Recommended Reading

I've heard from a few people that are in a bit of a lull, so I want to share some of my recent books.  I'm currently reading a mystery called, The Weight of Silence, by Heather Gudenkauf.  It's really good, but it's about two little 7-year-old girls who go missing, so it's kind-of tough to read.  The writing is very engaging, though, and it sucked me right in.  I read for four hours straight the night I started it - I couldn't put it down!! 

Another book I'm reading, that's really good:  Spoken from the Heart, by Laura Bush.  It's her autobiography and it's just a good, wholesome, sweet read.  She talks about her childhood, growing up in a small Texas town and "the way things were."  Republican or Democrat, Bush fan or not...if you are at all interested in the history of Texas towns or about the Bush family, you will enjoy this book. 

I wanted to let you know that Leighton put me onto Philippa Gregory and her books, which are about old England.  I read The White Queen and loved it so much, I started reading The Red Queen yesterday and I'm halfway finished!!  I went online to see what order they are in and I found that she's written about 15 books... I can't wait to read them all.  If you have any interest in historical fiction at all, you'd love these books.  They are all fact-based, which makes it really believeable.  Here's the author's website for more information:  http://www.philippagregory.com/

I also wanted to tell you about a few mysteries I've read recently (also tips from Leighton) - these are really great, too!!

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin (synopsis from bn.com)  A powerful and resonant novel from Tom Franklin—critically acclaimed author of Smonk and Hell at the Breech—Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter tells the riveting story of two boyhood friends, torn apart by circumstance, who are brought together again by a terrible crime in a small Mississippi town. An extraordinary novel that seamlessly blends elements of crime and Southern literary fiction, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is a must for readers of Larry Brown, Pete Dexter, Ron Rash, and Dennis Lehane

Never Tell a Lie, by Hallie Ephron (synopsis from bn.com)  It all started with the yard sale. Ivy was eight months and one week pregnant when she insisted that she and her husband, David, clean out the junk they'd inherited with the old Victorian house they'd bought three years before. Call it nesting, call it nerves she just wanted it all gone: the old electrical fixtures, the boxes of National Geographics from the 1960s, the four black wool greatcoats.

Neither she nor David recognized the woman at first. But it turned out that the customer asking about the lime-green glass swan dish the woman who looks just about as pregnant as Ivy was none other than Melinda White, a former high school classmate of David and Ivy's. When Melinda was a child she used to play in their new house, she explained. It looked like they'd been doing some work. Would it be all right if she took a look around? David took Melinda inside. And she never came out.

Now David's under police suspicion, and Ivy finds herself digging deep into the past to clear his name. But David's history, she begins to discover, is not necessarily the history she remembers, and before long Ivy has uncovered a twisted web of deceit, betrayal, and lies, both the ones we tell those we love and the ones we tell ourselves. . . .

Relentlessly fast-paced and disturbingly creepy, Never Tell a Lie is a page-turning thrill ride about how well we know the people we love, and how far we are willing to go to protect the secrets of our past.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I have!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson

The subtitle of this message is, "How Stephanie Gaines Missed the Opportunity of a Lifetime by No-Showing."  That's right.  Because Stephanie was a no-show, she didn't get to meet Chrissy, who made a surprise appearance specifically to set her up with Chrissy's friend, Scot.  Yes, they were also married once and yes, they have two children together, but they are still friends and all Chrissy wants is for him to be happy.  And that's all we wanted for Stephanie, too.  But noooooo. She'd prefer to continue her "relationship" with a fella who expects her to go native and let her kitty cat spread out like a 70's porn star.  Whatever blows your skirt up, Stephanie. 

Topics you missed if you weren't at the July meeting:

Kitten shortage in central Texas - you can adopt kittens for free right now.  Suzy is NOT ALLOWED to adopt any kittens. 

