JAN - Classic - A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare
FEB – Lisa's choice: The Help, Katherine Stockett
MAR – Theresa's choice: The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver
APR – Kjirsten's choice: The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
JUNE – Suzie's choice: Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
JULY 23rd – Sadie's choice: Committed, Elizabeth Gilbert (+Oscar Wao recap?)
AUGUST 27th – Alayna's choice, City of Thieves, David Benioff (also discuss Oscar Wao?)
SEPT 24th Kristen's choice: Sashenka, Simon Montefiore
OCT 22nd – Leslie (or Jade)’s choice TBD
NOV – (Dec 3rd) Jade (or Leslie)’s choice TBD à we should discuss when to meet.
DEC/JAN 28th – Classic: The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck
Mockingjay meeting to be scheduled for sometime in September, so we have a chance to get and read the book?
I guess we haven’t yet decided on a Mockingjay meeting yet…
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
April - The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
Photos from the night in the Capitol!
- Dress like the people in the Capitol (bright colors, wigs, crazy clothing and makeup – we had a Prep Station with $1 makeup / accessories people could use to do swirls or crazy tattoos on their faces or arms, one girl spray painted her hair)
- It seems like bird necklaces are all over the place. I got one at a thrift shop! ‘Mockingjay’ necklaces, excuse me. And Carey, the local jeweler, actually cut the jacketsleeve of her book, and glued it onto a pendant for a necklace. That’s dedication, man.
- A couple of girls did go for the Katniss look – one even cut bamboo from her yard to fashion a bow and arrow!!!
- Another girl made several (one glass of wine is too much tonight…I can’t remember what they’re called?? The canopy of fabric that has strings attached to it, so its “load” floats gently to the ground???) I need to sleep! She stood out of sight and threw them at our group – attached were little shooters of vodka, a loaf of bread (it did make it!), dental floss, and other items one might need in the arena!
- Zach’s mining helmet, complete with light!
- Books all over the place
Food ended up being:
- goat cheese with basil leaves and marinade (like Prim made),
- (I think somehow we missed bread!, but I envisioned some really hearty, seedy, fruitfilled bread, and assorted pastries),
- Coconut Shrimp with pineapple apricot dip
- Dhall soup
- Cupcakes
- A delicious peach and lavender dessert crumble
- Crackers and stuffed brie
- Oh, wine
- Mango strawberry lime-scented salad
- Peeta’s Pockets – pitas to stuff with ???
- Molten lava cakes (recipe attached, yummmmmm)
- Dress like the people in the Capitol (bright colors, wigs, crazy clothing and makeup – we had a Prep Station with $1 makeup / accessories people could use to do swirls or crazy tattoos on their faces or arms, one girl spray painted her hair)
- It seems like bird necklaces are all over the place. I got one at a thrift shop! ‘Mockingjay’ necklaces, excuse me. And Carey, the local jeweler, actually cut the jacketsleeve of her book, and glued it onto a pendant for a necklace. That’s dedication, man.
- A couple of girls did go for the Katniss look – one even cut bamboo from her yard to fashion a bow and arrow!!!
- Another girl made several (one glass of wine is too much tonight…I can’t remember what they’re called?? The canopy of fabric that has strings attached to it, so its “load” floats gently to the ground???) I need to sleep! She stood out of sight and threw them at our group – attached were little shooters of vodka, a loaf of bread (it did make it!), dental floss, and other items one might need in the arena!
- Zach’s mining helmet, complete with light!
- Books all over the place
Food ended up being:
- goat cheese with basil leaves and marinade (like Prim made),
- (I think somehow we missed bread!, but I envisioned some really hearty, seedy, fruitfilled bread, and assorted pastries),
- Coconut Shrimp with pineapple apricot dip
- Dhall soup
- Cupcakes
- A delicious peach and lavender dessert crumble
- Crackers and stuffed brie
- Oh, wine
- Mango strawberry lime-scented salad
- Peeta’s Pockets – pitas to stuff with ???
- Molten lava cakes (recipe attached, yummmmmm)
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Why Do We Love YA?
This article in the LA Times got a lot of attention yesterday in the publishing and book blogs that I pay attention to.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-young-adult8-2010mar08,0,1082099.story
It explores a question that I think we've discussed amongst ourselves. What is it about YA literature--which, of course, I am obsessed with--that keeps us reading and talking?
Here's looking forward to YA month in April!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Inspiration
My mom forwarded this list of some book club's books read.
I *heart* book lists.
