January 2015 meeting

Dear Bookclub,
We will be meeting this Thursday, January 22 at my house to discuss "The Language of Flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Please RSVP.
 The following is a blurb from the Random House website.

About the Author

Vanessa Diffenbaugh was born in San Francisco and raised in Chico, California. After studying creative writing and education at Stanford, she went on to teach art and writing to youth in low-income communities. She and her husband, PK, have three children: Tre’von, eighteen; Chela, four; and Miles, three. Tre’von, a former foster child, is attending New York University on a Gates Millennium Scholarship. Diffenbaugh and her family currently live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where her husband is studying urban school reform at Harvard.
Vanessa Diffenbaugh is also the founder of the Camellia Network.  The mission of the Camellia Network is to create a nationwide movement to support youth transitioning from foster care. In The Language of Flowers, Camellia [kuh-meel-yuh] means “My Destiny is in Your Hands.” The network’s name emphasizes the belief in the interconnectedness of humanity: each gift a young person receives will be accompanied by a camellia, a reminder that the destiny of our nation lies in the hands of our youngest citizens. For more information visit www.camellianetwork.org

The Diffenbaugh family: (from left to right) PK Diffenbaugh, Donavan Ford, Chela Diffenbaugh, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Tre’von Lyle, Sharon Higgins, and Miles Diffenbaugh

Happy Reading!
LK

January 2015 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
Happy New Year! Our holiday party was so enjoyable. The Rancho Bernardo Country Club was a festive setting for our gathering, complete with an attentive waiter to keep the chat 'flowing'. I was so relaxed, I shed my leadership role completely, neglecting to memorialize with some snap shots, and am grateful for the photos taken by others below, as a remembrance of the evening:

 And now... moving forward into the new year, some administrative details about the calendar and hosting. I am proposing to start our year, hosting January and hope that you will let me know ASAP when you would like to host. Please look at last year's schedule as your guide;we seem to be settling into a pattern and if you feel you can commit to the same month as last year, that would be great. Otherwise please speak up with a preferred month. January has five Thursdays and I am electing to host on the fourth Thursday: January 22.

Our selection for January is "The Language of Flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.

Sigh...the suggestion is fragrant. I can smell them!

Happy Reading...
LK


PS: Pam Warnock, is putting together an author's dinner on Wednesday February 11th at Carver's. She has 3 authors lined up: Susan Meissner, whose latest book, "The Secrets of a Charmed Life", comes out the first week of February (about the Blitz in WWII), Marivi Soliven, author of "The Mango Bride" (this book won one of the highest literary awards in the Philippines), and Pat Jackson-Collando, author of "Stashes", a satire about Gen X and the Millenniums. An interesting line-up! Attendees will have a choice of salmon, chicken or prime rib and one of three salads, coffee/tea or soft drink. Cost will be $45-50 including tax and gratuity. Please let me know if you are interested in attending and I will help arrange.

PPS photo credits:  #1 - Karen Ferrette
#2, #3, #4 - Truman Capote's Black & White Ball (we should be so lucky).... inspiration for next year?