SWCR Book club met on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas in Glencoe.

Thank you to Laurie our hostess and for letting us make bookmarks and for the great door prizes! And thanks to Patty for bringing a cake!

Amy stopped in to pick up her t-shirt but couldn't stay for the meeting. Julie stepped in and out as she was working!

Icebreaker: Name, books you have read and "What have you learned about yourself since experiencing new books through book club."

Jen - The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler, The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks, One Year Bible.

Learned that she can enjoy more than chick lite books

Anne - The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler, Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo, The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman, Oldman's Guide to Outsmarting Wine by Mark Oldman

Learned from A Thousand Splendid Suns that Afghanistan is more interesting than World War 2 books

Buffy - The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler, A Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs, Catherine DeMedici, Renaissance Queen of France by Leoni Friede

Learned that she likes the opportunity to read a lot of different books

Sandra - The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein, The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler, Moment of Truth by Lisa Scottoline, Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes, The Pact by Jodi Picoult,

Learned that she likes coming to book club.

Patty - no books

Learned that she is looking forward to moving but Glencoe has things to offer and likes to meet new people.

Stacie - The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx, Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach, Chinese Civilization, Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, History of China, The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler

Learned that she didn't know she liked mysteries.

Dawn - The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler, Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros

Learned that she met new friends and looks forward to coming and read a lot of books she would have never read.

Pam - The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler, Room by Emma Donoghue, The Choice by Nicholas Sparks, The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks, Come Back: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back by Clair Fontaine, Still Waters by Tami Hoag, Dream of the Blue Room by Michelle Richmond.

Learned how Obsessive Compulsive I really am!

Carol - The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler, Charlaine Harris: All Together Dead, From Dead to Worse, Dead and Gone, Dead in the Family; The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Storm Chasers by Jenna Blum, The Blessings of the Animals by Katrina Kittle.

Learned it's been a mind opening experience.

Laurie - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, A Fine Dark Line by Joe Lansdale, Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo, The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn Saks, Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler, The Perils of Sisterhood by Amy Alden, The Girl that Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson

Learned to like so many different things - hate to be told what to do.

Summer - The Memories We Keep by Walter Zacharius, Saving Max by Antoinette Van Heugten, The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler.

Learned she would never have read some of the books we've read.

Rated the book:

1 - 0

2 - 0

3 - 6

4 - 2

4.5 - 1

30.5 / 9 = 3.4

Talked about our thoughts on Hypnotism. Are kids born or bred bad? Was book more confusing because it had 2 authors?

Next Meeting:

Thursday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe. Read "I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb. Patty is the hostess.

Other:

www.audible.com -website to download books

Played the wrapped book dice game!

Exchanged books at the book swap!

February 23 - Still Alice by Lisa Genova -- Carol hostess

March 29 - The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin- Jen hostess

  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

SWCR Book club met on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe.

Icebreaker - 1) what you are thankful for - 2) vampire name - 3) Favorite Twilight character 4) What else you have read

 

Pam - 1) SWCR book club friends 2) Pammella 3) Edward

Read - Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo; Mismatch by Tami Hoag; Deeper than the Dead by Tami Hoag; A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks; Room by Emma Donoghue

 

Jen - 1) Family, Life, Job, Zumba 2) Jessica 3) Edward (book) Jacob (movie

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

 

Sandy - 1) Family, Health 2) Cruella 3) Jacob

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

 

Stacie - 1) Tate, Working at Gustavus 2) Sookie 3) Bella/Edward or people they found in book #4

 

Buffy - 1) Clean bill of health this year in family 2) Gabriella 3) Rosalie

Sarah's Key

 

Anne - 1) Kids, job, healthy

Old Turtle

 

Sandra - 1) Health, family, job 2) Alice 3) Alice

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

 

Patty - 1) Husband, munchkin, SWCR 2) Bella 3) Charlie

My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers Book 1) by Rachel Vincent; My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers Book 2) by Rachel Vincent

 

Summer - 1) friends, family, laughter 2) Carol 3) Alice

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

 

Carol - 1) walks w/Laurie, serenity, change 2) Twyla 3) Alice

Damned by Chuck Pahlahnuik; A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle; A Soft Place to Land by Susan Rebecca White; Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout; Change your thoughts, change your life by Wayne Dyer; Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

 

Laurie - 1) family, SWCR, Carol, fuzzies to keep feet warm 2) Terra 3) Leah

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) by J. K. Rowling; The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) by Stieg Larsson

 

Dawn - 1) SWCR, girls, granddaughter, health, a year without cancer, 2 mos. since last cigarette, thankful for Emmalyn doing better 2) Stella 3) Alice

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

 

We rated the book:

1 - 0

2 - 0

3 - 1

3.5 - 1

4 - 5

5 - 0

26.5 /7 = 3.8

 

Discussion questions:

 

If you could ask Colton Burpo one question about his experience in heaven, what would you ask him and why?

Discuss some of Colton’s descriptions of heaven in this book. Which details stand out to you as being particularly encouraging or interesting? How does Colton’s story help you visualize heaven?

Have you read other accounts of those who have experienced heaven? If so, how does Colton's experience compare?

In what way would you say that Colton's young age (he was four) influences his vision of heaven? Would it have been different had he been, say 34...or 64?

In what ways does Colton's reporting shift from a descriptive vision of heaven to a more prophetic one?

 

OTHER

1) Christmas meeting on December 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's. Patty will make cake balls. Bring a wrapped book for the dice game (can be new or used). Bring any books you want to get rid of for the book swap. Possible Christmas games. We will write a Christmas poem that night - each person will add a sentence.

 

2) Stacie brought up that she would like us to pick our books differently. She would like each person to pick a month and you would submit 2-3 books that you want to read and the group would vote on which one. You would be responsible for icebreaker, discussion questions or activities for that month.

We voted:

Keep process- 2

Change process - 10

This new process will begin in April. We discussed doing at least 4 months in advance.

Next meeting: December 29 - Read "The Hypnotist" by Lars Kepler

 

Following book club - the Twilighters went to Patty's for pre-movie festivities.

"Breaking Dawn" was attended by: Patty, Sandra, Dawn, Laurie, Sandy, Summer, Jen, Buffy, Pam & Edward. We were also joined by Gwen and Donna.

 

Here's the story from the movie that we wrote:

Was Eden Prairie ever a prairie?

With tall grass and tumbleweeds?

And couples having sex getting grass in their ass.

It must have the eden for eve!

But now mostly shoppers slavering at VonMaur!

Driving their mini-vans.

Round the mall for we all know that mess

Why is Greenland called that when it is not green?

It's called Greenland due to all the horny Irish!

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 The SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, October 27, 2011

10 in attendance. Icebreaker was your name (fictitious) and scary movie(s) and what books you read in last month.

 

Summer AKA Sam

Freddy Krueger movies

Shadow Baby by Alison McGhee 

 

Patty AKA Shaneyney

Paranormal

What Lies Beneath by Sarah Rayne; Harvest by Tess Gerritsen; Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver; Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson, Book 3) by Molly Harper

 

Carol AKA ?

Saw, Jaws

Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account Of The Death Penalty In The United States by Helen Prejean; Dead as a Doornail (Original MM Art): A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood) by Charlaine Harris; Promise Not to Tell: A Novel by Jennifer McMahon; Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett; Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 6) by Charlaine Harris; Just Kids by Patti Smith

Audiobooks: Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling by Wayne W. Dyer; A Spiritual Journey by Ram Dass; The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

 

Stacie AKA Mildred

The Exorcist, I am Legend

Invisible Monsters: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk; Ghouls Gone Wild (Ghost Hunter Mysteries, No. 4) by Victoria Laurie 

 

Buffy AKA Beatrice

Friday the 13th, The Omen

Just Kids by Patti Smith

 

Laurie AKA Martha

Children of the Corn, Signs, Neverending Story, ET

Bed of Roses (The Bride Quartet, Book 2) by Nora Roberts; Savor the Moment (The Bride Quartet, Book 3) by Nora Roberts; Happy Ever After (Bride Quartet, Book 4) by Nora Roberts; Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 11) by Charlaine Harris; A Touch of Dead (Sookie Stackhouse: The Complete Stories) by Charlaine Harris; Just Kids by Patti Smith; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6) by J. K. Rowling and Mary GrandPré; 

 

Sandy AKA Stella

It

Just Kids by Patti Smith; In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

 

Jen AKA Lulu

Signs, ET, Anything with Aliens

Just Kids by Patti Smith

 

Pam AKA Penelope

Jeepers Creepers

Just Kids by Patti Smith; Stone Cold by David Baldacci; Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner; A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick ; The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows; What Matters Most: A Novel by Luanne Rice

 

Dawn AKA Stella

Aliens, When a Stranger Calls

Just Kids by Patti Smith; The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland 

 

 

Discussion questions:

We rated the book a 2.5.

1-      1

2-      3

3-      1

4-      0

5-      1

 

Patti Smiths father told her she was not attractive enough to marry; Robert Mapelthorpe said he was a parent pleaser making ³girl art´ against his familys wishes. How did these affect their relationship, their lives as artists?

 Patti Smith served as nurse, caretaker, and money lender to male artists and supported some female artists like Janis Joplin. Who helped Patti Smith?

 Victor Hugo described Arthur Rimbaud as "an infant Shakespeare" when in his teens. He was known as a libertine and restless soul, traveling extensively before his death from cancer less at 37. What was the significance of Patti Smiths love of Rimbaud? Of Bob Dylan?

 At the start of the book the nurses were mean to Patti Smith when she gave birth. At the end when she was hiring another guitarist for her band she commented that the men did not like a woman-led band. How did these incidents reflect the times Patti Smith lived in? How were women treated throughout the book?

