2021 10-30 Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner hosted by Brenda

 

Well y'all missed a great day at Cliff and Brenda's home for her discussion of her book Angle of Repose. We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather. Cliff and Brenda were great hosts.  Denise's husband Bill and Cliff got to listen to our crazy discussion that sometimes went off topic. Go Figure!. Thanks Cliff and Brenda for the great food and company. Oh and a tour of the barn(do). And the ever so yummy dessert.

Some folks still had to finish but we were able to have a discussion. Some of us had a hard time Listening/reading the book at least in the beginning but much easier halfway through. Brenda liked the book but didn't love it. 

Suzanne was excited about the fact that her DIL was from Grassy Hill, CA. It's always fun to recognize a place or thing when reading a book I think.. The one thing she thought was way off was the fact that Susan sold 4 pictures she drew for $600. For that day and time that is a pretty hefty price. 

The book is narrated by Lyman Ward, historian professor in a wheel chair who doesn't have much of relationship with his present day family but decides to write about his grandparents and their relationship in the late 1800's. 

So many people in reviews thought this book was beautifully written when you read reviews. I had a hard time thinking it was beautifully written. The title is and engineering term about the angle of the soil when it finally rests. Susan and Oliver were at the angle of repose at the time of their death, but prior to that their love for each other wasn't totally enough with all their struggles and Susan's dealing with the life in the wild west. It took the discussion at book club meeting for me to understand the meaning of the title and how it related. 

The writer did have a way of writing with detail that you could see and feel what the Wards saw and went through so okay maybe I'll give Stegner a 4 out of 5 for detailed vividness's. hmmm did that make sense. Oh well. 

The question left hanging out there.....Was Susan Ward unfaithful or not. Some say yes some say pretty close to it. LOL

Everyone needs to finish the book to make their own decision whether the book is beautifully written or not. 

So the next person to announce a book was Suzanne. Her book choice was "The Warehouse" by Rob Hart.  I took a survey and the next meeting will be on a Saturday in January... Suzanne you need to let me know which Saturday You'd prefer so I can post it on the website. 

 Location to be announced at a later date.

Next to Choose:   Barbara, Carla, Cheryl, Denise, Diana

Until next meeting.... Get to reading

2021 07-15 Kabul Beauty School. Hosted by Lauren

  Well who knew that we'd all like Afghani food. The New Safron Kabob House worked out great. Basically we were the only ones there for the longest time.

The food was really good and so was the service. A couple of us had Mantoo which is dumpling with beef and there was Balano (an Afghani calzone of potato's and leaks) And there were soups and bread etc etc.

I missed my favorite photographer Elly and I was off my game but did get a picture of us at the table.  Thank you everyone who made it out and missed those of you who didn't make it.  Next time.

The mother of a friend of Lauren's had read this book and suggested it. Lauren was thinking it would be a light summer read. LOL

Everyone had a nice time Thursday and we all agreed we loved the book. 

When Kabul if there was a party the men partied on one floor and the ladies on the another or were separated by a curtain. There was no dating only arranged marriages. The girls had to endure beatings sometimes by the husband and the mother in law would make her be a slave. But under that burqa the ladies were anything but boring. They're make up and dress would make them look like a drag queen. Especially the brides. And the ceremony of preparing a girl for her wedding. OUCH! 

We were all amazed at the culture as was Debbie but she never showed fear. Maybe she was too naïve at the time. 

Debbie solicited for donations from every where and stored them up until she had enough to open a school. This is her story of her journey being a western woman living in Afghanistan. She was not the first to open and operate such a school but she shared her story in this book. Some of the students shared their stories too. Debbie Rodriguez wanted to empower the ladies of Kabul and teach them the proper way to apply makeup and how to perm, cut and style hair. The ladies could then open their own beauty salons to earn money to support themselves and their family. There became a fine line between teacher and being a friend. 

One student couldn't come to the school until her husband could come and check out the school and Debbie. They stayed with Debbie and Sam in the guest house. One night the husband started beating his wife so Debbie called Sam at work to come home to stop it. Debbie asked Sam if they could break the husbands legs once Sam got the man away from the wife. LOL

Her students even arranged a marriage with an Afghan man to help Debbie save her reputation and harassment by other men. Sam lived with Debbie but at sometime he got his other wife pregnant. A wife Debbie didn't know about but knew. Sam was lacking in the western ways of how to treat a woman with affection but he did treat well and protect her. 

Sam started following the example of their western friends of how to treat a woman.so If the friend held his wife's hand, Sam would hold Debbie's.. One time after being teased he ignored the husband. Then when the wife sat on his husbands lap, Sam got up and sat in Debbie's. 

So several people next to choose weren't at the meeting and Barbara announced a book which we had already read called Born in Crime.. That was Cheryl's choice back in 2018.  Sorry Barbara

So the next person to announce a book was Brenda. Her book choice was "Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner. Next meeting is September 16th a Thursday. Location to be announced at a later date.

