read "My Antonia" online

For those of you who don't have the book yet, you can read "My Antonia" online at:

http://cather.thefreelibrary.com/My-Antonia/2-1

Cultural Events in Sidney This Weekend!

If you are looking for culture in Sidney, this is the weekend to get out of the house! ANYONE WANT TO GO WITH ME (Peggy Ann) TO THE PLAY OR TO THE RENAISSANCE NIGHT? Call me! 488-1666; 480-4643

Friday & Saturday Dec. 10 & 11: The High School play: "Murder's In the Heir" will be performed at the MIDDLE SCHOOL auditorium at 7 PM. $5 for adults, $4 for students without activity cards.

Sunday Dec. 12: COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CONCERT (I'm singing in this one) 2:30 PM at the MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. FREE

Sunday, Dec. 12: Open house/Christmas event at the Mondak Heritage Center 1:30 - 4PM. They sell plates of goodies & there are performances throughout the afternoon. Miniature art show on display. FREE

Monday, Dec. 13: Renaissance Night; 7 PM; MIDDLE SCHOOL auditorium; FREE. Senior students perform scenes from Shakespeare plays ("Macbeth", "Hamlet", "Taming of the Shrew").

Don't Forget the Book Review Page

Hey Busy Gals, don't forget that there is a separate page on this blog for your book reviews.  They don't have to be Classic books on this page.  So if you read a good book and want a forum to share your review there it is.  If you want to do that and you aren't a guest author for this blog please let me know.

Where does Alfred Hitchcock appear in "Rebecca"

I haven't watched it yet, but according to a website, Alfred Hitchcock's cameo appearance in "Rebecca" is:
Walking near the phone booth in the final part of the film
just after George Sanders makes a call.

Rhododendron bushes

Here are some images of Rhododendron bushes. These are the bushes that were blood red that lined the road to Manderley.

What did Jasper look like?

For those of you who would like a visual image to go with your mental image of "Jasper", or "the old dog", here is a photo of our Cocker Spaniel when she was about 10 years old. The dogs in the book are also Cockers; delightful, loving, devoted companion dogs.

How much is a ceramic figurine worth?

As you are reading, when you get to the part where the main character breaks a valuable figurine, and you wonder just how expensive could a little ceramic figurine be worth...
Here is a link to a Hummel figure that currently sells for $1400! A 9" figurine! So yes, if you broke one of those, you might hide it!
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.aol_refer.false.tpl.detail.msn_refer.false.item.C141028.ref.GBA?cm_ven=GOOGLEBASE&cm_cat=For%20the%20Home&cm_pla=Collectibles&cm_ite=C141028

Word of the day: gaucherie

I don't know about the rest of you, but as I read this book, I keep seeing the word "gauche" or "gaucherie". So I looke it up! Here is the definition:
gau·che·rie noun \ˌgō-sh(ə-)ˈrē\
Definition of GAUCHERIE
: a tactless or awkward act

NEXT MEETING DATE: Nov. 19

I"ve received 6 responses: (Kris, Bonnie, Bobbi, Lorraine, Sharon, & myself). I will plan the meeting for Friday, Nov. 19th, 6:30 PM. I hope everyone can make it! For food, please bring something from the sea, or something from England! See you there!

Change of date?

I have information that at least one of us cannot make it on Nov. 12. Please let me know if you can make it or not. If more could make it on Nov. 19, we could change it to then. Please answer the following & post it or email me privately at pstrupp@gmail.com:

Can you make it on Nov. 12?

Could you make it on Nov. 19?

Which date do you prefer?

Thanks!

Book Club Nov. 12

The book selection for this month is "Rebecca", by Daphne Du Maurier. This is a mystery/suspense novel written in 1938, and is considered the author's best work. The theme explores the relationship between a man who was powerful and a woman who was not! Adapted for film in 1940 by Alfred Hitchcock, the film won an academy award for Best Picture. READ THE BOOK NOW! We will meet & eat & discuss the book on Nov. 12, 6:30 PM, at my house (Peggy Ann Strupp, 11539 Hwy 16, Crane).
I'm excited to read it! I just read another of her works: "My Cousin Rachel", & it was GREAT! I ordered 2 extra books if anyone wants to buy one from me.
Interesting side note: Rebecca Du Maurier is the author who wrote the short story, "The Birds", which was later adapted by Alfred Hitchock into the premier thriller of the same name.

Google Books

You can get started reading online at the LINK that I placed to the right and down.  You can read up to page 59 while you wait to get your book from the library or in the mail.  Click on Google Books and you will go straight to our current selection.
Also, on the LINK I will also place a large book list for you to look at in order to make your classic book picks.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

What a wonderful discussion of the book.  It wasn't a book with a happy ending but it allowed you to agree or disagree with the views of the characters in the book.  Or in some cases just say out loud, "You've got to be kidding".  There is horror in finding the picture of Dorian cruelly changing with his deeds and with time.  He hides it away under lock and key.  But the innocence of his youthful appearance is a disguise to those who get caught up in his eternal beauty.  While those around him succumb to the enticing of evil to their doom, the picture continued to change in a grotesque manner.  Finally Dorian feels that the only thing he can do to repent is to get rid of the reminders of his sins.
Thank you to all who read this selection.
Please feel free to post your comments.

Welcome to the New Busy Gals Classic Reading Socity News Blog!

Our Busy Gals Classic Reading Society has been in existence since April 24, 2009.  At that time we had our first meeting.  The book was 'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Alexandre Dumas.  Since then we have read eleven more books.
There are a few of my friends who wanted to read the classic literature and books we should have read while in High School.  And having children currently in High School we wanted to read some of the things they were being asked to read.

 Purpose for the Busy Gals Reading Society

            “To become well read in great classic literature, to study the grand masters, to become more intelligent, “to seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom” D& C 88:118.”

So this Blog will be the place for our dedicated readers to come and see what book we are reading and also see how things turned out at our discussion of the book.