Book Club

January & February

2012-01-30T19:31:00.000-08:00

Better late than never, right? Since I was not able to attend January's book club, I don't have anything to report. I hope it was fun for all those who did attend! I did read the book and enjoyed it very much.

Kate will host our February meeting, and she's selected a book that looks incredibly interesting - Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. The book is "the true story of one family, caught between America’s two biggest policy disasters: the war on terror and the response to Hurricane Katrina."

Our next meeting will be at Kate's apartment on February 21st. I can't wait to see you then!

December & January

2011-12-21T15:28:00.000-08:00

Last night, book clubbers gathered at my house for a circus-themed soiree and it was a great night! Ashley, Cindy, Cristi (so glad you moved from the listserv shadows to real life book clubber!), Katie, Kristen (with little cutie Sophia!), Kelli, Kelly, Liz, Leigh Anne, Meaghan, and Molly joined me for book talk, circus food, a little wine, and DANCE CENTRAL! That's right, if you didn't make it, you missed one of the liveliest book clubs ever as several pairs of ladies faced off in a series of dance booty battles. It was great fun, and I believe Leigh Anne has some very embarassing video of all of us - hope that doesn't end up on YouTube!

Kelly will host our January gathering and she's selected Ann Pattchet's latest novel, State of Wonder. Those of you who have been around for a while will remember that we read her novel Bel Canto in January 2009. I loved that book, so I'm really looking forward to the new one!

Also, since Kelly is not available on the third Tuesday of January, we're going to push our meeting back to the fourth Tuesday, January 24th, at 7 p.m. And, instead of hosting at her house, we're going to meet at Church Street Coffee and Books in Crestline Village! Kelly will provide appetizers and, as always, drinks are on you.

I look forward to seeing you all in the new year! Until then, I hope you all enjoy the holidays with those you love!

November/December

2011-11-16T05:56:00.001-08:00

Despite the downpour, we had a great turnout for November's book club! Ashley hosted and put on a yummy spread, as she always does. Our hostess was joined by Cindy, Jem, Kelli, Leigh Anne, Liz, myself, and our newest member, Molly, who I think all would agree was an absolute delight and a wonderful new addition to the club, and to the Magic City. Welcome, Molly! We're so glad to have you in the group!

I'm excited to once again host the December book club! The holidays are my favorite time of year, as many of you know, and I'm already planning which of my favorite treats to make for our next gathering on December 20th at 7 p.m. I know it's very close to Christmas, but I'm really hoping for a great turnout because I am loving the book - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - and I think you will, too! Besides, I just love our monthly get-togethers and am so very thankful to have such a wonderful group of book lovers in my life to share my love of good literature. I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

October/November

2011-10-21T08:34:00.001-07:00

October's book club gathering was great fun! Liz put on a spooktacular evening for all the ghouls who arrived, Anna, Cindy, Jenn, Kelli, Kelly, Katie, Kristen (with little cutie-pie Sophia Rose!), and myself. We had a great evening of costume swapping, dishing, and gnoshing on plenty of yummy treats.

Ashley will host our November soiree, and she's selected Burning Bright by Tracey Chevalier, a story of two pre-teens who bond with radical painter-poet William Blake in 18th-century London. I love Blake and historical fiction, so I'm excited about this one! There's even a book club guide on the author's website! I hope you all enjoy! See you at the meeting November 15th at 7 p.m.

September/October

2011-09-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

Tuesday's meeting was a lot of fun! I was the host, and Cindy, Katie, Kelli, Jenn, Leigh Anne, Kate, and Jem joined me at my new house for a great evening of yummy food and fun. For those who didn't make it, you missed a feast! And, surprise, surprise, we actually talked about the book for like 10 minutes! Then, of course, we diverged into many other topics, as usual. All in all, I had a great night and I think everyone else did, too.

Liz will host October's book club, and she's selected Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. I've already started it and it's really good! The meeting will be October 18 at 7, and as always I'll send reminders as we get closer. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again and enjoying the fall weather!

August meeting and September book

2011-08-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

Kelly's suggestion that we read the book and see the movie The Help was a great one! I enjoyed the book much more than I expected to, and the movie was very good, too. Jem, Katie, Ann, Kelly, Liz, Ashley, Leigh Ann, and Kate met up at El Cazador for dinner, and I joined them afterwards at the theater since I had class. We had a great time at the movies, and I think we should do it again sometime, especially since The Edge Theater has $5 Tuesdays!

I'm hosting the September meeting at my new house, and I can't wait to have everyone over now that we finally have enough room for guests! I've chosen The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. The story is a fictionalized account of the lives of actual people involved in the Salem Witch Trials, and they are relatives of the author. I'm about a third of the way into it and so far it's a great read, so I'm excited to hear what you think. Oh, and it is currently on sale at Big Lots for $3!!!

As always, I'll send reminders as the date arrives. Until then, happy reading and mark your calendars for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20.

August book club

2011-08-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

This month, we're having a movie night for book club! Since we found ourselves sans a hostess, the brilliant suggestion was made to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett, then go see the movie so we don't need a hostess! We're going to see the movie at the Rave Motion Pictures in Vestavia, but since it opens on August 10, we'll have to wait for the movie schedule for the night of August 16. For now, just plan for 7ish and I'll email details as soon as they are available!

An intimate gathering

2011-06-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

A HUGE thank you to Katie for taking over hosting duties while I was consumed with last-minute moving duties. I was able to make it to the get-together, which turned out to be just Katie, Liz, Cindy, David, and myself. It was still a great evening, and I'm looking forward to our next meeting already. Kelli will host in July and she's selected The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer. It's a novella, so folks should have time to read it before our July 19th meeting at Cindy and Kelli's house. Can't wait to see you all there!

