December 2009

The Snobs took a break from reading as a group in December.  We met for dinner at Vietnam Restaurant in downtown Corpus Christi.  Eating at Vietnam is an elegant communal experience with shared dishes.  As always conversation was the highlight of the evening.  And, in spite of an inattentive waiter, we enjoyed a great dinner.  For the second year, in lieu of a gift exchange The Snobs each contributed to a gift for the Corpus Christi Literacy Council.  Our donation will sponsor beginning reading workbooks for four adults who are learning to read.

November 2009 Selection

Maggie and Ira Moran have been married for 28 years–and it shows: in their quarrels, in their routines, in their ability to tolerate with affection each other’s eccentricities. Maggie, a kooky, lovable meddler and an irrepressible optimist, wants nothing more than to fix her son’s broken marriage. Ira is infuriatingly practical, a man “who should have married Ann Landers.” And what begins as a day trip to a funeral becomes an adventure in the unexpected. As Maggie and Ira navigate the riotous twists and turns, they intersect with an assorted cast of eccentrics–and rediscover the magic of the road called life and the joy of having somebody next to you to share the ride . . . bumps and all.

Breathing Lessons was chosen by Marta for the Pulitzer Prize Winner genre.

The Book Snobs Gathering
Marta hosted The Snobs on Monday, November 30.  She served a delicious homemade Cream of Chicken Soup with homemade bread and a wide choice of wines.   Dessert was warm Chocolate Lava Cake.

Discussion centered on Maggie's role in creating her own life and the impact she had on her children and husband.

October 2009 Selection

Stories filled with wonder and the haunting beauty of his culture have helped make Rudolfo Anaya the father of Chicano literature in English, and his tales fairly shimmer with the lyric richness of his prose. Acclaimed in both Spanish and English, Anaya is perhaps best loved for his classic bestseller ... Antonio Marez is six years old when Ultima comes to stay with his family in New Mexico. She is a curandera, one who cures with herbs and magic. Under her wise wing, Tony will test the bonds that tie him to his people, and discover himself in the pagan past, in his father's wisdom, and in his mother's Catholicism. And at each life turn there is Ultima, who delivered Tony into the world-and will nurture the birth of his soul.

This book has been chosen by Vicki for the Folk and Fairy Tale Genre.  Bless Me, Ultima is the first book on The Big Read's list of must-read books.

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Snobs gathered at Vicki's house on Monday, October 26.  We began with Tequila Sunrises followed by dinner of chicken enchiladas, lime black beans, jicama salad and chocolate-cayenne mousse.

Reviews of this book were mixed.  Some of the Snobs really enjoyed it and others thought it wasn't very interesting.  We discussed the conflicts between Catholicism and traditional Hispanic culture.  We also discussed the changes that the World Wars of the early twentieth century brought to America.

September 2009 Selection

In the spring of 1948 on a small Texas ranch, sixteen year old John Grady Cole attends the funeral of his grandfather, with whom he has lived since his parents' separation. The grandfather's ranch has been left to John Grady's mother, a small-time actress who has no interest in it and will sell it. John Grady's father, psychologically damaged by World War II and now physically ill as well, tells his son goodbye. With no apparent future in Texas, and sensing the threat of the new era to the traditional life he values, John Grady urges his old friend Rawlins to accompany him to Mexico. There, John Grady will find that his innocence, or ignorance, will ultimately lead him close to destruction.

This novel follows a young man's journey to the regions of the unknown. John Grady Cole confronts the evil that is an inescapable part of the universe as well as the evil that grows out of his own ignorance and pride. His story is told in a style often restrained and simple, embedded with lyrical passages that echo his dreams and memory.

All the Pretty Horses was selected by Janna for the Western genre.

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Snobs gathered at Janna's home on September 28, 2009.  Snobs were offered a choice of traditional sangria or white sangria.  In keeping with the western theme, Janna served a delicious meal of turkey chili with cornbread and a layered salad.  The evening was capped off with a very tasty apple cake.

All the Pretty Horses proved to be a challenging read for some of the snobs who had not finished the novel.  But, as usual, discussion was lively.  Cormac McCarthy's prose is beautifully written, but the Snobs agreed that at times it was difficult to tell who was speaking in the novel.  The discussion of the novel's setting and each character's role was very interesting.

August 2009 Selection

Sometimes dying with the truth is better than living with a lie.

