July Book Club 2025

Our July book club was held at Buffalo Lodge in Sweetwater, Oklahoma. We had such a good time last year, it seemed like a good idea to make it an annual event.

The property is remote, peaceful, and beautiful. We were greeted by Tammy and a resident Road Runner. We all enjoyed sitting outside and identifying the different birds we saw and heard. There was a beautiful sunset and a waxing crescent moon. There was supposed to be a meteor shower, but while there were one or two shooting stars, no one stayed up for the shower. 

As usual for one of our events, there was so much great food. Tammy and Randall provided smoked ribs, chicken thighs, and handmade spring rolls. Laura brought lemon, rosemary, and cornmeal donuts from a recipe in the book. She also made egg bites for breakfast. Barb brought a blueberry Buckle. There really was too much food to try and recount, but it was wonderful. And, I've attached photos to help us remember it all. We had a variety of beers, and Diana brought Limoncello. 

This time we also had a variety of creative projects to work on. Thanks to our book, our theme was "birds." Tammy had patterns and cards for us to use to make bird mobiles.  I led a simple "paint and sip" painting project with two bird patterns to choose from. We played music, ate, drank, and created to our heart's content. Those who didn't want to paint put a puzzle together that Arnora brought. 

Our book, "Other Birds," by Sarah Addison Allen, was a perfect summer read/listen. Described as "a magical realism tale" set in a South Carolina coastal town near Charleston.

This book's setting is similar in tone to 44 Scotland and The Twilight Garden. A group of residents, in a cobblestone, horseshoe-shaped building, are connected by a series of intertwined stories. Only this time, three of the residents are ghosts. We follow Zoey Hennessey as she takes possession of the apartment her deceased mother has left her. On her first night, she hears a noise and wakes to find that one of the residents has died in an accident in her apartment. She is tasked, along with another resident, Charlotte, to clear out the hoarder's apartment. Gradually, she meets all the residents and uncovers the many secrets and mysteries that lie within the apartment and in herself. I usually like to call these stories palette cleansers, but upon reflection, the story was more than met the eye.

All of the characters in the story had been abandoned by parents or caregivers who had substance abuse issues. They either learned to parent themselves or were raised by someone other than a parent.  They were hiding in plain sight, running from something or hoping to find something. They were living in a community, pretending to be something other than themselves and keeping their dark secrets. The story has a tense but satisfying ending.  

I think it takes a deft hand to take such serious subject matter and make it seem light and charming at the same time. The book a rated 4.12 for those that read it.  

Everyone agreed that this retreat was a perfect "do-over." Last year at this time, though we all enjoyed ourselves, at least two of us were suffering pain that required surgery.  This year, everyone is recovered and healthy, and all were able to celebrate the progress. We look forward to many more retreats together! 

Our August book is the 1972 modern classic "Watership Down" by Richard Adams. Our September book is "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd, published in 2014. 

June Book Club 2025

Rain came and went in the night, but it was a lovely day for the book club at Carla G's. Tammy was able to join us, and with our retreat in July, it will be three months since she has been on dry land. We missed Denise, Janie, Arnora, Pam, and our remote members. For most of us, it was the first time we met Carla G's new kitties, Simon and Lucy. 

We dined on our hostess's delicious chicken Alfredo, spinach lasagna, and garlic rolls. Tammy brought a cheese and olive plate. Lis, Barb, and Carla A brought salads, Laura brought a S'mores Cake, and Sherrie brought Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream.

Our book this month was Jodi Picoult's "By Any Other Name," a historical fiction told in two parallel periods. In the present day, there is Melinia, a frustrated playwright who can't get her plays noticed in the male-dominated theatre.  In the 1500s, Emelia Bossanno was also a frustrated poet and playwright in the time of Shakespeare. She was not allowed to write because she was a woman. She manages to make a bargain with Shakespeare. He pays her to write plays under his name. He benefits financially far more than she does, but her plays are published, and she supplements the family's income. 

Melinia discovers that Amelia is her ancestor and writes a play about her. Unknown to her, Andre, her best friend, submits the play under the name of Mel, and it is chosen among several to be staged in a workshop. She is chosen because it is assumed she is a male. No other women are chosen. The real-life drama escalates for Emelia over her full lifetime. For Melinia, it escalates over a few short years. The author addresses the issues of all marginalized people in the theatre, not just women. Andre is a black, gay man, a marginalized playwright who isn't given any notice until he pretends to be Mel and gets Melinia's play staged. 

The book makes the case that current-day theatre is not so far removed from Melinia's time. Barb pointed out that Pam's son, Sam, and his girlfriend, Shaina, agreed. They are both actors and have experience in the modern-day theatre. It is still, primarily, a man's world.  The book is rated 4.2. 

Our July book club will be our retreat at Tammy's in Sayre, and our book is Other Birds by Sarag Addison Allen.