A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle: An Introduction

Who wouldn’t want to spend a year in the South of France? I’m thinking old cobblestones and outdoor markets, an abundance of farm and wild animals accompanied by charming and quirky characters, and scenery that would bring me to tears.

Most of us probably can’t afford an actual year in Provence, but A Year in Provence? Totally fits the budget!  It’s funny. It’s nostalgic. It’s travel writing at its best!

Join Peter and his wife as they face many of the everyday challenges we do, just in a more interesting place! Then, join us for the Christmas party on December 8th at 7pm. See you then!

"best selling novelist of all time"

According to the Guinness Book of World Records our author this month, Agatha Christie, is the best selling novelist of all time! No matter how big or small a book club is… they should read the best, right?!

I previewed this book earlier this year, and I know I will read more of her mysteries. Murder on the Orient Express is now in my ibooks waiting for me. Granted, I’ve only read one of her 66 detective novels I may not be the best judge… but the mystery, the funny, the British, the lack of gore won me over, for sure.

Christie had a full life, a life she chronicled in two autobiographies.

So I don’t spoil those books, incase you’d like to read them, here is a glimpse of her life… in numbers:

1890 -the year she was born
1 brother
1 sister
4 yrs old -when she taught herself to read
1st World War -worked as a hospital nurse, and in a pharmacy (with poisons… great for her future plots!)
1914 -married first husband, Archibald Christie an aviator
1 daughter, Roselind
11 days -how long she was missing after news of her first husband’s unfaithfulness
1930 -married her second husband, an Max Mallowan an archeologist
2nd World War -worked in the pharmacy at University College Hospital, again with poisons.
1968 -because of her husbands knighthood, she became Lady Mallowan.
85 -age at her death

66 detective novels

14 short story collection

24,000 performances of her stage play, Mouse Trap

1st recipient of the Mystery Writers of America’s highest honour, the Grand Master Award

I hope you join us next Thursday October 13th at 7:00 at Paradise Bakery and Cafe for a great discussion!

Happy Reading,
Sarah

A Girl Named Zippy: Recap

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for our discussion of

“A Girl Named Zippy!!”

(not pictured: me. the photographer. :D)

Zippy was full of laughs, so we enjoyed reading some of our favorite bits and pieces aloud. If you didn’t get a chance to read it this month, stash it away for when you need to relax and have a good laugh.

It was a great night, so we sat outside enjoying the cool breeze and the waning sunshine. Have you ever been more excited for fall?

I sure hope you’re excited because next month is our book club dinner party, and we’re hoping to kick off the fall book reading season with a soup and salad dinner on September 8th. Our book this month is The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. RSVPing is important for the dinner party, so go ahead and do so on the Facebook event. (If you don’t have Facebook, leave a comment or e-mail Sarah.) Other than the Christmas party, this is our favorite event of the year, so I can’t wait to see you there!

A Walk Down Memory Lane.

A week ago we met to discuss Peter Pan, our children’s literature choice for the year. And as we took our minds on a merry trip down memory lane, we took ourselves back to our summer meeting place: Paradise 🙂

See! summer = blended coffee beverages. yum!

Our discussion flowed through topics like: what do we really think of Peter? What might the book have to say about a parent’s role in growing imaginative children? Would you want a dog for a nanny? as well as various comparisons between the book and film adaptations.

One of our favorite aspects of the book was ridiculousness that was peppered amongst the pirate fights and pert pixies.

Do you know what else is favorite? 1/2 price cookies before closing time!

Join us for our next meeting! We’re giving you 2 months to tackle this puppy: Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. It’s a big-un. So, we’re giving you TWO months to read it. So, no excuses? I don’t remember where we’re meeting or when. So just start reading the book, and we’ll fill you in on that later. 🙂

The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up

Wish I could give you some fairy dust this week! …But since I’m not Tinker Bell here are some “lovely thoughts” to get you thinking before book club on Thursday…

“You just think lovely wonderful thoughts, and they lift you up in the air.”

The magic of dreams are never ending! Do you remember your dreams when you wake? What does your Neverland look like?

A dog for a nanny, a mom cleaning and straightening children’s brains… what was your favorite unrealistic part or scene of this story?

The loss of childhood is inevitable, what do you miss most from your youth? When did you loose your ability to fly? Aka: At what point in your life did you start considering yourself an adult? …if you are, in fact, a grown-up 🙂

Assuming you’ve seen the Disney version of Peter Pan, what are your thoughts on the differences? and similarities?

If you are a mother, how do you encourage your children to dream? Also, Mommies of preschoolers this is an excellent resource to accompany the book from Homeschool Creations: Peter Pan Preschool Pack

Peter Pan discussion:
this Thursday May 12th
@ 7:00pm
Paradise Bakery & Cafe

Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping of sorts…

Two changes are happening with the book club:

Life can be busy, things change, schedules get scrambled, it happens, so we are making a change in which Thursday of the month we meet. Now we will meet on the second Thursday of the month.

The second change is a minor thing. We (the book club core) often has the next 6+ books planned ahead of time. Usually we reveal the next 2 books. Now we’ll keep you in the bigger loop of knowledge.

We aren’t the type of book club that requires commitments.
You can come whenever you want.
As often as you want.
Whenever we’re reading a book you like.
Or that you have time to read.

So,

drumroll please…

The upcoming books:

March: The Tipping Point
April: Three Cups of Tea (at Tea’s Me on Saturday)
May: It’s a surprise!
June: no June meeting (July’s book is long)
July: Gone with the Wind (picnic at Geist Park)
August: A Girl Named Zippy (bring a friend night)
September: The Hobbit (dinner party)

I’m interested in your thoughts on these little changes. Feel free to leave a comment! Any books you’re excited to see on the list?

Winter in Indiana

Maybe it’s because we’ve never met in January* before or maybe it’s just because it’s winter in this great Hoosier state… but last night was the first time we had to cancel and postpone a meeting due to weather.

If you didn’t get an updated email from Evite please email me. (sarahronk (at) gmail (dot) com)

Also on a book keeping note, if you’d like to be added to or removed from the Evite mailing list please let me know.

A Year of Living Biblically will be discussed
next Thursday Jan. 27th at 7pm at Paradise Bakery and Cafe

RSVP if you can make it!

*We usually read a long book for February and take January off.

our newest member!

Broadened Horizons book club would like to welcome our newest book club baby! Jodi had a beautiful baby girl early Monday morning! Head over to her blog to hear more about it and see photos! GranolaMom4God

Important Date Change

I’ve been told there is some confusion about when we are meeting in Dec. (And I know this is my fault and I’m sorry) BUT we are NOT meeting tonight, but Monday the 14th. I changed the date but I didn’t make it clear or call attention to the fact that I switched. Please don’t come tonight 🙂 🙂 and please DO come on the 14th!! If you know anyone else who also was confused please share with them as well.

thank you and happy reading!
Sarah