January 2012 "Pajama-nannigans!"

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. Oscar Wilde, 1888.

The circus arrives without warning. Opens at nightfall, closes at dawn. The Night Circus; Les Cirques des Reves or Circus of Dreams. A first novel by Erin Morgenstern was a great way to open book club 2012. The book is a multi-layered adventure driven by character rather than plot. The book is rich in symbolism and hypnotic language. We are transported to Victorian England where this unusual circus is being conceptualized simultaneously with a competition. Two long time illusionists pit their young protoge's against each other in a conflict they don't understand and where they are unaware of who their opponent is.

The author writes the story from different narrative perspectives. Part of the time you are watching the story unfold and sometimes it is "you" entering the circus. The story is also told from a non-linear sequence as it reveals the conflict and introduces new characters.

We decided that the story had the feeling of being caught in a snow globe, contained and atmospheric. Some of the themes we identified were nature vs. nurture and emotions vs. Intellect. The response of the audience is part of the power of the performance. Also, it turns out that the conflict was more of a balancing of the scales rather than a competition to the death.

The book rated. 4.75 and most of us decided we would read it again to delve more fully into the symbolism.

We had a good laugh when Laura revealed that she had started the audio book in the middle and didn't realize it until she was almost finished. And, Carla G. confessed she had put her CD's in and accidentally hit "shuffle", haha.

Diana did a most excellent job creating the mood of the night circus. The table was set in black, white and red. She made a "tent" centerpiece and made us all red scarves to identify us as "circus dreamers".

We had our annual pajama party and delicious brunch foods and Bellini's.

We missed Denise and Lou, but I'm guessing we might want to revisit this book for another discussion to bring closure to some if the questions we still had.

February's book is The Cat's Table and for March we are reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.

December Book Club 2011

December Book Club has come and gone. It is absolutely mind boggling that this year is at its close and that we have celebrated 10 years of books, food, fun and friendship. This month Carla G. hosted and we pitched in for pizza and Laura brought Italian Cream Cake. Carla G. made the frozen drink "red rooster" and we had the usual assortment of wines and coffee. We had such fun exchanging our cards and traditional gifts. We missed Terry as she was home nursing a cold. Diana brought her camera and tripod and simulated our professional photo from last year. I think they turned out as good.

This month we read both The Autobiography of Santa Claus and Dicken's The Christmas Carol. The Auto-bio of Santa was recommended by Diana and generally well received. The premise was an "as told to" story; Santa revealing his long history and intertwining it with world history.

The Classic Christmas story of Scrooge was a review for many but a first time read for some who had only seen the movies. Scrooge is also a story told against the history of the time and has that in common with our first book.

Next month we will meet at Diana's for a January pajama party with breakfast/brunch foods. I will be wearing the socks Darby got us.

Our January 2012 will kick off our next decade with The Night Circus.

September 2011 Book Club

As we continue to celebrate 10 years of book club we convened at cabins at Medicine Park (Lawton) Oklahoma for a fall retreat. Laura secured two cabins for us: White Horse Lodge and Buffalo Gal and we started arriving around 2 on Friday. Since we had two days of food I cannot begin to list all of the items individually by person. However,  I will hit a few. We started out with Darby's delicious Pork Verde on Friday night & Terry brought cheesecake for dessert. Laura made a breakfast casserole for Saturday morning. We ate our lunch out at the Winery and cooked chicken, salmon, steak, veggies and fruit on the grill Saturday evening. We mixed those leftovers with eggs for Sunday morning breakfast. As always, the food was great. Hats off to the cooks! And really thanks to everyone who brought food, wine, coffee, condiments, the charcoal and lighter, paper plates & cups, etc. As always we probably could have fed the whole of Medicine Park on the food we brought.

The cabins were just darling and slept us all quite comfortably. I slept on a screened in porch for the first time in my life. Something else I can check off of my "sand pail" list as my friend, Donna, likes to call it. The weather cooperated nicely as the scorching heat of the summer has backed off considerably. We had a large patio between the two cabins which served as a "great room" for gathering and we had our book club meeting there on Friday after dinner by the light of the Chimenea. We were so sorry that Barb, Pam and Lou could not be with us. But we welcomed guest Jackie Odell and returning book club member Tammy Tipton! We were so excited to learn that Tammy has moved back to Oklahoma, even if that might be temporarily. We look forward to her returning to book club as time permits while she is "land locked!"

