SWCR Book Club

SWCR Book club met on Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 7 pm at Gert & Erma's. 13 in attendance!

Icebreaker: Name, books you read and your favorite Christmas memory

Laurie

1) The Forgotten Man by Robert Crais 2) The Fallen by T J Richards 3) Mary Poppins by Dr PL Travers

Carol

Kimberly

Jen

Summer

1) The Richest Man in Town by VJ Smith 2) Wild by Cheryl Strayed 3) Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult 4) As Bright at the Sun by Cynthia Schlichting

Patty

1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

Stacie

Anne

1) Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Sarah

1) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Buffy

Sandy

Dawn

1) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls 2) The Witness by Nora Roberts

Pam

1) Wolf Tales by Kate Douglas 2) The Gift by Richard Paul Evans 3) Abby Cooper: Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie 4) Better Read than Dead by Victoria Laurie 5) The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans 6) Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans 7) The Letter by Richard Paul Evans 8) A Vision of Murder by Victoria Laurie

We played the humming game, (Sandy & Jen won) draw a Christmas tree on top of your head on a plate, the dice game and had a book swap and a Christmas sock contest. We also created mini memory books.

Our next meeting is January 29. Buffy is the hostess. Read "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zummer Bradley (876 pages)

SWCR book club met on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Unhinged Pizza in Glencoe.

November book was "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. Sarah was our hostess. Icebreaker was name, books read and "Jeannette was cooking hot dogs when she was 3, what did you do as a child that you would not allow your child to do."

Sandy

1) Lottery by Patricia Wood 2) Usher's Passing by Robert McCammon 3) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 4) Silent Prey by John Sandford 5) Winter Prey by John Sandford 6) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Katie

Summer

1) Usher's Passing by Robert McCammon

Anne

1) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Buffy

1) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Dawn

1) The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher 2) A Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fisher 3) Upstairs Girls: Prostitution in the American West by Michael Rutter 4) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Laurie

1) Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger 2) Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger 3) Dark Witch by Nora Roberts

Carol

1) Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk 2) Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld

Stacie

Pam

1) Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown by Eric Blehm 2) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls 3) Zanes Sex Chronicles by Zane 4) Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Jennifer

1) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls 2) Lost December by Richard Paul Evans 3) The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne

Sarah

1) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Discussion on the book.
Ratings
1-0

2-0

3-3

4-4

4.5-2

5-1

39/10 = 3.9

Other Discussion

1) Wild movie will be released on Dec 19 in Minnesota

Next book club:

Thursday, December 18 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Ermas. Bring a wrapped book/gift for the dice game. Bring any books/movies for swap. Wear your SWCR clothing for a group picture.

Begin reading Buffy's book "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley. We will only have Christmas party in December and will discuss her book in January. (1/29/15)

SWCR Book club met on Thursday, October 30 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Erma's.

Stacie was the hostess. Icebreaker was name, books read and if your family had a generational business, who would take it over of your siblings and why.

Kim stopped in for a quick visit.

Pam

1) Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 2) Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis 3) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson 4) Ushers Passing by Robert McCammon 5) Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman 6) North Country: The Making of Minnesota by Mary Lethert Wingerd

Jen

1) Ushers Passing by Robert McCammon

Summer

1) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 2) The Giver by Lois Lowry 2) Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry 3) Messenger by Lois Lowry 4) Son by Lois Lowry

Anne

1) Ushers Passing by Robert McCammon

Buffy

1) Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell 2) The Fall of the House of Usher - The Pit and the Pendulum - The Tell Tale Heart - The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allen Poe 3) Ushers Passing by Robert McCammon

Laurie

1) Ushers Passing by Robert McCammon 2) The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell 3) The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler 4) The Midwife's Tale by Gretchen Moran Laskas 5) TTYL by Lauren Myracle 6) Shadow Zone by Iris and Roy Johansen 7) The Bride by Julie Garwood 8) The Second Objective by Mark Frost 9) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls 10) Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

