December 2021 Bookclub News

 

The Grand Tea Room

 

 Dear Bookclub,

Our December gathering was an indulgent Saturday afternoon tea, where we sipped, delicately devoured, and powerfully conversed (competing tables of enthusiastic women). Trusting I'd have our blog written by Christmas, I struggled for inspiration as the demands of the season and my frenzied fur-children vied for my attention, with creditors from Chewy and Kahoots visiting my inbox. Taking to the streets, I swept through the hills of the Trails, observing merry canines and delivery trucks at every turn. Daylight dwindled yet the atmosphere remained yuletide-infused. The nearly full moon illuminated the landscapes of succulents and holiday adornment. A shadowed movement caught my eye inviting me to swiftly follow. Taking care to remain sure-footed, I found myself on a rock-strewn path, losing ground with the being ahead. Down into a canyon, the creature fled. Interrupted silence jumped my heart - a jingling? A ruby glow punctuated the thick air as a dashing blur left me stone cold. Longing for my cats, my dog and my keyboard overtook. Rushing home, fingers busied themselves as words imagined.

 

If you hadn't a chance to read Samantha Silva's "Mr. Dickens and His Carol", you may be a little lost. Please read it, listen to it, enjoy it! Surprisingly, a few days ago, Nate put a movie on that grabbed my attention for its similarity to our recent read. I was tsk-tsking as the writer was not 'ours'; what robbery! Within a few minutes (but not after I'd annoyingly announced to Nate my disbelief at the situation one too many times), the story veered wildly from Silva's rendition. Turning out to be an entertaining flick, I recommend "The Man Who Invented Christmas" (with Christopher Plummer as Scrooge):

 

 https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/themanwhoinventedchristmas/ 

 

Brew some tea and reflect upon another fabulous year of bookclub. We missed all who could not attend but all were in our hearts:

 

 

 

 

Up next:

 Jolly reading,

LK

November 2021 Bookclub News

 

from colormeanings.com

 

Dear Bookclub,

Lit by the orange-hued ambience that was Karen's inviting home, we convened to discuss Mark Sullivan's
"Beneath a Scarlet Sky".  Treated to delicious soup, salad and ravioli, our enthusiastic bunch caught up with our latest news, adventures, and plans. Moving from the dining table into the more serious atmosphere of strawberry-rhubarb pie and enlightened-discussion-seating of the family room, talk turned to our November novel. 

 

Pino Lella....

from "Fra Noi.com"

All enjoyed Sullivan's rendition of Pino Lella's life journey although some found the afterward's telling of the real story sad. Please check out the blog piece below revealing some of the findings that veered from Sullivan's historic fiction:

https://www.literaturelust.com/post/why-the-best-selling-novel-beneath-a-scarlet-sky-is-raising-red-flags

And the more entertaining piece from "Fra Noi.com, Chicagoland's Italian American Voice":

 

https://franoi.com/profiles/ww-ii-freedom-fighter-pino-lella/ 

Apparently, Pino Lella has a pose, handsome guy that he was, as this similar stance in a photo posted by Mark Sullivan shows:

Karen's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Where the Past Begins/ A Writer's Memoir" Amy Tan *chosen

"Firefly Lane" Kristin Hannah

"The Book of Lost Names" Kristin Harmel

 

 

Up next:

 

 Jolly reading,

LK

 

 

October 2021 Bookclub News

 

 

Professor Julie's teaching aids

Dear Bookclub,

Julianne MacLean's "These Tangled Vines" inspired a Tuscan-themed evening fully embraced by our hostess. Wine enhanced by antipasto tuned us up for an organized discussion of the novel. Seated around Julie's dining table, we shared our impressions of MacLean's tangled tale, pronouncing it an enjoyable, light read. Deciding the main event(Anton's 'accident' with Freddie) was ambiguous, the resolutions at the end were appreciated. We especially liked some of the details including the wine vault of family-member-dedicated wines and savored the descriptions of settings and cuisine. And speaking of light cuisine(!), we were treated to a very special dessert that had its own tangled history.

 

oops!

