Year 3 Kick-off!

We met at Bossy Renee's last Thursday night to discuss Isabel Allende's Island of the Sea. Half of us had read the book, and half of us seemed interested but just hadn't gotten to it. Overall, people really liked it.  Like all epics, it spans many decades and many lands.  It was both sad and hopeful.  The historical pieces in the book are true even if Isabel took some liberties.  Never mind that, we decided Isabel is an author who knows how to write a love story (and a love scene).  Her words are as difficult and big as they are poetic.  We cared about Tete and believed her slave owner Valmorian wanted to be good but just didn't know how.  All of us were a little creeped out about the half-brother and sister love affair.  I could go on and on because the discussion we had was a pretty good one.  

The rest of the night was all about picking this year's books.  Cutting for Stone was on the table, off the table, back on, back off, and finally picked.  I suggested a book for Jodi that I really thought she would like (nature+science+sporty+adventure) but I got laughed at pretty hard by everyone, so I guess I guessed wrong.  Renee tried really hard to get only books she approved of on the list.  Beth volunteered to host twice because she is now a single mother.  Jenny and Andi kept better notes than I did, so hopefully the list below is accurate.

We moved the standing date to the 2nd Thursday of every month.  Dates are below.

One last thing, welcome Michelle!  Our newest member!  It's great to have you.  Speaking of new members, Renee invented an new initiation rite for new members to our club: one must read Beat the Reaper from back in Spring 2010.  You all remember the one...sex in shark tanks, tampon strings, and a broken tibia turned weapon.  Enjoy that, Michelle.  

Here is the 2011-2012 line-up:

October 13   Silencing Sam by Julie Kramer at Beth's

November 10 Relentless by Dean Koontz at Michelle's

December 8 Delirium by Lauren Oliver at Jenny B's   **Also, please bring a wrapped up book to swap. We will do the book/gift swap game for the January book.

January 12  We will discuss the books we got at the swap at Jodi's

February 9 Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese at Renee's

March 8 Unwind by Neal Schusterman at Andi's

April 12 The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach at Amy Beth Stenson Kujawski's

May 10 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot at Shelley's

June 14  The History of Love by Nicole Krauss  at Nora's

July 12  The House at Sugar Beach by Helen Cooper  at Amy Horton's

Aug 9  Summer in the City by Candace Bushnell  at Beth's

Sept 13 Run by Ann Patchett  at Erin's