December’s book: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Thank you Bethany for a wonderful evening in your home. Chocolat by Joanne Harris was a great book and the discussion and desserts were Yummy!

Because of scheduling conflicts our normal book club date needed to be changed this month.  I hope this will will work for most of us. Our next book club meeting will be NOVEMBER 29 at 7pm. This is a Tuesday. Diane will be hosting. Her book pick is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas :

                               

Falsely accused of treason, the young sailor Edmond Dantes is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of the Chateau d'If. Having endured years of incarceration, he stages a daring and dramatic escape and sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of Monte Cristo, and to catch up with his enemies. A novel of enormous tension and excitement, The Count of Monte Cristo is also a tale of obsession and revenge. Believing himself to be an 'Angel of Providence', Dantes pursues his vengeance to the bitter end, only then realizing that he himself is a victim of fate.

I realize this book is a long one, but hopefully you have gotten your hands on a copy and have enjoyed reading. The book is very different from the movie but the same themes remain in both. I look forward to our discussion.

SEE YOU ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 29 at 7pm at my house.

Looking ahead to January, we will be watching the movie THE HELP at Linda Abrams home. This will be on January 3 or 4th depending on if we need to move the day we meet for book club for next year. Telarry Anderson will be hosting in February. Her book  pick is  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. 

Diane

November’s book: Chocolat by Joanne Harris

What a wonderful discussion we had at Beth’s home last month. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand was an amazing book to read and ponder. Thanks to everyone who came and shared memories of this greatest generation and the trials and circumstances surrounding WWll.

Our next book club meeting will need to be changed from our usual date. It will be moved to Tuesday Nov 1st at 7pm at Bethany Whiteley’s home.

Her book pic is:    Chocolat by Joanne Harris

                              

A goodreads review of the book says:

Illuminating Peter Mayle's South of France with a touch of Laura Esquivel's magic realism, Chocolat is a timeless novel of a straitlaced village's awakening to joy and sensuality. In tiny Lansquenet, where nothing much has changed in a hundred years, beautiful newcomer Vianne Rocher and her exquisite chocolate shop arrive and instantly begin to play havoc with Lenten vows. Each box of luscious bonbons comes with a free gift: Vianne's uncanny perception of its buyer's private discontents and a clever, caring cure for them. Is she a witch? Soon the parish no longer cares, as it abandons itself to temptation, happiness, and a dramatic face-off between Easter solemnity and the pagan gaiety of a chocolate festival. Chocolat's every page offers a description of chocolate to melt in the mouths of chocoholics, francophiles, armchair gourmets, cookbook readers, and lovers of passion everywhere. It's a must for anyone who craves an escapist read, and is a bewitching gift for any holiday.

A Goodreads reader writes:

Joanne Harris made me long to move to Europe. More fantasizing about small town, rural life. And the descriptions of the chocolate left me dreaming about rose creams, amaretto, pain au chocolat...why is it that these books that leave me hungry and dissatisfied are some of my favorites? Really.
This book is full of luscious sentences, beautiful descriptions, and alluring personalities. It's different from the movie - but both have the same spirit of magical glamor. And both make me need to go get a truffle.

Yummy! Happy reading and we will see everyone on Tuesday Nov 1st at Bethany’s home.

October’s Book: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Isn’t is wonderful that we can get together as friends and discuss such amazing books?  Every book we read and discuss leaves an impression upon us. Our blessings are numerous and life is a wonderful gift. Thanks for a great evening LuAnn.

Welcome to Janene Anderson. We are so glad to have you join us for however long it lasts.

A sad farewell to Debbie. You will be sorely missed. Your comments and insights have been spot on and well thought out. Keep reading and know that we will miss you. What about a once a month commute?

Beth Adkins will host our next meeting on

Wednesday October 5 at 7pm.  Her book pick is:

                             

A goodreads review says:

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.
The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.
Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.
In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit.
Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity,Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

                                          See you at Beth’s !

