My House, Wednesday, 7:00

Here's a friendly reminder to come to Book Club at my house (14073 Pine Mesa Dr) on Wednesday the 28th at 7:00!  The book is "Lighten Up!" by Chieko Okazaki.

Changed My Mind

So, I have felt really terrible about picking "Post Captain" ever since I put that post up yesterday.  I hope nobody has bought the book, because I am changing my pick to "Lighten Up" by Okazaki.  Don't hate me, and if you happened to buy the book or something, I'll pay you for it.

Book for March

I have thought way too much about what book to choose for this month.  I guess asking you all to spend time reading something makes me uncomfortable.  Who knew?  Anyway, after a lot of second-guessing and over-analyzing and quick re-reading, I decided that we will be reading "Post Captain" by Patrick O'Brian.  It is actually the second in the Aubrey/Maturin series, but the first is not my favorite and I think you will be just fine if you read a good summary of "Master and Commander" before starting on "Post Captain."  I find O'Brian to be really interesting as a writer, because he is essentially a modern writer, but it has been said that his style really fall somewhere between Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, who both wrote about their own time periods.  Enjoy!

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Hi Ladies! 
Just a reminder that we will be discussing The Elegance of the Hedgehog at my house this Wed at 7pm.  I am looking forward to discussing it with you all!  Here are a few links if you want to do a little extra reading on the book and author:

http://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/the-elegance-of-the-hedgehog-by-muriel-barbery/

 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/books/review/James-t.html 

http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm?author_number=1656

Here is one interview quote by the author that I found really interesting:

"I followed a long, boring course of studies in philosophy. I expected it to help me understand better that which surrounds me: but it didn't work out that way. Literature has taught me more. I was interested in exploring the bearing philosophy could really have on one's life, and how. I wanted to illuminate this process. That's where the desire to anchor philosophy to a story, a work of fiction, was born: to give it more meaning, make it more physically real, and render it, perhaps, even entertaining."-Muriel Barbery

See you Wednesday!

Emily

Olive Kitteredge?

Has anyone read this yet? Have you done it for bookclub? Any thoughts or insights would be surely welcome. Also, as long as we're trading recipes....Rachel, I would really love, love, love your chili recipe. Seriously, I think I had a dream about it. Between you and Daphne, I'm ready to start just eating at your houses for dinner instead of mine.

Anyone Interested?

I imagine that a few of you maybe interested in this exhibit. I would love to get a group and go all together...

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=19178994&title=major-islamic-art-exhibit-being-installed-at-byu&s_cid=queue-16

Rachel

My calves ache from the hike and my belly is bloated from the carbs, but I wouldn't want it any other way! What a fabulous retreat...you all make such a positive difference in my life in so many eclectic ways, I can't even begin to list them one by one...but I "count my many blessing" every day, and you are among them. I have asked Tara to post her granola recipe...Daphne emailed that delectable Marsala...Alicia, any chance we culinary plebians could take a peek at that amazing H&H cake? I may get up the courage to try it for Valentine's Day!
Best,
Arna