2020 12-05 Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano hosted by Jan

It was a great day to be with a bunch of book nerds.  Thank you Jan for hosting the meeting for Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano in your home. It was great seeing everyone that was able to make it out. It's always nice to have our discussions in someone's home where we can all hear.  And I love the new tradition of passing the talking stick. I believe at the last meeting it was a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon but this time it was a real Indian talking stick made by a friend of Jan's.

I missed the last meeting when Jan announced her book and the subject matter. It made several of the girls hesitate to read but they did and loved the book. I listened to the book blind and had no idea so when I commented that I must have went to sleep because one minute Eddie and his family were on a plane and next he was in the hospital. I had no clue the plane crashed for a bit.

Denise was glad to hear why the plane went down and decided to do a little research on a Flt 447. She was able to give a good explanation of how Eddie's plane and the Flt 447 that went down in a similar situation. Apparently almost all planes are actually flown on auto pilot. The co-pilot of Edwards plane had over corrected when he shouldn't have and the Captain didn't realize it until it was too late.

Many of us have issues with flying but several said you get on that plane and put in God's hands.

Diana pointed out that Eddie now Edward had always shared a room with his brother so it wasn't so much the baby's room or his Aunt and Uncle that caused him to go to Shay's house next door to sleep.

The fortune teller was the one who really started Edwards healing when she told him he wasn't special or lucky. It was just the natural order.

Barbara didn't want to read the book at first because of the sad subject but the book wasn't written. Edward helped Shay, the principal, Jordan's girlfriend, his Aunt and Uncle and they all helped raise him.

Suz loved the book and wants to start the tradition of the talking stick with her grandkids. 

Ellen was glad to see that the Uncle John had saved the letters for when Edward was ready he could read but Edward of course found those letters. The letters helped bring him and the Uncle closer. She felt sorry for Aunt Lacey. She wanted a baby but got a 12 year old.

Jay Jay loved the fortune teller but didn't like that the Aunt kept wearing her sisters clothes. Understanding it was her sister that died on that plane but think of how Edward felt.

Gaye agrees with everyone and loved the book. She loved the authors writing and how the story line flowed. It was nice how he put personalities to the people on the flight with Edward and his family.

Jan picked this book at the recommendation of a friend. It's not a book she would have picked on her own. She liked the principal how he used taking care of his plants to help Edward.

It was amazing how families of those killed on the plane wanted to touch Edward as if he was the chosen one. 

Loved the ending how the book tied up loose ends and Edward and Shay took the inheritance from Jax to help many of the families of those killed on the flight.

And it was fun recognizing the book that Eddie's brother was reading, A Prayer for Owen Meany as a book club book also chosen by Jan.

Great meeting and I was able to take decent notes by using the talking stick.

Again Thanks Jan for hosting in your home and cooking. Thanks to everyone who brought food And Ellen thank you for being the photographer. Great Job.

Next to chose was Jay Jay.... And her book choice is The Pale Faced Lie by David Crowe.  Our next meeting is January 14th, 2021.  That'll make 24 years we've all been together.  Location to be announced at a later date. 

At that meeting it will be Kathy, Lauren, Lisa, Pam, Sandy or Susan.

Also wanted to let y'all know that Deborah is dropping out for now. Family health issues. We'll miss her and she'll come back one day.  

What a Great Group of book nerds!

Get busy reading. 

Until next meeting... ~ Reading is a means of thinking with another person's mind; it forces you to stretch your own. 

Your secretary/former photographer.... I'm handing that title to Ellen. She does such a great job.

2020 10-15 The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes hosted by Gaye

    Well I sure hate that I had to miss this meeting. Looks like y'all had plenty of fun. And I see Gaye got her pig center piece.  LOL.  I'm guessing it's a cake... 

I really enjoyed this book. Can't believe Alice's mother being so cold and the father in law needed to be beat. Couldn't believe Bennett didn't do more. I think this was discussed but I think Bennett is weak and insecure being under his dad's thumb. All it took was the father yelling through the wall when Bennett and Alice were about to do the deed to kill the moment forever. But sure didn't mind telling his father about Alice's attempt to satisfy her husband.

I was looking at the reviews and there seems to be some discussion about the book's similarity to another book called "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek".  May have to try to read to check it out.  

This book was about sisterhood and overcoming  

hardships as they presented themselves. The book was based on historical stories of Horseback Libraries in Kentucky.  The joy, the grief, the friendships and the importance of reading were shared.

Jan was present and announced her book choice.... Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. The meeting will be December 5th at Jan's Home in Round Top.

Can't wait. Hope to see everyone there. If there's anything you want me to add to this post let me know and I will.

Next to Choose:   Jay Jay, Kathy, Lauren, Lisa, Pam, Sandy, Susan, Suzanne 

Until next meeting...

