End of 2016

Holy smokes, it's been a while since I updated this page, where did the time go?

I'm going to try to list our books since January 2015, will probably need some help.

January 2015...The Princess Bride
February...We were the Mulvaneys
March...Far From the Madding Crowd
April Night Justice...
May...The Little Prince...
June...Enchanted...
July Big Little Lies...
August...A Town called Alice
September 2015...The Poisonwood Bible
October ...The Martian
November....Pope Joan
December...Nothing, I think, our chart has a slash through this month.
January.2016..The Nightingale...Kristin Hannah
February...The Jungle Book...Rudyard Kipling
March....Natural Order...
April...Brooklyn....
May....Live from the Underground
June
July
August
September
October
November The Art of Racing in the Rain...Garth Stein

April '15

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.Thanks for your patience ladies. Even though no one is saying WTF out loud I can hear you. .........So we are meeting for lunch this Sunday to discuss "Night Justice". This has been a bit of a bomb as the guy changed his mind and won't open the Donnelly homestead for us (he says it is too wet!?!?) and most of us have had a heck of a time getting hold of the book. However, let's get together and talk about it,( Janice Brown is still leading the discussion?) and those who have read it can tell the others about it. But where are we going to go for lunch? Laurie W did some digging but our first choices are closed. So how about Stokes Inland around 12.30? I'll call and make a reservation.

*May 3..Road trip to see Susanna Kearsley (author of "Mariana") in Kincardine. Who's interested in going? I think it's Nic, Laurie W and myself so far....
*May 19th at the Book Keeper. I was thinking "Love in the time of Cholera", has anyone read it? Any alternate suggestions welcome. I'll confirm with Susan.................
*June 14 -Stratford to see "The Taming of the Shrew". As only Pam, Laurie W, Nicole and myself are going, we should pick a book and meet as usual, that would be the 16th.......Perhaps something very light...........
* Not sure about Kinky Boots, Julie Jenkins, is that date still good?

Jane has asked if we can meet on Mondays. Is everyone okay with that? Remind me to mention it on Sunday.

Hope to see you all on Sunday, please let me know if you are coming so I can reserve.

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Happy New Year ladies,


To recap since the last post-

June '14- The Great Gatsby-F. Scott Fitzgerald-Nicole's house, Nicole led the discussion, I believe we sampled Mojitos.
July- The Bay of Spirits- Farley Mowatt- Helen's house, Helen led the discussion.
August- The Rosie Project by (I don't know and am too lazy to check)-chicken under the bridge, decamped to Helen's house because of very nasty weather.
September- North and South-Elizabeth Gaskell, Paddy Flaherty's, talked about a trip, NYC or Chicago.
October- "The Lost Sisterhood" by _______ Fortier. At John's? Pam joined us this month?
November- "The Cat's Table" by Michael Andaatje. .
December- Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell at Sicily's.

Upcoming-

This month is "The Princess Bride" (the classic tale of true love and high adventure)by William Goldman. The article I read promised a more in depth story than the movie. I'm over halfway finished and I believe the article lied. Seems much the same and there is no Cary Elwes to look at.

For February we'll give "We are the Mulvaneys" by Joyce Carol Oates a go. I've heard a lot about this book. The reviews of it are good.

Would like to do a classic in March, haven't done one since September. We're going to look over a list I copied from Book Riot. Perhaps we can choose something from there. Otherwise I'm leaning towards 'The Three Musketeers' by Alexandre Dumas.

Okay, what do you think about this for April? There is a book I'd like to try and get hold of by a Toronto journalist by the name of Peter Edwards. It's called Night Justice. It is about the Black Donnellys. They are the family that terrorized the area around Lucan then ended up being killed by a posse of locals. There is a homestead up there that you can visit. I checked out the website, it seems rather grizzly, there are fans and all kinds of people interested in the story. I just thought it would be something different for us, read the book, go out for lunch on a Sunday and take a trip out to Lucan and have a peek. We can combine it with anything else we have a fancy for in London.

Then we are at The Book Keeper in May. I believe Pam's going to sort us out for a Shakespeare play in Stratford in June.

None of this is written in stone but at this time of year it's nice to have something to look forward to.

God bless you Julie, we're thinking about you.

Coffee Lodge Book Discussion Group's Top ten books to read in a Lifetime.

