June Book Club: Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Thanks for a great evening together. The view was amazing and the conversation so much fun. It’s like free therapy when we get together. We laugh and talk and express what ever we need to. I love you gals!! Thanks for a great discussion on what makes us valuable. Is it our appearance or what's in our heart? Reading about Nie Nie makes us all feel like there is hope in facing our challenges. We also saw a really cool segment from NatGeo about a new burn treatment. You spray on your own stem cells with a special gun and it adheres and heals in days not months. Very amazing. Thanks Syd.

Next month Tanya will be hosting our meeting on Wednesday June 4th at 7pm.  Her book pic is:

                                   

Goodreads review says:  Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she'll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry. From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will Marianne be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

A Goodreads reader says:  Edenbrooke is absolutely delightful. I wish more publishers out there would pick up romance stories like this, without the prerequisite sex scenes. There is none of that here, and instead we are treated to a romance that focuses much more on the emotions of the characters and how they fall in love. So it's a love story, not just a romance. In my experience, those are quite hard to find.

See you next month!!

April Book Club: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Thanks for a great get together again. We had the best time discussing ideas and laughing and remembering our high school days. Star Girl was a great book to read because we all can’t be popular but we all can be ourselves and stay true to our values. Thanks Tansy and congratulations!!!!!!

Our next book club meeting will be hosted by Beth Adkins on Wednesday April 2 at 7pm. Her book pick is:

                         

A review on Goodreads says:   Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel' d'Hiv's 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

A Goodreads reader says:     I finished "Sarah's Key" this morning and I have so many thoughts going through my head about it. I loved the pacing of the story, how it switched between Sarah's story and Julia's story up until the point where the two merged. I loved how the style of Sarah's story was completely different than the style of Julia's story. I loved how both stories made me cry, even though I knew what was coming. I loved how realistically the characters were portrayed. Nobody was all good or all bad, just human with human frailties. I loved the depictions of the small acts of conscience and kindness. I had no idea about the roundups of Jews in France. I did know that the Nazis tended to just send children who were too young to work straight to the gas chambers. I think the author did a good job of illustrating why the French people seemed to forget what had happened and how the Holocaust indirectly affected them. I hope writers continue writing stories like "Sarah's Key" that bring the atrocities of the Holocaust to light so we can learn and not repeat those mistakes.

In May we will be reading Heaven is Here: An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph and Everyday Joy by Stephanie Nielson

Just a reminder about the blog that Debbie recommended. Its called The Moments We Stand and can be found at themomentswestand.blogspot.com

Happy reading and see you next month!

March Book Club: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

What a crazy bunch of reading nuts we are to brave the frigid winter weather to get together and discuss our book. We regretted not flying down to Arizona and having a private one on one discussion with Gena about her book but despite the cold we had a heart warming discussion about facing challenges and what success looks like. We learned interesting things about each other and had some really good laughs. Thank you Alicia for choosing this book and for hosting.

We will be meeting on the first WEDNESDAY of the month during the rest of this year.

Tansy will host our next book club meeting on Wednesday March 5th at 7pm. Her book pick is:

                      

Goodreads review says:   From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, hallways hum “Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. Until they are not. Leo urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her - normal.

A Goodreads reader says:   Stargirl is an amazing book about individuality and nonconformism. A home-schooled girl named Stargirl begins attending the public high school for her sophomore year. Stargirl is different.
She learns everybody's birthdays and on the day of, she sings them a happy birthday song -- accompanying herself on the ukulele -- in the middle of the lunch room, whether they want her to or not. She watches a young boy who lives across the street so that she can create a scrapbook for him without his knowledge. She is, in almost every way, unconventional.
The voice of the book is a young man who becomes fascinated by Stargirl and befriends her, even though many of her antics make her an outcast, otherwise. Through a series of events, she becomes wildly popular, then widely despised. For this boy, she experiments with being conventional for awhile.
The book is fascinating. It explores a lot of issues centered around social conventions and how they play in our lives for good or ill. And they take place at a stage of life when kids are most susceptible to peer pressure. Jerry Spinelli's insights are thought-provoking and engaging. In the end, the book makes you want to be a better person, perhaps in ways that aren't quite "normal." It reminds me of a talk given by Dallin H. Oaks, in which he said, "... This requires us to make some changes from our family culture, our ethnic culture, or our national culture. We must change all elements of our behavior that are in conflict with gospel commandments, covenants, and culture." The genius of it is that the book does this without being particularly preachy.

A reading suggestion from Debbie is from a blog that she found recently. It is called The Moments we Stand. It is very well written as she shares  insights about the tragic events in her life and how the atonement and the gospel has helped her get her life back. This is worth checking out.

Thanks for a great evening as always and see you next month.

February Book Club: Standing Out: Sometimes Alone by Gena Mabee

We had a great time together at the movies, even if the weather wasn’t very cooperative. We missed all those who were unable to join us and we realize we need to settle on a night to get together that will work for as many as possible. So… while we are deciding, Alicia Fawson will be hosting our next book club in February. Her book choice is:

                      

Goodreads review says: 

In her first week as a college freshman, Gena recalls the
misery of middle school, the redemption of high school
and the challenge of social maneuvering as a devout
Christian in the LDS Church who secretly craves
popularity and a boyfriend. Now she wrestles with the
uncertainty of her bold decision to go to a college where
she will once again have to figure out how to be happy
while standing out, sometimes alone.

Beth Nelson actually knows this writer. She meet her in Oregon where Beth used to live. This book comes highly recommended so it should make for a great choice for our group to read.

Looking forward to getting together.

