April 2023 Bookclub News

 

Dear Bookclub,

Kate Atkinson's "Shrines of Gaiety" dazzled us with a cast of characters, distinct in our memories for their well-developed personas yet blurred in our recollections for their actual names. Atkinson/Dickinson entertained, her intricate styling of a story rivaled only by her fabulous sense of humor. We adored it.

 

Nightclub owner Kate Meyrick (seated, center) at a party at the Silver Slipper Club, London, celebrating her release from prison, 1928. Photo: Popperfoto via Getty Images

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Kate(!) Meyrick, "Night Club Queen", could not fully be encapsulated in Atkinson's novel. Please enjoy this litany of adventure from none other than Wikipedia to further bolster the curious newspaper blurb at the end of the book:

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

 

 

 

As we basked in the bright April sunshine on the Veranda, our conversation turned to the many other books this prolific writer has produced. We appreciated the variety and noted that our bookclub had read one of hers in the past. Must have been past-past because we weren't really sure which one(s)? "Case Histories" sounded familiar to me (pre-blog?) and "Life After Life" (blog - 2013) we read, but I don't remember at all! Sigh.

 

The covers are distinct. I remember the roses. And her name, as my Olivia noted, is not to be missed:

Finally, we can only wonder what was served in the clubs... Atkinson's credit to a Dutch cocktail book is here to inspire:

 

https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/slag015hoem02_01/slag015hoem02_01_0014.php

With a little imagination and experimentation, you, too, can indulge like the bright young things.

Terrie's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Covenant of Water"  Abrahan Verghese

"Hang the Moon" Jeannette Walls

"Hello Beautiful" Ann Napolitano *chosen

Up next:

Happy reading,

LK

March 2023 Bookclub News

 

 Dear Bookclub,

Celeste Ng's "Our Missing Hearts" chilled  ours with a dystopia highly imaginable. TikTok national security concerns, anti-Asian discrimination, separation of children from their families at the border, stolen election debate, AI misinformation dangers, etc., etc....  How odd and plausible PACT (The Preserving American Culture and Traditions Act) would be.  

Our discussion was anemic. We were thrilled to be together but our lunchtime conversation at Hoorah's  proved challenging with a robust noise level.  The general consensus being unenthusiastic about the book, the depressing tone dragged down our readers. I personally liked the writing and the Ng's ability to weave a thoughtful tale; this sentiment, also shared by Terry, who was unable to attend. Having the library, books and story-telling as agents in the novel endeared me.

Washington Post Live's series, "Race in America" features an interview with Celeste Ng. Always fascinating to hear an author's voice and sentiment, Ng's emphasis on her motivations and fears are especially worth the listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckcox7hHkcY

Val's suggestions for an upcoming read:

"If Walls Could Speak" Moshe Safdie

"Lessons" Ian McEwan *chosen 

"The Good Sister" Sally Hepworth

 

Up next:

 

Happy reading,

LK

February 2023 Bookclub News

 

Lexington

Dear Bookclub,

Geraldine Brooks' "Horse"is the book I yearn for when I long to read. Every book I start, I hope will be this book. "Poisonwood Bible", Kingsolver, "The Optimist's Daughter", Welty, anything, Patchett, anything, Susan Orlean, "Cloud Cuckoo Land", Doerr, anything Oliver Sacks, "River of Doubt", "Homegoing", "Boys in the Boat" .... all this book. The list is long, thank goodness,  but the challenge is to find them and read them among the mass of 'other' pages out there. 

Our gathering to discuss "Horse" and  Anthony Marra's "Mercury Pictures Presents"was attended by only three: Terrie, Terry and Val. Terrie reports:

"We all loved "Horse" and learned new facts about horse racing and its history - Race horses used to be trained for 5 years before allowed to race which gave their bones time to cement properly. Today, horses on the track at two years - probably contributing to all of the race track casualties... Also, we liked the way Brooks interwove the past history with the present day scientist study. The poor treatments of Blacks is always disheartening - even though we think things might be better, the scientist's boyfirend (Theo) meets with an unfair death because of his color....

Terry hadn't finished Mercury Presents; Val was not crazy about it. I liked it but agrred with Val that there were too many characters keep track of everyone.

We had a nice lunch on the Veranda and the weather was perfect."

My shock at Theo's death shifted to recognition as I thought of Brooks' husband, Tony Horwitz, who tragically died at age 60 of a sudden cardiac arrest while on his book tour in Washington D.C.. She'd dedicated the book to Tony.

Tony Horwitz

 

Please read more about Horwitz:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/tony-horwitz-pultizer-prize-winning-journalist-and-author-dies-at-60/2019/05/28/adc64b72-8157-11e9-bce7-40b4105f7ca0_story.html

And please take a moment to enjoy this great interview with Terry Gross:

https://www.npr.org/2019/05/29/727874768/fresh-air-remembers-pulitzer-prize-winning-writer-tony-horwitz

I also did not finish Marra's book. Time just got away from me but I have a feeling it was not going to be one 'those' books.

My suggestions for an upcoming read:

"The Beauty of Dusk Frank Bruni *chosen

"Index, A History of the/ A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age" Dennis Duncan

"Noble Ambitions: The Fall and Rise of the English Country House after World War II" Adrian Tinniswood

"The Last White Man"  Moshin Hamid

Up next:

Happy reading,

LK

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