Book Club Pick for January

Neuroscientist and debut novelist Genova mines years of experience in her field to craft a realistic portrait of early onset Alzheimer's disease. Alice Howland has a career not unlike Genova's—she's an esteemed psychology professor at Harvard, living a comfortable life in Cambridge with her husband, John, arguing about the usual (making quality time together, their daughter's move to L.A.) when the first symptoms of Alzheimer's begin to emerge. First, Alice can't find her Blackberry, then she becomes hopelessly disoriented in her own town. Alice is shocked to be diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's (she had suspected a brain tumor or menopause), after which her life begins steadily to unravel. She loses track of rooms in her home, resigns from Harvard and eventually cannot recognize her own children. The brutal facts of Alzheimer's are heartbreaking, and it's impossible not to feel for Alice and her loved ones. "Still Alice" is a moving tale about the devastating affect Alzheimer's can have on a family. (A portion of the sale of each novel will go to the Alzheimer's Association.)


This book was chosen by Caron. We will meet at her house on Thursday, January 27th at 7:00 PM.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you! I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

Check back next week for updates on next months book: Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Change in Plans

Hey ladies-
A little change of plans for Friday:
A few of us were talking and thought that instead of white elephant gift it would be cool to do something with some meaning behind it. So we thought about donating children's books to the local CAPSA shelter. They could use any gently used children's book and were so excited when Amy called them to find out if there was a need. So I think we will change the plan. I know it is kind of late in the game so if it is a problem let me know.

So officially: Let's all try to donate at least one children's book. Bring it to the party on Friday and then we will run them in next week. The DI is a great place for cheap, used books that are generally in good condition. Please pass this word along to any book club member you see. Again if this is a problem for you please let me know. You are not obligated to do this. I am excited to see you all on Friday! Bring on the chocolate!!

Books Available

Ladies-
I went in and picked up the book club kit for The Glass Castle from the Logan Library. I have lots of books available for anyone who needs a copy. Please call me or just drop by and I will hook you up!

Also please note that I have posted the monthly assignments for next year. You are welcome to add your book to the list as soon as you have decided what you want us to read. 
Happy reading.

Jump for Joy

Ummm, Amy don't kill me but. . . check it ladies! Can you believe her mad skills! Looking at this picture makes me want to pee my pants.Oh, and Amy,

CONGRATS ON BABY #3!!!

Newsletter clarification

Hey ladies. In the newsletter I talked about hosting a craft night this weekend. The night I planned on is the same night as our ward party. So, um, never mind. I will have to do it some other time. If you are dying to get your read letters done before Christmas let me know and I can get them to you. If not, I think we had better plan on doing them after Christmas sometime. The craziness of the holidays has definitely hit. Hope you are all well. :)

watch faces

Hi girls... we've talked about it, and I really just need to do it. I am going to try to do an order soon... like by next Monday at least.... I think the website is ewatches.com? If that is wrong... tell me. If anyone wants to order too, let me know. See you all soon!!!

Christmas Books

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good Christmas book for adults? Each year I read a Christmas book and am running out of ideas. I'd love some title suggestions :>!

Congratulations Shanna!!!!!

Yea ! We are all so excited for you!

For Review in December: "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

In The Glass Castle, Walls chronicles her upbringing at the hands of eccentric, nomadic parents--Rose Mary, her frustrated-artist mother, and Rex, her brilliant, alcoholic father. To call the elder Walls's child-rearing style laissez faire would be putting it mildly. As Rose Mary and Rex, motivated by whims and paranoia, uprooted their kids time and again, the youngsters (Walls, her brother and two sisters) were left largely to their own devices. But while Rex and Rose Mary firmly believed children learned best from their own mistakes, they themselves never seemed to do so, repeating the same disastrous patterns that eventually landed them on the streets. Walls describes in fascinating detail what it was to be a child in this family, from the embarrassing (wearing shoes held together with safety pins; using markers to color her skin in an effort to camouflage holes in her pants) to the horrific (being told, after a creepy uncle pleasured himself in close proximity, that sexual assault is a crime of perception; and being pimped by her father at a bar). Though Walls has well earned the right to complain, at no point does she play the victim. In fact, Walls' removed, nonjudgmental stance is initially startling, since many of the circumstances she describes could be categorized as abusive (and unquestioningly neglectful). But on the contrary, Walls respects her parents' knack for making hardships feel like adventures, and her love for them--despite their overwhelming self-absorption--resonates from cover to cover.

