Book Thirty-Eight

December 20, 2013 @ Jackie's

Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear

 

 

A festive holiday table: a fitting atmosphere to discuss a murder. :)

While there wasn't a lot of mayhem or bad language, we don't think this should be classified as a young adult novel.

Supposedly this is Jimmy Fallon's chili recipe.  Jimmy should rethink the amount of hamburger, we think, but it was still tasty.

Calvin.  He didn't contribute to the conversation so much, but his presence added to the holiday cheer.

Five of seven spirits of Christmas Present!

 

 

Our next meeting:

 

Friday, January 31, 2014
6:00 p.m.
Sally's House

 

This I Believe, by Jay Allison

OR

This I Believe II, by Jay Allison



Book Thirty-Seven

November 9, 2013 @ The Middle Fork

What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty

 

The double meaning of the title wasn't lost on us.  Sure, Alice forgot who she was because of a blow to the head.  But she had forgotten who she was before that.  A really good read!

 

Delectable breakfast at the Middle Fork.  Dare I say, "ineffable"?

 

Six of Seven.  Oh, wait - there are seven of us.  Our newest member lends a certain credibility to our group, wouldn't you say?

 

Sally, channeling her inner animal.  Book club brings out the best in all of us!

 

 

Our next meeting:

 

Friday, December 20, 2013

6:00 p.m.

Jackie's House

 

Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear

Book Thirty-Six

September 28, 2013 @ The Middle Fork

The Wonder Bread Summer, by Jessica Anya Blau

 

 

I believe the consensus was that the group did not enjoy this particular literary endeavor.  I, however, do appreciate the reference to:



 

 ....because of a personal family connection.

 

Our next meeting:

 

Saturday, November 9, 2013
9:30 a.m.
The Middle Fork

 

What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty



Book Thirty-Five

August 24, 2013 @ Sally's

Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society, by Amy Hill Hearth

 

Some of the characters weren't quite developed, but we now know that if we ever think "club" is too plebian, we can always refer to our gatherings as a literary salon.

 

Lovely floral arrangement, straight from Sally's garden!  The last gasp of summer ....

Mimi, in profile.

Sally's partial collection of past-reads!

Sally's amazingly gorgeous garden!

The plan for Sally's amazingly gorgeous garden!

 

Bee a reader! (Or at least a Literary Spirit!)



Six of Seven, with Mimi joining in and the fierce guard frog being kept in check (lucky for us!).

Our next meeting:

 

Saturday, September 28, 2013
10:00 a.m.
The Middle Fork

 

The Wonder Bread Summer, by Jessica Anya Blau



 



Book Thirty-Four

August 3, 2013 @ Jackie's

A Test of Wills, by Charles Todd

 

What could be more refreshing on a hot summer day than cold blooded murder?
Perhaps the Bichon Frisé aperitif hovering in the background will do the trick!

 

On the menu: cucumber sandwiches so we could pretend we were in Jolly Old England.

How do you say "divine" with an English accent?  Perhaps we should just say, "Brilliant!" and leave it at that.

Scrumptious.



Four of seven - enjoying conversation and trying to stay cool. 
But since we're already pretty cool, that's easy enough to do.

 

 

 

Our next meeting:

 

Saturday, August 24, 2013
10:00 a.m.
Sally's House

 

Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society, by Amy Hill Hearth

Book Thirty-Three

June 29, 2013 @ Anne's

Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter

 

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Friends, Beautiful Lunch.  "Beautiful" is the adjective of the day!

...and speaking of beautiful!  So glad Cory could be here this month!

Madelines and a sprig of lavender, I think.  So, if Madelines represent Masterpiece Theater (and I think they do), what would be the food equivalent of Honey Boo Boo?  Twinkies?  And when I say I want Madelines, by no means do I really mean that I want Twinkies.  And believe me, all of that would make sense to you, if you had attended this particular book club!

