Wine, Women & Words Book Club

2009-10-29T15:20:00.000-04:00

Note from Sue:
Our next meeting will be Wednesday 11/18 at Barbara's, when we'll discuss Elizabeth Strout's "Olive Kitteridge." Menu rotation follows; Sandra has volunteered to do the main dish, so I've left everyone else with the same jobs as this month I'm going to be a no-show again (tickets for another Asheville performance), so somebody can have my salad duties. I did order the book from Amazon before I knew I'd be unable to attend, so if anybody wants to borrow or buy it, let me know.

In December, the intention is a Holiday lunch-and-movie-and-who-knows-what-else Getaway in Asheville. December 4th to be confirmed.

Literary Festival Author List

2009-10-29T15:02:00.002-04:00

Here is the list of writers who have been tentatively slated for coming to the upcoming WCU Literary Festival.
More later…LK

Jill McCorkle
Cleopatra Mathis
Dennis Covington
Patricia Smith
Chitra, Divakaruni
Nahid Rachlin

October WWW with Sandra

2009-10-27T17:31:00.000-04:00

We'll be at Sandra's on October 28th for The Art of Racing in the Rain. Here's the revised and kinder-to-the-hostess menu rotation, with great thanks to Sandra for suggesting it.

xoxo

Hostess/drinks Sandra
appetizer Lori
entrée Barbara
side dish Linda
salad Sue
dessert Antoinette
bread Melba
extra wine/guide Sheila

Sue's Happy New Year's Wish to All of Us

2009-06-25T10:45:00.000-04:00

Hi, dear ones

Further to the Jewish New Year apples-and-honey we shared this week, following is a greeting I thought I'd pass along to you ("Shana tova" means "have a good year" in Hebrew and "Yom Tov" means "holiday").

xoxo
Sue

Shana Tova

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs, and your stocks not fall .

And may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastroenterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your oncologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber, and the Internal Revenue.

May you find a way to travel from anywhere to anywhere during rush hour in less than an hour, and when you get there may you find a parking space.

May this Yom Tov, find you seated around the dinner table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends, ushering in the Jewish New Year ahead.

May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them.

May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may your checkbook and your budget balance, and may they include generous amounts for charity.

May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your partner, your child, and your parent(s).

You can say it to your assistant, your secretary, your nurse, your butcher, your photographer, your masseuse, your seamstress, your hairdresser or your gym instructor, but not with a "twinkle" in your eye.

May we live as intended, in a world at peace with the awareness of the beauty in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous part of ourselves.

Bless you with every happiness, great health, peace and much love during the next year and all those that follow.

Words from the Women

2009-06-25T10:23:00.010-04:00

The only problem I have with the book club is that it takes me a while to process what everyone says and consequently would benefit from another discussion the day after. Seems like we change the reading of the book from a puzzle we do by ourselves into a puzzle we do together. The final picture just isn't the same when you read a book alone. ~Antoinette~

I really love the way our interactions regarding the book bring new bits and pieces to my attention. I look forward to all the "reads" to come. ~Sheila~

Although I still don’t have a definitive answer to my question of which North Carolina authors are writing “literature,” I have to admit it was interesting to listen to a first time novelist. Mr. Eller has achieved one book in print and two more on the way. Though The Children of Sherlock Holmes is not my cup of tea, I have to give the man due credit for making the attempt. As he said, it was a learning experience. I couldn’t go right to sleep when I got home because I was so invigorated by the reading Mr. Eller gave us from his latest work. I had to stay up and watch an old episode of “Law & Order” to calm down.~Sandra~

Last night was special for me because our discussion gave me a glimpse into our hearts, not just our minds. What an opprotunity for all of us to share our faiths and deepen our oun spiritual growth and friendships with each other. Love ya' Melba

so many books.....my sentiments exactly. Sue

Last night was fun as always. I think each of us brings such uniqueness to the table and that’s why it works. I just love all the humor. I’ve decided Tom Hanks could play Pemberton with Brad Pitt as the blind hag…hey, he could play an old women… .Thanks Sue…could you send that tortellini recipe my way…it was wonderful. Please thank Greg for putting up with all the late night fun…see ya soon. I’ll get the list of folks coming to the Literary Festival to you later …LOVE YA ALL…LK

2009-06-25T09:06:00.002-04:00

Our summer Salad Days commence At Antoinette's, Wednesday 7/22 when we'll discuss Barbara Delinsky's Family Tree.

