2014 8-21 The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein Hosted by Cindy

Thanks Cindy for hosting the meeting in your home! It was great seeing Cindy again. She was just as energetic as ever. And look lookie It's Patrick! He came back. It was great seeing him too.
Cindy hired him as security for this unruly group and 
Kathy was hired as the kitchen but was fired as the evening wore on. Denise your forgetfulness was your loss but my gain. I ended up getting the pan of Chicken Alfredo. Yummy yummy.

It was as always a great night with food, friends and lots of talking. Might have even discussed the book.

Cindy had a great method in picking her book.... She went to the library and there was the section that said "Book you should Read" LOL and she grabbed this book. Well great choice Cindy everyone loved the book. 

Cheryl was apprehensive at first. She didn't want to read anything with a sad ending but she loved this book and was even hopeful.
The weekend before Cheryl started reading the book a friend of hers told her about racing her Porsche and how to race in the rain and how each car has it specialty.

Patrick said the dog sounded like a Buddhist monk. Then we got into a discussion about dogs being able to smell illness for example on 20/20 there was a story about dogs smelling cancer.

Kathy found it to be a thoughtful book. 


Enzo was a different kind dog. He didn't chase a car but raced it. He learned by watching TV, listening to his best friend Denny a wanna be race car driver. Enzo wants so badly to communicate but knows that won't happen until he dies and comes back with thumbs. yep this dog believes he will be reborn a human.

I guess you'll have to read the or finish the book to find out what happens...Does Denny make it as race car driver or does Enzo become human.?



So are you ready for your next reading assignments. Yep I said assignments. Kathy's choice is rather short so we all chose to add her second book. There's enough time to read both books honest so here goes..... first book to read "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo and the second book to read is "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho and Alan R. Clarke.

Get your books now and get to reading. Our next meeting is October 16. Kathy will let us know where when the date gets closer.

Next to choose will be Kris, Lauren, Lisa Rhodes, Lisa Roper, Naomi, or Pam Holdrup. Be ready ladies

Happy Reading
Your unofficial Secretary/Photographer

2014 06-19 Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith hosted by Jan Hughes

A good crowd showed up at Jan's for her book Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith. So just how or why did she pick this book. She had never read the book but was impressed that it had been made into a movie by Hitchcock. Plus the author was from Dallas.  The story line made her think of "Throw Momma from the Train". It's a take off of the book and during the movie they were actually watching the 1951 Movie of Strangers on a Train. But she wasn't impressed with her own choice and kept apologizing but no apologizing needed. That's what this book club is about. Reading and learning. We've all had our share of duds and really I didn't think it was that big of a dud.

I do know I may think twice about taking to strangers when I travel by public transportation. LOL

Brenda wasn't impressed with the book at all and couldn't believe something like this would actually happen. In today's world I could. People are weird and crazy.
Suz liked it but said it did get a little creepy. She hated Guy because he was such a wimp. Her favorite character was Miriam but she didn't last long.. With that said she didn't feel she would recommend it to others.

Suz had a new friend during the discussion that caused some excitement. Suz was moving fast and slung the damn thing towards Pam. That damn thing was A large tree roach crawling on her arm. LOL

What are the chances you meet a stranger on a train and a plan is devised to murder someone for each other?  Hopefully very slim.

We missed everyone that couldn't make it out to the meeting. Angie I hope your pup is okay. 

Kathy and Lisa Rhodes were off the hook because Cindy had actually given her book choice to Jan before heading off to Michigan.

So here's Cindy's Choice.... The Art of Racing in the Rain  by Garth Stein.  This book is narrated by the I believe the family dog. Well I know a dog narrates it.
Next meeting is August 21. Location to be announced.

Run out...Shop on Line...or check out your book soon.

I was told it's been long enough I could be called the official secretary but it just doesn't have the same ring.. LOL

Your unofficial secretary and photographer

Oh Jan guess what they made into a lamp today on Mega Dens.  A print plate just like yours!

2014 04-24 I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron hosted by Ed

I just want to say Thanks Ed for always being ready with a book and picking great books.

As always it was a great meeting. Great book, conversation and great friends. It’s hard to imagine that we’ve been together since 1997. I’m not sure many book club groups can say that.

