Had a great time at Fran’s house for May’s book club.  Our book was Harlan Coben’s “Stay Close.”

After the last two books it was an easy and enjoyable read – great for the beach!  See my book review on the right.

Next month’s book is “In One Person,” by John Irving.

We all went out to a fabulous Chinese dinner for our April book club.  The book was “Runaway,” by Alice Munroe.  It was not a popular choice, but some did like it.  I have held back my review of the book, to go back and reread the book.  It needs more attention than I was able to give it at the time.

 

 

We had another wonderful book club on March 16 at Metro Grill. Our book was “We Were the Mulvaneys,” by Joyce Carol Oats.

One of the things that struck me when I read the book, is how different things are today. I remember the 60’s (young) and 70’s (teen years) as nothing like “The Wonder Years,” but ever so wanting that life. “Happy Days” is was not, but at least I felt loved by my dysfunctional family.

The book will give you lots of conversation (see my book review to the right).

Read, read and read some more. Enjoy!

Dawn hosted a lovely book club at her home on February 3. Our book was “Unaccustomed Earth,” by Jhumpa Lahiri. I have a review under pages for the book. Generally, we all like the book, but a lot of discussion revolved around the stories “A Choice of Accommodations,” and the last three stories. Our next book is “We are the Mulvaneys.”

An article entitled “The Bookstore’s Last Stand,” appeared in the Sunday edition of The New York Times on January 29, 2012.  It chronicles the precarious situation of Barnes & Noble as it fights to survive.

I remember when Border’s went out of business, it gave me pause.  Although, I never like the fact that both Borders and Barnes & Noble wiped out a large number of independent book stores, I did like the discounted prices and the sheer volume of the books.  It’s just business – right?  That’s what we’re told.

Well, to live in a society with no book stores – what a travesty!

The article points out that the Nook has helped Barnes & Noble, (Borders didn’t have a e-reader).  I have a Kindle that I use when I’m on vacation, so I don’t have to bring a lot of heavy books with me.  In my mind, however, nothing – absolutely nothing, can ever replace a book.

Amazon, of course, is a serious threat to Barnes & Noble.  I buy from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I get some great used books from Amazon that you can’t get anywhere except the library.   I also download a few books from Amazon.  I go to Barnes & Noble at least once every other week.  I spend close to an hour or two browsing the books and magazines.  I always buy something, usually more than one.

I have a book club and I love to browse around Barnes & Noble looking for books to share with my friends.  I would never read some of the books I’ve read if I didn’t belong to a book club.  What would I do without a book store???

Amazon is great for some things – but clicking through the site just isn’t the same thing.  I want to see the book jacket, and open it, and read about the book.  I love the new smell of the book and how crisp it is to open.  There are so many other senses involved in an actual book store that don’t come into play online.

The publishing industry is starting to look like the music industry – post Napster era.  Maybe we’ll have to have an “American Novelist,” alongside of “Idol.”  How would new authors ever get published, and if they could get published, how would anyone find them.

Reading is my passion and this is distressing.  Maybe small independent book stores will come back into vogue again, or the only place to browse books will be the library.

What do you think?

Book club celebrated its 8th holiday party on December 17, 2011.  Thanks to everyone for their amazing dishes and for being in book club.  Peace and love to all!

A litte wine, some good food, and great company makes for yet another wonderful book club.

Our book this month was Pat Conroy’s “Beach Music.”  Everyone seemed to enjoy this book with all its family drama.  Pat Conroy is a master in this genre.  I loved his “Prince of Tides,” and I liked this book a lot.  See my review on the right.

Our family drama book unintentionally coincides with the Thanksgiving holiday.   For all of our slights, fights and fare-ups in my own family, I cherish the holidays.  I have a small family and we don’t see each other often, but I so look forward to spending the holidays with them.  We put whatever issues we have to the side, and just enjoy each other.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Looking forward to next month and our annual Holiday Party.

 

 

We had a hair-raising good time at book club this month.  Our book was “The Girl Who Fell from the Sky,” by Heidi W. Durrow.   As always, it’s the company of friends that is the most enjoyable part of the evening.

We were playing around with hair pieces trying to envision “the glamorous life:”

After some silliness we got down to the book.

Some of the ladies liked the book and how it was told by different narrators.  I wasn’t enamored with the book, it left me wanting more.

However, I am glad I read the book and that is the beauty of book club.  I would not have read this book and I truly believe we learn from everything we read even if it’s not immediately realized.

See my review under Reviews on the right.

 

 

 

 

September’s book club was held at Patty’s home. Our book was “The Kitchen House,” by Kathleen Grissom. Overall the book was received well, certainly the issue of slavery is always a hard and sad discussion. See my review under Reviews on the right side.

Our group spent a lot of time discussing their summers also. September will always be the time for coming back together and we enjoyed each others summer stories.

Karen hosted book club for our much anticipated meeting. Our book was “Every Last One,” by Anna Quindlen. It&#83 217;s a must read!

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Everyone of us loved this book  – it scared us, and it enlighten us.  It slams you with the randomness of life, and as Quindlen stated in interviews, society believes that by helicopter parenting we can protect our children from everything and it’s completely illusory.

See my review under Quindlen, Anna.  Read the book!