♥FEBRUARY'S CHOICE♥

For the month of February, we will all become familar with a hobby that I have no idea how to do, but I know some of our member's do. They know all about Friday nights...no...kidding...they knit. The next selection in the club is "Friday Night Knitting Club," by Kate Jacobs.

This is what's being said on her website www.fridaynightknittingclub.com:

Praise for The Friday Night Knitting Club
"An absolutely beautiful, deeply moving portrait of female friendship. You'll laugh and cry along with these characters, and if you're like me, you'll wish you knew how to knit."—Kristin Hannah, author of Firefly Lane

"If you are looking for an inviting group of gals to spend a few winter evenings with, pull up your afghan and snuggle in with The Friday Night Knitting Club…[It] makes you yearn for yarn, even if you're not a knitter."—USA Today

"This book's great—worth reading now."—Glamour Magazine

"Knitters will enjoy seeing the healing power of stitching put into words. Its simplicity and soothing repetition leave room for conversation, laughter, revelations and friendship—just like the beauty shop in Steel Magnolias."—Detroit Free-Press
"[A] winning first novel…impossible to put down."—Booklist

"If you like to write or read or knit, your first reaction to The Friday Night Knitting Club may be pure jealousy…Readers will come to root for nearly everyone in the sweetly diverse cast of characters."—Concord Monitor

"What begins as an unlikely hodgepodge of women soon evolves into an unbreakable sisterhood as the characters learn from each other's differences and bond over their love of knitting."—Vogue Knitting
"A Steel Magnolias for the 21st century."—Kirkus Reviews

"Poignant twists propel the plot and help the pacing find a pleasant rhythm."—Publishers Weekly

"A really great story."—Marie Claire

"Celebrates the power of women's independence and is essentially an urban counterpart to How to Make an American Quilt."—New Statesman

So come and read about knitting, friday nights, and a good book. The club will be knittin' away at our book, will you?

The next club will take place on February 21st, at 9:00am at Fat Man's. I will post about the book later.

As always, HAPPY READING!

BIG THANKS TO SUSAN RICHARDS

January's selection was "Chosen By A Horse" by Susan Richards. For the first time our book club got to speak to the author of the book at the meeting.

When searching for information for the book club in January, an email on her website came up. I quickly sent an email to Susan Richards, and asked her for advice, information, words of wisdom that she wanted to give. Sure enough, I got an email back about an hour later the same day, with her saying a few words, and that it would be ok to call her if we wanted. She would be available in the morning for us to talk to on our Saturday mornings, so I wrote her phone number down.

On Saturday, January 17th, we had a lively discussion on the book about a woman's love for a horse, and her life. It was a positive book, that delivered a feel good vibe, but at the end delivered a slight blow, as it wasn't a happy ending, but it is unfortunately a part of life. All in all, the club really enjoyed the book.

We have two members who own horses themselves. It was said that what Susan said was true. The members said highly, that the horse chooses you, you don't choose the horse. One member said that she talked of things, that she herself had only thought of in her head. That she didn't tell anyone, but that it was like she knew what she was thinking. With our horse experts, and our animals lovers, they gave big thumbs up.

After discussing the book, and answering the discussion questions which are available online, it was time to dial up Susan. As never as I was, never calling an author before, I was all ready to try something new. I took my cell phone, dialed the number, and put it on speaker phone. Before you knew it, she was on the other line from Florida, taling to us. I thanked her for taking the time to hear us, and talk to us personally. It's not everyday that an author allows you to call you at home, and talk with a group of readers about your book.

***ATTENTION AUTHORS: Please let your readers and book clubs call you. It is the most gratiflying experience to talk to the person of the book you have just read.***

After letting Cheri (the one who picked her book) talk to her personally, and all of us asking the questions to her, it was time to say goodbye. She was most gracious, and wonderful to talk to. We at our book club, would like to thank Susan Richards, for taking the time to talk with us. It meant a lot, and we are most thankful!!!

After talks about horses, pets, and life in general, the book club came to a close. It was, however (I think) the longest club clocking in at almost 11:00am. WOW!

The rating was more than likely **** 1/2 out of *****. A nice feel good, discussion book. And if you are lucky, and you want to try and have Susan talk to you, she might take your call.

Stay tuned for the next book club book, coming up for FEBRUARY!

January's Choice 2009 -NEW BOOK FOR NEW YEAR

Was your New Year's resolution to read more? How about joining a book club? How about eating more breakfast? If any one of the resolutions would do for you, then come join our gang for reading & breakfast.

It's a new year, and a new book. For the month of January, we will be discussing "Chosen by a Horse," by Susan Richards.