August’s book: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Thank you Heather Otte for such a wonderful evening on the lake. The weather was perfect and our discussion was great. We all agreed The Chinese Ginger Jars was a wonderful book to read. The writing was good and the story of her missionary experiences were eye-opening to read. How grateful we are for the freedoms we enjoy and the luxuries we take for granted every day. The sequel to this book ( Richer by India)  is worth reading as well. We missed all who could not attend.  A special welcome to Courtney Jones as the newest member of our book club. She meet Heather through school. We are very glad to know you.

Our next book club meeting will be hosted by Margaret Vidmar on Wednesday August 3rd at 7pm.  Her book pick is: 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

                      

Amazon Best Books of the Month, February 2010: From a single, abbreviated life grew a seemingly immortal line of cells that made some of the most crucial innovations in modern science possible. And from that same life, and those cells, Rebecca Skloot has fashioned in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks a fascinating and moving story of medicine and family, of how life is sustained in laboratories and in memory. Henrietta Lacks was a mother of five in Baltimore, a poor African American migrant from the tobacco farms of Virginia, who died from a cruelly aggressive cancer at the age of 30 in 1951. A sample of her cancerous tissue, taken without her knowledge or consent, as was the custom then, turned out to provide one of the holy grails of mid-century biology: human cells that could survive--even thrive--in the lab. Known as HeLa cells, their stunning potency gave scientists a building block for countless breakthroughs, beginning with the cure for polio. Meanwhile, Henrietta's family continued to live in poverty and frequently poor health, and their discovery decades later of her unknowing contribution--and her cells' strange survival--left them full of pride, anger, and suspicion. For a decade, Skloot doggedly but compassionately gathered the threads of these stories, slowly gaining the trust of the family while helping them learn the truth about Henrietta, and with their aid she tells a rich and haunting story that asks the questions, Who owns our bodies? And who carries our memories? --Tom Nissley

A goodreads reader says:   This is a phenomenal book. If it doesn't win every non-fiction award for 2010 than whoever votes for non-fiction awards should have their library cards taken away from them*.
The author, Rebecca Skloot, does a masterful job of seamlessly weaving in the scientific story of Henrietta Lacks' immortal cells and the effect they have had on medicine and medical ethics with a real human interest story about Henrietta and the struggles of her family. Skloot does this without coming across as maudlin, preachy, overly technical, guilt ridden, condescending, or just plain boring.
She deftly weaves two legs of one story together, darting in and out with ease and keeping the reader interested in learning the science and caring about the people. She does this all while doing her best to avoid passing judgment or creating villains. Like a good journalist, she simply reports the facts of a fantastically and seemingly thoroughly researched book and lets the reader interpret them as they will.
In all, this is not only a terrific science book that is not afraid to tackle gray areas of ethics and leave them unanswered without getting preachy, not only a gripping human interest story with more than one human we are interested in, but also a socioeconomic look at the educational opportunities and struggles of poor, disadvantaged people across several generations of our country. Most of all though, this is a uniquely American story.

Enjoy reading and see you next month.

July’s Book: The Chinese Ginger Jars by Myra Scovel

First off, thank you to all who responded so positively to LuAnn’s need to cancel her book club meeting at the last minute. It was a great help to her.  She has decided to reschedule her book  for August 31st.  That is our September meeting but since there are 5 Wednesdays in August it will be the last Wednesday in August at 7pm at LuAnn’s house. Her book will remain the same. The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim.

Heather Otte will be hosting book club on Wednesday July 6th at 7pm. Her book pick is:  The Chinese Ginger Jars by Myra Scovel

                               

The courageous human story of an American missionary family in china during the Japanese occupation and under the communist Regime.

An Amazon review states:  This is an enchanting story in a somewhat pompous but fitting style. Myra Scovel and her husband Frederick, a Presbyterian doctor, spent two decade in China, travelling from one corner to another, practicing medicine through the suzerains of both the Japanese and Communists. The account of the treatment of a ward full of opium addicts, as well as of the Japanese invading the hospital/missionary post the Scovels owned, are well treated and exciting. Myra and her husband were also missionaries in India; this is mentioned briefly toward the end of this memoir.