Carol

1) Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik 2) Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris 3) Tales of Terror by Edgar Allen Poe 4) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 5) Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger 6) Ushers Passing by Robert McCammon

Sarah

1) Wonder by RJ Palacio

Stacie

1) Ushers Passing by Robert McCammon 2) The Fear Boy

We discussed the book "Ushers Passing" by Robert McCammon

Rating:

1 - 0

2 - 0

3 - 2

3.5 - 1

4 - 2

5 - 2

27.5 / 3.928

Other discussion:

1) Our December book "The Mists of Avalon" is 876 pages long. Should we stretch it out to two months (Dec/Jan) and move the other books ahead a month? 9 votes for yes

December will be a "party" month

2) April's book "North Country: The Making of Minnesota" was found to be more of a textbook. Anne was actually looking for the book that went with the movie "North Country" - and that book is "Class Action" by Clara Bingham. The vote was: 6 votes for change to "Class Action" - 2 votes for "Into the Wild" and 1 vote for leave it at "North Country".

We shared treats, Laurie brought a pumpkin craft, and sang happy birthday to Harper, Jackson and Sarah and had delicious cupcakes courtesy of Jen.

Next book club - Thursday, November 20 at 7 p.m. at Unhinged Pizza in the party room, Glencoe. Book to read: The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls - Sarah is our hostess

SWCR Book club met on Thursday, September 25 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Erma's.

Patty was the hostess. "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman was the monthly book. Icebreaker: Name, books read, and "What memory from childhood do you have that was impossible to believe as an adult."

Pam

1) Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn 2) Dark Places by Gillian Flynn 3) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 4) If I Knew Then by Amy Fisher 5) Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut 6) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 7) The Young Wan by Brendan O'Carroll 8) After the Fire by Robin Gaby Fisher 9) Friends with Benefits by Randi Reisfeld

Sandy

1) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 2) The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Carol

1) Darkness, My Old Friend by Lisa Unger

Jen

1) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 2) Unshaken by Francine Rivers 3) Unashamed by Francine Rivers

Jill

1) Divergent by Veronica Roth 2) Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Anne

Laurie

1) The Witness by Nora Roberts

Sarah

1) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Buffy

1) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Stacie

1) Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

Patty

1) The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell 2) Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell 3) Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell 4) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 5) The 8th Confession by James Patterson 6) Night of the Living Deed by E J Copperman 7) An Uninvited Ghost by E J Copperman 8) 14 by Peter Clines

Rate the Book:

1-0

2-3

3-3

4-1

19/7=2.71

Next book: Thursday, Oct 30 - "Usher's Passing" by Robert R McCammon. Stacie is the hostess. Wear a costume if you'd like.

There was some discussion about reading "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. (per Stacie - it isn't necessary to read before her book but it was cool to see how McCammon took the original story and built off of it).

Upcoming:

Oct 3 - Gone Girl out in theatres

Oct 4-5 - Half Price books clearance event - State Fairgrounds 9-6 daily

Oct 11 - Oktoberfest in New Ulm - noon - midnight

Oct 14 - Anne's birthday

Oct 17 - The Best of Me movie released

Oct 19 - Jill's birthday
Oct 21 - William Kent Krueger at Gaylord Library 7 pm

Oct 24-26 - Women's retreat in Crosslake

Oct 30 - Sarah's birthday

Oct 31 - Fright night in Arlington for kids - then Double D's playing at Arlington Dugout - wear costumes
SWCR Book club met on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Erma's. Gwen was the hostess. Book was "The Choice" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Icebreaker: Name, books read, and one thing that you wanted to get done this summer but didn't.