 Patti Smith felt her fame came too quickly and Robert Mapelthorpe couldn’t get his quickly enough. Why the different attitudes?

 The book says that Andy Warhol had defaced Madonna and Christ in his art and Robert Mapelthorpe followed in his footsteps. Who else has continued this since the seventies?

 There was a lot of loss in the book ± suicide, death, burglary. How did that affect the artists?

 Patti Smith writes that people assumed she was a speed freak and a lesbian because of the way she looked. Do you think there was any attempt to re-write or edit history in the book?

 Patti Smith felt that Robert Mapelthorpe saw God as universal love when she met him, but the battle between Catholic good and evil took over. Robert gave Patti a Joan of Arcmedal on his the opening of his first Polaroid photo show. How did religion affect their relationship and their lives?

 What happened to the Chelsea hotel? Does it still exist?

Do you think its true (per Patti Smiths mothers ³wives tale´) ± that what you do on New Years Day sets the tone for the rest of the year?

 UPCOMING/OTHER

 

Tshirts are done! I have t-shirts for Amy, Jill, Katie, Kim, Kristin, Melanie – Cost is $11.25

 Next meeting: November 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas. Read Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, Deluxe Edition by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent – Melanie is the hostess

 Following book club we have been invited to Pattys and then 9 of us will be heading to the midnight premiere of “Breaking Dawn” at Waconia. Pam bought tickets for: Patty, Sandra, Dawn, Carol, Sandy, Summer, Jen, Buffy, Pam (9) $8.50 each – Wear your new T-SHIRT!

 Summer gave an update on Melanies baby – she had surgery at Childrens and has liver disease. Thoughts and prayers to Melanie and her family.

 Jen and Summer are attending ZUMBA classes at Arlington (above bar) on Tuesdays at 6 pm for $2.

 

SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert &
Erma's. 13 members were in attendance.

Jill was the hostess. She gave us all a bag of M&M's and asked us to
pick our favorite color for icebreaker. Colors were associated with
questions.
Blue - Family fact or finish "When I get home I'm going to..."
Green - Goal for future or "Best thing about my job is..."
Orange - Something to be proud of or "The most important thing I
learned this week..."
Yellow - Someone you respect or "I thought it was a great day when..."
Brown - Favorite movie or "My meaningful experience this week was..."


Jen - Green=Run 5K and Make people out of products we sell
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp

Carol - Blue = I'm going to bed
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
Precious: A Novel by Sapphire
Flight: A Novel by Sherman Alexie
A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Invisible Monsters: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk 

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls

Laurie - Green - Goal=Pay off house
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) by J. K. Rowling and Mary GrandPré
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix by J. K. Rowling and Mary GrandPré

Sandra - Green - Goal=Move to Phoenix when retired
Unravelled by Robyn Harding
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
Honky Tonk Kat (Kat Colorado Mysteries) by Karen Kijewski
Kat Scratch Fever (Kat Colorado Mysteries) by Karen Kijewski
Twenties Girl: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen
Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood) by Charlaine Harris

Pam - Blue - 4 brothers & 3 sisters
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
What Matters Most: A Novel by Luanne Rice

Dawn - Orange - 1 week and 4 days with No Cigarettes
The Blue Notebook: A Novel by James Levine
Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) by Stieg Larsson
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls

Sandy - Yellow - at book club so it's a great day!
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers by Harry Bernstein

Summer - Brown - Top Gun - Surprise trip to Duluth
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
My Sister's Bones by Cathi Hanauer
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs

Melanie - Green - Work from home -- Maternity leave

Patty - Blue - Get home = drink - Family is nuts
Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
Bare Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels) by Kathy Reichs
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, Book 1) by Molly Harper
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson, Book 2) by Molly Harper
Another Thing to Fall: A Novel (Tess Monaghan Mysteries) by Laura Lippman
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella (Twilight
Saga) by Stephenie Meyer

Stacie - Green - Work= being in an academic setting & free tuition &
Tate was awesome at parent/teacher conferences -- Goal=school forever
Hitler Biography & Textbooks

Buffy - Blue - Brush teeth & go to bed
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
Vermilion Drift: A Novel by William Kent Krueger

Jill - Blue - Girls Retreat weekend to work on quilting
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
New Moon (The Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer


Book rating:
1-0
2-0
3-4
4-5
5-1
Average: 3.7

Discussion questions:
1) Whey Lily's father dies, she and Rosemary drive his body from
Tucson back to the ranch in West Texas. Rosemary is embarrassed to be
seen driving with a corpse and ducks down in the car when they stop at
a red light. "Life's too short, honey," Lily tells Rosemary "to worry
what other people think of you." What does Lily's reaction to this
behavior show about her character? Does she give much credence to what
other people think of her? What effect do you think her mother's
attitude had on Rosemary?
2) Following Helen's suicide, Lily says, "When people kill themselves,
they think they're ending the pain, but all they're doing is passing
it on to those they leave behind. Do you agree with this statement?
3) When a group of Brooklyn ladies visits the ranch, Rosemary and Lily
take them for a car ride they'll never forget. Lily concludes their
encounter by saying, "You ride, you got to know how to fall, and you
drive, you got to know how to crash" How does this statement apply to
Lilys life as a whole? What does she mean by knowing "how to fall"?
4) Walls calls "Half Broke Horses" a "true life novel". In her
author's note, she explains why. Do you agree with this label? What do
you think of the "true life"?

Free ice cream compliments of Gert & Erma's - Thanks Sharon!!


Next meeting - Thursday October 27 -- Read "Just Kids" by Patti Smith
 - Dawn is hostess
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

SWCR book club met on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma’s in Glencoe.

We had 13 members in attendance. Hostess was Sandra. Icebreaker was the books you read this month and what you think the name Batuk means.

Sandy – The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest.

        Batuk – don’t know

Stacie – Hitler biography

        Batuk – phoenix from the ashes

Jen – The Blue Notebook by James Levine; Mini Shopaholic: A Novel (Shopaholic Series) by Sophie Kinsella; The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families--How they Do It by Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar

        Batuk – don’t know

Jill – The Blue Notebook by James Levine; The Associate: A Novel by John Grisham

        Batuk – courage/resiliency

Buffy – Political books for college

        Batuk – something positive

Carol - Dead to the World: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)by Charlaine Harris; Crow Lake (Today Show Book Club #7) by Mary Lawson; The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain; But Inside I'm Screaming by Elizabeth Flock; The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran; A Home at the End of the World: A Novel by Michael Cunningham; The Boy In the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne; Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo; Range of Motion: A Novel by Elizabeth Berg

        Batuk – princess or water

Laurie - Dragon's Time: Dragonriders of Pern (The Dragonriders of Pern) by Anne McCaffrey and Todd J. McCaffrey;  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1) by J. K. Rowling; .  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) by J. K. Rowling; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) by J. K. Rowling; The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession (P.S.) by Paulo Coelho

        Batuk – “sad” notebook

Summer – The Blue Notebook by James Levine; Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison; A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Fatherby Augusten Burroughs

        Batuk – strength

Dawn - Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde by Jeff Guinn;

        Batuk – education/writing

Pam – The Blue Notebook by James Levine; Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten; Winterdance by Gary Paulsen

        Batuk – the ability to transport your mind elsewhere during difficult times

Sandra – The Blue Notebook by James Levine; Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris;

Anne - What Paul Meant by Garry Wills

Julie – The Blue Notebook by James Levine

 

Sandra had a couple questions for us to ponder. We talked a bit about pedophiles and how sick the book made us. There was talk about being repulsed by child abuse, kidnapping, sexual slavery, etc – do we ever think about what we can do?  There was some talk about the human trafficking that goes on right here in Minnesota.

VOTES – solid 3 on the book

Next meeting: Sept 29 – Read “Half Broke Horses” by Jeanette Walls

Upcoming:

 

SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe. 11 members in attendance.

Icebreaker: Your name - Books you have read this month - 1) Who helped you during your childhood besides your parents 2) Do you have a Hilly Holbrook person in your life and what have they done to you

Laurie - Charlaine Harris books: Dead to the World (book 4); Dead as a Doornail (book 5); Definitely Dead (book 6); All Together Dead (book 7); 

From Dead To Worse (book 8); Dead and Gone (book 9); Dead in the Family (book 10); The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Carol - Lost in the Forest: A Novel by Sue Miller; Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 3) by Charlaine Harris; Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver; The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx; The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow; 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People - Hallmark Edition by David Niven; The Help by Kathryn Stockett

1) Little grandma lady read to her and taught her to read 

Julie - The Help by Kathryn Stockett; Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and Leonard Peikoff 

Jen - The Help by Kathryn Stockett

1) Grandma & Grandpa

Sandy - The Help by Kathryn Stockett

1) Grandma

Sandra - The Help by Kathryn Stockett; Red Mesa by Aimee Thurlo and David Thurlo; Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard 

1) Mother

Pam - The Help by Kathryn Stockett; Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse / Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 1) by Charlaine Harris

Dawn - The Help by Kathryn Stockett

1) Youngest aunt Bobbi

Summer - The Help by Kathryn Stockett; The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer

1) Mothers parents 

Patty - The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory, and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School by Alexandra Robbins; A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Lee Dugard; Faithful Place: A Novel by Tana French; Saving Zoe: A Novel by Alyson Noel; New Moon (The Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer 

Buffy - The Help by Kathryn Stockett; American Assassin: A Thriller by Vince Flynn 

1) Mom's mom

Due to the nature of the conversations about the "Hillys" in our life - I have decided not to put any of the comments on this. Congrats to all who have overcome some of the hurtful things in their life. We discussed how powerful fear and guilt can be in our lives.

