sorta naughty book club

March Pick - The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

2012-02-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present

FEBRUARY'S WITCHY PICK

2012-01-11T11:58:00.000-08:00

Jane Boyle married her prince charming and moved into his upper east side castle—but she didn't get her fairy-tale ending

Its hard to live happily ever after when you discover your demanding and controlling mother-in-law is literally a witch, determined to steal the magical powers you didn't even know you had. Jane narrowly avoided Lynne Dorans clutches when she escaped on her wedding day, and has been hiding out in New York City. But she cant hide forever.

When Jane learns of the one thing Lynne wants most, she sets out to provide it, hoping her good turn will persuade her mother-in-law to stop hunting her. Unfortunately, Jane's daring plan will send her right back into the witches den—the Doran clans multistory town house on Park Avenue. But thanks to a tricky spell, blond architect Jane will be transformed into Ella, a dark beauty with a whole new look . . . and all of Jane's budding powers. Though the stakes are life or death, nobody said Ella couldn't have a little fun along the way, too.

2011-12-29T04:50:00.000-08:00

And January's pick is.....

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

December's Pick

2011-11-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser,talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespearebust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight’s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, he assembles the case file that forms this novel.

November pick...The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

2011-10-18T01:16:00.000-07:00

It's the beginning of a lazy summer in 1950 at the sleepy English village of Bishop's Lacey. Up at the great house of Buckshaw, aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce passes the time tinkering in the laboratory she's inherited from her deceased mother and an eccentric great uncle. When Flavia discovers a murdered stranger in the cucumber patch outside her bedroom window early one morning, she decides to leave aside her flasks and Bunsen burners to solve the crime herself, much to the chagrin of the local authorities. But who can blame her? What else does an eleven-year-old science prodigy have to do when left to her own devices? With her widowed father and two older sisters far too preoccupied with their own pursuits and passions—stamp collecting, adventure novels, and boys respectively—Flavia takes off on her trusty bicycle Gladys to catch a murderer. In Alan Bradley's critically acclaimed debut mystery, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, adult readers will be totally charmed by this fearless, funny, and unflappable kid sleuth. But don't be fooled: this carefully plotted detective novel (the first in a new series) features plenty of unexpected twists and turns and loads of tasty period detail. As the pages fly by, you'll be rooting for this curious combination of Harriet the Spy and Sherlock Holmes. Go ahead, take a bite. --Lauren Nemroff

2011-10-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

Just so you know, someone has been spying on our bookclub and writing personalized tomes just for us. Other books in the series include:

Stephanie and the one book she reads that year.

Lucinda and the moving van.

Candy and the publisher who finally got his head on straight.

Pam and the one that goes F&*%!

Anne and the story that only her and Jennifer will like.

Jennifer and the one with a strong, canine role.

Athena and the one where she goes missing.

And of course...

Susan, Lauri, Linda and Annell and the young-adult zombies who travel to a far-away land by spaceship with their centipede totems where they find that they have magical powers that change their toenails green and allow them to almost save the world but not quite! because this is a trilogy after all, and where it's not necessary to read the first one first because the second one totally stands on it's own.

Personally, I cannot wait!

Jen

October Book Pick - Okay For Now

2011-09-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Synopsis

As a fourteen-year-old who just moved to a new town, with no friends and a louse for an older brother, Doug Swieteck has all the stats stacked against him. So begins a coming-of-age masterwork full of equal parts comedy and tragedy from Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt. As Doug struggles to be more than the “skinny thug” that his teachers and the police think him to be, he finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer—a fiery young lady who “smelled like daisies would smell if they were growing in a big field under a clearing sky after a rain.” In Lil, Doug finds the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a whole town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Together, they find a safe haven in the local library, inspiration in learning about the plates of John James Audubon’s birds, and a hilarious adventure on a Broadway stage. In this stunning novel, Schmidt expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.

September's Book

2011-08-07T06:19:00.001-07:00

August

2011-07-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

Mockingbird

by Kathryn Erskine

Synopsis:

Caitlin has Asperger's. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon has died, and Caitlin's dad is so distraught that he is just not helpful. Caitlin wants everything to go back to the way things were, but she doesn't know how to do that. Then she comes across the word closure- and she realizes this is what she needs. And in her search for it, Caitlin discovers that the world may not be black and white after all.

Ella Enchanted - July's Book

2011-06-16T23:31:00.000-07:00

This Month's Pick is:

Ella Enchanted

Gail Carson Levine

Synopsis

How can a fairy's blessing be such a curse? At her birth, Ella of Frell was given a foolish fairy's gift—the "gift" of obedience. Ella must obey any order given to her, whether it's hopping on one foot for a day or chopping off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her fate. She goes on a quest, encountering ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, fairy godmothers, and handsome princes, determined to break the curse—and live happily ever after. (from bn.com)

Enjoy!

June's Pick

2011-05-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Alcatraz versus the evil Librarians
Sanderson, Brandon

A hero with an incredible talent...for breaking things. A life-or-death mission...to rescue a bag of sand. A fearsome threat from the powerful secret network that rules the world...the Evil Librarians. Alcatraz Smedry doesn’t seem destined for anything but disaster. On his thirteenth birthday, he receives a bag of sand, and his life takes a bizarre turn. This is no ordinary bag of sand…so it’s too bad that Alcatraz doesn’t keep a closer eye on it. It is quickly stolen by the Evil Librarians who secretly rule the world by spreading misinformation and suppressing truth. The bag of sand will give the Evil Librarians the edge they need to achieve world domination. Alcatraz must stop them...by infiltrating the local library, armed with nothing but eyeglasses and a talent for klutziness.

