Not Squirrel Stew!!!!

Thank you Debbie Gregory for the lovely dinner you prepared for our meeting last night.  Alaskan Salmon in honor of  "Two Old Women" (so glad it wasn't squirrel stew!) preceded by yummy appetizers!  Esther and Claudia shared their bounty of tomatoes and Judy brought a delicious variety of Gala apples for us all.  Combined with enjoying friends and conversation - who could ask for more!

For such an unassuming book, "Two Old Women: an Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage, and Survival" by Velma Wallis, turned out to have a powerful impact on all of us.  The story was simple but touching and full of good morals and life lessons.  We collectively found it very inspirational, learned that we need to take control and responsibility for our lives, and that we need to work at continuing to look for the joy in our lives.  Esther noted that this title is a non-fiction book categorized as a folk tale.  While we have read many different types of non-fiction, this was our first folk tale.  This little book stimulated great discussion about our families and family traditions. 

Our next book selection is "The Aviator's Wife" by Melanie Benjamin.  Although Claudia is up next to host our meeting, Chris Peek asked to host us in September so we can enjoy her lovely home along the Columbia river.  No date was set, but we are tentatively planning to meet sometime during the latter portion of September.  Chris P. will contact us to arrange the date.

Thank you again Debbie G.; we all really enjoyed your home, your hospitality and your lovely bounty.

Question for you

Hi Girls,

I'm just wondering what the date is for Two Old Women and the location.  For some reason, I'm not remembering.  Maybe I have brain overload. LOL

Also, if someone can adjust the average for Sarah's Key.  I finished it and give it a 4.5.  I'm glad I took the time to finish reading it to understand the history.  Too sad for words.  Man can be so cruel.

Hi Ladies, I would be happy to run a carpool up to Debbie's house for the meeting. Just let me know pickup points and times. We can get 5 total into the car. Please email speek@wwdb.org with details. Thanks, Chris P.

More Good Reads

So, Chris has passed the gauntlet.  Yup, I had to open my big mouth.  Actually, I have been enjoying the books I've been reading outside of book club books.  One I found very interesting was "In Montmartre: Picasso, Matisse and the Birth of Modernism in Paris 1900 - 1910"  (Whey, what a title!) by Sue Roe.  It continued along the vein of "The Greater Journey" by David McCullough - yes Debbie G, I am glad you selected that book for us to read! - focusing on the "neighborhood" that most of the artists inhabited.  It also tied in with "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain, a historical fiction book which focused on Ernest Hemmingway during his "Paris years" which were a similar timeframe.  These books all included a few of the same noted characters so I felt more connected to these individuals and got a clearer notion of what life was really like at the turn of the 20th century.  I learned that I like Matisse's work but am not fond of Picasso's, although I have a much better understanding of the importance of his work, what he was trying to achieve and how he developed his ideas.

Not all of my reading has been so scholarly.  On the lighter side, I've also enjoyed "Chasing Cezanne" by Peter Mayle, "Funny Girl" by Nick Hornby and "Then Again" by Diane Keaton.  A couple of these I checked out online using the Overdrive app as audio books and enjoyed listening to the stories read by actors who were well trained in correct voice and accents which really brought books story to life.  Based on Chris' recommendation, I am just going to start listening to "Being Mortal".

Sharing good reads

Claudia had a good suggestion, about posting "good reads" we've had, between meetings. Christine Peek recommended "Orphan Train" when I asked if anyone had read it. I have been recommending "Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande. Also was curious about Daniel James Brown's other narrative history books and finished "Under a Flaming Sky" and "The Indifferent Stars Above"...discovered that I especially like narrative history. Listened to David McCullough's "The Wright Brothers"...also fits the bill. Happy reading!

The Light Between Oceans

Thank you Barbara for the wonderful meal!  And for being flexible about our suddenly-changing weather.  So glad we were all able to get together. It was so nice to see everyone - and welcome back Chris P - we missed you. 

This book was enjoyed by all.  It was very well crafted.  The author included several points of view on many ideas which contributed to our interesting discussion about this story: good vs bad, life vs death, right vs wrong.  And the varied metaphors for the light were intriguing; a warning of danger, a place of safety, seen for miles yet what was near was always left in darkness.  Sunlight, moonlight; an ancient method of navigation, "every one of its flashes still traveling somewhere into the darkness far out toward the universe's edge".

Our next meeting will be at Debbie D's up-river on June 22 at 5:30pm.  Be sure to mark your calendars.  Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Next meeting at Barbara's May 13