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...

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