We will review this book at the Christmas party held at Mindy’s house on Friday, Dec. 17 at 7:00 PM.  We will review the book until 8 PM and the exchange white elephant gifts and party after 8PM. We will do the chocolate fountain again this year. Please check below for your food assignment. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

The Christmas party is scheduled for Friday, December 17th. We will start at 7:00 PM and review The Glass Castle. Around 8:00-8:30 we will switch to party mode. We will exchange white elephant gifts and do the chocolate fountain. Please bring a white elephant gift (don’t spend a lot of money, these are suppose to be silly) and your following food assignment. Be reminded that the list is just a suggestion. You can really bring whatever you want. Please RSVP on the blog so I can know how people to plan for. Also, jammies are encouraged.

· Mindy: chocolate and fountain

· Missy: potato chips

· Linda: cinnamon bears

· Shanna: marshmallows

· Krista: pound cake cubes

· Johanna: banana or apples slices

· Caron: pretzels

· Ann: nutter butter cookies or something with peanut butter

· Leah: pineapple chunks

· Amy: Oreos

· Angie: strawberries or brownie bites

· Becca: Gummy orange slices

 

RETREAT, RETREAT!!

Book Club retreat will be held on November 12-13.  Please be reminded that retreat attendance requires that you have attended book club regularly over the past 6 months.  We will meet at Mindy’s at 4:00 PM. Please give me a call if you are willing to drive. As always, thank you so much Johanna for hosting us at your great cabin!

Ladies, please bring the following items:

· All personal items you need for an overnighter.

· $ for food and craft: I am asking $10 for food. The craft will be wooden stand-alone letters that say “READ”. These letters will be one-of-a-kind. They are being made especially for our club. Does that make you feel exclusive and special? It better! They will cost $15 each to make. If this is more than you want to spend, please let me know ASAP. As of now I have ordered one for everyone. I have black and barn red paint. If you want me to get you a specific color contact me ASAP and I will do it for you.

· A book for the book exchange

· A treat to share

· Movies or games

Caron will be bringing her mom’s beads so if you want to make things out of them bring some extra money for that.

Please call Mindy if you have any questions. I will assume the following if I DO NOT hear from you: That you are coming to retreat, that you want a letter set, and that you are okay with one of the two colors that I chose.

Please be aware that we have to pick up our craft on the way out of town and he is expecting us there no later than 5 PM. It is very important that we leave Smithfield no later than 4:30, preferably earlier. If this is a problem let me know.

I can’t wait to hang out with all of you!

November's Book Club Pick

The Weight of Silence

by Heather Gudenkauf 

It happens quietly one August morning. As dawn's shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families awaken to find their little girls have gone missing in the night.Seven-year-old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler.
Calli's mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could within the confines of marriage to a mostly absent, often angry husband. Now, though she denies that her husband could be involved in the possible abductions, she fears her decision to stay in her marriage has cost her more than her daughter's voice.
Petra Gregory is Calli's best friend, her soul mate and her voice. But neither Petra nor Calli has been heard from since their disappearance was discovered. Desperate to find his child, Martin Gregory is forced to confront a side of himself he did not know existed beneath his intellectual, professorial demeanor.
Now these families are tied by the question of what happened to their children. And the answer is trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets.

We will review this book at book club retreat held on November 12-13. Details about retreat will be in this month's newsletter. Please be reminded that retreat attendance requires that you have attended book club regularly over the past 6 months. Please contact Mindy if you have any questions.

Book Club Meeting on Thursday!!

Hey ladies, just a reminder that book club is this Thursday, 7:00 PM at Johanna's house. I actually had a newsletter all ready to send out and then my printer went on the fritz so no newsletter. Maybe if I get my printer fixed you will get a double issue next month. So anyway, what I'm saying is that I'm not positive that everyone knows about book club this week. So if you see each other, please spread the word. Also, I have a copy of the book if anyone wants to cram it in over the next few days.
Love to all of you! Mindy

Crafty Crafty

Hey ladies.