A synopsis from barnesandnoble.com reads:

"The horse Susan Richards chose for rescue wouldn’t be corralled into her waiting trailer. Instead Lay Me Down, a former racehorse with a foal close on her heels, walked right up that ramp and into Susan’s life. This gentle creature—malnourished, plagued by pneumonia and an eye infection—had endured a rough road, but somehow her heart was still open and generous. It seemed fated that she would come into Susan’s paddock and teach her how to embrace the joys of life despite the dangers of living."

"An elegant and often heartbreaking tale filled with animal characters as complicated and lively as their human counterparts, this is an inspiring story of courage and hope and the ways in which all love—even an animal’s—has the power to heal."

This is a book for animal lovers, lovers of the human spirit, and readers all together. Enjoy January's selection. It's a new year, a new book! Happy Reading!

MEETING DATE: January 17th, 2009 Fat Man's 9:00am

Richard Paul Evans Christmas Collection Thoughts

The club met on Saturday, December 20th at Fat Man's to discuss the "Richard Paul Evans" Christmas collection. The collection included "The Christmas Box," "The Gift," & "Finding Noel." All popular titles in amongst Evan's works. It seems no matter he writes, it speaks to all kinds of people, in all different ways. With catching quotes at the beginings and throughout the book, Evan's makes it feel like the "Where's Waldo" of quote hunting. But, it makes it for a feel good read, something some people like around the holidays.


Ruth, the person who picked December's book, asked us to read one, two, or all three of the "Christmas Collection." After we read it, we were supposed to write down a quotes that stuck out to us, and memories that the book struck up for us. Like good little readers that we are, we all did so, and it made the discussion more interesting. Going around the table, and hearing what memories it brought up, and what quotes people liked, made you think "Oh, I liked that one too." Sometimes, we picked the same one that others had picked.

As a whole, I think that people liked "Finding Noel" the most, followed by "The Gift" and then "The Christmas Box." They were all good reads, but some struck people as a better read than others. People liked the books for there feel good potential. They were just easy reads for the holidays, and it seems that that is what everyone wants to read while it's a semi-busy time of year such as Christmas and New Years. Most of them got through all of the selections, but some did not get to read all of them, and said they will go back and read what they missed.

If you are looking for a feel good read for the holidays, or in general, any of these or other selections for Richard Paul Evans would suffice. I would say the ratings for the books would be as follow:

CHRISTMAS BOX *** out of *****
GIFT **** out of *****
NOEL ***** out of *****
(based on the three of what we read)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!
Check to see what the next selection is. It's coming soon...

Coming up 12-20-2008

Get your questions, your ideas, and thoughts ready. Book club is this Saturday, December 20th! Last book club of 2008.

DECEMBER'S CHOICES

In celebration of the CHRISTMAS season, yes...I said it...CHRISTMAS!!! The person who picked next decided to pick three of Richard Paul Evans Christmas books for December. In an interesting twist again, as she has in the past, we are reading one, two, or all three of the books for December. We then are to write down a meaningful quote from what books we read, and a story that might reflect what we are feeling after reading it.

“Whatever the reason, I find that with each passing Christmas the story of the Christmas Box is told less and needed more. So I record it now for all future generations to accept or dismiss as seems them good. As for me, I believe. And it is, after all, my story.” (richardpaulevans.com)

“The Bible says that God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. My story is about one of God’s weak things. His name is Collin, a frail, beautiful little boy with a very special gift.” -The Gift (richardpaulevans.com)

“There are stories, Christmas stories that are stored away like boxes of garlands and frosted glass ornaments, to be brought out and cherished each year. I’ve come to believe that my story is a Christmas story. For it has forever changed the way I see Christmas.” (ricahrdpaulevans.com)

----

So all the members, and whoever wants to read with us, these are the three books that you should focus on. Pick one up. More stuff to come...HAPPY READING!

Philp Gulley Field Trip

In our very first field trip, book club went to Punxsutawney. No, not to see the groundhog, but to trek to the Presbyterian Church. In case some of you missed the picture, this is us with Philip Gulley. He gave a very nice, and funny talk about his book series "Home to Harmony."

He is a master storyteller, and is wonderful at what he does. We wish that more members could have came, but that's ok. The four of us had a good time with one another. It was a nice Sunday April evening with a good author, good friends, and listening to what we book clubbers love the most...books!

Thanks to CC for organizing the trip. We hope to have more in the future. In the words of the great Willie Nelson, "...I can't wait to get on the road again."

The trip was April 20th, 2008. SB, KR, MB, & CC