A chilly day in May

2011-05-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Kristen and Tom hosted May's book club, which was a small but thoroughly enjoyable evening. In addition to our hosts and myself, Cindy, Jen, Kelli, and Liz attended - which meant plenty of Tom's delectable treats for each of us, including chocolate-almond truffles, Mexican wedding cookies, sesame noodles, and the best roasted red pepper hummus ever! Yum, yum! We gathered outside around the fire and had a great evening - many of us didn't leave until nearly 11! Thanks to Kristen and Tom for a wonderful night!

I am the host for our June soiree, and I've selected March by Geraldine Brooks. As a huge fan of both Little Women and historical fiction, this novel sounded right up my alley, and I hope you'll enjoy it, too! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone to discuss it on June 21 at 7 p.m. As always, I'll send reminders as the date gets closer.

May book

2011-04-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry that I missed April's meeting at Kelly's, especially since I read the book and really enjoyed it! I hope everyone had a great time! I'm looking forward to May's meeting already, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should be there!
Kristen will host our May meeting and she's selected Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. I've already started it and so far it's very good! The book also has its very own website with lots of cool extras. Check it out at: www.calamityphysics.com. Can't wait to see you all in May!

April book

2011-03-18T07:42:00.001-07:00

Kelly will host our April meeting on Tuesday, April 19th at 7 p.m., and she's selected Bloodroot by Amy Greene. It looks like a great book, and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone since I was not able to make the last meeting.

March book

2011-02-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

Cindy hosted quite a turnout Tuesday night, including John, Kate, Katie, Kelli, Kelly, Kristen, Liz, and myself. How did we get so many K's in one book club? ;-) Anyway, it was a great night, and we all enjoyed good company, conversation, and snacks. And although Katie is the only brave soul who made it all the way to the end of Little Bee, we all agreed that we're looking forward to a more light-hearted selection next month.

Kate will host our March soiree and has chosen Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. It looks like a fascinating read, and I've already downloaded it to my Kindle app in hopes of finishing it in time! Can't wait to see you all there!

February book

2011-01-28T06:22:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I missed January's gathering, but knowing Liz I'm sure it was a blast and everyone had a wonderful time. I did read the book and enjoyed it quite a lot!
Thanks to Cindy, Kate, and Kellet who volunteered to host the next few meetings! We're covered through April, but if anyone else is interested, for May or beyond just let me know!
Cindy will host February's meeting and she's selected The Little Bee by Chris Cleave, which looks like a really good read. We'll gather at Cindy's house at 7 on Tuesday, February 15. Can't wait to see everyone!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T21:41:00.001-08:00

Our last book club on Tuesday had a very sparse turnout and a very redbird theme! Kellet and her mother really went all out with decorations and refreshments based on December's book, A Redbird Christmas. Unfortunately, it seems our December 21 meeting date was a bit too close to the holiday for most as only Ashley, Kelli, Liz, and myself turned out. Well, c'est la vie, right?

Liz will host our January book club and her selection is one I'm excited to read! She's chosen Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. I'll send a reminder when it's closer to time and in the meantime, please RSVP to the evite so our hostess has an idea of how may will attend.

Also, this is my annual gleaning of the list. If you don't want to get the updates and emails any more, just shoot me a quick message and I'll remove you: emcgoldrick@gmail.com.

And last, WE NEED HOSTS!!! No one has signed up after Liz, so if you've got time in February or beyond, please let me know: emcgoldrick@gmail.com!

Peace, love, and happiness to you and yours in the New Year! Merry Christmas!

November recap and December book

2010-11-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

Last night's book club was SO MUCH FUN! We had a huge crowd, and I'm not even going to try to list everyone who was there. There were several folks who have not been able to come in a while, as well as most of the regulars and a few new faces, too. Katie served up yummy chili and snacks, and there was plenty of wine flowing. Everyone enjoyed themselves, mingled, and had a great evening - I didn't get home until nearly midnight!

Kellet will host December's gathering, and she has selected a book by one of Alabama's own, Fannie Flagg. It's called A Redbird Christmas, and it looks like a great read - and a great fit for the season as well. I'm looking forward to reading it! We'll meet at our usual time, 7 p.m. on December 21. I can't wait to see you all!

Finally, a hostess steps up!

2010-10-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

In October, Kathryn put on an excellent, spooky feast for a great crowd, including Amanda, Anna, Ashley, Jenn, Kate, Katie, and myself. There was even a big bonfire and s'mores! I think I can speak for all in saying it was a really great time!
Katie has stepped up to host in November!! I had almost given up! She's selected David Sedaris' Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, which looks like a fun read. We'll gather at Katie's at our usual time, 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16. I can't wait to see you all there!

September/October

2010-09-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

Ashley and Shane welcomed Kellett, Jem, Duncan, Libby, Leigh Anne, Dave, Lisa (my sister from out of town), and myself to their new home Tuesday. We had a great night and ended up talking until after 11! We discussed the book, the delicious food, their great new home, and many, many other topics. It was a very enjoyable evening.

Kathryn will host our October meeting, and she's selected a classic Nancy Drew novel, The Witch Tree Symbol by Carolyn Keene. She also checked and there are several copies at the library, so it should be easy to get. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 19th at our usual time, 7 p.m. As always, I'll send directions and a reminder as we get closer to that date. Can't wait to see you all there!

Also, we need a November host! And, we also needs hosts from January on, so sign up! Just shoot me an email and let me know which month you want.

