November Book Club Meeting

Host: Carol


Book: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak


The Response of the Book Club Members: Everyone was totally awed by this novel of the holocaust told thru the eyes of the main character who was Death. That's right. Death. Everyone started out hating Death but in the end everyone had great sympathy for him because he showed such compassion. Everyone thought it was one of the very best books we have read this year! And to think that in the bookstores they have classified this as a young adult book. Most of the book club members thought that that was a bad idea because it is a mature theme that would be way above the emotional maturity of 11 or 12 year olds.

October 2009 Meeting

The Host: Joann

The Book: Chesapeake, James Michner

The Response of the Book Club Members: The more mature members of our group had read this book along time ago when it was first published. The younger members enjoyed being introduced to this prolific writer of American sagas: James Michenor. All agree that when writes a novel on a particular region of the country he started at the very beginning (before recorded history) and works his way thru plot and characters to the present time. For instance, in Chesapeake we have Native Americans and English colonists as well as Richard Nixon and watergate and Frank Perdue's chicken empire

.

The only negative to a Michenor novel-----they are long and take time to read.

September 2009 Meeting

The Host: Delaine

The Book: March

Response of the Book Club Members: March continues the story of Little Women first through the eyes of the father, Mr. March, and then through the eyes of the mother, Mrs. March. Everyone enjoyed reading the book but not everyone enjoyed how the father was portrayed in this novel. The book did lead to a vigorous discussion of both current politics and slavery in the south. Many strong views and opinions were presented by various members. Everyone who had never read Little Women expressed interest in reading that book now.

Joann mentioned that if she gave this book five stars, she would have to give Geraldine Brook's other novel, The People of the Book, ten stars. One of the best books she has read this year.
Someone else mentioned that the beauty of Geraldine Brook's novels is that each one is so unique. She doesn't use a formula method like John Grisham or Dan Brown to create a brilliant book.

D.J. Recipes

Praline Grahams (Southern Living Recipe)
12 Whole regular graham crackers (I use Nabisco Honey Maid, you can also use choc. Graham crackers)
¾ c. butter
½ sugar
1 c. chopped pecans

I put 12 graham crackers on a cookie sheet. Melt butter, stir in sugar and pecans. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly (now I turn the oven on to 300 degrees) cook 5 min. remove from heat and spread over graham crackers. Bake in oven for 8 minutes.


Bok Choy Salad (Submitted by a reader in Marco Island, FL, Southern Living magazine)
3oz pkg ramen noodle soup mix, any kind
1/3 c. sunflower seeds
3 tbl slivered almonds, chopped
½ c. sugar
¼ c. olive oil
¼ c. cider vinegar
2 tbl soy sauce
1 boy choy, shredded
6 greeen onions, chopped

REMOVE flavor packets from soup mix; reserve for another use. Crumble noodles. (I put in a Ziploc and smash)
COMBINE noodles, sunflower seeds, and almonds. Spread on a 15x10 jellyroll pan.
BAKE at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown; set aside.
BRING sugar and next 3 ingredients to a boil in a saucepan over med. Heat. Remove from heat, cool.
PLACE bok choy and green onions in a large bowl. Drizzle with sugar mixture. Add ramen noodle mixture, tossing well.

P.S. *Tip for the day - I have a small 2 speed Black & Decker chopper that I ALWAYS use. I buy my nuts in bulk at Costco, I store them in the freezer and chop them as I need them. It’s my one appliance I couldn’t live without J

August 2009 Meeting

The Host: D.J.

The Book: Loving Frank

Response of the Book Club Members: Everyone liked reading the book but not everyone like how Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress left their respective spouses and children and ran away to Europe seeking self-actualization and love with each other. Everyone agreed that they were selfish to do so and to hurt their families and friends. The tragic ending to the book was based on real events but I will not discuss them. You need to read the book.
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Take A Look

Piedmont Readers stay in shape by running. Here are D.J., Maura and Cindy participating in a local five mile? race. Awesome ladies. You rock!