12 in attendance

Sarah: 1) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Laurie: 1) Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer 2) The Duck Commander Family by Willie & Korie Robertson 3) The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead 4) What to Expect the First year by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel 5) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 6) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fischer 7) The Search by Nora Roberts

Carol: 1) The Secret Lives of Men & Women by Frank Warren 2) Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult 3) Fragile by Lisa Unger 4) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher 5) The Death of Santini by Pat Conroy

Dawn: 1) The Secret Lives of Men & Women by Frank Warren 2) No Time to Quit by Gail Lipe 3) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 4) The Giver by Lois Lowry 5) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher 6) The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Pam: 1) Plato and a Platypus Walk into A Bar...Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes by Thomas Cathkart and Daniel Klein 2) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher 3) Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander by Phil Robertson and Mark Schlabach 4) The Giver by Lois Lowry 5) Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman 6) Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry 7) Messenger by Lois Lowry 8) Son by Lois Lowry

Sandy: 1) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 2) Eyes of Prey by John Sandford 3) The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory 4) The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory 5) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Anne: 1) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Buffy: 1) And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini 2) Trace by Patricia Cornwell 3) Predator by Patricia Cornwell 4) Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell

Jen: 1) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher 2) The Richest Man in Town by VJ Smith 3) Unveiled: Tamar by Francine Rivers (The Lineage of Grace Series)

Summer: 1) Fly a Little Higher by Laura Sobiech 2) And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini 3) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Stacie: 1) The Pact by Jodi Picoult 2) We were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates 3) Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw 4) Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Gwen: 1) The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

We discussed the book "The Choice" by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

1-0

2-1

3-4

3.5 - 1

4 - 3

5 - 1

34.5 / 10 = 3.45

Happy Birthday was sung to Stacie & Gwen.

Dawn's quote for night "I got to touch a man!" Thanks to the guest appearance of Steve Lentsch.

Next meeting: Thursday, Sept 25 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Erma's. Patty is the hostess. Read "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman.

Other discussion:

1) Winery Day - Saturday, Sept 20. We have 3 volunteer sober cabs - Dawn, Jen & Mark (Pam's BF) - Plan is to start at Sovereign at 11 since they are the first to open?

Schram Vineyards/Brewery - Saturday 12-6 http://www.schramvineyards.com/p/home.html

Sovereign Estate - Saturday 11-8 http://www.sovereignestatewine.com/

Parley Lake Winery - Saturday Noon - 6 - http://www.parleylakewinery.com/ParleyLakeWinery/Welcome.html

Waconia Brewing - 9 days to opening?? http://waconiabrewing.com/

J Carver Distillery - https://www.facebook.com/jcarverdistillery - *Will not be ready on Sept 20.

2) Dawn is wondering if anyone is interested in 2014 Woman Spirit Network Retreat on Oct 24-26 at Camp Knutson, Crosslake -- more information is attached

Please join us for a weekend of drumming, spiritual growth and awareness, learning, greeting old friends, making new friends or just sitting back and relaxing in a beautiful wooded retreat center overlooking the lake.The Woman Spirit Network retreat is a gathering of Women with the emphasis of the weekend being on creating a safe and welcoming environment for all to explore and share ‘spirit”. We gather as a group for drumming and sharing of knowledge. Volunteers offer classes/sessions in a variety of ways that they have found relevant on their journey with spirit. It may be in the form of a craft/talent, a book, music, meditation, exercise, etc. We offer quite space for personal spirit work.There will be healers available for individual sessions (signup sheets and rates will be posted in the main hall) and crafters/vendors will have items available for purchase.

3) If anyone wants to dress up for Halloween - Arlington has "Fright Night" on Oct 31 from 5:30-7 for families. http://www.arlingtonmnchamber.com/events/fright-night/

After that some will be going to the Dugout for adult entertainment

4) Stacie & Sarah are switching months - so Stacie will have October and Sarah will have November and moving everyone forward a month. Members were anxious to vote so those that were there voted. An email was sent to those not in attendance so they could have the opportunity for voting. The results are shown in red - with the number of votes shown prior to the book:

October 2014 - Stacie
7-Usher's Passing by Robert R McCammon

5-American Gothic Tales by Joyce Carol Oates

*1 person did not make a selection

November 2014 - Sarah - The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

December - Buffy
8-The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
2-Exodus by Leon Uris
3-The Drifters by James A Michener