Please leave a comment if you are planning on coming to craft at my house Friday night, 8:00 PM (read the post below for more details). I need to know how much junk food to buy. Also let me know what color of glitter you are planning on using. That is all. Love to you.

Book Club for October PLUS Craft Night

Hey ladies! Here is the plan for the upcoming month. Please note the change in book club retreat. Book club will be held OCTOBER 28 at Johanna's house at 7:00 PM. The book the month is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Here is a short review of the book:

What perfect timing for this optimistic, uplifting debut novel set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams. Assured and layered, full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it. (Feb.)

I know there are copies of this floating around. Comment here if you need a copy.

Also, we are going to have a craft night and make this craft:
From this blog: Eighteen25

We will get together on October 8 at 8:00 PM at my house. You are in charge of getting your own supplies. Look at the blog listed above for what you need. I will provide the glue and glitter and little foam brushes. I will have green, orange and black glitter. If you want something different you will have to bring it. If you have questions leave a comment. I will be gone until Oct. 6, so if you have questions you need answered before that I know that Amy has made one of these and Linda also knows about them.  Have a good week ladies!

8:00 pm !!!

I am really worried someone will show up at 7:00 at my house for book club this Thursday so I thought I better do an official post.
BOOK CLUB IS AT 8:00 PM AT SHANNA'S HOUSE THIS THURSDAY THE 23RD OF SEPTEMBER!
If I am not back from volleyball yet please come in and make yourself at home:) I will be there shortly. (Jake doesn't care, I promise).

Once Upon a Time...

Hey, ladies. I need your advice.

Because I simply CANNOT tell a short story, let me back up a bit.

Last winter, I read James and the Giant Peach to my son, James. He was only 2 1/2, but he did really well with it. It made me happy because:

a) My dad read "chapter books" to us as kids, and I fondly remember it.

b) It helped us pass those dreary, never-ending winter days.

c) James learned to sit still for a decent amount of time, and

d) to use his imagination a bit since there weren't all that many pictures.

There are more reasons, but those are a few.

Anyway, I now want to read another "chapter book" to him (and Jolie) this winter- possibly giving him one for Christmas. But (now here's where I need your help) I don't know what book to choose.

What suggestions do you all have for a book that I can read aloud to my kiddos? I want one that is interesting to a 3 1/2 year old boy, one that has some pictures scattered throughout, and one that won't bore me to tears reading it. I want him to get it. He is only 3ish, but he's pretty smart. I just don't want the general concept to be beyond his comprehension level (ie. excessively magical, necessitating that he have a good grasp on what's normal in order to get the magic aspect, etc. Does that even make sense?) I want it to be a fun, memorable experience for all of us. I know that many of you similarly read to your children, and all of you have some pretty sweet "book smarts," so I figured I'd ask you.

Let me know your ideas, and THANK YOU!

PS. I have considered the following (but am very open to other ideas) in no particular order:

The Boxcar Children (the first/original)

Mouse and the Motorcycle

Amelia Bedelia (though I think the humor of it is over his head)

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle

Charlotte's Web (too sad? The movie is...)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Matilda

A Couple Items of Business...

FIRST:
Book club is at my house this month and I will be at Volleyball (yay for volleyball) until 8:00ish. Are you all fine with starting that late, or would you like to change it to a Wednesday night or....??? I am sorry. I would much rather be with you all, but that is the way it is. So let me know if you have any ideas.


SECOND:
When we went to dinner with Bonnie to say good-bye we talked a little about the Snow Canyon 1/2 Marathon in St. George. Linda and I are for sure doing it (right Linda?!) and we think it would be great if more people came. If you don't think you are up to the 13.1 mile run you could do the 5K they have that same morning or just come cheer (or stay in bed and be there to hang out:).

Here is the info:
Saturday November 6th
1/2 Marathon @ 8:30am
$35 Pre-registration (before 10/30)
$45 October 30th and after

5K @ 9:00am
$25 Pre-registration (before 10/30)
$35 October 30th and after

To register Google "Snow Canyon Half Marathon 2010" and it will take you to a link, or call Shanna if you have questions.

Book Available

I am not good with blogging, but... I have finished Shanna's copy of The Help (Oct book)- she said I can offer it to anyone that needs it. Let me know... otherwise I will be returning it to Shanna soon!
It is GREAT! Happy Reading!!