July 2009 Meeting

July 2009 Meeting

The Host: Maura

The Book: Always Looking Up

The Response of the Book Club Members: Book club members found this book to be both very entertaining and very provocative since the author, Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson's Disease is a strong advocate of stem cell research to find a possible cure for Parkinson's Disease.

Delaine Walker offered a good summation of the book:
"I have always been a fan and admirer of Michael J. Fox - having grown up watching Family Ties, was addicted to Spin City and of course loved his movies especially Back to the Future. But after reading the book, I respect him even more, I stop and listen to his TV advertisements, his approach to managing his foundation is refreshing - what a powerful statement 'I need you to help me go out of business'. But most of all I appreciate his great sense of humor and how he turns his challenges into opportunities.

I had not idea that he kept such a hectic schedule, traveling the world, doing non-stop interviews, meeting with politicians of every stripe and variety, conducting non-stop fundraisers, asking for money from the rich and powerful and doing all this while raising a family of four kids. Some of the best passages in the book contain his reflections on being a father and a husband. I just love a book that makes me laugh and cry at the same time.

The book also covers the very tough issues surrounding embryonic stem cell research, no matter where you stand on this issue the positive is that Michael J. Fox brough the issue forward and into the political area for discussion."

June 2009 Meeting

June 2009 Meeting

The Host: Connie

The Book: Gift From the Sea

The Response of the Book Club Members: Each member had a chance to respond to a series of quotes that Connie selected from this classic book written by Anne Morrow Lindbergh many years ago. Several members had read this book many years ago and discovered new insights with this second reading. For others the book was a first read. Everyone agreed that Anne Morrow Lindbergh who was born in 1906 was a both a visionary and a lady of remarkable wisdom whose thoughts are very very relevant today. Below the photos are some of the quotes from the book that stimulated a lot of great discussion amongst the readers.

The wave of the future is coming and there is no fighting it.

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea.

If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments.

For happiness one needs security, but joy can spring like a flower even from the cliffs of despair.

The only real security is not in owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even. security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what it was, nor forward to what it might be, but living in the present and accepting it as it is now.

Only in growth, reform, and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found.

Don't wish me happiness - I don't expect to be happy it's gotten beyond that, somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor - I will need them all.

Men kick friendship around like a football, but it doesn't seem to crack. Women treat it like glass and it goes to pieces.

I believe that what woman resents is not so much giving herself in pieces as giving herself purposelessly.

I believe that what woman resents is not so much giving herself in pieces as giving herself purposelessly.

Life is a gift, given in trust - like a child.

Grief can't be shared. Everyone carries it alone. His own burden in his own way.

The most exhausting thing in life is being insincere.

One can never pay in gratitude: one can only pay 'in kind" somewhere else in life.

I feel we are all islands - in a common sea.

Connie had each quote typed up on a pretty card and we got a card to read and think about. Then we were told to give a comment on our quote or to call on another book club member to comment on the quote. This led to an excellent book discussion that included every book club member and led to great shared insights into the book.Great idea, Connie. I think I would like to use this technique in October for my turn hosting.

May 2009 Meeting

The Host: Pat

The Book: The Shack

The Response of the Book Club Members:

The book club members had one lively discussion of this fiction novel by WM. Paul Young. First of all is this book a retelling of an actual experience or a work of fiction? Answer: this is a fiction novel.

Second, we had both very positive and very negative responses to the book. Take a look below.

Bev: I got the message of the book and found it reassuuring but I didn't appreciate the writing style or how the writer chose to present his ideas.

Laurie: I think this book made the Holy Trinity feel personally accessible and re-emphasized that God is there for us during all our life; from the biblical scholar to the individuual in a crisis of faith. He keeps loving, believing, and supporting us even when we have turned our back on Him.

Carol: In my opinion, this book tried (too simplistically) to explain and provide answers for the unimaginable: the death of a child.

Joann: I liked how the book started but I didn't like how the story unfolded when Mack returned to the shack but I can see that the beauty of this book is the religious response this book has generated in people of all religious persuasions so I think most everyone would benefit from reading it.