Heather has recommended this book to us before so I am glad she picked this one.  Thank you Heather for letting us know about your selection early so we could be ordering it or sharing it. This one is out of print and not many reviews were to be found. Enjoy reading!!

As we have done in the past, it is a good idea to carpool to Heather’s house as parking is limited.

June Book Club: The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim

We had a wonderful time at Sue’s house last night. We braved the road repairs and even discussed staying until 2am. (It was quickly nixed!) We all agreed that A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith was a great book with very strong women characters. It was interesting to break down this book and look for themes and meaning. Thanks Sue for an enjoyable evening. We missed all who could not be there.

LuAnn will be hosting our next meeting. It will be Wednesday June 1st at 7pm. Her pick for June is:

                                    

A goodreads reader writes:

This is truly a heartwarming and lovely tale, one of those novels that touches you in such a way, you hate for it to end. It is story of a Korean girl and her mother, a story of a proud nation battling the aggressiveness of another, a story of a man coming to understand and accept that old ways and lifestyle must change, and a story of love that survives many hardships. All these stories in one magnificent novel. The Korean girl, Najin, is growing up in a very Confucian household. Her mother, however, strives for Najin to get an education and to make something of herself. Throughout the many years, wars, and tribulations, Najin's mother is there for her, supporting her and fighting for her, even standing up to her strict husband to save Najin's future. Najin, does indeed, make something of herself despite her nation's constant battles with Japan and being separated from her husband and even imprisoned. Readers also see things from Najin's father's point of view, as he comes of age in a society that is straying from his traditional beliefs and he comes to slowly accept that his daughter is not so "worthless" after all. Though taking a minor role in the novel, a love story also thrives. Being married for only a day and separated for eleven years, reader's will find out if love is enough for Najin and her husband. The ending will leave reader's dabbing their eyes. Truly, a gem and absolute must read. Highly recommended.

Jane Bishop let us know of a website where you can buy books. It’s Thriftbooks.com   Check it out.

On a sad/happy note Jane has finally sold her home and will be moving to Utah mid June. We will miss your contribution to our book club and your friendship.

Happy Reading!

May’s book club pick: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I am so glad that we have such a wonderful group of friends who meet together each month to discuss such a variety of books. We had a wonderful discussion at Jane’s house this past week. Even though we all knew of Nelson Mandela, we walked away with a respect for his vision and his strength to see it through to it’s conclusion. Thank you for a great evening.

On May4th at 7pm, Sue Mitchell will be hosting. Her book pick is:

The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.

A goodreads review says: The title of this novel refers to a tree that grows persistently up through the concrete and harsh conditions of a poor tenement neighborhood in early 1900s Brooklyn. But it is also a metaphor for the novel's protagonist, Francie Nolan. She is a sweet, innocent girl who grows and flourishes despite a harsh environment of neglect and poverty.
I fell in love with Francie. I loved her childlike innocence and the way she could be so delighted with things we take for granted: things like a flower in a brown bowl, freshly sharpened pencils, dancing shadows on her pillow, shiny stars. I love her pluckiness; I loved the way she refused to conform to the mold her teacher tried to force on her, the way she pulls herself out of poverty by working hard, even though it means giving up on some dreams.
But the novel is about so much more than just Francie. This is a beautifully moving portrayal of the human condition and the plight of the downtrodden, similar to the work of Steinbeck, though more hopeful. There is so much American pride coming from the point of view of poor immigrants and their children. The heroes of this book are not great men. They are ordinary people. They are flawed. And they are beautiful.

Some book recommendations:

A Candle in the darkness by Lynn Austin

The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

Escape by Carolyn Jessup

Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton (We read this at the very beginning of this book club. It was our 2nd book.)

Happy Reading!

April’s book club pick: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

It was great to be together again at book club this month. Thank you Debbie for hosting. It was a wonderful evening. Again, we enjoyed a book with a very strong woman. It is an incredible story of love and perseverance and how our love for our family can get us through anything. If you didn’t get a chance to read this book, we would highly recommend it. We must give credit to Mike Mullin for his wonderful swan centerpiece. It was truly a work of art. Thanks so much!

