July Book Club 2019

Terry hosted us at her new, and very lovely home, for July. Tammy and Pam have also changed houses recently and we look forward to seeing their new digs at some point in the near future.

As it is July and the weather is warming up, Terry decided on Quiche and cool, summer salads. As, usual, we out did ourselves. Along with the Quiche and salads, there was Hummus and deviled eggs, and a veggie tray. Laura also brought a frozen, Reese's Peanut Butter
ice cream cake. I hope I didn't leave anything out. I do believe this was the first time that neither Diana, nor I, took any photos. Feel free to upload to Facebook if anyone else got any. I believe that Denise and Leslie were our only missing members this times (besides Darby and Lou and we always miss them.) Robbie joined us this month and we were happy to see her!

Our, book for July was Neil Gaiman's, The Graveyard Book.

Neil conceived the idea of this book in 1985 while watching his son ride his bike toward a graveyard. He dabbled with the writing the book for several years but ended up putting it aside and writing other things. Finally, he finished and published it in 2008. He considers each of the 8 chapters short stories on their own - separated by two year intervals. He was inspired by Rudyard Kipling's 1894 work. For example the chapter "The Hounds of God" parallels the "Kaa's Hunting."

This is an unusual coming of age story. Our protagonist is Nobody Owens, who is typically orphaned. His parents and siblings are deliberately murdered by an intruder. Nobody is a precocious toddler who has wondered off on his own out of the house and finds himself in the local cemetery. The murderer turns out to be a man named "Jack" who is a member of a secret society called "Jack of All Trades." He has deliberately searched out and killed Nobody's family because it has been prophesied that Nobody's mission in life will be to destroy the Jack of All Trades. Most of the story revolves around the ghosts and caretaker of the cemetery who agree to raise Nobody Or "Bod" as he is called. 

There are many mystical happenings as the story bridges the world between the living and the dead. Several of us listened to the book on audio that was performed by a cast of actors. I thought that made it very entertaining and easier to follow. There were at least two people who started the book and put it down because it wasn't capturing their interest. However, on giving it a second chance ended up loving it.

The Graveyard Book is a modern classic, and is the only work ever to win both the Newberry (US) and Carnegie (UK) medals.

The book rated a 4.5

Our next book will be "Where did you go Bernadette?" Denise will be our host.

September's book will be "The Power" at Carla G's home.

We finally had a break in the rain for a few days. We've seen record amounts of rainfall this spring season. I'm grateful it's been keeping the temperatures down but the flooding in some areas is definitely not good. It turned out to be a nice evening.

Barb was our hostess this month and she put Devon to work on the grill for some delicious Kabob's. Everyone else brought wonderful summer salads, Gwen, Barb's daughter-in-law joined for this month's book discussion and very thoughtfully made the Tipsy Cake that was mentioned in the book. It was was the perfect compliment to our meal. Barb also made some white wine slushy's.

Arnora, Janie, Carla A, Carla G, and Terry were not able to make it.

We want to say congratulations to Tammy who sold her "farm" and is all unpacked in her new home "in town."

Most everyone liked The Rules of Magic. Diana read it early and decided to read it a second time to refresh her memory. She said the characters and the story really moved her in a different way as she reread it. Her favorite quote was, "We spend the first part of our lives looking forward, and the later years looking back."  She noted that, at this time in her life, she does spend some time looking back and reflecting on all that has been brought to her and, "the people and places I remember," a line from a Beatles song. The book rated a 4.

The Rules of Magic is the prequel to Alice Hoffman's book "Practical Magic." Most of us had seen that movie even if we hadn't read the book.

Our next book club will either be at Pam or Terry's. The book is Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book."

Recommendations for future reading:

Where'd You Go Bernadette
Where the Crawdads sing
The Power
Save the Plums for Me
Circe
Educated

May Book Club 2019

I was missing in action for May's Book Club. My kids invited me to meet them for a weekend in Branson. For this month's blog I am reposting Diana's notes from the Facebook page. If anyone has photos or additional information, just let me know and I will add to it.