January 2014 - Carol
7-The Summer of Ordinary Ways by Nicole Helget
6-Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik

February 2015 - Laurie
6-Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman
2-Switched by Amanda Hocking
5-Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abby : The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by the Countess of Carnarvon

March 2015 - Pam
5-The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
6-The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch
2-The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

April 2015 - Anne
8-North Country: The Making of Minnesota by Mary Lethert Wingerd
5-Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

**Due to Patty not able to make it in August - her and Gwen have switched months. So August's book is Gwen's "The Choice" by Suzanne Woods Fisher. September's book will be Patty's "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman. SWCR Book club met on Thursday, July 31 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Erma's. Sandy was the hostess. Icebreaker: Your name, books you read, and "Picture yourself when you were graduating from high school (around 17-18), and tell us what your aspirations were about your life." Patty - The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell Dawn - Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman, And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini Pam - The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank by Erma Bombeck; Finding Me by Michelle Knight; And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini; The Richest Man in Town by VJ Smith; Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult; The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver; In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien; Seduction by Design by Sandra Brown; Post Secret Confessions on Life, Death & God by Frank Warren; Turn Here Sweet Corn by Atina Diffley; The Secret lives of Men and Women by Frank Warren Carol - Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok; Night Road by Kristen Hannah; Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell; And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini; The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls; The Things We Do for Love by Kristin Hannah; Black Out by Lisa Unger Jen Sarah - And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini; The One & Only by Emily Giffin; Where She Went by Gayle Forman Stacie - Plains of Passage by Jean Auel; Shelters of Stone by Jean Auel; A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg and Warren Hanson; In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Katie Anne - And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini Laurie - And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini; Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead; Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Sandy - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho We discussed "And The Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini. 1- 2-1 2.5-1 3-4 4-1 5- 20.5 / 7 = 2.9286 Clothing orders were handed out. The new colors look great! Please try to have all orders paid and picked up by our August meeting. Next book vote will be held in September. All books must be submitted before our August meeting. Stacie, Pam & Anne need to submit their books before Aug 28. Other discussion: 1) Overdrive app - Read eBooks, listen to audiobooks, and watch streaming video from your library using OverDrive Media Console (OMC) on your NOOK. More than 28,000 libraries worldwide offer titles via OverDrive, so download the app and add your library today. · Available 24/7, your library never closes. · No more late fees. Titles are automatically returned. · Place holds, create wish lists, and return titles easily.
· A valid account with a participating library, school, or other institution is required. · Each library builds its own collection of titles. Contact them directly to let them know that youre using OMC and to share any suggestions for books you would like to see them carry. 2) Librivox - free public domain audiobooks https://librivox.org/ 3) A Million Ways to Die in the West - funny movie that came out in May 2014 - As a cowardly farmer begins to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, he must put his new-found courage to the test when her husband, a notorious gun-slinger, announces his arrival. 4) Fifty Shades of Grey trailer - http://www.fiftyshadesmovie.com/ - consensus was that they could have picked a better Christian Grey. We thought Matt Bomer was a better choice... 5) Talked about a movie night around Aug 22 to go see "If I Stay" Gayle Forman book that a lot of us read in Dec 2013 6) Waconia Winery/Brewery/Distillery Day - September 20 - Jen said she would drive http://www.sovereignestatewine.com/ http://www.schramvineyards.com/p/home.html http://www.parleylakewinery.com/ParleyLakeWinery/Welcome.html http://www.jcarverdistillery.com/home http://waconiabrewing.com/ 7) The Giver Movie comes out Aug 15 - some have read the book and said it was very good We also voted on a change to the rules. 10 people voted for the Proposed Rule. Past Rule: You will have to have been at club at least 3 times in the last 6 months in order to submit books for a book vote. If you do not have attendance at least 3 meetings, you will lose your turn and go to end of list. *Special circumstances will be voted on by the group. Proposed Rule: You will have to have been at club at least 3 times in the last 6 months in order to submit books for a book vote. If you do not have attendance at least 3 meetings, you will lose your turn and go to end of list. Once you are on the schedule for hosting you must attend at least 3 months of the 6 months to be eligible to host! If you don’t you will lose your month and go to end of list.*Special circumstances will be voted on by the group. Next meeting - Thursday, August 28 at 7 p.m. at Gert n Erma's. Gwen is our hostess. Book to read is "The Choice" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

