February 2013 Selection

Theresa has selected Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn as her selection from the mystery/detective/suspense genre.

From the author's web site:

Marriage can be a real killer. One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn, takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. As The Washington Post proclaimed, her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit with deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick Dunne’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick Dunne isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but hearing from Amy through flashbacks in her diary reveal the perky perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister Margo at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was left in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Employing her trademark razor-sharp writing and assured psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

The Book Snobs Gathering:

The Snobs gathered at Theresa's home on Monday, February 25, for dinner, drinks, and discussion. The evening started with wine and a delicious warm artichoke dip. Our hostess served an excellent dinner that included pasta salad and tomato soup along with hot bread sticks.

After dinner, the discussion began. Generally, everyone enjoyed Gone Girl. There were mixed reviews about the writer's style using alternating chapters from each of the two main characters to tell her story. We were also somewhat divided on the book's ending. This was an excellent book for discussion. The topics we covered included a wide variety included spoiled children, mental illness, marital infidelity, and compulsive liars to mention only a few.

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.

February 2011 Selection

Theresa has chosen The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein as the February selection in the animal fiction genre.

GarthStein.com says:

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.

The Book Snobs Gathering

The Snobs met at Theresa's home on Monday, February 28. She served a choice of French Onion Soup and Seafood Chowder. Both were delicious.

The Snobs spent a good deal of time talking about some rules and protocals for the club. Since we've grown from a froup of seven to a group of eleven, it seems that some rules and "crowd-control" may be in order.

The Art of Racing in the Rain was universally thought to be a great read. This book was uniquely written from the perspective of Enzo, a dog with the soul of a philosopher and an obsession with opposable thumbs. We were all amused at Enzo educating himself by watching television and listening. And we were amazed by his insights into human nature and impressions of human personalities.

Recipes from The Book Snobs

Seafood Chowder

1 bunch of green onions
1 lb. of fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 stick of butter
2 cans of cream of potato soup
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
2 cans of whole kernel corn (drain one can)
2 pints of half & half
1-8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese
1-2 lbs. of crawfish tail meat (1-2 frozen packages-do not rinse) or shrimp or combination of shrimp and crawfish
1 Tablespoon of Tony Chchere's Creole seasoning (I would suggest starting with one teaspoon and then adding more depending on how spicy you want it to be)

Saute the onions and mushrooms in the butter and then add the remaining ingredients. Heat about 1 hour.

Quick Onion Soup

2 large onions
3 packets of onion soup mix (I buy the boxes that have 2 packets of onion soup mix in each box and for this recipe I use 1.5 boxes or 3 packets)
8 cups water
French bread
Grated white cheese (e.g.,, swiss, mozzarella, Italian blend)

Slice onions into thin rounds and then cut in half again.

Saute onions in vegetable oil or olive oil until soft and slightly browned.

Add water and onion soup mix.

Bring to boil and then reduce heat and simmer for about 20-60 minutes.

Serve with crumbled bread and sprinkle cheese on top. (You can use any kind of bread but I prefer a white French loaf style. It is fine to use bread that is a little stale and hard because the broth will soften it up. If you just have wheat bread, pop it in the toaster and then tear it up and put it in the bottom of the bowl and ladle the soup on top).

*The longer you cook it, the more the broth reduces and darkens and thickens up and makes for a really rich onion soup.

*If you are in a hurry, you can omit sautéing the onions and just throw all the ingredients together (water, onion soup mix, raw onions) and bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 min until onions are soft. It still tastes good with this quickie version.

April 2010 Selection

Theresa has selected Dating Dead Men as the April selection in the mystery genre. Here's what Publisher's Weekly says about Dating Dead Men.

The critically acclaimed and multiple award winning debut novel from Harley Jane Kozak, is a fast-paced, flawless blend of romance, comedy, and suspense. Dating Dead Men introduces a writer who is bound to take her place alongside Janet Evanovich and Gillian Roberts—and a heroine as feisty, funny, and unforgettable as Bridget Jones.

Wollie is dating 40 men in 60 days as part of a research project for a bestselling radio personality; the $5,000 fee could help her struggling store, "Wollie's Welcome! Greetings." In particular, Wollie's worried about inspections from national headquarters, who want to ensure that her franchise is up to standard. Her already full plate gets loaded up further when her paranoid schizophrenic brother, P.B., who resides at a mental hospital called Rio Pescado, phones to tell her he's witnessed a murder. The last thing Wollie wants is to call the police, so she dashes off to Rio Pescado. On the way she finds a dead body. At the hospital she picks up a charismatic stranger, "Doc," who's on the run, and Wollie can't help getting herself mixed up in his troubles as well...

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Snobs gathered at Theresa's home on Monday, April 26.  Theresa served delicious homemade Strawberry Daquiris made with fresh strawberries.  For dinner the Snobs were treated to a make-your-own Quesadilla bar and salad.

Dating Dead Men was a fun read and the discussion was entertaining.  This was the first mystery we've read as a group.  We discussed the author's use of red herrings and the interesting characters.  The settings used in this novel were vivid and were an integral part of the story.  Generally, all the Snobs enjoyed this lighthearted mystery.

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.