2020 09-17 Bluebird Bluebird discussion hosted by Cheryl

Thanks everyone for coming out to discuss Cheryl's book choice Bluebird Bluebird by Attica Locke.  It was one of our largest turnouts in quite a while.

FX bought the rights to the book and a show will be created. We always read books that end up being a movie. LOL My daughter was on call that day so she was able to come with me and she was our photographer for the night. Good job Pamela and Thank you.

I've managed to lose what notes I took that night but I can tell you that it generated a lot of chatter, not that this group has a problem talking. It's always neat to read a book when it talks about towns that we have heard of or know of. And this was one of those books. The author is a Texas gal and wrote about towns in East Texas except for Lark. It's by Amarillo. Oh well who cares.

Cheryl's book Bluebird Bluebird by Attica Locke. The book touches on racial and social issues and Cheryl worried it might be an issue with some due to all the unrest in today's world but no problem at all with this group.

The books is centered around Texas Ranger Darren Mathews who has to deal with his own decisions and conflicts. He went to law school but chose law enforcement over being a lawyer. Which caused a big divide between him and his wife and they separated.

Darren heads to Lark in East Texas to investigate the murders of a black man Michael and a white woman named Missy at the request of his Houston FBI agent friend even though he was currently suspended due to his part in helping his friend Mack with a white supremacist. The supremacist showed up at Macks place harassing Mack's granddaughter. Darren arrived to defuse the confrontation but shortly after the white supremacist ended up dead. And Mack is the prime suspect. 

The Lark sheriff is investigating the presence of a female body in the bayou behind Genva Sweet's Sweets but does little about the body of the black male Michael Wright also found in the bayou close the local bar. 

Darren starts at Geneva's place first and then he goes to the local bar that is filled with white folks only and some had the Aryan Brotherhood tattoos. In walks the dead man's widow Randie. The folks inside were not please with them being there. Some needed to put tape on this womans mouth. I understand she grief stricken but I would have thought she could sense the hatred and danger by being in that bars yelling.  And the fun begins..... There were a few twist and turns with a who's your daddy kind of story. And who killed who and why.

Everyone enjoyed the book.

Gaye Marie was ready with her book choice.... Her choice was The Giver of the Stars by JoJo Moyes.

Our next meeting will be October 15th!. The location will be determined once we can get an idea of how many will be able to attend.  It will either be at Gaye's home or at the Lupe Tortilla's on 1960 that has a room with doors so that conversations can be heard better.

Next to Choose:  Jan, Kathy, Lauren, Lisa, Pam, Sandy.  Have a book ready ladies.

Until then........

2020 08-20 Educated by Tara Westover - Hosted by Diana

 So nice to actually venture out to be with my fellow Book Nerds.

Thanks to all who dared to come out to join Diana to discuss her book choice of Educated by Tara Westover. 

I really liked this book and I believe so did everyone else.

We even had two special guests and maybe new members.... Jay Jay Kettler and Ellen Mayer.  Small world. I worked and knew Jay Jay before children and Ellen is a fellow quilter and former co-worker.

As you saw ladies our conversations go in all directions. We can't help ourselves.

Tara had no formal education until she decided to try school at the age of 17. Her education was life according to her father's rule. He preached his interpretation of the word of God. Her father had to preparing for the end of the world by hoarding food and being prepared to head further into the hills. Tara knew nothing of the real world except for her father's interpretation how the hospitals, schools, etc all try to brainwash you.  Her life was filled with herbs and working in her father's junkyard. And abuse. Her brother Shawn could be kind, caring and lovable but in an instant become violent.

All scraps, burns, gashes and bruises were treated by her mothers herbs. Her mother was a herbal healer and midwife.

Tara decided she wanted to go to school and started teaching herself mathematics and grammar. She needed a 22 on the ACT to get into college. She didn't succeed the first try but she got a 28 on her second try and was admitted to Brigham Young University and started studying history. As she sat in class and hearing the "The Holocaust" raised her hand and asked what is the Holocaust to have the professor tell her that wasn't funny and that she could leave.

Her thirst for knowledge took her to Harvard and to Cambridge.

Family ties were lost. Her father turned everyone against her.

This book had you questioning how could things get so out of whack and the children get lost. Once you started reading or in my case listening I didn't want to stop. Now the questions were did it really happen the way Tara wrote it?  Others didn't remember things happening the way she wrote them. Reality is all a matter of perspective. You and I may see the same wreck but each see different things. 

Tara showed her father as the leader and that no one crossed him. Even the mother. While the mother seemed more sympathetic to her children but she would not stand up to the her husband.

Tara broke the chains and reinvented herself and rose above her far back woods teachings with a thirst for knowledge. 

Next to choose a book was Cheryl. She announced her choice of "Bluebird Bluebird" by Attica Locke. And we decided to schedule our next meeting for September 17th.  So don't mess around. Get your book and start reading/listening!  Time is a ticking.  LOL

Next to choose will be...Ed, Gaye, Jan, Kathy, Lauren, Lisa, Pam, Sandy.

