Nine of us gathered at Nancy's for our annual holiday meeting with Yankee Swap. Wonderful appetizers dominated the fare, and adventuresome alcohol drinks were also on offer (Karen's glögg and Susan's killer egg nogg). Dinner was soup (potato leek for most, although there was also borscht) and "Christmas salad" (greens and fruit) from Karen. And for dessert: Lisa's chocolate-chocolate-chip cupcakes. Mmmmmm!
The Yankee Swap was slightly more free-for-all than usual (not to mention the notorious fart machine), and many laughs were had.
Most everyone enjoyed Wild by Cheryl Strayed, although we did debate the author's dubious choices (including heroine use and heading out for a months-long hike without preparing physically for it or even breaking in her hiking boots). The worst part of the book for just about everyone was when she was nearly assaulted by a man on the trail.
Naturally we talked about a million other books as well. Heather particularly recommends Kept in the Dark by Peggy Hancock.
Next Meeting
Where: Karen's
When: Don't know. Some of us liked Friday and others of us didn't. How about Thursday January 17th or Thursday January 24th?
What: Again, don't know. Lisa and Darla suggested Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. Does that sound like a plan?
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Sunday, November 04, 2012
November 2 - The Walking Dead
Heather hosted eight of us for our discussion of the graphic novel The Walking Dead. We welcomed a guest, Tamara, who thankfully did not run away screaming.
Heather made her delicious ravioli with yogurt sauce. Nancy B. regrettably could not join us but sent us a beat salad (beats = red = blood). We also had (bloody) sangria, "finger" hours d'oeuvres (little hot dogs wrapped in dough) by Susan, a nice green salad from Leann, blood-red velvet cupcakes by Mary Beth, peanut butter & chocolate eyeballs thanks of yours truly. I know there was more, I'm sorry I can't remember what. You know who you are and what yummy and awful goodies you provided.
The official story of how we chose our book, according to Heather, was that Heather and Mary Beth were talking. Heather, having recently discovered graphic novels, said to Mary Beth that the group should read one. And to that, Mary Beth replied, "If we're reading a graphic novel, it has to The Walking Dead," because Mary Beth is a fan of the AMC show based on the graphic novel. It seemed the perfect idea given the timing. (Halloween, etc.) Hence, we read a graphic novel!
I think this was the first experience with a graphic novel for most of us, and the general consensus was that it took some getting used to and the characters were a bit two-dimensional. The group got to compare the book to the show when Heather cued up the first episode, during which people laughed even during some of the gruesome parts. But everyone seemed ti like it.
NEXT MEETING
When: December 7 (Friday) was proposed; is that OK for everyone?
Where: Nancy's
What: Wild, by Cheryl Strayed, AND the annual Yankee Swap. NEW gift this year, please, $10 limit.
Heather made her delicious ravioli with yogurt sauce. Nancy B. regrettably could not join us but sent us a beat salad (beats = red = blood). We also had (bloody) sangria, "finger" hours d'oeuvres (little hot dogs wrapped in dough) by Susan, a nice green salad from Leann, blood-red velvet cupcakes by Mary Beth, peanut butter & chocolate eyeballs thanks of yours truly. I know there was more, I'm sorry I can't remember what. You know who you are and what yummy and awful goodies you provided.
The official story of how we chose our book, according to Heather, was that Heather and Mary Beth were talking. Heather, having recently discovered graphic novels, said to Mary Beth that the group should read one. And to that, Mary Beth replied, "If we're reading a graphic novel, it has to The Walking Dead," because Mary Beth is a fan of the AMC show based on the graphic novel. It seemed the perfect idea given the timing. (Halloween, etc.) Hence, we read a graphic novel!
I think this was the first experience with a graphic novel for most of us, and the general consensus was that it took some getting used to and the characters were a bit two-dimensional. The group got to compare the book to the show when Heather cued up the first episode, during which people laughed even during some of the gruesome parts. But everyone seemed ti like it.
NEXT MEETING
When: December 7 (Friday) was proposed; is that OK for everyone?
Where: Nancy's
What: Wild, by Cheryl Strayed, AND the annual Yankee Swap. NEW gift this year, please, $10 limit.
Friday, September 28, 2012
September 26 - Mayflower
Nine of us gathered at Darla's for our discussion of Mayflower and our sumptuous feast of soups provided by our hostess and seasonal treats contributed by the rest of us. In no particular order, we had: cheese soup, sauerkraut and sausage soup; popcorn and corn bread (with yummy cheese spread and apple butter); pumpkins beers and pumpkin pudding; apple cake and apple Brown Betty; the cutest little pilgrim hat cookies that can be Googled; and meade! (The drink, produced locally, and very good!)
