Our annual holiday party was at my house this year. We opted for a home party instead of a restaurant to enable easier conversations with everyone and it was a very pleasant evening.

I can’t say I’m unhappy that 2009 is ending.  It wasn’t a particularly happy year for my family and some of my friends.  But – we made it through!  We have changed and grown and are learning patience.

I look forward to the new decade (even though I will become a senior citizen in it) because the last decade was difficult (as Time Magazine put it “The Decade from Hell”).  Goodbye!

Our next meeting is January 22, 2010, and we are reading the book “wintergirls,” by Laurie Halse Anderson.  (The title is in lower caps.)  A new member suggested this book (it was assigned reading for a class her daughter is taking).  She read it and thought it would be great for discussion.

I look forward to our next meeting and wishing the year a goodnight.

Peace and love everyone!

I have been so remiss with not updating my blog.  My Bad!  Our book club has had a very busy year and it has been difficult at best to keep everyone reading and coming to our monthly meetings.

In November we read three short stories.  The first one was “86th Street and the Summer of Love,” by Colin C. Conway.  This story is raw, disturbing and totally absorbing.  What’s great about short stories is they place you at a very specific period of time and allow you to feel that moment vividly. 

The second story was “The Wicker Husband,” by Ursula Wills-Jones.  A good read about jealously and coveting your neighbors’/friends’/families’ lives.  I have put both of these short stories under pages to the right if you want to read them.  I pulled them from www.eastoftheweb.com. 

The third was an article about like attracting like to uplift the mood of the first story. 

We had dinner at a new pub/restaurant – and talked and laughed-out-loud for a few hours – wonderful.

Fran hosted book club this month. Our book was “The Monster of Florence,” by Douglas Preston with Mario Spezi. The book is a non-fiction account of a series of murders in the Florence area and the incredible bungling of the investigation by the Italian authorities.  (See book review under Pages). Preston writes a series with Lincoln Child that I loved. Their protaganist is Agent Pentagast. Love this series and can’t wait for the next book.
 

Not everyone had their picture taken at book club,  but Fran’s dog Angel was ready and willing to pose for the camera!

Two pictures from the Races with ladies from book club and my pesky daughter.

It must be our smallest group this year, but we had fun and even a little dessert.

Two of us went to the beat of South Beach for a 50th Birthday celebration.

Oh yeah, the book for August was “When you Lie About Your Age the Terrorists Win,” by Carol Leifer, which was not a favorite at all (see book club review under author). 

September’s book is “Pillars of the Earth,” by Ken Follett.  Can’t wait.

A small group, but a lot of fun.  We didn’t go into to much detail in our discussion of “American Wife,” by Curtis Sittenfeld – not a favorite (see my review under Page section.)

The gang having a few laughs.

No close-ups of anyone this time even though Gina tried very hard.

 As you can see Michelle doesn’t want a close-up. 

We say goodbye to LaKeshia who is moving out-of-state – good luck and be happy – we’ll miss you!!!

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.