1999
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Anne Tyler
Stones from the River Ursula Hegi
2000
Bless Me, Ultima Rudolfo Anaya
The Bean Trees Barbara Kingsolver
Mutant Message Down Under Marlo Morgan
O Pioneers! Willa Cather
Snow in August Peter Hamill
Angle of Repose Wallace Stegner
Vanished Arizona Martha Summerhayes
The Giver Lois Lowry
Rebecca Daphne DuMaurier
The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee
2001
Jewel Brett Lott
The Shipping News Annie Proulx
The Red Tent Anita Diamant
Falling Leaves Adeline Yen Mah
These is My Words Nancy Turner
Time and Again Jack Finney
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Rebecca Wells
Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch Albom
Corelli’s Mandolin Louis de Bernieres
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith
Cold Sassy Tree Olive Ann Burns
2002
Gift from the Sea Ann Morrow Lindbergh
The Gold of Exodus Howard Blum
A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens
The Wheel of Life Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Crossing to Safety William Stegner
Stolen Lives – Twenty Years in a Desert Prison Malika Oufkir
The Shell Seekers Rosamunde Pilcher
The Testament John Grisham
Snow Falling on Cedars David Guterson
King Lear William Shakespeare
A Thousand Acres Jane Smiley
Skipping Christmas John Grisham
2003
The Great Divorce C.S. Lewis
I Capture the Castle Dodie Smith
Empire Falls Richard Russo
Ladder of Years Anne Tyler
The Good Earth Pearl Buck
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou
The Kitchen God’s Wife Amy Tan
New Moon Rising Eugenia Price
East of Eden John Steinbeck
The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd
Peace Like a River Leif Enger
The Christmas Train David Baldecci
2004
Back When We Were Grownups Anne Tyler
Good Harbor Anita Diamant
Cry, the Beloved Country Alan Paton
The DaVinci Code Dan Brown
Cold Mountain Charles Frazier
Life of Pi Yann Martel
A Passage to India E.M. Forester
The Master Butchers Singing Club Louise Erdrich
Hadassah Tommy Tenny
Anna Karenina Leo Tolstoy
The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood
2005
A Skeleton in God’s Closet Paul Maier
The Stone Diaries Carol Shields
Standing in the Rainbow Fannie Flagg
Your Oasis on Flame Lake Lorna Landvik
Death Comes to the Archbishop Willa Cather
East of the Mountain David Guterson
Run with the Horsemen Ferrol Sams
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons Lorna Landvik
The Kite Runner Khaled Hasseini
Joy Luck Club Amy Tan
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
Patti Jane’s House of Curl Lorna Landvik
2006
A Year by the Sea Joan Anderson
1776 David McCullough
Light on Snow Anita Shreve
Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden
Sarah’s Quilt Nancy Turner
The Blind Assassin Margaret Atwood
An Unfinished Life Mark Spragg
The Other Boleyn Girl Philippa Gregory
The Bonesetter’s Daughter Amy Tan
The Road from Coorain Jill Ker Conway
A Patchword Planet Anne Tyler
Their Eyes were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston
2007
My Latest Grievance Elinor Lipman
Welcome to the Great Mysterious Lorna Landvik
Digging to America Anne Tyler
The Painted Drum Louise Erdrich
The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Kim Edwards
Going Back to Bisbee Richard Shelton
The Whisper of the River Ferrol Sams
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Carston McCullers
Tales of a Female Nomad Rita Gelman
Water for Elephants Sara Gruen
The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls
2008
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Lisa See
The Amateur Marriage Anne Tyler
The Woman in White Wilkie Collins
The Memory of Running Ron McLarty
A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini
People of the Book Geraldine Brooks
Three Cups of Tea Greg Mortensen
The Namesake Jhumpa Lahiri
Out of Africa Isaac Dinisen
Little Women Louisa May Alcott
March Geraldine Brooks
Christmas Carol Charles Dickens
2009
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Dai Sijie
Five Quarters of the Orange Joanne Harris
The Shack William P. Young
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle David Wroblewski
Bel Canto Ann Patchett
Sarah’s Key Tatiana DeRosnay
Born on a Blue Day Daniel Tammet
The Devil in the White City Erik Larson
Loving Frank Nancy Horan
My Sister’s Keeper Jodi Picoult
Run Ann Patchett
I *heart* book lists.