We determined some people like to use big, meaningless words to make themselves bigger and better.  For example, "heretoforewithin."  The word means abso-freaking-lutely NOTHING and yet it's used in attorney circles occasionally and also by some people who have really tiny penises.  However, for some reason, Farrah LOVES this word and has asked that we get on a rotating schedule so that each of us is sending the word to her in a text message every single day for the rest of her life.  I'm working on getting that schedule put together, Farrah.

Brazilian waxes - specifically, how can these be incorporated into book club... it was discussed that maybe we could do a waxing assembly line.  There was also discussion about which way is better:  butt-spread kind, or doggy-style kind.  Not really sure what the consensus on that was, but we were all in agreement that whichever position you choose, it's awkward no matter what to show all your goods to someone else, especially after giving birth because things aren't in their original locations and don't necessarily look as perky as they once did.

Let it be known that Stacy does not do anal.  Anal glands, that is.  (This is good stuff, people.)  Did you know that you could have your dog's anal glands removed??  WHO KNEW??  Apparently they aren't really necessary and yet they can be completely gross, so why WOULDN'T you have them removed?

Then there was the 45-minute "discussion" (I think "argument" is more accurate) about Kate & Ali, the teen twin stars from the mid-80's hit TV show, "Double Trouble."  Not really sure where the reference first started, but Chrissy insisted there were twins in the 80's named Kate and Ali and nobody agreed.  There was cell phone-web surfing happening throughout the room while people tried to prove their memory was better than everyone else's.  Chrissy took top prize when she found the proof that these girls definitely did exist.  

Other stuff you missed was delicious taco salad, if I do say so myself, (although it gave Mia techni-colored diarrhea... anyone else have that problem?  Oopsy-poopsy!), bucket of margaritas from Farrah, and yummy chocolate-chip-cookie-crust-pudding-cream-cheese-pie thing from Anissa that made my freaking day.  Sunday wasn't able to cook anything because all of her fingers were cut off a few days before our meeting.  She did show up with a bottle of wine between her bloody stumps, though.  Thank you, Sunday!

We talked about Lisa's fabulous haircut and color, Cara's attempt to track down a knock-off purse guy, her 2nd-day shampoo secret, Ana's case about a man who popped his wife's breast implant, Leighton's impending move to Waco to be a trophy wife (albeit a Waco trophy), and even managed to fit in a discussion about the book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. 

The consensus on the book, The Girl with the Dragon Tatto, was that it was slow to start, then picked up dramatically.  Everyone who read it seemed to like it a lot.  Most of those who have read the other books in his series reported that the second book, The Girl Who Played With Fire, is not as good as the first, but that the third book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest, is the best of the three.  I am about 20 pages from finishing the second book and I completely disagree that it isn't as good as the first.  I think it is far better and have found myself thinking about it all during the day, wondering what will happen in the chapters I'll be reading that night.  I can't wait to read the third book, but I don't know when that will happen, since we have a big, thick book to read for next month's meeting.

We did some research on the author, Steig Larsson, who died fairly young of a heart attack but there's been lots of skepticism about whether that's what really killed him. 

 Chrissy has decided to join book club for a few months - AND she's hosting our September meeting (we decided August is way too busy to try to get together).  Besides, her book choice is very thick, so we'll need as much time as possible to get it read before we meet.  Next month's book is How to Make Love Like a Porn Star, by Jenna Jameson.  Our meeting will be at Chrissy's house around the middle of September.  I think we should wear pumps and glitter and Marilyn should bring boas from the dance studio so we can be porn-star-like!!!  

Have a great month and we'll see you next month! 

Kristan

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler

Hi ladies, 

Thank you, Farrah, for hosting book club again - the book was Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang and we all seemed to have enjoyed the book (except Sunday who didn't even read it.)  We did discuss the book for a bit and we all decided that while Chelsea is witty and dry and quite hilarious, she probably would not be a very good friend.  She'd always be looking to sell you out if you did anything embarassing; and if you didn't, she'd probably just make something up.  While I think it's pretty funny that she says stuff like, "that puppy was a complete dick," Lisa pointed out that it was a bit much that she'd call babies assholes.  That was pretty much the concensus...  Still, she's a hoot and the book had everyone laughing out loud at one point or another. 

