recreation of Victorian England.

Not only is it the epic love story of two people of insight and imagination seeking escape from the cant and tyranny of their age, 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' is also a brilliantly sustained allegory of the decline of the twentieth-century passion for freedom.(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56034.The_French_Lieutenant_s_Woman)

Sarah's Summary: Thanks, Tassy, for a delicious meal. The chicken chili and salad were delicious. The dessert, TO DIE FOR. Sex in a pan? yummy. And your house was impossibly neat and tidy. Just like you:)

I enjoyed discussing The French Lieutenant's Women even though I didn't quite finish the book. Carmen watched the movie version so it was fun to hear how the director interpreted the parts- making a movie about making a movie out of the Victorian novel. Even though the book didn't end neatly Susan Saunders loved it (she could choose her ending)! And I think most of us enjoyed the author's subtle (and not so subtle) humor. Overall it was a good choice!

Our annual Christmas/Hanukah dinner will be at Bella Bella at 6pm on December 16th, which is a Monday. I will try to reserve a private room.

It was lovely to meet Jennifer, finally! Welcome to the club. I know we all look forward to getting to know you better over the years. We will celebrate 8 years in January!

The Vote: Carmen presented...

• Bellman and Black by Dianne Setterfield 
• Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason
• The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton  WINS!!!

After a 5-5 tie, the hefty The Luminaries was voted the winner for our February 23rd discussion at Carmen's. It will take that long to read 848 pages ;)

Up Next:  The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach will be discussed on January 12th at Yeline’s house.

Next to Present: Susan

Then:

• Brenda
• Lori
• Sarah
• Susan H.
• Meredith
• Jennifer
• Diana
• Tassy
• Yeline
• Jennifer
• Carmen

Room by Emma Donoghue

The Locale: Diana's

Room

Emma Donoghue

The Book: Room (London: Picador; Toronto: HarperCollins Canada; New York: Little Brown, 2010), my Man-Booker-shortlisted seventh novel, is the story of a five-year-old called Jack, who lives in a single room with his Ma and has never been outside. When he turns five, he starts to ask questions, and his mother reveals to him that there is a world beyond the walls. Told entirely in Jack’s voice, Room is no horror story or tearjerker, but a celebration of resilience and the love between parent and child.(http://emmadonoghue.com/books/novels/room-the-novel.html)

Sarah's Summary: Diana, thanks so much for a wonderful book club. All of the food was amazing, especially the mac n cheese and the condensed milk pie:) The discussion was a good one and made us all think personally about the safely of our own children. And their changing bodies. And their stench. Scary stuff.

Next up is the French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles at Tassy's house (a sidebar, my mom told me last night that she read this book when she was pregnant with me. She couldn't remember if she liked it or not…)

Attached is our updated spreadsheet. Yeline, it appears for the second year in a row you're up around Christmas time. We can do one of three things: Find a date in early December to meet at Yeline's house to discuss The Art of Fielding then meet at a restaurant for our annual holiday dinner; meet at a restaurant for our annual dinner to discuss the book; or meet for our annual dinner sometime early-ish December and wait until early January to meet at Yeline's. Our meeting at Tassy's is November 17 and The Art of Fielding is 500 pages so… I wouldn't mind going to dinner and postponing our meeting to January but I'll go with whatever you want to do.

Brenda reenacts a story from home.

The Vote: Yeline presented...

• Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell # 1) by Hilary Martel. 
• Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian
• The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach  WINS!!

Up Next: The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles will be discussed on November 17 at Tassy’s house.

Next to Present: Carmen

Then:

• Susan
• Brenda
• Lori
• Sarah
• Susan H.
• Meredith
• Jennifer
• Diana
• Tassy
• Yeline

Life After Life, A Novel by Kate Atkinson

The Locale: Susan H's

Life After Life, a Novel

Kate Atkinson

The Book: On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born, the third child of a wealthy English banker and his wife. Sadly, she dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in any number of ways. Clearly history (and Kate Atkinson) have plans for her: In Ursula rests nothing less than the fate of civilization. (from Goodreads)

The Meeting: As always, Susan, the food was amazing. The cheese soufflé was especially rich and tasty. Thanks for hosting! Overall I think we liked “Life After Life” though I don’t think we all agreed on how it ended, if it ended… It was certainly different.