Free eBooks at Planet eBook - Classic Novels and Literature

2010-09-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

Free eBooks at Planet eBook - Classic Novels and Literature

August gathering & September book

2010-08-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

Our August meeting at Rogue Tavern had a great turnout with a couple of new faces, including Cindy, Cristie, Jenn, Katie, Kristen, Kellet, Liz, Terra, and myself. We had a blast and we even discussed the book! Hey, there's a first time for everything!

Ashley will host our September gathering in her new house! Can't wait to see it! She has selected Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman. We'll meet at our regular time, 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21.

Shameless plug:
In the meantime, I hope all of you can attend - or volunteer for! - Raindrop Festival & Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 4. Volunteers work a 2 hour shift in exchange for free entrance and a T-shirt. If you'd rather just play without working, for $20 you'll get to see 10 of Birmingham's best bands and drink all the Back Forty Beer you want from your souvenir beer cup. Disc golfers can compete in a C-tier PDGA tournament and get a player's pack full of goodies!
Click here for complete details.

July & August - hot summer reading

2010-07-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

A good crowd turned up at Kelly's on Tuesday to enjoy good food, good company, and oh yeah talk about the July book - which turns out the be the read of the summer everywhere - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The general consensus of those who read it was that it was a great read, and many of us have gone on to read more in the series. Kelly hosted a good size gathering that included her boyfriend, Derek, and regular book clubbers Cindy, Kate, Katie, Liz, Kathryn, and myself. We had a great time, and enjoyed yummy munchies and a fair amount of wine, well at least I did. ;-)

New member Cristie will host in August, and she's selected Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees, which I haven't read but I'm excited to since she's one of my favorite authors! Since Cristie is in the midst of moving, we'll most likely meet at Rogue Tavern, but if she's in and settled by August 17, we'll meet at her new place. Either way, I'll send reminders and directions and keep you posted. Until then, happy reading!

June update

2010-06-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry for being such a slacker! June's meeting was a blast. Ashley, Cristie, Leigh Anne, Liz, Chris, and I gathered at my place for a thoroughly enjoyable evening of good food and good times. We barely discussed the book because no one finished it, even me. Oh well, such is grad school! In a couple years, I'll have all the time in the world to read our books, but for now it's hit or miss.

Kelly and Kate are co-hosting July's meeting, and we will meet at Kelly's house on July 20th at 7 p.m., as usual. They have chosen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, and it looks really good. I hope I get a chance to read it!
Guess what? As I was updating our Book of the Month list, I realized that July is a momentous occasion for our little group - 5 years since we first began! Membership has changed a lot over the years, but a few of us have been there from the start: Jem, Ashley, Cindy, Leigh Anne, and myself. I'm so glad we're still meeting and I look forward to another 5 years with you awesome ladies!

May meeting and June book

2010-05-20T12:41:00.001-07:00

We had another good turnout for May. Ashley, Becki, Katie, Leigh Anne, and I gathered at Jem's house to discuss the book. welcome baby Liberty, and enjoy an evening of good company. Liberty is so cute and we all got to take turns holding her!

I hope we can keep the balling rolling and have another great turnout for June! For June, I've chosen, The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead, a short mystery novel about a woman trying to clear her name in 1940s Gotham. It's only 272 pages, and Amazon has used copies starting at 94 cents!

Our June meeting will be Tuesday, June 15 at 7 p.m.

I'm not sure if I'm going to have the meeting at my place or somewhere else. It really depends on the turnout. Would y'all mind letting me know if you'll attend by June 8? Just shoot me a quick yea or nea email. Thanks!

Finally, a good turnout!

2010-04-21T05:55:00.001-07:00

Last night, our biggest group in MONTHS gathered at Cindy's house to discuss Barbara Kingsolver's The Lacuna, among other things, of course! Ashley, Cindy, Kate, Katie, Kelly, Jem, Jenny, Liz, and myself had a great evening with tons of yummy snacks - and margaritas! Those of you who didn't make it missed a wonderful evening, and I hope you'll all plan to keep the momentum going next month when Jem is our host on May 18. She's selected Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, which looks fascinating. I can't wait to dive into it, and to see you all soon!

Another sparse turnout.....

2010-03-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

Well, once again book club had only three attendees - our hostess, Tara, Cindy, and myself. We had a very enjoyable evening, although it would have been so nice to see some more of your smiling faces - especially those of you who haven't attended in a while!

Hopefully we'll have a great spring turnout next month when Cindy hosts. She's chosen a book by one of my favorite authors, so I'm excited to get reading! Her selection is the latest novel by Barbara Kingsolver, The Lacuna. Our next meeting will be on April 20th at 7 p.m. at Cindy's. I'll send directions and reminder as the date approaches. Hope to see you all there!!!

February gathering and March book

2010-02-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

Well, it was another tiny gathering at Ashley's for February's meeting and book swap. Ashley, Leigh Anne, and I had a great evening of conversation, yummy food, and I took home about three times as many books as I brought!

Tara will host in March, and I hope with warmer weather we'll see more of you back again! She's selected a book of short stories, Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost and Other Stories, and we'll read the title story. I'm excited because I love Oscar Wilde, and since he's Irish it's a great choice for St. Patrick's Day. These Irish eyes are smiling, and I hope to see you all at Tara's on March 16!

January party/February book

2010-01-15T09:54:00.001-08:00

On Sunday, Ashley, Becky, and I gathered at Jem's house for a very small, but great afternoon of Dirty Santa, swapping stuff, book talk, and general revelry. I had a great time, and I hope you did, too. The rest of you missed a lot of great swaps (I left with more than I brought!), some really yummy treats, and of course good company!

