December 8 - 'The Snow Child'

Eight of us gathered for a festive evening and our annual Yankee Swap. I provided ham and mac&cheese, Karen brought salad and thin mints, Michelle made the cutest cheese snowman, Becky brought clementines, Susan brought her amazing appetizers - apricots, stuffed figs and cheese bites. Heather brought celery and vegan dip. Darla brought ice cream that went well with Lisa's cake. Darla also brought us party favors - little Santa hats on hair clips and wicked cute book marks in the form of sprouts!

Everyone seemed to love the book, which made for little discussion, although we did have different interpretations of where the girl came from.

The Yankee Swap had no bows or arrows, although there were two of the same jigsaw puzzle sporting the covers of best-selling books. A few well-mannered swaps took place and everyone seemed to be pleased.

NEXT MEETING
What: Lisa has the details on this, because the author is a neighbor of hers. I believe the title is My Mother Raised Wallflowers.
Where: Lisa's? The author will join us.
When: TBD

October 20 - 'The Haunting of Hill House'

Eight of us gathered at Leann's for our annual Halloween read. Desserts prevailed. Susan brought the famous New York Times plum tart (made with pears instead), I brought a silly little cake decorated with ghost and gravestone Peeps, and Leann -- oh, Leann outdid herself. Aside from roasted vegetables, and corn casserole made with John's corn (so good!), she made apple crisp and pumpkin pie. Lisa provided us with broomsticks (cheese and pretzel sticks) and fingers (decorated baby carrots), Michelle brought lovely cheese appetizers (cream cheese with pepper jelly, stringy mozzarella--sorry the Internet failed me when I tried to find the right name). Karen brought a lovely salad and acorn cookies. Becky and Darla - there were cold cuts and pumpkin sugar cookies; we you two responsible for them? Please forgive any omissions and errors. And please chime in with your recipes! I heard several calls for them

A view of our table (thanks to Lisa for the pic)

I got the impression every enjoyed the book, although some found it more scary than others. Maybe Shirley Jackson's life was the scariest thing of all?? We talked about a ton of other things but I don't recall so many books being in the discussion this time. True? Discuss.

NEXT MEETING
When: Thursday, December 8
Where: Nancy's
What: Our FABULOUS YANKEE SWAP!
What to read: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Fwd: September 28 - Don Quixote

Seven of us gathered at Becky's absolutely lovely new abode to discuss Don Quixote. Becky had a delicious soup for us, Karen supplied delicious sandwiches, Leann brought a tasty Asian salad, Michelle made really good roasted zucchini chips, Darla brought bread/brie/apples, Lisa supplied yummy cupcakes. And there was plenty of wine.

Although nobody but Lisa finished it and half of us didn't even start it, we *did* discuss the book! We talked about things like why we didn't read it! Those of us who started but didn't finish felt we got plenty of the flavor from what we did read. It's a tough one to read without also studying its context.

I meant to look up why it is so important and didn't, so I will simply cut and paste from Wikipedia for our mutual edification: "Published in two volumes, in 1605 and 1615, Don Quixote is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age and the entire Spanish literary canon. As a founding work of modern Western literature and one of the earliest canonical novels, it regularly appears high on lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published."

Naturally we talked about other books we are reading and life as we know it as well.

NEXT MEETINGGet ready for a pre-Halloween meeting!
Where: Leann's
When: Thursday, October 20, 6 pm
What: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

August 21 - 'Migratory Birds'

Six of gathered at Darla's "pool" - aka her living room table! The sky was threatening and air conditioning just too inviting. It was great to hang out with Darla in her new digs and share pizza, popcorn, fancy mustard and crackers from Becky, tzatziki and gazpacho by Karen, olives and cucumbers ala Lisa, and a fabulous cheese-pastry dessert that I cannot remember the name of - please remind us Michelle, it was great.

I'm not sure how many of us finished the book but we talked quite a bit about it. Nobody seemed to like the characters; perhaps that makes for a good discussion about motivations and story arcs.

As per usual, many other books came up. Please chime in with what you talked about; I didn't write them down, so the only one I can report is the one I'm reading: Ghost Songs by Regina McBride, which is coming out October 4.

NEXT MEETING
Where: Chez Rebecca (new house!!)
When: TBA
What: TBA

June 29 - 'The Forgetting Time'

Seven of us gathered at Karen's for a terrific book group meeting. The weather was lovely, and we were treated to a tour of Karen's gardens and a peek at the fox kits in the field next door as well as the usual feast. Curried sweet potato and goat cheese wontons by Becky complemented Karen's watermelon squares with balsamic sauce, cheese and crackers, and sugared nuts for appetizers. For the main course, Karen contributed a hot and a cold soup (recipes, please!),  and we had lovely salads: a beet salad made from her CSA by Heather; grape salad by Michelle from a recipe of her mother's; and cucumber, bean salads from from Darla (and the Co-op). I brought a loaf of Bill's sourdough bread, and Lisa brought s'mores bars and pecan pie for dessert. And there was beer, lots of beer (and wine for the wine drinkers).