August: A Year by the Sea - Joan Anderson

I am thankful to be a member of this book club. I suggested reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society because one of its themes centers on a book discussion group that got the members through the cruel, dehumanizing, horrible years of German occupation in WWII.

Reading changed their lives. Reading continues to change mine and being in a safe place to feel free to talk about what is read is the ultimate joy. I have read lots of books in my time, but never experienced the fun of being in the company of other readers to discuss them. ~Sandra~

From Our Darling Sue:

September: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer

October: The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein

Maybe we could do a book of RR's poetry someday as a departure from our usual fare...?

Menu rotation below:
Main dish/Hostess Antoinette
Appetizer Melba
Side dish Sheila
Side dish Lori
Salad Barbara
Dessert Sandra
Bread Linda
extra wine/guide Sue

Keep on reading and don’t let the “projects” awaiting you make you feel the slightest tinge of guilt. There are so many books and so little time!

"Somewhere the zebra is dancing."
Enzo from The Art of Racing in the Rain

Serena

2009-06-11T13:36:00.003-04:00

This is a page from my great aunts' family picture album. When I began reading this month's selection, Serena by Ron Rash I thought about the picture of Pearl on the Mt. Mitchell trail. It will give you an idea of how the mountains must have looked after the logging crews were done with them. Also note the train to Mt. Mitchell, Grove Park Inn, Battery Park Hotel and Eagles' Nest.

2009-04-24T20:17:00.003-04:00

Our April meeting will be on Wednesday evening April 29th at Sandra's home. We'll be discussing Alice Munro's "Runaway."

Menu rotation is:

main dish/hostess Sandra
appetizer Sue
side dish Linda
side dish Antoinette
salad Melba
dessert Sheila
bread Lori
extra wine/guide Barbara

Note from Sandra: We usually have two side dishes and a salad. Linda has offered to provide the greens. Melba has the salad. Let me know if you would like me to cook rice pilaf. Let's leave room for Sheila's dessert. (smile)

Spring Schedule & Reading Selections

2009-03-23T20:01:00.003-04:00

Here is a revised schedule:

March . . . . . . . Barbara . . . . . . . . . . Three Cups of Tea.
April . . . . . . . . .Sandra . . . . . . . . . . . Runaway by Alice Munro
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Serena

January Meeting

2009-01-22T07:55:00.003-05:00

Note: This month the centers of attention (along with books, of course) will be Brodie and Callie, Sheila and Tom's adorable puppies. Thanks for the pictures, Sheila.

Since we had a choice of Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine books, we'll chat about the ones we each read.

1/16/09 - From Sue:

Our next meeting is Wednesday, January 28th at Sheila's. This is the month we opted to discuss an author rather than a particular book, so choose anything by Ruth Rendell (she also writes under the name Barbara Vine). Carpool from Rec Center at 5:45 if interested (please RSVP that so we'll know to wait for you).
Menu rotation follows. For this time, I've arbitrarily assigned you the 2nd side-dish, Barbara; if you think some other category needs augmentation feel free to switch. Now that you're back, we should re-visit the menu categories and discuss.
FYI, I'm heading southeast to visit the ocean in Folly Beach for a couple of days; be back Wednesday pm.
xoxo and stay warm!

main dish/hostess Sheila
appetizer Lori
side dish Sandra
side dish Barbara
salad Sue
dessert Linda
bread Antoinette
extra wine/guide Melba

October 24 with Antoinette

2008-10-26T08:27:00.002-04:00

Cheers to Antoinette for hostessing us. What a great house you have! Yummy food and graciously served; thank you SO very much. Special thanks for riding Linda and me down your driveway.....