Ashley will host our February event, and she's chosen Labor Day by Joyce Maynard. And as she put it, it's one she's "read already and can vouch for," so that sounds good to me! Also, we will go back to our usual third Tuesday at 7 p.m. schedule, so mark your calendars for February 16!

Also, we need to get some more hosts lined up. Several of you have yet to host, so it's time for you to sign up! Just shoot me an email and let me know what month you'd like. We're booked through May, but wide open after that.

December gathering and January party

2009-12-17T13:05:00.001-08:00

Anna, Ashley, Cindy, Jem, Jenn, Kathryn, Kelli, Kelly, Liz, and I gathered at Rogue Tavern Tuesday night for a fun night of socializing and book talk - OK it was heavy on the socializing and light on the book talk. We've got to get better about that!

Jem is our January hostess, and she's selected The Secrets of the Fire King, another book of short stories. She said you should feel free to read the whole thing, or just a few, whatever works for you.

She is also bringing back the ever popular Dirty Santa Re-gifting party! Here's how it works: Everyone brings a wrapped "re-gift" for a Dirty Santa game (not something you spent money on, but something in good condition that you recieved or already had but know you'll never use). Also bring any good condition clothing, books, or other household items that you'd like to see someone else enjoy. Everyone can go "re-shopping" for that stuff, and Jem will donate all leftovers to Goodwill.

Also, please note we will meet at a different time than usual. Jem would like to make January's meeting more of a party and hold it on Sunday, January 17. We'll go back to our normal third Tuesday schedule in February.

November meeting and December book

2009-10-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

The November meeting at Katie's house was a blast. Despite the chilly weather we had a really good crowd, including Amanda, Ashley, Cindy, David, Jason, Kate, Katie, Kathryn, Kelly, Leigh Anne, Suzane, and me. We enjoyed their yummy food, cozy kitchen, and playing with their sweet, huge dogs. Oh, and we talked about the book some, too!

One topic that came up over the course of the night is what books we have read since the club's inception. You can find all of them listed on our Amazon list. There is a permanent link to it in the upper right corner of the blog that says "Click here for this month's book." The current book will always be at the top of the list, but all the books we have read since our start in July 2005 are listed there.

For December's book, I've chosen Eating Mammals by John Barlow. The book is actually a collection of three novellas, and I've chosen the title tale for our December read. From the reviews on Amazon, it looks like a witty, quirky tale that is unlike anything we've ever read, which is why I chose it!

And, I've got another poll for everyone! I'm the hostess for December's meeting, but we've been having such great attendance lately that I don't think my apartment is big enough. I've listed a few options, and left a spot where you can fill in your favorite place, so cast your vote, and I'll let you know where we'll be when I send out the meeting reminder.

Which spot do you prefer for the December gathering?(online surveys)

October meeting, November book, and Business

2009-10-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

Last night's shindig at Jenny and Dan's is probably the largest turnout we've ever had, and I'm happy to report we had several new faces as well! Jenny and Dan hosted Jem, Ashley, Katie, Kate, Leigh Ann, Kelli, Jenn, Christopher, Liz, Nelson, John, Anna, Amanda, Gus, Gwen, Noemi, Christy, Vincent, Magnus, Ava, and myself - and I'm probably leaving off a name or two, if not three (please let me know so I can add you).

I had a blast, and I think I can safely say that was the general consensus of the crowd. Jenny and Dan not only served up some yummy appetizers, they fed us all a hearty and delicious homemade chili, too, and provided pumpkins for us all to carve. Anna, Nelson, John, Gus, and Dan all carved some great ones, and the rest of us got to munch on Jenny's tasty toasted pumpkin seeds!

Katie will host November's meeting and she's selected The Wind Done Gone by Alice Randall, a short novel that is a retelling of Gone with the Wind from a slave's perspective. Sounds like an interesting read, and it's only 224 pages!

Which brings me to book club business - poll results! The results are in and the option to read novellas and short stories just barely edged out the option to read longer books every other month. It seems we're pretty evenly split over this since only one vote separated the two.

Therefore, I have a suggestion. What got this whole topic started was the fact that so many people do not read the book each month, and it was suggested that perhaps that is because the books are too long and folks simply don't have time. I can relate to that since I work full time and am in grad school part time. However, I also feel that no matter what, there will always be people each month who don't read the book for whatever reason. Personally, I'm OK with that since our club is really 2 parts social club and 1 part book club. Truth be told, I think most of us would agree that book club is a great reason to get together once a month, meet new folks, talk about all kinds of stuff, just generally enjoy each other, and hey, if we can read the book, too, that's just gravy! So, with that said, what do you guys think of this: Instead of making a new rule that we will only read novellas and short stories, let's just try to stick with books that are on the short side, say about 400 pages or less? I think most folks should be able to finish that in a month, and we can stick to our tradition of reading novellas during November and December since those months are so hectic for all. I'm not gonna do another poll, just let me know what you think - love it, hate it, good, bad, or ugly!

Runoff Poll

2009-10-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

Voting ends October 19

October book

2009-09-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

Jenny and Dan will host our October meeting and in addition to discussing the book, we'll get to carve pumpkins! Sounds like fun! October's book is Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani, and it looks very good. Can't wait to see you all there!

September gathering, club business

2009-09-16T11:38:00.001-07:00

Last night's gathering at Liz's was a blast! Liz hosted Anna, Cindy, Katie, Kathryn, Kelli, and me, along with newcomer Jen. Unfortunately, most of us had not read/finished the book, but we enjoyed great company and Liz's delicious venison sliders! It was a feast! Oh, and we got some ping-pong action in, too!