Arnora was our host for May and the book was "The Book of Polly." Arnora served up a "Pioneer Woman" themed dinner in honor of our trip to Pawhuska.

Everyone enjoyed the book. They loved the characters and the story. The book rated a 4.5. Here is a brief summary of the book.

Willow Havens is ten years old and fearful that her much older mother, Polly,  will die. Polly is cantankerous, take-no-prisoners Southern woman who lives to shoot varmints, drink margaritas, and antagonize the neighbors. She sticks out like a sore thumb among the young modern mothers of their small, conventional Texas town. She was in her late 50's, and Willow's father had already died when she was born. And, her much older brother and sister are long grown. Willow has figured out she is here by accident. Willow is desperately hungry for clues to her families life before she was born. There are just enough clues to make insight her curiosity. Why did her mother leave her native Bethel, Louisiana and vow never to return? Who is Garland Jones, her long ago suitor and did he, in fact, kill a man? And, will Polly be able to outrun the "Bear," the illness that finally puts her on a collision course with her past?

Barb is hosting June and our book is "The Rules of Magic."

April Book Club 2019

I hosted this month's book club out on the "acreage" haha. I hope finding me wasn't too difficult. Though, I'm in "town" with neighbors all around, the house sits back off the road and it is easy to pass me by.

We missed, Arnora, Leslie, Tammy and Denise. But, we were also excited that Barb brought Kelsie along. It's good to have her back "home" even if temporarily.

As our main dish, I made a Jambalaya. Terry brought a delicious Proscuitto and cheese wrapped apple appetizer. Barb and Kelsie brought a kale and Brussel Sprout salad with yogurt dressing, Diana brought the baguette (what else can you sop the sauce up with? haha) and Guinness. Carla brought both peach and mixed berry cobbler and Janie brought ice cream topping. Carla G contributed wine and ice and Carla A brought peach tea. And, many thanks to Pam who stepped in for Arnora and brought the beautiful Begonia!

Our book his month was the non-fiction "Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. As I was doing a little background research (like there wasn't enough in the book!) I discovered that the author had also written The Lost City of Z. We read that several years ago and, as I recall, we liked it a lot.

The final rating of the book was 3.72. Everyone liked the information provided. It's one of those books where you understand the significance of knowing the information while simultaneously being appalled at what you are learning. Barb and Lou (who commented on this book a couple of months ago) did not like how it was written at all. Lou thought it was one of the most boring books she'd ever read and, Barb agreed.

It was told in three sections. I listened to the book and Part 1 was read by a woman. I thought that was appropriate because he starts the book by introducing us to Mollie Burkhart and her family.

Here is a little more background. I don't remember these details from the book. Forgive me if I am repeating information.  In 1870 The Drum Creek Treaty was signed by the Osage. This treaty provided that the remainder of Osage land in Kansas be sold and the proceeds used to relocate the tribe to Indian Territory. The agreement was delayed and there was a change in administration. This benefited the Osage because they were able to sell their land to the "peace" administration, Pres. U.S. Grant, for which they received $1.25 an acre as opposed to the 19 cents previously offered. The Osage were one of the few tribes that were able to buy their own reservation and therefore retained more rights to the land and sovereignty. There is a lot more to the story between 1870 and 1907. I won't recount it here. Let's just say that in those years, thanks to government policies, the population was reduced by about half. However, in 1907 they negotiated a deal which entitled them to retain their communal mineral rights to the land. So, that brings us to the discovery of oil on their land and how they became the richest of the tribes. Not only did the government pay them royalties for the oil but they had discovered that they had rich grasslands and were able to lease the lands to wealthy ranchers.

That brings us to the beginning of our story and the systematic murder of Mollie Burkhart's family. I won't retell the story. Except to say that Part II and III were then told by men who gives us the story of the investigation that leads to William Hale's diabolical plot to take over the "head rights" of the oil leases by orchestrating the murder of the Osage men, women and children who stood in his way. And, the simultaneous forming of the FBI under the, shall we say less than scrupulous, J. Edgar Hoover, who used the investigation, trial and convictions to further his own ends.

