October 2019 Bookclub News

Thomas, Beal and the girls in Escondido

Dear Bookclub,

Sadly missing our October meeting at to be with Amanda and Lexie for unexpected and positively resolved medical attention, I still look forward to discussing Christopher Tilghman's "Thomas and Beal in the Midi". Later learning that I actually didn't miss much of a discussion as only two of us had finished it, I also discovered shared dubiety about the magnetism of Beal's beauty. Disney-esque:

Tiana from "The Princess and the Frog"

 ...or stunning:

yes, truly beautiful, but would that really be enough? Portrayed as spellbinding, I am not sure exactly why this made me uncomfortable, but it did. Perhaps an underlying implication that cast race and beauty as competitors felt untrue. Need to discuss. And Tilghman does have a lovely wife:

Caroline Preston

https://carolinepreston.com/about-caroline/


Finally, here is a favorable review:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/christopher-tilghman/thomas-and-beal-in-the-midi/

Trudy's suggestion for an upcoming read:

"Red at the Bone" Jacqueline Woodson *
"Olive Again" Elizabeth Strout
"The Dutch House" Ann Patchett

*chosen

Up next:

 Happy reading!
LK

September 2019 Recap

TG's essential bar tools

Dear Bookclub,
Happy hour at TG's got our attention- another wonderful way to get together! Enjoying the discussion of Francine Prose's "Peggy Guggenheim" became even easier as Terrie twisted our arms to sip wine (well most of us; I think all of us said 'no' - haha!)

Fascinated by Peggy G's life-story, motives and contributions, the group agreed the read belongs on our virtual shelves of 'something different' - like those 'interesting whites' on the wine list.






"Mrs. Guggenheim, how many husbands have you had?"
"Do you mean mine, or other people's"*

*perhaps this would be more suited to a tequila description  than that of a white wine

Peggy G.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....

Happy

Cheers!

Terrie's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Water Dancer" Ta-Nehisi Coates *

"This Tender Land" William Kent Krueger

"Red At The Bone" Jacqueline Woodson

*chosen

Our October read:

Christopher Tilghman's "Thomas and Beal in the Midi" has been calling to me since it was delivered to my front porch, with it's very appealing cover. ("The Pink Dress, or View of Castelnau-le-Lez, Hérault, 1864 (oil on canvas). by Jean Frédéric Bazille (1841-70) / Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.) I even tried to put it on our August calendar by mistake. Last Sunday morning, as I prepared to lash myself to my kitchen to prepare Rosh Hashanah food to take to a dinner that night, I confidently went to download the audible for an enjoyable marathon. Quel désastre! No audible. Who is this guy?? Well.....

From amazon's website:
"Christopher Tilghman, the son of a publishing executive, was born in Boston in 1946. Though he was raised primarily in New England, his life has always revolved around his family's farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. His new novel, "The Right-Hand Shore" and its sequel "Mason's Retreat" tell the multigenerational story of a farm on the Eastern Shore modeled after his own. His other books include the novel "Roads of the Heart," and the short story collections, "In a Father's Place," and "The Way People Run." Currently a Professor of English at the University of Virginia, he and his wife, the writer Caroline Preston, divide their time between Charlottesville, VA and Centreville, MD."

I forgive him; I am enjoying the real read. But I have hardly cracked it. Binge reading here I come.

Happy reading!
LK