Best Book Club Week Ever!

One week in November, it so happened that every book club I belong to (in town, anyway) met.   Usually they don't all meet during the same week, but because of Thanksgiving and maybe because I paid attention this year, all this  below happened in one week.  

November had a lot of people missing from certain book clubs, so while you can't see all my bookish peeps, you can see a lot of them.  You might notice there is a face or two that cross over into other clubs, but I am the only constant, and while this might seem silly to you, this is my social life!  People I love and love to talk books with!

People I love and love to drink coffee and talk books with!

So,  here we go---my best Book club week ever!

Ignore my big selfie face 😚 (which takes place in most of the photos) but this is the start of my best week ever! 5...count 'em...FIVE book clubs in one week!  (I counted wrong---there were 6 if I included my bible study--so I did.  I mean, we read, right?!)

This is The CCB (Coffee Conversation and books!) Club.

Book Club #2 of my 5 book clubs in one week week! This is Totally Lit ( missing about half)

Marathon book club week continues for me. This is a book club number three… The library book club.

And Book Club number 4! The oldest club in Winnemucca! (and I mean out of all social clubs not just book clubs. In the good old days used to be written up in the newspaper… What book was talked about, what lunch was served, who wore what etc etc...lol) This is the Literary Guild. Now we just say literary lunch as ‘guild’ is so old-fashioned. Lovely ladies whom I get to have lunch with every month and talk books!

Most of them had/have no clue what I'm doing---blog? Instagram? what? -- but they indulge me anyway. 

Did I say this was a 5 book club week? I was wrong—it’s a six book club week if I count my 6am Bible study. And we just started a new book, so… I'm including it!

 I did it! 6 book clubs in 6 days! The last one deserved two pictures… Because we were laughing so hard and having so much book fun. These are the Lit Wits! (minus a whole bunch. If everyone comes there’s about 20 in the group). Best Book Week Ever for me!!

(also, I was trying to cover my cleavage--because, over 50, you know!  You don't really need to show that stuff, but sometimes I can't  help it. ~grins~ )

And that is my life in book clubs!

Bookclubs and more Bookclubs!

On Monday, I said this about this book:

This one was---just okay.  I read it for book club and tomorrow night I have to go defend my opinion in someone's house, who really loved it. 

I would recommend with reservations.

But here it is Wednesday, the day after book club and guess what?  I still would recommend it with reservations, BUT we had the best discussion last night.

It was all about women's issues--which the book brought to light in a different way.  I guess they weren't just women's issue:  health, love, parenthood and worry, infidelity, aging, friendships, discovering yourself.  But the book talked about these things among women, so we really, REALLY, got off subject and didn't talk so much about the book's characters, but rather, ourselves.  The book was the catalyst tho.

I still don't know if I'd recommend it,  I didn't love it, but I did love the discussion it brought about.

It was a small group last night--only half of us--but it was fun.

I could kick myself for not stepping outside and taking a picture of Kerry's view. I don't know why I didn't, it's so beautiful, and as you know I like it when I can show off  Nevada's beautiful side.

I took a few photos but my head must have been somewhere else.

Betty and Kerry were our hosts. They served some great appetizers

And Kerry has a very big lazy susan, so serving ourselves was easy peasy.

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

On Wednesday afternoon,  we had our first Literary Guild Luncheon of the season.

The Literary Club (we gave up the word Guild some time ago) has been meeting since 1952.

We don't all read the same book (except for the month of May), but we have a nice lunch and listen to a book talk.

We have a little booklet with all the members names in it and phone numbers.

Every October we donate money to purchase Dictionaries for all the 3rd graders in the county school system.

And this is the book which Terri gave the report about.

She says we all should read it!

The Summer Before the War

From Goodreads:

East Sussex, 1914. It is the end of England’s brief Edwardian summer, and everyone agrees that the weather has never been so beautiful. Hugh Grange, down from his medical studies, is visiting his Aunt Agatha, who lives with her husband in the small, idyllic coastal town of Rye. Agatha's husband works in the Foreign Office, and she is certain he will ensure that the recent sabre rattling over the Balkans won't come to anything. And Agatha has more immediate concerns; she has just risked her carefully built reputation by pushing for the appointment of a woman to replace the Latin master.

When Beatrice Nash arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books, it is clear she is significantly more freethinking — and attractive — than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. For her part, mourning the death of her beloved father, who has left her penniless, Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing.

But just as Beatrice comes alive to the beauty of the Sussex landscape and the colorful characters who populate Rye, the perfect summer is about to end. For despite Agatha's reassurances, the unimaginable is coming. Soon the limits of progress, and the old ways, will be tested as this small Sussex town and its inhabitants go to war

From Me:

I really liked this book--a lovely story about a small town in the south of England, on the verge of WWI, with a cast of quirky fun characters, some whom you will fall in love with.  It's been said if you're a fan of Downton Abbey, then you'll enjoy this book.  There is some similarities, but  it holds up on it's own I feel.  I listened to an audio version and loved the narrator, Fiona Hardingham.