Dickie: The Shack brought up some nice 'reflections' for me but overall was too syrupy and neatly tied up for my tastes.

Cindy: I think this book would be comforting to anyone in a crisis-emotional or spiritual.

DJ: It started strong, and uneasy for me, and lapsed into an idealistic message of how to embrace your relationship with a higher power and stepping outside your comfort zone.

Haelie: I liked the "story" aspect of the book and the revelations that Mack underwent in his life. However, when he got to the shack, I felt the book turned into a lecture series on theology. Many of the points were redundant. Yet the book was an easy read and there were some good insights.

Connie: The one basic instruction I sometimes miss is to see life through another person's eyes...whether superficial and contrite or deep and moving. The key is both are important to God and therefore, ought to be important to me! Although the book is fiction, I'm sure there is a true life story behind it. I gained from having read The Shack.

Maura: God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit can be found anywhere and anytime you are open to receive and embrace.

April 2009 Meeting

The Host: Bev

The Book: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, A Novel

Response of the Book Club Members: Everyone dearly loved the book and said that they would love to read more books about this period of time which was World War II. And everyone also stated that they would like to read books about World War II from the view of Europeans who suffered because of the was. A nice comparison for American memories and thoughts about World War II.

Here are the photos Bev sent of the April 2009 Book Club Meeting that she hosted at her home. This top photo is a photo of an authentic recipe for Potato Peel Pie. Click on the photo to read how very awful this recipe is. This recipe comes from Annie Barrows who was one of the authors of our April book selection, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, A Novel.

All the book club members at the April meeting breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Bev wasn't serving Potato Peel Pie but some very delicious appetizers instead to go along with her wine selections.

And here hostess Bev is posing with a big bowl of fresh strawberries for everyone to enjoy.

Bev collects bunny rabbit collectibles so she is the perfect hostess for an Easter time gathering. Can you spot the bunnies hiding among the orchid plants on the kitchen table?

On book club night the members like to begin each meeting by noshing on yummy appetizers while having a glass of wine and catching up on each book club member's past month. From left to right around the kitchen island we have Connie, Maura, Teresa, Delaine, Dickie, D.J., Pat, Cindy and Haelie. Three members were unable to attend the April meeting: Laurie, Carol and Joann.

Another view of the gang in Bev's pretty kitchen: D.J., Pat, Dickie, Cindy and Haelie.

This is the book group sitting in Bev's family room where they discussed the book. Another tradition of the book club is to serve coffee and dessert after the book discussion. Bev served a yummy chocolate cake from Wegman's Gourmet In-store Bakery with those big luscious strawberries that she was passing in a previous photo. Pictured from left to right in this photo is Delaine, Pat, Maura, Haelie, Cindy and the lady with the cute red shoes who is D.J.

March 2009 Meeting

The Host: Dickie
The Book: Where Have All the Leaders Gone?:

Response of Book Club Members: Some members who disliked the book's message stated that they thought Lee Iacocca, the author, was a bit arrogant. Members who liked the book's message thought that Lee Iacocca was a great business leader and so he was qualified to state what are the qualities of a good leader. One question that came up was this: would a good business leader be a good politcal/government leader? Would a Bill Gates make a good president? Would Walt Disney and Roy Disney have made good politcal leaders in days gone by?

All book club members agreed that our country is currently in a crisis. Some members said that we would recover from this crisis while others said that it was too late for the United States. That we as a nation have lost our ability to lead in the world and that we are now on a downward slide.

D.J. reminded us of Lee Iacocca's book summation:
#1 Give something up.
#2 Put something back in
#3 Elect a leader who has these nine C qualities:

Curiosity

Creativity

Communication

Character

Courage

Conviction

Charisma

Competence

Common Sense

I think Dickie chose this book for discussion so that we all can begin to think about the following pressing matters:

#1 Are we greedy and too satisfied for our own good?

#2 If we love our democratic ideals what can we give back to our country?

#3 Do we care about the future our children and grandchildren will face in this country?

#4 Who will save the backbone of our nation which is the middle class that is rapidly falling into the lower class?