Pics from August's Meeting

Here you go, ladies... a couple of pics from last month's book club meeting. It was absolutely fun, and I'm glad so many of you could come! I really love you girls. Thanks for being so fabulous!

Spetember's Book Club Pick

I know that you all know that Eat, Pray, Love is our book for September. I just wanted to announce the date and the movie options. We could go to the movie the same night (which may be pushing it time-wise) or we could go to the movie the next night, or a week later, or etc. Please leave a comment and let me and Shanna know your opinion.
Thanks for a great book club at Becca's house. We will see you all in September!

Book Club for September:
Date: September 23, 2010
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Shanna's house

Even though I know you're all just dying to read about my life, I'm sorry for the random post about my kindergartner. (I deleted it, but it will still show up if you use a blog reader.) I accidentally posted on the wrong blog. :)

Book Club Tonight!

Hey ladies! I am excited to see you all tonight! If any of you want to carpool with me to Becca's house meet at my house at 6:30. See you all tonight! XOXO Mindy

Official September Book Pick

Okay, since it won by a landslide the book for September is "Eat Pray Love" and of course when we are finished with it we have the movie to look forward to seeing! I do apologize it will be a little hard to get a hold of since it is a new movie sensation. I have a copy and I think Mindy has a copy so as soon as I am finished I will start trying to pass it around.
Side Note: October's book is "The Help" (Johanna's pick) which is still just in hardback and also little hard to get a hold of. So you may want to start trying to find a copy of it.
Good Luck and see you next month at my house - XOXO Shanna

THIS is what's for dinner TONIGHT!

Hey, ladies! Bonnie doesn't have internet access currently, so she asked me to post this for her. She decided on a place for dinner: Costa Vida, baby! Mmm... I just might have to rearrange my schedule to fit this in. ;) So meet at Mindy's at 6:00 if you're out that way and want to carpool. Otherwise, just meet at Costa Vida at 6:30. Awesome. See you there!

We Love Bonnie!

Hey ladies! We are getting together tomorrow to show Bonnie how much we love her and are going to miss her. We are going to dinner and possibly a movie. Meet at Mindy's house at 6:00 or in Logan at 6:30. Bonnie is deciding on a restaurant and I will update this post as soon as she lets me know. Please leave a comment if you are planning on coming so we will know if we need a reservation. I am excited to see all of you!!

September (or October?) Book

Hey gals! Obviously I am having a really hard time picking a book for September. I saw that on the side bar it says we are meeting at Johanna's on the 23rd of September so if that is the case I guess this is a book for October. Anyway. I have narrowed it down to two: "The Glass Castle" and "Eat Pray Love". I know a lot of you have read one or both. I read Eat Pray Love a long time ago but really want to read it again before I see the movie and I have been wanting to read The Glass Castle for long enough I decided I should just pick it for book club (since those seem to be the only books I get around to reading!). - Sorry for the long sentence Becca!
So leave a post with your vote (hopefully you have an opinion) and I will try and post again next weekend with my choice. Sorry for the wait. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer, it is going way to fast for me:)
-Thanks Shanna


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Vote which you want for Shanna's Pick

Book Club pick for August: "What I Saw and How I Lied"

READ THIS FIRST
The following plot summary gives quite a bit away. If you would rather be surprised just check the sidebar for book club meeting time info.

Becca got 6 copies of this book from Logan Library in a book club bundle. If you have a copy please comment when you are finished so we can pass the copies around. Also if you need a copy leave a comment so we know who is next in line. Thank you for your support. Read on.

In 1947, 15-year-old Evie, her mother, Bev, and her stepfather, Joe, leave Brooklyn for a vacation in Palm Beach, FL, during the off season. There they meet Arlene and Tom Grayson, who lavish attention on the family and convince Joe to go into the hotel business with them. When Peter, an army acquaintance of Joe's, appears, Evie is smitten by his charm and attention. Her budding interest in romance, while protectively discouraged by her parents, is actually encouraged by Arlene, who helps Evie develop a sense of style. Evie enjoys her outings with Peter and interprets her mother's insinuating presence as protective, when in reality Bev is having an affair with the younger man. Joe's jealous distrust of his wife, established while he was at war in Europe, does not obviate the intimacy between Bev and Peter. Evie's closeness to her mother will not permit her to acknowledge the affair even when it becomes impossible to deny. Meanwhile pervading anti-Semitism sours the hotel deal, and the Graysons are forced out of Palm Beach. When Joe insists on one last boat trip, Peter dies during a storm and Joe is accused of murder. It is during the ensuing hearing that Evie learns that adults, even those closest to her, are not always what they seem.
Blundell navigates this multidimensional plotline with unique, well-developed characters and insightful dialogue. Yet it is Evie and her rapidly maturing perception of herself and those around her that carry the story. In many ways she becomes the adult in the group, motivated by truth and justice rather than greed or superficial appearances.