We almost had our first male book club member as fellow "camper" Gordon kept trying to join the group. I think the poor guy finally got frustrated and gave up on getting any attention.

Our book this month was "Burning Bright" by Tracy Chevalier. This author also penned "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" that book club read during its first year. Laura had found this book life changing for her and so we thought another by the same author would be a good read.  The review of "Burning Bright" said it was a fictional account of the life of poet and artist William Blake. Some of the words used to describe the story were: impassioned, full of pageantry, energetic, a vivid story, and exhilarating. Unfortunately, for all us, the story fell far short of the description. Even for those who liked it better than others, the concensus was that the William Blake was a "vehicle" for the story but that it wasn't about him. The story is told through the eyes of a family living in London next door to Blake at the time of the French Revolution. Everyone, without exception, wanted more about Blake.

Most agreed that the story was slow but a few found it more interesting than others. I personally found it dull, repetitive and droning. When Laura read "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" it was the first historical fiction for her that actually captivated her and transported her to another time. She was with the girl as she mixed the paints and she could inhale the smells of the studio. We did not find this portrait of London in 1792 as intoxicating. The book rated a 2.6.

During the rest of our weekend we took a little stroll through the main street of town and did a little shopping. We really enjoyed our lunch at the winery and tried to find some "action" on Saturday night but the only music in town was a guy with a guitar, a bud light and an Ipod. He sang one of his original songs for us and a couple of us attempted a dance under the full moon and disco ball. Sounds corny and it was - but we got a kick out of it. Unfortunately, Diana twisted her ankle and one of the air conditioners made a fuss but all in all it was a perfect weekend with all the usual suspects rounded up for a great time: best friends, great food & drinks, stimulating conversation and a lot of laughs.

Throughout the weekend we reminisced and recounted some of our favorite book club memories. And here is to the next 10 years!

October's book is Beyond Seduction by Emma Holly. This will be a new genre for us. Stay tuned!

August Book Club 2011

August book club was held at Lou's. We had planned to do it poolside at the house in Blanchard but there was a change in plans. Lou and Gene have purchased the Holmberg House B & B on the OU campus. Gene and Lou worked quickly to freshen up the place and make it their own while working around their guests. The good news is that the transition has been seemless and they are consistently booked! Congratulations you two! And they managed to host book club at the new house.

This has been a big year of change for a lot of us in book club I thought this might be a good time to recap our year. In addition to the Christian's buying the B & B ....

Pam has recovered from surgery and is back at work and school. She traveled to Scotland, Malta and Chicago. In fact, she can't be with us tonight as they don't return until Sunday.
Diana and I went to the UK (including Edinburgh) and Paris and I just returned from Chicago and Lake Geneva. Next week, Carla A and I are off to Taos and Santa Fe. Janie and Terry also visited the UK (including Edinburgh), what's up with Scotland? That seemed to be the destination this year. Denise left her job at the end of June. She plans to do some volunteer work but is going to also puruse other passsions. Laura is sending her daughter to her freshman year at OU and her son enters high school. I know Arnora has also been traveling. And, if I have missed anyone or anything just let me know and I will update the blog.

It has been quite a year of big changes and transformations.

This months book is called The Revenant. Another Yound Adult novel set at a Cherokee seminary in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. A young woman faced with having to leave school to go home and help her pregnant mother causes her to act in desperation and take on the identity of one of her friend's. This girl was supposed to take a teaching job at the seminary but at the last minute decides to marry. She leaves it up to our herione to send the message. Instead, she shows up at the school under the assumed identity. The school is haunted by a young girl who has tragically died the year before in a mysterious drowning accident and the mystery is solved over the course of the story. The story intrigued us because it is set in an Oklahoma town that is familiar to us all and because of the Native American element. And who doesn't love a good ghost story?

However, we did a "speed" version the discussion of this book as we decided upon arriving that the majority of us wanted to see the movie The Help on its opening night. The discussion of the Revenant sounded a bit like trying to listen to a 45 record at 77 speed! I think we can suffice it to say that everyone liked this book "ok". It was an interesting enough story but it wasn't riveting or life changing. We picked "Burning Bright" by Tracy Chevalier for September and are planning to review it at a retreat location.

