December 8 - The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise

Nancy hosted a happy group of 9 for our (very short) discussion of The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise. We welcomed new member Susan and had a cornucopia of foodstuffs. Mary Beth made a fabulous asparagus salad with feta cheese and mandarin oranges, and Karen supplied us with a Christmas almond cake for dessert (as well as bruchetta as an appetizer). We had cauliflower soup, taco soup, french bread, dinner rolls, fruit salad, Becky's guacamole, Darla's pickled asparagus, Susan's delicious cheeses. Please forgive me for anyone and anything I've left out, it was all great.

The Yankee swap was much anticipated. Try as I might, I couldn't egg people on to grab other's stuff. It's too much fun to open a present, I think, and it was all nice stuff. Plus Lisa drew #1 and picked something she loved, so we all knew it was fruitless to snatch that gift. We decided that next year we should do a white elephant Yankee swap.

Almost everyone had read at least part of the book and at liked it. We appreciated that parts of it are laugh-out-loud funny. Darla said it reminded her of a fairy tale.

We immediately turned to the discussion of other books and other things, including what to read next. Because there was interest in more than one book, we chose for the next 3 meetings!

Next Meeting
Where: Mary Beth's
When: Thursday, January 20

Next Books
January: Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff
February:  Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
March: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

October 26 - So Cold the River

Four of us gathered at Becky's to discuss our creepy October read, So Cold the River by Michael Koryta. Becky had wonderful clam chowder and winter squash soup, which was rounded off with bread and salad and was topped off with cookies. Thanks, Darla, for the home-made ginger snaps! It was all yummy.

Lisa sent her book report through Darla. Everyone said they liked it and thought it suitably spooky for Halloween, the writing reminiscent of Stephen King. I had some gripes with the book (where was the editor?), which brought out a few other dislikes as well (the main character was whiny and stupid, and why all the fuss about the train early on?). 

We discussed lots of other stuff and other books, of course. I'm afraid I didn't write them down, so if you've got a recommendation, do chime in. I finished one book I talked about last time, Room by Emma Donoghue, and LOVED it. There was some interest in reading it for a Book Soup meeting, but given its premise, we decided it was more suited to bleak winter than the holidays.

Speaking of which, our next meeting will be out holiday meeting, and we think we've identified a nice read for it. We didn't discuss doing a Yankee Swap, but it is a Book Soup holiday tradition, so I will assume we will do it unless the populace says no.

Next Meeting

When: Wednesday, December 8 (alternate: Thursday, December 9)

Where: Nancy's, of course!

What: The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart

Also: Please bring a wrapped gift worth no more than $10 suitable for swapping

September 28 - The Owl Killers

Six of us met at Darla's for our discussion of The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland. Darla was well-prepared with yummy crock-pot offerings to warm us (a potato soup and a chicken-kielbasa-sauerkraut soup). Karen supplied a beautiful spinach salad, Becky brought a delicious egg dish, I went all-out with rolls, and Lisa and Leann rounded off the meal with desserts (cupcakes and cookies, respectively). Thanks, all!

We had an interesting discussion even though only two of us had finished the book. Set in the Middle Ages and featuring a community of women determined to make it on their own, we talked about the limits of what women could accomplish at that time. The book also had lots of scary elements, which made it appropriate for this time of year.

Speaking of scary, we chose a ghost story for our October meeting. Read on for details.

Next Meeting
Where: Becky's
When: Tuesday, October 26
What: So Cold the River by Michael Koryta

August 19 - Fingerprints of God

Four of us gathered at Leann's for our -- good! -- discussion of Fingerprints of God by Barbara Bradley Haggerty. What was fascinating to me was that, while everybody found parts of interest, there were varying reactions overall. I found the author's spiritual crisis compelling, but not everybody else did. And of course the discussion segued into all kinds of other things, serious and not-so-serious.

And the food was fabulous, as usual. Leann had mac & cheese, tuna salad, and her "man salad" - a bean salad we ladies found very yummy, so I question the name. We also had two blueberry desserts - a cake from Karen and a tart from Lisa.

Next Meeting

What: The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland
When: Tuesday, September 28
Where: Well...

Darla, you were nominated in abstentia, and Lisa volunteered as back up. However, she's having surgery on the 9th and will be in a cast...

June 24 - Flowers in the Attic

Six of us gathered at Heather's house and petting zoo (two goats, a dog, a cat, two birds, and a beehive) to discuss Flowers in the Attic, a book many had read as teenagers. Heather had great food read for us - aside from cheeses and crackers and fruit, she made bacon-wrapped water chestnuts for appetizers; "butter chick" (two variations on an Indian dish, butter chicken and butter chickpeas) for the main course; and powdered donuts for dessert! (If you've read Flowers in the Attic, you'll know why.) Sushi and salads rounded out the meal, not to mention the white wine sangria. Thanks, Heather!

We had an interesting discussion of the book, which had many creepy aspects, but was a real product of its time. Written in 1979, it took a classical romance novel approach to rape, making it a prelude to love. We all agreed that wouldn't fly any more (thank goodness!).

