At the Beach

We had amazing weather for the 24th of May, and a leafy backyard at the Beach was a perfect location to enjoy it.  Many thanks to Jo for providing a wonderful evening.  Everyone noted that The Sense of an Ending inspired an unusually animated conversation and many questions.   

For next month's year-end dinner we'll be at Jan's as usual.  The date was changed to Wednesday June 27th, but after some back and forth, we've decided to keep it on Thursday June 28th.   Since we were so keen about Julian Barne's writing in The Sense of an Ending, we decided to read another of his books for June - Arthur & George. 

In July the book will be The Paris Wife.  Did we choose a date and location? 

Other books that we mentioned: 

• Breakthrough: Elizabeth Hughes, the Discovery of Insuin, and the Making of a Medical Miracle  by Thea Cooper and Arthur Ainsburg 
•  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
• Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill
• Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World Without War by James Loney
• Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World, One Child At A Time by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin
• Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat
• Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

At Lynda's

Although unfortunately a few of us couldn't make it, the conversation flowed and the treats seemed to disappear just the same.  Thank you again Lynda  - always a wonderful hostess!   

Girls Fall Down received mixed reviews from our group.  We talked about the characters and about mental illness and homelessness, among other things.   The Toronto Public Library is hosting a number of events related to the book. Let's not forget the rally and fundraiser "Stop the Crazy" to be held on May 12th in support of ending the stigma surrounding mental illness. 

Jan mentioned a survey regarding the demand for a new book store in our neighbourhood. The website is for this is www.bloorwestbooks.weebly.com  (Email:  bloorwestbooks@gmail.com).  Jan also gave us a heads up about a conference being held next month in Toronto and Niagara - From the Garden to the Trenches.

Books mentioned this month included:

• The Reinvention of Love by Helen Humphreys
• Captivity by James Loney
• Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay
• The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
• Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery ed. Benjamin Lefebvre & Andrea McKenzie
• Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carre
• Snowdrops by A.D. Miller
• The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak

Switch

This Thursday's book club meeting has had to be relocated to Lynda's. And in May we'll meet at Jo's home. 

Spring forward

On a magnificent spring evening we talked about The Sisters Brothers at Jane's house.  Thank you Jane for a wonderful time!  Love your new wall colour! 

And we made plans for the months ahead.  For the next meeting we'll go to Jo's home on April 19th and talk about Girls Fall Down by Maggie Helwig, which is the One Book choice for this year at the Toronto Public Library.

On May 24th we'll be at Lynda's.  The book will be The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.

And our June meeting will follow tradition and be held at Jan's home.  I think it'll be pot luck as usual.  The date we chose is June 28th.  We left the book choice for later. 

At Jane's there were several books mentioned.  These are the ones I can remember.

• Far to Go by Alison Pick
• The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
• Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis
• The Paris Wife by Paula McLean
• The Paris Journals by Michael Rothenberg
• Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill
• Green Oranges on Lion Mountain by Emily Joy
• King Peggy by Peggielene Bartels

February with Oryx and Crake

It seemed that there was consensus regarding Oryx and Crake.  We found it pretty impressive, and fun to read.  Aren't you glad I didn't serve chickienobs?

For next month we've decided to read The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt.  We'll meet on March 22nd at Jane's.

As for thoughts about other books to read I can remember several:

• Breakthough: the Saga of Jonas Salk by Richard Carter 
• In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
• The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant
• Something Fierce: Memoires of a Revolutionary Daughter by CarmenAguirre
• On a Cold Road by Dave Bidini
• Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat
• Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach

You may enjoy this video presentation of the last book: 

Change of location

Our meeting on Thursday February 16th will be at Marian's place. 

A World Elsewhere

Last Thursday evening we met at Wanda's to talk about A World Elsewhere by Wayne Johnston (and try out Wanda's new brie baker, along with a bunch of other yummy treats).  Time well spent indeed! Thank you Wanda.

Our next meeting will be at Jo's house on Thursday February 16th.  The book will be Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.   You may enjoy browsing the CBC's marvelous collection of resources online called Margaret Atwood: Queen of CanLit.

Oddly, nobody seemed to be sharing new books the other evening, except while standing at the door putting on coats and boots, when Bossypants by Tina Fey and Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massey, and P.D.James' Death Comes to Pemberley were all briefly mentioned.