May Pick Revised

2011-04-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

Synopsis: Nat, an eighteenth-century nautical wonder and mathematical wizard. Nathaniel Bowditch grew up in a sailor's world - Salem in the early days, when tall-masted ships from foreign ports crowded the wharves. But Nat didn't promise to have the makings of a sailor; he was too physically small. Nat may have been slight of build, but no one guessed that he had the persistence and determination to master sea navigation in the days when men sailed only by "log, lead, and lookout." Nat's long hours of study and observation, collected in his famous work, The American Practical Navigator (also know as the "Sailors' Bible'), stunned the sailing community and made him a New England hero.

May's Pick

2011-04-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

I know, I know! I am such a slacker! I do have a pick but I do not remember how to post the pic and the synopsis! My book choice is, "Carry on, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham. Sorry I am such a "Tard"! See you at my house soon!

APRIL'S NAUGHTY PICK

2011-04-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

A delightful first novel by british actor, comedian, and author of the television series "A Bit of Fry and Laurie." In this spoof (of sorts) of the spy genre, Laurie's appealing turns of phrase will grab readers from the first paragraph. Thomas Lang, formerly of the Scots Guard and currently a freelance bodyguard/man for hire, is offered an assassination job. He indignantly refuses, attempts to warn the victim, and is soon embroiled in the undercoer work for the British Government, CIA operatives, arms dealers, and terrorists. Those who enjoy action or spy novels will be swept along in the events. Although somewhat convoluted, the plot is so punctuated with bursts of sly humor that readers won't mind a bit of confusion.

"Hugh Laurie...... has split the atom, spoofed the spy thriller yet still made it work as a......spiffy piece of suspense.....THE GUN SELLER.....serves up Tom Clancy-style techno- gung- ho-macho-hardware-speak. But it does so with a wink."

March's Book

2011-02-26T15:11:00.000-08:00

In 1972, when she was seven, Firoozeh Dumas and her family moved from Iran to Southern California, arriving with no firsthand knowledge of this country beyond her father’s glowing memories of his graduate school years here. More family soon followed, and the clan has been here ever since.

Funny in Farsi chronicles the American journey of Dumas’s wonderfully engaging family: her engineer father, a sweetly quixotic dreamer who first sought riches on Bowling for Dollars and in Las Vegas, and later lost his job during the Iranian revolution; her elegant mother, who never fully mastered English (nor cared to); her uncle, who combated the effects of American fast food with an army of miraculous American weight-loss gadgets; and Firoozeh herself, who as a girl changed her name to Julie, and who encountered a second wave of culture shock when she met and married a Frenchman, becoming part of a one-couple melting pot.

In a series of deftly drawn scenes, we watch the family grapple with American English (hot dogs and hush puppies?—a complete mystery), American traditions (Thanksgiving turkey?—an even greater mystery, since it tastes like nothing), and American culture (Firoozeh’s parents laugh uproariously at Bob Hope on television, although they don’t get the jokes even when she translates them into Farsi).

Above all, this is an unforgettable story of identity, discovery, and the power of family love. It is a book that will leave us all laughing—without an accent.

February's pick: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

2011-01-17T09:29:00.000-08:00

In her witty and wise debut novel, newcomer Helen Simonson introduces the unforgettable character of the widower Major Ernest Pettigrew. The Major epitomizes the Englishman with the "stiff upper lip," who clings to traditional values and has tried (in vain) to pass these along to his yuppie son, Roger. The story centers around Pettigrew's fight to keep his greedy relatives (including his son) from selling a valuable family heirloom--a pair of hunting rifles that symbolizes much of what he stands for, or at least what he thinks he does. The embattled hero discovers an unexpected ally and source of consolation in his neighbor, the Pakistani shopkeeper Jasmina Ali. On the surface, Pettigrew and Ali's backgrounds and life experiences couldn't be more different, but they discover that they have the most important things in common. This wry, yet optimistic comedy of manners with a romantic twist will appeal to grown-up readers of both sexes. --Lauren Nemroff

January's pick

2010-12-06T19:23:00.000-08:00

OR...

An easy read for this harried, Christmas season.

I don't know about you, but I LOVED Beverly Cleary books when I was young.

So, when I heard Beverly had written an autobiography/memoir (what is the difference?), I knew I had to read it.

It's a super easy read--I, the non-reader in the club--finished in a few short hours. It gives you some insight into how Beverly came up with some of Ramona's antics.

Doesn't she just look like Ramona?

Enjoy!

December Pick

2010-11-08T16:14:00.000-08:00

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox awakens after more than a year in a coma to find herself in a life—and a body—that she doesn't quite recognize. Her parents tell her that she's been in an accident, but much of her past identity and current situation remain a mystery to her: Why has her family abruptly moved from Boston to California, leaving all of her personal belongings behind? Why does her grandmother react to her with such antipathy? Why have her parents instructed her to make sure not to tell anyone about the circumstances of their move? And why can Jenna recite whole passages of Thoreau's Walden, but remember next to nothing of her own past? As she watches family videos of her childhood, strange memories begin to surface, and she slowly realizes that a terrible secret is being kept from her. Pearson has constructed a gripping, believable vision of a future dystopia. She explores issues surrounding scientific ethics, the power of science, and the nature of the soul with grace, poetry, and an apt sense of drama and suspense. Some of the supporting characters are a bit underdeveloped, but Jenna herself is complex, interesting, and very real. This is a beautiful blend of science fiction, medical thriller, and teen-relationship novel that melds into a seamless whole that will please fans of all three genres.—Meredith Robbins, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School, New York City

NOVEMBER'S BOOK - A Vintage Affair

2010-10-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

A Vintage Affair

Isabel Wolff

Synopsis

Every dress has a history. And so does every woman.