Wednesday, November 19th at Melba's we'll discuss "The Children of Sherlock Holmes" with Ben Eller.

Menu rotation follows (Barbara - if you can join us, please choose whatever category you think needs enhancement!):

Main dish/hostess: Melba
Appetizer: Sheila
Side dish: Lori
Salad: Sandra
Dessert: Sue
Bread: Linda
Extra wine/guide: Antoinette

December: no formal meeting. Lunch/dinner out to be decided. Suggestions welcome. One suggestion for December is to lunch and shop in Cashiers.

January 28th at Sheila's: choose any book by Barbara Vines/Ruth Rendell and share your thoughts.

Music Widget

2008-10-07T16:31:00.002-04:00

After a wrestling match with music files, I am happy to announce that I am the winner and still champion of somthing/your choice/whatever! Sue's request of Gopala Hare is now happily playing. Check it out.

New Feature

2008-09-25T20:03:00.001-04:00

There is a playlist on Wine, Women & Words Book Club blog. Check it out. If you have suggestions, let me know and I will upload your choices of music.

Fall Update

2008-09-25T11:42:00.003-04:00

As promised, The Faith Club opened a thoughtful discussion about the three faiths and individual reactions to both the writing style, book organization/format and the authors. The general consensus was that we were glad Sheila suggested it and that we read it.

October 22, 6 p.m.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Main dish: Antoinette MacWatt, hostess
Appetizer: Melba
Side dish: Sheila
Salad: Lori
Dessert: Sandra
Bread: Sue
Extra wine/guide: Linda
Carpool from Ingles, 5:30 p.m. 4-wheel drive recommended

November 19, 6 p.m.
Children of Sherlock Holmes by Ben Eller
Ben Eller, Guest speaker
Main dish: Melba Richards, hostess
Appetizer: Sheila
Side dish: Lori
Salad: Sandra
Dessert: Sue
Extra wine/guide: Antoinette
Carpool from Ingles, 5:30 p.m. and Rec Center, 5:45 p.m.

December: TBA - Get together for lunch.
No Book

Winter schedule and book selections will be published after the November meeting.

Fall Schedule and August Report

2008-08-27T11:32:00.001-04:00

On August 15 Linda, Lori, Melba, Sandra, Sheila andSue lunched at Mela Restaurant located on Lexington Ave., Asheville. We didn't have a selection to discuss, but the conversation was lively. Afterwards, Melba and Lori went to Melba's dr. appointment and the rest of us browsed the shops. It was fun to be together, experiencig delicious Indian food and the fellowship of good friends.

Here is a reprise of the tentative schedule for the coming months:
September 24 - Hostess, Linda Kinnear - The Faith Club
October - Date to be determined - Hostess - Antoinette/Barbara - People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
November 19 - Hostess - Melba - The Children of Sherlock Holmes by Ben F. Eller
December - Lunch out at beginning of the month for those who can - no book selection

FYI: The Together We Read selection this year is Boone by Robert Morgan. The Friends of Jackson County Main Library are planning an event at the Sylva library. Newt Smith will speak. Date to be announced, but will probably be after Boone is released in paperback this fall. I think November has been mentioned.

The Children of Sherlock Holmes

2008-07-25T14:06:00.002-04:00

Who would have thunk it? I found our November book selection this afternoon and it just so happens it is autographed by the author, Dr. Ben F. Eller. What an interesting man he is, according to the book's section - About the Author. Lori, thank you so much for suggesting this title and for inviting Dr. Eller to our book club gathering in November.

I bought the book in Sylva. I bought it along with sweet corn, squash, potatoes, tomatoes and South Carolina peaches. Have you guessed where I found it for sale? The answer is Terry's Produce! How convenient! I love living here.

Pictures from Sue

2008-07-25T10:48:00.005-04:00

Sheila & Melba

Lori

Sandra (Asleep at the switch) & Linda

At My House Last Night

2008-06-19T11:15:00.003-04:00

A couple of things (or more) -

I'm finishing Peace Like a River this morning with echoes of last night's discussion lazily swirling through my brain. Having W to the 3rd power here last evening was fun for me.