Sorry some of you couldn’t join us. You were missed and maybe even talked about. Hehe  Sorry for the juggling around of the dates. First I made a mistake, tried to fix etc. but finally we got a date!

When asked why Ed picked this book he said “Because Gaye’s was so depressing”. Said with a twinkle in his eye and a smirk. He found this book light, intelligent and easy to read.

I can feel Nora’s pain or lack there of because she can’t remember why she walked into the kitchen or get in the car and forget where she’s going. So far I still recognized my daughter, family and friends. Nora wrote that most authors know when and how they came up with the inspiration to write a book but as the title says “I Remember Nothing” She think of this great idea for a book and then forget it but she guesses that at some point the idea stuck. It is sad that parts of her life slip away but she still has her sense of humor.

Everybody present and a couple who weren’t present said they loved loved the book. I was reading some of the reviews and some people weren’t happy with the way the story just stopped, they wanted more. Well our group loved it and thought it made you feel like you were sitting across the table with a friend just chatting over a drink.

And next to choose was Ms Jan. She wasn’t able to make it but I did get in touch with her and got the name of the next book.

Jan’s choice is Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith.  So don’t waste time so get that book and start reading. Our next meeting will be Thursday June 19^th.

Next to choose will be Cindy, Kathy, Kris, Lauren, or Lisa Rhodes. Be ready Ladies!

Happy Reading

Your unofficial secretary/photographer

Carla

2014 02-27 Last Chance to See Hosted by Gaye

For those of you who didn't make it you missed Duck gumbo and chicken noodle soup. Homemade! Gaye was the hostess with the mostest for her book "Last Chance to See" discussion.
She starts off the discussion recommending another book by the Father of Conservation called "A Sand County Almanac" by Aldo Leopold. Gaye likes to read for a purpose. Not that she don't read for fun too.

Gaye set the table with a theme. Feathers and very pretty ones too.

Douglas Adams with his zoologist friend Mark Carwardine travel across the world to document animals that are becoming extinct. And once that happens the world will never be able to recover them. He writes of their finds and travels with humor and with warning. The komodo dragon and the kakapo bird were maybe the most memoriable but then someone else says no it's the fruit bat.

Everyone had their cause that tore them up. For Gaye it was the dolphins that are now extinct per wikpedia. For Cindy it was the kakapoo bird. As Jan says the bird was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But then who knows if these animals are really extinct as Diana stated theres still so many areas that haven't been explored for wild life or people that haven't been discovered but technically they are extinct until that magic find.

The guys when traveling to these various countries were sometimes greeted with hostility because to the natives these guys were a threat as far as they were concerned. When explorers come in and made people aware of the extinct animal then others would follow, exploit the country, or cause disruption and possibly destruction of their homeland.

Jan was slightly disappointed because she was hoping they would do something to actually save but was happy they were making people aware of the situation.

Everyone enjoyed the discussion and the book. Not to mention the good food and friends.

So our next book was announced by ED....... His choice is
"I Remember Nothing" by Nora Ephron. He already knew he wanted to have the meeting at Tampico on 45 and of course the date is Thursday 4/17.

Next to choose will be Jan, add Cindy back in, then Kathy, Kris or Lauren.

Now Get to reading!

 

2013 12-19 An Irish Country Christmas hosted by Diana Davila

Our finally meeting for 2013 was no exception to the rule...It was great food, friends and conversation. Thanks Jan for allowing folks to use your lovely home as a meeting place. Love all the renovations. The place looks great.

Now those of you who didn't make it You missed Diana's scum-dilli-umpious stew. I mean it was really good. And cornbread by Diana and Kathy went great with the stew. Oh and you would have been gotten a cute little candy mouse that Kathy and Barbara created. Aren't they cute.

Diana picked this book because she thought it was a lite and easy read but even she had to admit it was rather wordy. Suzanne said she had to force herself to read this book. It was definitely not her cup of tea. Jan and Cindy were the only two to completely finish the book. 
We didn't hear Cindy's take on the book but Jan thought it was warm and about easier times. Barbara said she wanted to hire Kinky. Kinky coddled everyone.
An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor was set in 1962 in BallyBuckaroo a rural Northern Irish Village. This is the 3rd book in the series that features Dr Barry Laverty and his senior Dr Fingal O'Reilly. 