 

Hopefully, Julie is no longer having tiramisu nightmares. Presenting us with a most delicious tiramisu cheesecake, she should be sleeping as snug as a bug in a SNOO. 

Julie's pursuit of the perfect tiramisu, reminded me of my enlightenment about the dessert's history, when I learned about it's meaning, "cheer you up", as my fabulous massage therapist called her business "Tiramisu Massage". Please enjoy: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiramisu

... and from Randy's blog:

http://www.spumonirestaurants.com/the-origin-of-tiramisu/#

 

 

Finally, to reinforce the misunderstandings surrounding tiramisu, here is a must-see clip of Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner ("Sleepless in Seattle") :

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVwwYxZzlSM

 

 

Julie's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Lincoln Highway" Amor Towles*

"The Paper Palace" Miranda Cowley Heller

"Matrix" Lauren Groff

*chosen

Up next:

Happy reading,

LK

September 2021 Bookclub News

 

 

  

 

Dear Bookclub, 

Contemplating the preparation for our exploration into Shobha Rao's "Girls Burn Brighter",  I wasted no time deciding that I would not be preparing Indian fare. 

Table awaiting enthusiastic friends and Indian fare from Curry & More.

 

The banana dessert, however, (always room for dessert), conceptualized with ease*.

 

Avoidance of the discomforting topic aside, our group graciously assembled, enjoyed the Indian fare and tackled an in-depth discussion of Rao's novel. It was wonderful to be together! Quickly embracing the gravity and reality of the horrific situations presented, we focused on the themes Rao recounted. The friendship between Poornima and Savitha was paramount yet the settings and situations seared in our readers' minds. Hardship and humiliation unshakable.

Going around the table with prepared questions forced facing the culturally-fueled dilemmas and appreciation of the women's relationship. We agreed many incidents bordered on the unbelievable but we believed. The author's short-story style was noted by Karen, as chapters often felt chopped. Julie shared a map of her travels to India, giving us a perspective of the location of Indravalli. 

 

(not Julie's map)

 

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/190059/apathy-mars-vatiganahalli-indravalli-colonies.html

 

The larger concern, atrocious treatment of women, could not be owned by this story; it has no setting, no place in time. A reminder of the endless variations on friendship, being a woman and the journey for justice, "Girls Burn Brighter" unlocked the power of our empathy. 

Frustrated by the ambiguous ending, we could only conclude that the author did not 'nail-it'. Some wanted a blatant 'good ending' while Martha shared her belief that the foreshadowing was too bold and therefore diminished the ending. The liberty of a short story did not work for us in this novel, yet Rao's ability to skillfully bring to light this devastating drama is unforgettable.

My suggestions for an upcoming read:

 "Emily's House" Amy Belding Brown* chosen

"Hour of the Witch" Chris Bohjalian

"Persuasion" Jane Austen

Up next:

Happy reading,

LK

 

*https://www.purewow.com/recipes/hummingbird-cupcakes-pineapple-flowers

August 2021 Bookclub News

 

 

 

London, the evening's mascot

Dear Bookclub,

Matt Haig's "The Midnight Library" lurked, an object on an imaginary shelf in Sue's living room, while we yapped around her table of libations in the family room. Eventually herded into the living room with the late-arriving golf girls, we settled into comfort to debate. After Sue presented the San Diego Union Tribune's Festival of Books, happening in a few days,  attention turned to the upcoming bookclub selection. Our usual 'tie' between suggestions sparked discussion about who had already read what, the length of the books, declarations of reading books anyway. With a fresh poll, hands raised and throwing in an absentee vote to ensure an odd number to tip towards a winner, "Beneath a Scarlett Sky" was chosen. The evening's delightful guest, Kate's sister, Nellie, wondered if that was it  for our evening's discussion. Oh no! We were warming up for our circle of deep thought. 

Going around the room, sharing our opinions and impressions about the book, a variety of responses - from being lost to getting bogged down by the regrets to appreciating the relationship Nora had with her brother, the fantasy of the perfect life, and what really happened in the end, .... opened up a larger consideration of the author's motivation. 