After lots of laughter and a visit with the goats, we called it a night.

Next Meeting
Where: Leann's
When: Thursday, July 29
What: Fingerprints of God by Barbara Bradley Haggerty

May 18: The Dream of Perpetual Motion

Five of us gathered at Darla's for our discussion of The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer. Our menu was Cinco de Mayo-inspired with a touch of Greek thrown in...Lisa's flan was fabulous! (And so were her brownies, not to mention Darla's Margaritas!)

The book was...a challenge. Only our intrepid hostess managed to finish it for the meeting, and those of us still working through it were not universally admiring. It's not bad to have a challenge now and then, we all agreed.

Of course talking about our designated book led to talking about all things bookish, in particular Darla's fondness for book blogs, some of which she showed to us on her laptop.

Below are lists that Karen, who was our scribe for the evening, created from our discussion and show-and-tell:

Websites:
She's Too Fond of Books...And it has addled her brain
http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/

Jen's Book Thoughts
http://jensbookthoughts.blogspot.com/

Hot Guys Reading Books
http://hotguysreadingbooks.tumblr.com/

Reading on the Subway
http://readingonthesubway.net/

Authors/Books:
Louise Penny
http://www.louisepenny.com/

Kate Shugak mystery series by Dana Stabenow
http://www.stabenow.com/

Jo Nesbo
http://www.jonesbo.com/

Future book group field trip:
The world famous booktown Hay-on-Wye
http://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk/

Next Meeting:
Where:  Heather's house
When: TBD
What: Fingerprints of God: In Search of the Science of Spirituality by Barbara Bradley Hagerty
http://barbarabradleyhagerty.com 

April 13 - The Help

Mary Beth hosted seven of us for a for our discussion of The Help. It was a lovely gathering with a potato soup and a chili provided by Mary Beth, both of which were delicious. Lisa's artichoke dip appetizer was a big hit, and Darla graced us with a carrot cake from King Arthur flour for dessert.

Everyone loved the book, and we had an interesting discussion about what it means to have maids raising children and taking care of other intimate details of life, among other many, many of things -- a few book related, most not (and some of which will remain unmentioned, Heather).

Next Meeting

When: Tuesday, May 18

Where: Darla's

What: The Dream of Perpetual Motionby Dexter Palmer

March 3 - A Reliable Wife

A group of seven gathered at Karen's for our discussion of A Reliable Wife. Lisa made a  yummy multi-layer dip and Mary Beth brought hummus for appetizers. Karen served two delicious soups, minestrone and split pea and [a root-vegetable-whose-name-escapes-me], rounded out by bread from Heather and a salad from me. For dessert, Becky made apple dumpling thingies for dessert that were the bomb.

Everyone liked the book except for our hostess, who hated it! Having diverse opinions always makes the discussion more interesting, so thanks, Karen! Naturally the conversation segued to other books, and Karen in particular recommended a book I didn't write down. Karen, could you please remind us? There were also many remembrances of Flowers in the Attic, a scary book a bunch of us had read as teenagers (your humble scribe not among them).

Thanks to Karen's poodle puppy Maggie, whom we were so happy to meet, much talk centered around animals. Aside from owning dogs, cats, parakeets, and goats (at the moment; there have been more) Heather is a dog whisperer! Who knew! We also talked about having a book group meeting at Heather's that we started calling "boob group." (You had be there, but it was hilarious!)

NEXT MEETING
Where: Mary Beth's
What: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
When: April 13 or 20 - please let your preference be known

January 21 - Pope Jone

Good morning everyone,

Last night six of us got together at my house to discuss Pope Joan.  We all enjoyed it, but felt that it diverged a bit too much with the romance piece, and that some of the situations would have been easier to swallow if there weren't so many convenient deaths. In general though, we appreciated learnng about the life of women in the Middle Ages, and felt it was a good read.

In between munching on Karen's excellet tazaki dip from Taste Spotting , drinking mimosas and enjoying a lentil stew with great bread from Leann, and salad from Nancy, we actually came up with an interesting list of books to read. 

Lisa and Darla recommended The Help

Nancy recommended A Reliable Wife

Karen recommended Leaving the Saints

Debra recommended 19^th Wife, Wolf Hall

For dessert we had Chocolate Chip cookies made by Dan LaRoche, and two cakes made by Lisa.  The Maple Pear Upside Down Cake was a big hit, and the Upside Down Apple Gingerbread was also enjoyed.

Lisa told everyone about the mystery series Wallender, based on the Henning Mankell mysteries, and Darla and Lisa urged everyone to read the Louise Penny mysteries and the Scotland St. series by Alexander McCall Smith.

We decided to read Reliable Wife for February’s meeting and The Help for March.

Our next meeting will be at Karen’s on Tuesday the 16^th at 6:30.

--Lisa

P. S. Does anyone want to order Reliable Wife via the Norwich Bookstore for the book group discount? If so, please chime in ASAP.