At the June meeting, books were selected for the next year. They are:
September 19 - THE DOVEKEEPERS by Alice Hoffman (recommended by Donna) - hosted by Ann (backup Dori)
*** discussion questions here if someone remembers to bring this!
October 17 - CANADA (2012) by Richard Ford (recommended by Irene) - hosted by Haifa (backup Roberta)
November 14 - THE TIN FLUTE (1945) by Gabrielle Roy (recommended by Ann) - hosted by Donna
(made into a movie in 1983 - maybe we should look into that!)
December 12 - THE DISTINGUISHED GUEST (1995) by Sue Miller (recommended by Jan) - hosted by Monique ??? to be confirmed
January 16 - 419 by Will Ferguson - Winner of the 2012 Scotiabank Giller Prize (recommended by Dori)- hosted by Lynne
February 20 - THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI (2013) by Helene Wecker (recommended by Kathleen)
March 20 - THE CAT'S TABLE (2011) by Michael Ondaatje (recommended by Eileen)
April 17 - WHEN A CROCODILE EATS THE SUN (2007) by Peter Godwin (recommended by Cindy)
May 15 - IN THE COUNTRY OF MEN (2006) by Hisham Matar (recommended by Roberta)
June 19 - Monique, Haifa and Sharan have not selected a book
*** Note that each book has a link you can click on to get a review -
each is from a different site, so much time can be spent browsing
different book suggestions on these...
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
End of year meeting...
Remember to bring a list of possible books for next year's reading list to the June potluck meeting at Cindy's. See you all there...
ps - if Cindy's hip operation gets in the way, we have a backup location at Roberta's.
ps - if Cindy's hip operation gets in the way, we have a backup location at Roberta's.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Recommended reading...
I was telling the group yesterday about this book CD I had just got out of the library. (Not sure if they also have the actual book or not.) The CD is only three hours long, the shortest I have ever had!
It is good for a laugh about what we are all going through...
A delightful novel about letting go of youth and embracing the sassy curmudgeon within.
Don't harass her about parasailing or taking Italian language courses. Forget about suggesting she join a gym. Marie Sharp may be a little creaky in the bones as she heads toward the big 6-0, but she's fine with it. She would rather do without all the moving-to-Florida-bicycling-across-Mongolia-for-the-hell-of-it hoopla that her friends insist upon. She's already led an exciting life: She came of age in the 1960s, after all. Now, with both a new grandchild and a new man on the horizon, all she wants to do is make the most of what she considers the most interesting stage of her life. In this wonderfully astute novel based on the author's own experiences, No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club is the funny --- and often poignant --- fictionalized diary of an older woman… a decade or two past her prime and content to leave it all behind her. So don't tell her to take a gourmet cooking class, and whatever you do, don't you dare tell her to join a book club. Fresh and truly unique, moving gracefully on in years has never been more hilarious than in this forthright grandma's take on the "third phase" of life.
and here is a Q&A with the author...
click here
It is good for a laugh about what we are all going through...
No! I Don't Want to Join a Bookclub
A delightful novel about letting go of youth and embracing the sassy curmudgeon within.
Don't harass her about parasailing or taking Italian language courses. Forget about suggesting she join a gym. Marie Sharp may be a little creaky in the bones as she heads toward the big 6-0, but she's fine with it. She would rather do without all the moving-to-Florida-bicycling-across-Mongolia-for-the-hell-of-it hoopla that her friends insist upon. She's already led an exciting life: She came of age in the 1960s, after all. Now, with both a new grandchild and a new man on the horizon, all she wants to do is make the most of what she considers the most interesting stage of her life. In this wonderfully astute novel based on the author's own experiences, No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club is the funny --- and often poignant --- fictionalized diary of an older woman… a decade or two past her prime and content to leave it all behind her. So don't tell her to take a gourmet cooking class, and whatever you do, don't you dare tell her to join a book club. Fresh and truly unique, moving gracefully on in years has never been more hilarious than in this forthright grandma's take on the "third phase" of life.
and here is a Q&A with the author...
click here
Vietnamese Pho
Irene forwarded these two sites about pho.
(Still can't believe Roberta went to all that trouble just for us!!)