Not everyone finished the book, although we all read at least part of it. The result was eye-opening, and we all were glad to learn some American history that is no doubt closer to the truth than what we were taught in school.
I believe a good time was had by all, and I thank everyone for putting up with the slideshow from my and Leann's recent trip.
NEXT MEETING
Where: Heather's
When: Friday, November 2
What: The Walking Dead book discussion and screening of the TV show based on the graphic novel
Monday, July 23, 2012
July 22 - Book show and tell at the pool
Seven of us were at Becky's for "the best book group pool party ever!" It was a gorgeous summer day, perfect for hanging out at the pool. We had lots of good stuff to eat, naturally: Karen's ingeniously presented fruit salad (a bowl within a bowl with ice in between), Leann fabulous rice and been salad (recipe, please!), lovely pesto crostini and smores makings supplied by our hostess, Darla's Mexican bean dip & chips, Lisa's coconut creme pie and Napoleons from King Arthur (she did a great job just getting to us, having just returned from a camping trip). Heather and I supplied healthful (well, not so much) munchies, and most all of us enjoyed the "water" to drink.
So many books were discussed and exchanged I cannot possibly do them justice. All I can say is, we've been reading!
What's Next
We completely neglected to talk logistics, so there is nothing planned at the moment. What do you think? An August meeting? Wait til September? Pick a book? Do another show-and-tell? If we wait until September, it'll have to be later in the month for me.
So many books were discussed and exchanged I cannot possibly do them justice. All I can say is, we've been reading!
What's Next
We completely neglected to talk logistics, so there is nothing planned at the moment. What do you think? An August meeting? Wait til September? Pick a book? Do another show-and-tell? If we wait until September, it'll have to be later in the month for me.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
June 12 - Bossypants
Seven of us gathered at Nancy B's on a rainy evening for our discussion of Bossypants by Tina Fey. We were blessed with many salads, perfect for a warm evening: Nancy B's chicken salad was delicious, as were Karen's pasta salad, Lisa's salad with homemade croutons, a delicious green salad contributed by someone (was it Heather?) ... For dessert, Becky made a delicious rhubarb something and Darla made yummy chocolate chip cookies. It's a good thing I had to foresight to simply buy some chips and hummus, or we would have been completely feted with wonderful homemade foodstuffs.
Why can't I remember all the details? It could has something to do with the limoncello Lisa brought in honor of Liz Lemon. Man was that good.
I do recall talking about everything and anything, including the book, which almost everyone liked. Interestingly, different people connected with different chapters.
The highlight of the night was the gifting of Becky with the Book Soup Book Group Book Quilt:
Thanks to Karen, who did all the heavy lifting of putting the quilt together.
Next Meeting
Where: Becky's pool
When: July 22, 3 pm
What: Either book show and tell or the winner of Karen's poll
Why can't I remember all the details? It could has something to do with the limoncello Lisa brought in honor of Liz Lemon. Man was that good.
I do recall talking about everything and anything, including the book, which almost everyone liked. Interestingly, different people connected with different chapters.
The highlight of the night was the gifting of Becky with the Book Soup Book Group Book Quilt:
Thanks to Karen, who did all the heavy lifting of putting the quilt together.
Next Meeting
Where: Becky's pool
When: July 22, 3 pm
What: Either book show and tell or the winner of Karen's poll
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
May 15 - The Shack
We had a full house for our discussion of The Shack at Lisa's. Ten of us oohed and ahed over her kitchen renovation and crammed around her table to partake of the FABULOUS food: Karen's "wackitizers" (cucumber rounds topped with cheese; skewers with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves), Susan's tomato/lentil spread and homemade cheese crackers to die for, Mary Beth's spinach and strawberry salad, Lisa's delicious soups (vegetarian Mexican and turkey barley). And the desserts! OMG. Becky made chocolate spice sugar cookies, Darla brought 5 flavors of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and Nancy Bates won the night with her amazing key lime pie. I am surely missing something. Please forgive me; I have not yet recovered from my sugar coma.
We discussed a bunch of books and their authors (ahem, Darla). Karen was taking notes, so I am depending on her to let us know what these were. We had quite a lively discussion of The Shack, no doubt because no one liked it (even though we all finished it). We could see what the author was trying to do (Sunday school for adults) but they way he did it just made us cringe at times.