The Vote: Tassy presented...

• Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
• The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles   **WINNER**
• Rabbit, Run by John Updike

For the first time in our 7 year history, we voted unanimously on our next book! The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles  will be discussed on November 17 at Tassy’s house.

Up Next: Room by Emma Donoghue at Diana's house on October 6th (Note:  a date change)

Next to Present: Yeline

Then:

• Yeline
• Carmen
• Susan
• Brenda
• Lori
• Sarah
• Susan H.
• Meredith
• Jennifer
• Diana
• Tassy

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

The Locale: Sarah's

The Art Forger

B.A. Shapiro

The Book: On March 18, 1990, thirteen works of art worth today over $500 million were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. It remains the largest unsolved art heist in history and Claire Roth, a struggling young artist with her own scandalous past, is about to discover that that there's more to this crime than meets the eye.

The Fun: A small group but lively discussion. Great to catch up with everyone. Discussing summer travels and kids camps. Sarah starts us off with yummy Sangeria. In keeping with the book's setting, Sarah serves Boston Butte Roast with BBQ and baked beans and a Boston Creme Pie. 

Most enjoyed the book on some level. Either the light summer read or the art history. 

The Vote: Diana presented...

• Room - by Emma Donoghue. WINNER! 
• Me Before You - by Jojo Moyes
• Gone Girl - by Gillian Flynn
• Heft - by Liz Moore

We will meet on September 29th at Diana's to discuss Room - by Emma Donoghue.  

Up Next: Life After Life, A Novel by Kate Atkinson at Susan's house on August 25th.

Next to Present: Tassy

Then:

• Yeline
• Holly
• Carmen
• Susan
• Brenda
• Lori
• Sarah
• Susan H.
• Diana

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

The Locale: Lori's

The Book: After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

The Fun: Good discussion. Good catching up. Yummy frozen strawberry drinks...with alcohol.

The Vote:
Susan H. presented...

• The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham
• Life After Life, A Novel by Kate Atkinson
• Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Up Next: The winner was Life After Life, A Novel by Kate Atkinson. We’ll be meeting at Susan's house on August 25th.

Next to Present: Diana G.

Then:

• Tassy
• Yeline
• Holly
• Carmen
• Susan
• Brenda
• Lori
• Sarah
• Susan H.
• Diana

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo

The Locale: Brenda's

Behind the Beautiful Forevers

Katherine Boo

The Book: 
From Pulitzer Prize-winner Katherine Boo, a landmark work of narrative nonfiction that tells the dramatic and sometimes heartbreaking story of families striving toward a better life in one of the twenty-first century’s great, unequal cities. In this brilliantly written, fast-paced book, based on three years of uncompromising reporting, a bewildering age of global change and inequality is made human.

The Meeting Wrap-Up...Courtesy of Sarah:
Thanks for a wonderful spread yesterday, Brenda. We missed you, Carmen and Holly and hope you enjoyed the book as much as most of us did. Brenda and Lori were able to give us a little more background on India's history, which was interesting. A very good discussion. 

The Vote: 
Sarah presented--

• Pure by Andrew Miller
• City of Thieves by David Benioff
• The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

The winner was The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro. We’ll be meeting at Sarah's house on July 7th.

Up Next: 
We’ll be meeting at Lori’s house on June 2nd to discuss The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.

Updates: 
Lori is inviting a possible new member to join us for the discussion in her home, Meredith Trammel.

Next to Present: Susan H.

Then:

• Diana
• Tassy
• Yeline
• Holly
• Carmen
• Susan
• Brenda
• Lori
• Sarah
• Susan H.

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

The Locale: Susan's

The Book: One Sunday in the spring of 1988, a woman living on a reservation in North Dakota is attacked. The details of the crime are slow to surface as Geraldine Coutts is traumatized and reluctant to relive or reveal what happened, either to the police or to her husband, Bazil, and thirteen-year-old son, Joe. In one day, Joe's life is irrevocably transformed. He tries to heal his mother, but she will not leave her bed and slips into an abyss of solitude. Increasingly alone, Joe finds himself thrust prematurely into an adult world for which he is ill prepared.