Sally and Carol, wistfully looking to the horizon.  Dreaming of Italy?  Or Richard Burton?

Six of seven!  We are really rocking those hats, I must say.  :)

 

Our next meeting:

 

Saturday, August 3, 2013
11:00 a.m.
Jackie's House

 

A Test of Wills, by Charles Todd


Book Thirty-Two

May 31, 2013 @ The Cowfish Pub

Life after Life, by Kate Atkinson

 

Life after life after life after life ... when does it end?  Is that feeling of deja vu real? 
What about the feeling of Vuja De (that none of this has ever happened before)? 
Is it coincidence that we seven Literary Spirits ended up in the same place at the same time? 
Enquiring minds want to know....

Sally and Carol - one read the book and didn't like it, one didn't read the book.  Can you tell which is which?

Cora Lee, Anne, and Stacey.  One read the book in its entirety, one read 30 pages and one has not yet begun to read. 
And yet, a fascinating and enlightening conversation ensued.  This is why I love book club!



Six of Seven.  Cory, alas, was worn out this day and couldn't join us. 
I vote that Stacey and I split a bottle of wine at EVERY book club! 
Wait!  I have a sudden feeling that I've said that very thing before.  Just call me Ursula.

 

 

Our next meeting:

 

Saturday, June 29, 2013
11:00 a.m.
Tea @ Anne's House (wear a hat!)

Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter

Book Thirty-One

April 20, 2013 @ The Summit

On Kingdom Mountain, by Howard Frank Mosher

 

We didn't actually get around to talking about the book until we were getting up to leave - go figure! 
Reviews were mixed, with some Spirits liking it and others not.  We do agree with the Duchess,
however, when she says (and I'm paraphrasing here) that
we ought to treat others as if it's their last day on earth.




Cora Lee gave presents!  Bath salts and a laugh - how great is that?



This is not intended to mean that members of our book club are either fast or easy....




Carol's lovely adornments.

I'm sure this does not come close to looking as good as it tastes!



Five of Seven, a little blurry.  And we didn't even have wine!  (But we're not too sure about the waitress.)

 

Our next meeting:

Friday, May 31, 2013
6:00 p.m.
Stacey's House

 

Life after Life, by Kate Atkinson



Book Thirty

March 22, 2013 @ Carol's

The Tender Bar, by JR Moehringer

 

Spring in Wyoming = a winter candle, daffodils, SNOW, a good book, and great friends.

A Tender (potato) Bar was just the ticket for this wintry Book Club meeting!

Four of seven, in good spirits!

 

Our next meeting:

 

 

Saturday, April 20, 2013

9:30 a.m.

The Summit

 

On Kingdom Mountain, by Howard Frank Mosher

Book Twenty-Nine

February 23, 2013 @ The Middle Fork

The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway

 

Hot coffee at the Middle Fork ... almost makes us forget the self-involved "Lost Generation" (and that's a good thing).

No bulls were harmed in the making of this breakfast.

I say!  Can I wax poetic about the amazing French toast with apple something-or-other and syrup?

Four of seven spirits, posing in the nearby bicycle shop. A wonderful morning with friends!

 

Our next meeting:

 

Friday, March 22, 2013
6:00 p.m.
Carol's House

 

The Tender Bar, by J.R. Moehringer





Book Twenty-Eight

February 02, 2013 @ The Summit

The Life Before Us, by Romain Gary

 

A tender story, but a bit creepy at the end.  Trust my long experience.

Book club breakfast!  A great way to start the day!

Okay, I'm a little obsessed with food and condiments.

All seven literary spirits - full of stomach and contented of mind,
having discussed the various ways of referring to what we in the west call "soiled doves."

Our next meetings:

Saturday, February 23, 2013
9:30 a.m.
The Summit, or The Middle Fork, or Anne's House

 

The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway

 

 

Friday, March 22, 2013

6:00 p.m.

Carol's House

 

The Tender Bar, by J.R. Moehringer