#5 The biggest problem is solving the energy/oil crisis that has made us beholden to the middle east?

In summation: We all left the meeting with more questions than answers.

DragonQuilter Is The Hostess This Friday

DragonQuilter will be the hostess for our March bookclub meeting. DragonQuilter, aka Dickie, will either send Scott out the door or to the far reaches of the house this Friday when the thirteen book club guests start arriving with book in hand. What will we be discussing this Friday? Glad you asked. Dickie has chosen a timely tome since the United States seems to have gotten off its track financially and intellectually. We will be discussing Lee Iococca's book, Where Have All The Leaders Gone?
Dickie wanted a book selection that would lead to a lively discussion and I believe this book will do the trick. And if the book discussion gets to heated we may have to get a book club facilitating psychologist like they do around New York City. You wonder what I am talking about. Fought Over Any Good Books Lately? is an interesting article that appeared in The New York Times written by Joann Kaufman. Learn more by clicking here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/fashion/07clubs.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

January 2009 Meeting

The Host: Haelie
The Book: A Page Out of Time, by Kathleen Reid

Response of Book Club Members: members who scrapbook brought some completed scrap books to pass around so member could take a look. Some members thought the book was believable while others questioned that. Joann wondered if the author was a little bit inspired to write this novel by the late Charles Kuralt.

February 2009 Meeting

The Host: Teresa
The Book: Poet's Corner, compiled by John Lithgow

Response of Book Club Members: club members got inspired to write poems of their very own to bring to the meeting and share. Take a look.

Delaine's Poem:

Run free run free through the field

Clip clop clip clop see me trot

Graceful graceful graceful graceful I float

Oh see me Oh see me

What am I? A horse of course!

Cindy's Poem:

Times-tables

My clock ticks awaythe seconds,

The sand slips through the hour glass

I have too much time on my hands.

Quality time, prime time,over time, on time, out of time, time after time.

Haste makes waste-

A stitch in time saves nine-

Make hay while the sunshines-

Never put off for tomorrow what can be done today.

I was born prematurely into a world that is ina hurry.

I'm out of breath and wasting time.

Dickie's Poem:

Songs For My Heart

You've brought songs to my heart

and awakened anew,

feelings and laughter from the

brightness of you.

I dance with the stars in

the brightest moonlight,

and coax you to come

and share in the flight.

To find such pure joy

in just being with you

it's something quite special

for only a few.

For the gift I do thank you

and can only pray,

that to you I'll return

this gift in some say.

Joann's Poem:

Poems Are Like Buds On a Tree

***

Poems are like buds on a tree.

Each bud has many tightly wrapped petals.

And each petal unpeels another thought.

Each bud is a delight to the searching soul who finds it.

And each poem like each tree bud is a divine delight.

***

Poems are like spring days in winter's eye.

They cleanse our dulled eyes and brain.

They awaken our senses from a deep sleep.

They make us delight in the sound of works expressed.

They create images that express our true feelings.

***

We fall in love with poems.

We use poems to declare love.

We recite poems to those we adore.

We equate poems with a time and place and lost love.

We hunger for another poem to stir our soul.

***

Poems are small while novels are big, sometimes huge.

Poems carry more meaning then their weight in gold.

Sometimes novels are not worth the paper to print them.

Novels almost never are worth their weight in gold.

Poems do have more meaning then their weight in gold.

***

Peoms represent good economy.

A huge product from so little material.

But the mental production progresses slowly.

Poems don't come from assembly lines.

Poems come from struggling words along a line.

***

Nursery rhymes are poems for mothers and babies.

And babies respond with coos, laughts and mimics.

Patriotic lyrics are musical poems for citizens.

And folks respond with tears, zeal and volunteering.

Gospel songs are poems for souls in search of God.

***

Poems are like buds on a tree.

Each bud has many tightly wrapped petals.

And each petal unpeels another thought.

Each bud is a delight to the searching soul who finds it.

And each poem like each tree bud is a divine delight.