                        

Margaret passed this message from a friend of hers to all of you: 

I heard a radio announcement from Gonzaga University that Greg Mortensen, the author of the book "Three cups of tea" will be in Spokane on March 28th at Gonzaga University Athletic building at 7:00 p.m.

Very Cool. We read that book and all enjoyed his story. Thanks Margaret for letting us know.

Our next book club meeting will be hosted by Jane Bishop on Wednesday March 30th at 7 pm. Her pick is:

                                      

The riveting memoirs of one of the great moral & political figures of our time, an international hero whose accomplishments won him the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. Mandela shares the epic story of his life--its struggles, setbacks, & ultimate triumph.

A goodreads review:

This excellent autobiography details the struggles against apartheid in South Africa spanning almost 80 years. It is hard to believe that the first non-racial, one-person, one-vote election in South Africa took place as recently as April 27, 1994. Nelson Mandela chronicles the hardship and sacrifice that he and many, many others made to ensure the existence of that election and the subsequent establishment of true democracy in that country. My motivation in reading this book was to understand better how a man could be imprisoned, abused, isolated from his family and friends for 27 years and come out of prison preaching forgiveness and reconciliation. He was able to do this because the government never broke Mandela's spirit or his basic belief in the common goodness and humanity of each human being. Mandela tells the reader at the very beginning that he is a stubborn man -- that stubbornness, along with his iron will, his trust in true friends, his love for his family and his sense of dedication to the people of his country carried him through very difficult times. South Africa was blessed to have this man -- he & his associates kept South Africa from descending into violence and civil war. As the head of a transitional government, he managed to steer South Africa into a multi-racial, united country that values the culture, language and unique heritage of all of the people that live there.

 
This book is highly readable and well written. Mandela writes with humility and understands his faults. He makes clear that because he was a freedom fighter he gave up the ultimate joy that comes from being part of a loving, united family. He blames himself for the failures within his family, primarily his two divorces and being an absent father. So while this book is about the ultimate triumph of his & the cause of Black, Colored, and Indian South Africans, it is also a story of loss and heartache.

Enjoy your reading this month. Here are a few recommendations from our book club:

Richer by India by Myra Scovel

Matched by Ally Condie

An Epic Polar Adventure: Endurance by F.A. Worsley. This was Jenna’s pick for March but we will need to reschedule her hosting month.

We also had some ideas about purchasing books. Some of these will be for electronic copies. Try GoHastings.com or Fetchbook.com or ebookfling.com

February’s Book: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

We had a great time at the movies this week and missed all who could not attend. We enjoyed the movie Gifted Hands and felt very inspired by this story.  Thank you Heather D. for getting the movie. We also appreciated Rachelle Haggerty opening up her awesome home theater for our viewing pleasure. It was a wonderful evening.

February’s book is going to change due to a scheduling conflict. Heather Demars will be hosting instead of Debbie Mullin. Debbie will host in March with her same book, Daughter of the Forest. This will give us a bit more time to find and read her book.

 Heather D. will host on Wednesday February 2 at 7pm. Her pick is:

                                    

I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills. She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Her journals candidly chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle's walls, and her own first descent into love. By the time she pens her final entry, she has "captured the castle"—and the heart of the reader—in one of literature's most enchanting entertainments.

A goodreads reader says:

This is a book about Cassandra. About her life...and about life in general, really. Her reflections are so real and insightful. Honesty is the main focus of the story...from my point of view anyway. She ultimately learns that there is nothing but temporary solace to be found in settling for anything less than honesty with yourself. I think that is what every character in the story realizes at the end.
I think Dodie Smith really accomplished something in making this a story about life and not a story driven by a plot. By the end of the first paragraph, you should already have fallen in love with Cassandra-and the beauty of the book is that it doesn't really matter what the actual events of her life are-it is about how she describes her experiences, and then understands and grows from them.  Loved it!

Enjoy reading and we hope to see you at Heather Demars home on February 2nd at 7pm.  Heather is living at Ted Demars home. Their address is 3315 N. Idaho Rd. I am always open to carpooling so give me a call if you are interested.