January 2013 Selection

Vicki has chosen Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury for The Book Snobs January reading and discussion.

From the author's web site:

Internationally acclaimed with more than 5 million copies in print, FAHRENHEIT 451 is Ray Bradbury's classic novel of censorship and defiance, as resonant today as it was when it was first published nearly 50 years ago. 

Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires...The system was simple. Everyone understood it. Books were for burning ... along with the houses in which they were hidden. 

Guy Montag enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs nor the joy of watching pages consumed by flames... never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid. 

Then he met a professor who told him of a future in which people could think... and Guy Montag suddenly realized what he had to do!

The Book Snobs Gathering:

The Snobs will gather at Vicki's house on Monday, January 28. Details will be emailed to The Snobs.

November 2012 Selection

Sandra selected The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan for our November reading.

From the author's web site:

It is the summer of 1914 and Europe is on the brink of war, but Grace Winter’s future finally seems secure as she and her new husband set sail for New York, where she hopes to win over a disapproving and status-conscious mother-in-law. When a mysterious explosion sinks their ship, Grace is thrust into a lifeboat by a quick-witted crew member, who climbs in after her even though the boat is already filled beyond capacity.

As the weather deteriorates and the passengers are forced to choose sides in a brewing power struggle, Grace realizes that her survival could depend on whether she backs the ruthless but experienced John Hardie or the enigmatic but increasingly forceful Ursula Grant. Over the course of three perilous weeks, the lifeboat passengers plot, scheme, gossip and console one another while questioning their deepest assumptions about goodness, humanity and God.

Grace is finally rescued, only to be put on trial for her life. Unsure what to make of their client, Grace’s attorneys suggest she write her story down. The result is a page-turning tale of moral dilemmas, and also a haunting portrait of a woman as unforgettable and complicated as the events she describes.

The Book Snobs Gathering:

The Snobs gathered at Sandra's home on Monday, December 3rd for wine, dinner, and discussion. Sandra served a wonderful pasta primavera with grilled chicken breasts, Caesar salad, and garlic bread.

The Snobs discussed The Lifeboat. We talked about each of the main characters and what their motivation for their actions might have been. We also talked about whether we could survive being stranded at sea. We also discussed why some of the characters might have been moved to sacrifice themselves to save others. It was a good book for discussion.

October 2012 Selection

Shannan has chosen Our Husband by Stephanie Bond as the October selection for The Book Snobs.

From the writer's web site:

Hell hath no fury like three women scorned…

Thirty-something Dr. Natalie Carmichael has it all—a busy family practice in a small town, a great old Victorian house she inherited from a beloved aunt, and a handsome husband of six years with a thriving sales career in prosthetic limbs. But her perfect world begins to unravel when a man shows up demanding the jewelry she’s wearing in return for a debt her husband Raymond owes. Natalie is still reeling when she receives a phone call that Raymond has been in a minor car accident. She rushes to the hospital with thoughts of strangling the truth out of him, only to discover that two other women have beaten her there, both claiming to be married to Raymond!

Fifty-something socialite Beatrix Carmichael knows Raymond married her for her money, but she loves the cad anyway. Over the years, though, their childless marriage and his constant traveling have driven her to drink, pop pills, and keep the home shopping channels in business. When she gets a call that Raymond’s been in an accident, she actually relishes the thought of him lying captive in bed, forced to spend time with her. But when Beatrix arrives to find two other women vying for a place by his bedside, she’s looking for a plug to pull.

Twenty-one-year-old Ruby Lynn Carmichael thought she’d hit the jackpot when she met Raymond at the strip club where she works. He swept her off her feet, gave her a big fat ring, and bought her a double-wide trailer as a wedding gift. Ruby thought her life was set…until she learns that Raymond has two other wives in the wings, and the women aren’t exhibiting a very sharing spirit. Still, Ruby Lynn has a secret growing inside her that will ensure she gets what’s coming to her.

When over-committed Raymond Carmichael dies suddenly, his wives are grief-stricken and furious not to have the chance to confront him about his triple betrayal. But their heartache turns to suspicion when it’s revealed that Raymond was murdered. They all have means and motive, yet they each profess their innocence. To save themselves, this unlikely trio band together to track down a killer, and along the way, find a lot more than they bargained for.

The Book Snobs Gathering:

The Snobs gathered at Shannan's home on Monday, October 29. The Snobs enjoyed homemade tortilla soup and wine.

The Snobs discussed several aspects of Our Husband. We talked about how it would be possible for a woman not to know that her husband was also married to other women. Several members felt that perhaps he got something different from each relationship.

September 2012 Selection

The Snobs have selected Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See as our September selection. Charlene has graciously agreed to host.

From the author's website:

A language kept a secret for a thousand years forms the backdrop for an unforgettable novel of two Chinese women whose friendship and love sustains them through their lives.