Her friends are stunned when Phoebe Swift abruptly leaves a plum job at the prestigious Sotheby’s auction house to open her own vintage clothing shop in London—but to Phoebe, it’s the fulfillment of a dream. In the sunlight-flooded interior of Village Vintage, surrounded by Yves Saint Laurent silk scarves, Vivienne Westwood bustle skirts, cupcake dresses, and satin gowns, Phoebe hopes to make her store the hot new place to shop, even as she deals with two ardent suitors, her increasingly difficult mother, and a secret from her past that casts a shadow over her new venture.

For Phoebe, each vintage garment carries its own precious history. Digging for finds in attics and wardrobes, Phoebe is rewarded whenever she finds something truly unique, for she knows that when you buy a piece of vintage clothing, you’re not just buying fabric and thread—you’re buying a piece of someone’s past. But one particular article of clothing will soon unexpectedly change her life.

Thérèse Bell, an elderly Frenchwoman, has an impressive clothing collection. But among the array of smart suits and couture gowns, Phoebe finds a child’s sky-blue coat—an item with which Bell is stubbornly reluctant to part. As the two women become friends, Phoebe will learn the tale of that little blue coat. And she will discover an astonishing connection between herself and Thérèse Bell—one that will help her heal the pain of her own past and allow her to love again. (from bn.com)

Anne's pick for October

2010-09-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Those Who Save Us
By Jenna Blum

Family secrets of Nazi Germany are at the core of this powerful first novel told in two narratives that alternate between New Heidelberg, Minnesota, in the present, and the small town of Weimar near Buchenwald during World War II. Trudy is a professor of German history in Minnesota, where she's teaching a seminar on women's roles in Nazi Germany and conducting interviews with Germans about how they're dealing with what they did during the war. But her mother, Anna, won't talk about it, not even to her own daughter. Trudy knows, she remembers, that Anna was mistress to a big Nazi camp officer. Why did she do it? Was he Trudy's father? The interviews are a plot contrivance to introduce a range of attitudes, from blatant racism to crippling survivor guilt. But the characters, then and now, are drawn with rare complexity, including a brave, gloomy, unlucky rescuer and a wheeler-dealer survivor. Anna's story is a gripping mystery in a page-turner that raises universal questions of shame, guilt, and personal responsibility. --Hazel Rochman Copyright 2004 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

This is for Pam...

2010-08-09T23:31:00.001-07:00

Annell's Pick for September

2010-08-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her life. No real man can complare.

When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Dear Unpaid Administrator

2010-08-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

We think you're awesome. Plus also could you add "the crocodile on the Sandbank" and "grime and Punishment". Plus also I am looking at you right now and I think your pony tail is cute.

Celia's August Pick

2010-07-20T13:17:00.000-07:00

Synopsis

"A lushly romantic adventure story set in the North African desert in 1914, told by the impeccable Lady Treal as she reminisces in her London town house about her decidedly peccable past...Well-written, expertly plotted, perfectly paced."

NEWSDAY With her anthropologist husband murdered and their caravan stolen by fierce Tuareg tribesmen, Caressa's choices are death or a life of slavery. Concealing her dangerous beauty beneath the faded robes of an Arab boy, she embarks on the adventrue of her life, harassed by vicious nomads, slave traders and the envious witch doctor, Isa. Only a handful of carnival magic tricks stand between her and oblivion. Then she discovers an inner magic so mysteriously compelling that the desert people call her a sorceress. With it she will secure her freedom and discover the love of her life.... (from bn.com)

Lauri's pick for July

2010-06-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

Magic Study

by Maria V. Snyder

You know your life is bad when you miss your days as a poison taster...

After saving the Commander's life, Yelena is set free - though she must leave Ixia. But with less than a year to learn to get her magic under control or be destroyed by the other wizards for disrupting the order of things, she's nervous. She's anxious as well about finding the family she was stolen from 14 years ago. Going to her birth country of Sitia is almost like going to another world, and she finds it difficult to accept the changes she's going through. Especially as she gets involved with the exiled prince of Ixia who wants her help to lead a coup against the Commander and her mentor, Valek. Everyone in the South believes she should hate the North, but though she had some bad times, the North is filled with people and things she loved as well. And Yelena finds that her independence and growing powers make it difficult to fit in anywhere.

Susan's pick

2010-05-21T22:22:00.000-07:00

Our new look

2010-05-10T23:48:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Annell for our new logo (or really our FIRST logo) and the fabulous bags!

We really ARE sorta naughty now!

Pam's Pick for May

2010-04-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

After loosing her boyfriend and her job in one fell swoop, Noreen finds it hard to know what the next step is-never mind take it. For the first time in a great many years, Noreen has time to herself. So she puts on a new pair of sneakers and a seriously outdated pair of exercise pants, and walks.

It isn't long before she's joined by neighbors Tess and Rosie, two women as lost as she is. As the Wildwater women walk and talk, and talk and walk, they tally their steps, share their secrets, and begin putting their lives back together. And along the way, they learn what women everywhere are finding out-time flies, and getting fit is actually fun when you're walking with friends.

New Rule

2010-04-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

At the end of every book club, Celia must turn out her pockets. Everyone in favor, say "aye." (I mean silverware is one thing, but she was trying to make off with my CAR.)