Dinner tonight was "make your own gourmet pizza". Lou provided the crusts and everyone brought a variety of toppings and Janie made a fruit tart for dessert. Thankfully, we did not speed through dinner! The pizza's were awesome. And those that made it to the movie thorougly enjoyed it. The casting was dead on and they were really true to the book. There were a few things they left out but in a movie they usually have to edit for time.

July Book Club 2011

July's book club was poolside at Denise's. Our book this month was Clara and Mr. Tiffany recommended by Carla A. This book is a light historical fiction about Clara Driscoll who worked for Tiffany and Company in the early 1900's. Clara headed up the women's department overseeing the stained glass division and it is Clara that is responsible for many of the designs that Louis Comfort Tiffany is credited for including the Tiffany Lamps.

This was a very interesting story handled with a light hand but deals with deep and important issues. Mr. Tiffany would only hire women to work with certain aspects of the stained glass because he felt they had a better sensibility for color and their hands were smaller and more adept at working with the smaller pieces. However, he would not hire married women and as soon as a woman married she had to quit. There was another department of men that also worked on the stained glass and they became jealous and threatened by the women and tried to take over their jobs by force and strike. The woman banded together and crossed the picket line and managed to save their jobs. Clara and Mr. Tiffany did not have a romantic love but they liked and respected each other. They worked on stained glass windows for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago (this is where this book crosses paths with Devil in the White City).

Clara lived in a boarding house with all kinds of interesting characters, some of whom were gay. One of the men dies (most likely of AIDS before they knew what it was) and Clara discovers one of the men she works for is part of this circle. Clara seems to have been very open minded and non-judgmental and counted people of both genders, sexual preferences, intellectual and economic status among her friends.

She came to Tiffany after she was briefly married and widowed. After several years she met another man she intended to marry and quit Tiffany again. But, when this man abandoned her, Tiffany took her back.

We liked this book and it affected Carla deeply. She really wanted this woman's story to be told so that her contributions would not be forgotten.

Denise provided Teriyaki chicken for the main course and it was delicious!

June Book Club 2011

This book club blog is being written sometime after the fact. Since I left my job at the end of April I have been as busy or busier and my good intentions have simply been that - intentions. But today it is raining (hallelujah!) and I have decided to stay in and catch up on some clerical duties.

June's book club was held in Pam's garden and we read "The 100 Ft. Journey" by Richard Morais. The story begins in Mumbai with Hassan Haji and his family and their family owned restaurant. Hassan's grandfather immigrates to Mumbai and starts out as a "dabba-wallah" - delivering tin lunch boxes but eventually built up his own business and then restaurant where Hassan learns to cook and discovers that he has the equivalent of "perfect pitch" in the kitchen. At 14 his grandfather dies and "so too the last respect we had in the shantytown." They are run out of town when their restaurant is set on fire and Hassan's beloved mother is killed. The family eventually starts over in a suburb of Paris but ends up in a feud with Madame Gertrude Mallory who owns a restaurant across the street.

Ironically, during this feud, Madame Mallory causes a fire that burns Hassan. After his stay and recovery in the hospital, Madame Mallory feels remorse for her actions and invites Hassan to train with her in her restaurant kitchen. It is this 100 ft. journey across the street that changes the course of Hassan's life.

Hassan eventually becomes a famed Parisian chef but all through his life he sees the hand of Madame Mallory guiding him.

Everyone liked this book for the most part. Carla A did feel that the ending of the book fizzled somewhat and did not live up to the richness of the earlier parts. Darby felt that the emphasis on the first parts of the book, on his mother and Madame Mallory were the important foundations of his life and what the author wanted to explore. I didn't feel the ending fizzled but it wasn't told with as much depth of feeling purposely because the author wanted the emphasis on the earlier influences in his life.

May Book Club 2011

I was unable to attend this month's Literary meeting due to a death in the family. Lis stepped up and wrote a guest blog this month and you will find it below. She did a great job! Thanks Lis. I am always open to guest bloggers. Anytime any one of you feels compelled just let me know! Also, I've included instructions for leaving a comment on the sidebar.