All the Light We Cannot See-- part 2

It's a really long post... so proceed with caution.

(and it's really just a shout out to my bookclubs)

A strange thing happened this month.

3 of my 4 book-clubs chose, "All the Light We Cannot See" for our monthly book discussion.

That's so weird!!

It's never happened before in the history of my book clubs.

(last month 2 of them did Big Little lies and I thought that was cool too.. but 3 of them? wow!)

The first two photos (which aren't very good) are from the community club:

the Literary Guild.

It's the 2nd oldest club in our county.

Every month we meet for lunch at a local Basque restaurant and someone gives a book talk.

We don't read the same book, but we all love our Literary Lunch.

Inez gave the book talk and her choice was, of course, All the Light We Cannot See.

Because she spent years as an English as a second language teacher and can speak Spanish and French.. her talk was so elegant--peppered with just the right (and correct pronunciation) words.

I used to work with Inez. 
I was the Children's Librarian at the Grammar School and she had an office right behind mine.

It was my first year, and Inez helped me out with ornery children. 
I learned from the best!

I can handle those ornery ones easily now.  In fact, some of them are my favorites.  

The lunch crowd.

Lovely ladies one and all.

 

Now for the peeps I love.  (not that I don't love the lunch ladies too)

(and is peeps still a word?  I'm always behind the times.. but...)

These are my people!

Totally Lit(erature)  Book-Club.

 (we were missing  4 people and I'm taking the photo, so if everyone came,   there are 12 of us) 

I love these people!

This is going to sound weird, but I write them letters---even tho we live in the same town.

I want to be known as a letter writer....the one who always kept in touch.

And while I do correspond with friends who live far away--my daughter-in-law, who is Methodist minister, told me once, she was at a meeting and a lovely older lady was saying how  

"I just wrote to Abigail yesterday, "

and her daughter (the lovely older lady's daughter)

said   'MOM!  you live next door to her!!  Sheesh!"

I'm not older (altho I am lovely), but I want to be known for doing that!!

Writing letters.  Every. Day.

What's better than getting a snail mail letter?

And so 

YES

We correspond by mail.

(some more than others, but you'd be surprised how many write back!)

I just gave you too much information, I know.

 

So then....

I said --- stick out your tongue!

It seems we have  4 game players here and 3 that just laughed.  

Speaking of laughing...

These two got to laughing and couldn't stop!

The reason was because I asked the question--

name memorable animals in literature.

(I saw that question on a blog the other day)

While some of us were seriously naming our favorite animal characters...

these two were naming things like:

the Cowardly Lion

The Squid from Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea  (we figured it was The Cracken, btw)

etc.

It doesn't take much to amuse us.

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

These people are also my people!!

The Lit Wits!

During book club last night, I got a 'snapchat' from one of them with a video of us discussing the book and she wrote:
BOOK CLUB--my favorite moment of the whole month!

This is:

The Lit Wits Book Club

(we were missing about 4 also last night. So we have about 21 in this group or 22 if everyone comes at once.) 

If you look closely, you will see 2 ladies who were also in the Totally Lit picture.

There are 4 of us who do both groups.

I LOVE these ladies.

But writing letters to all 22?  I don't do that,  I correspond with 5 out of the 22.

And 3 of them are in the other group---it laps over!

Not that I wouldn't write 20 more letters--- it just hasn't happened.

Yet.

I digress. 

Please notice--- there is not one book.  Paper book!

Everyone used their Kindle's, or did it on audio.

I actually had a hardback copy, but I forgot it.

Lit Wits is the book-club where we eat.

It's a cooking club too.

BUT---it is not a potluck.

Our hostess cooks for all.

I forgot to get a photo of the great

Chicken Cordon Bleu.

It was YUMMY.

I did manage to get the drinks in a photo tho.

I didn't ask these guys to stick out their tongues.

But I did ask them to talk about their most memorable animal in literature character.

Chaos ensued!

They all started talking at once, naming GREAT animal characters in some GREAT  books.

It was hard for the hostess to rein everyone in again.

Where the Red Fern always comes up and everyone puts their hand to their hearts when they mention  "Old Dan and Little Ann".

Except for our friend Robin.

She hates it.

She said:  
It's about trapping hunting and dogs that die. It's fun for everyone

In fact... she hates lots of children's classic literature.

she said:

  Winnie the Pooh and all those annoying characters.  Old Yeller and Call of the Wild (hate).  Jack, Little house in the Prairie.  Marley and Me. Peter Cottontail.  Velveteen Rabbit (hate).  Charlotte's Web and Where the Red Fern grows (Hate).  Cujo. Because of Winn Dixie.  I can think of more...