Book rating: 

1 - 0

2 - 0

3 - 0

4 - 4

4.5 - 1

5 - 5

Average: 4.55

We discussed "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. The book centered on blacks and whites using different toilets. We talked a lot about racism and stereotypes. 

 

1) Carol shared a link for books: http://www.thriftbooks.com/

 

2) A tshirt order form was sent around. Pam has 1 quote for $11.50 approximately per shirt. Black tshirts with pink lettering. Still waiting on one more quote before ordering. If you want a tshirt please let me know asap - quantity and size. We need to order 24 shirts to get the pricing break.

 

3) Free can coozies from Gert & Erma's to those who came. Thanks to Sharon!!

 

Next meeting: Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 7:30 at Gert & Ermas. Read "The Blue Notebook" by James Levine. Sandra is hostess

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas.

 

Icebreaker: What is your safe haven - place, relationships, etc. and what books have you read. 15 attendees. Welcome to new member Julie Wall!

 

Dawn - Read: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks; The Shack by William P. Young; Summer of '42 by Herman Raucher

   Safe haven: Kids

 

Melanie - Read: NA

   Safe haven: Home w/Eric

 

Laura - Read: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks; Lucky: A Memoir by Alice Sebold 

   Safe haven: home

 

Buffy - Vanish (Jane Rizzoli, Book 5) by Tess Gerritsen; Red Knife: A Novel (Cork O'Connor Mysteries) by William Kent Krueger

   Safe haven: bedroom

 

Katie - What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th Edition by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel

   Safe haven: home

 

Laurie - Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo; 

Sookie Stackhouse, Books 1-3 by Charlaine Harris

   Safe haven: my head

 

Anne - NA

 

Sandra - 

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks; Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay; Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen; Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler; Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis; The Places In Between by Rory Stewart; Flush by Carl Hiaasen; Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 

   Safe haven: patio

 

Carol - The Deep End of the Ocean (Oprah's Book Club) by Jacquelyn Mitchard; Look Again by Lisa Scottoline; By the Time You Read This: A Novel by Giles Blunt; Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love by Matt Logelin; Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood) by Charlaine Harris; 

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)by Charlaine Harris; The Bean Trees: A Novel (P.S.) by Barbara Kingsolver; The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst

   Safe haven: peace of mind

 

Julie - Rift in Time (The Livingstone Chronicles #1) by Michael Phillips; Piercing the Darkness by Frank Peretti; Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen 

   Safe haven: porch with dogs - looking at horses

 

Jo - Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

   Safe haven: bedroom

 

Stacie - The Winds of War by Herman Wouk; The Haj by Leon Uris; Black, White & Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self by Rebecca Walker; Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley 

   Safe haven: books

 

Pam - Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris and Ian Falconer; Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

   Safe haven: friends/family

 

Jen - Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

   Safe haven: bedroom/bathtub

 

Summer - Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks; Lucky: A Memoir by Alice Sebold

 

 We rated the book 4.25.

We did the ABC activity for the book. Some very creative words!

We discussed what a creep the husband was and how surprised some of us were by how the "angel wife" was the next door neighbor. 

 

OTHER:

Stacie mentioned there is a new Clan of the Cave Bear book. 

 

 

July 21 - deadline to vote on books for next 6 months (6 people have already voted!)

Website to vote:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BLNDFQW

 

T-shirts -- Pam is checking on prices with a couple different vendors. We will order black tshirts with pink lettering. Same logos as last time. 

 

Next meeting: Thursday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's. Stacie is the hostess! Read: "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

SWCR book club met on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's

in Glencoe. Thanks to Sandy for being an awesome one handed hostess. 

 

Icebreaker - your name - any other books you have read - summer plans

 

Buffy - William Kent Krueger books

Beach pass - Ely weekend with girls

 

Carol - Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest Stieg Larsson; Long Lost by

Harlan Coben; Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's

Addiction by David Sheff

 

Work - going up north to visit Mom

 

Laurie - A Little Fate by Nora Roberts; Dewey: The Small-Town Library

Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter; The Help by

Kathryn Stockett; The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Try to do Facebook and email again - going to Okoboji, IA

Laura - The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman

Melanie's baby shower, Wedding, Wisconsin Dells, Greece & Paris, Camping

Summer - Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest Stieg Larsson

 

2 baby showers, Laura's wedding, camping, Wisconsin Dells -- 2 free

weekends all summer

Melanie -

Wedding, Giving birth, moving into house in 2 weeks hopefully

Pam - Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline

Graduation, hopefully sell house and move

Sandy -

Road trip to South Carolina - plane trip to South Carolina

Jen -

Water Park, West Side Story

Discussed the book "Look Again" by Lisa Scottoline

1 - 0

2 - 0

3 - 1

4 - 4

5 - 1

24 / 6 = 4 average rating

Questions:

1) As a journalist, Ellen has a heightened need to find the truth. In

this circumstance, was this a good thing or a bad thing?

2) The idea of "letting go" a child helped shape the whole premise of

the book for Lisa, which led her to thinking about who really "owns" a

child. Who do you think "owns" a child, and what exactly does that

mean?

3) How would you describe Ellen's relationship with her father and how

do you think it changed over the course of the book?

4) What effect do you think all the drama in Will's life will have on

him in the future?

5) How do you feel about single parents adopting children? How do you

feel about open adoption?

Other Discussion:

 

1) T-shirts -- Will order black tshirt with pink lettering -- order

form coming soon

2) Habitat for Humanity - http://www.crhfh.org/

3) Next month - Melanies baby shower at 6:30 at Gert & Erma's!

4) Submit 2 books for the book vote before June 30. Will vote in July.

(those who have submitted: Dawn, Kristin, Melanie, Jill)

5) Laura's Bachelorette Party -- Friday, July 1 - be at Summers house

at 6:30 p.m. Tentative plans are Whisky River in St Peter for supper

and then back to the Dugout in Arlington for karaoke. There was talk

about having a wagon -- and the prom dressed partiers riding on the

wagon around town. Bring tiaras if you have any!

6) We switched order of books - will read "The Help" in July . And

finish with "The Blue Notebook" in August.

 

 

Next meeting: June 30

6:30 for Melanies Baby Shower

7:30 book club - Summer is hostess

Read "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma’s in Glencoe.

Thanks to Jen for being the hostess for March!

Icebreaker was your favorite Dr Seuss book and any other books you read. (17 in attendance)

Jen- Green Eggs & Ham

Buffy – Green Eggs & Ham

        Life Support by Tess Gerritsen, The Apprentice- Tess Gerritsen

Sandra – The Cat in the Hat

        Breadfruit: A Novel by Célestine Hitiura Vaite

Stacie – Fox in Socks

        Jewels of the Sun: The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy (Irish Trilogy, Book 1) by Nora Roberts, Tears of the Moon (Irish Trilogy, Book 2) by Nora Roberts , Heart of the Sea (Irish Trilogy, Book 3) by Nora Roberts, Celia, A Slave by Melton Alonza McLaurin, The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts by Louis De Bernieres

Jo – Are you my mother or Go Dog Go

Sandy – Horton Hatches the Egg

Amy – Go Dog Go

Patty – There’s a Wocket in my Pocket

        The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland , The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland

Kristin – Oh the Thinks You can think

Carol – Green Eggs and Ham

        A Death in Texas: A Story of Race, Murder, and a Small Town's Struggle for Redemptionby Dina Temple-Raston, The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland, Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy and Ann Patchett

Laurie – One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

        Vision in White (The Bride Quartet, Book 1) by Nora Roberts

Anne – The Foot Book or One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

        Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

Summer – Oh The Places You’ll go or Mr Brown Can Moo! Can you?

Melanie – Wacky Wednesday

Dawn – The Foot Book

Pam – I Am Not Going to Get Up Today

        The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett (

Jill – I Am Not Going to Get Up Today

        7th Heaven (The Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro,Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker and Marla Frazee

 

We talked about “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson

Ratings:

1

2

3 - 1

4 - 4

5 – 9

60 divided by 14 = 4.29

1.      Who do you consider the novel’s protagonist, Lisbeth or Mikael? Why? Mikael

2.      On page 156, Henrik tells Mikael, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s never engage in a fight you’re sure to lose. On the other hand, never let anyone who has insulted you get away with it. Bide your time and strike back when you’re in a position of strength – even if you no longer need to strike back.” Over the course of the novel, who puts this advice to the best use? How and why? Lisbeth – Tattoo – hacker

3.      How does the involvement of several Vanger brothers with Swedish fascist groups cloud Mikael’s investigation into Harriets disappearance? What role does Harald play? He kept investigating.

4.      Discuss the character of Lisbeth. Some think she is a “perfect victim” (p 409) others find her intimidating, and Mikael wonders if she has Aspergers, but the reader is allowed to see exactly how her mind works. How do you see her? How do you think she sees herself? Victim

5.      What do you think about the way Lisbeth turns the tables on Bjurman? Is it admirable, or a sign that she’s unstable? Admirable

6.      On page 254, Lisbeth says her new tattoo is “a reminder” Of what? Times of abuse, tattoos tell story of her life

7.      Discuss the role of parents in the novel. Who is a good parent, and why? How might Harriets story have changed if her mother had behaved differently? What about Lisbeths? Is Mikael a good father? No good parent. Mikael tries.

8.      Blackmail is used several times in the novel, for different ends. Who uses it most effectively, and why? Elizabeth – especially when she gets all that money

9.      Discuss Henrik’s request that Mikael never publish the Vanger story. Is it a reasonable request? Does Mikael’s acquiescence change your opinion of him? Do Lisbeth’s demands mitigate his ethical breach? Yes it’s a reasonable request not to publish. Someone should have stopped Harriets dad right away.