We had a really interesting conversation around the book. Everyone liked it, and it led to a wide-ranging discussion from reincarnation to ghosts and what we're here to do in this life.

NEXT MEETING
Where: Darla's (formerly Becky's) pool
When: Sunday, August 14 (time TBA)
What: Migratory Animals by Mary Helen Sprecht

May 23 - 'The Orphan Train'

Six of us gathered around Lisa's water garden to discuss The Orphan Train. Aside from two sangrias, she served us lovely soups--broccoli and cheese and a cold soup--and a lovely watermelon salad. Leann added a edamame rice salad (which we all really liked), and we had AMAZING desserts: home-made cheesecake and straight-from-Boston peanut butter whoopie pies and lemon pound cake.

We counted ourselves lucky to be so well provisioned considering the book. I think we all enjoyed it, however.

Naturally we talked about a million other books, and nobody had anything to write on. So, please send  your book recommendations to the list.

NEXT MEETING
Where: Karen's
When: TBA
What: The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin

March 22 - 'The Spinning Heart'

Heather hosted eight of us for lovely evening of Irish conviviality. Her corned beef and cabbage was delicious, as was her colcannon, both of which were complemented by Michelle's tasty casserole with a sweet potato crust. Karen made a yummy sweet bread, Lisa's little sandwiches were so good, and Susan's apple cake (complete with candles and singing for certain birthdays) was the bomb. My apologies, but I can't remember what else was there, it was kinda overwhelming (in a good way!).

Those who read the book found much to discuss in well-written novel about difficult circumstances.

NEXT MEETING
We don't have a meeting scheduled for April. Should we?

Febraury 28 - 'The Swan Thieves'

Five of us gathered on a spring-like afternoon for a sumptuous feast provided by Michelle and to discuss The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. Michelle's menu of jambalaya, curried vegetable soup, and blue cheese custard was rounded out by Karen's delicious salad. The hors douvres included edamame and cheese on crackers and BBQ potato chips (the latter thanks to me - somebody's got to do it). Bread and rolls I think were supplied by Leann, and Becky grilled banana bread and added ice cream and caramel sauce for dessert.

The bling that was brought to exchange was quite lovely, and most of us found things to take -- or wear -- home.

We also had a lively discussion of the book, which everyone seemed to like and most of us listened to instead of read. We all guessed what was going to happen to some extent, but it left questions (excellent in a book discussion book) -- how much moral latitude should artists be given? How about that psychiatrist breaking the rules! Any chance Robert was related to Beatrice?

NEXT MEETING
What: The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan
Where: Heather's
When: March, date TBA

January 18 - 'Voracious'

Report from Lisa:

Seven of us gathered at Susan’s to discuss Voracious. I think many of us enjoyed the book, especially as the recipes were very good, and a lot of the books Cara had read were ones many of us had read too.  The one thing that several people felt was it was a bit choppy, and I also felt at times that the chapters were just expanded versions of her blog. Overall I believe we liked the book. We started the evening with a swap of cookbooks and kitchen items, and plan to do something similar at Michelle’s. We all agreed this may have been our best meal, inspired by some of the recipes in the book.   Becky started us out with a black bread inspired by Les Miserables with goat cheese and fig spread.  Susan made some wonderful nuts from Silver Palate, and her main dish was a pasta dish that she Cara Nicoletti remembered her father making every day.  (I can’t recall what chapter this was, and don’t have my book with me!).  Michelle made  a carbonara dish that was not pasta but squash, and also equally good.  Karen made the caramels and also a terrific Lentil Salad from the Valley News.  Leann made a pumpkin soup and Heather the garlic soup that was also from the book.  In addition to the pasta, and yummy sangria, Susan made a lovely ginger cake with the blood orange sauce from the book, and I brought mudslide cupcakes, from my new cookbook Prohibition bakery.  Cam joined us for dinner, and a good time was had by all.  Attached is my recipe for the mudslide cupcakes, please share your recipes for all the other yummy stuff with the group, unless it is in the book. 

