June. Astonish Me

Dear Friends,

So great having eight of us at Dubsdread Restaurant for our May gathering.  Thank you for hosting at such a fun and delicious place, Jackie, and sitting outside on the breezy porch was perfect.

We had a good discussion about the Orphan Train and appreciated the personal stories from Betty Ann and others whose parents were orphaned during this time.  We were all unaware that orphan trains existed, and it naturally led to a discussion about the current foster system and all of its shortcomings.  Interesting read!

Our June selection is ASTONISH ME by Maggie Shipstead (272 pp), and we will be meeting June 6 at Park Plaza Gardens.  It's summer so no hostess, but hoping whoever is in town can join us. 

According to one review, this "thrilling second book is an homage to, and expose of, the exhilarating, punishing world of ballet..and takes its inspiration from a real-life pas de deux:  Mikhail Baryshnikov's passionate affair with American socialite Christina Berlin." 

I will send out another reminder as we get closer to the date.  Please RSVP to Marlene.

Love to all--Marlene

 

May ... Orphan Train

Good morning, Ladies,

    Just a reminder that May's Book Lunch will be May 2 at The Tap Room at Dubsdread ( a little al fresco dining on the porch). If you have never been there, Dubsdread is on Par Street just before you get to Edgewater.  

We are reading "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline. Please let me know if you will be able to join us. In the meantime stay dry today and I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

 

 

   Jackie

March Booklunch.

Thank you Betty Ann for the beautiful ambiance you created for our gathering on Friday, and displaying the Robert Louis Stevenson books was perfect! 

 

And to Cynthia, Jane, and Betty Ann, thank you also for the delicious lunch.

 

Though our book wasn't loved by everyone and most thought it inferior to "Loving Frank", we still had a lively and interesting conversation which is what always happens when we get together.

 

Lisa and I will be hosting on April 4, and we will be reading "Defending Jacob" by William Landay. 

 

Missed you Sara and Susan, and looking forward to seeing everyone again very soon.

Hugs,  Marlene

February Book Lunch

Ladies,

 

Greetings and Salutations from Windsor!

( Please forgive my "ipadding" of this email but I still haven't hooked up my laptop.)

Oh my goodness, i was in such a good mood all afternoon, just love being with you all. 

Thank you Beth for the event, the short ribs salad was amazing, the atmosphere fantastic. 

Thank you all for forgiving me not finishing the book. Can't wait to delve back into it. 

Thank you Donna Tartt. 

Next month, Betty Anne & Co will host us March 7th. Cynthia has said she might want to switch with whoever is hosting April or May? Ladies, I cant locate my calendar, so I pass this to you Cynthia, to communicate with those hostesses. 

Under the Wide and Starry Sky, Nancy Horan

Until then, enjoy the spring weather so envied by our northern friends!

 

Much love, sara

Be Kind Anyway

The Paradoxical Commandments, by Kent M. Keith. 

Written on paper, posted on the wall in Mother Teresa's room.  Words she wanted to read over and over again. Humbling. Thank you Beth. 

Dear Life...

Dear Alice,

You capture the moment with so few words. Your stories aren't sparkly sizzlers, they are smoldering embers. They are everyday people.

They convey quiet resolve, loneliness, brief lapses in responsibilities, inner strength, realism, aging. 

They are our thoughts and indiscretions. 
Thank you Alice. 

Sincerely, The Lucky Thirteen

Dear Betty, 

We sit here nourished by your fresh greens and fruits, amazed by your transferred pie crusted quiche, spell bound by your heritage camellias, and elevated by the conversation all the fore mentioned inspired. 

Thank you for opening your home to us once again so graciously. We love first Fridays!

With fondness, The Lucky Thirteen




Dear Lucky Thirteen, 

If you weren't there today, we missed you. These stories were thoughtful and conversation-provoking. Linda found an interview with Alice, gathered after winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2013. 

If you were at Betty's to the end, you now know what a "selfie" is.

The TV show we talked about is Masterpiece Theatre's Mr. Selfridge (available on Netflix or iTunes). It's about Chicagoan Harry Selfridge (Jeremy Pivens) opening the cutting-edge Selfridge's department store in 1908 London. Lots of drama.  Reminds me totally of Downton Abbey, except London, more affairs, and retail. 

Most importantly, February's book is The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt. Lengthy, but worth it. 

  And YES Betty, gather us for a movie next week. Or anyone!

All the best, 
An Admirer

Dear Life: To Reach Japan

How's Dear Life going?

Munro is an author to savor, not to read on the beach or the in doctor's office or at the exercise bike. Unless those are your most thoughtful moments. Then go for it.

Heard from someone that the weren't moved by the first stories. I get it. That's why we read variety of books.

These are stories to mull over. To help us focus next Friday, could we try to pick out one story that talked to us? And highlight a sentence or two from that story to read Friday.

Let me tell you what kept going through my head last night at 3 AM. How much Greta (from the first story To Reach Japan) is like me.

Now, I have never done the "Gig with Greg" in the train compartment, nor "Hugged with Harris holding Roses" upon arrival in Toronto.

But I so so so often slip into the very behavior I don't want to do. I catch myself and tell myself, 'Never again.' (Like Greta when she lost Katy on the train, never again would she be irresponsible, cheat on Peter, loose Katy.)

Then faced with temptation that inner voice says, 'It's not so bad.' Greg says to Greta when they are starting their canoodling, 'It isn't us, it's some other people.' The serpent says to Eve as they eyed the apple, 'Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?'

Boom. Rationalization happens. I eat another cookie. I spread a little gossip. Greta falls into Harris' arms. Eve takes a bite.

Look downward.  Katy's hand is free from her mother's once again. Collateral damage.

Oh man.

And we feel for Greta. She has lived stifled. "That's what I do. I save myself up, most of the the time. Careful with Katy, careful with Peter."  Her thoughts on judgement at the party. She really did try to be a good mom to Katy.

Well, anyway. Thank you Munro for this glimpse into Greta's mind.