December 2022 Bookclub News

 

 

Cook’s “masterpiece,” taken by moonlight on June 3, 1898, with an exposure time of an hour and a half.

Dear Bookclub,

While desperately missing Terrie and Trudy, our get-away gave us much needed resets and merriment to boost! Not wasting a minute... well maybe several to figure out half-price wine night, we got right to discussing Julian Sancton's "Madhouse at the End of the Earth". Fascinated by the work, we were spellbound by the survival story and enlightened by the historical account. 

Our very comfortable La Jolla

Getaway on the Belgica

Around the table in the Antaractic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getaway to The Grande Colonial

Around the table in La Jolla

I envied Sancton's researching for the book. Maybe I could do without the trip to Antarctica but to have read and found the diaries, memoirs and logs would be enthralling. About half of the members of the Belgica kept diaries, which is one of the 7 tips presented in the following short article, "Tips for Surviving Isolation from Antarctic Explorers" by Danielle McCahey, Department of History, University of Idaho:

https://www.uidaho.edu/class/history/news/isolation

Other tips include music (see accordion above) and alcohol:

McMurdo Mule By Mike Santos, Gallagher's Pub, McMurdo Station, Antarctica

 

 

Finally, let me leave you with this idea:

https://legendsabroad.com/tennis-antarctica/

Up next:

Chill reading,

LK

November 2022 Bookclub News

 

Meghan O'Rourke

Dear Bookclub,

Enthusiastic to be together once again, our group delved into Meghan O'Rourke's "The Invisible Kingdom". The personal journey shared was often difficult to endure, driving home her message. Yet the wider issue, along with how the healthcare system and our social structure woefully dismiss the perceived weakness, is addressing chemical pollutants, the industrialized food systems and chronic stressors like poverty and racism, as O'Rourke illuminates. Several of our readers found the book discomforting to read but our discussion was robust, appreciating O'Rourke's gifted ability to write under such circumstances.

Please enjoy this interview with Meghan O'Rourke on facing the challenges of chronic illness:

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/08/meghan-orourke-discusses-the-invisible-kingdom/

a kitty*

*we just needed a little levity....

Wanda's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Shrines of Gaiety" Kate Atkinson *chosen

"The Nickel Boys" Colson Whitehead

"The Rose Code" Kate Quinn

Up next:

Happy reading,

LK

October 2022 Bookclub News

 

 Dear Bookclub,

Autumn gave an outstanding performance on Maxine Lane as the perfect backdrop for an over-the-top luncheon at Terrie's. Treated to a seasonal feast with festive china and adornments, we settled in, enjoying and openly sharing our thoughts and ideas about Daniel Mason's collection of stories. "My Registry of Passages Upon the Earth" wowed us with the weird, the wisdom, and the wacky. 

Mason, a psychiatrist at Stanford, is  - to me - heart-throbbingly talented. His website is the most artistic and altruistic author's websites I have ever visited. Also, extremely helpful with several links to interviews both print and audio. Wikipedia him as well if you would like to be further impressed.

https://www.danielmasonbooks.com/

from Daniel Mason's website

Oh, and of course he is married to another very talented writer, who also has a cool website: Sara Houghteling, author of  "Pictures at an Exhibition".

https://www.sarahoughteling.com/

 

from Sara Houghteling's website

 

Terrie's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Our Missing Hearts" Celeste Ng *chosen

"The Trail" Ethan Gallogly

"Mercy Street" Jennifer Haigh

Up next:

Happy reading,

LK

September 2022 Bookclub News

 

 

Dear Bookclub,

Converging at the counter of the Karl Strauss Brewing Company, we eagerly ordered fabulously healthy lunches, eschewing enticing artwork and descriptions of on-tap nectar, like the Olympic-hopeful athletes that we most certainly are not. Often confused for that discipline, our training is more focused on healthy aging. Ahhhh, for the days when a mid-day brew would not put us nodding off by three, even in triple digit heat.

Poised to discuss Alena Dillon's "The Happiest Girl in the World", we pondered the family's tremendous sacrifices for Sera's endeavor. Agreeing that Dillon's novel, rang true to voice and content, we were amazed and relieved that the inspiration was not from personal experience. Her ability to weave in the real events of the recent gymnastics environment delivered a deep sense of the horrific paths both the gymnasts and their families take when lured by the innate talent and desire of the athletes. Imagining Simone Biles' journey, beginning as a 6 year old, on a day-care field trip trying out gymnastics, to a world champion as a teen, boggles the mind. Please read her story in this good-old Wikipedia piece, noting her early life foster-care-shuffle:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Biles 

 

Simone, now and back then.... please enjoy this video of a very young champ:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t7x2PEmAUs

Val's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water" Angie Cruz

"Mercury Pictures Presents" Anthony Marra *chosen

"Lucy by the Sea" Elizabeth Strout

"The Sweetness of Water" Nathan Harris

 

Up next:

Happy reading,

LK

August 2022 Bookclub News

 

Dear Bookclub,

Cobb salad on Terry's patio far surpassed the Veranda-emulated luncheon she had in mind. Treated to Terry's thoughtful and delicious afternoon, we appreciated every aspect, being sure to stretch the 'discussion' to a nice four-hour span. Truly, we did have three books to discuss. With a quick mention of "The Night Watchman", (barely given its due in June's sparsely attended meeting), tagging up to "Better to Have Gone" and finally, taking a deeper delve into our current selection, Andrea Yaryura Clark's "On a Night of a Thousand Stars", we discussed, paving the way for true catching-up.