This absorbing novel – with a storyline unlike anything Lisa See has written before – takes place in 19th century China when girls had their feet bound, then spent the rest of their lives in seclusion with only a single window from which to see.  Illiterate and isolated, they were not expected to think, be creative, or have emotions. But in one remote county, women developed their own secret code, nu shu – "women's writing" – the only gender-based written language to have been found in the world.  Some girls were paired as "old-sames" in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives.  They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their windows to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.

An old woman tells of her relationship with her "old-same," their arranged marriages, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood—until a terrible misunderstanding written on their secret fan threatens to tear them apart. With the detail and emotional resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan delves into one of the most mysterious and treasured relationships of all time—female friendship.

The Book Snobs Gathering

The Snobs at Charlene's home on Monday, September 24, at 6:30 p.m. We shared wine and a delicious Asian food feast.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was an excellent book for discussion. The relationship between the two main characters was a source of differences of opinions. The practice of foot binding was discussed and we looked a photos of bound feet. We also discussed the importance of honesty on the relationship and the role of women within the family and the community.

August 2012 Selection

Marta will host in August as the Snobs discuss all three books of the Fifty Shades Trilogy.

The Book Snobs Gathering

Marta's Home
Tuesday, August 28, 6:30 p.m.
Watch your email for details.

Marta served appetizers and wine followed by chicken stir fry. Dessert was delicious chewy brownies and vanilla ice cream.

The meeting room was accessorized with handcuffs and other appropriate accoutrement. Our hostess also gave door prizes which required the Snobs to answer questions about their own love lives, anonymously, of course. We also answered which character in the book we most identified with.

This trilogy was a very interesting set of books for discussion. It caused us to stretch our limits and let down our guards in discussing the relationship between Anastasia and Christian and many of the other characters. Topics of discussion included lifestyle choices including BDSM and sexual abuse of children. We discussed the reasons for Christian's sexual proclivities and for Anastasia's submission. All in all, we had a lot of fun discussing these books.

July 2012 Selection

Becky has selected Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James as the July reading selection for The Book Snobs.

From the author's website:

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

The Book Snobs Gathering

The Snobs met on Monday, July 30 at Becky's home. Becky served chicken spaghetti, with salad and garlic bread.


Over dinner the Snobs discussed which actors should be chosen to play the roles of Christian and Anastasia. We also discussed the genre of erotic literature.

We had a difficult time discussing only book one of this series. Many of the Snobs had already completed all three books. We decided that next month we will discuss all three books.

June 2012 Selection

Lisa has selected The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles as our book for June 2012. This selection is part of our year of choosing a bestseller from the year of the hostess' birth. The French Lieutenant's Woman was published in 1969.

From Good Reads:

In this contemporary, Victorian-style novel Charles Smithson, a nineteenth-century gentleman with glimmerings of twentieth-century perceptions, falls in love with enigmatic Sarah Woodruff, who has been jilted by a French lover.

Of all John Fowles' novels The French Lieutenant's Woman received the most universal acclaim and today holds a very special place in the canon of post-war English literature. From the god-like stance of the nineteenth-century novelist that he both assumes and gently mocks, to the last detail of dress, idiom and manners, his book is an immaculate recreation of Victorian England.

Not only is it the epic love story of two people of insight and imagination seeking escape from the cant and tyranny of their age, The French Lieutenant's Woman is also a brilliantly sustained allegory of the decline of the twentieth-century passion for freedom.

The Book Snobs Gathering

The Snobs met at Lisa's home on Monday, June 25, for dinner and discussion of The French Lieutenant's Woman. We enjoyed a build-your-own baked potato bar for dinner.

Only about half of the members actually finished this book. We agreed that it was a difficult read. Discussion centered mostly on the fact that John Fowles offered three alternate endings for his lengthy novel. Some of us found that extremely frustrating and felt like, as an author, it should have been Mr. Fowles responsibility to decide how his novel ended. He should not have left it up to the reader to decide. It was odd how he spoke in asides to the reader insinuating that his characters had lives of their own and made different decisions than he intended.

May 2012 Selection

Charlene has selected The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson for May 2012. This selection is part of our year of choosing a bestseller from the year of the hostess' birth. The copyright on this book is 1955.

From Good Reads:

Here is the story of Tom and Betsy Rath, a young couple with everything going for them: three healthy children, a nice home, a steady income. They have every reason to be happy, but for some reason they are not. Like so many young men of the day, Tom finds himself caught up in the corporate rat race - what he encounters there propels him on a voyage of self-discovery that will turn his world inside out. At once a searing indictment of corporate culture, a story of a young man confronting his past and future with honesty, and a testament to the enduring power of family, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit is a deeply rewarding novel about the importance of taking responsibility for one's own life.

The Book Snobs Gathering

Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Charlene's House
Watch your email for details.

April 2012 Selection

Jennifer selected Princess Daisy by Judith Krantz as the April 2012 selection. This selection is part of our year of choosing a bestseller from the year of the hostess' birth. The copyright on this book is 1980.

