Finished the book!

OK, so I just finished the book! It got really interesting, & I couldn't put it down. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE ENDING??? No spoilers here, so I won't say anything...

White Elephant Gift

I forgot to post that we are having a white elephant gift exchange. Lorraine and I want to emphasize that "White Elephant" means you should bring something that you don't want, something crazy, odd weird, etc.,  NOT something nice - like bath and body products!

Bring your trash wrapped and ready to exchange! We will have an awesome time!
Thanks for the reminder Peggy Ann!

North & South Christmas Party!

Hi Everyone!
It's Kris here with a fun party announcement! We would like to have an "Ugly Christmas Sweater & 1st 1/2 of North and South DVD Party" on Friday, December 6th at 6:30pm.  It will be at Tammy Wheatley's home. Please bring some fun Christmas food - appetizers, treats, whatever. Wear your ugliest Christmas Sweater (there will be a prize!).

We will have a great time visiting, eating and comparing Christmas apparel and watching the 1st 2 hours of the North and South DVD.  If you haven't been reading, get going! It's a great book and has a really good love story! (that always makes it better in my opinion.)

Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving!

Fun Discussion of The Ponder Heart

We had fun at Peggy Ann's last night. We had about six of us there which is enough for a pretty good discussion.
We also had some yummy food which included two corn chowder soups one with bacon (Kris) and another with cheese (Tammi) and both delicious. Grits(Peggy Ann) were on the menu which some of us had not eaten before and we topped them with butter salt and pepper and cheese. Thankfully Tammi also brought some biscuits which made having some of Peggy Ann's choice passion fruit jam possible. Southerners are famous for things like potato salad which didn't have but we were able to indulge in some deli macaroni salads provided by Lorraine-remember the name of our blog-we are all very Busy Gals and find the helpful hands at the local deli a life saver.
Our sweet teeth were definatly in good hands last night with several delectable desserts: Bobbi's buttery Apple Crisp with ice cream(it was torture driving in the car with that hot apple aroma so good), she also brought her famous chocolate chip cookies, Peggy Ann's family recipe Pecan Pie-it was divine and I told my self no candy this month, finally I-Sharon-quickly made a Hummingbird cake from scratch but had to buy the frosting because I am a Busy Gal too. We were defiantly happy with the food we ate and the discussion.

Peggy Ann went the extra mile to get a copy of the movie for us to watch which was not disappointing and enough like the book that we were rather happy with it.
Thanks to everyone who read and participated and to Peggy Ann who hosted.

Our next book will be hosted by Tammi and will be North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. There should be a lot of ways to read this book. There are several options to read it for free and it is offered on Amazon Kindle for free. Join with us and happy reading.

Hey Busy Gals Classic Reading Society,

We are planning to get together at Peggy Ann's next Friday, October 25th at 6:00 pm to discuss "The Ponder Heart" by Eudora Welty. This is a book set in the south so we suggest a southern fare for our potluck. Thanks so much to Peggy Ann who found a movie for this book. If you are in need of a book please call Peggy Ann to see if she has any available to read, it isn't a long book at all and should be very quick to read.

Sharon

Our next book selection will be "The Ponder Heart" by Eudora Welty. Welty is a classic American Pulitzer-Prize winning author. Here is one review: "In most of the rural South (including present day) there are certain unspoken rules regarding which families' potato salads are "safe" to eat and which ones are to be avoided at all costs. Most of these "laws to live by" have less to do with flavor or pathogens than they have to do with family lines that should not cross. Children learn these lessons from the time they can fix their own plates at covered dish dinners to welcome the new preacher or lighten a family's load directly after a loved one is lowered into the ground. "It's fine to sample Alma's cooking, but you need to avoid Lucille's beans....I hear they aren't much count". It's in that spirit the Welty tackles this quick witted little tale of a most peculiar man who is loved by everyone, but fails to connect with not one but TWO spouses (the second following much too soon after the first to be accepted by most at the time this was published). I am sure there are far deeper satirical themes in play, but for now I enjoyed the story on the surface level. Daniel Potter is good "hearted", giving, fun, and yet, these character traits only earn him heartache in his most personal relationships. He's the least stingy person, yet misfortune follows him like a curse. The book is narrated by his persnickety niece (quasi sister/mother figure) Edna Earl who values her opinion on all things Uncle Daniel far more than I suspect he values it. There are overtones of race, greed, gender, sexual desire, and family dynamic but all told in a way that keeps you laughing. It's "As I Lay Dying" minus the parts that make you cringe or lead to weeks of dreams." (end of quote) Information on this book & movie points out that it includes racial epithets & stereotypical portrayals. We'll have to discuss this against the time frame in which the book was written. The book should be an interesting, humorous look at life & relationships that are applicable to our life today. We'll set a date for meeting in the future: I'm looking at the 2nd or 3rd week in October. Books are available on Amazon for $.01 (plus shipping of about $4). I'll order some. Please contact me if you'd like a copy!

Discussion of 'The Small Woman' by Alan Burgess

It is time to get together to discussion 'The Small Woman' by Alan Burgess.  We will gather at Lorraine's home at 6 pm and please bring something Chinese for the discussion pot-luck. We will have fun discussing the book and eating some Chinese food.  Be prepared to participate in the discussion.  There are many things that we can talk about.
PeggyAnn said she enjoyed the book. That impression has been shared with me from many of you also.
I hope many of you have read this book and can come to the discussion.
Sharon

Good book!

I finished reading The Small Woman. Good book! If anyone wants to borrow mine, I'd be happy to lend it!