SWCR Book club met on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Erma's. Jill was our hostess.

Book to read was "The Pilot's Wife" by Anita Shreve. Icebreaker was your name, books read and how the rains/flooding has affected you. 13 in attendance

Buffy

Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell; The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwell

Nicole

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom and Wonder by Arianna Huffington

Anne

Sandy

The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand; Shadow Prey by John Sandford; Rules of Prey by John Sandford; The Racketeer by John Grisham; The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls; The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

Laurie

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Pam

Narcissus in Chains by Laurell K Hamilton; Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger; Steps Through the Mist by Zoran Zivkovic; Last Train Home by Renee Wendinger; The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve; They Named Me Marjorie by Ann Zemke; Seriously I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres; Stillwater by Nicole Helget

Olivia

Street Pharm by Allison van Diepen

Dawn

Finding Me by Michelle Knight and Michelle Burford; Last Train Home by Renee Wendinger; The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

Carol

Red Hill by Jamie McGuire; The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton; The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh; Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

Jen

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

Summer

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green; The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

Jill

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green; Innocence by Dean Koontz; The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

Katie

Book rating:

1-0

2-0

3-4

4-4

5-0

28/8 = 3.5

Jill had discussion questions for "The Pilot's Wife" by Anita Shreve.

Next book club is Thursday, July 31 at 7 pm at Gert & Erma's. Sandy is the hostess and the book to read is "And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini

Upcoming vote in September. Please have your 2-3 books to me by our August meeting: Buffy, Carol, Laurie, Pam, Stacie & Anne

An order form was passed around for clothing - orders must be received by June 30. Hopefully items will be done by July meeting and you can pay then.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SWCR Book club met on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Erma's.

Dawn was the hostess. Book was "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Icebreaker was your name, books you read and your favorite summertime drink.

Carol

1) Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon 2) Where She Went by Gayle Forman 3) Wool by Hugh Howey 4) A Perfect Evil by Alex Kava 5) Your Oasis on Flame Lake by Lorna Landvik 6) Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

Pam

1) Welcome to the Great Mysterious by Lorna Landvik 2) The Pearl by John Steinbeck 3) Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe 4) Fly a Little Higher by Laura Sobiech 5) Labor Day by Joyce Maynard 6) Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Melanie/Emmalyn

1) Hunger Games series

Jen

1) Fly a Little Higher by Laura Sobiech 2) Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe 3) The women of Duck Commander by Kay Robertson, etc

Anne

1) Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Laurie/Jackson

1) Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead 2) Blood Promise by Richelle Mead 3) Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead 4) Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Buffy/Chloe

1) Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe 2) Escape from Sobibor by Richard Rashke

Stacie

1) Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Patty

1) Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe 2) AWOL on the Appalachian Trail by David Miller 3) A Little Night Magic by Lucy March 4) I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas by Molly Harper

Jill

Summer

1) 1) Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - 4 chapters

Dawn

1) Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - 6 chapters 2) Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling

We discussed Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Rating:

1-1

2-2

3-1

4-1

5-1

17/6 = 2.83

Other discussion:

1) Jen will continue discussions with Laura Sobiech about coming to Arlington church in the fall to discuss her book "Fly a Little Higher". (in coordination with AGI Women of Today group)

2) The Real Deals store moved from Waconia to Victoria MN. (1476 Steiger Lake Ln)