After a car accident puts Shauna McAllister in a coma and wipes out six months of her memory, she returns to her childhood home to recover, but her arrival is fraught with confusion.

Her estranged father, a senator bidding on the White House, and her abusive stepmother blame Shauna for the tragedy, which has left her beloved brother severely brain damaged. Leaning on Wayne Spade, a forgotten but hopeful lover who stays by her side, Shauna tries to sort out what happened that night by jarring her memory to life. Instead, she acquires a mysterious mental ability that will either lead her to truth or get her killed by the people trying to hide it.

In this blind game of cat and mouse that stares even the darkest memories in the face, Shauna is sure of only one thing: if she remembers, she dies.

Kiss was selected by Claudia for the Suspense/Thriller genre.  

The Book Snobs Gathering

The Snobs gathered at Claudia's home on August 31.  Claudia served a delicious Green Bean and Chicken Casserole.  Instead of our traditional discussion, each Snob drew a question from a bowl, read the question, gave her own answer, then led the discussion of that topic.  As usual, discussion was lively and opinions varied.  

July 2009 Selection

Waiting for Autumn is an enchanting semi- autobiographical parable that reveals a deep and powerful message. This book follows Scott, an inquisitive seeker who meets a mysterious cardboard-sign-toting homeless man named Robert who has a sleepy black Lab puppy at his side and a penchant for changing lives.

Sparked by Robert’s unconventional wisdom, Scott is thrust into a spiritual adventure where he attempts to heal his past while confronting the spirit of his dead fiancée. He ultimately faces an extraordinary dilemma between his spiritual calling and earthly responsibilities.

Join Scott as he visits unseen worlds on his unique journey of self-discovery, where various spiritual modalities are revealed, including shamanic soul retrieval, energy healing, conscious eating, nature-spirit communication, kirtan, ancestral healing, and more. This metaphysical page-turner is a fascinating exploration of one humble soul’s profound awakening—with a surprise ending that will warm your heart.

This book was selected by Theresa for the Paranormal and Urban Fantasy genre.  

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Gathering was held at Theresa's home.  The small group enjoyed a delicious meal and great conversation.  A wine tasting was the highlight of the treats that were served.  Apparantly it's possible for wine to have undertones of "dirty horse" and this web-master needs to have her ears cleaned out.  You'll have to guess what I heard when our hostess said the words "dirty horse."  It would not be polite for me to mention it here.

 The Snobs enthusiasticly discussed the supernatural and the afterlife.  We also talked about the role of nature in our existence and the concept of consious eating.  It was a fun and enlightening evening.

June 2009 Selection

In a time of civil war, famine and religious strife, there rises a magnificent Cathedral in Kingsbridge.  The Pillars of the Earth is the story of the people who orchestrated the building of England’s Knightsbridge Cathedral. Flanked by divine inspiration and greed, the forces for and against the building of a cathedral at Knightsbridge are the buttresses of this book.

A spellbinding epic set in twelfth-century England, The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known... of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect-a man divided in his soul... of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame... of Ellen, the woman from the forest who casts a curse... and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother.

Against this backdrop, lives entwine in this sensuous and enduring love story and epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age.

This book was selected by Della for the Romantic Reads Genre.  

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Gathering featured delicious King Ranch Chicken and, as usual, lively discussion. The Snobs agreed that although this was a challenging read because of it's length, it was a great book.

May 2009 Selection

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the "coolest girl in the world" moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamor and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.

Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone’s Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it’s the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It’s about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you---and knows what has the power to hurt you…and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you’ll never forget…one you’ll want to pass on to your best friend.

Sandra chose this book from the General Fiction Genre.  

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Snobs gathered at Sandra's house on Tuesday,May 26.  The Snobs brought photos showing how we looked in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.  We shared the photos over yummy Mango Margaritas and delicious appetizers.  Dinner was classic comfort food in the form of Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni and Tuna Casserole.  Just like Kate's mom made when Tully and Cloud moved into the neighborhood.  This book made for excellent discussion of the relationships between best friend and family members.  We were happy to welcome Amy, Janna's sister-in-law, to our gathering.

April 2009 Selection

Some women are addicted to shopping, others can't get enough of champagne. Some like to curl up with a good book and others want a night out on the town. But there's just one thing Lucy Lombard can't live without and that's chocolate - rich, creamy, sweet, delicious chocolate.

