A "Deep Down Dark" pre-game show

Dear Bookclub,
Tonight we meet at Lori's to discuss Hector Tobar's "Deep, Down, Dark".  I think you will really enjoy watching this great interview with clips and insight. There are videos from deep, down, dark taken with cell phones, and news clips.

http://www.france24.com/en/encore/20150303-hector-tobar-deep-down-dark-chilean-miners-book-film

Also, please read about the challenge of making the movie of a story whose ending is well-known:

http://www.laweekly.com/arts/hector-tobars-deep-down-dark-is-a-masterful-look-at-the-chilean-miners-5207320

Hope to see you tonight!
LK

May Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
A varied take on "The Husband's Secret" did not keep our group from a unified outpouring of friendship and support in our discussion of much beyond Moriarty's book. Barb's gracious soriee, much appreciated by all, spared nothing but a tour of the master dressing area - alas! We forgot to demand a viewing of the remodeling we spied last year. It's a to-do for next year.

Suggested by Barb for our August read, were two titles we already have selected and a third suggestion that was an easily accepted winner:

"The Girl on the Train" Paula Hawkins
"Deep, Down, Dark" Hector Tobar
"The Spool of Blue Thread" Anne Tyler *chosen




Up next, at Lori's on May 21, Tobar's "Deep, Down, Dark". 

 These images are meant to entice you into reading this compelling tale. You may wonder how you can be so captivated by a story whose outcome you surely know.  Tobar is a master storyteller and the details surrounding the 33 men and their journey will transport you to another realm.

   

Happy reading!
LK

March 2015 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
Sue's Cabo glow removed any trace of her February ailment as she treated us to a delectable selection of French cheeses and a German apple strudel last Thursday night to discuss "All the Light We Cannot See". Anthony Doerr's beautifully written novel was well-liked by all. We were once again amazed at the variety of books we have read about World War II, thinking how can yet another, capture our attention and imagination with such intensity. Admittedly, Doerr's rich characters, coupled with his intriguing immersion into the radio/museum/natural history/multileveled sensory-motivated-vision-deprived environment, created a welcome page turning read. Discussion tiptoed around my not having finished the book. Savoring it, I am finishing with top priority and urge all of you to please read it if you haven't already!

Saint-Malo

Please see the short video below that includes Doerr's process for this novel and some wonderful images:

Anthony Doerr explaining his work.


Considered for our July selection:
"The Dove Keepers" by Alice Hoffman *chosen
"The Boston Girl" by Anita Diamant
"A Paris Apartment" by Michelle Gable
"A Spool of Blue Thread" by Anne Tyler

Feed the fish, stock up on canned goods, have water handy; you are not going to move while you read what is next up: Liane Moriarty's "The Husband's Secret"; please RSVP to Barb.

Happy Reading,
LK

February 2015 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
Taken down by a nasty flu, our esteemed hostess, Sue kept us on track from afar, communicating her inability to have us at her home days ahead and sharing her chosen titles for an upcoming selection. Julie rallied to the rescue and treated us to 'bar' food (salad bar, dessert bar - do not be fooled - there was nothing bar-like about the fine china and dining room setting) in the spirit of the pub references throughout our book, "One Plus One" by Jojo Moyes.

Not all had finished but all enjoyed the tangled tale of the unconventional family and as predictable as it played out, the journey was in the end, a good read.







After viewing Julie's newly refurbished garage, we retired to the dining room for dessert and to vote on Sue's book selections. We also discussed an upcoming trip to the 1906 Lodge in Coronado to commemorate our 25th anniversary. It was decided to try to find a Thursday - Saturday in April and have the men join us for dinner and the night on Friday. I've collected lots of input from everyone (thank you!) and then got waylaid by a nice visit this week from my parents. Will get back on track and see if I can solve the puzzle ASAP!  Not sure that it will be April between availability at 1906 and members. Stay tuned. 

The considered list of Sue's suggestions:

"The Boston Girl" by Anita Diamant
"A Paris Apartment" by Michelle Gable
"The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins (*chosen)

 Next up is "All the Light You Cannot See".
Happy Reading!
LK

January 2015 Recap

Dear Bookclub,

Syrupy hibiscus flowers settled in the bottom of our champagne flutes as we prepared to take on the meaning behind the meanings of the language of flowers in our selection, "The Language of Flowers".  Having enjoyed the writing, the story and the heavily female slanted fantasies (flowers!, a hero who cooks for the heroine, a heroine who can't eat enough, flower farm, a sister farm of wine-making grapes, intuition!, midwife/borderline wicca, take-my-baby-while-I-get-my-business-off-the-ground, etc.), we agreed that Vanessa Diffenbaugh's memorable read gave us much to ponder about mothers, sisters, & daughters - and the bonds, whether created by nature or not. Victoria's resourcefulness to survive, contrasted with her paralysis to function normally kept us, as readers, intrigued and squirmy. We agreed that the passages of her inability to properly care for her baby were difficult to read. But the tale itself was clever and entertaining down the last sprig of baby's breath.


The botanical communication was not lost on the evening:

February has us reading a favorite author from the past, Jojo Moyes.  Way back in August 2013, we read  and enjoyed "Me Before You", which is a lingerer in our literary memories (not such an easy thing these days). "One Plus One" promises to be a fantastic read with irresistible characters that I am hopeful will give us a reason to chat it up.

Please RSVP to Sue for our February 19th meeting.

Considered for May at our last meeting:

"Deep Down Dark:The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle that Set Them Free" by Hector Tobar *

"Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande

"Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson

"13 Hours:The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi" by Mitchell Zuckoff

*chosen


Happy Reading!
LK

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?