Book Club Meeting Reminder

Hey ladies! I am just shouting out a reminder for our meeting tomorrow. I was confused and told some of you that it was next week (sorry Becca!). I have had the strangest month ever and am more of a space cadet than usual. If you want to hear all about my weird month come to book club. It is tomorrow, JULY 22, at Krista's house. Sorry for any confusion. Can't wait to see you all!

A Camp Flashback

Here are some pictures from YW camp. My favorite is the cuddly couple sharing a bunk!

For July: "My Cousin Rachel" by Daphne DuMaurier

My Cousin Rachel is the gripping story of a Victorian young man whose placid life in the English countryside is turned inside-out by an older woman. The young man is Philip Ashley, the novel's narrator. Orphaned at an early age, he's been raised by his bachelor uncle Ambrose, who falls in love and marries while traveling in Florence, then dies there in suspicious circumstances. Shortly after her husband's death, Ambrose's widow turns up in England, setting the stage for the unfolding of a relationship between the callow Philip and the beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious widow. And while Philip impetuously embraces the role of the moth flapping full-tilt toward the flame, the widow never puts a foot wrong. Is she designedly luring Philip to his doom? Might she even have had a hand in Ambrose's death? Originally published in 1951, My Cousin Rachel was made into a film in 1953.

We will meet at Krista's house on July 22nd at 7:00 PM. Happy reading!

PS- I want pictures from Heber Valley Camp posted here!

For Review in June: "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana DeRosnay

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. De Rosnay's U.S. debut fictionalizes the 1942 Paris roundups and deportations, in which thousands of Jewish families were arrested, held at the Vélodrome d'Hiver outside the city, then transported to Auschwitz. Forty-five-year-old Julia Jarmond, American by birth, moved to Paris when she was 20 and is married to the arrogant, unfaithful Bertrand Tézac, with whom she has an 11-year-old daughter. Julia writes for an American magazine and her editor assigns her to cover the 60th anniversary of the Vél' d'Hiv' roundups. Julia soon learns that the apartment she and Bertrand plan to move into was acquired by Bertrand's family when its Jewish occupants were dispossessed and deported 60 years before. She resolves to find out what happened to the former occupants: Wladyslaw and Rywka Starzynski, parents of 10-year-old Sarah and four-year-old Michel. The more Julia discovers—especially about Sarah, the only member of the Starzynski family to survive—the more she uncovers about Bertrand's family, about France and, finally, herself. Already translated into 15 languages, the novel is De Rosnay's 10th (but her first written in English, her first language). It beautifully conveys Julia's conflicting loyalties, and makes Sarah's trials so riveting, her innocence so absorbing, that the book is hard to put down.

We will meet at Caron's house on June 24th at 7:00 PM. I am looking forward to seeing you all there!

May's Meeting

Hi Ladies-
There has been a change of plans. Book club will be held at my house on Thursday. Regular time. So here are the specs:

Book Club meeting
Thursday, May 27
Mindy's house
7:00 PM

We may watch the movie if enough people are interested. So if you are one of those people, feel free to bring your jammies along with you. See you Thursday!

Health Days Weekend

Yay for Linda completing her first 10K!!!
It was a great day of running, eating and ...
-3 for me! (Shanna)

For review in May: "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath is a novel published in 1939 and written by John Steinbeck, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. Set during the Great Depression, the novel focuses on a poor family of sharecroppers, the Joads, driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, economic hardship, and changes in the agriculture industry. In a nearly hopeless situation, partly because they were trapped in the Dust Bowl, they set out for California along with thousands of other "Okies" in search of land, jobs and dignity.