Personally, after having read the book twice for different bookclubs, the cliches began to annoy me and I decided to figure out who this author thinks he is, writing an obviou$ bookclub $election for the ma$$e$. I softened. In an interview with The Guardian, Haig is open about his stuggle with depression and anxiety:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/nov/17/matt-haig-i-wanted-to-end-it-all-surviving-and-thriving-is-the-lesson-i-pass-on 

And another about his newer book, "Reasons to Stay Alive" (nonfiction):

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/01/matt-haig-i-have-never-written-a-book-that-will-be-more-spoofed-or-hated

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25733573-reasons-to-stay-alive 

Sue's suggestions for an upcoming read: 

"Beneath a Scarlett Sky" Mark Sullivan *chosen

"Hour of the Witch" Chris Bohjalian

"Falling" T. J. Newman 

Up next:

Mindful reading,

LK

July 2021 Bookclub News

 

Jan got out the big girl glasses.

 

Dear Bookclub,

Jan tapped into her inner Elliott and entertained our jaunty group with panache. Treated to beautiful summer salads and special wines, Żubrówka was tastefully nowhere to be found, preventing any misdirection of our lovely gathering into a corrupted soiree.

 

Peach Burrata Salad***

 

 

    Our read, W. Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge" was tough to discuss as only two of us had finished it. The pale conversation was enlivened by Jan's telling tales of Estee, her colorful friend who thought very highly of the 1946 film, sharing her enthusiasm as Jan tried to read the book on Estee's porch. (Estee kept her distance as she was still in COVID-cautious mode.) Fun fact about the 1946 production, from Wikipedia:

"Maugham wrote an early draft of the screenplay, but not one word of his version was used in the final script, and as a result Maugham declined Zanuck's request to write a sequel, and never worked in Hollywood again.^"

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Razor%27s_Edge_(1946_film)} 

^{I believe not one word from Maugham or this 1946 screenplay were in the 1984 film. Interesting study of book vs. film.}

 

Chips Channon

 

^{There was some wondering if Larry was Maugham, however this Wikipedia fun fact dispels that idea:}

^{"Another distinct possibility for influence is raised by the anglicised American, British MP Chips Channon in his diaries. During a trip to New York in August 1944, Channon wrote "I saw much of Somerset Maugham, who never before was a friend. He has put me into a book, 'the Razor's Edge' and when I dined with him, I asked him why he had done it, and he explained, with some embarrassment, that he had split me into three characters, and then written a book about all three. So I am Elliott Templeton, Larry, himself the hero of the book, and another: however I am flattered, and the book is a masterpiece ...".  "}

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Razor%27s_Edge} 

Jan's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Nomadland" Jessica Bruder

"50 Words for Rain" Ahsa Lemmie

"These Tangled Vines" Julianne MacLean *chosen

Up next:

Happy reading,

LK

 

 

 

***

Grilled Peach Burrata Salad

Salad & Dressings, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 1 min Servings: Servings: 2 Source: enrilemoine.com

INGREDIENTS

2 cups baby arugula

1 peach sliced

2 slices prosciutto di Parma torn into 4 pieces each

2 4-ounce burrata balls

6 purple basil leaves

1 tablespoon O Blood Orange Olive Oil

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar reduction

Freshly ground black pepper

DESCRIPTION

Add grilled chicken and chifonade mint to greens

DIRECTIONS

Preheat a non-adherent grill pan to medium heat.

Grill the peaches for a minute, just one side.

Arrange the arugula, peaches, prosciutto and burrata on a salad dish.

Garnish with the basil and drizzle with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar reduction.

June 2021 Bookclub News

 Destitute pea pickers in California: Mother of seven children, aged thirty-two. Nipoma, California, March 1936 

by Dorothea Lange(1895-1965)

Dear Bookclub,

Desperation. Here and now. There and then. Kristin Hannah's novel illuminated not only the dire conditions and horrific challenges of the dust bowl but spotlighted, to our readers, the continued abuse of migrant workers and misuse of natural resources, resulting in human rights issues and man-made environmental disaster. "The Four Winds" ended with Elsa's journey but the tale is repeated over and over again, eerily all around us, as Diane's share of last week's Union Tribune piece confirms:

West Coast Tomato houses seasonal workers at this North River Road location, but the lease ends in January.

