The Guilt is Crushing Me!

Logistically, it doesn't take that much time to update a blog, send out text reminders, or ask for hostesses and book selections, but mentally it's taking a toll.  I'm stuck under the weight of guilt knowing I haven't posted the latest updates, or even the next book when club is only a week away!  Losing sleep over letting everyone down, or not keeping up on this book club like I envisioned in the first place is too much too handle.  The generous hostesses have cut out their night and I can't even remind everyone to come, so three people show up?!  It's my fault, and I don't like that. So, I've come to a fork in the road.  :(

In conversation with Jamie Melrose and Lissa Lowry (the two next scheduled hostesses), we're shifting gears.  This blog will evaporate into cyberspace, and in its place, we'll have a game night group (not Bunco or any game with prizes) on facebook.  That way, all of you can see who else is in the group, the hostess can update the members on what's coming up, and we can leave posts for each other in the interim just because we can!    Women are welcome to leave the group at any time, and add local friends anytime too.  I won't need to send e-mails or text messages, and try to keep up on who's moved in and out of the area.

September 2013 through August 2014 (excluding July) is open for hostesses!  My idea is that we have hostesses selected for the next 12 months every September.  What do you think?!  Are you ready to play?

So far

2013 Hostess Picks

• Dec 20- tbd hostess needed
• Nov 15- tbd Natalie Hill
• Oct 18- Enders Game Jessica Tidwell
• Sep 20- tbd Natalie G.
• Aug16- tbd Jamie Melrose
• July- summer BREAK
• June 21- tbd Lissa Lowry
• May 17- My Name Is Asher Lev. Carina Velarde
• Apr 19- The Night Circus McKenna Christensen
• Mar 22- Flags of Our Fathers Lora Poulson
• Feb- Edenbrooke Maury Jackson
• Jan- The Power of Half Kristi Cummings

March 22

Lora has requested that we meet the 4th Friday next month... see you March 22!

January Jumptart and February Fabulousness

February fills us with infatuation and flirtation when Cupid shoots you in the back as you read Maury Jackson's pick, Edenbrooke.  She wants to know if you'd prefer to move book club from Friday the 15th to the week before or after. Please comment!

January's book club was awesome for many reasons, but I'll just name a few.  Kristi recreated the storyline of The Power of Half with captivating authority, and then she let us sample all sorts of fancy chocolates which we then rated (and occasionally berated).  We also learned of amazing charity organizations that may eventually have one of our members as its founder.  One of my favorite was rocking the Russian orphan babies that don't get held enough, suggested by Lissa Lowry.

March into Spring with Flags of Our Fathers as soon as you finish Edenbrooke, because although it is an amazing book, it is a thick one.  Looking forward to that discussion at Lora's.

Please notice a few hostessing spots are still open; any takers?   

2013 is Already Here!

 the power of half AT Kristi Cummings house Jan 18 8pm

Dec. 14 Christmas Party Book Exchange

Are you ready to party?! 
Do you have a book that needs a new home? 
Have you been wanting to get out of the house for a couple hours and hang out with Herriman's most hillarious ladies? 
 Well, thank Andrea Burt for hosting our end-of-the year bash at my house next Friday (December 14).  You are invited to read Christmas Jars, but it's no prerequisite to the evening's festivities.  So, even if you've never been to book club, and plan to never come again, come to this one.  There's something magical about getting together with your peers and allowing the spontaneous flow of conversation to stream through the hours taking you on a pleasant trip with the most random and entertaining verbal excursions!

Lindsay Emery's club last month was a riot!  We couldn't stop talking, laughing, and eating.  Thank you so much, Lindsay for a lovely time. 

Plus, we will pick next year's book titles and hostesses.  Hurray!

Holiday Happenings

Friday, November 16th is book club at Lindsay's (12564 Varenna St)! 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 

is the book of choice, but whether or not you read it, come for the socializing.  December is being hosted by Andrea Burt at my (Natalie) house.  Read

Christmas Jars 

by Jason F. Wright on December 21st... is that too close to Christmas?  

I think we might do a white elephant book exchange... find a book on your shelf that needs a new reader.

UEA Pushback

We'll have to endure one more weekend before we delve into the drama of Dorian Gray, but it is in hopes that more of you will be able to attend.  Jessica kindly requests that we meet at her home SATURDAY, October 27th  8 p.m.  For those of you who haven't had a chance to read it, you now have 8 extra days.  Have I told you yet how much I'm looking forward to this thought provoking book?  See you there!

Now we Know November

I've already finished The Picture of Dorian Gray...oooh.... it's going to be a great conversation starter!  So, be sure you have next Friday off from 8 p.m. on.  Meet over at Jessica Tidwell's house. 

Lindsay Emery has been kind enough to fill our November hostess slot and has chosen

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Put your hold on it now, at the library (they have 90 copies, and I am 3rd on the waiting list), so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy it!  Thanks to both women for hosting.