The book was chosen by Bonnie and will be reviewed on May 27th. I will post the location after I talk to Bonnie. We can't all fit in her cute apartment so we will meet at a yet undisclosed location.

This book is quite a read. If you need help, like me, there are several places to look. There is a great article at Wikipedia with links to more info. The above synopsis of the book is from Wikipedia. Sparknotes also has a great section on this book, with everything from a plot synopsis to analysis of major characters, to possible essay topics (just in case you get ambitious). Please post a comment when you have a book to pass around. Please also post a comment if you are looking for a copy of this book. I look forward to seeing you all in May. Happy reading!

Group pic

Thanks for such a fun time, ladies! :)

P.S. Sorry it's teeny! Hopefully you can click to see it bigger.

A few Retreat pictures

Becca, I put this on because I thought your eyes looked pretty with your shirt.  Don't be mad!

Thank you to everybody for the AMAZING time.  Can't wait until the next one!

RSVP

Can I get an RSVP from you ladies? I am kind of assuming everyone is coming, but just to make sure, could you leave a message if you are in for next week?
Love you all!

Request Recipes Here

Let us know what recipes you love! Do you love Johanna's fudge, or Ann's popcorn? Maybe is Krista's rolls, or her peanut butter cups? Caron also has a great roll recipe, and Linda makes a mean scotch-a-roo.
Leave a comment and let us know what recipes you love!
Look over the comments and if one of your recipes is requested please
bring it to our next meeting.

"Tarzan of the Apes" by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Our book for April is Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Following is a partial review from Amazon.com(scroll down if you want to read the whole review) that I thought gave a good plot summary and spoke a little of the books place among classics.:

The outline of the story told in Tarzan of the Apes--the first of what would be 24 Tarzan novels written by Burroughs--will be familiar. It begins with the story of Tarzan's parents, who were generously put ashore by a mutinous crew rather than killed, abandoned on an island that was inhabited only by wild beasts and cannibals. John Clayton is an Englishman's Englishman, brawny and brave and possessed of an innate nobility. His pregnant wife Alice strives to be a suitable companion to such a man. They survive in the jungle for a time, until their son is a year old, and then they both die from separate causes. Tarzan is adopted into a family of apes, where he eventually thrives because he is able to compensate for his physical shortcomings (compared to apes; compared to your average man he is a god) by employing his intellect. Tarzan teaches himself to read from the books he finds among his dead parents' possessions, and so he is able to communicate when the island is finally visited by Europeans, Jane Porter and her bumbling father, who've been marooned themselves. A romance ensues, which leads Tarzan to civilize himself and follow Jane to America.

Many elements of Burroughs' story are of course fantastic, but the author makes much seem credible because of the details he provides--he describes how John Clayton was able to build a sturdy dwelling, for example, from limited supplies; or how Tarzan could teach himself to read; or how he could track someone's progress through the jungle by minute signs which to his practiced eye were like flashing neon. The details bring Tarzan's jungle to life.

Despite the familiarity of Tarzan's story and any shortcomings in the book, Tarzan of the Apes is actually quite a gripping read. I was able to put the book down, to be sure, but there were many times when I was lost in the story while reading, eager to see how things would play out. I can understand how Tarzan came to be such a beloved icon given this introduction.

This book was chosen by Amy and will be reviewed on April 23rd.

Movie Night - TONIGHT

Sorry for the last-minute-ness (sure, that's a word).

MOVIE NIGHT at my house (Becca's) TONIGHT!!!

Yes, that's Saturday the 13th.

Starting around 8:30pm (or whenever your kids go down)

and preferably done midnight-ish

(so we don't all hate ourselves tomorrow)

Maybe watching a bookclub-related movie. Maybe watching a random chick-flick. Maybe just chatting and never getting around to a movie at all (typical for us, I think).

Jammies welcome (I'll be in mine.)

Bring your favorite snack if you want.

We also can whip up some popcorn or cookies or something.

(This really is that un-planned and/or prepared for.)

Come one; come all!

March's Pick: When Crickets Cry

A man with a painful past. A child with a doubtful future. And a shared journey toward healing for both their hearts.

It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he's restoring at a nearby lake. But the little girl's pretty yellow dress can't quite hide the ugly scar on her chest. The stranger understands more about it than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives.