Now for the business:
1) We have no hosts/hostesses signed up for October, or any month thereafter! I apologize that I didn't realize this sooner, so please let me know if you're interested - especially for October! Just shoot me a quick email with your book selection to emcgoldrick@gmail.com.

2) Since so many of us often don't have time to read the book each month, we have a couple of suggestions that might take care of that issue. Cast your vote in the poll below. Voting ends October 1, and I'll send out the results shortly thereafter.

Better late than never...right?

2009-08-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay, time has been flying lately! August's gathering was great fun, but unfortunately due to bad weather we didn't get to swim! However, Tara, Leigh Anne, Katie, and newcomers Beth and Elizabeth and I all had a great evening of fun conversation and Rock Band! If you weren't there, you missed a great time!
Liz will host our September meeting, and she's picked what I think will be a great read: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson. She also promises a night of fun with ping pong, wild game, drinks, and good conversation on the World's Fair! Can't wait to see you all there!

July meeting, August book

2009-07-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

Cindy hosted Katie, Liz, Jem, Anna, Suzane, and myself for a great gathering earlier this week. Although the book was a bust, we had a great time discussing it, and plenty of other issues.
Tara will host our August 18th gathering, and since she has a pool, you're all invited to bring your swimsuits and towels and enjoy a refreshing dip! She has selected The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, which looks like a really fun read. I'm looking forward to it, and to seeing all of you soon!

Catching up

2009-06-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

When I logged in to post about June's meeting, I realized that I never posted about May's meeting! A great group turned up at Anna's to discuss her selection, The Year of Living Biblically, which as you might imagine, stirred quite a debate. It was one of our largest turnouts this year, with Anna, Jem, Carla, Leigh Anne, Katie, Liz, Cindy, John, Kelly, and one or two more who I'm forgetting, I'm sure. Anna was a wonderful hostess with plenty of goodies, and we enjoyed a great evening and a lively debate.
On Tuesday, Kelly hosted Katie, Cindy, Liz and myself for a small yet delightful gathering to discuss The Zookeeper's Wife. It was a great book to discuss, even with such a small group. It revealed some previously unbeknownst aspects of WWII life and Nazi resistance that we all enjoyed learning about. Kelly also provided a scrumptious meal of homemade pizza, pasta, and salad - a real treat!
Cindy will host July's gathering and she has chosen The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Looks like a fun read, and I'm looking forward to discussing it with everyone at our next meeting on July 21. As always, I'll send a reminder and directions closer to the date.

Better late than never, right?

2009-04-26T16:20:00.001-07:00

Well, I ended up missing our last meeting, unfortunately! However, Leigh Anne reports Anna, Liz, Kelly, and Molly joined her for a fun time, and "everybody had a character they felt some sort of emotion toward -- good, bad." I wish I could have made it!

On to our next selection. After much ado, we have decided to stray from our fiction fixation and read a pair of nonfiction works - no better tale than the truth!

Anna is hosting May and she chose "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs.

Kelly is hosting June and chose "The Zookeeper's Wife" by Diane Ackerman. Both look like fascinating stories!

April book

2009-03-23T07:25:00.001-07:00

The March meeting was a St. Patrick's Day blast. Kelli was a wonderful hostess, and we had a great turnout! So many, in fact, I don't think I can remember everyone who attended. Anyway, we had a great time and I'm really looking forward to continuing the fun in April. Leigh Anne will host April's gathering, and the book she has selected is Anne Tyler's "Saint Maybe." Leigh Anne says it's full of unforgettable characters, which is always a good sign!

Also, Leigh Anne is the last scheduled hostess, so we need volunteers for May and beyond. If you're interested, just e-mail me and let me know which month.

February gathering and March book

2009-02-18T13:23:00.000-08:00

Last night we gathered at Liz's house for a get together. We had quite a few new faces, which is always so fun! Regulars Liz, Katie, Jem, Carrie, Leigh Anne, Kelli and myself attended, as well as several newbies, Anna, Suzane, Jenny and Dan - our first man!!! We had a great time (and some great wine), and had a lot of fun. Liz, thank you for your hospitality!
Kelli will host our March gathering, and her selection is Chistopher Moore's "The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove." If that sounds familiar, you may remember reading Moore's book "Blooksucking Fiends" in October 2006. Should be a fun read, and a great discussion!
As always, I'll send out directions and a reminder when it gets closer to our next meeting, which will be at 7 p.m. on March 17th. Can't wait to see you all there!

February book

2009-01-29T16:52:00.000-08:00

Katie will host our February meeting, and since she lives in T-town, it will actually be at Liz's house. I'll send directions and details when it gets closer to time. The book she selected is David Sedaris' Naked, which I'm really looking forward to! I need some levity!

Also, on another note, even though the votes were cast for Thursday, some of our regulars have a conflict on that night, so I'm gonna make the unilateral decision to switch to Tuesdays. Therefore, our February meeting will be on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. Hope that makes you happy! If not, I'm sure I'll hear about it!

December gathering in one week!

2008-12-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

It's almost time for our holiday party! I'm already planning all the yummy treats I'm going to make, and I hope you're already planning to attend!
I'm about halfway through this month's book, Steve Martin's sophomore effort "The Pleasure of My Company." So far, it's a quirky, fun read and I hope you're all enjoying it as much as I am. See you next week!

January
Jem will host January's meeting, and she's already selected "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett for those of you who want to get a head start.
Also, it looks like Thursday has nudged out Tuesday for our new day, so next month's meeting will be on January 17. See you all soon!

Biggest group yet!