Jennifer's April Pick - (with the help of a ghost writer)

2010-03-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Spellman Files

Lisa Lutz

Synopsis

Meet Isabel "Izzy" Spellman, private investigator. This twenty-eight-year-old may have a checkered past littered with romantic mistakes, excessive drinking, and creative vandalism; she may be addicted to Get Smart reruns and prefer entering homes through windows rather than doors -- but the upshot is she's good at her job as a licensed private investigator with her family's firm, Spellman Investigations. Invading people's privacy comes naturally to Izzy. In fact, it comes naturally to all the Spellmans. If only they could leave their work at the office. To be a Spellman is to snoop on a Spellman; tail a Spellman; dig up dirt on, blackmail, and wiretap a Spellman.

Part Nancy Drew, part Dirty Harry, Izzy walks an indistinguishable line between Spellman family member and Spellman employee. Duties include: completing assignments from the bosses, aka Mom and Dad (preferably without scrutiny); appeasing her chronically perfect lawyer brother (often under duress); setting an example for her fourteen-year-old sister, Rae (who's become addicted to "recreational surveillance"); and tracking down her uncle (who randomly disappears on benders dubbed "Lost Weekends"). But when Izzy's parents hire Rae to follow her (for the purpose of ascertaining the identity of Izzy's new boyfriend), Izzy snaps and decides that the only way she will ever be normal is if she gets out of the family business. But there's a hitch: she must take one last job before they'll let her go -- a fifteen-year-old, ice-cold missing person case. She accepts, only to experience a disappearance far closer to home, which becomes the most important case of her life.

The Spellman Files is the first novel in a winning and hilarious new series featuring the Spellman family in all its lovable chaos.

The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs

2010-02-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

It is a tale of transformation, of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, of the wonderful things that can happen anywhere to anyone. In Sassafras Springs, MO, in the summer of 1923, Eben McAllister, 11, is fascinated by the Seven Wonders of the World. Pa assures him that there are marvels right under his nose. In fact, the man challenges him to find Seven Wonders in seven days in Sassafras Springs. If Eben can do so, his father will buy him a ticket to visit his cousins in Colorado where he'll be able to see a mountain. Perfect for reading aloud. (Blatantly lifted from Amazon's website, FYI)

Funnel cakes!

2010-02-08T22:32:00.000-08:00

Here is the recipe for funnel cakes:

1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

Heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil to 350 degrees.
In medium bowl, beat egg with milk. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Mix until smooth. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into a funnel, with finger covering the little hole. Drop batter into hot oil, making snake-like coils. Cook about two minutes on each side. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy. This recipe makes 6 funnel cakes.

February

2010-01-11T23:51:00.000-08:00

When Hazel Marie Puckett and her nine-year-old son, Little Lloyd, show up on Julia Springer's doorstep in Abbotsford, North Carolina, Miss Julia receives the shock of her long and proper life. After 44 years of marriage to pillar-of-church-and-community Wesley Lloyd Springer, she discovers that while she had assumed he was working late at the family bank, he was engaged in other, more carnal, pursuits. For, as Hazel Marie shyly explains, Little Lloyd is Miss Julia's late husband's son. His arrival in Miss Julia's life sets off a chain of events that involves a hypocritical minister, a violent beating, a crooked televangelist, a high-speed car chase, a kidnapping, and a surprising revelation about her late husband's will. Miss Julia not only speaks her mind but also comes to a deeper understanding of the meaning of love, friendship, and trust.

This is for Candy...

2010-01-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

Candy entered a contest that will (hopefully) help her get her book published. And in order to do this, she needs to link back to the contest on her blog. Since she is one of our most illustrious bloggers, she thought it would be appropriate to blog it here. We also thought it would be appropriate (and it could get us a little more traffic). Although Jennifer's family has done a fantastic job of boosting our non-club member postings (some of them have posted more than some of our members), if we get readers that aren't related to any of us, it might give us some street cred.

Here is the link to the contest. Although Candy might not like this, if any of you have a COMPLETED YA or MG book (whatever that is, said the non-reader), follow the link to enter the contest. But since none of us naughties have a completed book of any kind (other than Candy), I think she is safe.

Kidlit Contest

PS-How do you like that I change from first to third person as it suits us?

January's Book Pick

2009-12-14T05:47:00.000-08:00

Written from Debbie Rodriguez's personal experiences in Afghanistan between 2001-2006, "Kabul Beauty School" not only tells Debbie's story, but the stories of the Afghanistan women that Debbie met during her stay in the country. Rodriguez uses an easy writing style that has the reader turning the pages without realizing it. The stories of Afghanistan and it's women will swell up a range of emotion from happiness to despair, but thankfully Rodriguez leaves us with hope for the future.

The full book online:
http://books.google.com/books?id=8DNOF6i5VzwC&dq=kabul+beauty+school&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=xM3IJiBT0B&sig=yyMjvEMg1g6qroWoGwuf9psAsv4&hl=en&ei=NEImS-qqCZHasQOhm7inBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=&f=false

December's Book of the Month

2009-11-17T16:07:00.001-08:00

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survived.

I thought this was a nice cheery book. Just right for the holiday season. ;) I hope you all enjoy.

(Book Club will be held on December 14th @ Linda's house)

November Book

2009-10-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

By Jamie Ford

Book Pick for October

2009-09-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

The Last Treasure

by Janet S Anderson

Publisher Comments:

From the author of Going Through the Gate, here is an extraordinary work of the imagination, a puzzle mystery book in which the prize is the redemption of a family.

Celia's Book Pick For September

2009-08-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

Next book club will be at Celia's house on September 14th. Her pick is......

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Happy Reading Everyone!

What I Learned at Book Club This Month: vol 7

2009-08-05T14:46:00.001-07:00

For anyone who has ever been to a book club, you know that it's about more than just books.

Sometimes book club is all about the laughs. Sometimes it's a group therapy session. Sometimes it's a free labor camp. Sometimes it's even a center for higher learning. And sometimes, times like last book club, we really dive into the meat of life.

