The Book Snobs: food

Monday, February 15, 2010

March 2010 Selection

Around the time Elizabeth Gilbert turned thirty, she went through an early-onslaught midlife crisis. She had everything an educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want—a husband, a house, a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed with panic, grief, and confusion. She went through a divorce, a crushing depression, another failed love, and the eradication of everything she ever thought she was supposed to be.

To recover from all this, Gilbert took a radical step. In order to give herself the time and space to find out who she really was and what she really wanted, she got rid of her belongings, quit her job, and undertook a yearlong journey around the world—all alone. Eat, Pray, Love is the absorbing chronicle of that year. Her aim was to visit three places where she could examine one aspect of her own nature set against the backdrop of a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well. In Rome, she studied the art of pleasure, learning to speak Italian and gaining the twenty-three happiest pounds of her life. India was for the art of devotion, and with the help of a native guru and a surprisingly wise cowboy from Texas, she embarked on four uninterrupted months of spiritual exploration. In Bali, she studied the art of balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. She became the pupil of an elderly medicine man and also fell in love the best way—unexpectedly.

An intensely articulate and moving memoir of self-discovery, Eat, Pray, Love is about what can happen when you claim responsibility for your own contentment and stop trying to live in imitation of society’s ideals. It is certain to touch anyone who has ever woken up to the unrelenting need for change.

The Snobs Gathering
The Snobs gathered at Della's home on Monday, March 29. As usual, the evening started with a cocktail hour followed by a delicious meal. Della served Pasta Milano with salad and bread. The Snobs enthusiastically discussed Eat, Pray, Love. Opinions on this book were widely varied. Some of the Snobs thoroughly enjoyed it and others disliked it so much they didn't finish it. The evening was topped off with brownies and ice cream.

Friday, March 27, 2009

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.

How Our Club Works

Here are the guidelines that have been agreed upon for our club.

1. You must be invited to join Book Snobs. We have chosen to limit membership to a maximum of 11 members. Prospective new members will be invited to participate as provisional candidates for a period of at least two months.

2. Book Snobs meet the last Monday of each month except December. Dates may be adjusted by consensus.

3. Each Snob must take her turn at hosting. If you can't host when your turn comes up, it's up to you to trade with another Snob.

4. Next month’s hostess should announce her selection at the end of each month’s meeting. She should also send an email announcement of her selection within a few days.

5. The Book Snobs read a wide variety of books. The method of selecting books for each year's reading cycle will be agreed upon in advance by the Snobs. When it's your turn to host you choose the book from the agreed list or genre.

6. The Snobs will not censor their book selections. Any member may elect not to read any selection, but she should not try to influence a hostess to change her selection.

7. Hosting includes providing dinner and adult beverages for the group.

8. The hostess is responsible for finding or creating discussion questions and leading the discussion. Creativity is encouraged. She is also asked to provide some background on the author and/or the book.

9. The hostess should guide the discussion and make an effort to ensure that all members are heard. She is empowered to ask members to stay on topic and to limit side discussions.

10. Each member is expected to read each month's selection. Readers who do not finish any book should decide for themselves whether they will attend discussion. Discussion will not be limited to avoid spoilers.

Rules of Courtesy

1. Snobs are asked to silence their cell phone ringers during discussion. If you must take a phone call, please step out of the room.

2. Children should not be present during discussion. We should not have to limit our discussion to child-appropriate topics. If your children are home, please make sure they stay in another room.

3. All members are asked to limit side discussions and to be courteous by limiting "talking over" other speakers. Members are empowered to raise their hand and/or use a safe word like "chocolate" when needed, to call attention back to the topic.

4. Each Snob is expected to notify the hostess of her attendance plans each month to allow for appropriate food preparation.