August 2018 - 'The Jane Austen Project'

Eight Soupies made it out to Book Group on the Lake to discuss The Jane Austen Project.

Lots of good food and good company were to be had as we looked over Mascoma Lake. Yummy appetizers were supplied by Karen (caprese salad with tomatoes right from her garden), Heather (a lovely cheese with pickles, olives, and okra), Mary Beth (delicious spread - welcome back, MB!), and Michelle (hummus and sliced cukes). Lisa made THE most delicious mac & cheese I've ever had - with zucchini, no less. Becky brought a couple of growlers of beer and honest-to-goodness pulled pork to complement my gluten-free version. Darla brought amazing King Arthur Flour brownies and cookies for dessert.  Leann's contributions defy categorization: assorted fruit, multiple cheese puff munchies, wine coolers, and dinner napkins. Thanks too, to Heather, Lisa, and whoever else supplied wine.

As per usual, we talked about everything and anything and tons of other books. We found the chosen book good. Not all of us bought the romance angle, but as Heather said, "It's always the marriage plot!" It was definitely interesting and well-written. Thanks for the suggestion, Heather!

We bid farewell to Darla, who will be moving soon. So happy to have had you with us!

NEXT MEETING
When: Friday, September 28
Where: Heather's
What: The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

June 2018 - 'The Fifth Petal'

Four Soupies gathered for our early June meeting that had morphed into a late June meeting at Lisa's. She made a delicious ratatouille, which was rounded out by Karen's bean salad. Becky's brought broiled baby peppers, and I brought fruit, which we had for dessert. It was quite nice.

As per usual we talked as much about other things and books as we did about what we read: The Fifth Petal by Burnonia Barry. We thought it had slow spots but generally liked it. What it really did was make us want to visit Salem. Plans are in the works!

Maybe it was the heat, but we decided neither a next date nor a book.

But Darla sent this picture, from our October meeting!

March and April 2018

Apologies to Michelle for there being no summary of her fun and yummy meeting where we discussed Bill McKibbon's Radio Free Vermont.

April's summary is written by Susan. Thanks, Susan!

Thanks to Rebecca for both a wonderful book choice and an incredibly tasty dinner.

The vegetable barley soup and homemade bread were fabulous and the perfect answer to a cool and damp not-really-spring evening. Hearty nacho chips, salsa and dip, along with a green salad, fruit salad, cake and ice cream and one other thing I can recall enjoying but can't actually remember now provided a terrific launching pad for a wide ranging discussion of the idiosyncrasies of living without gravity in a soup can with smelly co-workers and the reality of life as a middle aged woman.

We 7 : Dee, Karen, Leann, Michelle, Rebecca, Lisa and I enjoyed the content, tone and approach of the author, Mary Roach. Karen, especially could relate to the nutrition and hygiene challenges presented by the deprivation of basic resources, to wit-water. We all agreed that while space may be romantic, space travel did not necessarily follow suit. We enjoyed the various rabbit holes Mary Roach explored and her ability to introduce the concept of the humorous footnote. I and others agreed that Mary Roach's other works-Grunt, Boink, Stiff, Spook, Gulp and My Planet would be welcomed selections for Booksoup in the months ahead.

Oh, and she went to Hanover High.

Lisa will be hosting the June meeting, the 1st  & 8th are options as are The Fifth Petal and A Year by the Sea. Also, stay tuned for info on a road trip.

Keep reading & while you do it, keep you ankles limber by" drawing" the upper case letters of the alphabet with your foot, cursive or print, your choice.

February - 'The Women in the Castle'

Yoga, Mardi Gras, great food, fun conversation - we had it all!

First, Susan led us in a session of gentle stretching, giving us the benefit of her yoga teacher training.

Then, on to dinner. Susan went out of her way for Fat Tuesday, providing themed dinnerware and a king cake for dessert, but her onion-soup-predecessor casserole was the hit of the evening.  The rest - the salads, the appetizers - were wonderful and delicious, of course.

Thank you for everything, Susan!

As per usual, some of us loved the book, some of us didn't, some of us didn't read it. I think we all agreed it was interesting to read of WWII from the point of view of ordinary Germans. At any rate, there are too many other books to talk about and life events to catch up on, which we did.




NEXT MEETING
Where: I believe Michelle is up? Or is it Becky?
What: Radio Free Vermont by Bill McKibbon
When: TBD