I can't get into the details of our conversation--it was far too private, but I will try to succintly sum it up for you.

Life is a gift comprised of many different packages. Some packages are big. Some packages are small. Some packages are very unexpected and completely take you by surprise. Sometimes we're happy with the package we receive, and sometimes not so much. Sometimes we're so disturbed by the package we receive that we mistakenly view it as a whole room full of problems, but with the help of friends we realize that that just isn't the case.

One thing is for sure though. Whatever junk happens to come your way, you can handle it.

Just remember to use a delicate touch.

Sincerely,
Jen

August's Read

2009-07-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

The Dragonfly Pool

by Eva Ibbotson

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble

At first Tally doesn't want to go to the boarding school called Delderton. But she soon discovers that it is a wonderful place where freedom and self expression are valued. Tally organizes a ragtag dance troupe so the school can participate in an international folk dancing festival in Bergania in the summer of 1939. There she befriends Karil, the crown prince, who would love nothing more than to have ordinary friends and attend a school like Delderton. When Karil's father is assassinated, it is up to Tally and her friends to help Karil escape the Nazis and the bleak future he has inherited.

FRIDAY BOOKCLUB

2009-07-07T22:48:00.000-07:00

I am a loser; I know this. I have missed the last two bookclubs (once for illness and the other for a playoff baseball game) but I am not apostate! I do plan on attending this month but not if it is on a Friday night! I just can't do it! I am offering the Susan Wheatley Shuttle service to anyone who wants to use it if we keep bookclub on Monday. I am not afraid of driving in the dark, even to BFE where Pam lives. If you all decide to keep it as currently scheduled, I guess I will drop to the dreaded "three months missed" and be in jeapardy of having you all think I am a bookclub dropout! I do apologize and promise I am not dropping out! Please let me know if you want me to chauffer you all. My car holds 7 additional people.

July's Pick

2009-06-09T21:18:00.001-07:00

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is an enchanting tale that captures the magic of reading and the wonder of romantic awakening. An immediate international bestseller, it tells the story of two hapless city boys exiled to a remote mountain village for re-education during China’s infamous Cultural Revolution. There the two friends meet the daughter of the local tailor and discover a hidden stash of Western classics in Chinese translation. As they flirt with the seamstress and secretly devour these banned works, the two friends find transit from their grim surroundings to worlds they never imagined.

ENJOY!

What I Learned at Book Club This Month: vol. 6

2009-06-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time when I was a stay at home mom, I was a fastidious housekeeper. In fact, some were even known to call me a little neurotic about my cleaning habits. Back in the good old days, I mopped twice a day, cleaned the bathrooms every day, and steam-cleaned my carpets at least twice a month.

I really loved my clean house. I mean really loved it. But I have to admit that perhaps, on the rare occasion, being fanatical about a gleaming, spot-free shine, might have made me the tiniest bit hard to live with. I suppose in retrospect that I didn't need to throw a big fit when there were crumbs left on top of the toaster--while it was still toasting, and maybe it was over the top to start wiping off the table--while my family was still eating.

Once I began working and didn't have as much time at home as I used to, I decided to consider my declining state of home cleanliness a statement of personal growth. As if a dirty kitchen was proof that I had overcome my OCD. Goodness, at this point in my life, I'm so healthy that I'm lucky to dust the front of the TV so it doesn't look like there's a snow storm inside the halls of Seattle Grace. The thing is though, I've found that there is a fine line between personal growth and just plain laziness. And after book club last night, I've had a wake up call.

You see, I was the hostess for last night's book club. In my new and improved state of mind, I decided to consider it courageous to let one of my guests use the "Restroom of Questionable Cleanliness", and innovative to let them eat the peach cobbler even though it appeared to be half-baked, and humorous to discover that I had my shirt on inside out. Basically I was a hot mess, but I didn't let it faze me. And that my friends is some serious personal growth.

It wasn't until all my guests had left though, that I discovered the Thing that's making me rethink my new attitude. You see, I have a basket on my counter for my fruits and vegetables. Plus, I have a zuchinni and a yellow squash plant that have both been in production overload the past two weeks. I just kept adding zuchinni to that basket and truthfully I hadn't seen the bottom of it for at least two weeks. In my desire to share the zuchinni bounty that is ours, I set that basket on the table and invited all the Sorta-Naughties to get it the h*** out of my house. And they nearly emptied the basket, bless their hearts. But in so doing they revealed, at the bottom of the basket, this monstrocity:

I can't tell you for sure what that is (although ironically, I think it is a peach), but I can tell you what it isn't. It is not courageous, innovative, or humorous. There does, however, appear to be a notable amount of growth going on there--just not the type I was aiming for.

So, what did I learn at Book Club this month? Listen people! I don't have time for any life lessons right now. I've got to get cleaning!

Sincerely,

Jen

And This Month's Book Is...

2009-05-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

This is your start to easy, summer reading. It's a cute novel sure to take you back to your angsty, teenage years. The best part is that the two sequels are already done! No more authors who like to torment us with cliffhangers :)

Here's a synopsis curtesy of Harper Collins:

Three Georgia peaches are in for one juicy summer . . .

. . . but Birdie would rather eat Thin Mints and sulk in the A/C.

Leeda would prefer to sneak off with her boyfriend, Rex.

And Murphy would much rather cause a little mischief.

Together these three very different girls will discover the secret to finding the right boy, making the truest of friends, and picking the perfect Georgia peach.

