April 2023 Bookclub News

 

Julie's List

 

Dear Bookclub,

Unable to attend our discussion of Taylor Jenkins Reid's  "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo", Julie has kindly reported on the evening:

 

 

“Our fearsome foursome had fun discussing The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, while dining on bbq chicken salads and berry pie, at Julie’s on 4/20/2023.  The book was thought to be fair to middling’ and did not engage us or get us thinking about it after reading. 

 

Still, we talked about our favorite husband of Evelyn (Harry, because they were friends) and the theme “Hiding the Truth as Means of Survival” in relation to the relationships of Evelyn and Celia, and Harry and his partner(s).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karen had provided a UT article about the author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and we were surprised that “Seven Husbands” was written in 2017, well before "Malibu Rising" and "Daisy Jones and the Six" (both on best sellers’ lists.  The article indicated that both Taylor and her husband were surprised that Tik Tok had started a buzz about “Seven Husbands” that drove IT up the charts!  Taylor is interested in getting more of her books into films or series such as Daisy Jones and… Coming soon… “Seven Husbands”!  Question for YOU dear reader… Who do you think will be cast to play Evelyn and Cecilia St. James?

Lastly, we voted (and counted emailed votes) on the upcoming selection.

Please enjoy the full article mentioned above:

 

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/nation-world/story/2023-02-28/taylor-jenkins-reid-writes-her-own-hollywood-success-story

 

 

Julie's suggestions for an upcoming read:

 

"Someone Else’s Shoes" Jo Jo Moyes

 

"Hello Beautiful"  Ann Napolitano

 

"Remarkably Bright Creatures"  Shelby Van Pelt *chosen

 

Up next:

 

Happy reading,

LK

 

 

March 2023 Bookclub News

 

Nothing Mad; only Merry

Dear Bookclub,

"Mad Honey" drew our readers in with a compelling, smooth-as-honey Picoult-style tale and suddenly, the attraction turned wild as page-turning accelerated into madness. Unable to hold back discussion, our group buzzed throughout the entire evening. Sue, not yet having finished the book, graciously agreed to our request to reveal the mystery so that we could freely drone on. Jodi Picoult and Finne Boylan's  collaboration inspired an intense, animated discussion, enjoyed amid a beehive of activity at Lori's kitchen counters. We turned over and over our experiences reading the book and unraveling the intricacies presented. 

Best read without any prior knowledge or research, I was shocked that I hadn't a clue about the book. I'd dismissed the duo of authors as being yet another of the trending, seemingly marketing-related collaborative creations and having no idea of Finne Boylan, I was primed for the roller coaster. Ultimately, there is nothing trite about the book and the authors' notes at the end, along with statements by both Picoult and Boylan online, describe a deep and unique collaboration. With mutual respect, the authors created a well-developed tale using rich characters, relatable emotions and timely debate, all the while educating the readers. 

Back to the kitchen! A honey-laden cheese board provided the backdrop to a very enticing "Bee's knees" cocktail (recipe at the end of book), expertly crafted by Lori. Also expertly crafted, Lori had paper strips for each member: fascinating bee-fact on one side and discussion question on the other. We truly appreciated Lori, our queen bee of the evening!

Mad honey is a hallucinogenic honey from the mountains of Nepal, where bees feed on a specific species of rhododendrons.  I promise the video embedded in this article will be the BEST 20 minutes you spend on any media today!!! Big screen option and prepare to be amazed by the gorgeous surroundings and the cultural aspects.

https://bigthink.com/health/mad-honey/ 

 

If you are so inclined, the medicinal real deal is available from Nepal, the fancy option with your name carved on the box:

https://bestmadhoney.com/

 

Lori's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage" Alfred Lansing

"The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise"  Colleen Oakley

"The Sweet Spot" Amy Poepell *chosen

Up Next:

 

Happy reading,

LK