Consensus of members to this book from question posed by Connie:

Could the world live without poetry?

Answer: A world without poetry would be sorely lacking!

Where Have All The Leaders Gone

We are now reading Where Have All the Leaders Gone written by Lee Ioccoca. Want to get a heads up about this book. There is a good post on Snopes.com on this book. Check it out. It will definitely make you want to sit down and read this book. Ioccoca spares no one. He tells it like he sees it. Click here to read the book entry on Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/iacocca.asp

Meeting Author Vincent Lash

Vincent Lash the author of The Jeweler's Mark attended the meeting that Teresa hosted. He both discussed the writing of his book about the jewelry industry and discussed jewelry appraising. Vincent Lash is an independent appraiser of jewelry, gold, silver and clocks. Vincent Lash is a G.I.A. graduate gemologist and a senior member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers. Book club members brought to this meeting jewelry for Vincent Lash to appraise for a fee.

Recipes From PiedmontReaders

#1 Chocolate Saltine Cracker Delight
Quick and Very Good

Ingredients:
40 or so Saltine Crackers
1 cup butter (do not substitute)
1 cup brown sugar
1 12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Optional Topping:Approx. 1/4 cup shelled walnuts or pecans, chopped ultra fine

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a jellyroll pan with aluminum foil. Arrange saltine crackers on foil. Make sure crackers are flat, and pan is full. Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan and boil for 3 minutes. Pour over crackers, spread with spoon to coat evenly. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 5 minutes.

Remove from oven, pour chocolate chips over and let stand 5 minutes to melt. Spread around with a knife or spoon, then cover with bits of chopped nuts or some kind of brickle if you so desire. Place in refrigerater or freezer until hard. Break into bite-size or cracker-size pieces. You may also substitute white chocolate pieces or whatever you like instead of the semi-sweet chocolate.

The first year of book club this recipe showed up at a lot of the meetings.

#2 California Veggie Wraps
Bev's recipe
For each wrap you need these ingredients:

1 T. spreadable cream cheese
1 ten inche flour tortilla
2 T. shredded carrot
2 T. thinly sliced red or yellow pepper
2 T. chopped red onion
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar or monterey Jack cheese
1/4 avocado, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup baby spinach leaves or torn arugula
1/4 cup alfalfa sprouts
salt and pepper

Directions:
Spread cream cheese over the tortilla to within 1/2 inch of the edges.
Arrange the filling ingredients in a row along the center one third of the tortilla. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Roll the tortilla up as tightly as possible to enclose the filling without tearing the tortilla. Cut in half crosswise and arrange made wraps under plastic wrap and refrigerate till time to serve.

Every member raved about these wraps that Bev made with her hubby Shorty for all the bookies to enjoy Thanks for the recipe, Bev.

Settings For Books Read

Afghanistan

A Thousand Splendid Suns

The Kite Runner

Africa

Little Bee

The Crocodile on the Sandbank

The Poisonwood Bible

The Power of One

The Triumph of the Sun

China

The Memory Keepers Daughter

The Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China

The Piano Teacher (Hong Kong)

Eastern Europe

The Shell Seekers

Egypt

The Crocodile on the Sandbank

England

The Atonement

Pride and Prejudice

The Crystal Cave

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night

The Dress Lodger

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Socierty (Guernsey Island)

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Oliver Twist

The Outlander

The Other Boleyn Girl

The Queen's Man

The Pillars of the Earth

The Plain Truth

The Reading Group

The Third Witch

The Thirteenth Tale

Till We Have Faces

Wicked: Life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Years of Wonder

France

The Da Vinci Code

The Gourmet Rhapsody

The Piano Shop on the Left Bank

Blackberry Wine

The Immoveable Feast

Holland

The Girl With the Pearl Earring

India

The Interpreter of Maladies

Italy

The Last Promise

Israel

The Red Tent

Western Europe

Loving Frank (France, Italy, as well as Chicago)

The Pillars of the Earth (England, France, Spain)

Eastern Europe

The Book Thief

Japan

Memoirs of a Geisha

Unbroken

Jordan

Leap of Faith, Memoirs of an Unexpected Life, by Queen Noor

Latin America

Bel Canto

Peru

Turn Right At Machu Picchu

Portugal

The Alchemist

Spain

The Sun Also Rises

The Pillars of the Earth

Little Indiscretions

United States

A Day Late and a Dollar Short (The South)

A Long Total Love Chase (Northeast)

All the Presidents' Children (U.S.)

