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.

For February's Book, the Goldfinch.

An article in CBS, thanks to Beth for sending this link. 

I know this is a month early, but we have always been a bit before our times, haven't we?

Advent

 I know we are not a religious group, but we all celebrate Christmas I know that.

Here are three Christmas images that, to me, bring Christmas a little more personal.



This first one, you all recognize. You remember the moment lying there with that ultrasound wand poking your tender belly. And seeing the little image on the fuzzy screen. 














The second is a modern day Mary in southern California. By Patty Wickman. Symbols of the future. Love it. 

December Book Lunch... The Husband's Secret

Well... they all certainly had their secrets now, didn't they?

Pandora opened her box and BOOM-BOOM-BOOM out came this little secret, that little dirty lie, the other musky tidbit.

Cecilia opened her letter and BAM-BAM-BAM her world turned upside down. Good old John Paul wasn't quite the saint he was named after now was he?

Tess listened to Will and Felicity's admission of love and POW-POW-POW her job and entire life with husband and cousin were cast in a totally different light.

Rachel sitting in the hospital heard Cecilia whisper that "John Paul did it." KA-BOOM! What went through her mind? We don't think forgiveness. We think acceptance? Reconciliation? Understanding of her own mistake, compassion for John Paul's? Closure? And that closure leads to openness to life moving forward?

Could you forgive your daughter's murderer?
Could you forgive your husband's violent act, his fit of rage?
Could you forgive yourself a moment's vengeful act?

Liane Moriarity, you wrote a good story. You developed some good characters. We love Cecilia. We don't get Will. We ache for Rachel.

Liane Moriarity, well done. Not excellent. But well done. We will watch you develop over the years.

And who exactly are "we"? Our holly, jolly 2013 Christmas photo... We missed you Jane and Betty R. 

Knowing this was going to be a festive occasion as set out by the invite, our hostesses (Mary, Cathi, Rita and Betty V) opened up the fun with red and green Tomato-Basil Soup. (Get it, red and green?) Sliding into zesty Veal Picata, risotto and pancetta peas. Sipping some bubbly while relaxing over Sabayon with Forest Berries. Sparkling balls and reindeer. A photo of last Christmas to greet us. 

Ladies, you pulled out all the stops. And we thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

So, you are wondering, next month? Wonder no more. In fact we have chosen for January AND February. 

January 10th we will step outside our comfort zones and read a book of short stories. By 2013 Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro. Dear Life. Alice is thought as the best English language short story writer alive. At 84, she has said this is her last book. Let's dig in. Betty R and Jane are hosting us. 

Moving right along. Since the whole table gets starry-eyed when someone mentions the name 'Donna Tartt', we have to read her latest book. Just have to.  It took her 10 years to write this latest book. 784 pages. Yes, get up off the floor, it's a long one Edith. So we are announcing now, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is our book for February.

Ladies, enjoy the Christmas season. 

Friends, 

families, 

memories, 

adventures. 

Smiles, hugs, laughter. 

 Much love, sara