The Meeting Wrap-Up...Courtesy of Sarah:
Susan served her incredible ham sandwiches with a lovely salad and awesome minty-chocolate dessert J Yum. Out of the 6 of us present, only 3 had finished the book so the discussion was a little thin. I think overall most of us enjoyed the book- I really liked the way she described teenage boys coming of age in the late 80s. I felt like the characters were well developed and interesting and the ending was surprising.

The Vote: We voted on Lori’s choices and picked The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. We’ll be meeting at Lori’s house on May 19.

Lori presented--

• The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
• The Thief of Auschwitz by John Clinch
• The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Up Next: We’ll be meeting at Brenda’s house on April 21 to discuss Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity.

Updates: we are down two members. Which I think we are all comfortable with but if anyone knows someone who may be interested in joining I think we should consider it. I know it’s unusual to have such a small group as we did this month, but I think 8-10 (on average) is a good number- it certainly helps with the discussion. Now that we’re down to only 10, if 3-4 can’t make it we have a very small group and the talk is rather short- I like to get lots of people’s feedback on books! It’s always a fun afternoon, I just think our better discussions are had when there are more of us. Anyway, just a thought.

Next to Present: Sarah

Then:
Susan H.
Diana
Tassy
Yeline
Holly
Carmen
Susan
Lori
Sarah

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

The Locale:  Carmen's

Author’s Website

The Book:
A Game of Thrones is the first novel in A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of high fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin. It was first published on 6 August 1996. The novel won the 1997 Locus Award,[1] and was nominated for both the 1998 Nebula Award[2] and the 1997[1] World Fantasy Award. The novella Blood of the Dragon, comprising the Daenerys Targaryen chapters from the novel, won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Novella. In January 2011 the novel became a New York Times bestseller[3] and reached #1 on the list in July 2011.[4]

In the novel, presenting various points of view and plot-lines, Martin introduces the noble houses of Westeros, the Wall, and the Targaryen plot-line. The novel has lent its name to several spin-off items based on the novels, including a collectible card game, board game, and roleplaying game. It is also the basis for the first season of Game of Thrones, an HBO television series which premiered on April 17, 2011.  From Wikipedia

The Fun: From Sarah....Well, most of us thoroughly enjoyed reading The Game of Thrones, and the discussion was interesting and educational. A few of us weren’t able to finish the book on the tight time schedule we had, but I think everyone at least enjoyed what they read. Not sure how many more will continue with the series (5 more books- so far! And no ending!)
 
Carmen out did herself, cooking food from The Game of Thrones Cookbook, which was amazing. Honey chicken; potato, onion and cheese pie; salad; lemon cake and OMG the lemon sweet was delish. 

The Vote:
Brenda presented 3 very interesting options for our next meeting. 

• The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
• Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
• The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fatesby Wes Moore

In the end, Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo won by a landslide.

Up Next:

• The Round House by Louise Erdrich at Susan’s house March 10.  
• We’ll discuss Behind the Beautiful Forevers at Brenda’s on April 21.

Next to Present: Lori
 
Then:

• Sarah
• Susan H.
• Diana
• Angela
• Tassy
• Yeline
• Holly
• Carmen
• Susan
• Lori 

The Long Walk by Stephen King

The Locale: Holly's

Book's Website

Stephen King's Website

The Book: In the near future, where America has become a police state, one hundred boys are selected to enter an annual contest where the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. The game is simple - maintain a steady walking pace of four miles per hour without stopping. Three warnings, and you're out - permanently.

The Meeting: Lots of good food and good conversation at our meeting. Even though I don't think most of really loved the book, it did lend itself to a good discussion. We questioned the lack of explanation on the author's part--the setting, the state of the nation and its people that would allow a competition like the long walk to occur, and why would young men sign up for a contest when the odds were that they would be shot.

We did love Holly's new dog--Max. What a cutie and well behaved little guy. Wish I had taken a picture!

The Vote:
Susan presented--

• Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
• The Round House by Louise Erdrich
• The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

Winner: The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Up Next: A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire (Book 1) by George R. R. Martin @ Carmen's on February 10th.

Next to Present: Brenda

Then: 

• Lori 
• Sarah 
• Susan H. 
• Diana 
• Angela 
• Tassy 
• Yeline 
• Holly 
• Carmen 
• Susan