1999
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Anne Tyler
Stones from the River Ursula Hegi
2000
Bless Me, Ultima Rudolfo Anaya
The Bean Trees Barbara Kingsolver
Mutant Message Down Under Marlo Morgan
O Pioneers! Willa Cather
Snow in August Peter Hamill
Angle of Repose Wallace Stegner
Vanished Arizona Martha Summerhayes
The Giver Lois Lowry
Rebecca Daphne DuMaurier
The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee
2001
Jewel Brett Lott
The Shipping News Annie Proulx
The Red Tent Anita Diamant
Falling Leaves Adeline Yen Mah
These is My Words Nancy Turner
Time and Again Jack Finney
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Rebecca Wells
Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch Albom
Corelli’s Mandolin Louis de Bernieres
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith
Cold Sassy Tree Olive Ann Burns
2002
Gift from the Sea Ann Morrow Lindbergh
The Gold of Exodus Howard Blum
A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens
The Wheel of Life Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Crossing to Safety William Stegner
Stolen Lives – Twenty Years in a Desert Prison Malika Oufkir
The Shell Seekers Rosamunde Pilcher
The Testament John Grisham
Snow Falling on Cedars David Guterson
King Lear William Shakespeare
A Thousand Acres Jane Smiley
Skipping Christmas John Grisham
2003
The Great Divorce C.S. Lewis
I Capture the Castle Dodie Smith
Empire Falls Richard Russo
Ladder of Years Anne Tyler
The Good Earth Pearl Buck
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou
The Kitchen God’s Wife Amy Tan
New Moon Rising Eugenia Price
East of Eden John Steinbeck
The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd
Peace Like a River Leif Enger
The Christmas Train David Baldecci
2004
Back When We Were Grownups Anne Tyler
Good Harbor Anita Diamant
Cry, the Beloved Country Alan Paton
The DaVinci Code Dan Brown
Cold Mountain Charles Frazier
Life of Pi Yann Martel
A Passage to India E.M. Forester
The Master Butchers Singing Club Louise Erdrich
Hadassah Tommy Tenny
Anna Karenina Leo Tolstoy
The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood
2005
A Skeleton in God’s Closet Paul Maier
The Stone Diaries Carol Shields
Standing in the Rainbow Fannie Flagg
Your Oasis on Flame Lake Lorna Landvik
Death Comes to the Archbishop Willa Cather
East of the Mountain David Guterson
Run with the Horsemen Ferrol Sams
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons Lorna Landvik
The Kite Runner Khaled Hasseini
Joy Luck Club Amy Tan
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
Patti Jane’s House of Curl Lorna Landvik
2006
A Year by the Sea Joan Anderson
1776 David McCullough
Light on Snow Anita Shreve
Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden
Sarah’s Quilt Nancy Turner
The Blind Assassin Margaret Atwood
An Unfinished Life Mark Spragg
The Other Boleyn Girl Philippa Gregory
The Bonesetter’s Daughter Amy Tan
The Road from Coorain Jill Ker Conway
A Patchword Planet Anne Tyler
Their Eyes were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston
2007
My Latest Grievance Elinor Lipman
Welcome to the Great Mysterious Lorna Landvik
Digging to America Anne Tyler
The Painted Drum Louise Erdrich
The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Kim Edwards
Going Back to Bisbee Richard Shelton
The Whisper of the River Ferrol Sams
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Carston McCullers
Tales of a Female Nomad Rita Gelman
Water for Elephants Sara Gruen
The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls
2008
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Lisa See
The Amateur Marriage Anne Tyler
The Woman in White Wilkie Collins
The Memory of Running Ron McLarty
A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini
People of the Book Geraldine Brooks
Three Cups of Tea Greg Mortensen
The Namesake Jhumpa Lahiri
Out of Africa Isaac Dinisen
Little Women Louisa May Alcott
March Geraldine Brooks
Christmas Carol Charles Dickens
2009
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Dai Sijie
Five Quarters of the Orange Joanne Harris
The Shack William P. Young
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle David Wroblewski
Bel Canto Ann Patchett
Sarah’s Key Tatiana DeRosnay
Born on a Blue Day Daniel Tammet
The Devil in the White City Erik Larson
Loving Frank Nancy Horan
My Sister’s Keeper Jodi Picoult
Run Ann Patchett
Monday, January 25, 2010
Dushanbe Tea House
Perhaps more appropriate than last year's high tea book accompaniment ('twas a wee bit ironical to be sipping bellinis at The Brown Palace whilst commenting on the hardships wrought in The Grapes of Wrath, was it not?), we were scheduled to discuss Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Dushanbe Tea House for this year's annual tea and book planning outing.
But are we a group that's known for being altogether all together? I should hope not! So, true to form, most of us did not in fact (re-)read the selection, and those of us who did get to it felt compelled to note that it wasn't one of Shakespeare's greatest works. I love, by the way, that we are comfortable making such a statement. Who mentioned having a friend whose book club left a lot to be desired? I think we're perfect; the answer to this paragraph's first sentence not withstanding.
I was among the didn't-read-it-ers, of course. I did check out several copies though: indadvertently, one collection of commentaries on the play; one awesome, faded little volume; and one Easy Reader version. Somehow even with all of those in my immediate vicinity, the play did not get read. Huh.