Before it's over, they'll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry...and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners.

This month's book was chosen by Linda. Book club will be held at her house on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 PM.

Also mark April 23-24 on your calendars. This is when our spring retreat will take place. More to come later.

Movie Night

It's kind of last minute, but. . .

Movie Night at Mindy's house tonight
9:00
8:30 if you want to watch Survivor with me and Ang
Wear your jammies. I will be in mine.
Bring a treat if you want. I have lime chips.
We will watch "Speak". I promise.
Spread the word.
Come hang out!

Announcing. . .

Jolie Elizabeth Anderson

Born Feb 13, 2010
1:15 PM (Approx)
9 lbs. 8 oz.
21 inches


Congrats Becca! She is beautiful. We love you!

Fabric Order

Hey ladies!
I am going to order fabric from this website. My favorites are under Mod and Retro Fabrics. These are the heavier weight fabrics that would be good for pillows, bags, a duvet cover, etc. Leave a comment or call me if you want in on the order. That way we can save on shipping! I am going to order on Friday, Feb 12.

BFFs... and February's Pick

Hello, ladies. Becca here. I figured I'd post about this next book (to relieve Angie/Mindy of the job) since I am really feeling like posting anyway. What did I want to post? Oh, you know, just a whole lotta LOVE! Really, girls... you all are my BFFs for sure! I'm so glad we have this lil' book club, and that we all ended up being so close and compatible. It's hard to find women you genuinely get a long with and have so much in common with and admire and... :) But I found you all. You are my best friends, and I'm so, so happy to have you.

Ahem. Okay, cheesiness over (really, my husband rarely gets love letters that 'squishy' - lol). Now for next month's book:

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Here is a quick intro, from the blurb on the back:

"In 1946, writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name."

I actually just finished this book, and it was fabulous! I found it witty, cleverly made, enjoyable to read, definitely interesting, and even educational. I was going to do it as my book club choice if no one did it first. I'm glad Angie picked this one. I'm excited to talk about it with you all. So... what are you waiting for? Go get it!

{Note: L library has 1 copy, but it has 6 current holds on it- yikes! NL library has like 6 copies, though, and I think Johanna put a book club hold on them (sweet!). S library... who knows? Sorry, I'm no help there. Borders has it for about $10, cheaper ($7?) if you use their coupons. And Amazon has it for as little as $5.}

Book Club will be at Angie's place this month, on February 25th at 7pm.

Book picks for 2010

Hi ladies! It seems like forever since we have gotten together! I just wanted to put out a quick word about book picks for this year. Please be thinking a little bit about your choices over the next couple of days. It would be good if we could get the next couple of months solidified. Let me know if you have questions or need ideas. I can't wait to see all of you on Thursday!

Book pick for January

Claire Pendleton, newly married and arrived in Hong Kong in 1952, finds work giving piano lessons to the daughter of Melody and Victor Chen, a wealthy Chinese couple. While the girl is less than interested in music, the Chens' flinty British expat driver, Will Truesdale, is certainly interested in Claire, and vice versa. Their fast-blossoming affair is juxtaposed against a plot line beginning in 1941 when Will gets swept up by the beautiful and tempestuous Trudy Liang, and then follows through his life during the Japanese occupation. As Claire and Will's affair becomes common knowledge, so do the specifics of Will's murky past, Trudy's motivations and Victor's role in past events. The rippling of past actions through to the present lends the narrative layers of intrigue and more than a few unexpected twists. Lee covers a little-known time in Chinese history without melodrama, and deconstructs without judgment the choices people make in order to live one more day under torturous circumstances.

This book was chosen by Leah. Sounds a bit like a bodice-ripper. I am looking forward to it! We will meet at Leah' s house on January 28 at 7:00 PM. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Please note that the monthly assignments have been posted on the side bar. As you pick your books, log into blogger, then click on the tool icon in that side bar and you can edit your name to let us know what book you have chosen. That was a really bad run-on sentence. If you still need an invite to be a blog contributor, shoot me an email and I will add you. Also please be aware that I am going to start keeping track of attendance and who had read the book. The people who attend/read the book the most will have first priority for who gets to pick the books for next year.

I am excited to see you all in a couple of weeks!