Best Friends (U.S.)

Breakfast With Buddha (U.S.)

Buffalo Winged (Northeast)

Cane River (The South)

Chesapeake (Virginia, Maryland and Delaware)

Diary of Libby Beaman (Alaska)

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (The South)

Ella Minnow Pea (The South)

For One More Day (The Northeast)

Ford County (Mississippi)

Gardenias For Breakfast (The South)

Gods and Generals (The South)

Half Broke Horses (Arizona)

House of Sand and Fog

It's Not about the Bike

Isaac's Storm (Galveston, Texas)

Loving Frank (Chicago and Europe)

March (Virginia and New England)

Middlesex (Detroit)

My Losing Season (The South)

My Sister's Keeper

One For the Money

Outfoxed (The South)

Page Out of Life

Pleasure of My Company

Pull of the Moon

Rococo

Seabiscuit

Skipping Christmas

Standing in the Rainbow (The South)

Still Alice

The Awakening (The South)

The Bitch in the House

The Corrections (Philadelphia and New York City)

The Gift From The Sea (American beach)

The Glass Castle (The South)

The Help (Mississippi Delta)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Virginia)

The Interpreter of Maladies (California)

The Jeweler's Mark

The Last Child (North Caroline)

The Lovely Bones (New York)

The Master Butchers Singing Club (North Dakota)

The Memory Keepers Daughter

The Merlot Murders (The South)

The Mermaid Chair (The South)

The Monk Downstairs (San Franciso)

The Nanny Diaries (New York)

The Plain Truth

The Pat Conroy Cookbook, Recipes of My Life, by Pat Conroy (The South)

The Wife (New York)

The Secret Life of Bees (The South)

The Shack (Cascades of Oregon)

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (Wisconsin)

The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters (Hollywood and Midwest)

The Weird Sister (Ohio)

The Widow of the South (The South)

The Witching Hour (The South)

This I Believe (Essays On Living In U.S.)

Under Orders (The South)

Water For Elephants

Where Have All The Leaders Gone? (United States)

White Oleander (California)

South America

The State of Wonder

Sudan

The Triumph of the Sun

Vietnam

The Things They Carried

The World

Poet's Corner

Memoirs/Biographies Read

Memoirs/Biographies/Non-Fiction Read and Discussed

All the Presidents' Children

Always Looking Up

The Bitch (Self Help Stories for Women)

Cane River

The Diana Chronicals

Eat, Pray, Love

The Glass Castle

It's Not About the Bike

My Losing Season

The Pat Conroy Cookbook, Recipes of My Life

The Piano Shop on the Left Bank

Poet's Corner

Princess: A True Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

Seabiscuit

This I Believe (Self Help Essays)

Unbroken

Books Members Recommend:

Joann: I read this month Sarah's Key and I couldn't put it down. 5 stars.

Bev: I read The Ninteenth Wife and loved it.

Dickie: Learned last night the The Autobiography of Helen Keller is a great book about a genius locked in blindness and deafness.

Future Book Club Meetings

2011
January: Teresa's House, Isaac's Storm, by Erik Larson
February: Cindy's House, Little Bee, by Chris Cleave
March: Joann's House, The Last Promise, by Richard Paul Evans
April: Carol's House, This I Believe, with forward by Studs Terkel, edited by J. Allison and D. Sediman
May: Bev's House, Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand
June: Dickie's House, The Weird Sisters, by Elenore Brown
July: Pat's House, Breakfast With Buddha, by Roland Mercullo
August: Haelie's House, Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens
September: Brenda's House, Half Broke Horses, A True Life Novel, by Jeannette Walls
October: Delaine's House, Turn Right At Machu Picchu, by Mark Adams
November: Maura's House, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford
December: Lucille's House, The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein

2012

January: Teresa's House, The Diary of LibbyBeaman

February: Carol's House, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collias

March: Dickie's House, The State of Woncer by Ann Patchett

Christmas Cookie Exchange for Book Club

Sunday December 21, 2008 the book club had its first cookie exchange for current and past members at Joann Shipley's home. Each participant brought six dozen cookies of one type and the ladies sampled and shared and exchanged them and discovered new cookie recipes.