We love her!

She's not a fan of animals dying in books.

Or sad books.

Give her a Stephen King book tho and She's in!!

 

I adore all the ladies in this post!

We'll be friends forever and 1 extra day.

Oh? 

The Book?

All book clubs gave it  3.7stars!

Hi Friends!

Hi Friends!  Oops, I guess I said that already. I just wanted to let you know that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.

I'll be back and give you an explanation soon ---maybe I'll do a food blog post this afternoon!

For now tho, I just wanted to share my ladies of the Literary Luncheon.

I belong to the Literary Guild ---one of the oldest clubs in town --- and we meet once a month at an old Basque Restaurant to dine and listen to someone in the club give a book report.  December was 'our' month.  (see my friends Kathy and April standing  up there by the coke machine? Plotting and Planning how to talk about our book)   We had to decorate the tables, order the lunch, do the dessert, and give the book talk.  We also had an ornament exchange and invited the SWINGIN SENIORS to sing for us ---it was the December luncheon after all .

The Swinging Seniors!

They serenaded us with song.  Christmas song!

And they are really good.

Our table-scape!

We made a little champagne punch and had some fresh greenery on the tables.

Our book was

Christmas In Nevada

a book of short essays about --Christmases in Nevada.

I always have a great time with these ladies.

It's a lovely, once a month luncheon!

I'll be back soon.

How to Choose a Book

Today I read a great blog post from Sheila at Book Journey, where she asked  how we choose our books for our book clubs.  (she was inspired by  Elizabeth at Silver's Reviews--great blog post too!)

Everybody knows I belong to 5 book-clubs, because I talk about them all the time, BUT, I can't help it, I love them.
They are truly my favorite form of socialization.  (does that make me sound like an anti-social  introvert?  Oh well)

Book club Love!  (just click on the link for some)

Now, let me tell you about how we choose a book.

Totally Lit Book Club
At the beginning of our book club year,  (which oddly is in the fall)  we each bring a book we want to read/discuss and put it on a piece of paper, then we draw them out from a hat.  So we each get a turn, but we know a year in advance what our month will be---so as soon we have a book in mind, we email it out.  So far we know the books we will be reading for the next three months.

Book Club Love!  (just click on the link for some)


Lit Wits Book Club
My book and cook club!
We meet once a month at a members home, where she fixes the meal.  It is 'sometimes' book themed, as much as possible anyway.
At the end of the evening,  the host for the next month reveals her book choice, so we have a month to find, buy, borrow read the book.
We have no price limits or anything like that---for either of these two book clubs.

Book Club Love!  (Just click on the link for some)


Literary Club Luncheon
It used to be called  "the Literary Guild" and is one of the oldest clubs in Winnemucca.    I am one of the youngest and I am 54.
We don't read the same book, but we are assigned a group and each group is assigned a month and someone from the group gives a book report.  We meet a local restaurant so the others in the group, decorate the tables,  prepare a give-away or dessert and do the calling and reminding and give an RSVP count to the chef.
We donate money to give all the 3rd graders in the county a dictionary each year.

Book Club Love!  (just click on the link for some)

UMW  (United Methodist Women) Book Club
We meet quarterly throughout the year, usually at the church, sometimes at noon, sometimes we bring a sack lunch.
We read---not churchy books as one might think, but  more about 'critical thinking of current issues" kind of books.....to broaden our horizons and to help us keep open minds, open hearts and open doors  (the motto of the United Methodist Church):

• Increase sensitivity to all human beings—their needs, interests and concerns.
• Encourage critical thinking about issues facing humanity today.
• Grow in understanding of Scripture as it relates to Christian faith in contemporary life.
• Enhance self-knowledge and act from that knowledge.
• Strengthen involvement in local and global Christian mission.

So, we choose from a list given to the entire United Methodist Women in the United states. 

Book  Club Love!  (just click on the link for some)

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

The Library Book Club!

I am very excited about this one because of the way we choose the books.  For the past two  years in the fall, we sit down with a list of books that I have found from BEA --Book Expo America.

No, I've never been lucky enough to attend, but I keep track thru my on-line friends and the BEA website.  And in there, you can find a link --hidden away in all the promos and reports and excitement,  from one of the sessions-- about upcoming  bets on Good books for book clubs!

Last year, I think they had a speed dating session, where the publishers had timed sessions with book blogger where they tried to sell their  books for book clubs!

Some of these books have been GREAT, and some I've never heard of again.

Anyway, we choose from this list---and it's quite long usually.  We all go thru pass around a paper with book cover and description and make a mark on it if we like it.  The 9 or 10 with the most marks wins!   (we save a couple of months for other books)

Book Club Love!  (just click on the link for some)

And that's how we choose our books for the book clubs that I'm in.