3) Summer met Connie Claire Szarke, Minnesot author (Delicate Armor book) - and she offered to come to our book club! http://connieclaireszarke.com/

4) Melanie shared the date for the Liver Walk - Sunday, Sept 21 - Registration at 10 a.m. at Lake Rebecca, Rockford http://go.liverfoundation.org/site/TR?fr_id=4111&pg=entry

5) Winery day tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept 20 at Waconia 1) Schram Vineyards http://www.schramvineyards.com/p/home.html 2) Parley Lake Winery http://www.parleylakewinery.com/ParleyLakeWinery/Welcome.html 3) Sovereign Estate http://www.sovereignestatewine.com/index.php 4) Waconia Brewing Company http://waconiabrewing.com/

6) Pam continues to work with Evolution Shirts on our order form for SWCR apparel. The issue was they had to re-create the design as we didn't have a clear enough image for them.

7) Stacie mentioned the Bloomington Crime Prevention's annual book sale - all books are alphabetized by genre. Sale Dates: June 7 – June 21, 2014 (Preview Sale: June 6-admission $10)
Sale Location: 810 W 78th St., Richfield, MN
(The Shops at Lyndale @ Lyndale Av S & 494)

For June 26 read "The Pilot's Wife" by Anita Shreve. Jill is the hostess.

SWCR Book club met on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Erma's.

Summer was our hostess. Icebreaker: Name, books you read and any ghost story you would like to share.

Laurie

1) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 2) Riding the Bus With My Sister by Rachel Simon 3) Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Carol

1) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 2) Love Anthony by Lisa Genova 3) Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon 4) The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy 5) Welcome to the Great Mysterious by Lorna Landvik

Dawn

1) Riding the Bus With My Sister by Rachel Simon 2) The Pearl by John Steinbeck 3) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Pam

1) A Song for My Mother by Kat Martin 2) Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik 3) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 4) Bloodline by Sidney Sheldon 5) Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander 6) Defending Jacob by William Landay

Jill

1) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 2) The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton 3) Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Sandy

1) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 2) Confession by Carey Baldwin 3) The Color of Heaven by Julianne MacLean

Jen

1) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 2) Lake Superior Lawyer by Roy O Hoover 3) The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

Sarah

1) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Anne

1) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Buffy

1) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 2) The Bielski Brothers by Peter Duffy

Summer

1) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 2) Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

We discussed Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. Summer had a couple handouts "History of the Orphan Train Riders of New York" and "Edith Peterson (Sister Justina)

Questions:

1) In the prologue Vivian mentions that her "true love" died when she was 23, but she doesn't mention the other big secret in the book. Why not?

2) Why hasn't Vivian ever shared her story with anyone? Why does she tell it now?

3) In Women of the Dawn, a nonfiction book about the lives of four Wabanaki Indians excerpted in the epigraph, Bunny McBride writes: "In portaging from one river to another, Wabanakis had to carry their canoes and all other possessions. Everyone knew the value of traveling light and understood that it required leaving some things behind. Nothing encumbered movement more than fear, which was often the most difficult burden to surrender." How does the concept of portaging reverberate throughout this novel? What fears hamper Vivian's progress? Molly's?

4) What does Vivian mean when she says, "I believe in ghosts"?

5) When Vivian finally shares the truth about the birth of her daughter and her decision to put May up for adoption she tells Molly that she was "selfish" and "afraid". Molly defends her and affirms Vivian's choice. How did you perceive Vivian's decision? Were you surprised she sent her child to be adopted after her own experiences with the Children's Aid Society?

6) When the children are presented to audiences of potential caretakers, the Children's Aid Society explains adoptive families are responsible for the child's religious upbringing. What role does religion play in this novel? How do Molly and Vivian each view God?

7) When Vivian and Dutchy are reunited she remarks, "However hard I try, I will always feel alien and strange. And now I've stumbled on a fellow outsider, one who speaks my language without saying a word." How is this also true for her friendship with Molly?