The great cookie walk.

Yum, yum!My bag has more cookies than your bag!

Meeting Author Ellen Crosby

Our book club's first outing away from the Piedmont neighborhood was to Swedenburg Winery near Middleburg, VA. We were able to meet Ellen Crosby, the author of the Merlot Murders, and to listen to her speak about how she creates her mystery novels. Ellen was a former state department employee who lived all around the world including Paris, France. We were able to have our book purchases autographed by Ellen.

Current Book Club Members

Cindy

Haelie

Teresa

Joann

Dickie

Bev

Brenda

Maura

Delaine

Lucille

Carol

The three original members from 2001 are Cindy,Haelie and Pat.

The four newest members are Lucille, Carol, and Cindy R.

A returning member is Brenda. Pat has left the group.

Past Book Club Members

Debbie Geis

Cathy Miclat

Margie Goodwin

Kathy

Brenda Burleson

Mouna Karas

Peggy

Joan Roy

Karen

Leia Santos

Robbyn Lessig

Laurie Kane

Connie Bourne

D. J. Cleary

Chronological List of Books Read

Over 116 Books Read and Discussed So Far

2001

She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb (Debbie)

The Shell Seekers, by Rosamund Pilcher (Cathy)

The Winter Solstice, by Rosamund Pilcher (Pat)

White Oleander, by Janet Fitch (Cindy)

Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden (Margie)

2002

Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis (Teresa)

The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien (Joann)

A Day Late and a Dollar Short, by Terry McMillan (Kathy)

A Long Total Love Chase, by Louisa M. Alcott (Brenda)

The Girl With The Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier (Debbie)

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamont (Hailie)

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells (Karen)

The Nanny Diarys, by E. McLaughlin and N. Kraice (Mouna)

The Lovely Bones, by Alice Seybold (Peggy)

The Painted House, by John Grisham (Cindy)

Bel Canto, Ann Patchett (Joan)

The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen (Cathy)

2003

Skipping Christmas, John Grisham (Margie)

Princess: A True Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, by

Jean Sasson (Joann)

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen (Kathy)

Gods and Generals, by Jeff Shaara (Pat)

House of Sand and Fog, by Andre Dubus III (Debbie)

The Dress Lodger, by Sheri Holman (Cindy)

The Third Witch, by Rebecca Reisert (Haelie)

The Morality Play, by Barry Unworthy (Brenda)

The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay (Dickie)

Outfoxed, by Fern Michaels (Peggy)

Seabiscuit, by Lauren Hillenbrand (Cathy)

Standing in the Rainbow, by Fanny Flag (Joann)

2004

It's Not About The Bike, by Lance Armstrong (Joan)

One For The Money, by Janet Evonovich (Margie)

The Pull of the Moon, by Elizabeth Berg (Debbie)

The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory (Pat)

Awakening, by Kate Chopin (Kathy)

The Bitch in the House, by Cathi Hannauer (Cindy)

Years of Wonder, by Geraldine Brooks (Karen)

Blackberry Wine, by Joanne Harris (Dickie)

The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart (Brenda)

Buffalo Winged, by Patricia Reilly Panera (Haelie)

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides (Cathy)

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hussein (Joann)

2005

The Monk Downstairs, by Tim Farrington (Joan)

The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver (Bev)

Little Indiscretions, by Carmen Posadas (Margie)

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kid (Dickie)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, by

Mark Haddon (Cindy)

The Reading Group, by Elizabeth Noble (Karen)

Cane River, by Sue Tademy (Joann)

Pleasure of My Company, by Steve Martin (Brenda)

The Lion, The Witch anThe Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis (Haelie)

The Wife, by Meg Wurlitzer (Bev)

Leap of Faith, memoirs of an Unexpected Life, by Queen Noor (Teresa)

The Plain Truth, by Jodi Picoult (D.J.)