Many found the book hard to get into but after about a 100 pages it started to take hold. This book did have humor, odd village ailments and romantic troubles. Just as everyone got really into it the book ends and you don't know who Barry ends up with. Was it Patricia or Sue the music teacher?
Thanks Scotty for taking our pictue.

And in case you didn't realize it the book has a map, a glossary and recipes.

Now I would like to THANK everyone for my lovely gift. Y'all shouldn't have but it made me feel very special. THANK YOU

The suitcase and bag inside was used that very weekend. It was perfect for our quick get away.  

Our next meeting will be Thursday February 20th. And our next book was announced by Gaye. Her choice of reading for you is.................. 

Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine

Don't dally, get your book and start reading. Gaye will let me know later where our meeting will be.

Next to choose will be Ed, Jan, Kathy K., Kris or Lauren. Everyone be ready you never know if the person in front of you will be ready.

Until then... Happy Reading

 ~ The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination. ~

Here's to 2014 and 17 years of reading. Amazing  

Your unofficial Secretary/Photographer

Carla

2013 10-17 The Lace Reader hosted by Denise Arnold

What a better choice than to meet at Joe's Crab Shack and have a cup of clam chowder? We had a nice turn out and a special guest... Lisa Godin Espinoza. 

I personally had not seen her since I left WTS almost 15 years ago so it was great 
seeing her. She wasn't able to stay long but 
I was glad she got out and joined us even if it was for 
short visit.
Everyone loved the setting of 
The Lace Reader by Brunomia Barry. 
I would say the book got 4 out 5 stars. 
The setting in Salem, MA alone grabed everyones attention. 
I'd like to visit Salem one day myself.
There was some confusion on who was whose 
aunt or grandmother but still loved the book. 
Gaye had a hard time getting into the book but now like a 
couple of others who hadn't finished we do plan on finishing 
it after hearing all the comments and discussion. 
The book had passion and a little bit of magic.

And to think my maiden name is Whitney and this 
book is about generations of Whitney women who have a 
gift of reading the future in lace. Some times I think that 
would be a cool trait to have but then again maybe 
not.
Towner Whitney returns to her hometown of 
Salem, MA to get some tranquility in her life only to have it
turned upside down by the strange circumstances of 
her great-aunt Eva's drowning. She hooks up with John
Rafferty a local cop who left the big city police department 
for a quieter life.

When reading other reviews they compared this book to the Sixth Sense? mmm What do you think.?
Did things suddenly become apparent and more clear as the story progressed? 

The book is hard to get into and starts out slow but then slowly pulls you into the story line.
"Towner as narrator, even though she's told us from page one, "I lie all the time." By mid-book, we see the world through Towner's eyes and forget that she's warned us not to."  

Hope everyone takes the time to finish or just read the book.

Are you ready for the next reading assignment.......
Diana chose An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor. 
Don't waste time. Get out there and get your book and start reading. As discussed previously our meetings will be on the 3rd Thursday of every other month. So our next meeting will be December 19th.

Enjoy.

Your unofficial secretary/photographer

Carla

2013 08-07 Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet hosted by Deborah Marxsen

Such a relaxing evening with my Book Junkies @ Jimmie G's. We discussed Deborah's book Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Well Deborah you can relax because everyone enjoyed your book. At least I know of 8 folks who did. Sorry the rest of the group couldn't join us because we had a great time and the food was pretty tasty and plenty of it.

Book is about Henry Lee and the long boarded up Panama Hotel where belongings of Japanese immigrants were stored after they were herded into camps. The book jumps between 1986 and 1940 where Henry meets Keiko at the age of 12 and falls in love. A forbidden love because he is Chinese and she is Japanese.
The book shares the attitudes of the time period and the predjuices.

The items found in the basement of that hotel opens the door to a flood or memories. 

This book lets you know there is time for forgiveness. You can see human nature at it's best and at it's worst. 

Many teared up while reading this book. Did you?

Okay next to Choose is Denise. Her choice is The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. 






Until we meet again...The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't.  ~Mark Twain~

Carla