What I Learned at Book Club This Month: vol 5

2009-05-11T15:24:00.001-07:00

Oh my goodness. Book club is tonight, and I haven't even posted about last month yet! So, a quick recap:

1. Lucinda renamed book club to book party. I'm sure it is because we are so dang fun.

2. We spent quite a while reminiscing about our 15!! years of book clubbing. That's a lot of books read, desserts eaten, lives discussed (our own of course, because we would never gossip), and friends made.

3. We finally remembered the name of that one girl, who lived in the blue-roofed townhomes, with the two cute girls, and husband who was an architect student. Susan even Facebooked her (yea, I still don't have one of those). I wonder if she checked us out or just thought Susan was a big creeper...

4. Anyway, all that reminiscing led me to the What I Learned at Book Club This Month moment: be careful about the book you choose for book club, because you may be remembered for it. Because really, once you've chosen a seriously scandalous novel you will always be remembered as The Girl Who Picked the Irish Sex Book.

Consider yourself warned.

Sincerely,

Jen

Book for April

2009-04-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

Um, Susan pointed out that I was supposed to post my book choice on the blog. Sorry, I forgot. (And was too busy having a nervy b.)

The book this month is called My Book, by me. Since it is not yet avaliable at the library, I (most considerately) printed everyone a copy. The book was originally supposed to be a retelling of Cinderella, but it took on a life of its own. Other than that, I have trouble describing it, and usually look at people blankly when they ask what it's about.

Celia has already told me it doesn't have enough fairies of unfortunate sexual orientation. So go ahead. Now that I've got this up, you may do your worst.

What I Learned at Book Club This Month: vol.4

2009-03-22T07:02:00.000-07:00

I've always considered myself to be technologically advanced.

It started back in 1983 when I went to my friends house to watch a movie on her cutting-edge, new VCR. It was amazing to watch a movie RIGHT IN YOUR OWN HOUSE!! and her whole family gathered around to watch a James Bond flick (you know the one, where the bad guy plots an evil scheme to rule the world while James meets the girl with the questionable morals and ends up making out with her right before she tries to kill him with her stiletto heel?) Well anyway, I found it extremely difficult to follow the plot because I was so distracted by the flashing "12:00" on the VCR's screen. It seems that no one in the family could figure out how to enter the real time, and I vowed right then and there that if I was ever lucky enough to own my own "Entertainment Wonder of the Future", I would learn how to set the darn clock.

Subsequently, I've done my best to keep up with all the technology that has occurred in the last 25 years. I'm the geek that reads owner's manuals cover to cover to ensure I know how the machine works, and I'm always pining over some new toy I can plug in. Heck, Lauri and I were one of the first people I know to try out the internet. I think the big sell was that you could see movie premieres RIGHT ON YOUR OWN COMPUTER!! and we sat patiently in front of the library's computer monitor while it sang its special dial-up song and tried so hard to bring up a home page for the next 15 minutes. I don't think we ever did see any movie premieres that day, but we both promptly got internet in our own homes whereupon no one could ever call us again because our phone lines were busy all day.

So in all this effort to be hi-tech savvy, you can understand my dismay when I Learned at Book Club This Month that I was the only person in the room without a Facebook account.

Sure, I had heard Facebook rumblings among my friends. There were side conversations about "friending" and "wall posting." But to realize that I was the only one without it? It felt like I might as well go fashion myself some stone tires, ditch my car engine in favor of feet propulsion and call up Fred Flinstone on my shell phone, because I had just richocheted myself into the stone age.

So, after some extensive research on the matter, I've come up with a short Should-Jennifer-Get-a-Facebook-Account pro/con list.

Pro: I can keep up with friends' day-to-day lives.
Con: Apparently, my friends' day-to-day lives consist of nothing more than "What Your Shoe Size Says about You" quizzes.

Pro: I can reconnect with old high school buddies.
Con: I don't remember many of my high school buddies, and I'll be opening myself to ackward moments of "I'm sorry. We met at a football game? We made out under the bleachers? Was I really that big of a floozy?"

Pro: I can stalk my kids.
Con: My kids will think I'm a stalker.

Pro: I can post a profile picture of myself that tells the world what I'm all about.
Con: My profile picture will most likely tell that world that lately I'm all about donuts and french fries.

Pro: I'll always have somewhere to go when I want to waste time on the computer.
Con: I'll always have somewhere to go when I want to waste time on the computer.

Looks like the jury's still out.

Sincerely,
Jen

March Book Pick

2009-03-10T21:33:00.001-07:00

"Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. A high-action story written with a poet's hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard. "

I love this book. I think its a great escape and the characters are interesting and charismatic. It is science fiction so if you "just can't picture it" in your mind, you probably won't like it. Its approaching one of my favorites. It is the debut novel for Mr. Rothfuss and I get conflicting information on the break of the second book. Enjoy!

We are also a recipe club....ok, not really

2009-03-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

Super Moist Chocolate Bundt Cake

1 devils food cake mix
1 -4 serving instant chocolate pudding mix
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
½ cup warm water
½ cup vegetable oil
1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Place all ingredients except chocolate chips, in a large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer 1 minute.
Stir down sides. Continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan.
Bake 45-50 minutes at 350. (I had to cook almost an hour.) Cool 20 minutes. Invert onto serving platter.

Frosting:
8 Tbsp butter (not margarine)
4 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup evaporated milk (I used 1%-it worked great)
4 cups sifted powdered sugar (I didn't sift mine, and there were some lumps)
Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk in cocoa and milk. Bring mixture just to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar until thickened and smooth. Pour warm frosting over warm cake. This recipe makes a lot of frosting. (Almost too much, but how do you cut back).

Pretend this is a picture of the cake I made. It's a picture from another website.

2009-02-21T20:44:00.001-08:00

What has happened to our blog??