Partial List

Angels and Demons- Dan Brown- LN
Anne of Green Gables- Lucy Maude Montomery
Bag of Bones- Stephen King- LN
Brave New World- Aldous Huxley- LW
Flowers in the Attic series- NY
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- NY
Gone Series-NY
Gone with the Wind- Margaret Mitchell- SH
Hannibal Rising- Thomas Harris- LN
Harry Potter Series- JK Rowling- NY, AJ
Hunger Games- AJ
Interview with the Vampire- Anne Rice- LN
Jane Eyre- Charlotte Bronte- SH, AJ
Les Miserables- Victor Hugo- NY
Mariana- Susanna Kearsley- SH
Mists of Avalon- AJ
Outlander - Diana Gabaldon- LW, SH
Picture of Dorian Gray- Oscar Wilde- NY, LN
Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen- SH, NY, AJ
Still Alice- Lisa Genova- LW
Sarah's Key- Tatiana de Rosnay- LW
The Color Purple- SH
The Crucible- Arthur Miller-NY
The Giver- AJ
The Glass Castle- Jeanette Walls- LW
The Help- Kathryn Stockett- LW, SH
The Host- AJ
The Hunger- AJ
The Importance of Being Earnest- Oscar Wilde- LN
The Invisible Man- H.G. Wells- LN
The Magnificent Hoax- E. Phillips Oppenheim- LN
The Secret Garden- Kate Morton- LW
The Secret Life of Bees- Kathryn Stockett- SH
The Stand- Stephen King- L
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall- Anne Bronte- NY
The Vampire Lestat- Anne Rice- LN
The Voices of Summer- AJ
Thursdays with Morrie-NY
Time Traveler's Wife-Audrey Niffenegger- LW
To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee- SH
Water for Elephants- Sara Gruen- LW, SH

For Julie

February 11,2014- "The Town that Drowned" by Riel Nason , Janice is leading the discussion at her house, at 6.30 pm.

March 11,'14- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, 7.00 pm at Exmouth Coffee Lodge, Susan will be leading the discussion.

April 7,'14- The Book Thief by __________, John's Restaurant, 6 pm for dinner, discussion by Laurie N.

May 13,'14- I am Malala by ___________, at the Book Keeper, 7.00 pm. (Not confirmed with Susan Chamberlain but don't imagine there will be a problem.)( Susan H. will lead the discussion unless anyone else would like to do the honours.Carol?)


Below is our book list, I'll try to complete it when I get a chance. Please help fill in the blanks and question marks. Catherine? Thanks.

Jane, Helen and Janice, do you remember when you joined us? Let me know and I can put it in the time line.



Time Line



2006

September-'Pride and Prejudice'- Jane Austen
October-'The Picture of Dorian Grey'- Oscar Wilde
November-'Rebecca'-Daphne DuMaurier
December- 'Tom Jones'- Henry Fielding


2007

January- 'Gone with the Wind'-Margaret Mitchell
February- 'Turn of the Screw'- Henry James
March-'Scarlett Pimpernel'-Baroness Orczy
April-'Gulliver's Travels'-Jonathan Swift
May-
June- 'Jane Eyre'-Charlotte Bronte
July-'My Family and Other Animals'-Gerald Durrell
August-'Birds, Beasts and Relatives', 'Garden of the Gods'-Gerald Durrell
September- 'Emma'-Jane Austen
October-'The Moonstone'-Wilkie Collins
November-'The Rice Mother'-Rani Manicka
December-'A Christmas Carol'-Charles Dickens

2008

January-'Anne of Green Gables'-Lucy Maud Montgomery
February-'The Dwelling Place'-Catherine Cookson
March-'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'-Victor Hugo
April-'To Kill a Mockingbird'-Harper Lee
May-Reading Circle
June-'Watership Down'-Richard Adams
July-'Mamma Mia', the movie
August-'All Creatures Great and Small'-James Herriot
September-'Persuasion'-Jane Austen
October-'The Secret Life of Bees'-Sue Monk Kidd
November-'Clan of the Cave Bear'-Jean Auel
December-'Pillars of the Earth'-Ken Follett

2009

January-'Bootjack Mary, Ahead of her Time'-Bonnie Brantom Stevenson
February-'The Burning Shore'- Wilbur Smith
March- 'Les Miserables'- Victor Hugo
April-'My Sister's Keeper'- Jodi Picoult, I think this is when Jane joined us, not sure though.
May- 'Angels and Demons'- Dan Brown
June-'Water for Elephants'-Sarah Gruen
July- 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'- Khaled Hosseini
August- 'Tuesdays with Morrie'- (watched at the Imperial)-Mitch Albom
September- 'Sense and Sensibility'- Jane Austen
October- 'The Crucible'- Arthur Miller, at John's, Nicole.
November-'Mariana'-Susanna Kearsley, Cl Petrolia, Susan
December-The Wife's Tale- Lori Lansens, Ups and Downs