What were some of the comments? The play seems somewhat silly, and that the female characters were written intentionally flat. Maybe, maybe it could be adapted for a high school setting with the love triangle - or was it a square? In any case, I am proud of us for having selected a classic, and a play. And thank you to Sarah and Theresa for leading our discussion.
As usual, we spent a good portion of our time together catching up on busyness of Momfullness and our assorted other roles. We really are fabulous, ladies, you know. We all dabble in a lot, and its fun when we bring all those energies around one table. *sending out some love, I guess.*
Speaking to the fabulousness, wasn't it great how many of us brought books and recommendations, as assigned?! Here's the summary of the selections made so far:
Unless we make other arrangements, the assumption is that the FabuMom who selected the book will also host the evening (at her home or another locale of her choice).
Feb 26th - Lisa
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Mar 26th - Theresa
The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver
Apr 23rd - Kjirsten
YA Lit Month – with Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games strongly recommended by Kjirsten
May 28th - Sarah
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz (We can also celebrate her Gradumavation!!! Woo hoo!!)
Jun 25th - Suzie
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
July 23rd - Sadie
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage, Elizabeth Gilbert
Aug 27th - Alayna
City of Thieves, David Benioff
Sep TBD
Oct TBD
Nov TBD
Dec TBD
We always seem to mention other books, and I love to have a log of these as well:
The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin
Gods Behaving Badly: A Novel, Marie Phillips (Was this it? I had written down "Belong" instead of Behaving, so I'm not sure this is right.)
Labor Day, Joyce Maynard
Pope Joan, Donna Woolfolk Cross
We also touched briefly on the Haitian tragedy, and Theresa mentioned the bad blood that has existed between Haiti and the Dominican Republic and specifically the parsley massacre.
We loved the beauty of the tea house, though not the glare of the sunlight piercing each of us momentarily, and Sarah remarked that without the hubub (my silly word, not hers) of the farmer's market outside, the area was remarkably different. I can't wait to get back for a F.M. some day!
We missed those of you who couldn't join us and look forward to seeing you all soon!
Please, please comment with tidbits I missed! :)
But are we a group that's known for being altogether all together? I should hope not! So, true to form, most of us did not in fact (re-)read the selection, and those of us who did get to it felt compelled to note that it wasn't one of Shakespeare's greatest works. I love, by the way, that we are comfortable making such a statement. Who mentioned having a friend whose book club left a lot to be desired? I think we're perfect; the answer to this paragraph's first sentence not withstanding.
I was among the didn't-read-it-ers, of course. I did check out several copies though: indadvertently, one collection of commentaries on the play; one awesome, faded little volume; and one Easy Reader version. Somehow even with all of those in my immediate vicinity, the play did not get read. Huh.
What were some of the comments? The play seems somewhat silly, and that the female characters were written intentionally flat. Maybe, maybe it could be adapted for a high school setting with the love triangle - or was it a square? In any case, I am proud of us for having selected a classic, and a play. And thank you to Sarah and Theresa for leading our discussion.
As usual, we spent a good portion of our time together catching up on busyness of Momfullness and our assorted other roles. We really are fabulous, ladies, you know. We all dabble in a lot, and its fun when we bring all those energies around one table. *sending out some love, I guess.*
Speaking to the fabulousness, wasn't it great how many of us brought books and recommendations, as assigned?! Here's the summary of the selections made so far:
Unless we make other arrangements, the assumption is that the FabuMom who selected the book will also host the evening (at her home or another locale of her choice).
Feb 26th - Lisa
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Mar 26th - Theresa
The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver
Apr 23rd - Kjirsten
YA Lit Month – with Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games strongly recommended by Kjirsten
May 28th - Sarah
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz (We can also celebrate her Gradumavation!!! Woo hoo!!)
Jun 25th - Suzie
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
July 23rd - Sadie
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage, Elizabeth Gilbert
Aug 27th - Alayna
City of Thieves, David Benioff
Sep TBD
Oct TBD
Nov TBD
Dec TBD
We always seem to mention other books, and I love to have a log of these as well:
The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin
Gods Behaving Badly: A Novel, Marie Phillips (Was this it? I had written down "Belong" instead of Behaving, so I'm not sure this is right.)
Labor Day, Joyce Maynard
Pope Joan, Donna Woolfolk Cross
We also touched briefly on the Haitian tragedy, and Theresa mentioned the bad blood that has existed between Haiti and the Dominican Republic and specifically the parsley massacre.
We loved the beauty of the tea house, though not the glare of the sunlight piercing each of us momentarily, and Sarah remarked that without the hubub (my silly word, not hers) of the farmer's market outside, the area was remarkably different. I can't wait to get back for a F.M. some day!
We missed those of you who couldn't join us and look forward to seeing you all soon!
Please, please comment with tidbits I missed! :)
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