Other discussion:

 

Happy 3 year anniversary to us. Pam purchased a cake to celebrate and Gert & Ermas donated champagne for us. Thanks to Sharon!

Thanks to Patty for leading our FEMININE PRODUCT BOOK MARK that Patty, Buffy, Pam & Jen learned about at “The Girls Only” comedy show they saw. Highly recommended to all to see!

 

Next book Club – Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas – Read “Those Who Save Us” by Jenna Blum. Carol is the hostess for April.

 

  ________________________________________________________________________

  SWCR book club met on February 24, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas is Glencoe.

 

Thanks to Laurie E for doing a great job as Hostess.

 

Attendance: Jen, Sandra, Buffy, Patty, Summer, Melanie, Dawn, Pam, Jill, Laurie, Anne, Sandy (12)

 

Icebreaker - -your name, other books you have read and which sense of smell would you most like to keep and which one you could lose.

 

Jen - Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom

            Lose – Touch            Keep – Sight

 

Sandra - Heathen Girls by Luanne Jones; Paula: A Memoir (P.S.) by Isabel Allende;  The SECRET BOOK OF GRAZIA DEI ROSSI by Jacqueline Park;  Josephine: A Life of the Empress by Carolly Erickson; In the Woods by Tana French

            Lose – Taste  Keep – Sight

 

Buffy – Lose – Smell            Keep – Sight

 

           

Patty -             Lose – Taste  Keep – Hear/See

 

Summer - The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein

            Lose – Smell  Keep – Sight

 

Melanie - Belly Laughs:;   The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth by Jenny McCarthy

            Lose – Smell  Keep – Sight

 

Dawn - A Virtuous Woman (Oprah's Book Club) by Kaye Gibbons

            Lose – Smell  Keep – Sight

 

Pam - The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson

            Lose – Smell  Keep – Sight

 

Jill - Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

            Lose – Taste  Keep – Sight

 

Laurie  - Mini Shopaholic: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella;  The Circle Trilogy: Morrigan's Cross; Dance of the Gods; Valley of Silence - Paperback - Box set (Dec. 5, 2006) by Nora Roberts;  Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom

Lose – Taste      Keep – Sight

 

Anne - The Junior Novel (Alpha And Omega) by Aaron Rosenberg

Lose – Taste     Keep – Sight

 

Sandy - The Fiery Cross (Outlander Series #5) by Diana Gabaldon; Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen;  Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

 

We then discussed the book “Salem Falls” by Jodi Picoult.

We rated the book at a 4.15 out of 5 stars.

 

We talked about the surprise ending and who had an inkling about what was going to happen. We discussed the fascination with witchcraft. We also talked about how Chloe’s death affected her mother.

 

Other discussions:

 

Congrats to Melanie – due date in August!

 

Laurie mentioned that she would like to have a “SWCR” day at the Habitat for Humanity House that they are building in Glencoe on 13^th 7 Knight

 

 For March – Read “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson.

Jen is the hostess. In honor of Dr Seuss’ birthday – everyone should read and bring their favorite Dr Seuss book.

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

No minutes available for January 2011

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

2010 

 

SWCR Book club met on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas in Glencoe.

Icebreaker – Your favorite Christmas gift and what other books you are reading. (10 in attendance)

Dawn – ?

Summer – ?

Jen G – A) Glee game

                B) The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis

Buffy – A) Peace ring

Anne – A) Handmade picture frame from son

Carol – A) Box of Favorite things from Laurie

                B) The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle, Night by Elie Wiesel, Come Back: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back (P.S.) by Claire Fontaine and Mia Fontaine, Wishin' and Hopin': A Novel  by Wally Lamb, Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

Laurie – A) SIM Game

Jill – A) Mothers Ring

                B) The Haunting of Josie  by Kay Hooper

Sandy – A) Gift Certificate to Barnes & Noble

                B) The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland, Breathless: A Novel of Suspense by Dean Koontz

Pam  - A) Glee DVD

B) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel by Lisa See, Still Alice by Lisa Genova, The Year of the Fog by Michelle Richmond, Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger, The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

 

We rated “The Screwtape Letters” by CS Lewis.

0s – 2

.5 - 1

1s – 4

2s  - 2

3s - 1

4s - 0

5s- 0

Average 1.15

 

Unanimous group decision not to discuss this book. Either it was not read – not finished – or not liked. Nothing good to say about it.

 

We each had a wrapped book and played the dice game.

 

A lot of books were brought for the book swap. We drew numbers a few times to disburse – and then had a free for all. There were quite a few books left over. Pam will keep in her vehicle and bring back for next time.

 

Next meeting: Thursday, January 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma’s. Patty is the hostess for January. Pam is also looking for a volunteer to run club that night as she will be at wrestling meet. (will try to come later)

 

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma’s in Glencoe.

 

Icebreaker – your Most favorite and Least favorite part of the holidays as well as what other books you have read.

We had 11 members there. Welcome to new member Patty!!

 

Sandy – Most: Family                          Least: Weather 

            The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland

 

Jen – Most: Watch Boys Open Gifts               Least: Too many places to go at same time

            Cut by Patricia McCormick

            The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis and Pauline Baynes

 

Sandra – Most: Friends/Family                       Least: Snow

 

Amy – Most: Driving kids crazy by not telling them what she wants for Xmas                     Least: Husbands attitude

 

Carol – Most: Thanksgiving                Least: Kettles, Greed, Spending money

            Then We Came to the End: A Novel by Joshua Ferris

 

Laurie – Most: Shopping, music, eating, decorations                        Least: Work too much

            The 9th Judgment (Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Composed: A Memoir by Rosanne Cash

 

Patty – Most: Freak for Christmas                  Least: Waiting – doesn’t like surprises

            Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe  by Maria Rodale and Eric Scholsser

 

Summer – Most: Give gifts                 Least: That Thanksgiving gets skipped

            Precious (Push) by Sapphire

Little Bee: A Novel by Chris Cleave

 

Melanie – Most: Loves the holidays               Least: Gaining weight

           

Dawn – Most: Don’t like holidays                   Least: Holidays – girls gone for 3 weeks

            Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen

 

Pam – Most: Christmas Music                        Least: Christmas is not the same anymore

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water: A Novel by Michael Dorris

 

 We discussed the book: “I Thought You Were Dead” by Pete Nelson.

Rating:

5-1

4- 4

3-5

2-0

1-0

Average: 3.6

 

Questions discussed:

1)      At what point in the book did you figure out that Paul was an alcoholic?  Some said right away – some said not til later.

2)      Describe Paul and Tamsen’s relationship.  Complicated. He really liked her to put up with her crap of being with 2 guys at once.

3)      How did Tamsen figure out that Paul’s dad thought he was communicating with his father and not his son on the computer? Good guess. He said he didn’t have a son Paul. But he had a dad named Paul.

4)      Do you think Paul would have quit drinking if his father hadn’t told him to? No. Eventually but not in book. He had a hopeless life.

5)      Do you believe in fate?  Yes. Sometimes.

6)      Why do we give our hearts to others of our own species, women or men who invariably stomp on that heart, stick it with a million little needles, and then expect us to come back for more? We are masochistic. Some play victim.

7)      Do you think Pauls’ being drunk was why he could carry on conversations with the dog? Yes. His dog was his subconscious talking to him

8)      Were you shocked that parents were alcoholics? No. Yes.

 

 

Next meeting: Thursday, December 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas. Read “The Screwtape Letters” by CS Lewis

Bring a wrapped book for the dice game. Also will have book swap so bring any books you want to get rid of. If you have ideas how we would distribute these – let Pam know.

Pam will bring extra SWCR book bags to December meeting. If you want one – they are $16.25. I have 4 left – first come first served.

Group picture – hope to have everyone there for picture!!

 

 

Other discussion:

 

Pam sent around a sign up sheet. Each person was asked to sign up for a month. Try to come up with an icebreaker or game or activity that goes with that months book or the season – or whatever. Looking forward to some new ideas!

Pam will still take care of logistics of club.

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

SWCR book club met on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe.
 
Icebreaker - your favorite fall activity and what other books you read. 12 in attendance. Welcome to new member Jill Grams from Winthrop - she has been on our list for awhile but this was the first time she has been able to attend.
 
Dawn - A) loves everything about fall
B) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
 
Summer - A) loves Halloween B) House Rules by Jodi Picoult
 
Melanie - A) Halloween
B) NA
 
Tosha - A) Likes leaves
B) The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf
 
Katie - A) Thanksgiving
B) Twilight (The Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
 
Sandra - A) Halloween
B) The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
 
Carol - A) Colors - walking in the fall
B) The Little Friend by Donna Tartt, A Yellow Raft in Blue Water: A Novel by Michael Dorris, Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp, Magical Thinking: True Stories by Augusten Burroughs
 
Laurie - A) Loves fall
B) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
 
Jen - A) Halloween
B)  Gift of Life by Henri Landwirth
 
Sandy - A) Prettiest season - likes change of season
B) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland
 
Jill - A) Halloween – kids love it
B) The 8th Confession (Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson

 
Pam - A) Panther Football games
B) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland, The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland, The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls, The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein
 
We discussed this month's book - P.S. Your Cat is Dead by James Kirkwood.
Rating:
1- 1
2 - 1
3- 6
3.5 - 1
4 - 1
Average - 2.85
Questions: What did Vito mean by "I want out of the freak show and into the main tent?"
What did this mean "But Ben - he really had a peek at the blueprints. He seen the elephant and heard the hooty owl."
Discussion around the characters being gay.
 