(Phil Diehl)

 https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/story/2021-06-13/tomato-grower-to-house-600-seasonal-workers

Pets, shocked by suddenly being left at home while masters re-enter the public world, experience post-pandemic anxiety. Transferred to my experience entering the cacophony of the Rancho Bernardo-Bermuda-Triangle of patio-restaurants including The Barrel Room, I was apprehensive.  What a scene! But the welcoming long table of our dear bookclub held strong as Barb generously hosted and led our tribe in a well-organized discussion. A fantastic 100 percent had read the book which gave way to a shared circle, each member contributing ideas and opinions about the book. Admiration for the strength of the women: Elsa, Loreda and Rose especially, contributed to the enjoyment of the swift read although some had misgivings about the romantic element. At times difficult to read, descriptions of the struggles throughout the saga where arduous and drawn-out, appropriately weighing the reader down as if buried by dust and suffocated by hate. I wanted to bring in an editor but perhaps the exhausting literary element proved effective as is. 

Hannah's descriptions are well documented:

Oakies on US 66 1935.... and more:

 

 

The audible was read by actress, Julia Whelan. A bonus interview at the end of the book with both Kristin Hannah and Julia is outstanding. 

 

Julia Whelan, narrarator

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Whelan

Please listen to this little clip - unfortunately, I cannot locate a link to  the full conversation but here is an excerpt:

https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/four-winds-bonus-conversation-excerpt/s-aB6UXIxyZhm

Most interesting to me was Hannah's revelation that through much of her two year writing process,  Elsa and Loreda were sisters. Ultimately using the tensions between a mother and daughter, Hannah instead chose to shift gears and the resulting relationship was her vehicle for the story. Candidly sharing the shaping of this novel and her motivations in writing her other novels, the author's talent is apparent given the breadth of topics and different styles throughout her works.

 

Barb's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"This Tender Land" William Kent Krueger

"Girls Burn Brighter" Shobha Rao *chosen

"The Doctors Blackwell" Janice P. Nimura

Up next:

 

Happy reading,

LK

May 2021 Bookclub News

 

Viola Davis (audible narrator) and Cicely

 May 21 #fanartFriday Twitter

   

Dear Bookclub,

A brilliantly orchestrated outdoor evening, produced by our own in-house event coordinator-extraordinaire, included another visit by a glowing moon, boxed delectable charcuterie, warm cobbler, and the pièce de résistance: a fabulously individually-delivered, wi-fi shared interview by Gayle King with Cicely Tyson. Only Diane can out-do Diane! 

 

Tyson's frank interview sparked our discussion and reinforced our admiration for the icon's amazing abilities and contributions. 

 

https://www.showbiz411.com/2021/01/28/cicely-tyson-published-her-memoir-on-tuesday-now-its-number-1-see-her-interview-with-gayle-king 

Historical events provided the scaffold for Cicely's telling of her journey and motivations, eye-opening and emotional, providing a clear path to communing with the plights of African Americans... women in particular. Our observations spanned the spectrum from how far society has come (media's depictions, equal rights movements, cultural representation) to the power of psyche in love, in the arts and in behavior. While being serenaded by Miles Davis over Diane's speakers, we analyzed Cicely's relationship with the drug-addled musician.

Cicely on Miles' album cover

Dying merely two days after "Just As I Am" was published, Tyson's timing for her departure seems dramatic and meaningful, in step with the rhythm of her life. I have searched high and low and cannot find a specific reason for her death, although one unofficial source named it a heart murmur since birth. Please take a moment to watch a clip from her funeral:

 

https://nypost.com/2021/02/16/clintons-tyler-perry-attend-private-nyc-memorial-for-cicely-tyson/ 

 

Diane's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Midnight Library" Matt Haig *(chosen)

"Radium Girls" Kate Moore

"Dirt: Adventures, with Family, in the Kitchens of Lyon, Looking for the Origins of French Cooking" Bill Buford

Up next:

Happy reading.

LK