It's fun, fun fun!

The Aviator's Wife, Book Club Lunch and World Book Night Pick up

I loved this book.  I knew virtually nothing about Charles Lindbergh before, except that he was the first to fly across the Atlantic and the baby kidnapping... and after reading this novel and researching  some facts about Lindbergh, I was flabbergasted! He did not come off in the best light---in his personal life.

I have such respect for Ann Morrow Lindbergh--what an amazing woman in her own right.  I realize it was a novel, but it was very enlightening and interesting. 

I am not a book reviewer by any means, so if you want a fair review,  read this one from Bermudaonion's blog.   I agree with everything she says.  Fact.  Everything.

As I said,  I loved it, and was  more than willing to share my opinion and suggest it to all my friends, so imagine how  surprised and pleased I was when I attended my  Lunch Book club (The Literary Guild)  the other day and saw that they were reporting on  "Gift from the Sea" by Ann Morrow Lindbergh. 
I was so  delighted---I had to raise my hand and share that I had just finished "The Aviator's Wife"  (nothing like taking over someone else's book report).  I thought it was a 'sign'.  Of what?  I don't know.   Okay, I jest...I don't know what it was a 'sign' of,  I just thought it a really odd, but nice coincidence. 

Here are my friends who gave the report on "Gift From the Sea"  (we meet in the back of an old Basque Boarding house/restaurant--not pretty, but the food is great)

They had some 'gifts from the sea' on the table.  My friend Jean, on the right, is a fellow  "World  Book Night" Giver!

And speaking of World Book Night---it's this coming Tuesday, April 23rd.
I drove to Elko today ( 2 hours over and 2 hours back---it was worth it!) to pick up our books.  We have another friend who is with us that evening.

Me in front of book store with my box of books!  I can't wait!!

At the end of the day.....

One can never belong to too many book clubs.  It's sometimes hard to keep up tho...I do my best, but today was a 2 book club day!  I can't give them up, I love them too much.

Today, we met for the Literary Guild Luncheon.  The Literary Guild is the oldest club in Winnemucca (my little town) and  my friends and I are the youngest members.  We are all right around 50, but we are known as the "young ones".    Most everyone is older...and that's kind of fun too, to be able to  visit and get to know some of the older community members.   A sad note is that  in the 10 years which I've been a member, we've  lost some. (as in they have passed away) They were well into their 80's+.
It used to be this was a very high fluting club meeting.  One dressed and wore hats and gloves, etc.   It has changed very much over the course of the years.
Today I wore my jeans.

For these monthly meetings  (only 9 a year...they go dark in the summer months) we meet at the same restaurant, a Basque restaurant called  The Martin Hotel.  They've been meeting at the Martin Hotel for well over 50  years.
We don't all read the same book (except in May), but rather, we listen to a "book talk" or "book report" given by one of our members.

Today's book talk was on the Hunger Games Trilogy.   I loved these books, but beside myself and Doris, who was giving the report, no one had read them.  I can understand that....this great YA read was probably not on their radar.

I always love these lunches.

It looks like her friends fell asleep while she was giving her book report...

...not so!  It's the photographers fault. 

Then tonight was  my Totally Lit(erature) meeting!  It was a small group tonight, just 6 of us.   We have about 16 girls in the group, but I don't think we've ever all been  together at the same time.   We discussed  "The Hotel on the corner of Bitter and Sweet", which we all enjoyed.

I say often,  I am not a book critic, nor do I review books.  I just love books. This one was a quick, easy, but very interesting and thought provoking read.  We discussed  the relationship between fathers and sons, the way immigrants are treated  in the United States.  How complicated a subject that can be.
And also first loves and our own ancestry.
We enjoyed wine and a great pumpkin dessert.  And most of all, a great discussion on a good book!
I love my book clubs. (sigh)

Tonight?  As I said, there were just  a few of us.  And a cat to sit on our laps.

In September we met at the Stonehouse, which is a Bed and Breakfast about 30 miles out in the country, where we had supper and some of us enjoyed wine, others were designated drivers.  I guess out of 13 of us, only 3 were designated...all others partook of the wine. 

In December, we'll have our annual, "white elephant" book exchange as well as a book discussion. We all have to bring a wrapped book that we already own to use for the gift exchange.  We figure we all have enough stuff and we all love books and maybe there is one we have been wanting to share....one we already own.  It's a stress-free gift exchange!

In January we are going to have our first: Miss Hot dish meeting....where we all bring a "hot dish" to share and we will elect a queen! She will be Miss Hot Dish for a whole year!  It's our fancy way of saying Potluck.

I feel like a broken record, saying how much I enjoy my time at book club(s)  (wait till Saturday, when I do this all again)

At the Stonehouse 

Good Night!!