Between Friends Book Club

We had a wonderful time at a local Chinese Restaurant for book club. The book was “Room,” by Emma Donoghue. Some of us loved the book and some didn’t like it. All agreed that the book was well-written and a good choice for book club. (See my review under Pages.)

Let’s hope this year will bring everyone a little peace and healing.

We had a wonderful time at Michelle’s house for book club in January.  Our gracious hostess made us amazing good sandwiches with lots of fun treats.  We had book club on a Thursday night – which, we have never done before because of the ladies that work.  However, it was so much fun and a great start to 2011.  The book was “I Remember Nothing,” by Nora Ephron.  A good pick to start the year.  I recommend it to book clubs – see my review under pages.

Next month’s book is “Room,” by Emma Donoghue.

Our year-end holiday dinner was held in a lively restaurant this year.  A little holiday cheer to end another year of book club.  Although it has taken a lot of work to keep book club together, I enjoy meeting with other women to talk about books and our crazy lives – the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Here’s to 2011 – it couldn’t come fast enough.

November’s book club went to see the play “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” on November 20th.    The play is based on the memoir of Ilene Beckerman who captured certain crucial moments in her life by what she wore.  Nora and Delia Ephron took Beckerman’s work and added additional stories to create a view of a well-lived life. 

The actresses sit in front of the audience and read/act out these short vignettes all dressed in black.  The set allows for a certain closeness between the cast and the audience.   Clothes are like music, we remember events in our lives with them, a bond almost.   

We thoroughly enjoyed the play, it pulls on your heartstrings one moment, and the next you’re out-loud laughing.  Grab a few friends and go see it!

 Our ladies-day out at the theater.

After the play we ate a late lunch.

Today, we honor our Veterans who so bravely fought and continue to fight for our freedom. I thank you all.

And today, we also honor a friend, her name was Toni and she was buried today. She was like our amazing Veterans, a tough fighter, but also a woman with the capacity to comfort with just a glance. She fought a tough war against cancer, with a smile and effervescent flair – she was always vibrant and alive. Toni never let fear interfere with life. She inspired me. Toni is someone I will remember.

Au revoir Toni – till we meet again!

Book club is going to a play for its monthly meeting. We picked an author we love, Nora Ephron. Her new off-Broadway play, “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” has been highly recommended to us. I’ll let you know all about it.

So, just an observation. I love to read, but not everything is worth the time. I’m so tired of buying a magazine with a great hook for an article on the cover, and being so disappointed with the story. Either the magazines should calm down the hook or the article should live up to it. I enjoy looking at the fashion, but the articles should be better. There are a lot of writers out there (me included), and weight/diet can not be the only thing to talk about in the national magazines, including Oprah.

I like “Scientific American.” I like the writing magazines, and “Bookmarks” magazine. The specific genre magazines that teach us something about history, cooking, language, arts, etc. I don’t know maybe it’s an age thing. As you grow older (wiser?) you become more curious about the world around you. Just a thought.

I’M SO EXCITED!!! Our book club made it into “Bookmarks Magazine’s” Nov/Dec issue. (For anyone that doesn’t know about “Bookmark’s,” it’s a wonderful magazine for book lovers and book clubs. It comes out bi/monthly and has an easy website to navigate for information on books.)

What an honor! Only half our members were together for that picture, but we are all so excited.

Thank you very much “Bookmark’s Magazine.”

Book club had a lovely dinner at a local restaurant. Our book was “The Wednesday Sisters,” by Meg Waite Clayton. All who read the book liked it and have recommended it to their friends. I think it’s a good book club book. See my review under Pages.

It is so beautiful today, it makes life seem a little bit better, knee and all.

We have October’s book club this Friday and our book is “The Wednesday Sisters,” by Meg Waite Clayton.  The book is about group of women who form a writing group that meets every Wednesday in the summer of 1968.  It’s a perfect book for book club and for us to see how hard women’s lives were only 42 years ago.  I was 12 years old in 1968 and can almost feel my mother’s acquiescence as she tolerated the life my father and grandfather mandated.

Good book for discussion.  See my review under Pages.

If an orthopedic surgeon wants to operate on your knee RUN as fast as you can!!!!

I haven’t written because I’m recuperating from knee surgery.  I probably should have had a knee replacement, but instead the doctor tried to save my knee and here I am 4 months later still on crutches dealing with pain and swelling.

Well enough about me.  Our book club took the summer off primarily because I couldn’t move.  In September we went to a local restaurant and discussed the book “The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett.  All the ladies liked the book.  It gives the reader a chance to see the life of a maid in the South in the early 60’s.   See my book review under pages.