While I didn't mind the way the book was written, I did think that if Erik Larson had written it, we might have found ourselves more emotionally invested in the story.

I'm sure we will find out more riveting information and further our discussion on our trip to Pawhuska. I am really looking forward to this!

On a final note, I see where Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCarpio have optioned this for a movie. And, didn't I see they were also doing Devil in the White City?

The Book of Polly is our next selection and Arnora will be our hostess!

March Book 2019

Blog #139  Book #203

A great big thank you! to Janie for hosting this month. She's had a tough time getting her mom settled into her new living situation. But, she managed to power through and cooked us up a pot of the best potato soup I've ever had. She gave credit for the recipe to Panera via Rusty. Thanks, Rusty!

Other things on the menu were; cheese, bread and Spaetzle by Lis, blueberries, quiche by Laura, cornbread by Terry, cookies by Denise, brownies by Tammy and Carla brought walnuts and Kahlua to top them and our floral arrangement by Arnora. Also, a lovely assortment of wines, two kinds of Guinness, Pecan coffee and tea.

We had lots of great conversations as we caught up on our month. Aside from Janie moving her mom, both Pam and Terry are moving house. Lots of movement as we head into Spring! Congratulations on your new homes!We missed Pam, Barb and Leslie (and Darby and Lou.)

I think everyone had read The Nightingale except Denise. Terry was just a few pages from finishing. Everyone liked this book a lot and the overall rating was a 4.5.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, is another WWII story. This one about two sisters living in France at the time the German's invaded.  The family had not adjusted well to the death of their mother. The father is distant and doesn't really know what to do with his daughters. The oldest, Vianne, is a young mother whose husband has been drafted. Isabelle is a headstrong teenager who gets kicked out of or, runs away from, all the boarding schools she is sent to. The girls are very different in their temperament and in their perspectives on life. Vianne seems to be more timid. She has a daughter to protect after her husband is a prisoner of war. She wants to fly under the radar, lay low, not make waves or draw attention. Isabelle wants to join the resistance - she wants to jump off the cliff and fly for a brief few moments before the fall.

I am not going to give a full overview here as there is just too much detail. Just to say, that both girls end up doing their part for the war effort in France while they are dodging German soldiers billeting in their home, walking stranded airmen across the Pyrenees mountains and, harboring abandoned Jewish children under the nose of the Germans. They didn't have only the worry of the German soldiers. The French formed a Vichy government and worked with the Germans. The girls couldn't trust their own countrymen. The action of the story really ignited in the last third of the book and was told with anticipation and intensity.

I had not thought about it while I was listening to the book but, as we discussed it, scenes from Gone With the Wind kept coming to my mind.  All wars seem to have the same similarities. There are those with bravado, swagger and idealism that ignore the reality that is coming. There are those who seek out or, are forced to fight the opposition in spite of the risk to life and limb. In war the aggressor believes he is right and justified in achieving the means at any cost and, the victims who are fighting to maintain their way of life. No matter the root that brings the war the greatest damage is always done to the civilians and mostly to the women and children who are considered "collateral damage."

Here are a few statistics we didn't cover in our discussion:

WWII civilian deaths 50-55 million. Military deaths were 21-24 million. The civilian deaths were double the number of soldiers. The number of Jews is estimated at about 17 million.

I forgot to mention it during our discussion. But, I remember a great quote from one of my favorite shows - The West Wing. And, I will leave you with this.

All Wars are Crimes.

April's Host: Sherrie

Book: Killers of the Flower Moon 

February Book Club 2019

Blog #138 - Book #202

 February's book was Barbara Kingsolver's "Unsheltered." Fortunately for us, we found warmth, comfort and shelter at Pam's home! Everyone was able to join us this month except for Carla A and Leslie. Barb's friend, Julie, had read the book and joined our discussion. Some of us have met Julie over the years and it was good to see her.