2008-11-20T12:48:00.001-08:00

Last night was the biggest turnout we've had so far, and it was a ton of fun! Cindy, Jem, Katie, Liz, Leigh Anne, new member Kelly, and myself gathered at Cindy's house for food, fun, wine, oh and to talk about the book!
We had a great time, and I hope you're all looking forward to December's gathering as much as I am. I'll be hosting our December holiday party/book club gathering and there will be lots of holiday yummies, so plan to be there! We are reading a short novella for December, Steve Martin's "The Pleasure of My Company." However, as usual, you do not need to read the book to attend the party! I hope to see you all there!

December
Book: "The Pleasure of My Company" by Steve Martin
When: Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.
Hostess: Eartha

Other business
New day
So far the poll is favoring Thursday as the new meeting day, but many of you have not voted, so go ahead and do that now!

Hosting
Great news! We have hosts scheduled through March! Jem will host in January, Leigh Anne will have February and our newest member, Kelly, has volunteered for March!

Vote for a new day for book club!

2008-11-13T06:44:00.000-08:00

Which day of the week do you prefer for book club? ( polls)

November meeting not far off

2008-11-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

October's meeting was a blast, as usual. Jem, Cindy, Leigh Anne, and I gathered at Jem's house for a lively discussion and lots of yummy treats! We had a great time discussing "The Lace Reader," and we all agreed we enjoyed the book.

November's meeting is fast approaching, but don't worry, you have plenty of time to read this month's short selection, a novella by one of my all-time favorite authors, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I'll send a reminder with directions to Cindy's house as we get closer to the date.

Nov. 19, 2008 - Cindy (Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Dec. 17, 2008 - Eartha (The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin) Another novella for this busy season!

Jan. 21, 2009 - Click here to host our January meeting!
Feb. 18, 2009 - Click here to host our February meeting!
March 18, 2009 - Click here to host our March meeting!

Hosting updates

2008-10-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

We have hosts scheduled through the end of the year, but we need some folks to sign up for the first few months of 2009. Below are the dates and books for the rest of the year, and links for January-March 2009. To sign up to host, just click the month you want and send me a message.

Our next meeting is just around the corner, and I can't wait!
Oct. 22, 2008 - Jem (The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry)

Cindy & I went ahead and picked the books for the holiday season, and we each selected novellas so hopefully everyone will have time to read them, even at this busy time of year!

Nov. 19, 2008 - Cindy (Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Dec. 17, 2008 - Eartha (The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin)

Jan. 21, 2009 - Click here to host our January meeting!
Feb. 18, 2009 - Click here to host our February meeting!
March 18, 2009 - Click here to host our March meeting!

September gathering and October book

2008-09-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

Tara, Jem, Liz and I gathered at Tara's Wednesday for a lively discussion of "The House on Fortune Street." Unfortunately, it was too chilly to swim, but we had a great time, and a great conversation anyway. How could we not with the themes this book brings up? If any of you haven't read it yet - go get it! It's one of those books you just can't put down!

October
Book: The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
Hostess: Jem
When: October's meeting will be on October 22nd instead of the 15th, so please make a note of that. Of course, I will send out a reminder with directions once we get closer to the gathering.

On another note, the results of our poll are in, and the vote is to read a book in December! I know the holidays are a busy time for all, so I'm volunteering to be the December hostess. I've picked a novella, which is on the Amazon list (see link at right), so hopefully everyone will have time to read it. I plan to make the gathering more a holiday party then anything else, so I hope you'll all attend, whether you read the book or not!

1st gathering and September info

2008-08-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

Our first meeting was a great start! Carrie, Cindy, Courtney, Katie, Liz, and myself had a fun discussion about "The Buddha of Suburbia" - and then we veered off into various and sundry other topics. All-in-all, it was a really enjoyable evening, and I'm already looking forward to our next gathering. What a great group we've assembled!

September

Book: "The House on Fortune Street" by Margot Livesey
Hostess: Tara. As a special treat, September's gathering will be a pool party, so bring your suit, shades, and sunblock!
When: September 17, directions and time to follow.

Also, Tara gets free shipping through Amazon, and she's offered to order the book for anyone who'd like to save on the shipping cost. Just email her with your order by August 31.

Book Club is back!

2008-07-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

After a nearly 2-year hiatus, I've decided to revive the monthly book club, with one change: Boys are allowed!
I'll host the first meeting on Aug. 20 at 6:30 p.m. The book is "The Buddha of Suburbia" by Hanif Kureishi.
Please RSVP by email to me by Aug. 17th.

October book

2006-10-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

OK ladies, before I get to the October book, we've got some housekeeping issues. Attendance has dwindled to pathetic levels over the summer (I'm not chastising, I'm guilty, too), and action must be taken. From now on, please RSVP to the hostess to let her know how many people to expect. This will be really helpful, and I'm sure when it's your month you will appreciate the consideration! I'll remind you when I send out the monthly messages.
Alright, with that out of the way, on to our next book: "The Center of Everything" by Laura Moriarty. Ashley is our hostess this month, and the book looks like it will be very good. Happy reading!

September book

2006-09-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day! I'm sorry I missed the last meeting, and from what I hear so did just about everybody else. Shame on us!
Anyway, Liz is our hostess for September, and she's picked a classic: Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. This book was a favorite of my from waaaaaay back, so I'm really looking forward to reading it again. See you on the the 27th!

