Long Overdue Update.....

Dear Hardcovers and Hangovers,

 

I know, I know, it’s been a while since I’ve updated the blog. A very quick recap as my notes are limited…hum, maybe too much wine??? But seriously, thank you to each hostess for a fantastic evening; we are always grateful for the warm meal, great libations, and stimulating conversation (sometime not on topic, but always fun!). 

Going way, way, way back….

1000 White Women

-good character development

-Sara could identify with the setting as she had just recently returned from vacation

-depiction of the Cheyenne Indians was well done

-complicated culture

-loved how the women came from totally different places

-Sue lost respect when the boy was shot

-a very believable text

-whisky scene was terrible and hard to deal with

The Sandlewood Tree

-beautifully descriptive

-flashbacks

-lesbian!  shocking!

-Adela, totally wrong for her time period

-parents, rich and stiff, Victorian

-Amy didn’t resonate with the characters

-ending was rushed, tied into a bow

The Fault in Our Stars

-well written, surprised the author is a man

-resistance to the book at first given its weighty topic

-Sue, a friend from school had recommended it

-Sara, had a good conversation with her daughter about the book

-Marrie, value to the story, peer pressure, bulling, beautiful story, reading for realize life, give empathy

-Karin, despite health issues the two were able to share their first kiss

-Amy, maturity at such a young time in their lives

-Marrie, connecting to how many of us have had hardship with our own children

Bread and Roses, Too

-got tired of reading about the strike

-Rosa’s angst got on Amy’s nerves

-Ellen felt for the baby brother, Ricky

-Susan really liked Jake

-Why give $$$ to the father???

-Father’s death a touching scene

-Susan likes how the women stuck together

-old man in VT, a big surprise

-teacher really cared but condescending, from two separate worlds, because she felt she could ‘save’ them

 Call the Midwife

I have no notes, but can say the group loved the book and Ellen finally redeemed herself (LMNOP)

 Thank you Susan for a wonderful meal and great evening.  There was a lot of sidebar conversation this evening, but confidentiality has me mum…although Matilda says we’re normal (she may rethink that later).

 
On to the book….

The Whip

-Ellen, a little disturbing, especially hubby and baby death scene!

-Marrie, Sugarfoot was Edmond!!!  Shooting her lover, OMG

-Charli, tragic life

-Lee was a creep, treated her like property

-loved Jonas, taught her about horses, father figure, some surprised that he was black

-Karin:  Can’t something happy happen!!!!

Next up….Marrie is picking Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. 

See ya all soon.

Happy Reading,

Jenn

 

Lots of Candles plenty of Cake - Anna Quindlen

May 29, 2014

First and foremost - we gave out our most coveted award - the  Perfect Attendance award.  This is a large cash award and this year goes to ...... Jennifer.  Congrats Jenn!  Because you were not at the meeting, Karin accepted the award for you (please see her for the large check.... )

The meeting started out with a few light (and sometimes funny jokes)
   - Spaceman
   - String Joke
   - HK joke - Dog  (honestly don't remember this one - just typing from notes)
   - Penguin - (some thing about a seal....)

****************************************************************

A wonderful time at Amy's, great food, great wine, great friends.

Amy selected this book as she just turned 50 (am I allowed to put that in writing?  Oh, and welcome to the club!) and Anna Quinlan's writing provided a reflection of her life.

Comments:
* The book had some funny moments along with a few melancholy notes.
* Felt like a blog more than a book
* Nothing in life is etched in stone
* How do best friends influence us
* and finally - we all worry about who will pluck hairs and wipe butts for us when we get old.  (we recommended that every one select their person now)

The wine kicked in and the conversations took a left turn...
 - Susan loves the smell of Noxema
 - How do kids clean their weed without double albums?

*****************************************************************

Next month - The Fault of Our Stars by John Green at Alison's house on June 26th

Necessary Lies

A very quick post....

Marrie rocks as a hostess.  Even with her house in remodel mode she always provides us with a wonderful evening!  The food and atmosphere were fantastic!!1  Who didn't love the simply homemade lasagna (who cares who made it?) and salad.  And of course, love the old fashion lemon cake/pie thing...my nana used to make that...memories! 

Anyway, the book....

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain was well liked by the group.  It provided us with a good discussion and evoked a lot of thought. 

Who knew about this dark period in our American history...feel like we did that with the orphan train. 
How we have forgotten how unliberated we were....birth control ladies! 
Jane should NOT have told MaryElla! 
Baby William had to be taken away...sad but true!
Nona's character was well done...descriptive of almost that stereotypical black nanny?!?
Solid character development!
Torn between Jane's' character (privileged life) and the understanding why intervention was needed. 
Intervention by government....but at what cost??????
Ivy and Mary was here.
Ivy...mother or child?  Let's face it...she kept that family together. 
And the father of Baby William is......saw that one coming! 
Crossing lines....that's directed to you Jane. 
The fast forward ending.....neat and tidy with Jane marrying lawyer guy (can't remember his name).

Up next is One Thousand White Women:  The Journals of May Dodd.  We'll be meeting at Sara's on March 25th. 

