We met at Darla's lovely new apartment for our discussion of Jess Waters' Beautiful Ruins. We welcomed new member Shirley and welcomed back Mary Beth, who was visiting from Burlington. Yay! It was wonderful meeting folks and catching up over soup and beer margaritas. Although we all had qualms with one or another part of the book, the review was mostly positive.
NEXT MEETINGS
Ocotober
Where: Leann's
What: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
November
Where: Heather's
What: Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Friday, August 02, 2013
July 27 - Book Show-and-Tell at the Pool
Five of us gathered at Becky's pool to sip "water" and discuss books and other things. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and the pool was refreshing. After we'd hung around poolside for a while, we retreated to the picnic bench for snacks. There was fruit and popcorn and chips and Leann's fabulous salsa and Karen's killer limoncello-infused cake.
The only decision we made was to get together to see the movie The Heat, which five of us (not quite the same group) did August 1st. We had a bite at Salt Hill and then went to the Nugget. The movie was hilarious.
At the pool, we decided to nominate Darla to host the next group and pick the book, and she has accepted the challenge.Thanks, Darla!
Next Meeting
Where: Darla's
When: When Darla would like to (perhaps a Friday so Mary Beth can visit from Burlington?)
What: Darla's choice
The only decision we made was to get together to see the movie The Heat, which five of us (not quite the same group) did August 1st. We had a bite at Salt Hill and then went to the Nugget. The movie was hilarious.
At the pool, we decided to nominate Darla to host the next group and pick the book, and she has accepted the challenge.Thanks, Darla!
Next Meeting
Where: Darla's
When: When Darla would like to (perhaps a Friday so Mary Beth can visit from Burlington?)
What: Darla's choice
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
June 25 - Jill McCorkle's Life After Life
Seven of us gathered at Nancy B.'s to discuss Life After Life by Jill McCorkle and to farewell Mary Beth from the group. Mary Beth has a new and fabulous job in Burlington, and we will miss her greatly. Of course, Burlington isn't far away, and there was much talk of taking Book Soup on the road. As a parting gift, Karen made one of her beautiful bags with book fabric, and we put books for Mary Beth to read in it. (She seemed extremely excited to get World War Z....)
Nancy chose a Mexican theme for the feast. She started us off with mojitos. (Wikipedia defines these as "a traditional Cuban highball." Fancy! And extremely good.) For the main course, we had sumptuous burritos with chicken, spicy black beans, avocado, and this amazing sauce. Lisa made a yummy black bean salad we had on the side, and we had tortilla chips and salsa courtesy of Leann. Karen provided homemade strawberry shortcake for dessert.
I think Lisa was the only one to finish the book in time, but many of us were far enough through to discuss plot and characters and compare it to Kate Atkinson. Atkinson's book was heavier somehow, and a more difficult concept to get a grasp of. McCorkle's felt lighter, although it covered many weighty and unhappy subjects. And the structure was also a challenge to follow at first. But we all found characters to love and really liked the book once we got into it.
Next Meeting
Where: Becky's pool
When: When Becky is ready
What: Book show and tell
Nancy chose a Mexican theme for the feast. She started us off with mojitos. (Wikipedia defines these as "a traditional Cuban highball." Fancy! And extremely good.) For the main course, we had sumptuous burritos with chicken, spicy black beans, avocado, and this amazing sauce. Lisa made a yummy black bean salad we had on the side, and we had tortilla chips and salsa courtesy of Leann. Karen provided homemade strawberry shortcake for dessert.
I think Lisa was the only one to finish the book in time, but many of us were far enough through to discuss plot and characters and compare it to Kate Atkinson. Atkinson's book was heavier somehow, and a more difficult concept to get a grasp of. McCorkle's felt lighter, although it covered many weighty and unhappy subjects. And the structure was also a challenge to follow at first. But we all found characters to love and really liked the book once we got into it.
Next Meeting
Where: Becky's pool
When: When Becky is ready
What: Book show and tell
Thursday, May 16, 2013
May 14 - Kate Atkinson's Life After Life
We were small group of 5 who gathered at Lisa's to discuss Kate Atkinson's Life After Life. Lisa mad a lovely strata with leftovers from a weekend BBQ, and who are we to argue with an entree that's easier for the hostess than an appetizer? Karen made cute little olive and cream cheese sandwiches, and we also had sushi (from Darla), almonds, stuffed olives, and pita chips. Even better, we had three desserts: Lisa's angel-food cake with a creamy strawberry icing, peanut butter chocolate chip brownies (from me), and fabulous multicolored layer cookies (from Leann).
Overall consensus on the book was it was good but violent and it lagged in the middle. Lisa had the most interesting theories about the plot (could Izzie's son have become Hitler?). Izzie and Hugh were favorite characters, and some of the scenes from Ursula's childhood, where she's trying to figure out how to change the course of things, were favorites as well. I think we all agreed that it was quite interesting and we didn't completely know what it all meant.
Naturally, we were reading and recommending many other books. Here are the ones Karen wrote down for us:
Canada, by Richard Ford
The Sherlockian, by Graham Moore
Overcome, by Carmen Tarleton
Fairy Tales From the Brothers Grimm, by Philip Pullman
The Voyage, by Philip Caputo
The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff
Other books by Kate Atkinson: Case Histories; One Good Turn; When Will There be Good News?; Started Early, Took My Dog.
