June 2020 Bookclub News

(have been wanting to use this...)

Dear Bookclub,

Zooming through yet another month, we zoomed our way through "The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell".  Robert Dugoni's extraordinary novel was well-liked, luring 'meh' readers to warm-up with the discussion-revisit. Vivid characters, clean writing and tear-rendering charmed our read-ratings to the top of our benchmarks. Dugoni's creative use of  Sam's ocular albinism cast a wide literary net, and set us sailing through decades and topics with ease and enjoyment like an unimaginable buffet of days-gone-by. Many topics, uncomfortable, were nonetheless believably presented to provoke examination and empathy. Such technique was winning for the reader.

More on ocular albinism:

https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/ocular-albinism

Dugoni's personal family experience, documented in his afterword, is well worth the read and lends an additional depth to his novel. If you missed it or want to revisit, please check out this interview:

https://www.thenationalbookreview.com/features/2018/4/24/qa-robert-dugoni-talks-about-the-extraordinary-life-of-sam-hell

Being a little cat crazy, I can't help but share Dugoni's short video on his writing 'technique':

Our collective suggestions for an upcoming read:

"A Tale of Two Cities" Charles Dickens

"The Wonder" Emma Donoghue *chosen

"Do Not Become Alarmed" Maile Maloy

"The Hate You Give" Angie Thomas

Up next:

Healthy reading,

LK

May 2020 Bookclub News

This is us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

from a Liebeg trade card; Hercules returns Alcestis to Admetus

Dear Bookclub,
Cheerfully gathering on zoom, a bit of the May-gray/COVID fog touched our group as both Karen and Martha had forgotten to join in at 7 pm and I had zipped through the ending of the book, missing a key element.* Alas, merely small imperfections to the evening as all worked out: Karen connected just as we began to share personal stories (her suggestion as an addition to the meeting); Martha found us as we were wrapping up but enjoyed a longer tête à tête with me; and I gained a new understanding of the book!

Kim kicked off discussion immediately with an exasperated question: "Why???" Why did Theo stir it up? Our examination exploded while we analyzed characters, motivations, and developments of Alex Michaelides' "The Silent Patient". Characters were hard to like but we did like the page-turning and thought-provoking Michaelide's provided. The concept of being shaped as an infant before awareness, residing in a land before memory, i.e. brain development  in the context of individualizing:

"the development of our personalities doesn't take place in isolation but in relationship with others - we are shaped and completed by unseen unremembered forces; namely our parents."

And there were characters with broken childhoods in abundance. Alicia's paintings, the references to Euripedes' "Alcestis" and the author's Greek roots are to be noted. This is pretty funny (only a minute and a half)... enjoy:

Alcestis by Euripides "Acting to the Gods" performance at Hydrama Theatre in Hydra, Greece

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdpoyXqMP94

My suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Lady in Waiting" Anne Glenconner *chosen
"Why We Sleep" Matthew Walker
"The Guest Book" Sarah Blake


Up next:

 FYI:

Happy reading, happy binging!
LK


*Postscript:
Barb just emailed me that she completely forgot about bookclub last Thursday! We missed you! Joining the fog.....

April 2020 Bookclub News

Diane's Tea Package*

Dear Bookclub,
Just a short time before our 7 pm zoom meeting, I found a charming surprise on my front porch. Diane, our host, had delivered Novel-tea packages to each of us which included cleverly packaged bags of Pu-erh tea, a description of the teas, including a caffeine warning from the Adorno Surgeon General and instructions on proper brewing.

And that was just the prelude to a very robust bookclub evening!

Discussion of Lisa See's "The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane" was well organized thanks to our leader, Diane, and the format of each member sharing their thoughts and ranking of the book.

Generally, the book was well-liked although there was a contingency that thought the tea emphasis was too much and the remaining members liked that prominence. The first group also yearned for a better developed ending. We all agreed it was too pat at the end.

Other interesting points mentioned:
*death by tiger
*adoption of Chinese girls: the era, the stereotyping, the therapy scene
*mother/daughter relationships (author and those in book)
*title of book not being about main character
*statement that 'all pandemics come from China'
*so many coincidences yet, "No coincidence, no story"
*significance of the mother tree
*scallion pancake....

..... recipe shared by Diane:
https://www.hungry-bookworm.com/2018/06/16/the-tea-girl-of-hummingbird-lane-scallion-pancakes/


Some of Diane's shared visuals:

tea fields

Akha wedding headdress

Diane's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Library" Susan Orlean
"The Dutch House" Ann Patchett
"Dear Edward" Ann Napolitano * chosen

Diane's reveal!

 


Up next:

Safe reading,
LK

March 2020 Bookclub News

Our first Zoom ~ March 27, 2020....

... developing with the addition of Lori and some better lighting.

Dear Bookclub,
Our pandemic days have arrived, a version of those eerily portrayed in an earlier Novel Group selection, Sue Meissner's "As Bright as Heaven" (May 2018). Gratefully connecting via Zoom, our March meeting became virtual as we 'saw' each other and discussed Julianne MacLean's "A Fire Sparkling".  Everyone really enjoyed the book, noting that the twists and turns, plausible or not, kept the pages turning. Most were not fond of the present day main character, Gillian. The psychological effect of April becoming Vivian was an interesting ponder.