August book selection

2006-07-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

Leigh Anne is our hostess for August, and she's picked "The Body" by Hanif Kureishi. As always, click the Book of the Month link at left for more details.
The meeting will be back at our usual time: 7 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month. See you there!
Here is a blurb about the book from Amazon.com: At once intriguing and preposterous, Kureishi's slender new novel starts off promisingly. Adam, the narrator, a famous writer in his 60s, is approached at a party by an attractive and mysterious young man named Ralph. Ralph claims to be an old man whose brain has been transplanted into a new, younger body. The bodies come from dead young people, whose deaths seem eerily convenient for those who want to become "Newbodies." At first Adam does not believe the story. But Ralph's entreaties are so convincing-and appealing-that Adam agrees to temporarily transplant his brain into the body of a man of 25. After all, "Who hasn't asked: Why can't I be someone else? Who, really, wouldn't want to live again, given the chance?" The science behind the idea is vague and silly, but Kureishi probably never meant it to be convincing. Instead, he sends Adam on various soul-searching journeys in his new body, which was "stocky and as classically handsome as any sculpture in the British Museum." Adam waxes on his life in a new body, has loads of hot sex and eventually settles at a spiritual retreat on a Greek island. But soon he yearns to return to his old body-warts and all-and to his wife and former life in London. But menacing forces conspire against him, and he soon realizes the grave consequences of his decision.

Updated hostess schedule

2006-06-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

July 23 - Jem (Pool party! Book is "Jayber Crow" by Wendell Berry. Click Book of the Month link for details.)

Aug. 30 - Leigh Anne

Sept. 27 - Liz

Oct. 25 - Ashley

Nov. 29 - OPEN

Dec. 27 - OPEN (Two days after Christmas, what about a holiday party instead?)

June meeting and July book

2006-06-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was pleased to host our June meeting. Ashley, Hilary, Jem, Lauren, Leigh Anne and myself enjoyed an evening of great discussion, as always! Unfortunately, it was Hilary's last meeting, as she will be leaving the Magic City to start grad school in Austin next month. We'll definitely miss her as she's been one of the pillars of our group, but we wish her all the best!
As I hoped, this thought-provoking book sparked a great debate that covered issues of racism, sexism, human relationships, and even writing. It was a really fun meeting, and I'm already looking forward to next month!
Speaking of next month, there has been a change. Jem and Leigh Anne have swapped months so Jem can have us all over to her place for a POOL PARTY! That's right, ladies. July's meeting will start at 6 p.m., instead of our usual 7 p.m., so we have plenty of time to take a dip during our discussion! Jem has chosen a classic that I'm eager to read because it has been highly recommended by several people: Wendell Berry's "Jayber Crow." As always, it is the top book on our Amazon list, just click Book of the Month at top left for more details. See you in July!

May meeting & June book

2006-06-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Ashley, Betsy, Cindy, Hilary, Lauren, Liz and I all had a great time at Betsy's last night! So good, in fact, that we stayed until 11 p.m. - on a school night! I hope we weren't too much of an imposition. In addition to the great meeting, we got to meet Betsy's precious wee one, Erin. What a sweetheart, and so good!
I am the hostess for the June meeting and after much debate, I decided to pick a book I've heard lots of good things about, "The Known World" by Edward P. Jones. The novel won the Pulitizer Prize, so I hope it will be a great read! As usual, click the Book of the Month link to find it on Amazon. See you on the 28th!

April meeting & May book

2006-04-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

Last night, we had another great meeting, this time at Hilary's home. Even though she'd been out of town, she had a delicious spread prepared, with some help from Lauren (yum, brownies!). We had a great turnout, too. Hilary, Lauren, Betsy, Cindy, Ashley, Jem, Danielle, and myself were joined by our newest member, Liz, and we had a great time. Of course, we veered off topic, but we did have a good discussion on Ceremony. Then, Jem busted out the Cowgirls game and yippy, yi, ay, we got along little doggies! I had to leave early to get to a concert, but when I left the rest of crowd was just settling into the game.
Betsy will host our next meeting, and she's chosen a historical novel set in the Renaissance age, The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. As usual, it is the top book on our Amazon list, just click the Book of the Month link at top left. See you next month!

Meeting notes and April book

2006-03-30T12:14:00.000-08:00

Well, it was probably our smallest meeting yet, but a good one nonetheless. Book clubs regulars Cindy, Lauren, Jem, and myself attended, as did a new member, Jem's friend Becky. We enjoyed Cosmo's pizza and solving the world's problems over a few pints at Oasis before heading out for the night. The rest of you missed a lively discussion!
Hilary is our hostess for April, and she has chosen Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. As always, just click the Book of the Month link at left for more details. It looks like an interesting read, so I'm looking forward to it. And I'm looking forward to seeing more you next month!
Here are a couple of web sites that dicuss the book:
Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony and the Effects of White Contact on Pueblo Myth and Ritual

Literature Annotations

Meetings are now on Wednesdays!

2006-03-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

April 26 - Hilary (Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, click Book of the Month link at top left for details.)

May 31 - Betsy

June 28 - Eartha

July 26 - Leigh Anne

Aug. 30 - Jem

Sept. 27 - OPEN

Oct. 25 - OPEN

Nov. 29 - OPEN

Dec. 27 - OPEN (Two days after Christmas, what about a holiday party instead?)

Feb. 28 meeting and March book

2006-03-01T06:26:00.000-08:00

I swear you ladies are so much fun that I'd get together twice a month, if only I could read that fast! We had a great group, including our hostess Lauren, Betsy, Cindy, Hilary, Jem, Ashley, Danielle, Leigh Anne and myself. Even though quite a few of us had not finished the book, we still had a great discussion and I'm quite intrigued to finish it because it seems I'm on the brink of all the really juicy bits - finally! Lauren and Beth prepared some really yummy treats for us, and there was lots of wine flowing, as usual. ;-) I believe it's safe to say a good time was had by all!
Cindy will host our March gathering, and she's selected Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. Just click the Book of the Month link at left to find it on Amazon. Perhaps some of you have read the book, or at least heard of it. It was a bestseller a few years back and made quite an impression. In fact, the book has inspired it's own community of readers who are concerned about the ideas the book brings up. The web site is Ishmael.com, if you're interested in learning more.
Our meeting will be at Oasis, in the Lakeview District, details will follow when we get closer to time. Happy reading!

