Book Choices

The Idiot by Dostoevsky

After spending several years in a sanatorium recovering from an illness that caused him to lose his memory and a bitlity to reason, Prince Myshkin arrives in St Petersburg and is at once confronted with the stark realities of life in the Russian capital- from greed, murder and nihilism to passion, vanity and love. Mocked for his childlike naivety yet valued for his openness and understanding, Prince Myshkin finds himself entangled with two women in a position he cannot bring himself to resolve....

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Persuasion narrates the emotional journey of its protagonist Anne Elliot, who chances upon Captain Wentworth, a suitor she was persuaded to reject seven years earlier, and is made to reflect on her past decisions and contemplate her marital future......

By Immaculee Ilibagixa,

Immaculee Ilibagixa grew up in a country she loved, surrounded by a family she chiriched. But in 1994 her idyllic world was ripped apart as Rwanda descended into a bloddy genocide. Immaculee's family was brutally murdered during a killing spree that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans. Incredibly, Immaculee survived the slaughter. Flor 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor while hundreds of machete-wielding killers hunted for them. It was during those endless hours of unspeakable terror that Immaculee discovered the power of prayer, eventually shedding her fear of deatha and forging a profound and lasting relationship with God. She emerged from her bathroom hideout having discovered the meaning of truly unconditional love-a love so strong she was able to seek out and forgive her family's killers. The triumphant story of this remarkable young woman's journey through the darkness of genocide will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering and loss.

Some of the books I would like to read.....See you in August

Reading

Lezlie Evans, the author of this cute book (and sister to a good friend of ours) will be reading at the Barnes & Noble in Orem on the 24th and the Orem Library on the 29th if you want to bring your kids and check it out.  I think they would have fun hearing her read.  Here is a link to an article about her from the Salt Lake Tribune.

Here are Three Suggestions...

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer:

Paris, 1937. Andras Lévi, a Hungarian Jewish architecture student, arrives from Budapest with a scholarship, a single suitcase, and a mysterious letter he has promised to deliver to C. Morgenstern on the rue de Sévigné. As he becomes involved with the letter’s recipient, his elder brother takes up medical studies in Modena, their younger brother leaves school for the stage—and Europe’s unfolding tragedy sends each of their lives into terrifying uncertainty. From the Hungarian village of Konyár to the grand opera houses of Budapest and Paris, from the lonely chill of Andras’s garret to the enduring passion he discovers on the rue de Sévigné, from the despair of a Carpathian winter to an unimaginable life in forced labor camps and beyond, The Invisible Bridge tells the unforgettable story of brothers bound by history and love, of a marriage tested by disaster, of a Jewish family’s struggle against annihilation, and of the dangerous power of art in a time of war.

 Looking For Alaska by John Green:

British Fantasy Award for Top Ten (2006), A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2005)   

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words - and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A stunning debut, it marks John Green's arrival as an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.

It's voting time!

So are you enjoying Jane Eyre?   I loved it and had to watch the BBC/ Masterpiece Theater adaptation again.  I know most of you have seen it too -- it sure makes for a great afternoon!




We get to select new books at next month's meeting!

So what have you read that you want all of us to read and discuss?

What is on your "to read" list?

Post your recommendations so we can have a good list to choose from -- I can't wait to dive into some new books!

Finally! (Sorry Shauna ;)

I know I promised to post this recipe a loooooonnnng time ago, so I apologize (especially to Shauna who has asked me for it more than once...)

Chocolate Pecan Marshmallow Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup baking cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

16-18 large marshmallows

Icing:

6 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 tablespoons baking cocoa

1/4 cup milk

1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Approximately 36 pecan halves

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, milkand vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking sodaand salt; beat into creamed mixture. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350degrees for 8 minutes.

Meanwhile cut marshmallows in half. Press a marshmallowhalf, cut side down, onto each cookie. Return to the oven for 2 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

For icing: combine butter, cocoa and milk in a saucepan. Bring to aboil; boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Cool slightly. Transfer to a small mixing bowl. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat well. Spread over the cooled cookies. Top each with a pecan half.

This recipe came from Country Living Magazine.

Hope you all enjoy!

June Book Club

Here are some photos of June's meeting...

We met in my backyard and enjoyed some grilled burgers will loads of toppings.

Kara, Shannon & Stephanie

Kristie & Robyn

Shauna & Rebecca

Britney, Christie & Heidi

To go along with her review of When You Reach Me Christie had us play a few rounds of $20,000 Pyramid.  It was so much fun!

Shannon & Britney ended up being our winners and Shannon almost had a heart attack in the process.

We talked long into the night.  I had a great time -- thanks for coming everyone & making it such a great night!

**See you in August 5th at Stephanie's house is discuss Jane Eyre!**

Book Club Tomorrow Night!!

Book club is tomorrow night at my house.  We will be reviewing Ida B. & When You Reach Me.


Can you let me know if you are planning to attend so I can plan for food. Also I am very intrigued with Christie's post yesterday hmmmmm

It will be fun!

See you there!

Get Ready Ladies!

Book Club At Robyn's

We had such a good time at book club last night!

Rebecca led the discussion and we discussed who our favorite characters were, racism, motherhood and friendship.  We even discussed casting options for the movie.  Everyone loved the book and as you can imagine with Rebecca as our leader we laughed a lot.

Robyn prepared the most amazing feast for us.

Behold...

This salad was divine! Doesn't that squash make your mouth water?  And in case you wanted a bit more of that wonderful squash (which I did)...

She made two delicious pasta dishes

mmmm artichokes!

Sweet potato gnochi. Oh my was this good!

Bread made from a Pioneer Woman recipe

It all was heavenly!  Thanks Robyn for all the work you did to provide such a wonderful spread!

Now for everyones favorite part....

Shauna, Kara & Krisite

Shannon & Bethany

 Britney & Robyn

Then there are the two nerds Rebecca & Heidi

Britney took about 100 pictures of us and I promised to post a few.  So against my better judgement and my fat face here they are....

Enough already!

We had a super de duper time & can't wait until next month!!

Book Club is Thursday!!

Don't forget book club Thursday night at 7:00.  Robyn will be hosting and will e-mail directions to her home.

Rebecca says she will have some hard hitting questions and Britney promises to speak in a southern accent all night.

Can't wait!

See you there!

More Photos

Here are a few additional (to Britney's) pictures I took before my camera died...

Britney made the most delicious spread. And as alway I am keeping my fingers crossed that the recipes will be posted!!

Mmmmmmmmm.  I adore chocolate and caramel!

Here we had some skewered rabbits and some not so great brownies.

As a little April Fool's Day joke Britney loaded these puppies with salt.  I loved Shaunas reaction the best.  She simply yelled out "Whoha!! Sweet AND salty"  Ha! Ha! I still laugh when I think about it.

Here are the good one teaspoon of salt brownies.

Kristie & Stephanie

Robyn & Bethany

Kara & Christie

Somehow I didn't end up with pictures of the ladies on the couch (me, Shauna & Shannon) I'll do better next time!

And now for a few of my very favorite photos of the night.

What would cause Brenda to make this face...

And then Britney to make this one...

Could it be this little present Brenda left Bert?

Hmmmm

The world may never know.

(Actually Britney was trying not to laugh while she watched everyone eat her salty brownies & the picture of Brenda is what she looked like when she discovered what that little devil was up to.)

I had a great time and can't wait for next time!!!

The Help
At Robyn's