Reminder to everyone to submit your 2 books for the vote by Monday, November 1. Pam will compile and send out the list of books and what they are about and a link for surveymonkey for you to vote for your top 6.
Votes Received: Jen, Carol, Pam, Jill, Dawn, Summer, Buffy, Sandy, Stacie, Laurie (10)
We will have book exchange in December. Bring one wrapped book and we will play the dice game. Also bring any books for our book “swap meet”. Discussed different ways of distributing these other than playing the dice game. One suggestions – alphabet game – where you try to draw letters to spell “JOY”.
 
There was talk about another slumber party – possibly January?
 
We played a game: "Do you know your chocolate". Melanie won with 10 out of 10 correct. Melanie knows her chocolate.
 

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, Sept 30, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma’s in Glencoe.

Those present: Laurie, Carol, Amy, Stacie, Sandra, Tosha, Katie, Laura, Summer, Pam, Dawn, Jen, Sandy, Buffy, Kim (15)

Welcome to Katie!

Icebreaker was your name, what else you read the last month and “Your house is on fire – all living things are safe. You have 30 seconds to run thru home and collect 3 things. What would you grab?”

We also shared some of our favorite quotes or some “advice” that we have received. (Sorry I may have missed some…)

 

 

Laurie

A)      Scrapbooks

B)      The Next Big Thing by Johanna Edwards

C)      “A little bit of powder. A little bit of paint. Makes a girl pretty, even if she ain’t.”

                “Are you wearing perfume?...Son, there ain’t any cologne in this house, only your mother’s perfume. I know that scent, and let me tell you, it’s disturbing to smell your wife on your thirteen-year-old son.”

Carol

A)      Journals, Safe

B)      Diary: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk; No Country for Old Men (Vintage International) by Cormac McCarthy; Hold Tight by Harlan Coben; Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; The Soloist by Steve Lopez; In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien; Lit: A Memoir (P.S.) by Mary Karr; The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein; Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Amy

A)      Photo albums, books, purse

B)      A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks; The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky; Jackdaws by Ken Follett; Long Time No See by Susan Isaacs

Stacie

A)      Photo albums, Grandmas grad necklace, quilt from grandma

B)      Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman; Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman; Eclipse (The Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer; Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer; The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things by Barry Glassner; Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen; The Broom of the System: A Novel (Penguin Ink) by David Foster Wallace and Duke Riley; Auschwitz: A New History by Laurence Rees

C)      “Why would you throw a ball at someone’s face?...Huh. That’s a pretty good reason. Well, I can’t do much about your teacher being pissed, but me and you are good.”  “That’s your mother. You and she are not equals. Here’s her, he said, putting his hand high up above his head, and here’s you, he added, putting his other hand well below the table.”

Sandra

A)      Urns with pet ashes, passport

B)      The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland; Acqua Alta by Donna Leonl; The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland; The Help by Kathryn Stockett

C)      “I’d love you more if you didn’t smoke so damn much.”

Tosha

A)      Great grandmothers anklet, grandpas picture, quilt

B)      Charlie St. Cloud: A Novel by Ben Sherwood; The Blue Notebook: A Novel by James Levine; The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer

C)     Regarding marijuana- “Pretty great, right?...Really? Well, we differ in opinion then. Don’t tell your mom I said that , though. Tell her I yelled at you and called you a moron. Actually, don’t tell her anything. See, now I’m paranoid, and I didn’t even smoke any.”

Katie

A)      Wedding box, pictures, scrapbooks

B)      N/A

C)      (eating what poor people eat ) “Jesus Christ. This is god-awful. I can’t eat this, he said after swallowing it. No you two are eating this. I’m not.”

Laura

A)      Scrapbooks, grandma’s class ring, tote with keepsakes

B)      Precious (Push Movie Tie-in Edition) (Vintage Contemporaries) by Sapphire; The Host: A Novel by Stephenie Meyer

C)      “You’re ten years old now, you have to take a shower every day…I don’t give a shit if you hate it. People hate smelly fuckers. I will not have a smelly fucker for a son.”

                                (Was the quote that funny – or was it that Laura said it? LOL)

 

Summer

A)      Scrapbooks, purse, grandparents urn

B)      House Rules: A Novel by Jodi Picoult

C)      “I ain’t letting you try out, you’re too skinny…No, I hate to break it to you, but you can’t do whatever you want, and you most certainly are not a man.”

Pam

A)      Purse, Pictures, Jewelry Box

B)      Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland

C)      "Oh please, you practically invented lazy. People should have to call you and ask for the rights to lazy before they use it."

Dawn

A)      Grandma’s engagement ring, pictures, son’s memorabilia

B)      Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years) by Gregory Maguire; The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

C)      “You get what you pay for.”  “First things first. A car has five gears. What is that smell? …Okay, first thing before that first thing: Farting in a car that’s not moving makes you an asshole.”

Jen

A)      Scrapbooks/pictures, Purse/Cell phone, Grandmas cedar chest

B)      Twilight (The Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer; Goodnight Nobody: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner

C)      “If you’re going to get in a fight put your thumbs on the outside.”

Sandy

A)      Pictures, Purse, Clean Underwear

B)      A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

C)      “Its my house. I’ll wear clothes when I want to wear clothes and I’ll be naked when I want to be naked. The fact that your friends are coming over shortly is inconsequential to that – aka I don’t give a shit. “

Buffy

A)      Pictures, Flashdrives, Daughters School projects

B)      N/A

Kim

A)      Wallet, Pictures

B)      Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

C)      “Being crazy keeps you from going insane.”  “From now on, when I ask you how you’re doing, I appreciate you being open, but don’t tell me stories about you jerking off to your gay neighbors.”

 

Other quotes:

“It kinda looked like you were being attacked by a bunch of bees or something. Then when I saw the fat kid with the watch who was timing you start laughing…Well, I’ll just say it’s never a good sign when a fat kid laughs at you.”

“Snausages? I’ve been eating dog treats? Why the fuck would you put them on the counter where the rest of the food is? Fuck it, they’re delicious. I will not be shamed by this.”

 

“He was a good dog. Your brother is pretty broken up about it, so go easy on him. He had a nice last moment with Brownie before the vet tossed him in the garbage.”

 

“Why are you going over your monthly expenses?...No let me shorten this process for you: You make dog shit, so don’t spend any money.”

We read “Shit My Dad Says” by Justin Halpern.

We rated the book:

1 picked 4 out of 5

9 picked 5 out of 5

Rating 4.9

We played the Alphabet game – where you name something from the book for each letter of the alphabet.

Discussion questions:

1)      What do we think the relationship with his dad was really like? 

a.      Stressful, Good relationship, dad stuck up for him, dad loved his kids

2)      Was his dad just this type of man or was he just trying to “hide” something?

a.      He was just that way, no social filter, possibly autistic, -- should have Red Foreman playing him instead of William Shatner…

Amy shared that she was checking this out on Twitter.  http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays  -- there are over 1.7 million followers….

Pam purchased gift for Sharon (shipped this week – should have soon). Card was passed around for everyone to sign. $5 donation.

  

Website to check out: www.thriftbooks.com – they do have P.S. Your Cat is Dead

 

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SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas in Glencoe.

Thank you to Jen for doing the henna tattoos!

Those present: Jen, Sandra, Summer, Sandy, Carol, Laurie, Pam, Dawn, Stacie, Kim, Tosha, Jo, Karin, Buffy (14)

Welcome to new members  - Jo Moore and Tosha Sohns!

Ice breaker – name, how you thought book would end and other books you are reading on the side.

Jen – 1) Move to NY & Live alone.  2) The Holiday Disaster Series #1 by DC Smith

Sandra – 2) Can’t remember names of books read

Summer – 1) Didn’t know 

Sandy – 2) The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer & Her Mothers Hope by Francine Rivers

Carol – 2) Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk, This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff, Liars Club by Mary Karr, Cherry by Mary Karr

Laurie 2) Forgot

Pam 2) Charlie St Cloud by Ben Sherwood

Dawn 2) Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert,  Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Stacie – 1) Wanted something bad to happen to her   2) **MADE HER GOAL OF READING 50 BOOKS THIS YEAR** – The God who Begat a Jackal by Nega Mezlekia, When bad things happen to good people by Harold S. Kushner, Watership Down by Richard Adams,  All Rivers Run to the Sea: Memoirs by Elie Wiesel , Laura Ingalls Wilder Farmer Boy, The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

Kim – 2) Listening to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Tosha – 2) Willow by Julia Hoban, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang, The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Jo – 2) Conspiracy 365 by Gabrielle Lord

Karin 2) The Host by Stephenie Meyer, The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Buffy

We talked about the book “Memoirs of a Geisha”.

Ratings: 3 – 1 vote, 4 – 6 votes, 5 – 2 votes.  Average: 4.11

Discussion questions – 1. Many people in the West think of geisha simply as prostitutes. After reading the book, do you see the geisha of Gion as prostitutes? We talked about prostitutes versus kept women.

2) How does Sayuri’s status at the Nitta okiya resemble, or differ from, that of a slave? She was a slave – she had no free will.

3) Are Mother and Granny cruel by nature, or has the relentless life of Gion made them what they are? They were both cruel by nature.

4) How do Japenese ideas about eroticism and sexuality differ from Western ones? America is more – slam bam thank you maam.

5) Do you find the relationship between a geisha and her danna is very different from that between a Western man and his mistress? It is more of a “contract” between danna and geisha. It is also a status symbol for the geisha.

6) In Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden has done a very daring thing; he, an American man, has written in the voice of a Japanese woman. How successfully does he disguise his own voice? While reading the novel, did you feel that you were hearing the genuine voice of a woman? It was fascinating that he wrote it like he was telling the story.

Next Meeting: Thursday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma’s in Glencoe.

 

 Book Sales:

http://booksalefinder.com/MN.html#X587

http://www.booksalemanager.com/booksales/Minnesota.aspx

http://www.hclib.org/pub/events/BookSales.cfm

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SWCR Book Club met on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma’s in Glencoe, MN.

