November recap and December rev

Dear Bookclub,
We were eaters of a delicious lunch at Cork and Craft for a discussion of "We the Eaters". Agreeing that Gustafson was preaching to the choir, we were reminded of how fortunate it is to be in San Diego.  How we will be appreciating that even more next week as we gather for our December meeting in Coronado!

Trudy has graciously arranged for our group to participate in the Interfaith Adopt-a-Family Program. We each were assigned a member of a family, with specific requests. The items should be delivered to Trudy who will then drop off the gifts at "Santa's Workshop" in Escondido.

Our meeting will officially be on Wednesday 12/3 at noon. I have made lunch reservations at Sheer Water (like last year at the Del) but am open to any suggestions. I propose dinner at 7 on Tuesday night (Chez Loma or Vigilucci's?) and a lunch earlier that day for our initial gathering.... The Rhinoceros Cafe has closed... but know we can find another spot easily enough. Sandwiches on the beach? Or the new Islander restaurant in the Rhinoceros Cafe location, featuring fresh seafood? Just start texting each other when your feet hit the island and we'll rendezvous. Trudy and I will be out and about, scouting, starting Monday.  Please share any ideas or desires!!

The 1906 Lodge, our piece de resistance, in its gingered holiday spendor:

However, the most anticipated ginger is our beloved Ginger B.! Looking forward to us all being together....


Happy Reading,
LK


PS: Our upcoming selection is Laura McBride's "We are Called to Rise". The selection chosen for March is Marilynne Robinson's "Lila".

Change dinner; change lunch

Dear Bookclub,
Let's meet, 12:30, at the newest eatery in our area: The Cork and Craft.

http://www.thecorkandcraft.com/

No Nutella.
Read on,
LK

November Bookclub Newsletter

Dear Bookclub,
We have a new date for November, Wednesday the 19th, which is very happy in everyone's calendar.
Let's meet at my house for lunch... how can it be any other way??!

The Change Dinner Project

“Change Dinner is the idea of coming back to the table to become activists in our own home, at our own table, with our own friends and family, in our own communities. Because, by making better food choices, and purchasing your food in a different way, and understanding where your food comes from, you can actually have a huge impact on the way food is produced and consumed around the world” – Ellen Gustafson

Gustafson's book, "We the Eaters" will come as no surprise to our savy, lucky-to-live-in-San Diego-tummies and minds. Her description of our food system, aptly described in this La Jolla TED talk, is disheartening and thought-provoking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3QA37vtSa8

Gustafson has co-founded several projects ranging from "FEED" to "The Food Tank", admirably spreading her message via several avenues. Please check out her website, and drop-downs under projects, to learn more:

http://ellengustafson.com/

Eating and Reading Responsibly,
LK

October 2014 Recap & News

Dear Bookclub,
An intimate gathering at BernardO's yesterday for Wanda, Terrie G, Trudy and I as we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and discussed the strengths and weaknesses in "Tell the Wolves I'm Home". Agreeably a pleasurable read, we did find some faults in believability of some character traits and events but we relished the concept of the painting and its central role.

Another discussion ensued regarding our upcoming December plans. The Hotel Del rates were feeling quite like a scalping and we decided to do some further research. Wanda quickly found a wonderful option in The 1906 Lodge:

Reservations are being made so we can resume our plans of beach R &R, including slow reading:

Historic image of 1906 Lodge

Here is some interesting recent history about a change of ownership just last year:

http://www.ecoronado.com/profiles/blogs/end-of-another-chapter-040920131033


TG gave us some wonderful ideas for our February upcoming selection:

"The Paying Guests" by Sarah Waters
"Stone Mattress" by Margaret Atwood
"Friendswood: A Novel" by Rene Steinke
"The Remarkable Courtship of General Tom Thumb" by Nicholas Rinaldi    *chosen

Next up is "We the Eaters: If We Change Dinner, We Can Change the World" by Ellen Gustafson.

Happy Reading,
LK

October Bookclub News

Dear Bookclub,
This Wednesday, October 1, we'll be discussing "Tell the Wolves I'm Home".

Terrie G will announce where we'll be meeting (she hinted that it would be local and  at 12:30).

 

Keep calm and read on,

LK

December Plans

Dear Bookclub,

It's official! We are repeating our retreating:

Autumnal equinox in Southern California means more than Santa Ana's, pomegranates and faded evenings. It's time to fret about the holidays! But first, let's carve out a little time for our Coronado retreat, December 1-3 (luncheon meeting on Wednesday, December 3rd). Please make your reservation for your desired stay... one night or two.. Beach beckons for slow reading, chatting, shopping, biking, walking, good eating, spa retreating.

 Ahhhhhhhhh,
LK

September 2014 Recap

Dear Bookclub,
Our September 3rd lunch on the patio at The Barrel Room brings to mind Valerie's bruschetta caprese which is really very unfair to the discussion of our much loved "The Boys in the Boat". (I need to make dinner.) Everyone was so enthusiastic about the book; descriptions of races are seared into our memories with Daniel James Brown's masterful storytelling sealed with the endearment developed for Joe Rantz. We loved it all!

Valerie, fortified by her savory lunch, presented us each with a page of write-ups for her four suggestions for our January selection:

"One Plus One: A Novel" by JoJo Moyes
"The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd
"The Romanov Sisters:The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra"  by Helen Rappaport
"Home Leave" by Brittani Sonnenberg  *** chosen(not an easy decision)

The Slow Reading Club

Pictured above is a book club from Wellington, New Zealand. They meet weekly for an hour to merely be immersed in 'old-school reading'. Please explore this concept in the following:

http://online.wsj.com/articles/read-slowly-to-benefit-your-brain-and-cut-stress-1410823086

Does anyone want to do this? Intriguing.

Next up: "Tell the Wolves I'm Home" for Wednesday October 1st.

Happy Reading (slow, dangerous, whatever!)
 LK