I have to disagree with the criticism that we are more about the food than we are the book. Certainly, to share a meal brought into being by friends is in itself a magical event. I don't ever want to discount how important that is. I listened to the book discussion last night and realized our appreciation and critique of what we are reading has changed. We are no longer apprehensive about sharing our personal reading experiences. We've found a balance and an easy place to be. It's all good.

Thanks for all the positive comments about my home in process. Ken's theory is - if it is never finished, we can't leave. So, there you have it.

Best comments of the evening: mine, I'm sure - after I sagely offered that the gospels were written hundreds of years after Christ, I realized that even Methusalah couldn't have pulled that off. Perhaps I meant before "the words just got in the way" was this - it was hundreds of years before the writings were collected into a single volume as we know it today. Sometime, when my brain is perkier, I'd like to talk more about the various current theories of who wrote what when. Anyhow, after I'd realized what I'd said, I got the giggles that lasted too long. So much for sage remarks from me!

June Recap

2008-06-19T11:10:00.004-04:00

Our next meeting is Wednesday July 23rd at Sue Lipton's house. We'll be reviewing That Night by Alice McDermott in July. In August, our book is The Faith Club by Idliby/Oliver/Warner.

July's rotation follows:

Main dish/hostess Sue (salad)
Appetizer - Linda
Side Dish - Barbara/Antoinette (salad)
Salad - Melba
Dessert - Sheila
Bread - Lori
Extra wine/Guide - Sandra

June Gathering

2008-06-10T11:04:00.002-04:00

WWW

6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, June 18

Sandra's house

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

Hailed as one of the year's top five novels by "Time "

and

selected as one of the best books of the year

by nearly all major newspapers

Assignments for June:
Hostess: Sandra- Main dish (hearty salad)
Appetizer - Sue
Salad - Melba
Salad - Antoinette
Dessert - Sheila
Bread - Sandra
Extra wine/book discussion guide - Lori

I would like us to sit down to eat no later than 6:30 p.m. and begin the book discussion around 7:30 p.m. Lori has proposed that our group cap our membership number at 10. Let's have an open-ended discussion about this and any other concerns during the dinner hour. I feel sure that as friends, we can come to consensus and move on.

From Sue

2008-04-24T12:34:00.003-04:00

Good Morning, all you lasagna-stuffed sweeties....

Thanks to Sheila for hostessing yet another yummy dinner, and thanks everyone else for sharing some great food (missed you, Barbara). It's always a pleasant surprise and great gift to me when our book inspires us to talk at such great length.

Our next meeting's scheduled for Wednesday May 28th at Lori & Melba's, when we'll discuss Cather's My Antonia. Menu rotation's below as we begin our Summer Salad Days.

June's book will be Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.

Much love to all and xoxo
Sue

Assignments for May:

Hostess: Lori - Main dish/(salad)
Appetizer - Sandra
Side dish (salad) - Sue
Salad - Linda
Dessert - Barbara
Bread - Melba
Extra wine/guide - Sheila

April WWW Notes

2008-04-24T08:12:00.003-04:00

Disclaimer: The opinions expresssed in this blog are those of a single person named Sandra, not a group which comprises the Wine, Women and Words Book Club. Having said that, now I feel free to proceed.

A book club is a funny thing. All of us like to read. All of us like books. Other than that, what is the glue that keeps us together? Each of us has a different life that we return to after our time together. We move in different circles and perhaps these circles only touch once in a while. Still, when we are together, we are present in the moment. It seems that the book is the common experience, but it is not the be all, the end all. It is the launching pad. The book evokes thoughts, opinions, past experiences that are shared.

The book is a vehicle that takes you different places. They might be places you don't expect to go and when you get there, you are surprised. You look around and wonder how you got there.