Farrah served delicious Greek salad that had me burping cucumber for the next 48 hours.  Good thing it was so yummy, because that gift certainly kept on giving!  We also had hummus and crackers, a veggie tray with the tiniest, sweetest carrots I've ever had the pleasure of laying upon my tongue.  Anissa brought a bucket o' margaritas and some amaretto - if you've never had amaretto margaritas, you are missing out!  They are the perfect blend of tart and sweet and they go down like golden heaven.  Mmmmmm....  just thinking about them makes me want one, even though it's only 10am on a Sunday morning.  I think in the spirit of Chelsea Handler, I might have to make that happen.  We finished off the evening with absolutely DELICIOUS lemon bars.  I really hope nobody noticed me stuffing extras in my purse.  Awkward!

Anyhoo...other topics of discussion were: a mini-battle of who would host next (Sunday or me.... Sunday won); how skanky all our toes were and how we all should go get pedi's asap; how, for some bizarre reason, I always seem to forget about Anissa, who has become one of my sweetest friends.... but she lives the wrong direction on Bordeaux; Shana's engagement (congratulations, Shana!  We've been missing you at book club!); and Sunday's favorite swimsuit, which is completely see-through in the rear-end, and she's ok with that. 

Ana and Mia gave us some hilarious stories from their childhood, a crowd favorite being the one where Ana told their parents how Mia was chatting online with her friends after curfew, earning Mia a THREE MONTH grounding.  And lastly, and probably most importantly, how Farrah really should always keep her hair ratted and wear a girdle. It's only proper and people will surely not think her mother raised her right if she doesn't start doing these things immediately.

Here are some books I've come across that look really good to me, so I thought I'd share - if you have any recommended reads or books that are on your wish list, let us know.  I'm always looking for book ideas and I know you ladies probably are, too. 

The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin

Open by Andre Agassi

Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul by Deepak Chopra

The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson

Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush

Happy reading, friends!

The Help, by Katherine Stockett

Hi ladies,

Our March meeting to discuss The Help by Katherine Stockett was last Thursday at Z Tejas - if you weren't there, you missed some yummy appetizers and deliciously strong beverages.  You also missed the half-hour-long trip around the parking lot to find a spot to park, though, so that's an up-side.  Note for future reference:  now that McDonald's is open next door to Z, it's impossible to park on a Thursday evening.  Once we got in and got settled, though, it was a fun night of visiting. 

Things you should be aware of if you missed the meeting:

• Mia cannot be left alone with a knife and a pan of corn bread - she simply does not know how to do it.
• It's important that you know where all of your tampons are before having someone you don't know well get in your car.  Having this acquaintance pick up the tampons for you is quite embarrassing (particularly if it's a male doing the tampon-picking).
• Likewise, make sure you don't have any accidentally-unwrapped tampons floating around where you keep your ink pens, because if you pull your pen out and it has the pull-string of a tampon attached to it, you might end up flinging that lovely cotton plug into someone's lap.

It was a fun evening and several of us shut the patio down, so that was fun - and on a school night!!  Such irresponsible, naughty girls!

Middlesex and The Lucky One

Hi Ladies - so sorry I didn't do minutes from the January book club meeting - it was awesome!!  Mia made delicious homemade red sauce over pasta and crusty bread.  Leighton and Stephanie brought evil-delicious brownies.  Everything was DELICIOUS!!   

The book was Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides and it got some pretty mixed reviews.  People either loved it or hated it.  I, for one, am always up for a book about a penis, no matter how tiny.  The book discussion spurned all types of colorful side-discussions:  anatomy and physiology of the hermaphrodite; how could this appendage possibly have been missed by a physician or a mother, for God's sake; Hoarders, the program on A&E, of which Ana, Mia's sister, pulled off a spot-on re-enactment of one toddler's clutter-loving mom. 