Hope to see you then.

Until then... 

Your secretary/photographer

2020 06-18 Killers of the Flower Moon hosted by (MIA) Deborah & The Mother in Law hosted by Denise

Tonight you discussed 2 books. The first one was Deborah's book choice. Deborah had to leave town to help her mom with her Dad who was ill.  I wasn't there either and Thanks to Diana I have pictures. YAY! Thank you Diana.  And Thanks to all of you were able to make it. Poor Gaye ended up at the wrong Spanish Flower and couldn't bear the idea of fighting the traffic back out 45.  

Everyone looks great!

Consensus was everyone loved both books. I really like this books too. I was told they talked but didn't necessarily take notes and that's okay. On Brenny, Denise and Diana read both books. 

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.....Everyone was amazed at the corruption that went on in Pawhuska with the murders and the skimming of the Osage Indian's money. And the discrimination. I remember visiting some of the Indian communities when I live up that way and even at a young age I knew the Indians were treated unfairly. We talked about it in school. It was cool that I could actually relate to the cities they mentioned in the book. I was just in Pawhuska in May 2019 with Pamela. We went to the Pioneer Woman's Mercantile. I wish I had read the book before I went. Thought I'd share some pictures I found of people and places.

Molly  Burkhardt                              Ernest Burkhardt

This is Pawhuska. The building in the middle that looks like a triangle is now renovated hotel. They were just opening some rooms up when we were there.

This is what was left of Rita and Bill Smith's house that was blown up.

Tom White

  J Edgar Hoover 1924

And this nerd is William Hale. He doesn't look like a killer.

It's hard to image that many Indians were murdered before anyone gave a damn and swindled out of their money.

The Mother In Law by Sally Hepworth Denise and Brenda didn't like the Mother in Law. Who did or could. She was cold and aloof yet just polite enough. She certainly wasn't the Mother in Law that Lucy had anticipate and wanted. The book started off with a bang..when the police show up at Lucy and Ollie's home to tell them that Diana, Ollie's mother was dead to what seemed like suicide but then things change and it became murder. My suspect was Patrick the son in law, Nettie's husband. There was no love lost there especially after the will was read. The weird thing was Diana had a good side to her that no one saw except for the refugee families.  

I was shocked at the will reading and the ending. WOW! Won't spoil the ending for those who haven't finished.

Now for the new book.....

Diana chose "Educated" by Tara Westover. This meeting will be August 20, 2020 and meeting place to be determined.

Get your book and get to reading.

Next to Choose:   Cheryl, Ed, Gaye, Jan, Kathy, Lauren, Lisa

Y'all need to be thinking of a book you can announce.

I miss everyone so hopefully I can join next time.

Your secretary/photographer

Carla

2020 21-Feb We Are Our Mother's Daughters by Cokie Roberts hosted by Brenny

Hi All! I'm finally posting something. I'm getting slow in my old age. Sorry I couldn't make it this time but Brenny and Barbara did share with me the new book announcement which I'll get to shortly.
But alas no pictures to share of the event but Brenny did have a great turn out of attendees at Los Cucos on Beltway 8. Love that place.

UPDATE: I lied there were pictures....  You can go to the photo gallery to see all the pictures taken.  Thank you Brenny 

Brenny chose this book because of how she loved Cokie's fair and unbiased reporting and the recent passing.  Brenny's book choice provided us many personal stories of Cokie's family and friends. And the stories of how woman pushed and fought to be part of everything and not stuck under some Male Macho thumb. It's always been a know fact that women had to fight for position and notice but the stories she shared of many of the pioneering women was awesome. I really enjoyed this book.
I had to laugh when I got to the I think 17th chapter and Cokie's mother told her and her sister to take the train and not drive because it would be safer. The girls were 40 years old. LOL It's my favorite saying to my daughter "I will always be your Mother no matter how old you are". It's just the way it is. Deal with it. 
I too should have taken notes on some of the stories to better remember them but kinda hard to do when I'm listening and driving down the road. LOL

I was reading the reviews on this book and folks either loved it for whatever reason. I truly enjoyed the stories whether they were outdated or not. If it hadn't been for the women who persevered in the late 1800's and 1900's for the advancement and recognition of women as it is today.  But that doesn't mean women are given the same recognition or advancement as men even today but it got the ball rolling. There are many women now who making great strides and the stories of them will be told by another women one day.  
If you haven't finished reading this book you should.

Deborah announced her book choice as "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann. Sounds like an interesting book. Get to reading folks.  Next meeting should be April 16th.
Next to choose is....Cheryl, Denise, Diana, Ed, Gaye, or Jan

Your official (MIA🙋) secretary/photographer

Carla