For our meal, Pam provided roasted chicken and a Greek salad. Carla G brought tomato basil soup and baguette. Julie brought chicken tenders from Cains. Diana brought delicious blueberry muffins and Laura brought apple cobbler. I brought a quiche, Tammy brought both sweet and savory plantains, Janie brought cheese and crackers, Barb brought roasted veggies and Arnora brought a beautiful bouquet of flowers. And, we had a wide assortment of wines and fruited water. 

Unsheltered: a timely novel that interweaves past and present to explore the human capacity for resiliency and compassion in times of great upheaval. 

One of the central questions is: "How could two hardworking people do everything right in life and end up destitute?" After a life time of doing the right things like getting an education and having professional jobs, they have nothing to show for it but debt, an inherited house that is falling apart and an ivy-league educated son who is in crisis.  In another time, a troubled husband and public servant asks, "How can a man tell the truth, and be reviled for it?" These questions and these families are living out their lives against the backdrop of all our contemporary social issues.

It seemed to me that the room was about equally divided on their assessment. Most of the group are Barbara Kingsolver fans with "Prodigal Summer" rating among one of the favorite books of our time together. Pam, Tammy, Barb and Julie really liked the book, while Diana, Laura, Denise and Arnora had mixed feelings about it.One of the issues that some had with the book was that it felt like the author had made a list of all our social woes and then weaved the story to promote her political views. The writing felt preachy.  Janie, Lis and I did not read it. Carla A told me that she didn't care for the story but she really liked the epilogue and thought you could get the gist from that. 

In essence the book attempts to paint a portrait of lie in precarious times when the foundations of the past have failed to prepare us for the future. That being said, if you read much history, you know that all times are precarious. To me, it just feel worse when you are the one living through it. 

March book club will be at Janie's and our book is Kristen Hannah's "Nightingale."

January Book Club 2019

Blog #137     Book #201

January 2019 opens with a pretty snowfall and Tammy and Lily as our hostesses. Many thanks to Lily who recommended this month's book, "The War That Saved My Life."

We had a smaller than usual group this time. Lou was able to join us but Pam, Janie, Denise, Barb, Lis, Leslie, Laura, Terry and Darby could not make it. We hope Denise feels better soon. We are sorry to hear of the passing of Lis' uncle. Good luck to Leslie's boy's who have basketball games - and wishing fun and safe travels to the others.

Tammy provided us Guinness Beef Stew and cornbread. Lou brought cabbage soup, Carla G brought salad, fruit, nuts and wine, Diana brought caramel Panna Cotta with chocolate sauce, and Carla A brought chocolate and cinnamon apple brioches. And, Arnora brought the beautiful bouquet of flowers. I have to say, one of the many reasons I love going out to Tammy's is getting out of the car and being dazzled by the stars in the night sky.

Our book was well liked by all. "The War That Saved My Life," was 2016's Newbery Honor Book and the winner of the 2016 Schneider Family Book Award as well as being on the NY Times bestseller list.  Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is humiliated by Ada's twisted foot to let her outside. Her mother is also abusive. When Ada's brother is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada sneaks out to join him. Ada and her brother are taken in by Susan Smith. She cleans them up, feeds them and reads to them from the Swiss Family Robinson. Miss Smith gives Susan encouragement and teaches her to read. The story is a coming of age story about a young girl who is behind the 8-ball in every way. She is born with disabilities, her father has died, her mother is abusive and there is a war coming. But, she finds a way to persevere and flourishes in spite of all the odds against her and fighting a war on all fronts.

We talked about Ada's courage throughout her journey and Susan's motherly intuition, even though she never thought she wanted children. We thought the author did a great job researching this wartime story f the lives of children who were evacuated away from London. Lily has read the second book in this 2-part series and filled us in on the future of some of the characters. The book rated 4.5.

February's book club location will be decided as we get closer. It will be either at Pam or Sherrie's. Our book is Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver.

Lou mentioned that she thought Killers of the Flower Moon was turning into the most boring book she might have read. So, just a heads up, we might want to reconsider that one. Arnora and Carla G had recommendations we can discuss in February.