In addition to discussing the book, we had a great time sharing what we were up to, most notably, what's being watched. Here is a list of what Julie and I gleaned:

"Pandemic"
"Sanditon"
"Poldark"
"Sex Education"
"Homeland"
"The Stranger"
"The Imposters"
"Love is Blind"

and some of what is being read:

"Reading with Patrick" Michelle Kuo
"This Tender Land" William Kent Krueger
"Machines Like Me" Ian MacEwan

..and as captured by Julie with her iPad!

Lori's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell"  Robert Dugoni   *chosen

" The Hate You Give" Angie Thomas   

" The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper"  Hallie Rubenhold    

Up next:

In searching for a picture for Lisa See, I found this picture and great accompanying 2010 article from Los Angeles Magazine:

Carolyn and Lisa See

Does anyone else remember the author Carolyn See? Lisa's mother!
https://www.lamag.com/lastory/carolyn-lisa-see/

And please check out more about Carolyn See (who died in 2016) on her Wikipedia page:

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


Safe reading,
LK

January 2020 Bookclub News

Pizza party

Dear Bookclub,
Kate brilliantly fed us adored CPK take-and-bake pies as we gathered to discuss Trevor Noah's "Born a Crime". Our January selection kicked off the year with a robust discussion, as appreciation of Noah's stories and insights kept us chattering. Charmed by the author's old-soul wisdom, implausible childhood, and the purest of wit, we greedily gobbled up sugar cookies in his likeness:

Trevor-punim cookies

Kate's strips of specific statements on topics meant to encourage discussion indeed incited further chatter but their true value emerged later in the evening as they were jumbled with our members' names and put into a basket. Recognizing the need for a committee to shape our upcoming June bookclub excursion, names were drawn from said basket by yours truly:

And just in case you can't believe your eyes:

Sue, Karen and Lynne will be 'designing' the get-away!

Kate's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Alice Network"  Kate Quinn
"The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane"  Lisa See *chosen
"Blow Out" Rachel Maddox


Up next, the National Book Award Winner for Fiction 2017:

Happy reading!
LK

December 2019 Bookclub Recap/January 2020 Bookclub News

***

Dear Bookclub,
Ahhhhh.... Our annual bookclub holiday party, this year at Dave & Martha's, was absolutely delightful! Atop their hill, the house glowing Christmas, all were welcomed to a festive evening of good cheer, amazing food and great conversation. Fannie Flagg's "A Redbird Christmas" was enjoyed by most and but a murmur among the other more compelling discussions. The kick-off to the holidays put us on the path to brave December and now brings us into the new year and new decade...

Read on!

Embroidery by Sarah K. Benning

New York Times Book Review best books of 2019:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/22/books/review/best-books.html

 Washington Post best books of 2019:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/entertainment/books/best-books-of-2019/


.... and here is a list of lists!

 https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/2019/best_of

 So interesting how many we have not read. Something to study for upcoming ideas perhaps. What was your favorite in the last year?

BuzzFeed's best books of the decade:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tomiobaro/best-books-2010s-decade\

Can you remember what you read in the last decade?! This is actually a fascinating list. Enjoy!




 Up next:

Trevor!

Trevor Noah's "Born a Crime"

For a quick read on Comedy Central's press page:
https://press.cc.com/series/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/bio/435697


Finally Kate's suggestions for an upcoming read:

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
Blow Out by Rachel Maddox


Happy reading,
LK



*** Castle Hotel Thannegg Gröbming, Austria

November 2019 Recap

Thanksgiving Bookclub at Kim's

Dear Bookclub,
Gratefully gathering at Kim's for a festive evening of discussion, we were treated to a feast themed to Beth Duke's "It All Comes Back to You". Not pictured but much appreciated: ham and homemade icebox cake!

Kim herded us from the captivating kitchen to the formal dining room for a more formal discussion, complete with questions on cards. In true Violet style, we gladly complied - for a few minutes and then broke from the discussion points bursting with the need to bare our true feelings. Amazingly ordered, (thank you Martha!), each of us revealed our disappointment in realizing it was not a great book. The underlying current of "romance novel" overpowered our literary sense and despite admission that it was a fast read, it was not well-liked. Murderous, unbelievable, and flat characters were tied up in a bow at the book's end. Something must be noted about the beautiful cover... think we were bamboozled!


Kim's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"A Fire Sparkling" by Julianne MacLean *chosen
 "Olive Again" by Elizabeth Strout

"The Dutch House" by Ann Pachett

 'Tis the season!

 While visiting my mom in October, she shared this article from the Boston Globe. Please enjoy!

The following appeared on BostonGlobe.com:

Headline: A precious holiday family heirloom tells the story of generations - The Boston Globe

Date: Nov 2, 2019

Sixty years later, Mom’s Christmas tablecloth captures our family history.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2018/11/22/precious-holiday-family-heirloom-tells-story-generations/HlnQ2f8eKBBsekyqFsRQIM/story.html?s_campaign=8315


Up next, for our Christmas party:

Jolly reading,
LK