Dec. 3, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life

We had a small gathering at Nancy's to talk about Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Encyclopedia. Everybody who read it liked or loved it, but it didn't spark much discussion. We had a civilized Yankee swap and a lovely time. Thank you to all for your contributions, especially Karen, who sent a beautiful spinach salad even though she was sick.

Next Meeting
Where: Lisa's
When: January 21
What: Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

October 22, Her Fearful Symmetry

Leann hosted a spooky and delightful meeting with six of us present. She had many tasteful Halloween decorations about and served two great entrees for us, a baked veggie dish and a quiche. Becky supplied some marinated steak that was scrumptious, and Karen's antipasto salad was a nice complement. We had themed dessert -- cookies, cupcakes, and, most notably, Lisa's monster eyeball treats (peanut butter balls dipped 3/4 in chocolate with an M&M's for a pupil -- scary and delicious!).

We had a good discussion of Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry. Everyone who read it liked it, although we had varying takes on Elspeth's motives. We all loved the descriptions of Highgate Cemetary.

We discussed many other books as well. I'm currently reading The Ghost in Love by Jonathan Carroll. It's one of the oddest books I've ever read but it's also really interesting and very cool.

Lisa talked about Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder, which said is an excellent but difficult true story of a refugee from Berundi.

We also talked about the memoir of a girl growing up in Iran, Persepolis, which is in graphic novel form and was also made into a movie.

I'm sure there was more but that's all I can remember! Those with pen and paper, feel free to chime in.

Next Meeting
Due to the fact that in a month it will be Thanksgiving, we decided to make our next meeting our holiday gathering.We didn't discuss doing a Yankee Swap this year -- are people interested?

Where: Nancy's
When: December 3rd
What: Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (reputed to be both light and good)

September 22 - The Angel's Game

Karen hosted a delightful Spanish-themed gathering for us to discuss The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (author of Shadow of the Wind). Consensus: Shadow of the Wind was better. Oh well!

The food and the company were delightful, however. Lisa (whom we missed) sent a long yummy tapas. Karen had the best sangria ever (thanks to a recipe from her good friend Martha). She also made a very nice soup, we had salads and manchego cheese, and a giant, smiling whoopee pie for dessert.

Then, to top it all off, there were crafts! Darla taught us how to make origami bookmarks. (Maybe she'll send the link where she got the directions if we ask her nicely.) I can't say I was successful, but everyone else was and there were extras so I didn't go home empty handed.

NEXT MEETING
When: Thursday, October 22
Where: Leann's
What: A HALLOWEEN themed meeting where we will discuss Her Fearful Symmetry but Audrey Niffenger (author of The Time Traveler's Wife).

Please note! The book is being published on September 29. I'll have a review for you all before then, and I hear its to be reviewed in the New York Times this weekend.

August 4, Border Songs

I counted 8 of us at Maureen's for our discussion of Border Songs (which everyone liked! Yay!). Thanks, Maureen, for not one, but two, yummy main dishes and for helping Leann out with the salad. ;-)

For those of you who weren't there, we had THREE desserts, and we were in heaven. Thanks to our dessert makers, Karen (who has already posted her recipe, thanks) and Lisa, who mad a delicious fruit trifle and chocolate pudding brownies, or cake, whatever it was, it was fabulous. (It had a funny name, too, that I don't remember -- chocolate ooze or something.)

NEXT MEETING
Where: Karen's
When: Sept. 22
What: The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruis Zafon (Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Game-Carlos-Ruiz-Zafon/dp/0385528701)

June 23, Angle of Repose

Becky hosted a group of 8 for our discussion of Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner. About half of us read the book (I'm afraid I wasn't among them), and those folks had an interesting discussion. They also uniformly liked it (not equally, but let's not quibble; it did win the Pulitzer Prize, after all).

Becky made a yummy spring pea soup, and we had a couple of salads to go with. Lisa's artichoke dip held us over as we had our wine slushies (a very yummy frozen wine concoction of Becky's). And we had two cakes for dessert! A King Arthur cake and a Carvel ice cream cake, in celebration of Lisa's birthday just past.

Next Meeting
Where: Maureen's
When: Tuesday, August 4
What:Border Songs by Jim Lynch <http://www.amazon.com/Border-Songs-Jim-Lynch/dp/030727117X>

Cinco de Mayo - Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading

Darla hosted a group of nine for a delicious Cinco de Mayo book group. She started us off with lovely soup, we had great salads from Leann and Agnes, Becky made a wonderful casserole, and we had two great desserts from Karen and Lisa.

I think about half of us had read the book Leave Me Alone I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan. I think we all really enjoyed it, and we had a bit of a debate over Corrigan's feminism. Very interesting.

Per usual, we talked about many other books. Here are the ones I was able to scribble down:

• What Happened to Anna K by Irina Reyn
• Border Songs by Jim Lynch (coming out June 16)
• Umbrella Man by Roald Dahl
• Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

Next MeetingWhen: June 23
Where: Becky's
What: Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner <http://www.amazon.com/Angle-Repose-Penguin-Twentieth-Century-Classics/dp/0141185473/>

April 7, Friday Night Lights

Lisa hosted a tailgating session of Book Soup -- replete with beer, nachos, and a football cake -- attended by 6 members. Much discussion about the book Friday Night Lights took place (!). Although it was considered well-written, most of us could have skipped the descriptions of the football games (your humble reporter excepted). Everyone was pretty much appalled at the culture of football portrayed, which led to a lot of thoughts being shared about our experiences in school. Not only were stories shared, so were pictures! Leann and Darla brought in high school yearbooks. Darla had the best show-and-tell, including buttons and other memorabilia, and a photo album of her growing up (garnered from her mother). A good time was had by all, I dare say.

Next Meeting
Where: Darla's
When: May 5 (Cinco de Mayo!)
What: Leave Me Alone I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan

February 24, The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

Seven of us gathered at Leann's for delicious "Christmas" casserole, mac & cheese, chips & dips, and ginger bread! Oh, and to talk about The Little Giant of Aberdeen County. (We actually discussed the book through the whole main course, we are happy to report.) Reactions were mixed; I think three of us loved it, three of us hated it, and one was in between. C'est la vie! It was a good discussion.

Next Meeting
When: Tuesday, April 7
Where: Lisa's
What: Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger <http://www.amazon.com/Friday-Night-Lights-Town-Dream/dp/0306809907>

January 28, 2009 - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

I pinch-hit for Karen, who had been sick, to host a nice group of 8 for our discussion of Edgar Sawtelle. Reaction was mixed, but we all liked the dogs. It was the rest of the story that was the problem. Thanks for the salads, bread, beverages, and that fabulous cake from King Arthur that Darla brought! As always, we ate well and talked about everything. We were sorry Lisa, having been felled by the dreaded flu, couldn't make it either.

Next Meeting
When: Tuesday, February 24 (Fat Tuesday!), 6:30 p.m.
Where: Leann's
What: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker