January 2017 Recap

 

Dear Bookclub,

San Diego tried to mimic an Alaskan aura with the threat/promise of a wicked storm on the evening of Sue's bookclub. We are not even competitive. Light sprinkles dotted the windshields upon our late night departure from Heatherfield Lane, stomachs satiated with salmon, mountain cookies, and moose-embellished ice cream. "All the Winters After", tickling our imaginations via an entertaining array of  northern culture from Sue's wintry decor to her fabulous dog sled bracelet her father had acquired during an WWII era Alaskan trip, surely did run the gambit (although no dog sled race). A smattering of cliched Alaskan life and the triple format: mystery, romance novel, action-suspense covered much ground. Seré Prince Halverson's read was quick, discussion lively: mission accomplished.

Sue's enticing titles for an upcoming read:

"Hillbilly Elegy" by J.D. Vance *chosen
"Small Great Things" by Jodi Picoult
"Killing the Rising Sun" by Bill O'Reilly

And in case you missed it:

amazing mountain cookies!

Up next, B.A. Shapiro's "The Art Forger".

Happy reading!
LK

January 2017 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
Being totally consumed by the free fall of the holidays has me reeling with reality! Apologies for the blog's long winter's nap.

How long ago and far away our holiday tea seems but the images here bring the taste of the tower of delectables and the fragrant teas right home. The Grand Tea Room in Escondido enveloped our grand table amidst other celebratory gatherings, lending us a festive afternoon of feasting and chat.

Currently sipping tepid tea, grateful for our beautiful Sunday afternoon, the upcoming selection, "All the Winters After" suggests an entirely different scene. Set in the Lower Kenai Peninsula, I was shocked to open the book (yes, I got myself a hard copy during a weak moment of appreciating my eyes and the need to give them a screen break) and see a map that included Halibut Cove. A self-professed non-camper, to put it lightly, one of my few experiences roughing it in Alaska was on a tiny island off of Halibut Cove. This involved eating raw fish, zucchini that hit the dirt in between the journey from a campfire to a plate, buying a piece of pottery from a table in the middle of the woods, where an artist/hermit had left a money jar and his work, and later back in San Diego, head lice from the REI rented sleeping bags. A place with no running water or electricity (admittedly knitting at midnight on the porch of the cabin was charming) -  not really my cup of tea.

Yet to read more than a few pages, (two other books being read for this week), I did find a nice synopsis- review for anyone looking for a glimpse into our next meeting's book:

http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/all-winters-after

Thank you for all your tidy responses for the 2017 hosting calendar. Please update your calendars with the schedule posted here.

Looking forward to seeing you at Sue's!
Happy reading,
LK

November 2016 Recap

artist's rendering of Bookclub at Kim's

Dear Bookclub,
A lavish night at Kim's for our November gathering was appreciated by a nice sized group although we missed each and every absent member. Nestled around a beautifully appointed dining room table, book discussion was brisk as the book's promise of thought and debate did not go un-examined. Politely dismissing a couple of members who had not quite finished Ian McEwan's, "The Children Act", the discussion continued with varying interpretations and fact versification that should not be revealed to the incomplete reader. What a great read!

Kim's recommendations for an upcoming selection:

1.  "Eleanor and Hitch"   (Susan Quinn)
2.  "Commonwealth"  (Ann Patchett)
3.  "The Underground Railroad" (Colson Whitehead) *chosen

“Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” So begins Henry James' "The Portrait of a Lady", to be discussed at the December 17th holiday tea, steeping in literary pastoral on the path to divining the adventure and motivation that is Isabel. I hope you are enjoying your undertaking of this read. Much is written about this novel, which I noticed with the seemingly never-ending preface and introductions in my edition; please enjoy this insightful 2012 New Yorker article by Anthony Lane:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/09/03/out-of-the-frame

Happy reading and sipping,
LK

November 2016 Bookclub News

Mission Trails Sunrise by Jimichu Photography, "The Reader"

Dear Bookclub,

This has been a very hard month. Unfathomable. Layered upon many other difficult months from our members' lives, it seems that the uncharted waters stretch all around us. Faith and friendship have proven to be powerful. I appreciate our group so very much.

Our gathering at Martha's for the October meeting was small and restorative (and more of the month was yet to come). "The Dream Life of Astronauts" may as well have been a handbook on keeping lizards; that's how deep that discussion was. It actually is a fine set of short stories, but we meandered. Martha and Dave shared some neat tales of autocross and Porsche passion, Ben's band "Red 40 and the Last Groovement" releasing an album..not usual book talk but memorable!

Martha's hard-to-chose list for an upcoming selection:

"Etta and Otto and Russel and James" by Emma Hooper
"The Art Forger: A Novel" by B. A. Shapiro *chosen
"The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement" by David Brooks
"Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman

Up next is Ian McEwan's "The Children Act". Please RSVP to Kim for the November 17 meeting.

Happy reading,
LK

October 2016 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
Palm Springs was our little oasis for a very magical weekend. The La Quinta Resort endeared us: ripe for exploring, very accommodating as a backdrop to good conversations, hospitable as a dining and drinking haven, tolerant of our rambunctious enthusiasm and a placeholder for sweet memories.

 Missing our fellow members, the little sisterhood represented spent a good deal of time planning future events and certainly made no certain plans! We want more and we want everyone :)

Adobe Grill

Morgan's in the Desert

 Sunnylands, the former Annenberg winter home turned retreat, provided a stimulating entrance for our imaginations into the world of high powered meetings.

 In the foundation's own words: "Sunnylands convenes global leaders and prominent experts for retreats and meetings that result in meaningful outcomes."

 The significance and history, very recent actually, was jaw-dropping. We did pick up our jaws and tested them, chattering again for 48 more hours. A gorgeous setting for continued good work set our appreciation off the charts.

Next up: Patrick Ryan's "The Dream Life of Astronauts", a refreshing read as a collection of short stories.

Please enjoy Maureen Corrigan's review from mid-summer on Fresh Air:

http://www.npr.org/2016/07/13/485842485/the-dream-life-of-astronauts-is-a-journey-to-emotional-deep-space

Hope to see you at Martha's on Tuesday October 18!
Happy reading,
LK
  

September 2016 Bookclub Recap

Dear Bookclub,
The Widow entertained us as promised, channeling the most amazing hostess, Lynn T., whose pouring arm must be rested and back in shape now, more than week later.

Treating us to a delicious variety of bubbly, Lynn also indulged us with savory goodies to complement the stems of golden delight. A fabulous favorite:

https://food52.com/recipes/8010-fig-and-blue-cheese-savouries

"The Widow Clicquot" was beloved by our readers. Tilar Mazzeo's crafting of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin's journey creating a champagne empire was so easy to down and appreciate.

Lynn recommended for an upcoming selection:

1) "Everybody's Fool" by Richard Russo  (a close second!)
2) "Interference" by Amélie Antoine
3) "The Man Without a Shadow" by Joyce Carol Oates
4) "All the Winters After" by Seré  Alverson *chosen


Up next: the desert!
Up next - a Tuesday meeting in October: 10/18/2016 to discuss "The Dream Life of Astronauts" by Patrick Ryan.

December 3rd has been chosen by Lynne H. for our Holiday Party - please mark your calendars!

Happy reading,
LK

September 2016 Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
I've just started Clicquot and when the bottle's drained, I'll open up the book. I wish! I have started the book and the twinge to pop a cork keeps floating to the conscious mind from my very focused noggin.

"Veuve", the French word for widow, and not some champagne term as I'd always surmised, "Clicquot, the family that started the French champagne house, and "Ponsardin", Madame's family name all come together to become "Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin", the amazing champagne enterprise that still rules today. Tilar Mazzeo skillfully turned out a powerful biography of the entrepreneur extraordinaire, Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin with the "Widow Clicquot". This romp through the world of wine-making, the French Revolution, and the challenges of a young widow in a position to change champagne and its culture forever, makes for a delightful read.

Here is a heads up on the book recommendations for our next selection from Lynn T. :

1) "Everybody's Fool" by Richard Russo
2) "Interference" by Amélie Antoine
3) "The Man Without a Shadow" by Joyce Carol Oates
4) "All the Winters After" by Seré  Alverson

I took a quick peek at the descriptions and they all look enticing - a great list. Nice to check them out ahead of time to make voting a more thoughtful action when we meet. Please do some research and think of what you'd like to read. Good luck!

Wouldn't it be grand if this came through Montelena next Thursday evening?  Hope you can be there at Lynn T.'s (please RSVP)!

Cheers and happy reading indeed,
LK