New Follow by Email feature

Gals,

Some of you may not be getting your notifications when things get posted on our blog here. I am not sure why some of you may not be getting an email but I have added a Follow by Email gadget to the right side of this post.  If you aren't getting emails for some reason you should now be able to if you use the gadget.
If you have more than one email-like I do- and use it for certain purposes then you may not be checking.
Thanks,
Sharon

Next Book Selection-July 2013

The next book selection will be 'The Small Woman' by Alan Burgess (1957).
Lorraine will be hosting this selection. She will order copies for the group to buy or borrow. You can also try to inter-library loan them.
There is a similar book about Gladys Aylward but the version of the book we are reading is authored by Alan Burgess.
The date of the discussion is yet to be decided. Stay tuned and keep reading.

How To Fold Napkins - Rosebud (Napkin Folding)

Summer Book Discussion

 Gals,
The book discussion was so great last night. Thanks again Kris for hosting at your house. 
When we have several more people the food is always so much better too.
Everyone is welcome to share your recipes here for the dishes that you made for this discussion. Usually everyone wants to taste them again and ask for the recipes. 
I know I would like them. I have put a link to the page where I found the popcorn seasonings. This site has five and I brought the Savory recipe and the Italian Bread stick (plus Parmesan cheese), I thought the later to be too salty so I had to double the batch of popcorn. Thought it was alright for a change and less fat than buttered popcorn.

http://magazine.foxnews.com/food-wellness/5-seasoning-recipes-make-your-popcorn-pop

Remember to come to the Discussion

Hey Gals,
The book discussion will be at Kris' house on Thursday June 20th at 6 pm. Remember to come and bring summer time food to share while we discuss 'Howards End'. We will watch the movie after the discussion.
I am glad Peggy Ann is reading and getting excited about discussing the book, I know a few more of you are reading too. It will be so much fun.
See you there.
Sharon S.

Good book! Who's reading?

OK, who is reading this book, >Howard's End<i> with me? It's getting interesting! I'm at about chapter 26, and there are SO MANY twists & turn, I'm beginning to suspect there will be MORE!

Next Book Selection

The next book selection of the Busy Gals Classic Reading Society will be 'Howards End' by E. M. Forester.

This should be an easier, shorter book for more of us to read and finish. We will shoot for an early June book discussion since there is usually so many things going on in May.

Thank you all for reading.

Sharon Stevens
____________________________________________________________
Transformation of America?
Stocks soar--but some wealthy citizens are preparing for huge changes
http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL3231/51808f78a7631f78580bst02duc

Next Book Selection

The next book selection of the Busy Gals Classic Reading Society will be 'Howards End' by E. M. Forester.

This should be an easier, shorter book for more of us to read and finish.  We will shoot for an early June book discussion since there is usually so many things going on in May.
Thank you all for reading.

Book Group tomorrow, April 12th

Hi Everyone,
Let's plan on having our discussion and movie tomorrow evening at 6:00pm at my house (Kris's). Bring whatever strikes your fancy to share. The movie is about 2-1/2 hours long so plan for that also.  We are under construction in our kitchen so I have no cooktop/stove but can warm things in the oven - just thought I'd let you know!

See you tomorrow evening!
Kris

Lorna Doone Pictures

John and Lorna

Anne and the Counselor

Book Group this Friday, Feb 22!

Hi Ladies,

After discussing my progress with Sharon and Brandi, we decided to have book group this Friday and discuss the 1st half of "Lorna Doone."  I'm a little more than halfway done (I didn't get much reading in while I was playing with grandkids) and both Sharon and Brandi thought they wouldn't be done by Friday. Let's meet, eat and discuss what we have read and encourage each other to finish. I'm at a pretty exciting part in the book and am really enjoying it!  We thought it would be fun to watch a movie after our short discussion.  Any suggestions?

Let me know if you are onboard and if you will be able to come.  We will start at 6:00pm at my house and have a fun girls night out!

Kris

Get Reading!

Hi Everyone!
I hope you have started reading our book choice, "Lorna Doone." I'm to Chapter 12. I'll admit, the first couple of chapters were a little difficult, but as with almost every book I read (excepting for "Harry Potter" and "Twilight") it always takes a few chapters to get the feel for the author's writing and the storyline. I've been listening to some of the book and the narrator does a great job at the dialects and brogues of the characters - some of which I have had a difficult time understanding! Now that I'm farther along the story is great and I'm really enjoying this book! If you haven't started, get busy! You will enjoy this book and enjoy a great story!

Let's plan on having our book discussion and movie night on Friday, February 22nd at my house. The movie is 2 1/2 hours so we will need to start around 5:30-6:00pm. Put that date on your calendar and get reading!

Kris

Sorry for the Possible Spoiler

Sorry ladies, for the spoiler.  I was in a hurry this morning and wanted to get something going with this next book and didn't know enough of the book to give you an idea of what it was about. It wasn't a spoiler to me, I will read it and maybe it will help me know what is going on.  But I do hope it didn't spoil the book for Kris' sake and ruin a book discussion for those who will not read the book after reading the plot summary from Wikipedia.
Once again I am very sorry.
Sharon 

Newest Selection

Our newest selection is 'Lorna Doone' by Richard Doddridge Blackmore. We will try to have a discussion by the end of February so get your books and start reading.
Here is the plot summary from Wiki.

 

 

Extra week to read

Hey there Gals,

 

I need to change the day to discuss 'The Mansion' by Henry Van Dyke until Friday January 18th.  It will still be at my house at 6:30pm.  For those who are new, please check out our blog at http:/classicreadingsociety.blogspot.com/

Please be ready to discuss this book and have fun.  For the food you can bring anything you like, I didn't notice that there was much of any food mentioned, so you could go with a dream theme to your food or Heavenly 'something'. Or some thing that might be ordinary on the outside and extraordinary on the inside, or something humble. Be creative.

If you have any questions please call me 488-3576.

Thanks

Sharon