See you all soon.
Jenn

The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy

January 14, 2014 - On a snowy night in the middle of January we made the trek to Alison's new home in Maine.  We all fell in love with it and can't wait to see the views next summer (thanks for letting us invite ourselves... )

Alison selected this book based on the recommendation from her sister-in-law, Terry.  The group found the book a good read, but felt the lead character was unbelievable.

Comments include:

• How did she have sex almost every night..... is there a comparison to Fifty Shades of Grey???
• Making a dress from curtains - how very Gone with the Wind of her
• Reminded us of another book (that we might have read as a group - but we can't remember) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - great book
• But "Not for Nothing" and "Let me tell you this about that", "Well there you go"
• Korea or Career?
• The Millers - good movie
• Downton Abby - boring this year?
• Planning cruise in Europe while having Bubble and Squeak?  Or should we just rent a Villa in Italy?

Awesome dinner!  Thanks Alison!

We wish Susan a great trip to Ireland!

We missed Karin and all wish Austin a speedy recovery

Next month - Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain  at Marrie's on February 24th

September Recap

Dear Hardcovers and Hangovers,

A big thank you to Karin for hosting a lovely evening.  We enjoyed a delightful meal of pork and roasted veggies…yummy!!  We were down a few members and missed Sarah, Ellen, Amy.  However, we did have an honorary member attend….Charli’s mom!  As always, love seeing Jean. 

We spent quite a bit of the evening chit chatting and catching up.  Overall the book, Beautiful Ruins, received mixed reviews.  Some were still working on finishing it and others had read it some time ago so it was hard to remember all the details.  Personally, I found the book full of interesting characters, a descriptive setting and intriguing plot line.  Sometimes the alternating chapters proved to be confusing for some.  We loved Pasquale.  We laughed at his big dreams of the tennis court on the cliff (balls in the ocean).  Found Dee Moray a sympathetic character.  Michael Dean was a love hate character.  Liked Claire and hated her boyfriend (why was she keeping him around?)!  Found the insertion of Liz Taylor and Richard Burton to be a cool factor.  We did have trouble remembering how Alvis (the writer) and Dee became a couple.  Love the side story of Shane and his pitch of the Donner Party.  Hollywood and Italy provided a great backdrop for this story. 

I was feeling a bit under the weather so I failed to take notes, so unfortunately this recap is short on details of the night.  We look forward to seeing everyone at Ellen’s to discuss Orphan Train. 

Cheers,
Jenn

 

July Recap

Hello Hardcovers and Hangovers,

What a lovely summer evening we had a Susan’s. Ellen even dressed up for the evening in her practical and fashionable black dress! Thank you to Susan and Amy for coordinating a delicious meal….awesome.  We missed you Sara and Allison and look forward to seeing you both this fall.  Here is a quick recap of the evening:

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

Different country and culture (Burma).

Inspirational!!!

Incredible use of senses.

Good character development,

Hated how Tin Win just left his American family – really couldn’t he just tell his adult children he was seeking the love of his life after all these years?

Great descriptive language,

Loved how Julie got her personal history though the narration from as we learn brother.

Nothing got Mi Mi down!!

Liked when Tin Win lived in the nunnery.

A Light Between the Oceans

What would you do?
Felt like you could be on both side of the moral dilemma.
Tom was trying to make Izzy happy even by breaking his own moral code.
Izzy could always manipulate Tom.
Love Lighthouses!! ….but mercury poisoning!
Majority had a hard time sympathizing with the real mother. 
Many felt for the sister as she struggled to help Hannah but her heart broke for the child.
Victims of circumstance.
Izzy felt the baby was a sign from God, given the time period this makes sense. 
Time elapse and it’s too late…a commonality in both books. 

The number one take away from the evening:  Ellen:  “You need to take your meds everyday Marrie, everyday!!” 

I won’t even get into the other issues that plagued some of us that evening!!

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter is up next.  See you all at Karin’s.

Jenn

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

May 29, 2013 - Sarah's house
Awesome meal - 1940's style - Sarah, please send us the recipe for that salad!!

Great book - enjoyed by all.  Much discussion on how we never realized about the war in the Pacific vs the war in Europe.  Prisoner of war - the toll it takes.

Great handouts!!

Fun chit chat among us girls...

* What would you do for a peanut butter and tuna sandwich (who was the one who liked those??)

* Space sticks (ok - only three of us really remembered them) and wash it down with Tang

* Amy's son - 'Garage doors, Tweezers, Phone Cords.... oh my!'

* New Baby in the Hawrylciw house


Next meetings - 
- July 8th - Amy's
- August 14th - Karin's

Schedule of future meetings (subject to change)
- September             Susan
- October                 Ellen
- November             Jennifer
- December             Should we schedule a girls night for fun?

2014
- January                 Allison
- February               Marrie
- March                   Sarah
- April                     Karin
- May                      Amy
- June                      Susan
- July                       Charlie
- August                  Ellen
- September             Jennifer
- October                 Allison
- November             Marrie
- December             ?????