revised summer book list, recipe

Due to the extreme lack of library availability for The Happiness project we've pushed it back to August. Ladies, make an effort to get this book- it was excellent (according to Melissa) and I envision it being a great discussion book for that meeting. It might be even better if you make 4-5 of your own resolutions now and try to implement them and come that night prepared to share if it helped make your life happier by doing/not doing those things....

Anyhow, here's the lineup for the next meetings. I put in some reviews/teasers of the books below to whet your reading appetite. I listed the recipe for Texas Caviar below to whet your stomach appetite (a lot of you asked for the recipe at tonight's meeting.)

June 17- Same kind of different as me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, 256 pages (9 holds on 3 copies at ABQ library, 2 holds on 1 copy at RR library, )
July 15- North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, 520 pages (1 at RR library, 2 holds on 4 copies available at ABQ library)
August 19- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, 320 pages (74 holds on first copy returned of 9 copies at ABQ, 3 copies available for RR and it looks like there might be 0 holds on this one.....)

Book teasers

Same kind of different as me
A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery.
An upscale art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel.
A gutsy woman with a stubborn dream.
A story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it.
It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana . . . and an East Texas honky-tonk . . . and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda . . . an upscale New York gallery . . . a downtown dumpster . . . a Texas ranch.

North and South
Margaret Hale, a young woman from rural southern England [Austen’s Hampshire to be exact], daughter of a clergyman, proud of her roots and her class, must adjust to the changes in her life when her father resigns from his clerical post and moves the family to the northern industrial town of Milton [Gaskell's fictitonalized Manchester]. Margaret gradually discovers her own strengths in taking on the many domestic duties of her now ill mother and those of their former servants. But Margaret carries with her the prejudices of the gentrified South with her “queenly” snobbish views of the industrial North and the manufacturers and tradesmen who run the mills. She is soon introduced to John Thornton, a self-made “Master” of one of the cotton mills and a local magistrate, well respected by his peers and his employees, yet aware of his shortcomings in the social and intellectual worlds outside of Milton. He comes to Reverend Hale for tutoring and intellectual stimulation – but it is Margaret who soon captures his heart, his passions aroused in spite of himself, all too sure of his own unworthiness in her eyes…Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, this true story also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love.

The Happiness Project
What if you could change your life without really changing your life? On the outside, Gretchen Rubin had it all—a good marriage, healthy children and a successful career— but she knew something was missing. Determined to end that nagging feeling, she set out on a year-long quest to learn how to better enjoy the life she already had.
Each month, Gretchen pursued a different set of resolutions—go to sleep earlier, tackle a nagging task, bring people together, take time to be silly—along with dozens of other goals. She read everything from classical philosophy to cutting-edge scientific studies, from Winston Churchill to Oprah, developing her own definition of happiness and a plan for how to achieve it. She kept track of which resolutions worked and which didn’t, sharing her stories and collecting those of others through her blog (created to fulfill one of March’s resolutions). Bit by bit, she began to appreciate and amplify the happiness in her life.
The Happiness Project is the engaging, relatable and inspiring result of the author’s twelve-month adventure in becoming a happier person. Written with a wicked sense of humour and sharp insight, Gretchen Rubin’s story will inspire readers to embrace the pleasure in their lives and remind them how to have fun.

Texas Caviar
1 can each of the following: Garbanzo beans (chick peas), black beans, dark red kidney beans, corn, olives
cilantro, chopped
tomatoes, diced
Green onions, chopped
Green pepper, chopped (optional)
avocados, diced (optional)
Zesty Italian dressing
Salt
Drain and rinse and then combine all canned ingredients in a large bowl. (A word to the wise- if you don’t want to be eating this for days freeze ½ of these for another time- it makes A LOT). Then add in the rest of the ingredients, to taste. Serve with tortilla chips or just eat it plain- it’s that good.
From the kitchen of Connie Peters, Melissa Spencer’s aunt

Book Club Meeting Thursday PM

Come to my backyard for our 1st outdoor bookclub meeting of the season. We'll discuss The Scarlet Pimpernel and have hot chocolate, treats and good conversation.

May book club book changed

FYI May's book for book club has now changed to The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. The Power of One had some language that wasn't as clean as we'd like to see.

Book Club reminder

Just a reminder that book club is THIS THURSDAY, 7:30 pm, at Monique F's house. We've been reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Feel free to email or call if you need directions to Monique's house. All are welcome, even if you haven't read the book! If you would like to bring a snack to share, it would be welcome, but is certainly not required or expected.

Plan ahead! We plan on meeting on the third Thursday of every month. This will not change unless absolutely necessary. So mark your calendars!

If you would like to start reading ahead, here are the books for the upcoming months:

May: The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (held on May 20th, 7:30 at Melissa S's backyard in the gazebo, discussion leader needed!! Movie to be watched at Chelsey J's home- date TBD)
June: The Happiness Project or, why I spent a year trying to sing in the morning, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle, and generally have more fun by Gretchen Rubin (held on June 17th, 7:30 PM, Melissa' backyard, any discussion leaders volunteering?)

If you have suggestions for any additional book club books, here's the schedule we've been following:
1) Classics
2) Self-help
3) Fiction/ Historical Fiction
4) Sci-fi/ Fantasy
5) Books made into movies
6) Academic/ Non-fiction/ Autobiography

We'll be needing a classic for July, so come and suggest your favorites!

Edited copy of Ender's Game

I have another copy of Ender's Game up for grabs that I just finished. FYI I borrowed it from my sister, who was reading it out loud to her 7th graders. She has edited some of the rougher language and some paragraphs concerning religion (not key to the plot) with white-out. It's yours if you don't mind an edited copy. Email me back if you want it. It's a fairly quick read and very interesting. I recommend reading it.
Melissa

Extra copy of Ender's Game

I have an extra copy of "Ender's Game" that is up for grabs. Just email me at melissa DOT lee DOT spencer AT gmail DOT com (can anyone explain to me why we're all so cryptic with our email addresses on the blogs?)
Thanks,
Melissa

Melissa's Email

We'd like to stick to the 3rd Thursday of each month, so get your book on time and finish it before the meeting. We're onto genre #4, 5 and 6 and these are the books we selected:

April: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (held on April 15th, 7:30 at Monique F's home in the Trails, Chelsey to lead the discussion)

May: The power of one by Bryce Courtenay (held on May 20th, 7:30 at Melissa S's backyard in the gazebo, discussion leader needed!! Movie to be watched at Chelsey J's home- date TBD)

June: The Happiness Project or, why I spent a year trying to sing in the morning, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle, and generally have more fun by Gretchen Rubin (held on June 17th, 7:30 PM, Melissa' backyard, any discussion leaders volunteering?)