January meeting notes

2006-02-02T06:20:00.000-08:00

Last night we had a great meeting at the Hulsey's in Southside. We discussed "The Last Report of the Miracles at Little No Horse," and many other topics, of course! Ashley, Billie Sue, Cherry, Hilary, Jem, Lauren, Leigh Anne, and myself attended. Welcome to new members Cherry and Billie Sue! Ashley's mom Billie Sue is an avid reader, so she's going to fit right in. Leigh Anne's friend Cherry had lots of great comments on the book, so she's going to be a great addition, too! Yeah! One of my favorite things about this club is the amazing women I've met through it, and I'm so happy to add new friends. I hope you all feel the same.
Lauren, our hostess for February, has chosen a book by one of my all time favorite authors, Margaret Atwood. The book is The Blind Assassin, and if you click the Book of the Month link at left, I have moved it to the top of our Amazon list. Happy reading, ladies! I'll send an e-mail with meeting details when it gets closer to the 28th. Check out this cool website I found for book clubs, ReadingGroupGuides.com. It has information and discusssion questions for lots of great books.
Also, we need more hostesses to sign up! Cindy will be our hostess in March, but after that we do not have anyone signed up. The only members who have not hosted yet are Hilary, and our newbies Leigh Anne and Cherry. E-mail me with the month you want to be the hostess, and I will update our calendar on the blog.

January book and meeting

2005-11-30T12:54:00.000-08:00

Well, last night's meeting was small but very enjoyable. Betsy, Cindy, Danielle and Aimee were missed, but that just meant more cheese ball, cookies, chips, and magic bars for the rest of us - yes I had a stomache by the end of the night! ;-) And, we also have a new member, my friend Leigh Anne Monitor, who joined us last night for the first time. Welcome!
Anyway, Ashley will host our next meeting in January and she has chosen "The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse" by Louise Erdrich. I moved it to the top spot on the Amazon list, just click the Book of the Month link at left to see it. I haven't read this one, but I have read two of Louise Erdrich's other books and I really loved them, so I'm excited about this one.
We also discussed having a holiday party, but we didn't make a decision. I would love to host a party, but I can only do it the week between Christmas and New Year's, any night except Dec. 28. There was some talk of having a party on Dec. 20 (Ashley's 35th birthday!), but no decision yet. Anyway, if you're interested in having a holiday party, e-mail me and we'll get the details worked out and e-mailed to everyone.

November meeting

2005-11-23T08:54:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving! This month's meeting will be ay Eartha's house since Angela lives all the way out in Cullman. We'll meet Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. Check your e-mail for directions. I hope to see you all there! I can't wait to discuss this book!

November book & meeting

2005-10-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

The book for November is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. As always, you can find more information by clicking the Book of the Month link at left.

October book and meeting

2005-09-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

Danielle will host our October meeting on the 25th, and since it's so close to Halloween, costumes are in order. So start thinking about what you're going to wear!
October's selection looks to be a fun read in the style of Douglas Adams, "Blooksucking Fiends" by Christopher Moore. I have updated our Amazon.com list, so just click the Book of the Month link at left for more details.
After all the serious books we've read so far, I'm ready for a fun read. I hope you are, too! See you on the 25th!

Third meeting

2005-09-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I had a great time last night ladies! Our meetings just keep getting more and more fun, and I have to say I am really enjoying getting to know those of you who are new friends. What a great group of women! Betsy and Aimee, we missed you and hope to see you next month.

Meeting schedule

2005-08-31T09:47:00.000-07:00

Mar. 29 - Cindy (Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, click Book of the Month link at top left for details.)

April 26 - Hilary

May 31 - Betsy

June 28 - Leigh Anne

July 26 - Eartha

Aug. 30 - Jem

Sept. 27 - OPEN

Oct. 25 - OPEN

Nov. 29 - OPEN

Dec. 27 - Two days after Christmas, what about a holiday party instead?

Second meeting

2005-08-31T09:08:00.000-07:00

Our second meeting was last night at Crestwood Coffee and we had a great time. We missed Angela and Hilary, but the rest of us had a great discussion about the book, sex, relationships, men and then some! Jem provided us with quite a tasty spread of crackers, cookies, veggies and all kinds of dips, plus she brought enough beer for all to share - what a hostess!
Our next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sept. 27, and I am the hostess. When we get closer to the date I'll send directions to all. Our next book is The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. For more details, you can check out the Amazon.com list I set up, just click here.
Until next time, happy reading!

First meeting

2005-07-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

Our first meeting was a success! I really enjoyed the discussion, and I predict I am going to have a great time with these women - yeah! Anyway, our August selection is The Position by Meg Wolitzer. For more info on it, click the "Book club list" link at left. Heppy reading!

Book club

2005-07-26T06:33:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, some friends and I recently started a book club. Tonight is our first meeting, and I am really looking forward to it. Our first book is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I enjoyed the writing and found the story captivating, if a little depressing. It ended on a somberly hopeful note, which was a tad too realistic for me - I wanted my Hollywood ending after all the suffering the main characters endured! Oh well, that's life! Anyway, it's still a great read and I'm looking forward to Hosseini's future works.
To check out other books our members have suggested, click here. We'll be reading one novel each month, then we'll meet to discuss it. If you're interested in joining, e-mail me.