Those present: (11) Stacie, Summer, Sandra, Carol, Laurie, Jen, Sandy, Dawn, Karin, Anne, Pam

Icebreaker – your favorite county/state fair memory  & what books you have read

Sandra – Calgary Stampede

        Books Read (*BR): The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Summer – Demolition Derby

Stacie – Coin game competition

        BR: Mitla Pass by Leon Uris; A Million Little Pieces by James Frey; Candide by Voltaire; Three by Ted Dekker; Hannibal by Thomas Harris; The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver; Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks ; Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk

Pam – A boy in the swine barn named Mike

BR: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer; Twilight by Stephenie Meyer; New Moon by Stephenie Meyer; Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen; Something to do, Something to love, Something to hope for by Caesar Johnson; They Did it with Love by Kate Morgenroth

Dawn – Demolition derby at Hutch Fair when it was by 3M

        BR: Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Sandy – Cheyenne Wyoming – 13 years old & loved the horses

        BR: The Quickie by James Patterson; The Veil of Fire by Marlo M. Schalesky; Absolute Friends by John Lecarre

Jen – Renaissance Festival – beat Perry at popping balloons

        BR: The Leisure Seekers by Michael Zadoorian

Laurie – Carver County Fair – got soaked at the demo

        BR: Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot; Baby Proof by Emily Giffin; I am Legend by Richard Matheson

Carol – Dad took her and brother to the races at the State fair

        BR: Songs Without Words by Ann Packer; The Tender Bar by J. R. Moehringer, Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg

Karin – KARE11 gave her family $25 to see how quickly they could spend it at State Fair

        Read ½ of THE Host

Anne – Son was in a stroller and stayed there while they saw all the sights of the fair

        BR: The Shack by William Young;  Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

 

Pop Quiz – a list of all the books we have read was passed out. Members were asked to circle the ones that have been made into a movie. Some answers were surprising!

We gave “The Host” a rating of 4.11.

5 = 4 votes

4 = 4 votes

1 – 1 vote

Discussion questions:

1)      How did The Host compare to Twilight?

2)      A lot of readers have expressed dislike for the immense amount of inner dialogue in The Host. Did you feel the novel lacked action?

3)      Do you feel the ending hinted at a sequel?

4)      What are your thoughts about the relationship between Ian and Wanda?

5)      If the story continued – how would you like it to play out?

Poetry:

Stacie – Amiri Baraka – Prefice to a 20 bomb suicide note

Dawn – Tomorrow

Carol – How would it be

Laurie – Boa constrictor – Shel Silverstein

Pam  - Life by William Henry Davies, To a Friend by Grace Stricker Dawson, My April Lady by Henry van Dyke, In memory of my dad by Pamela Herrmann

Other discussion:

Next time we vote – we should each just submit one book – there are too many to choose from.

At some point – maybe try reading a classic

Next meeting: August 26 – read “Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden

Jen will bring designs and do henna tattoos at the August meeting

Sometime this winter we will watch “Memoirs of a Geisha”  - Movie night

 

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Thursday June 24, 2010 attendance: Buffy, Jen, Summer, Carol, Kim, Dawn, Sandra and Stacie

 

Books read during the month:

 

Buffy: Purgatory Ridge. Buffy's fire book: From the Ashes

Jen: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, and Baby Proof. Jen's fire book: Under the Flaming Sky.

Summer: Angela's Ashes. Summer's Fire Book: Under the Flaming Sky.

Carol: Kite Runner, Smashed, Water for Elephants, House of Sand and Fog. Carol's fire book: oops I think I forgot to write it!

Kim: Books 1-6 of the Warrior Series. Fire Book: Man I must have been sleeping because I didn't write hers either!

Dawn: is working on Eat Pray Love. Fire book: Under the Flaming Sky.

Sandra: 'R' (Sue Grafton), Hemlock Bay, Double Take, Second Chance, The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. Fire books: Wall of Flames and The Great Hinckley Fire. (Sandra had a ripping good month!)

Stacie: Nausea, Devil in the White City, Even the Stars Look Lonesome, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Fire book: Under the Flaming Sky.

 

Action items:

Book suggestions: Please have your two book choices to Pam by July. We will be voting in July again.

Poetry: For something different I'd like to try a little poetry appreciation at our July meeting... to do this, I asked that each member bring a favorite poem next month. It doesn't matter where you get it from - whether a favorite book, fortune cookie or something you wrote yourself! Poetry is personal and it will be fun to see our individual selections and what they mean to us.  Looking forward to this! Holler with any questions.
August book: The Host.

Party: We want to celebrate and have a SWCR shower/bachelorette party for Summer!! I nominate Pam to be in charge of this. All in favor, say 'aye'!

 

Fire Theme Recap

Well, I rate myself as an 'F' club leader this month, as I was not prepared, having not finished my fire book, and by not having handouts or bookmarks! I for one will breathe easier when Pam is back next month! Anyway, we discussed the fire and our books, and some notable points from this were:

Under the Flaming Sky in particular was a very descriptive book that held people's attention and conveyed the horrors of fire.

Relief efforts for the fire were troublesome in that relief items were sometimes allotted based on character assessments rather than any standards of fairness.

Distaste for the 'tourists' who would come to Hinckley and find their fire souvenirs (i.e., bones).

Desire to go to Hinckley and see the Fire museum, memorial marker and lake....and casino. Also, we were rather impressed that Hinckley had memorials and a museum, as Peshtigo does not.

Someone, and I of course forget who, mentioned a fire article in the Hutchinson Leader. I tried to find it and could not, so if anyone wants to post a link that would be awesome.

And lastly, we talked about how people get disconnected sometimes and do not heed warnings - i.e., Sandstone not leaving when notified of a fire. Whether it is a matter of disbelief or a mechanism of fear, some people choose to ignore the disasters before them. We then laughed and compared this to hearing there is a tornado warning, and running outside to see the funnel. Which plenty of us do.

Feel free to chime in if I forgot anything. It was good seeing you, and see you next month!

 

Stacie

 

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The SWCR book club held its meeting on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe.

 Icebreaker - your name, what books you have read in the last month and what your plans are for Memorial Day weekend.

 Jen - Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr --- Getting together with Kim to scrapbook

 Kim - Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn --- Getting together with Jen

 Laurie - Scrapbook magazines ---working

 Carol - The Fiction Class by Susan Breen, The Things they Carried by Tim O'Brien, Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett---working

 Sandy C - none ---nothing

 Buffy - health related articles --- family BBQ & going to Fort Snelling

 Stacie - The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, Choke by Chuck Palahniuk, Electric Kool Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe --- working on Monday

 Sandra D - Chick lites --- Sit by pool on Saturday

 Dawn - moved so no time for reading ---home alone

 Pam - Marshmallows for Breakfast by Dorothy Koomson, Prom Nights from Hell, The Road by Cormac McCarthy --- shopping for a dress for a wedding next weekend

 Angela's Ashes scored a 3.75 out of 5 possible.

Discussion: In what ways was McCourts childhood miserable? How did being Irish and being Catholic contribute to his misery?  Too much guilt! Didn't get what he wanted because of who he was....horrible conditions growing up. How did his life influence him to be a teacher? He wanted to help others to a better life than what he had...

 Next meeting - Thursday, June 24 - Stacie will lead the group - Pam & Amy will be on vacation. Read a Hinckley fire "theme" book and share your thoughts with group.

 

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SWCR book club met on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe, MN.

 

We started the evening with a quiz on the book “A Lesson Before Dying”. Congrats to Carol for getting 100%!

 

 

Introductions were done with your name, your score on the quiz and what other books you are reading:

 

Laura – 3 wrong – just read the book club book

Summer – 3 wrong – Water for Elephants, Little Earthquakes

Kim – no quiz – Joshua the Journey Home, Cassandra & Jane

Sandy C – “C” grade – Wicked, Clancy book, A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott

Carol – 100% - The Electric KoolAid Acid Test, Choke by Chuck Palahniuk, Veronica Decides to Die, The Law of Similars

Laurie – “B” – Prom Nights from Hell, Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner and The Accidental Florist

Buffy – “A” – 1 wrong – The Last Symbol by Dan Brown

Stacie – 8 wrong – Love Medicine by Erdvich, Nickel & Dimed by Ehrenreich, Mila 18 (Uris), House of Sand & Fog by Dubus and The Antelope Wife by Erdrich

Pam – 1 wrong – Look Again, Broken, The Last Song, Dark Summer and Marshmallows for Breakfast

 Jen & Dawn were "conference called" in for part of the meeting by cell phone.

 

We rated the book “A Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest J Gaines.

 

1 chose 5

7 chose 4

1 chose 3.5

2 chose 3

That gives it an average rating of 3.9.

 

Discussion about the book -

 

1)    All the characters in A Lesson Before Dying are motivated by a single word “hog”. Jefferson’s attorney has compared him to a hog. Miss Emma wants Grant to prove the her godson is not a hog; and Jefferson at first eats the food she has sent him on his knees, because that’s how an old hog eat.” How are words used both to humiliate and to redeem the characters in this novel?  A hog was just a low life. They just want him to walk like a man. They took away his humanity. Grants education didn’t protect him. Grant had a lot of self hatred. Tante Lou was an angry old woman who was racist against Grant. We went in to a very in depth conversation about racism and how it affects everyone.

 

Other discussion:

1) Hinckley fire books – Pam will send out a list of books and you can read whatever one you want for June. (doesn’t have to be on list)

 

2) EXTRA CREDIT :-) – Fairytales for May.

   

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SWCR book club met on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe, MN.