We killed a few tasty bottles of wine and talked about the recipe for Mia's red sauce (below).  It was a great evening down-southa-town!!  Thanks for hosting, Mia!

Courtesy of Rachel Ray: Cherry Tomato Sauce (I know, I’m obsessed with it, but it goes on everything!)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

2 pints cherry tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, crushed or chopped

Salt and pepper

½ quart chicken stock (2 cups)

1 cup basil leaves, torn

2 scallions, whites and greens, chopped

A chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, for shaving

Crusty bread, for dunking

Preparation

In a large, deep skillet with a tight-fitting lid or a Dutch oven, heat the EVOO, two turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Stir in the cherry tomatoes and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cover the pan and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the tomatoes burst and a thick sauce forms, 7-8 minutes.

Add the chicken stock (add additional water if you prefer) and bring to a boil. Let simmer for a few more minutes. Remove from the heat and wilt in the basil; stir in the scallions.

** Mia’s addition: Add it to whatever floats your boat! Shave delicious parmesan and dunk bread in it, throw it over pasta or veggies or even chicken and turkey!

February's book was The Lucky One, by Nicholas Sparks.  Lisa was our hostess and served mimosas, egg & sausage casserole, Sunday brought muffins with chocolate chips and frozen raspberries, and I brought coffee cake made with fresh raspberries.  We visited about the book for a short bit, discussing how it wasn't like most of his other books - this one had a twist right at the very, very end - although it was almost exactly like one of his other books.  So apparently he has a typical style, but varied it for two books, which are almost exactly alike.  Silly Nicholas Sparks.  Thank goodness you are easy to look at, or we'd have a serious problem with this literary misstep. 

Also discussed:  school supplies lists are intended to get the school year started, but need to be replenished throughout the school year.  If you have a problem with this, please just don't donate.  There is no need to send a snotty-ass email to the room parent relaying a freaking request.  Shana's criminal boyfriend-wannabe; peewee baseball coaches tend to be obsessed with their craft; scrapbooking retreat weekend options.  We kept it fairly clean this time (it WAS a morning meeting, after all).  It was wonderful - thank you, Lisa!!

March's book is The Help by Kathryn Stockett -  If you haven't started reading it, yet - you're missing out!  It's a wonderful book!!  I can't wait to get together and discuss this one.   

Also, I wanted to send you a link to another book that looks interesting:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Scloot.   We might want to consider talking about this one at a future meeting.  Otherwise, it just looks like a great in-between-meetings read.  Enjoy!

Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater

Happy New Year, fellow bookworms!  I hope you are having a wonderful holiday!

December's book club meeting was an intimate one at Shana's, with only 6 of us in attendance to discuss Shana's book choice, Shiver.  Shana had everything decorated so beautifully for Christmas and the food was wonderful (king ranch chicken, chips, yummy garlic bread).  Sunday made dessert of cake balls (and who doesn't love a cake ball?), peanut butter pie, and something else that I can't remember.  

Overall, everyone felt the book was pretty disappointing.  We tried... we really tried.  But it was just too juvenile. It was trying really hard to be a Twilight, but with the werewolf twist... well, it just didn't cut it.  

It's been a while, but I'll do my best to recall the other topics of discussion:  Shana's boyfriends and how she makes them cry, and then kicks them out of her house (and out of town, for that matter); how to make cake balls moist (you mix icing in with the mix); the enticing possibility of us making our book club into a reality show and even went so far as to determine each role we'd play (Shana would be the boy-crazy one, Anissa would be the mommy of the group, keeping us all in line... and Farrah and I would be the bad girls who would fist fight when the discussion didn't go our way.  I don't remember Lisa's or Sunday's roles.  Do you ladies remember?  This is important, so please pipe in if you can think of it.)

As usual, lots of discoveries made and many of our world's issues put to rest.