December Book Club: Poetry Night

Thanks Tanya for hosting a great evening. We thoroughly enjoy discussing the life of  “Aunt Shirley”.  Her attitude about life in a wheel chair is so positive and catching. She truly saw the good and enjoyed herself and made a difference to so many. We also want to welcome our new friend Rachelle. We are so glad to have you join us and share your insights and love of a good book.

Our next book club meeting is going to be a first! Sue Mitchell is hosting a poetry night. Everyone is going to bring a favorite poem and then we will enjoy talking about them and looking for the imagery and all the cool stuff that makes poems so awesome. If you can’t bring a poem don’t let that stop you from coming. We want you there!

We also want to try a book exchange and December is a great month to do so. Everyone bring a wrapped book to give away. It can be one from your shelves or one from Value Village and then we will all go home with a book. Sounds fun!

We will be meeting at Sue’s home on Wednesday Dec 4th at 7pm . We will be changing our days to meet starting in January. This last year we meet on Tuesdays and we will be changing to the first WEDNESDAY of each month.

Get started looking for a poem to share and see you next month.

November Book Club: The Perils of Being Permanently Seated by Shirley Watson

 

We enjoyed another wonderful evening together discussing Heathers book The Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. How grateful we are for the circumstances of our lives and how amazing those in seemingly less than favorable circumstances can be an inspiration and a teacher to the world. Thank you Heather for exposing us to an insightful book. We can all do more together to make the world a better place for everyone.

Next month we will be meeting again on WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 6TH at 7pm. Tanya will be our host and her book pick is:

 Amazon review says:    When Shirley Watson became a quadriplegic from a car accident at age twenty, she decided not to be defined by her paralysis but would meet her challenges with humor. This narrative is a collection of 55 years of Christmas letters she wrote to family and friends. Laugh along with Shirley as you read about the many Perils of Being Permanently Seated in a society designed for those who are mobile...

Being one of the first to attend a University in a wheel chair in the 1960's, where no concessions like ramps, elevators, or handicapped designated parking spaces were made for her immobility, Shirley is a true pioneer.

She went on to advocate for and inspire hundreds of students during her 25 year career teaching Special Education in her home town of Toledo, Washington.

A Reader review says:      This book takes you through years of experiences that an amazing woman has had since her car accident which left her paralyzed from the chest to her toes. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be captivated by some of the things that she has accomplished in her life. She is an adorable woman who has made the very worst situation one of the best. She is loved by many and I am proud to say that I am related to her and that I love her dearly. This is a must read book for everyone in whatever circumstances you find yourself. It will give you courage to go on with life and make the best of it.

Tanya is going to try and get a group discount for us to purchase this on amazon. She will get us further details on that. If you are a prime member you can borrow it at no charge.

See you next month!

October Book Club: Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

We had a great evening together again sharing our thoughts and ideas about our shared love of literature. The Rent Collector, although not strong in character and voice, was certainly a novel to treasure for it’s snippets of truth and message of hope and redemption. Life is hard in most any setting and all could relate with our own daily struggles to find meaning and hope in our own lives.

We are so excited to welcome our newest friends. Shauna, Tanya and Alicia we hope you will come again and share with us our friendship and love of books. We welcome your ideas and insights.

We will need to adjust our scheduled day for next year so be thinking of which day will work for you.

Our next book club meeting will be hosted by Heather on WEDNESDAY (a change in the day for this month only) October 2nd at 7pm. Her book pick is:

                                

Goodreads review says: 

Meet Denver, a man raised under plantation-style slavery in Louisiana in the 1960s; a man who escaped, hopping a train to wander, homeless, for eighteen years on the streets of Dallas, Texas. No longer a slave, Denver's life was still hopeless-until God moved. First came a godly woman who prayed, listened, and obeyed. And then came her husband, Ron, an international arts dealer at home in a world of Armani-suited millionaires. And then they all came together.

But slavery takes many forms. Deborah discovers that she has cancer. In the face of possible death, she charges her husband to rescue Denver. Who will be saved, and who will be lost? What is the future for these unlikely three? What is God doing?

Same Kind of Different As Me is the emotional tale of their story: a telling of pain and laughter, doubt and tears, dug out between the bondages of this earth and the free possibility of heaven. No reader or listener will ever forget it.

A Goodreads reader says:  

This was a book that made me think about the people that I come into contact with and what I can, or have, learned from them. It made me ponder if I have ever really added some sort of value to someone else's existence. I have not had an experience like the relationship in the book (coming together with someone from the opposite side of the track), but I do have people in my life that I can't imagine not having met. It is a rare occasion when a book makes me cry but I found myself choked up as I read by the light of my flashlight in bed. Maybe I was tired? Maybe I am too sensitive? Or maybe it is because the story is a true account of their lives, which always seems to be more vulnerable.

Here are the requested recipes:

Apple Dump Cake:

One package Yellow Cake Mix, 2 cans apple pie filling ( I used my own canned apples), 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 c. brown sugar, 1 c. pecans, chopped, 1 cup unsalted butter. ( I only used 1/2 cup). Preheat oven to 350. Place apple pie filling in a 9x13 and spread evenly. Sprinkle cinnamon and then the brown sugar over apples. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the apple mixture evenly. Do not stir. Spread the pecans over top. Cut the butter in thin slices and cover the top of the cake mix. Bake for 45 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Frozen Banana Ice cream:

Freeze 2 bananas (peel first and then freeze them). Cut into slices and place in blender. ( I used a Ninja with the 72 oz jar). I added several chunks of frozen pineapple cut into smaller pieces and a handful of frozen raspberries. You really could add any kind of frozen fruit here.) Pour in about 1/4 cup of milk. (I used organic light coconut milk). Blend for about 3 minutes or until everything is mixed up well. This would make about 3 good servings. Enjoy!

You can always check out our blog at libertylakebookclub.blogspot.com

Thanks for a great evening and see you next month!!