Next to Choose:   Pam, Sandy, Susan, Suzanne, Tamica, Barbara, Carla

Until next time....Reading one book is like eating one potato chip. ~Diane Duane

2021 05-20 An Appetite for Murder hosted by Lisa

 Dang it another book club meeting I had to miss. I was looking forward to some Cavatore's. A trip to the Houston area 2 days in a row wasn't in my cards. Crossing my fingers that my doctor trips to Houston area are done for a while. Thanks to everyone who came out for Lisa's book discussion.

So by the picture I received everyone enjoyed themselves. Thanks for taking and sending me the picture to add to our album.

An Appetite for Murder by Lucy Burdette was an easy fun read. Hayley Snow lives on a house boat with her college roommate after finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman. Hayley's life has always evolved around food. She's struggling to find her place in the world then decides to apply for a food critic position for Key Zest Magazine as a food critic. Then she finds out her new boss if hired would be non-other than the "Other Woman" who ends up getting murdered. Hayley becomes the prime suspect. Did she or didn't she? The police and her lawyer believed her to be guilty. Even her friends were beginning to wonder.

Hayley set out to find the true murderer before she ended up in prison for something she didn't do. 

You'll find mouth water food reviews, adventure, danger, craziness and maybe redemption.  Read and find out if you haven't finished

This is book 1 of the Key West Series. I may have to read more and see what other adventures or trouble Hayley gets into.

Next to choose a book was Lauren.  Her book choice is Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez. Our next meeting will be maybe Thursday July 15th. Location to be announced later.  I've got to wait until later to read this time or I'll forget what I read. Retired hazard. LOL

Next to Choose:   Pam, Sandy, Susan, Suzanne, Tamica, Barbara, Brenda

Your book loving friend,   Carla

2021 03-31 One Way or Another by Colleen Coleman hosted by Kathy

 Kathy's meeting had a small turn out this time but her book choice was a good read. The author Colleen Coleman was exploring the sense of identity, personal and professional and how close they are linked to what we do and how successful you are.  When things happen out of our control we question our self worth. 

I saw that a donation from the sales of this book are donated to supporting age-concerned charities. So each of us helped by buying this book and have provided a little comfort and relief to someone who is/was doubting the self worth.

29 year old Katie lost her self worth when after culinary school she opened her first restaurant and it failed. Her boyfriend left to travel the world and now she's sleeping on her friends sofa for the last 2 years. She's cooking for a senior care facility. Not exactly her dream job.

She sees a casting call for a reality show called Master Chef and at the urging from Martha, resident at the facility she enters. And who would she see but her Ex.

And the story begins.

This book was a pleasant surprise. It was funny and a typical fluff story. Did anyone else get hungry while reading this book. It was a fun and quick read.

Hope everyone enjoyed this book.  Thanks to all who made it out to the meeting. And big Thanks to Kathy for the pictures.

The next to choose was Lisa Rhodes. Her book choice was "An Appetite to Murder" by Lucy Burdette.

Our next Meeting is Thursday May 20th.  The Location will be determined at a later date.

Next to choose will be:  Lauren, Pam, Sandy, Susan, Suzanne, Tamica, Barbara

 

2021 02-11 Pale Faced Lies by David Crowe hosted by Jay Jay

 Well shoot I wasn't able to make this meeting due my stupid knee pain and weather in our area. I really wanted to come and hear everyone else's comments and thoughts.

Thanks to those who made it out to the Spanish Flower to discuss Jay Jay's book choice Pale Faced Lie by David Crowe. It looks like those present had a nice time with all the smiling faces.

Thanks again Elly for being Photographer. You do a great job.

Wow what an opening to the book where Dad takes David for a drive. NO Seat belts . Dad would slam on the brakes and do donuts in the dirt slinging poor David into the dash and everywhere. Granted little David was a little shit but no one really disciplined him. And the beatings with the belt with the buckle. Geez I can't imagine the pain.

And OMG the ironing board accident with his little brother. And Mom was no help.

I personally would have loved to hear Lonnie's perspective of growing up in this family. She turned out great.

It took until David was 52 to be free from the memories and pain of his childhood. All thanks of the man who lived in David's old home. Crazy he poured his life out to this guy. But he was healed.

I liked the way it ended. Of course who expected David to become the guardian of his Dad and Mona. In the end I think his Dad felt some remorse for how he treated David.

I still don't understand the why the Dad felt it necessary to lie about their heritage. To the outsider it was obvious that the kids weren't Cherokee but the Dad insisted and David believed it to the end. 

I was reading through various reviews and ran across one that was from a friend and colleague who was surprised at David's abusive childhood and his destructiveness. The reviewer says that David couldn't be farther away from the David he knows who is sincere and thoughtful.

One reviewer wrote that he hated the book. There was no remorse, no happiness in the end, let alone the broken laws that were covered up. Ouch

I thought the good part was that all the children grew up and became successful adults in spite of their background and abuse.

To the good part.  Kathy announced her book choice to be....

Next to Choose:   Lauren, Lisa, Pam, Sandy, Susan, Suzanne, Tamica, Barbara

Hopefully one of the above ladies will be ready with a book at the next meeting.

The next meeting will be in March 25, 2021

Location TBA

Until then...