8) When Vivian goes to live with the Byrnes, Fanny offers her food and advises, "You got to learn to take what people are willing to give." In what ways is this good advice for Vivian and Molly? What are some instances when their independence helped them?

9) Molly is enthusiastic about Vivian's reunion with her daughter, but makes no further efforts to see her own mother. Why is she unwilling or unable to effect a reunion in her own family? Do you think she will someday?

10) Vivian Claddagh's cross is mentioned often throughout the story. What is its significance? How does its meaning change or deepen over the course of Vivian's life?

11) Did you think the character of Vivian and Molly were realistic and authentic?

12) Is the ending what you expected? Some say it was a perfect ending - do you agree?

1-0

2-0

3-0

4-7

4.5 - 1

5-3

47.5/11 = 4.318

Next Book Club:

For May 29 - Dawn is hostess - Read "Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (Be aware that the book is around 400 pages)
We played the dice game and exchanged May Day gift baskets.

SWCR Book club met on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 7 pm at Gert & Erma's.

Jen was the hostess and our book was "The Zookeeper's Wife" by Diane Ackerman

Icebreaker was name, what you read and your favorite animal. 10 in attendance

Pam

1) The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman 2) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 3) Life on Ice by Lonnie Dupre 4) Anne Frank - the Diary of a Young Girl 5) Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery

horse

Stacie

1) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

bee-manta ray - dragonfly

Dawn

frog

Anne

1) The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

bear

Summer

1) The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

moose

Laurie

1) Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik 2) The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve 3) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead 4) Frostbite by Richelle Mead 5) Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

penguin

Buffy

1) The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

gorilla

Sarah

1) The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

cow

Sandy

1) The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman 2) Heat Lightning by John Sandford 3) The Pearl by John Steinbeck

giraffe

Jen

1) The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman 2) Divergent by Veronica Roth 3) Insurgent by Veronica Roth 4) Allegiant by Veronica Roth

elephant

We discussed the book and Jen had discussion questions.

Book rating:

1-0

2-0

3-4

4-1

5-0

16/5=3.2

We voted on the new logo and will try to find a retailer that will let us all order whatever item(s) we would like with the logo. (tshirts/sweatshirts, etc)

One suggestions is www.zazzle.com -- if you have any other suggestions please get back to me before next book club where I hope to have more ordering information.

We also discussed different authors that we know and if we would like to have some come and talk to us at book club. (hope I got them all down - I apologize if I missed any)

Buffy=Cheryl Strayed. http://www.cherylstrayed.com/

Pam=Anne Panning. http://www.annepanning.com/

Jen - Laura Sobiech. http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/tag/laura-sobiech/

Sidda Lee Rain - Arlington Erotic author http://www.siddaleerain.com/

Other suggestions: William Kent Krueger - http://www.williamkentkrueger.com/

Barb Greenberg - http://barbgreenberg.com/news-a-events.html

Renee Wendinger - http://www.theorphantrain.com/bio.html

Next book club: Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at Gert & Erma's. Read "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline. Summer is the hostess.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, March 6, 2014 (postponed from February) at 7 pm at Gert & Erma's.

Anne was the hostess. Icebreaker: Your name, books you read and the most remote place you have ever been.

Patty

Summer

1) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum 2) Lost in the Wild by Cary Griffith

Laurie

1) Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik

Dawn

1) The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein 2) Lost in the Wild by Cary Griffith 3) Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson

Sandy

1) If I Stay by Gayle Forman 2) Where She Went by Gayle Forman 3) The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani 4) Blind Justice by Anne Perry 5) The Foreign Correspondent by Alan Furst 6) The Alchemist's Daughter by Katharine McMahon 7) Lost in the Wild by Cary Griffith

Pam

1) The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 2) Love Does by Bob Goff 3) Lost in the Wild by Cary Griffith 4) The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe 5) Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Landvik 6) Rachel's Tears by Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott 7) Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz 8) Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz 9) Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz 10) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead 11) Bringing Elizabeth Home by Ed & Lois Smart 12) The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Jen

1) Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin 2) Lost in the Wild by Cary Griffith 3) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Anne

1) Lost in the Wild by Cary Griffith 2) Your Beautiful Purpose by Susie Larson

We discussed the book "Lost in the Wild" by Cary Griffith.