Our June gathering and second half of Pillars of the Earth gave us the opportunity to enjoy Terry’s new and comfortable adobe. And what a lovely home it is, oozing of Terry’s personality from every nook and cranny that I was able to stick my nose close to. She had lovingly prepared her back yard for us with lights and lawn pots of spring flowers in hopes of a patio party. Sadly, the wind from a late cold front and the cooler temperatures that it brought with it spoiled her plans and only allowed for a short, cigarette-length hangout before our frosty fingers drove us back inside. In true book club fashion, we crowded the kitchen with food. Terry’s sumptuous pecan-crusted pork loin with strawberry sauce was the crowning jewel, gathering around it our contributions for the evening meal, like a beautiful oriental noodle salad with cashews (yum, I love cashews), an enticing rice pilaf with greens (don’t know what kind but it made my heart pitter patter faster), While waiting for the finishing touches, we snacked, like the queens that we are, on Shrimp Cocktail with gargantuan shrimp, Wild Forest Deviled Eggs with horseradish, scallions, and bacon, and Baba Ghanoush from scratch, ah Heaven. I love my Literary Society pal’s that will help me devour Baba Ghanoush so I can make it for myself – thank you, true and trusty friends. For anybody that left room - and those that have real skill in stacking food just so in their bellies - there was fruit, cheese, brownie, chocolate, and cheesecake snackage to top everything off and have some of us – with less willpower – doubling over with extended stomachs and the moans of “I shouldn’t have taken that second helping.” There was plenty left, after we finally gave up, that could have made our missing members happy; we missed Laura, Denise, Darby, Sherrie, and Lou was only able to stop by for just a little while. Sorry, Sherrie for your sad occasion, she had to pass this month’s blog on and so here I am, Lissy, trying to do justice to the lovely evening in print.

Lounging on Terry’s comfortable sofa or overlooking the group from her breakfast bar stools, we heard about exciting travel plans, a visit with the Dalai Lama, and Pam’s budding star, Sam, landing a role in a Gator Aid commercial. We will be looking for him on television and then excitedly point, exclaiming, “I know that kid.” Terry, Janie, and Diana’s talk of their upcoming European travels fit into the discussion of the 2nd half to Pillars and the historical architecture that they will be musing over. Terry pointed out that the main character of the book was actually the church itself that the whole story wraps around; was it static or did it change? We still didn’t like William or Alfred and wished them the worst – rather, felt justified in the author’s depiction of their final fate. At my comment that we don’t have to feel bad about the stereotyping of Ellen because the author stereotyped all the characters, Terry quickly responded with a grin, “Oh for crying out loud, the 1100’s – that’s where stereotypes come from.” Well said, Terry, we felt redeemed. We all agreed that life in those days is not for us, the more or less pampered 21-century princesses that we deserve to be, honoring ourselves by loving life – or at least book club. Janie re-emphasized how this book has opened up a new world for her, a world of being able to appreciate large, time-intensive volumes. And others, including me, identified with her for not being good, or even poor, readers in school but have grown to love it and consider ourselves good (or at least persistent) readers now. Thanks Literary Society! As far as Janie is concerned, never again will she dismiss a book solely on the grounds of measuring more than 2 cm in thickness.

Hooray, STNM has won another book-soul; if we ever write a book, it could be called Book-Soul Gatherers. Even against my criticism at the writing style and disillusionment about the end being wrapped up too nicely in a package of ‘everybody is taken care of within the confines of the characters and settings,’ the book was well received. Overall thoughts of members were that the diction wasn’t so great, but it had a compelling story. Pillars is an interesting historical fiction about life in the 1100’s, nice details about architecture, religion, and government of the time wrapped up in enough intrigue and controversy to keep the reader turning the pages – even me. Tidy ending - too bad! Solely my bad, sad rating brought the score down to a final 3.69.

Alas, the evening had to come to a close; our literary reality had to give way again to the dream of our lives apart but with the promise of the June book, The Hundred-Foot Journey. Carla The Great introduced us to her ritual of starting a new book. With anticipated pleasure, she will search out a place of great comfort, calm her surroundings, and dedicate a few hours to the new words - then turn the first, crisp page. With that, we separated with the glad knowledge that we would be together again in less than 24 hours to celebrate Darby’s milestone birthday in the Bier Garten of the Royal Bavarian restaurant.