2006

My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult (Maura)

The Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters (Margie)

Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by G.

Maguire (Brenda)

Gardenias for Breakfast, by Robin Jones Gunn (Haelie)

My Losing Season, by Pat Conroy (Joann)

The Interpretor of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri (Leia)

The Pat Conroy Cookbook, Recipes of My Life, by Pat Conroy (Joann)

The Mermaid Chair, by Sue Monk Kidd (Dickie)

The Triumph of the Sun, by Wilbur Smith (Teresa)

The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown (Cindy)

The Widow of the South, by Robert Hicks (Pat)

The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho (D.J.)

2007

Under Orders, by Dick Francis (Delaine)

Timeline, by Michael Crichton (Laurie)

The Witching Hour, by Anne Rice (Maura)

The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, by Thad Carhart (Dickie)

The Wild Swans: Three Daughter of China, by Jung Chang (Bev)

The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri (Leia)

The Painted Veil, by Somerset Maugham (Teresa)

The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls (Robbyn)

A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hussein (Joann)

The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway (Cindy)

The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards (Pat)

Ella Minnow Pea, by Mark Dunn (Haelie)

2008

The Queen's Man, by Sharon Kay Penman (Laurie)

Water For Elephants, by Sara Gruen (Pat)

The Diana Chronicles, by Tina Brown (Maura)

The Atonement, by Ian McEwan (Bev)

The Jeweler's Mark, by Vincent Lash (Teresa)

The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield (Dickie)

Rococo, by Adriana Trigiani (Joann)

The Merlot Murders, by Ellen Crosby (Cindy)

For One More Day, by Mitch Albom (Connie)

The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters,by Elizabeth Robinson (D.J.)

Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett (Carol)

The Story of Edger Sawtelle, David Wroblewski (Lucille)

2009

Page Out of Life, by Kathleen Reid (Haelie)

Poets' Corner, by John Lithgow (Teresa)

Where Have All the Leaders Gone, by Lee Iaccoco (Dickie)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by

Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (Bev)

The Shack, by WM. Paul Young (Pat)

The Gift From The Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Connie)

Always Looking Up, by Michael J. Fox (Maura)

Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan (D.J.)

March, by Geraldine Brooks (Delaine)

Chesapeake, by James Michenor (Joann)

The Book Thief, by Markus Zuzak (Carol)

The Gourmet Rhapsody, by Muriel Barbery (Dickie)

2010

Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert (Lucille)

The Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon (Haelie)

All the Presidents' Men, by Doug Wead (Teresa)

The Help, by Kathryne Stockett (Cindy)

Ford County, by John Grisham (Bev)

The Master Butchers Singing Club, by Louise Erdrich (Joann)

Best Friends, by Jennifer Weiner (Delaine)

The Piano Teacher, Janice Y. Lee (Carol)

The Last Child, John Hart (D.J.)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot (Dickie)

Still Alice, by Lisa Genova (Maura)

The Immoveable Feast, by John Baxter (Pat)

2011

Isaac's Storm, by Eric Larson (Teresa)

Little Bee, by Chris Cleve (Cindy)

The Last Promise, by Richard Paul Evans (Joann)

This I Believe, edited by Jay Allison and Dan Sedimon (Carol)

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand (Bev)

The Weird Sister, by Eleanore Brown (Dickie)

Breadfast With Buddha, by Roland Merullo (Pat)

Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens (Haelie)

Half Broke Horses, by Jeanette Walls (Brenda)

Turn Right At Machu Picchu, by Mark Adams (Delaine)

Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford (Maura)

2012

The Diary of Libby Beaman,by Betty John (Teresa)

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein (Lucille)

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins (Carol)