2010

January-Peyton Place- Grace Metalious-
February- For Whom the Bell Tolls- Ernest Hemingway, John's, Carol
March- Bridget Jones Diary (this book will be like those little bowls of coffee beans in a perfume store, to clear our senses before diving into...)
April- Roots
May- book circle at the new Book Keeper.
June-The Count of Monte Cristo' on Carol's back patio, which had recently been beautified for her daughter's wedding.
July was "Too Close to the Falls".
August saw us on my patio eating and drinking tea party fare, and discussing "Alice in Wonderland".
September- Jane led us in a discussion of "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

This was our 5th Anniversary, clap clap, Leo treated us to a bottle of wine if I remember correctly and Susan at the Book Keeper sent along a gift basket.

October- "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" We watched Laurie's copy of the movie at Nicole's. Laurie was mobile enough to join us and Alanna(Catherine's new daughter-in-law)(great boots) joined us as well..
November-Alanna led the discussion of "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott at John's Restaurant.
December-we discussed Kate Morton's "The Forgotten Garden". A nice evening was had by all at Lola's in December as well.

2011
January- was "The Secret Daughter" -Laurie/ Susan

Somewhere in there, Coffee Lodge Finch hosted a book signing by the ladies who wrote the book "Reading between the Wines". Thanks to all who attended and supported the evening. I found them very interesting. Their ideas about travelling together were inspirational.

February- "Annabel" by Kathleen Winter. -Carol
March- Rupert Penry Jones as John Hannay in "The 39 Steps" by John Buchan. Book discussion and movie.-Susan
April- "Room" by Emma Donahue-Laurie
May- book circle at the Book Keeper for the second year.
June-"Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins at Paddy's-Alanna
July-" A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving-Carol
August- "Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford-Laurie
September- " The Help"- Catherine/Alanna
October- "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger-Susan
November- "The Good Daughter" Jane?
December- " The Power of One" by Bryce Courtenay

2012

January- "One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich (Went over the river see the movie with Katherine Heigl.)
February- "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer at the Exmouth St. Coffee Lodge.....Helen joined us this month I think.
March- "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, watched the movie at Susan's.
April- discussed favourite children's books
May- "The Dovekeeper" by Alice Munroe (?)at the Book Keeper
June- "The Bishop's Man", on Nicole's patio, Donna.
July
August- "The Slap"
September- "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.
October- "Salem's Lot" by Stephen King
November- Unbroken", at Catherine's?
December- "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"


2013

January- "Gone Girl",...... welcome to Janice Brown
February- 419
March- "Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
April- "Angel" by Colleen McCullagh
May- Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
June- "Swiss Family Robinson"
July-"The Mistress of Nothing"
August- "Call the Midwife" by Jennifer Worth, Garden party at Carol's, Bridal shower for Laurie.
- Laurie's wedding
September- The Time Machine" - H.G. Wells, Steampunk Movie and a pizza at Alanna's.
October- ???? 3 day road.........the Joseph Boyden one, we went to listen to the author and Michael Winter at the library after dinner at Ups n Downs. Carol had a gimpy leg. Julie.
November- "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls
December- No book, dinner at Sicily's, welcome Laurie W.

2014

January- "The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared", CL Finch, Laurie N.
February- "The Town that Drowned" Riel Nason, at Janice's.
March- "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon, CL Exmouth, Susan
April- "The Book Thief", John's, Laurie
May- "I am Malala", The Book Keeper.

Anne Bronte

I finally finished the "Tenant", glad I did. I had more left to read than I thought. Really enjoyed it. I read the biography at the end and then looked up some of "Acton Bells" poems. I am not a poetry lover but the way she writes seems like you are listening to her voice. Quite nice. Plan on reading "Agnes Grey" which seems to be on my reader already. Have a great month. See you in October.

Fluctuations

What though the sun had left my sky;
To save me from despair
The blessed moon arose on high,
And shone serenely there.
I watched her, with a tearful gaze,
Rise slowly o'er the hill,
While through the dim horizon's haze
Her light gleamed faint and chill.

I thought such wan and lifeless beams
Could ne'er my heart repay,
For the bright sun's most transient gleams
That cheered me through the day:

But as above that mist's control
She rose, and brighter shone,
I felt her light upon my soul;
But now -- that light is gone!

Thick vapours snatched her from my sight,
And I was darkling left,
All in the cold and gloomy night,
Of light and hope bereft:

Until, methought, a little star
Shone forth with trembling ray,
To cheer me with its light afar --
But that, too, passed away.