From Random House:

She was born Princess Marguerite Alexandrovna  Valensky. But everyone called her Daisy. She was a  blonde beauty living in a world of aristocrats and  countless wealthy. Her father was a prince, a  Russian nobleman. Her mother was an American movie  goddess. Men desired her. Women envied her.  Daisy's life was a fairy tale filled with parties and  balls, priceless jewels, money and love. Then,  suddenly, the fairy tale ended. And Princess Daisy  had to start again, with nothing--except the secret  she guarded from the day she was born. 

The Book Snobs Gathering

Monday, April 30 at 6:30 PM
Jennifer's House

We started our evening with wine and chit-chat followed by a dinner of tacos with your choice of crispy corn or flour tortillas. It was delicious.

Then we opened discussion of Princess Daisy. All of the Snobs seemed to have enjoyed reading this book. We discussed the characters and how they were somewhat reflective of the late 1970s and early 1980s. We also talked about how disturbing some of the the story lines were including child molestation and incestuous rape. Many of the Snobs felt that Princess Daisy's "fairy-tale" life was a little too much of a fairy tale.

March 2012 Selection

Carol selected Hotel by Arthur Hailey as the March 2012 selection. Hotel is copyrighted 1965 and was a bestseller. This selection is part of our year of choosing a bestseller from the year of the hostess' birth.

From the cover of Hotel by Arthur Hailey:

Conflict and desire, secrets and tumultuous destinies, are part of the fascinating world of the famous St. Gregory, a New Orleans luxury hotel. For five sultry days of a hot Louisiana summer the lives of strangers intimately touch, sizzle, and explode in round-the-clock excitement as the St. Gregory becomes the state for private and public dramas -- and for the stunning, heart stopping climax awaiting them all.

The Book Snobs Gathering

The Snobs gathered at Carol's home on Monday, March 26, 2012 for dinner and discussion.Our hostess served homemade chili with corn souffle and salad.

All The Snobs who were present agreed that Hotel was an enjoyable book. There were a lot a characters with good development of many of them. We the end of this book with quite a bit of enthusiasm. We talked about how each character ended op and how some of their ends seemed justified, but some did not.


Recipes from The Book Snobs

Corn Souffle

(from Kraft Foods)

2 tablespoons butter
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
1 can (15 1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (14.75 ounces) cream-style corn
1 package (8.5 ounces) corn muffin mix
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 and spray a 13 x 9 inch pan with cooking spray.

Microwave butter in medium microwaveable bowl on high for 30 seconds or until melted. Stir in cream cheese. Microwave 15 seconds until cream cheese is softened; stir until cream cheese is completely melted and mix is well blended. Add next 4 ingredients; mix well.

Pour into prepared pan; top with shredded cheddar.

Bake 40 minutes or until golden brown.

VARIATIONS
You may substitute Neufchatel cheese for the cream cheese.
Add 2 sliced green onions to batter before pouring into pan.
Prepare as directed, substituting 1 can (11 ounces) whole kernel corn with chopped red and green peppers for whole kernel corn.

February 2012 Selection

Theresa has selected The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs as the February selection. Theresa was given the option of making a hostess choice selection this month, because she has never had a hostess choice.

From Good Reads:

A charming and moving novel about female friendship and the experiences that knit us together-even when we least expect it.

Walker and Daughter is Georgia Walker's little yarn shop, tucked into a quiet storefront on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The Friday Night Knitting Club was started by some of Georgia's regulars, who gather once a week to work on their latest projects and to chat-and occasionally clash-over their stories of love, life, and everything in between.

Georgia has her hands full, juggling the demands of running the store and raising her spunky teen daughter, Dakota, by herself. Thank goodness for Anita, her mentor and dear friend, and the rest of the members of the knitting club-who are just as varied as the skeins of yarn in the shop's bins. There's Peri, a prelaw student turned handbag designer; Darwin, a somewhat aloof feminist grad student; and Lucie, a petite, quiet woman who's harboring some secrets of her own.

However, unexpected changes soon throw these women's lives into disarray, and the shop's comfortable world gets shaken up like a snow globe. James, Georgia's ex, decides that he wants to play a larger role in Dakota's life-and possibly Georgia's as well. Cat, a former friend from high school, returns to New York as a rich Park Avenue wife and uneasily renews her old bond with Georgia. Meanwhile, Anita must confront her growing (and reciprocated) feelings for Marty, the kind neighborhood deli owner. And when the unthinkable happens, they realize what they've created: not just a knitting club, but a sisterhood.

The Book Snobs Gathering

6:30 p.m., Monday, February 27, 2012, at Theresa's Home.

Theresa served two delicious soups including Tomato-Florentine and Lentil Curry. As usual, we started with wine and appetizers.

This book was not universally popular. A couple of members liked it so much they've already started reading the second book in the series. But there were a couple of us who did not care for it. Overall the club felt like there were too many characters and not enough character development. More than one member expressed that we didn't know the characters enough to care what happened to them.