Local History

 We enjoyed a lovely evening at Judy Bell's home complete with Chinese Chicken Stir Fry.  We were pleased that Joe joined us for our meal.  I'm glad he got the fortune cookie with the Robert Louis Stevenson quote as he told us "Treasure Island" is his favorite book.

We read a local history book written by Stehekin resident Ana Maria Spagna, "Pushed, Miners, a Merchant and (Maybe) a Massacre".  The author investigated a tale of Chinese miners, maybe 300 of them, who might have been pushed off the cliffs at Chelan Falls in 1875, supposedly by Indians.  Spagna made a personal journey, contacting many different people who each had a different version of this tale.  At times rambling, inconsistent and contradicting, no definite conclusion came of her investigation.  She did provide insightful descriptions of Chinese immigrant life in the late 1800's, from the Tri-Cities area, Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan, Chelan Falls and north to the Canadian border.

Of interest were many local historic facts, such as the streets of Chelan being named for the (maybe) murderers.  It reminded me of all the famous names in California who were all the biggest of crooks.  The first wall between the US and Mexico was called for by the first territorial governor, Kearney, to keep the Chinese out.  White folks were glad to have them do all the hard work - farm laborers, builders of railroads, gold miners - but didn't want them around once the work was accomplished.  "They worked hard...They were quiet, honest, dependable, and therefore were treated most abominably, worse than Indians."  I'm always amazed when any one group is singled out as we all, except for Native Americans, are immigrants ourselves.

Our Hearts

 We enjoyed a great evening at Mary's home and she treated us by preparing her "Green Pizza".  Delicious!   

We had a lively conversation around our book for this month, "Our Missing Hearts" by Celeste Ng.  We enjoyed this book and the author's ability to craft words and phrases.  From the author's website: "Our Missing Hearts is an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized communities can pretend to ignore the most searing injustice. It’s a story about the power—and limitations—of art to create change, the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children, and how any of us can survive a broken world with our hearts intact.  

On trees: "They carry their histories inside them.  Peel back enough layers and they explain everything."  

On librarians: "Information.  Passing it on.  Helping people find what they need...Librarians, of all people, understood the value of knowing, even if that information could not yet be used."

On words: (father) "...words carried secrets, the stories of how they came to be...mysterious ways they connected... despite the chaos around them, there was logic and order to the world; there was a system, and that system could be deciphered..."  (mother) "...the magic was not what words had been, but what they were capable of; their ability to sketch, with one sweeping brushstroke, the contours of an experience, the form of a feeling."

On what living is: "...an infinite list of transgressions that did not weigh against the joys but that simply overlaid them...all the small moments that made up the mosaic of a person, a relationship, a life."

 On love: "...when are you ever done with the story of someone you love?  you turn the most precious of your memories over and over, wearing their edges smooth, warming them again with your heat.  You touch the curves and hollows of every detail you have, memorizing them, reciting them once more though you already know them in your bones."

Chris Peek is supposed to be our next host but she has not yet returned from AZ.  Chris Mallon is after Chris P but will be away and is not able to host us at this time.  So Judy Bell will be selecting our next book and we will set up our next meeting - maybe later in April (?) via email.  

Written In the Stars

 Thank you Judy Schmidt for selecting "Pull of the Stars" by Emma Donoghue and for hosting our Irish event!  We learned and shared as we discussed this book which was set in Dublin, Ireland and dealt with the 1918 Pandemic.  The main character was a nurse/midwife who's patients had the influenza as they went into labor.  The information was well researched and we all learned more than we ever knew about complications during childbirth.  Life began and life ended.  Although one might think this subject would be off-putting, it seemed to draw us all in and we appreciated the story.  It seems so timely having been written during the Covid Pandemic.  "The human race settles on terms with every plague in the end, or a stalemate at the least.  We somehow muddle along, sharing the earth with each new form of life."  The plague is a form of life, "a creature with no malign intentions, only a craving to reproduce itself much like our own."