Our next book was supposed to be Elie Wiesel's Night, which nearly half of us had already read in prepration, but there was a decided movement that we should read something fun instead. So...
Next Meeting
Where: Nancy B's
When: June 12
What: Bossypants by Tina Fey
We discussed a bunch of books and their authors (ahem, Darla). Karen was taking notes, so I am depending on her to let us know what these were. We had quite a lively discussion of The Shack, no doubt because no one liked it (even though we all finished it). We could see what the author was trying to do (Sunday school for adults) but they way he did it just made us cringe at times.
Our next book was supposed to be Elie Wiesel's Night, which nearly half of us had already read in prepration, but there was a decided movement that we should read something fun instead. So...
Next Meeting
Where: Nancy B's
When: June 12
What: Bossypants by Tina Fey
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
April 17: The Hunger Games
Six of us met at Leann's to discuss The Hunger Games. I'm pleased to report no one left hungry, and the odds were ever in our favor.
I'm afraid my report must be abbreviated, because I arrived late, and I had already had some dinner. I partook in the lovely green salad (spinach, perhaps?). I believe there was soup, bread, and pasta salad as well. What did not escape my notice was dessert: Lisa made dessert kabobs with angel food cake and fruit. Yummy, visually interesting, and healthy. I couldn't let that stand and brought some cupcakes to share.
They told me they had talked about the book before I got there, and I guess I believe them. We talked some more, and it was as I had guessed - everyone liked the book. We talked mostly about the differences between the book and the movie and succeeded in convincing Darla and Lisa, the only attendees who had not seen it already, that they should.
As we were parting, we realized we had not discussed our next meeting. So here's what we've got from our original schedule:
Next Meeting
Where: ?
When: May 8
What: The Shack by William Paul Young
I'm afraid my report must be abbreviated, because I arrived late, and I had already had some dinner. I partook in the lovely green salad (spinach, perhaps?). I believe there was soup, bread, and pasta salad as well. What did not escape my notice was dessert: Lisa made dessert kabobs with angel food cake and fruit. Yummy, visually interesting, and healthy. I couldn't let that stand and brought some cupcakes to share.
They told me they had talked about the book before I got there, and I guess I believe them. We talked some more, and it was as I had guessed - everyone liked the book. We talked mostly about the differences between the book and the movie and succeeded in convincing Darla and Lisa, the only attendees who had not seen it already, that they should.
As we were parting, we realized we had not discussed our next meeting. So here's what we've got from our original schedule:
Next Meeting
Where: ?
When: May 8
What: The Shack by William Paul Young
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
March 13 - Our Kind of Traitor
Karen hosted 8 of us for our discussion of Out Kind of Traitor by John LeCarre. There were many dishes inspired by the English/Russian characters of the book: Stilton cheeses, pea soup and borscht, "Russian" black bread, trifle. The salad, carrot cake, and coconut pie were also well-appreciated! The champagne was not, only because we never got to it; Newcastle brown ale and copious wine did the trick.
So the food was, as usual, fabulous; the book, alas, was not. It was uniformly disliked! A thriller with no thrills and characters that left us without sympathy for or interest in them. Oh well! It seems most all of us slogged through it to the end.
We discussed at some length our choice for our next meeting: The Count of Monte Cristo. While most of us are interested in pursuing the classics, a book that is over 800 pages abridged gave us pause. Let's face it, it's just not realistic. So we started tossing out other books (as well as discussing the reading of the classics themselves). At some point we diverged and started talking about the Hunger Games movie that is coming out, how we should see it as a group but not everyone had read it, and voila! A solution that most sounded interested in: let's read The Hunger Games for April! It may not be a classic, but sure is a cultural phenomenon. And afterward we can go see the movie.
Next Meeting
Where: Leann's
When: April 10
What: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
So the food was, as usual, fabulous; the book, alas, was not. It was uniformly disliked! A thriller with no thrills and characters that left us without sympathy for or interest in them. Oh well! It seems most all of us slogged through it to the end.
We discussed at some length our choice for our next meeting: The Count of Monte Cristo. While most of us are interested in pursuing the classics, a book that is over 800 pages abridged gave us pause. Let's face it, it's just not realistic. So we started tossing out other books (as well as discussing the reading of the classics themselves). At some point we diverged and started talking about the Hunger Games movie that is coming out, how we should see it as a group but not everyone had read it, and voila! A solution that most sounded interested in: let's read The Hunger Games for April! It may not be a classic, but sure is a cultural phenomenon. And afterward we can go see the movie.
