12.12.2008

Year End Thank You

Dear Fellow Book Club Ladies,

I almost called you book clubbers - but that sounded too violent. I wanted to take a moment of our time tonight to thank you for making my book club dreams come true. You have been true friends indeed to read, and read and read - and come each month to share the thoughts only you could share. Consider if you have read the books on our little list - you have read eight books (not including books 1, 2, and 3 of twilight!). Now I know some of us read many more and some maybe read less - but read we did - some very good books, from Austen's Captain Wentworth to Turner's Captian Elliott, from Twain's Joan to Bronte's Jane - let's not forget Meyer's Edward and Bella -

Don't worry, I don't have quiz, and sorry, I don't have a prize. But if you are here - then perhaps you think a little like me, that reading is usually it's own reward. So what I do have is a sincere thank you and word of congratulations on a year well read. Love, your fearless leader, Tamara

2009 Preview

Here is the calendar and book list for 2009!
A couple things to keep in mind: 1.) It is not set in stone. Especially if we add new members or we all agree to change a month's selection. (Ideally we will not change a book once we are within a month of the next meeting.) 2.) The author intro and treat schedule are totally negotiable. I just like working off a schedule - switching & trading assignments is OK. 3.) If you want to opt out of treat making or author introducing - that is OK, too - just let me know. That brings me to my next item 4.) This book club has always been intended to be a 'fun' thing for us: NOT a stressful thing to add to our busy lives. So no pressure - if there is a month you cannot make it - just RSVP and no worries. I'm looking forward to another great year of 'book clubbing' with you ladies.

Book Club Schedule of Events 2009
Month Book Author Introduction Treats
Jan 22 A Thousand Splendid Suns/Hosseini/432 Cherene/Amy
Feb 26 The Wednesday Letters/Wright/280 Sara/Shanie
Mar 26 Robinson Crusoe/Defoe/304 Colleen/Michelle
Apr 23 North and South/Gaskell/480 Tamara/Tamara
May 28 Little Britches/Moody/260 Michelle/Colleen
Jun 25 Screwtape Letters/Lewis/224 Shanie/Sara
Jul 23 Brave Companions/McCullough/256 Amy/Cherene
Aug 27 Laddie/Porter/400
Sep 24 The Lonesome Gods/L’Amour/464
Oct 22 I am a Mother/Clayson/144
Nov TBA Mere Christianity/Lewis/256

11.14.2008

The Twilight Movie

Have you guys heard all the hype lately about theaters around the valley that are sold out of Twilight tickets for some showings already? I REALLY want to see the movie on Friday since we are heading out of town on Saturday, so I went ahead and bought myself a ticket from movietickets.com for the 11am show on Friday 11/21 at the Gateway Theaters. Do any of you guys want to go to see Twilight next Friday at 11am? We could have a discussion afterwards at Golden Spoon. :) FYI, showtimes that day at Gateway are 11, 1:50, 4:40, 7:30, and 10:20. Tickets for that showtime are $7.25. If you buy them from movietickets.com, they add a $1 service charge, so the price is $8.25, but they throw in a free music download of "Bella's Lullaby" so I figured it all evened out (plus peace of mind has got to be worth something, right?) Let me know if you want to go at 11am on Friday. :)

Who wants to see Wicked the Musical?

Hey Ladies! Wicked is coming to Gammage, and Sara R. has reserved some tickets at a group discount rate. The date is Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 7:30pm. The tickets are $31.15 for balcony seats, $61.75 for Tier B seats, or $73 for floor seats. Chuck and I are going to go (and sit in the balcony). If any of you guys would like to go that night, we can make it a Book Club Field Trip (open to spouses, friends, and significant others too). If you would like to purchase tickets for that night at those rates, let Sara R. know as soon as possible. She'll need to know how many tickets you would like, and where you would like to sit. Payment for the tickets will need to be made to Sara by Jan 5. This is an awesome show!! My sister and I saw it in NY this summer, and I would highly recommend it. :) For information about the show, you can check out the website: WickedTheMusical.com. Thank you, Sara for being willing to coordinate this!!!

11.04.2008

Finish Jane Eyre. CHECK!

HOORAY!! I finally finished Jane Eyre! I must say that I didn't hate it. I had a hard time reading the first half, but after she finally stood up to Rochester (right before he proposed) I started to really like her. I'll make sure that I finish this month's book so I can actually contribute something! :)

Here's the movie that I was talking about where Jane has the duck bill. I've been watching it this week and I just can't get over it! Whenever she's on the screen, it's like I'm just looking at her bill. And when she cries, oh boy!! Her mouth goes into a perfect square. Sorry. Enough of my rambling. I'm sure we all have our little quirks. I think that she's perfect for the part and that she's a great actress. See? I can be good.

November Meeting

Okay, the votes are in (sorry, no election day pun intended). Our November meeting will be

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
7:15 p.m.
"The Life of Our Lord" by Charles Dickens

Author Intro: Cherene/ Treats: Shanie

I am looking forward to our last meeting of 2008. A few items that I usually forget:

* underline a passage to share (if there are any you like)
* bring four or five book ideas for 2009
* know if or when you might be able to see Twilight

(I made all of you team members on the blog - at least I think I did - so that any of you can post & comment.) Have a great day. Thanks. Love Tamara.

10.31.2008

November Meeting Date & Time

Yes, it is Halloween and I probably have a lot to do, but I thought I better try to get our next meeting on the calendar before another week disappears before my eyes. So - Can we meet Tuesday, November 18th? I am not aware of any church events - Is there scouts? We could meet @ 7:15 or 7:30. How does that sound? Let me know as soon as you can. Love, Tamara

10.24.2008

Technical Support

Any experienced bloggers in the group willing to help me with what is obviously not one of my dazzling talents? I just have some questions about layout design. Thanks, Tamara

The Day After

Thanks for another great discussion. I love hanging out with you ladies. I always feel like I learn more than I offer - you are so smart, insightful and funny. Would I have offended anyone if I had played the sound of a woman laughing? (I hope by now you have forgiven me for my off-beat sense of humor.) I am also very new to the blogoshpere - so please be patient with me as I try to get it organized. I thought it might be a good way to keep connected inbetween discussions. We also have our work cut out for us to find a day that works for us next month. A couple of ideas: ~Thursday, November 13th - that's in three weeks,
~Tuesday, November 18th - we could meet at 7:30 (after scouts)
~Thursday, December 4th - Michelle: is there a round table mtg that night?
~Friday December 5th - as last resort because I know every weekend in
~December is usually occupied by parties, family gatherings, etc.

Please comment, or email or call me to vote for the night(s) that work best for you. My hope is to have as many of us there as possible.

The Twilight movie is playing on November 21st: anyone interested in a book club field trip (ha ha) - seriously - if anyone is interested in going to see it together - please rsvp with a time to go that works for you.

Book list for 2009 - If you already have book ideas send them to me so I can start compiling. I'd love to publish the ideas everyone has so we can talk about the possibilities & then have a calendar for at least Jan - Jun.

That's all I have for now. Thanks again for making a great book club. Love, Tamara

9.30.2008

Joan

I finally finished Joan of Arc. No matter how many books I read, I still get some strange sense of satisfaction from completing another one - especially one like 'Joan'. I thought the ending was more sad than gruesome. I think Twain did a masterful job, portraying Joan. It is a marvel the degree to which she adhered to her mission. I can be distracted so easily.