The Glass Castle--or, I'm sorry I picked an already read book

2009-02-10T08:04:00.000-08:00

So here's the deal. Since the majority of the book club already read "The Glass Castle," you can either read it (again) or read the memoir of your choice.

Here's a synopsis of "The Glass Castle."

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town — and the family — Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

2009-01-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

Book Club Pick Order:

Candy

Jennifer

Pam

Susan

Lauri

Celia

Annelle

Anne

Linda

Lucinda

Stephanie

January Book Choice

2009-01-13T06:46:00.001-08:00

BET ME by Jennifer Crusie-

Put on some fun shoes and enjoy!

"Min Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man like Cal Morrisey, who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Cal Morrisey knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it’s not long before Min and Cal are dealing with meddling friends, wedding cake, a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kremes, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a frantic bride, Chicken Marsala, a mutant cat, snow globes, two Mothers-from-Hell, great shoes, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of including the biggest gamble of all--unconditional love."

***And picked in less than three days, bet you thought I couldn't do it!

Garden Spells

2008-12-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

The pick for January is Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.

Here is part of a synopsis from the B&N website:

"The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures."

I hope you enjoy it!

What I Learned at Book Club November Edition

2008-11-18T11:13:00.001-08:00

DO NOT TOUCH ANNE'S TELEVISON SET.

That was all, but it was important.

If anyone else has a list of things Candy should/should not do at their houses, please post them immediately. Except for you, Susan. I shudder to think what you might come up with.

Hugs and kisses,
Candy

Book O'The Month

2008-11-15T12:18:00.000-08:00

I guess that title should have been reserved for March.

Since our host o'the month, Dalyn hasn't posted yet, I thought I would. Hope no one minds.

This month, we are reading "The Undomestic Goddess," by Sophie Kinsella.

Here's a picture:

Read it. You'll instantly feel better about your domestic abilities. Even your inabilities. 'Cause you are SO better than Samantha Sweeting!

What I Learned at Book Club This Month: vol.3

2008-11-15T05:27:00.000-08:00

When Mitch and i got married, he brought with him a very extensive library. A very extensive, boring library comprised entirely of non-fiction, improve-your-mind drivel. Needless to say, I didn't read any of it (we lived three blocks from the library that was filled to the brim with important books that had "they lived happily ever after" at the end).

There was however, one book in his library that caught my eye; How to Win Friends and Influence People. When I found out that it was a very important Business Major book and not a book about how to be the most popular girl in my apartment complex, I decided not to read it. Sadly, this was evidenced at monday night's book club where I learned...

Politics do not make friends.

I should say, re-learned, because 8 years ago I made a vow to myself that I would stop thinking, caring or discussing politics. Seriously, I can't be trusted. In fact, a past discussion of politics with my husband caused a marital battle so severe it is only overshadowed by the Great Garden Dirt Fight of '99--but that's a story for another day.

So I have tried to stay politically neutral. I've tried to be blase. Heck, I haven't even voted since George W's first run. I can't. Because if I do, I get too involved. And then I speak my mind. And I'm not well-spoken, so it comes out more like "Blah, blah, blah...You're wrong!" Which is, historically, not a very good argument. So then my frustration with myself spills out and washes over everyone around me sounding a lot like, "Blah, blah, blah....I'm right!" And then I have no friends or marital bliss.

So, I'm back on the wagon. No more political views for myself. I'm going to switch off of CNN and turn the channel back to TLC. Then I can learn how to decorate my home beautifully, throw a killer party, and maybe win a few friends.

Sincerely,

Jen

Blast from the Past

2008-10-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

In an effort to make our blog a useful, book-choosing tool for all the land (read: an outrageously popular, lucrative endeavor), we've decided to post and comment about past books we've read. I'm starting with a book I chose a few months ago. Fantastic sorta-naughty title don't you think?

This non-fiction book tells the story of J. Maarten Troost, who at age 26 moved with his girlfriend to the far-off South Pacific island of Tarawa. He leaves the states expecting an idyllic tropical paradise and instead finds an rocky atoll (don't worry, he'll tell you what that word means) that could really use more frequent beer shipments and an island-wide sewer system. I think it will make you laugh.

Book Lover

2008-10-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

O,kay, I can see myself in some of the observations made by my fellow lover of books, Jen. First of all, I don't consider it cheating to peek at the ending, I'm pragmatic, (hold on a sec, I've got to look that word up and make sure I'm using it correctly; okay, I am) I just want to make sure I am going to like the ending, or maybe not, and I don't do it on all the books I read. Also, I admit to reading several books at a time, and it can be quite confusing. Last month, in my quest to pick a GREAT book for this month, even though sometimes I wonder why I worry about it so much since sometimes we spend about 3 seconds discussing the book, and 4 hours discussing and fixing the world's/ ward's problems, I was reading several books that had the same situations going on in them. Two of them were centered around World War 2, and 2 of them talked about phrenology, and I started them getting all mixed up. But I still kind of like to have a couple of books going at once, just in case I start to lose interest in one of them, I can take a peek at the ending, see if it is worth my time, and if not, on to the next book. There are just too many books out there to waste time on a so-so book.
I'm starting to wonder if I have ADD! No, when I find a book I really like, I can give it my complete attention, sometimes too much. It is amazing how I can ignore the world around me when I am engrossed in a good book. Celia was talking about her kids tattling on her, and that has certainly happened to me too. I would hurry up and get all my work around the house done so I could sit down and read that book that was screaming my name. Books can be so compelling, I really don't understand when people say they don't like to read. What is wrong with them! And I'm talking about some of my own kids. I really believe that once they find the genre that interests them, everyone would love to read. So, get a good book, this month that would be The Lace Reader, forget about your troubles and ENJOY!