Next Meeting
Where: Leann's
When: April 10
What: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
February 21 - In Other Rooms, Other Wonders
Mary Beth hosted a group of nine of us for February meeting to discuss Daniyal Mueenuddin's collection of short stories, In Other Rooms, Other Wonders. Happily, Becky was able to join us. Yay, Becky!
Mary Beth made wonderful stuffed shells (let's hear it for home ec, the source of the recipe!). Nancy B. brought a gorgeous green salad and Lisa made a middle-eastern-inspired orzo salad. Leann's homemade bread rounded out dinner, and we had three sources of dessert: Karen's middle-eastern selection, Darla's cupcakes, and cookies baked by my dear husband. I'm afraid I lost track of the drinks and appetizers and perhaps more, so please forgive me any lacunae.
We had a lively discussion of the book, no doubt because everyone found something lacking in it! (Seems books we dislike generate much more discussion than those we do.) The depiction of life in Pakistan was not a positive one, particularly in the way poor women are treated, so it was a hard read. Heather spent three years in Pakistan as a kid, so she was able to give us a more positive perspective on life there, thank goodness. Also, Karen had gone to hear the author speak at Dartmouth (he's an alum), and she was able to tell us more about him and what he's writing now.
Thanks, Mary Beth, for hosting a fun evening!
Next Meeting
Where: Karen's
When: March 13
What: Our Kind of Traitor by John LeCarre
Mary Beth made wonderful stuffed shells (let's hear it for home ec, the source of the recipe!). Nancy B. brought a gorgeous green salad and Lisa made a middle-eastern-inspired orzo salad. Leann's homemade bread rounded out dinner, and we had three sources of dessert: Karen's middle-eastern selection, Darla's cupcakes, and cookies baked by my dear husband. I'm afraid I lost track of the drinks and appetizers and perhaps more, so please forgive me any lacunae.
We had a lively discussion of the book, no doubt because everyone found something lacking in it! (Seems books we dislike generate much more discussion than those we do.) The depiction of life in Pakistan was not a positive one, particularly in the way poor women are treated, so it was a hard read. Heather spent three years in Pakistan as a kid, so she was able to give us a more positive perspective on life there, thank goodness. Also, Karen had gone to hear the author speak at Dartmouth (he's an alum), and she was able to tell us more about him and what he's writing now.
Thanks, Mary Beth, for hosting a fun evening!
Next Meeting
Where: Karen's
When: March 13
What: Our Kind of Traitor by John LeCarre
Saturday, January 14, 2012
January 10 - A Discovery of Witches
Seven of us gathered at Susan's beautiful home for yummy soups, book talk, and ... kittens! We got to meet Susan's two pint-sized prowlers, who added an extra touch of magic to the evening.
Susan's soups were great. Owing to the fact that I am a bear of little brain and several days have passed, all I can recall is that vegetarian one was a curry soup (which I had and it was fabulous) and the non-veggie soup had kale in it (I hear lots of "mmmm" coming from the folks who had it). I also know we had great appetizers, a delicious home-made couscous salad, and two types of cake for dessert. What's not to like?
The book, for one, although I believe the group was 50-50 on liking vs. not liking so much. It was definitely long ("wordy" was mentioned), having seemingly fallen victim to the state of editing in book publishing these days (i.e., there's not enough of it). Those of us who liked it are really looking forward to book 2 in the trilogy, the rest are off the hook.
There were many other topics and books discussed, including Susan's musing out loud about needing to think of a dance routine to contribute to an upcoming family wedding. Truly a fun evening, thanks Susan!
Next Meeting
Where: Becky's
When: January 14
What: In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
Susan's soups were great. Owing to the fact that I am a bear of little brain and several days have passed, all I can recall is that vegetarian one was a curry soup (which I had and it was fabulous) and the non-veggie soup had kale in it (I hear lots of "mmmm" coming from the folks who had it). I also know we had great appetizers, a delicious home-made couscous salad, and two types of cake for dessert. What's not to like?
The book, for one, although I believe the group was 50-50 on liking vs. not liking so much. It was definitely long ("wordy" was mentioned), having seemingly fallen victim to the state of editing in book publishing these days (i.e., there's not enough of it). Those of us who liked it are really looking forward to book 2 in the trilogy, the rest are off the hook.
There were many other topics and books discussed, including Susan's musing out loud about needing to think of a dance routine to contribute to an upcoming family wedding. Truly a fun evening, thanks Susan!
Next Meeting
Where: Becky's
When: January 14
What: In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
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