Dear Bookclub,
I was very sorry not to attend bookclub at Diane's. This regret started weeks and weeks prior, realizing I would be out of town for the special, extraordinary evening that always is: "Diane-hosting'. Then circumstances shifted greatly for Diane when she sadly lost her mother earlier in the month. Her decision to invite our group to gather anyway, both as a comfort and as a tribute, further deepened my regret as I knew that this was going to be an extra, extra, special, extraordinary evening and indeed it was......from Diane:
"Well to begin with, we were a small, but mighty group on June 15: Sue Dohren, Karen Ferrette, Lynne Huepper, Lori Kimball and myself. Everyone was so very dear to accommodate all of my Nancy-isms throughout the evening. I let my Mom's favorite foods guide the menu: strawberries, brie, spinach quiche, and her signature Sour Cream Pound Cake.
Discussion was good. I found a local Nashville television interview that was recorded at the beginning of the Commonwealth book tour and shared that with the group to launch our discussion. There was reference in the interview to the autobiographical nature of the book. For the life of me I can't find the link to share with you here; but I'll keep looking. Everyone seemed to like the book (for those who had finished; most were close to completing) and we had some fun conversations about how a mother could send her four children across country for the summer without luggage - that was hilarious! And of course lots of discussion around the one summer tragedy, the revival of a author who regained his standing by "borrowing" a story, and the way in which Albie found out about his childhood. I thought it was a great book!
I'm afraid I kind of snowballed the selection of the next book... I honestly did not have time to research selections, so I suggested the book Lynne Huepper most recently recommended that has its origin in the far East on a tea plantation, and A Gentleman in Moscow. I asked Lynne to refresh us on the premise of the tea book which she graciously did, and then I shared how much I enjoyed the Amor Towles book along with this video: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8V6oDH9XRM
Me again .... this video is very clever!! I have wanted very much to read Towles' latest- great selection!
I don't know if this was the Ann Patchett interview that Diane described above, but it is very good. Please search to the bottom of the article(also good) to find a link to an actual interview .... worth listening to:
http://www.nashvillescene.com/arts-culture/books/article/20865213/nashvilles-ann-patchett-talks-about-her-bestselling-novel-commonwealth
The group of women that gathers each month as 'bookclub' has an ongoing energy that sustains a web of support and comfort reflected in a strength felt by members as circumstances arise. One never knows when you will be a feeder or be fed, as each of us see-saws through our lives. The books are mere magnets, attracting the minds; it is the individual spirits that find the opportunity to express, share and glean. Sometimes, you don't even have to be present to feel it, as I learned this past month. But I sure will be there in July.
Happy reading,
LK
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