 

Introductions were done with your name and what other books you are reading as well as what you will do on the 1^st 80 degree day:

Sandy – no books – soak up some sun

Jen – Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella  - be outside with the boys

Laurie – I Alex Cross by Patterson – gardening

Laura – Always Looking Up, Secret Life of Bees – on boat

Summer – Somebody Else’s Daughter – lay outside

Buffy – Boundary Waters – tan her white legs

Carol – Fear of Flying, Running with Scissors, Dry, Ellen Foster, The Rum Diary, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

Dawn – Dear John – Run naked thru her house before she moves out – or sit in the backyard with a cocktail – on boat with Pam

Sandra – Bed & Breakfast – Jumping in pool

Pam – The Last Song – drinking a brandy slush or was it rum? LOL – or on boat with Dawn

Kim – No books – doing the air conditioner thing in the house while reading

Amy - ?

Stacie was also conference called in to the book discussion part. (thanks to Sandra)

 

We rated the book "The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass)

1 chose 5

1 chose 4

1 chose 3

2 chose 2

3 chose 1

That gives it an average rating of 2.375.

Discussion about the book – (Note – Only 5 people read the entire book)

1)    Oskar insists that he had sex with his stepmother Maria, and is actually the father of his half-brother Kurt. This allegation is denied by Maria, and the male nurse Bruno. Do you believe Oskar’s version of events? Consensus was that Kurt was Oskar’s kid.

2)    Oskar has a talent for drumming and a magical ability to shatter glass with his voice. How does he use these talents? He uses them to lead others into temptation and as a tool to manipulate people.

3)    What are some of the crimes Oskar commits or assists in committing? Thievery, vandalism, etc.

4)    Do you believe Oskar killed Sister Dorothea? Consensus was that he did not kill her. If he did it he wouldn’t have kept the finger.

Pam handed Pop Rocks out to everyone to enjoy their own little “mini mouth sensation”.

Carol shared her favorite part regarding Snot and not lasting long….

We also talked about different book genres. Jen & Laurie like the “chick lite” books. Some like true stories or smut/erotica. Amy likes mysteries. Would be interesting to know what most of the books that we have read so far fall under. Comments that it would be nice to read a “happy” book for a change!

Other discussion:

1)     For the Twilight slumber party at Pams on March 26 -Bring a $5 Twilight related item to be used as a prize. (wrap it or throw it in a bag). There will be beer, bloody marys and pop as well as snacky type foods. Bring your blowup bed if you want to sleep on that. Hope to see you at 7!! The more the merrier! Sounds like most will be wearing their jammies to the party – or bringing them along.

Tentative schedule – subject to change depending on the needs/wants of the group!

 7-7:30 social – drinks & appetizers – scrapbook activity

7:30 – 9:32 – Twilight Movie (122 minutes)

9:32 – 10 social – drinks & appetizers – game #1

10 – 12:10 – New Moon Movie (130 minutes)

12:10-12:40 – drinks & appetizers – game #2

12:40-1:57 – Twilight in Forks movie (77 minutes)

 

2) Hinckley fire books - we will throw the book names in a hat and each draw a book to read in April. Some may need to be doubled up. Since we will probably have to request/order these from the library - we will do in April. If you have suggestions get them to me by April. Amy has given me quite a few to choose from.

 

3) EXTRA CREDIT :-) – Fairytales – for the May 8 Hotel night prior to the Race for the Cure at the MOA – will also recap at the following meeting. “Grimms’ Fairy Tales” were mentioned frequently.

 

4) Book bags are in! The cost is $16.25 if you still want to get one – I have about 5 extra.

 

 

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SWCR book club met on Thursday, February 25, 2010  at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe, MN.

We started the evening with drawing a picture of our “happy” place and guessing what was in everyone’s pictures. Water and books were a common theme.

 

Introductions were done with your name and what other books you are reading:

Sandra – G is for Gumshoe, Xmas theme book by Marry Higgins Clark

Sandy – Guernsey & Literary Potato Peel Society

Buffy – After the Ball

Carol – The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Summer – NA

Melanie – NA

Laurie – Alex Cross – Worst Case & Beach House & Greek Mythology

Jen – Mythology & Big Fish

Stacie – Old Man in the Sea, Harry Potter #7, Fear of Flying

Dawn – The Book of Ruth and The Goddess of the Rose

Pam – The Goddess of the Rose

 

 

We rated the book "The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson)

5 chose 4

1 chose 3

4 chose 2

That gives it an average rating of 3.1.

Discussion about the book -

In what ways does the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 change America? Laurie had a whole list of items including – unionized 8 hour day, fire departments, ambulances, pledge of allegiance, etc.

How was Holmes able to exert such power over his victims and what weaknesses did he prey upon? He preyed upon the vulnerable, new in town, naivety, trusting nature. Why didn’t he get caught? He was always changing his names, charming, police weren’t really looking for murderers – they were more interested in pickpockets, etc.

 We also recapped our “Mythology” themed books that we discussed at Stacies.

 Other discussion:

1) For the Twilight slumber party at Pams on March 26 - think of fun things to do, games, etc. Bring a $5 Twilight related item to be used as a prize. (Target has trading cards, magazines, bracelets, etc - check by the trading cards for ideas).

 

2) Hinckley fire books - we will throw the book names in a hat and each draw a book to read in April/May. Some may need to be doubled up. Since we will probably have to request/order these from the library - we may need to do in April. If you have suggestions get them to me by April. Amy has given me quite a few to choose from.

 

3) EXTRA CREDIT :-) – Fairytales – for the May 8 Hotel night prior to the Race for the Cure at the MOA – will also recap at the following meeting. “Grimms’ Fairy Tales” were mentioned frequently.

 

4) Book bag - Dawn came up with the great idea to check into getting a canvas book bag with our logo on it. Joe can get us the zippered bag with our logo on it for $15. An order form was passed around and we need a minimum of 25. Those who ordered – Buffy (2) – pd $30, Carol (2), Dawn (2) pd $15, Jen (1) pd $15, Laura (1), Laurie (2), Melanie (1), pd $15, Sandra B (2), Sandy C (1), pd $15, Stacie (2) pd $15, Summer (1) Deb T (1) –See if any of your family/friends would like to order one!

 

5) Breast Cancer fundraiser - Saturday, March 20 - 1-8 p.m. Join your friends and neighbors for a fun day at the casino and show support for your local team, These Boobs Are Made For Walking, who will be walking in the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day For the Cure. If enough people sign up, buses will go to Shakopee, Chaska, Belle Plaine, & Waconia . If interested, you must reserve seats by February 18, 2010. Please contact Tara Breyer at tmbreyer@hotmail.com. Buses will pick up around 1:00 PM. At approximately 6:30 PM buses will leave to take people back to their pick-up location ONLY $20.00* per person *Must pay with cash at time of departure Cost includes: Transportation to and from Treasure Island Casino . Coupon booklet that includes: $3 restaurant coupon, $5 match play coupon for blackjack, and a coupon for a free game of bowling and shoes . In addition, $5 in slot play will be loaded on individual player's cards once you arrive . Enjoy 4 hours at the casino ***Must be 18 or older and have a valid Driver's License or ID***

 

6) Race for the Cure – MOA – KS95 Team Moon & Staci- http://club.ks95.com/staci/blog/2010/02/24/race_for_the_cure_already__yup.__but,_theres_a_free_trip! Or http://www.komenminnesota.org/site3.aspx

Register by April 17 to pay $25!

 
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SWCR book club met on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe, MN.

 

We started the evening with singing Happy Birthday to Buffy - and we also made a toast to the writer JD Salinger (author of the Catcher in the Rye) who died.

 

A small activity was to write down how long "Soon" was to you and how much is an "Expensive" camera.

Soon= now/month, 4 hours, 1 month, this weekend, late-February-mid-March, in or within 2 weeks, within the month, 2-4 wks, 2 weeks, within 2 wks Expensive=$1500, $200, $500, $800, $500, $600, $500, $350-$450, $300, up to $500 This activity was just to point out that we all come to the table with differing ideas and that no ideas are right or wrong. So try not to be too judgmental.

 

Introductions were done with your name, your new years resolution or goal for 2010 and what other books you are reading:

 Jen

BOOK: Wuethering Heights, Midwives, Good in Bed, Memorial Day, Lisa

GOAL: more fluent in German, scrapbook catchup, wish granter for Make a Wish

 Sandra

BOOK: NA

GOAL: move, keep up with aerobics

 Summer

BOOK: Handle with Care, KiteRunner

GOAL

 Laura

BOOK: NA

GOAL: go back to gym

 Buffy

BOOK: NA

GOAL: get a job

 Stacie

BOOK: Notes from a Hyenas Belly, Alices Adventures in Wonderland, The Promise, Life Together

GOAL: Read 50 books, study German

 Carol

BOOK: Class Action, The Hour I First Believed

GOAL: Walk, be good

 Laurie

BOOK: Weekend in Paris, Alex Cross' Trial

GOAL: Buy new computer - but must walk a mile to earn dollars towards it

 Pam

BOOK: Dear John, Goddess of the Rose

GOAL: NA

 Dawn

BOOK: Lovely Bones, Night, After the Ball, The Book of Ruth, Postscript Book

GOAL: Find a positive every day

 Sandy

BOOK: NA

GOAL: read books from book club

 Kim

BOOK: NA

GOAL: learn German, keep sanity

 

We rated the book "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

1 chose 5 (best rating)

6 chose 4

3 chose 3

That gives it an average rating of 3.8.

 

Discussion about the book -

What did the bell jar signify? Air was stifling, inside the glass isolated but can be seen, felt trapped, people were watching her.

How did Esther describe herself? Plain, unnoticeable, ordinary What was Esthers attitude toward men and sex? She could care less, she didn't want kids, her goal was to lose her virginity so she could check it off her bucket list.