Clark's novel, inspired by her generation of Argentinian youth, coming of age during the country's turmoil of hushed atrocities, gave us pause in our feeble understanding of the country's political upheaval of that time.  The stories of the 'disappeared' during the military dictatorship of the 1970's became the foundation for Clark's story. Please check out this piece from Literary Hub about the author's experience writing the novel:

Madres de Plaza de Mayo

https://lithub.com/those-who-were-left-behind-by-argentinas-dirty-war/

We appreciated the enlightenment about the "Dirty War" and the novel's vehicle, an entangled, dare I say 'melodrama', gave a good ride. 

 

For further enlightenment, here is a list of Dirty War films:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Dirty_War_films

Terry's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Count the Ways" Joyce Maynard

"Horse" Geraldine Brooks *chosen

"Lessons in Chemistry" Bonnie Garmus

Up next: 

 

Happy reading!

LK

July 2022 Bookclub News

 

Mother playing tennis

Dear Bookclub,

Squeezed around a corner table on the terrace of Del Mar's Poseidon, our discussion of Akash Kapur's "Better to Have Gone" skimmed the surface of Auroville's inception and demise. Terry, Trudy and I missed our fellow members, as the latest viruses invaded. Focus on the utopian society, as excavated by Akash and his wife, Auralice, was fleeting as sharing recent travels dominated.  The lure of fish tacos and margaritas at the edge of the Pacific's surf did not help. 

requisite food photo

 

Collectively, with contributing opinions from those absent, we agreed that the book startled with wild, liberating concepts that ultimately crashed and burned, leaving our readers saddened but wiser. We are eager to hear Val tell any shredded detail of her 'new-found' sister's friends' experiences who'd lived there. Wow, man.

Mira Alfassa

Thinking better, as I considered inserting links on Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), images of female personalities instrumental in Kapur's book felt more appropriate. Early childhood visions Mira Alfassa experienced being unusual, were mere sprouts of fascinating ideas yet to come: supramental manifestation upon earth, evolving with cell transformation, and transcending the body.

Mira, as a child (c. 1885)

 

 

Auralice

 

Diane Maes

Trudy's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"Madhouse at the End of the Earth" Julian Sancton *chosen

"Next Year in Havana" Chanel Cleeton

 "Ask Again" Mary Beth Keane

Up next:

 

 

Happy reading,

LK

June 2022 Bookclub News

 

Dear Bookclub,

A small, meaningful gathering for our June Bookclub had it all..... except our full group and any book discussion(!)  A much needed and appreciated lunch on my back patio, Wanda, Trudy and I relished the opportunity to catch up.

Here are my recipe notes to add to the above:

*sign up for Door dash

 

 *get out pretty bowls

*put salads you find delivered on your front porch into bowls

 

 * ditch the coffee and tea and open up that wine

My suggestions for an upcoming read:

“True Biz” Sara Novic

“Let Me Tell you What I Mean” Joan Didion

“The Invisible Kingdom” Meghan O’Rourke *chosen

 

Up next (to discuss along with Lousie Erdrich's "The Night Watchman"):

 

 

Happy reading,

LK

May 2022 Bookclub News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Dear Bookclub,

Amor Towles' "The Lincoln Highway" was adored by all. 'Our' table at Cafe Luna, near the terminus of the Ted Williams Parkway, welcomed the companionship and discussion. Endeared to Towles' writing style, amazed by his range of themes among his books, and entertained by the tale of "The Lincoln Highway", we reminisced about portions of the book, debated a bit, and moved on to lunch.

The Lincoln Highway:

 

 

* First road across the U.S. for automobiles, conceived in 1912 and dedicated in 1913.

* Runs coast to coast from Times Square in NYC to Lincoln Park in San Fransisco.

* Originally running through 13 states, a removal ("Colorado Loop") in 1915 and a realignment in 1928 through the northern tip of West Virginia, brought the highway through a total of 14 states, with an official length of 3,389 miles.

 

 To learn more, please visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Highway

 

you know him as Abe

 

 Ted Williams Parkway:

* Travels East-West as a connector of I-15 and I-5, 9.210 miles in length.

* SR 56 was added to the state highway system in 1959 as Legislative Route 278, and renumbered SR 56 in 1964.

* Completed in 2004 after numerous lawsuits from environmentalists over concerns of the destruction of farmland, marshland and willow scrubland, the habitat of the endangered least Bell's vireo.  

* Officially named after Ted Williams in 1993 by the California Legislature.

least Bell's vireo

 

Ted

 https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/all-star-game/sdut-ted-williams-san-diego-roots-2016jul08-htmlstory.html 

 

Holding up to the test of a second read in a few months, I greatly enjoyed the repeat performance. Still fascinated by the  <- spoiler alert!!! - > demise of Duchess, the ambiguity about malintent from Emmet, remained. Towles is crafty.

 

A charming 8-minute listen with Amor Towles discussing the pleasures of character development and reading a small excerpt is a worthwhile listen:

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/13/1045800389/amor-towles-the-lincoln-highway-interview 

If you would like to hear more, much more, here is a fabulous interview with Kerri Miller of Minnesota Public Radio, where she delves into his mother issues(!) and characters without parents so Towles can keep that foxhole clear:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-WrAszGhsg

Wanda's suggestions for an upcoming read:

 "A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth" Daniel Mason *chosen

"The Promise" Damon Galgut

"French Braid" Anne Tyler

Up next:

Happy reading,

LK