We used to listen to our former members expound from their lofty literary limbs where they perched above us like wise old owls. I used to go away empty after these encounters. I continued to go because I was hoping something different would evolve. It did.

For whatever reason, we can dance a deeper, richer dance together now maybe because there is no one calling out "do-si-do," "bow to your partner" and "alamand left." It's a free-form dance of trust, friendship and sharing. It's about opening up, reaching out beyond ourselves, letting go of controls and expectations.

It's about being present as Lori shares her hopes, Melba shows her art, Linda feeds us cake, Sue brings us new books to read and Sheila opens her beautiful home. It's about allowing the moment to be special for what is within it and being there to experience it. Let the mystery be.

Too Close to the Falls Review

2008-04-20T21:08:00.003-04:00

Word On Books
with Jeremy Fenton

Too Close to the Falls
By Catherine Gildiner

In between practicing psychology and raising a family, Catherine McClure Gildiner has been writing for years – but Too Close to the Falls is her first book.

With a 1950s childhood in the United States' Lewiston, the town apparently made famous for inventing the cocktail, a father who was chosen by her class as a "present-day saint", and a mother who refuses to take interest in the things that other mothers care about (such as 'food, Cathy's exact whereabouts, and bedtimes'), Gildiner's subject matter is rich in period detail and comic potential.
I don't know if eccentricity is an essential ingredient to successful memoir – but one could certainly be forgiven for thinking it so. The list of eccentric authors (or authors with eccentric families) to have put pen to paper is virtually the same length as the inventory of exceptional memoirs. Perhaps it's just that behind every family facade there lies a hotbed of strangeness?
The words "laugh out loud" are used far to often in appraising books, but in this case the phrase genuinely fits. There are moments on virtually every page that call for loud vocal responses: whether it's the family doctor's prescription for Cathy's hyperactivity at the age of four (full time work in her father's pharmacy), or asking why it's a sin to see Elvis below the knees, the book is bursting with witty and memorable moments.
As an author, Gildiner's comedic timing is impeccable; that she has chosen to tread a literary path uncluttered with sentimentality or tragedy is even more impressive. That it's all true (or at least as factual as memory allows) makes it all the more funny.
Several critics have pointed out that the only real fault with Too Close to the Falls is that it ends too soon – thankfully Gildiner is currently working on a welcome sequel. A talent like hers is too good to leave idle.

Buy, beg, borrow or steal this book – it's worth it!

http://www.echonews.com/913/book_reviews.html

WWW May Title

2008-03-27T15:31:00.000-04:00

WWW members present at the March 26 gathering agreed to designate My Antonia by Willa Cather as the May WWW book choice.

March WWW Notes

2008-03-27T15:10:00.000-04:00

Enjoying the gentle pleasures of sharing a meal, a book and friendship for a few hours in Melba and Lori's lovely home made the March WWW time special. I especially enjoyed the gardens and appreciate the labor of love it takes to achieve a single bloom.

The time flies when we are together. We hadn’t seen each other in this context for two months. I am really sorry we didn’t have adequate time for Melba to show us more of her art. What I saw intrigued me. I hope that when we next visit, we will see more of her studies.

However, the hour was growing late and we needed to accord Mr. Steinbeck his moment of glory. Sheila’s comments brought me back to the nuances of Steinbeck’s character development. Here are a few facts about Steinbeck and thoughts about what makes great writers that I meant to bring along with the salad!

JOHN STEINBECK STATS:
His first novel was published in 1929 (CUP OF GOLD) and his last in 1961 (THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT).
He won the Pulitzer Prize for THE GRAPES OF WRATH.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.
29 Academy Award nominations and 4 Academy Awards were given for adaptations of John Steinbeck stories.

ARTICLE:
What defines a great writer?
We suspect there are as many definitions of "great writers" as there are readers. But it seems to us that great writers are authors whose work informs and enlarges our vision. Great writers illustrate and define the times in which they live; they find new ways to use language; and their novels and stories become part and parcel of the current cultures. The work of these writers resonates, their characters linger, long after we have finished reading their short stories or novels.