Why did Esther hate her mother? She was never allowed to grieve when her dad died, didn't want to be like her mom, she resented her mom, she didn't fit.

Do you think her shock treatments were different from the first doctor to the second? Possibly. The first doctor may have botched it. Or she may have had a better relationship with the second doctor so it went better.

 

There was other discussion that there is a movie about her life called "Sylvia".

A website about her son's suicide in March 2009: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5956380.ece

 

Other discussion:

1) For the Twilight slumber party at Pams on March 26 - think of fun things to do, games, etc. Bring a $5 Twilight related item to be used as a prize. (Target has trading cards, magazines, bracelets,etc - check by the trading cards for ideas).

 

 

2) Hinckley fire books - we will throw the book names in a hat and each draw a book to read in April/May. Some may need to be doubled up. Since we will probably have to request/order these from the library - we may need to do in April. If you have suggestions get them to me by April. Amy has given me quite a few to choose from.

 

 

3) EXTRA CREDIT :-) - For Stacies dinner party - we took a poll on something that we would like to read for extra credit. We had 1 vote for Holocaust, 1 vote for Anything works for me, 3 votes for biographies, and 7 votes for Greek Mythology and 1 vote for Food. So for those interested - read a book/story about Greek Mythology to discuss at Stacies dinner party. Be prepared to do some type of book report - drawing, oral report, game - whatever you want to do to portray the message of the book. Ideas of books can be found at: http://classiclit.about.com/od/athena/tp/aatp-grm.htm  -- you are not limited to these - it's just to give you a starting point.

 

 

4) Book bag - Dawn came up with the great idea to check into getting a canvas book bag with our logo on it. We talked about brown bags with a pink SWCR logo on it. Pam will get a quote from Joe - the guy who did our tshirts. I think we could do a fundraiser with these too if we wanted to! Who wouldn't want a SWCR book bag?

 

 

5) Breast Cancer fundraiser - Saturday, March 20 - 1-8 p.m. Join your friends and neighbors for a fun day at the casino and show support for your local team, These Boobs Are Made For Walking, who will be walking in the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day For the Cure.

.If enough people sign up, buses will go to Shakopee, Chaska, Belle Plaine, & Waconia . If interested, you must reserve seats by February 18, 2010. Please contact Tara Breyer at tmbreyer@hotmail.com.

.Buses will pick up around 1:00 PM

.At approximately 6:30 PM buses will leave to take people back to their pick-up location ONLY $20.00* per person *Must pay with cash at time of departure Cost includes:

. Transportation to and from Treasure Island Casino . Coupon booklet that includes: $3 restaurant coupon, $5 match play coupon for blackjack, and a coupon for a free game of bowling and shoes . In addition, $5 in slot play will be loaded on individual player's cards once you arrive . Enjoy 4 hours at the casino ***Must be 18 or older and have a valid Driver's License or ID***

 

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 Book club met on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe.

 

Icebreaker - name, favorite gift in your lifetime and what other books you are reading:

Pam - no extra books in December

Stacie - Kite Runner, Icy Sparks, In the Beginning by Chaim Potok

Carol - I know why a caged bird sings, The Book of Ruth

Kim - Angels & Demons, Harry Potter 7

Jen - Their Eyes were watching God, The Color Purple, Out Stealing Horses, Water for Elephants

Summer - Slaughterhouse 5, Life of Pi

Melanie - Push, Black Like Me

Laura - Lovely Bones

Amy - Prior Bad Acts

Buffy - no extra books in December

Sandy C - no extra books in December

Laurie - Swimsuit and Cross Country by Patterson

Sandra B - no extra books in December

Dawn - no extra books in December

 

We talked about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Mixed reviews on the book. Jen and Kim had commentary related to the fact that they both have autistic children. We talked about these ?'s:

*Christopher has many gifts - does his future look promising? Most felt that he probably would go to college and get a degree in math.

*Which of his parents is better suited to take care of him? Most felt that the father was probably better - but didn't feel that the mom was terrible either.

*Do you think Christopher will ever trust his father again? Probably not - because with autism there is no grey - it is either black or white.

 

We played a wild game of dice to each get a wrapped book to open. Then we played some dice hoping to do some stealing of the most coveted book(s). After that we played dice to pick books from the "book swap" table. We had a large amount of books to distribute - so added some fun categories such as "children of the 80s, 70's, 60's, 50's...birthday months....Hope everyone enjoys their new treasures - and hang on to any books for our "Christmas in July" party where we can re-swap!

 

Stacie wanted to talk about a couple things:

1) January/February - she is looking to have her brother Greg cook for us. Pam made a doodle website - to tally up what days work. http://www.doodle.com/brh2fcb336wy5mxu

2) In June 2010- we had the theme of "Hinckley Fire theme books". Stacie thought since we already read  "Firestorm at Peshtigo" that perhaps we would like to pick another topic and we each find our own book on the topic. We will table this for more thinking/ideas.

3) Stacie posts her reviews of the books on Facebook and wondered if we would like her to continue - resounding YES!!

4) The Glencoe library is starting a new book club "Read a Latte" book club. They meet on Saturday, January 9 at 10 a.m. at Gert & Ermas and will pick their first book that day. A couple members from our club may go to check it out.

5) We also discussed having an overnight trip to Taylors Falls/St Croix Falls area. What month would be preferable? Will continue to discuss.

6) Stacie will work on posting more book sales. We would love to go to another warehouse sale at the MN State Fairgrounds!

 

Next meeting Thursday, January 28, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas in Glencoe

 

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Book club met on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas in Glencoe.

 

Icebreaker – Name & what books you are reading:

Dawn – Stephanie Lorentz

Jen – Peace Like a River, Girl with Pearl Earring, Bel Canto

Laurie – James Patterson’s 8 Confessions & Cross Country

Carol – James Patterson’s Suzanne’s Diary, Map of the World by Jane Hamilton & Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison

Sandra – nothing right now – getting ready to move

Buffy – Extreme Measure & Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn

Melanie – nothing right now

Sandy C – Twilight series & The Innocent Man by John Grisham, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

Summer – The Lovely Bones, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Road, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Laura – Slaughterhouse Five, Lovely Bones

Claire – So Super Starry, Cleopatra the 7^th Daughter of the Nile

Stacie – Life of Pi, Black Like Me, The Secret Life of Bees

Pam – Marked

 

We discussed “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. Most everyone liked the book. It made some rethink our priorities in life. We talked about what we would do if we had six months to live and a lot of it had to do with if we had enough money – ex. Traveling. If we were faced with 6 months to live – how would we preserve memories for our family – scrapbooks, videos, etc. It is nice to see/listen to videos – helps you to remember what people sound like. What would you put on your tombstone? Randy had “He Lived 30 Years after a terminal diagnosis”.  We talked about his positive attitude and how it probably helped him to live almost 2 years instead of the 6 months they had projected.

 

Following the book club we went to Mystery Stop (The Saloon) and enjoyed some social time. After 11 p.m. we went to the Waconia Theatre and watched the midnight premiere of “New Moon”. What a great night!

 

For December read: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.

 

 

Next Meeting:

Thursday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma’s in Glencoe.

Christmas Party!

1)      Bring a wrapped book for the dice game. (can be new or used)

2)      Can bring books to “recycle” – bring any books you don’t want anymore

3)      Pam will bring CD player & Christmas CD

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 Book club met on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at Gert & Erma's in Glencoe.

Those present: Sandy C, Carol, Jen, Laura, Melanie, Buffy, Carol, Sandra D,
Summer, Kim, Laurie

We did introductions and shared what other books we are reading outside of book
club books.

Summer - Smashed, Cocktails for Three, The Glass Castle

Sandra - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet, Life & Death in Shanghai, The
Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B

Stacie - The Deans December, The Road

Buffy - Mind Hunter, Innocent Traitor

Melanie - The Secret Life of Bees

Laura - The Last Song

Jen - Unravelled, Chocolat, Mansfield Park, Balzac & the Little Chinese
Seamstress

Carol - Stones from the River, The Road

Sandy - Frank McCourt 'Tis, I Know This Much is True

Laurie - Size 12 is Not Fat, Sisterhood of Traveling Pants

Kim - Unravelled

Pam - The Hunger Games, Catching Fire & When Life is Changed Forever

Melanie would like to get a t-shirt - Pam will check if we can get another. (Dawn has a L from the book basket for you)

We talked about "1984" by George Orwell. We were all over the board with
liking/not liking this book. It depressed some people.

We talked about freedoms that we enjoy that others don't and freedoms that we
are denied. (Such as freedom to walk down the street naked, (Stacie-LOL)

?'s/comments:

1984 was written in 1948. What does the opening sentence suggest about the book
(It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.)
This denotes a time/place not familiar to us. What are the Party mottos? (War
is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength) What is Newspeak? It was
used to repress the citizens by limiting their language and hence their ability
to express themselves. Who is Big Brother? The dictator of Oceania. (Summer
wondered if this is where they got the name for the show "Big Brother") What is
facecrime? An improper expression on one's face. None of us felt we had a poker
face although sometimes we wished we did. (especially at work..) What is in
Room 101? Your greatest fear. Some were brought up - rats, aliens, spiders.

Next Meeting: Thursday, November 19 (Earlier in month due to Thanksgiving) at
7:30 p.m. at Gert & Ermas in Glencoe

Wear something Twilight if you wish. After book club at 9 p.m. we will be
heading to a mystery stop in Waconia and then to the theatre for "New Moon"
midnight showing at the Waconia Theatre. Head to theatre around 10:30-11
depending on what the lines look like. (Remember we may have to wait outside -
so dress accordingly)

 

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