Rating
1-0

2-1

3-1

3.5-1

4-3

20.5 / 6 = 3.42

We played a word meaning activity with these words: 1) abeyance 2) ambulatory 3) assuage 4) desultory 5) frenetic 6) pestilential 7) presages 8) reconnoiter 9) somnambulist 10) sough -- Dawn had the most correct

Next book club: Thursday, March 27 at 7 pm - Read "The Zookeeper's Wife" by Diane Ackerman.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SWCR Book club met on January 30, 2014 at 7 pm at Gert & Erma's.

Thanks to Sharon for the "Fifty Shades of Grey" wine tasting.

Our book was "The Stormchasers" by Jenna Blum. Laurie was hostess. Icebreaker "Have you ever been in a really bad storm?"

Dawn 1) Defending Jacob by William Landay 2) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum 3) Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren 4) Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 5) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Pam 1) Karmas a Bitch by J Gail 2) Where She Went by Gayle Forman 3) Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris 4) The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne 5) Once We Were Brothers by Ronald Balson 6) Riding the Bus with My Sister by Rachel Simon 7) The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado 8) Christmas Jars by Jason F Wright 9) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum 10) Blue Moon by Laurell K Hamilton 11) Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell K Hamilton 12) A Short Guide to A Happy Life by Anna Quindlen 13) Skeleton Lake by Mike Doogan 14) The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Sandy 1) The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty 2) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum 3) The Legacy by Katherine Webb 4) Taken by Debra Lee 5) Best Kept Secrets by Sandra Brown 6) Lost in the Wild by Cary Griffith 7) Dark of the moon by John Sandford

Jill 1) The Good Sister by Drusilla Campbell 2) Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson 3) The Duck Commander Family by Willie Robertson 4) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

Jen 1) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum 2) Heaven Changes Everything by Todd Burpo 3) Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson 4) Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Sarah 1) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

Anne 1) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum 2) Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James

Stacie 1) Life on the Color Line by Gregory Howard Williams 2) A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift 3) The Call of the Wild by Jack London 4) The Job by Sinclair Lewis 5) His Captive Lady by Anne Gracie 6) If I Stay by Gayle Forman 7) Consequences by E M Delafield 8) Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth Von Arnim

Summer 1) If I Stay by Gayle Forman 2) Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Laurie 1) The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

Laurie had discussion ?'s. We have already read Jenna Blum's book "Those Who Save Us". A new book is coming in July "Grand Central" as well as a novella "The Lucky One". Rating: 1-0 2-0 3-1 4-6 5-2 37/9=4.111

Survey monkey results: 11 people voted yes for the murder mystery - 1 voted no. SO: Next book club has been changed to Thursday, Feb 20 at 7 pm at Gert & Erma's. Read "Lost in the Wild" by Cary J Griffith. Anne is the hostess.

If you wish to do the "Murder at the Mardi Gras" masquerade ball, please sign up at Gert & Erma's ASAP. Thursday, Feb 27 at 6:45 pm. Cost is $35 up front. Max guests: 20. Includes, appetizer, dinner & dessert, costumes, clues and fun.

Other announcements: Dawn is wondering if anyone is interested in going to the Hutch Event Center on Friday, Feb 21 for "Sirens of the 60's" concert. Advance tickets are $19.

There is interest in doing a field trip to Lake Harriet to find the troll tree (page 290). The troll tree is an oak with a little door in its trunk, complete with a tiny lion-headed gold knocker. There's a pebble path leading up to it, and twigs stuck on either side for bushes. Bring a treasure and if the troll is pleased with the treasure, the legend goes, he will grant the petitioner's wish.

Orphan Train speaker on Feb 23 at the Hutch Museum at 2 pm.