Below is our list of who is hosting when, and what book we are reading so far.  The suggested swap for Mardi Gras at Michelle’s is bling.  So if you are interested in purging your jewelry and want to update your choices, bring some along.  Hoping all of us can get together in February, those who were absent were missed.  Bon Appetit. Lisa

January: Voracious-Susan

February: Swan Thieves-Michelle

March: Spinning heart-Heather

April:

May: Orphan Train-Lisa

June:-Karen

July:

August:-Becky

September:

October:-Leann

November:

December:-Nancy

December 9 - 'A Redbird Christmas'

Nine of us gathered at Nancy's for our annual holiday gathering. As usual, we had yummy food (Michelle's onion tort was my favorite, I think). The book was roundly disliked for being the cliched, treacly work it is, but hey, it's a Christmas story. Plus it had recipes.

Now, the Yankee Swap was truly fabulous this year, with much swapping and laughing. And the bow has left my house for good! Win-win!

NEXT MEETING
Where: Susan's
What: Voracious by Cara Nicoletti
When: TBA

October 30 - 'American Ghost'

Six of us gathered at Leann's for a spooky Book Soup. Mary Beth joined us from Burlington! We had lots of yummy appetizers, veggie casserole and pizza, and a snazzy pumpkin-gingerbread mini trifle for dessert. Thank you, hostess, and all contributors!

We talked about everything, of course, and then the book: American Ghost by Hannah Nordhaus. The general consensus was enjoyment of the mix of history, family lore, and ghost hunt (with some caveats, of course). Then we told our own ghost stories. Fun!

On to the holidays. We were charged with finding a holiday book, and such we will read. Exact date to be determined, but it will be at Nancy's house and will include -- what else -- a Yankee Swap.

NEXT MEETING
Where: Nancy's
What: A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
What else: Yankee Swap (if new, <= $10)
When: TBA

September 25 - 'The Golem and the Jinni'

Seven of us gathered for a delectible meeting at Karen's. The hostess supplied middle eastern chickpea stew and Mediterranean platter (hummus, pita, olives, feta), Becky brought a platter of quesadillas; Michelle brought delicious green beans, Heather brought spicy roasted cauliflower with blue-cheese dressing, Leann brought a wonderfully crunchy green salad. I saw Darla with some wine, and I supplied a mud pie for dessert. I think we were full and happy! Recipes please, ladies.

The book: well, not everybody finished it, but I think those that did were mostly positive about it. How's that for a summary?!

Naturally we talked about other books as well, including Grandma Gatewood's Walk, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights, and Voices in the Ocean.

NEXT MEETING

When: Friday, October 30, 6 pm
Where: Leann's
What: American Ghost by Hannah Nordhaus

August 15 - 'The Last Bookaneer'

Six of gathered on a sultry summer afternoon for our discussion of The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl. Becky hosted us by the pool, where we cooled off, both in the water and by drinking "water." Even though almost nobody finished the book, everyone seemed favorably disposed toward it. And we had such a lovely time munching on "Popsicles" and cucumber soup (thanks Michelle!), pita and dips, fruit, popcorn... The picnic table was very full, I'm sure I'm forgetting wonderful things, but you get the idea. Happily the rain held off til we cleared out from poolside.

NEXT MEETING
When: September sometime
Where: ?????
What: The Golem and the Jinni: A Novel by Helene Wecker

July 17 - The Martian

Seven of us gathered around the fire pit at Lisa's to discuss The Martian. Lisa had some theme food for us (potato salad, which was "a little chipoltle" and incredible), a yummy kale (from Charlie's garden) and rice casserole, and strawberry cake (100% from scratch). The rest of us filled in with appetizers, except for the Karens. Karen S. brought us a cooling watermelon gazpacho and Karen M. supplied us with Mars Bar cookies in abstentia (we missed you!).

After our usual general chat, we had a long discussion about the book. I believe everyone who read it liked it. I admit, I put it down, but it sounds like I gave up just before it got more interesting as more characters and viewpoints were added. Also interesting: needing to know how the main character fared drove some of us who never read the end first to do just that. The book itself is a great rags-to-riches story; not only is it a first novel, it was self-published and did so well a mainstream publisher picked up. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Matt Damon and directed by Ridley Scott, I see a Book Soup movie outing in our future!

NEXT MEETING
Where: Becky's pool
When: Mid-to-late August
What: The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl

May 11 - Book shower and show-and-tell

We had a fun evening on my screened porch wishing Shirley well on her upcoming nuptials and talking about what we had been reading lately. For those of you who didn't make it, check out this book on Amazon: Fifty Shades of Chicken.

