Between Friends Poster Woman – Patty – being a good sport and showcasing this month’s book – Harlen Coben’s, “Long Lost.”

Thank you to our host Susan H for such a lovely feast.

I didn’t get a picture of our host – she managed to elude my camera.   A wonderful evening, even though we spent only a short time on the book, we got to know each other a little better.

Dawn held the April meeting of our book club and was deep in discussion with Patty and Gina.  The book was “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer.  Everyone loved the book and made  some of us cry.  We talked about grief, loss and recovery; we also talked about the September 11 attacks and the media’s coverage. 

The big surprise of the evening happened when the power went out right before LaKeshia got to the meeting.  Thank God for flash photography!  Patty, Gina and Denise.

Here I am sitting by the warm light of the fire.  That’s camera shy Meg’s flip flop in the corner of the picture.

Patty making a point with Fran.

Flash photography doesn’t always work so well and I didn’t have a lot of pictures – LaKeshia, Patty and Gina.

April’s book club will be at Dawn’s house on the 17th.  The book is “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” by Jonathan Safran Foer.  What a book!!!  Great pick for book clubs everywhere. I will post a review under the pages column soon.  Can’t wait to talk about this book. 

Also, Fran send out to some of us this amazing essay written and spoken by Kelly Corrigan (an author) about women and their friends.  I highly recommend watching it on You Tube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoB-ta28Uby –  I couldn’t get it to open up to the exact spot – so just search for Kelly Corrigan and the essay is “Transcending: Words on Women and Strength.”  Every woman should watch this. 

See you on the 17th.

    (Some of the book club members at a party in March – forgot my camera at book club this month.)

We had a wonderful meeting at Susan’s home.  The book was “The Shack,” written by Wm. Paul Young.  We had good discussions especially about forgiveness.  It wasn’t our favorite book, but as always the group finds a salient point and the discussion was well worth the read.

Thanks to Oprah’s book club webcast we were able to fill in some areas we had questions about in “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.”   We were all moved by the book.  It made some of us a little angry and some sad.  We did, however, have a great time and enjoyed the evening.

Patty relaxing before discussion.

Book club was small in the number of members, but large in comradery.  “Marley & Me,” was considered by all a fun book, well-written with some moments of insight.  (See *Marley & Me under Pages for more information.)

Our last book for 2008 was Sara Gruen’s “Water for Elephants,” at our November meeting.  I have highlighted what I believe are the salient points for book club discussions in my review under the Pages column.  Our December meeting is our holiday dinner, with no book required.

This post is just a thank you to the wonderful women associated with my book club.  Some of them don’t finish the book in time, some don’t read it at all, but we always manage to have a discussion on some aspect of the book.  It is the time with friends that matters most, and I feel so blessed to share my life with them.