Pho Bo from GAS-TRON-O-MY
and THE FOOD LAB: how to make traditional pho.
(Still can't believe Roberta went to all that trouble just for us!!)
Pho Bo from GAS-TRON-O-MY
and THE FOOD LAB: how to make traditional pho.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Winter today!
After our 'severe winter storm watch' that was on for southern Alberta today...
otherwise known as TEST #2
otherwise known as TEST #2
Friday, March 1, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Updates...
Some misc housekeeping for everyone to be aware of:
(1) The book selected for the June meeting is an autobiography by CBC reporter Nahlah Ayed called
"A Thousand Farewells: A Reporter's Journey From Refugee Camp To The Arab Spring"
It came out in 2012 so shouldn't be as hard as we thought to get hold of.
(2) the blog has been updated with details on hosting for meetings, and monthly book selection, shown in the right hand side column. Under the Nov 22 posting BOOK LISTINGS... you can click on the book title to link to a site about it for more detail.
(3) the September 2013 book has been also chosen. "The Dovekeepers" by Alice Hoffman. It is quite long, so if you are all caught up with the spring readings, you could start on it. It was published in 2011 and the library has 40 copies of it.
(4) we need a host for the May 16th meeting.
(5) Cindy, are you available to host the June potluck?
(1) The book selected for the June meeting is an autobiography by CBC reporter Nahlah Ayed called
"A Thousand Farewells: A Reporter's Journey From Refugee Camp To The Arab Spring"
It came out in 2012 so shouldn't be as hard as we thought to get hold of.
(2) the blog has been updated with details on hosting for meetings, and monthly book selection, shown in the right hand side column. Under the Nov 22 posting BOOK LISTINGS... you can click on the book title to link to a site about it for more detail.
(3) the September 2013 book has been also chosen. "The Dovekeepers" by Alice Hoffman. It is quite long, so if you are all caught up with the spring readings, you could start on it. It was published in 2011 and the library has 40 copies of it.
(4) we need a host for the May 16th meeting.
(5) Cindy, are you available to host the June potluck?
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Book Listings...
A reminder of books selected for the 2012 - 2013 year:
December 13 - PICTURES OF YOU by Caroline Leavitt
January 24 - SILENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN by Daniel Wilkinson
February 21 - HALF BLOOD BLUES by Esi Edugyan
March 21 - THE BEAUTY OF HUMANITY MOVEMENT by Camilla Gibb
April 18 - WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST by Gregory Maguire
May 16 - BODY AND SOUL by Frank Conroy
June - A THOUSAND FAREWELLS by Nahlah Ayed
December 13 - PICTURES OF YOU by Caroline Leavitt
January 24 - SILENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN by Daniel Wilkinson
February 21 - HALF BLOOD BLUES by Esi Edugyan
March 21 - THE BEAUTY OF HUMANITY MOVEMENT by Camilla Gibb
April 18 - WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST by Gregory Maguire
May 16 - BODY AND SOUL by Frank Conroy
June - A THOUSAND FAREWELLS by Nahlah Ayed
Monday, November 5, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
January book selection...
Sharan has picked the book SILENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN by Daniel Wilkinson for the January meeting.
Roberta writes:
Roberta writes:
Sharan asked me to read her suggestion for the
January meeting "Silence on the Mountain" by Daniel Wilkinson. It is a
non-fiction account of his attempts to get the buried stories of Guatemalans who
lived through the terror driven history of their civil war. He focuses on
one region and the burning of one plantation house and extrapolates to broader
issues. This makes the story very accessible.
I found it easy to read, compelling and very
balanced as he presented stories from all sides of the conflict. I took some
notes so I wouldn't forget all and it took me a week to read. (350 pages)
Unfortunately, there is only one copy in the library so if all are to read it we
need to start now and keep passing it on.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Hosts for September on...
Well, at least the first two months!
Haifa will host September.
Ann (NO, changed to Dori) will host October.
Haifa will host September.
Ann (NO, changed to Dori) will host October.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Extra Reading...
more suggestions that came out of the June meeting - summer reading anyone?
Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan
My Own Country: A Doctor's Story by Abraham Verghese
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B by Sandra Gulland
An Audience of Chairs by Joan Clark
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Mudblood - Sharan! I can't find any reference to a book with this title - all I get is that it is a term from the Harry Potter books...
Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way by Dan Buettner
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
Death Comes To Pemberley by PD James
11-22-63 by Stephen King
Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson
Cool Water by Dianne Warren
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The High Road by Terry Fallis
The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life by Amy Tan
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
Pure by Andrew Miller
Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan
My Own Country: A Doctor's Story by Abraham Verghese
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B by Sandra Gulland
An Audience of Chairs by Joan Clark
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Mudblood - Sharan! I can't find any reference to a book with this title - all I get is that it is a term from the Harry Potter books...
Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way by Dan Buettner
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
Death Comes To Pemberley by PD James
11-22-63 by Stephen King
Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson
Cool Water by Dianne Warren
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The High Road by Terry Fallis
The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life by Amy Tan
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
Pure by Andrew Miller
2012 - 2013 book selections
At the June meeting, books were selected for the next year. They are:
September 20 - ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BONBONS by Lorna Landvik
October 18 - THE STORY OF BEAUTIFUL GIRL by Rachel Simon
November 15 - THE HISTORY OF LOVE by Nicole Kraus
December 20 - PICTURES OF YOU by Caroline Leavitt
January - SILENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN by Daniel Wilkinson
February - HALF BLOOD BLUES by Esi Edugyan
March - THE BEAUTY OF HUMANITY MOVEMENT by Camilla Gibb
April - WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST by Gregory Maguire
May - Monique will select one
June - open
*** Note that each book has a link you can click on to get a review - each is from a different site, so much time can be spent browsing different book suggestions on these...
September 20 - ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BONBONS by Lorna Landvik
October 18 - THE STORY OF BEAUTIFUL GIRL by Rachel Simon
November 15 - THE HISTORY OF LOVE by Nicole Kraus
December 20 - PICTURES OF YOU by Caroline Leavitt
January - SILENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN by Daniel Wilkinson
February - HALF BLOOD BLUES by Esi Edugyan
March - THE BEAUTY OF HUMANITY MOVEMENT by Camilla Gibb
April - WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST by Gregory Maguire
May - Monique will select one
June - open
*** Note that each book has a link you can click on to get a review - each is from a different site, so much time can be spent browsing different book suggestions on these...
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Urban Skiing
Irene sends this video except from the movie All.I.Can with skiing footage from Trail, BC. The movie explores the effect of global warming on big mountain skiing.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Update of new year reading list...
Check the columns on the right for the list of books due to be read and the host for that month's meeting.
Remember that details about the book are below, under July entry.
Remember that details about the book are below, under July entry.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Extra Reading...
Ape House by Sara Gruen - recommended by Jan
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - recommended by Donna
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell - recommended by Donna
Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel - recommended by Jan
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout - recommended by Dori
Winter Vault by Anne Michaels - recommended by Irene
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - recommended by Donna
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell - recommended by Donna
Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel - recommended by Jan
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout - recommended by Dori
Winter Vault by Anne Michaels - recommended by Irene
2011 - 2012 book selections
At the June meeting, books were selected for the next year. I will list them here and then post them as a sidebar.
September 15 at Sharan's - Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein - (recommended by Dori)
October 20 at Dori's - The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis - (Irene)
November 17 at Roberta's - Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver - (Donna)
December and January - - Mavericks by Aritha van Herk - (Irene)
February 16 - - March by Geraldine Brooks - (Jan)
March 15 - - Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - (Monique)
April 19 - - Room by Emma Donoghue - (Donna)
May 17 - - A Year of Living Generously by Lawrence Scanlan - (Cindy)
June 21 - - Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
September 15 at Sharan's - Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein - (recommended by Dori)
October 20 at Dori's - The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis - (Irene)
November 17 at Roberta's - Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver - (Donna)
December and January - - Mavericks by Aritha van Herk - (Irene)
February 16 - - March by Geraldine Brooks - (Jan)
March 15 - - Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - (Monique)
April 19 - - Room by Emma Donoghue - (Donna)
May 17 - - A Year of Living Generously by Lawrence Scanlan - (Cindy)
June 21 - - Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
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