Here is the list of reading material I jotted down: 

• The life changing magic of cleaning up
• Being mortal
• The Martian
• The Truth According to us (by the author of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, coming in June)
• Euphoria
• The boys in the boat
• All the light we cannot see
• H is for Hawk
• Article about Jean McConville in The New Yorker
• Adrian McKinty books
• The chessman by Peter May
• Masie Dobbs
• The Dead Wake
• Circling the Sun by Paula McLaine (coming in July)
• The book of Unknown Americans
• Almost Famous Women

NEXT MEETING: TBA!

February Meeting

Thank you, Michelle, for hosting us on a such a chilly night! It was lovely to warm up with delicious gumbo and cocktails from The Big Easy, finishing it off with Lisa's king cake cupcakes. It was also fun sharing the first episode of the HBO series Treme and comparing it to the book Nine Lives.

NEXT MEETING
What: Sweetland by Michael Crummey
Where: Salt Hill in Hanover (in honor of St. Patrick's day)
When: A date in March TBD

December 15 - holiday reading

Nine of us gathered at Nancy's for our annual Christmas meeting and Yankee Swap. We had loads of wonderful appetizers, the standout being Michelle's shrimp cocktail, served with an actual cocktail-- and desserts--Lisa's espresso cake took the cake. The Yankee Swap was our usual mostly-tame affair, with lovely gifts, Heather's bug shirt being the standout here; thanks for making it non-lethal this year, Heather! ;-)

Many holiday reads were discussed. Here's the rundown I captured:

The Red Suit Diaries by Ed Butchard
The 13th Gift by Joanne Huit Smith
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron
An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor
Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler
A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd (book movie is based on)

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (book movie Christmas with the Kranks is based on)

All I Learned About Christmas Came From a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow

Some non-holiday reading was recommended as well:

True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan
Sous Chef by Michael Gibney
The Calle Sisters (where the Brothers Grimm got their stories) - I could not verify this title, please let us know more, whoever suggested this.

By request, here are Heather's recommendations for movies:

The Nativity

Danger in the Manger

NEXT MEETING

We need to figure out where and when, but we have a book! As folks were heading out the door, we realized we hadn't spent a second discussing our next meeting. Lisa mentioned hearing NPR book critic Maureen Corrigan's top twelve of 2014. Someone else said, "Let's just pick on of those," and someone else said "Number seven." OK! So I present to you or first read for 2015:

The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters

November 17 @ the Norwich Inn

Six of us braved the weather for dinner at the Norwich Inn. (Apologies to anyone discouraged from coming by my last-minute panic over the potential for freezing rain.) I think we all agreed the food was delicious, and the size of the group made it easy for everyone to participate in the conversation.

As it was a book show-and-tell, I will leave to you all to chime in on books to post here. However, I want to make a plug for All The Light We Cannot See, which I read and Lisa is listening to right now. A National Book Award finalist, it is amazing

Also, we talked about Irish mystery writers, and I could not remember the name of the one I recently discovered and loved. So here he is: Adrian McKinty. I read In the Morning I'll Be Gone and loved it. If you'd like to read my review, here is the link: http://scrinanbbles.blogspot.com/2014/04/book-review-in-morning-ill-be-gone-by.html

We were supposed to decide what to read for December, but we punted and said read a Christmas story. Since most of us take in Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," I'd like to propose we read the original, and if you can't stand that idea, read another classic tale and tell us about it.

Oh, and our fabulous Yankee Swap! Here's the deal: bring something consumable or book-related, used or new, but not more than $10 if new. Please, no bow-and-arrow sets.

NEXT MEETING

When: Monday, December 15, 6 pm
Where: Nancy's
What: "A Christmas Carol' or other classic holiday tale
What else: Yankee Swap, consumable or book-related ($10 or less)

October 24 - Warm Bodies

Nine lovelies gathered at Leann's for a spooky and delicious nosh and discussion of the book Warm Bodies. We also viewed the movie, during which could oft be heard, "It's better than the book!" How often do you hear that? A reflection of the feelings of many about the book.

Next Meeting
Where: ?
When: ?
What: ?

September 22 - The Bees

Susan hosted a large group for our honey-themed discussion of The Bees by Laline Paull. Delicious foodstuffs, and even cosmetics (thanks Michelle!) were available to all. Leann brought everyone actual honey  as well as Bit-o-Honey candies. Lisa made a wonderful honey cake, about which she says: "Here is the recipe! http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Honey-Cake-367189 (most likely even better if you use the orange zest). As for the glaze, mine was just powdered sugar, whipping cream, lemon zest and lemon juice."

It was an amazing night. Everyone finished the book! And everyone seemed to like it, too.

Next Meeting
Where: Leann's
When: Friday, October 24, 6 pm
What: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Viewing of the movie version of this ZomRomCom is also planned. Costumes welcome!