NEXT MEETING
Overall consensus on the book was it was good but violent and it lagged in the middle. Lisa had the most interesting theories about the plot (could Izzie's son have become Hitler?). Izzie and Hugh were favorite characters, and some of the scenes from Ursula's childhood, where she's trying to figure out how to change the course of things, were favorites as well. I think we all agreed that it was quite interesting and we didn't completely know what it all meant.
Naturally, we were reading and recommending many other books. Here are the ones Karen wrote down for us:
Canada, by Richard Ford
The Sherlockian, by Graham Moore
Overcome, by Carmen Tarleton
Fairy Tales From the Brothers Grimm, by Philip Pullman
The Voyage, by Philip Caputo
The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff
Other books by Kate Atkinson: Case Histories; One Good Turn; When Will There be Good News?; Started Early, Took My Dog.
We looked through a copy of the newsletter Indie Next and decided to read the other book entitled Life After Life, which came out at the same time as Kate Atkinson's. And that's as far as we got. Expect another Doodle poll in your in-box soon.
What: Jill McCorkle's Life After Life
When: TBD
Where: TBD
Thursday, April 11, 2013
April 9 - Dorothy Parker
Seven of us gathered at Leann's for our finger-food-only meeting and discussion of Dorothy Parker's short stories and poems. We had the most delicious stuff to eat: appetizers made with dates, apricots, asparagus; cool fresh veggies and warm chili; and tarts for dessert. We all found the arrangement quite filling enough and worth doing again.
Before we discussed the author of the night, we talked about the passing of Mary Beth's mother and Susan's mother-in-law. I hope they felt the support of friends; I was glad I was there to hear about these two wonderful women.
We did actually discuss Dorothy Parker some; her wit was much appreciated, although not so much her dark side. Heather printed out some of her short poems and gave us each one to read. It really brought out the humor. Thanks Heather!
Karen noted some of the other books we talked about:
The Paris Wife
A Dog’s Purpose
The Gilly Salt Sisters (I have a copy of this if anyone would like to borrow it)
NEXT MEETING
Where: Lisa's (thank you for offering even though you couldn't join us, Lisa!)
What: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
When: TBD
Before we discussed the author of the night, we talked about the passing of Mary Beth's mother and Susan's mother-in-law. I hope they felt the support of friends; I was glad I was there to hear about these two wonderful women.
We did actually discuss Dorothy Parker some; her wit was much appreciated, although not so much her dark side. Heather printed out some of her short poems and gave us each one to read. It really brought out the humor. Thanks Heather!
Karen noted some of the other books we talked about:
The Paris Wife
A Dog’s Purpose
The Gilly Salt Sisters (I have a copy of this if anyone would like to borrow it)
NEXT MEETING
Where: Lisa's (thank you for offering even though you couldn't join us, Lisa!)
What: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
When: TBD
Friday, March 01, 2013
February 27 - The Round House
Seven of us gathered at the Norwich Inn for a wine tasting book group meeting. We eventually all got in the same room and talked about the book. A difficult topic was given an approachable treatment. We all loved the boys and felt Louise Erdrich had captured them perfectly. Six of us eventually went upstairs to have dinner and use our coupons that came with the wine tasting. My dinner was quite good, and I think everyone else enjoyed theirs as well.
Next Meeting
Where: Susan's
What: a Dorothy Parker short story, essay, or poem of your choosing
When: TBD
Next Meeting
Where: Susan's
What: a Dorothy Parker short story, essay, or poem of your choosing
When: TBD
We have some travel conflicts at the end of March, anyone for making it the first week of April?
And Susan, you OK with hosting still?
Thursday, January 24, 2013
January 23 - The Rules of Civility
Before dinner, we snacked on Mary Beth's beautiful appetizer plate featuring cheese, kiwi, and mango; and Susan provided healthy watercress sandwiches (whole wheat bread with the crusts on) and made a pizza with garlic jam and Gorgonzola cheese on the spot. For dessert we feasted on Becky's yummy shoe-fly pie and Lisa's terrific Madeleines. I think we did it up worthy of the wealthy of the 1930's, don't you ladies?
Everyone liked the book, and we had an interesting discussion about class and the place of women in the 1930's. College was not such a necessity then as it is these days, and working class people who were smart and well-read could more easily mix with the wealthy in a place like New York. Every character reinvented himself or herself to some extent. That Eve sure had Moxie!
Upcoming Meetings
I suggested we try just serving finger foods at the next in-home meeting, because we have such a nice time chatting over hors d'oeuvres. We seemed to have a quorum in agreement, so that's the plan.
We also have plans or parts of plans for the next three meetings. To wit:
February
Where: The Norwich Inn for a wine tasting benefit for the Norwich Public Library
When: Wednesday, February 27, time to follow
What: The Round House by Louise Erdrich
What else: tickets for the wine tasting are $15 each
March
Where: Susan's
What: a Dorothy Parker short story, essay, or poem of your choosing
When: TBD
April
Where: Leann's
What: TBD
When: TBD
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