Anon, an earthly meteor blazed
The gloomy darkness through;
I smiled, yet trembled while I gazed --
But that soon vanished too!

And darker, drearier fell the night
Upon my spirit then; --
But what is that faint struggling light?
Is it the Moon again?

Kind Heaven! increase that silvery gleam,
And bid these clouds depart,
And let her soft celestial beam
Restore my fainting heart!

Acton


Anne Brontë

The Slap, Aug. 14th, BBQ at Catherine's

THE SLAP Very sorry about this, they've messed with the site, no matter how many spaces I try to put in they are not showing up on the post. Will have to make do with periods til I figure it out..................................................................... Christos Tsiolkas was born and grew up in Melbourne and was educated at Blackburn High School and the University of Melbourne where he completed an Arts Degree in 1987. He edited the student newspaper Farrago in 1988......Tsiolkas' first novel, Loaded (1995), was filmed as Head On (1998) by director Ana Kokkinos, starring Alex Dimitriades.[2] In 2006, his novel, Dead Europe, won The Age Book of the Year fiction award. In 2009, his fourth novel, The Slap, won the Commonwealth Writers Prize 2009 for best novel in the South-East Asia and South Pacific area.He is openly gay,and a Richmond Football Club supporter....................................................... Points for discussion................................................................................................................................................................ -As a reviewer points out, despite being set in Australia, this story could just as easily take place in Canada or the US. Do you think this is true? (Foul language thoughout, drug use,one character was doing bongs since age twelve).................................................................................................................................................................. -Do you think that this book is true to life or just sensationalism?(In a review: It’s worth contrasting, for example, the prevalence of drugs in the story with the extant reality in society. I checked after reading the book and only about 10% of the population has tried hard drugs: speed, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD. In The Slap it appears the majority of generation X and all of generation Y are getting into the party players now and again. Personally, I find it difficult to believe that 90% of the population hasn’t tried hard drugs because everyone I know has dabbled to lesser and greater extents.)................................................................................................................................................................. -From a review: "I was totally turned off by the book with the vulgar language and unnecessary adultery. It's almost like the author thought he had to include that to make the book seem more interesting".............................................................................................................................................................. -Melbourne multicultural- ethnicity seems to be part of every description of all characters in the book................everyone looks down on everyone wih a different background from themselves. Aborigines seem to be looked down on by everyone............ mussies,lebos, Australians,wogs.......................................................................................................................................................... -From a review: Aisha stays with Hector because she thinks the two of them look so good as a couple, even though their sex life consists of him ramming himself into her as a painful pseudo rape thing.............. do people actually stay in crappy marriages for this reason?................................................................................................................................................................... -Aisha and Hector talked about there being, men, women and women without children. What do you think?.................................................................................................................................................................... -How necessary is Anouk to the book, what is her role?..................................................................................................................................................................... -Do you have any idea what these mean? ibw'd, bogan, arvo, daggy, lebos, mussie, wog, doona, she slammed the "medways" shut..................................................................................................................................................................... Borrowed discussion points ...................................................................................................................................................................... Suggested discussion points for The Slap • Were Gary and Rosie right to press charges? • What would you have done in Harry’s place? • What role does the shifting point of view play in your experience of the novel? • Which of the characters did you most identify with? • Which of the characters most irked you? • Would you have supported Rosie or Harry if you were in Aisha’s shoes? • Do you think that Aisha and Hector should stay married? • Why did Connie fabricate the story about Hector? • What do you think The Slap says about contemporary Australian life?..................................................................................................................................................................... To what extent do you have to like the characters to enjoy the book? As I’ve said already, I didn’t particularly like many of the characters in the book, but once I got through the rather confusing first chapter I found the book hard to put down and enjoyed the frightening skill of the writer, if not the content of his characters. To what extent do you need a driving plot to enjoy a story? The Slap is not one of those “what’s going to happen next” books, really, and I must confess I’m not really that interested in racy plots so long as the characters are well drawn. The characters seemed to breath on the page and I was transfixed by Tsiolkas’s ability to detail the complexities of men and women who often appeared, upon first impressions, to be fairly two-dimensional............................................................................................................................................................... Which characters did you like the least, and which did you feel most empathy for, and why?...................................................................................................................................................................... The book has been called a condemnation of the middle-class, but the book seemed to be a bit broader in its brushstrokes of condemnation. Is Harry middle-class, is Garry? What defines Australia’s middle-class these days anyway? Is it simply measured by a person’s relative wealth? Are their cultural and educational aspects to this vague, illusory term, or is it purely a material distinction?