CH3 COOH (A.K.A. Vinegar)

 We started this year off with a light and witty read - "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus.  This is a story about women's expectations of life in the 50's, the challenges of choosing a career and the lack of recognition for your accomplishments.   While enjoying the book, we also learned about chemical bonds and other long forgotten school lessons.  Chemistry is change.  The underlying lesson of this book: Take a moment for yourself to reconnect with your own needs, to identify your true direction and to recommit your life.  Happy New Year everyone!

Season's Greetings Everyone!

 It was unfortunate that both Entiat and Chelan schools had their holiday concerts last night.  We had a smaller gathering at Maureen's but this gave us a lot of time to visit as well as discuss our book, wrap kids gifts and enjoy yummy things. 

A Redbird Christmas was a fun holiday read filled with humor.  Though predictable, the characters were people who you liked.  It was a quick read that was easy to fit into the gaps between all the holiday madness, and it was a good way to escape that madness for awhile.

It was the last chance to contribute to our Christmas Jar.  Maureen went to Entiat Food Center and purchased their holiday meal grocery bags to be donated to the local community.  Maureen reported that we had collected almost $315.00 this year!  It is wonderful to be a part of this group of like-minded people who care about our community!

Our next book will be Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.  The meeting will be at Claudia's home on January 10th at 5pm.  Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all!

A Reflective Evening

 We enjoyed a thoughtful evening as we reflected on the aspects of life that were presented in our book, "The Secret of Clouds" by Alyson Richman.  Esther made the Topper family lasagna recipe that was included in  this book and it was delicious!  Although we found the book to be predictable, it was touching and there were themes within the story that we all could relate to.  Teaching children, growing and understanding, friendship and relations, and baseball.  The characters were "searching to find meaning in a world that's often difficult and confusing."  The story included the death of a child.  "One small thing can change the course of an entire life."    Judy S said "we have to realize that all of the people who aren't here are here all the time" and Maureen added "they are a part of the world we live in."  Esther reflected on the meaning of clouds in the title and said "we are always changing.  Things we love in the past are there but they have changed and become something new."

Judy B came with appropriate baseball trivia and Cracker Jacks.  Cracker Jacks producers felt their product was a great snack and they pushed selling them at ball parks as early as 1896.  They are still sold at concession stands today.  In 1914 and 1915, the Cracker Jacks prizes were baseball cards, which are extremely valuable.  And, in 1910, President William Taft stood up to stretch during the 7th inning at the ball park in Pittsburgh, starting the tradition of the 7th inning stretch.

We will not be meeting in November.  Instead, we will meet in early December at Maureen's home.  The members of the walking book club will be invited, along with their daughters, and we will all wrap children's gift books and top off the Christmas Jar.

Camping Out Along the River

 We enjoyed a lovely cool evening after a rainy day at Judy B's home.  Joe helped Judy make the camp stew foil packs which were baked instead of cooked over the open fire due to the rain.  Judy and Joe also provided bags of GORP - good old raisins and peanuts, or granola, oats, raisins and peanuts - loaded with M & Ms and dried blueberries instead of raisins, so I guess we should call it GOBP.  (1913 Oxford English Dictionary defines the word "gorp" as a verb meaning "to eat greedily")

Judy's selection for us this month was "The River" by Peter Heller.  This story was a canoe adventure on the Maskwa River in Northern Canada by two friends.  As Judy B-S said, the friends "were obviously well prepared and experienced.  What they could not plan was the "story"." The planned leisurely backwoods paddle became a race for their lives, with a mystery and a wildfire; a real thriller.  The author's descriptions of paddling a river and of the wildfire were well researched and very real.  Heller set scenes with his great descriptions so well you could easily imagine yourself actually being there.   Esther reported that this story "contrasts beauty and terror, control and chaos, trust and betrayal."  It was a meditation on friendship, loyalty and love.  

Our next meeting will be October 26th, 5pm, at Esther's home.  We will not be meeting during November and will gather again in December for our annual collection of children's gift books and final chance at contributions for our Christmas Jar.  The December meeting will be at Maureen's home and we will invite members of the walking book club to join us.  This meeting will be finger food instead of a meal.  Stay turned for more details.