For her there's no substitute. There's nothing it won't cure, from heartache to a headache, and she's not alone. Sharing her passion are three other addicts: Autumn, Nadia and Chantal. Together they form a select group known as The Chocolate Lovers' Club. Whenever there's a crisis, they meet in their sanctuary, a café called Chocolate Heaven, and with a cheating boyfriend, who promises he'll change; a flirtatious boss; a gambling husband and a loveless marriage, there's always plenty to discuss...

By turns hilarious and heart-rending, The Chocolate Lovers' Club brings together four unforgettable women from totally different worlds united in their passion for chocolate.

The Chocolate Lovers' Club was selected by Lisa for the Food genre. 

The Book Snobs Gathering

The Snobs gathered at Lisa's house on Monday, April 27 for chocolate and discussion.  Saying we had chocolate is more than an understatement. Lisa put together a chocolate buffet, nay a chocolate feast!  There was chocolate pudding, chocolate cookies, many varieties of chocolate candies and a chocolate fountain with fruit, pretzels and marshmallows for dipping.  There were also chocolate biscuits and fruit, yogurt and granola.  The centerpiece of the buffet was a delicious chocolate fudge praline cake.  And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the chocolate martinis.  Oh, yeah, we had a chicken salad too.  Discussion was lively and a lot of fun.  We laughed a lot as we discussed such topics as what kind of chocolate we would be and how the characters in the book didn't seem to gain weight even though they ate chocolate almost constantly. It's about 24 hours later, and I'm just now regaining consciousness from my chocolate coma.  We all agreed that we should open our own "Chocolate Heaven" in our town.

March 2009 Selection

The March 2009 selection is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. 

Never before in the history of publishing has a fiction or non-fiction book spent as much time on The New York Times Bestseller List as Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.   This book reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, it is actually a magical non-fiction rendering of a secluded and hauntingly beautiful city in which an infamous murder took place.  The book contains one beguiling and outrageous story after another--all true--in which Berendt offers up a rogue's gallery of true-life rascals, eccentrics and proper society folk who live behind the stately facades of Savannah's grandest houses.

This book was selected by Marta for the "Crime" genre.

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Snobs gathered at Marta's home on Monday, April 6th for dinner and discussion.  Marta served a delicious classically southern dinner of home fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn on the cob and hot rolls.For dessert we enjoyed peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream.  We were greeted with "graveside" martinis and piano music to set the mood.  The group was small, but, as always, the discussion was interesting.  Discussion centered around whether Jim was guilty of murder or not.  We also focused on the characters in this non-fiction book and how their lives were and were not linked.  Everyone present agreed that the Lady Chablis was the favorite character in this story.

February 2009 Selection

The February 2009 selection is Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence.   

Perhaps the most famous of Lawrence's novels, the 1928 Lady Chatterley's Lover is no longer distinguished for the once-shockingly explicit treatment of its subject matter--the adulterous affair between a sexually unfulfilled upper-class married woman and the game keeper who works for the estate owned by her wheelchaired husband. Now that we're used to reading about sex, and seeing it in the movies, it's apparent that the novel is memorable for better reasons: namely, that Lawrence was a masterful and lyrical writer, whose story takes us bodily into the world of its characters.

This book was selected by Vicki for the "Classics" genre.

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Book Snobs gathering was held on Monday, February 23.  We enjoyed a dinner of Baked Ziti and Greek Salad with ice cream and sugar cookies for dessert.  We agreed that this was not one of our favorite selections, but the discussion was interesting.  Most of us struggled with the dialect.

Janna shared excerpts from "Apropos of Lady Chatterley's Lover."  This essay, written by D. H. Lawrence provides insights into the characters that clarify some of the book's story line.  Anyone who reads LCL should include this essay.

January 2009 Selection

The January 2009 selection is Left to Tell - Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust.

Immaculée Ilibagiza was born in Rwanda and studied Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at the National University of Rwanda. Her life transformed dramatically in 1994 during the Rwanda genocide when she and seven other women huddled silently together in a cramped bathroom of a local pastor’s house for 91 days! During this horrific ordeal, Immaculée lost most of her family, but she survived to share the story and her miraculous transition into forgiveness and a profound relationship with God.

This book was selected by Janna for the "Current Events" genre.

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Book Snobs gathering was held at Janna's home on January 26.  She served yummy chicken enchiladas, broccoli and raisin salad, and a selection of wine.  Discussion covered a wide range of topics including the U.S. governments lack of intervention in Rwanda and how we each might react if our own faith was so tested.