What Book or Books are on your Night Stand?

2008-10-03T10:45:00.001-07:00

In other words...

I want to know what everyone is reading. Would you recommend it to your fellow book readers? I know we went over this in book club last week, but I didn't write anything down!

Also, what books do you absolutely love and why?

What I Learned at Book Club This Month: vol.2

2008-10-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

First, a story.

There are few combinations of words that cause more dread in my soul than these 10 evil words: "Mom, do you have an idea for a science project?" My first reaction is to want to roll my eyes and exclaim, "What! Do I look like Madame Curie?" But because I'm nothing if not the epitome of saintly motherhood, I pull out everything I've got. "Wanna make a white carnation turn blue? Wanna make a battery out of a potato?" And because my children can, on occasion, be a bit less saintly than myself, they will usually roll their eyes and mutter something about how potatoes don't fit in a gameboy.

A couple of years back, though, while lying in bed nursing a cold and reading a library book, I got a great idea. "How about you swab some library books and see what kind of germs turn up in a petri dish?" My own budding Marie Curie thought the idea was AWESOME!, presented it to her 8th grade science teacher, and was promptly shut down. The reason? "We umm...don't necessarily... umm...are actually afraid to find out what's growing on our library books." Why did I feel the need to tell you this slightly, distasteful story? It's that I realized at book club this month that I can put this fear of nasty library books to rest, because if there were frightening diseases lurking on the pages of those books, everyone in my book club would be dead. This is a group of sorta-naughty, really-voracious readers.

Book club this month was a lollapalooza of literary love. "What are you reading? What should I read? Have you read this author? When is the 17th book in the series coming out? How dare that author die before he finished his series?" On and on it went, notes were taken, books were exchanged.

But even more interesting is how I noticed that you can learn a lot about a person by how they read books. Do they stick with one book from beginning to end (loyal), or do they juggle three books at one time (playas)? Do they have to finish every book they start--no matter if they like it (unconditionally committed), or can they close the cover permanently after only one boring chapter (realistic breaker-uppers)? Do they hunger for a good horror story (brave), or do they plug their ears when someone discusses the frightening plot (big chicken)? Can they remember the plot and author of every book they've ever read (Susan), or do they struggle to differentiate between fictional book life and their actual real life (you know who you are). And the big dividing line...Do they peek at the ending of the book when only half-way through, or are they philosophically opposed to such a thing. (I'll refrain from categorizing these two groups but just to let you know, I'm in the latter group--cause I'm not a big cheater that's why).

So what did I learn at bookclub this month? I learned that while you can't judge a book by its cover you can judge a reader by their book.

And, lest we forget the most riveting info of the night; count your blessings that you can't catch MRSA from a book. Apparently contracting that particular virus is just asking for some serious rivers of unpleasantness.

Sincerely,

Jen

October Book

2008-09-30T21:00:00.001-07:00

The Lace Reader By Brunonia Barry

The setting for this book is Salem, Massachusetts, so this should be a perfect time of the year to learn about that city's history of witchcraft. Secrets abound, and spirits are watching, so get cozy and comfy when reading this thought provoking book.

2008-08-30T20:24:00.001-07:00

I miss one book club and the next thing I know I have entered Blog Land!

What I Learned at Book Club This Month: vol.1

2008-08-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

I'm in a sorta naughty book club. And people ask me occasionally "Why bookclub?" I'm sure they're picturing an assemblage of intellectual women in straight-backed chairs "peeling back the layers of the onion" so-to-speak, of Toni Morrison's latest novel. I'm also sure they'd be surprised by the gang of off-color, pajama wearing, (but still intellectual, mind you) broads that hang out at my book club. And while I have enjoyed making a fashion statement once a month in my blue, plaid, pajama bottoms, that's not why I go. I go to learn. Because I feel it's important to never stop expanding your mind with new-found knowledge.

I've decided that I would like to share my aquired knowledge with all of blogland. (Because I'm a philanthropist OK?) That's why I decided to create a new feature on this blog called, "What I Learned at Book Club This Month." I'll post after each meeting, or maybe I won't (cause I'm fun and unpredictable like that), . So for August...drumroll please....

What I Learned at Book Club This Month

I learned from Anell-
that it is possible-
if you have enough patience-
and just the right, gentle touch-
to make a cat drool.

I also learned that once a cat drools, no one ever wants to touch it again.

And isn't that an important lesson? If you do something nasty, you're gonna get shunned.

Words to live by.

Sincerely,
Jen

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society

2008-08-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

Okay ladies, here is the name of the book for our September 29th meeting:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

By: Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Here's what it looks like just in case you get it mixed up with another book by the same name:

I just ordered myself a copy. As soon as it comes in, I'd be happy to let anyone borrow it. Just let me know. Happy Reading!

Book Club 101

2008-08-25T23:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our sorta naughty book club! We meet once a month and discuss the book that we have read. Or at least most of us have read. Ok, some months, only a couple of us have read the book. And we discuss for just a few minutes. But we are a club. And a rather sorta naughty one.
Don't get us wrong, we don't do anything TOO naughty. But I'm sure there are those who think we are outrageously naughty.
Some of us have been in the club for years and others just a few months. Some are grandmas, some are young moms and some are selfish and don't have any children. (See, we are even naughty to each other!). Some work from home, some work at home and some work away from home. But we all work. Hard.
So, there's a brief introduction to our naughty little club. We will post soon about our past readings, this month's book (Celia chose "Uglies"), and next month's book (Annell chose a book with a long name, and no one seems to remember it.).
So until then, read on, sisters, read on!