October Has Changed from Inspiring to Terrifying

Well, maybe not quite TERRIFYING, but definitely more in line with Halloween, because we are going to read the story of a man who sold his soul.  Written in 1890, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, was very controversial for its time.  Let's enjoy this thought-provoking literature at Jessica Tidwell's house October 19 at 8! 

p.s. The buddhism for mothers of young children is not at the library, hence the change in selection.

September Pulls Your Heart Strings

Maury Jackson is hosting September and selected When Crickets Cry.  She said you might need a travel-size box of tissues to get through it, but it has 4.5 stars on Amazon.com, so I'm looking forward to it!  Plus, we get to visit with her at her new place in Daybreak.  Send me an email or text if you want her address. 

 See you September 21st 8 p.m.  As always, newcomers in the area are welcome to join us.  My motto is: the more the merrier! 

Jamie, thanks again for hosting in August, it was hilarious fun to have Kayleen do a reading of "Meditation" from Seriously...I'm Kidding, by Ellen DeGeneres.

Request October's book now: Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children which we'll be discussing at Jessica Tidwell's home.

Comedian Author for August

Can you believe it's the last month of summer?  Now that book club is only a month away, I might as well tell you what we're reading.  Ellen DeGeneres' third book (not in a series) is Seriously...I'm Kidding.  We'll be meeting at Jamie's house August 17th at 8 to laugh together as we recall its contents.  Jenn's hosting of Hunger Games last month was great!  Looking forward to seeing everyone soon. 

Like the FREE space on a Bingo card...

Many of you have already read the Hunger Games; the selection for July... which makes me think of the free space on a Bingo card because you don't even have to read and you're already prepared for the discussion (and that much closer to being a winner)!  Hope to see you at Jennefer Procarione's home on the 20th; 8 p.m. as always.   

BTW Kristi Cummings club last month was awesome, we all would recommend the book, even though it's thick. ;)

June 22nd NOT 15th

Kristi is our June hostess and she's requested that we push book club back one week (there are 5 Fridays in June) which gives us all a chance to have the book read in plenty of time! So, mark your calendar for June 22nd, 8 p.m. to discuss The Forgotten Garden.  See you there!

Spring Fever Party At My Place!

Join me Friday, May 18th at 8 pm at my house for a Spring Fever party!  We're not discussing a specific book this month, just all the books you love and hate.  We'll have more fun than you can stand... so sitting is encouraged.  12561 Sondrio St.

May Options

We've had Kind Kayleen and Kind Kristi offer their homes and their books:  The Fault in Our Stars or The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society or Kristi's Newbury Award winner: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. 

I have major guilt asking anyone to host twice in the same year (Kristi is next month), so your input would be useful. 

As an alternative, maybe this is going to be the Spring Fever month (just this year, since it's 2 weeks away)  when we just discuss books we've read before (not as a club) that have made it to our all-time favorites/worsts list.  Everyone can come to my place.

So, what do YOU want to do?

Natalie aka Queen of Indecision

Wanted: May Hostess

Lisette was originally scheduled to be our May hostess, but it's turning out for her to be too hectic of a month.  Is there anyone who'd like to switch her or just take May if you aren't scheduled to host this year?  The 18th will be here soon, so a short read may be preferred, but anything is better than nothing!  Kelsey's club last month was a ton of fun from what I heard.  Thanks to all of you for opening your homes to us!

April: Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Get April's book: Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford soon because it will be the main topic of discussion at Kelsey Hoskins' home on the third Friday (April 20th) at 8 p.m.  I cut this excerpt from the Salt Lake County Library website:

Awarded Readers Choice Nominee 2010, Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Set in the ethnic neighborhoods of Seattle during World War II and Japanese American internment camps of the era, this debut novel tells the heartwarming story of widower Henry Lee, his father, and his first love Keiko Okabe. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Post Script:  Will you volunteer to write a review of the previous month's book club meeting if you attended?  In attempting to simplify my life, I'm no longer going to be posting.  But, to be sure, we had a great time at both Kayleen's and Lora's homes in February and March.  Thanks again for hosting, ladies!

March Murder Madness

Lora Poulson is hosting book club this month on Friday, March 23 (a week later than normal).  We'll be discussing the delicious details of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke.  Looking forward to a yummy night of different points of view!

The Walk by Richard Paul Evans

The Walk, by Richard Paul Evans is the February pick by Kayleen Pemberton.  She kindly selected a book that had multiple available copies at the library so more people could have a chance to read it.  One very exciting piece of news is that she just moved to a new house!
Mark your calendar for February 17th, 8:00 pm.

Here's a note from her of how to get there:

My address is 6997 Tracy Loop Rd. Herriman

The easiest way to get there is: go west on 13100 S all the way to 7300 West. Turn south on 73rd. Take 2nd left turn onto McCuiston Ave (you'll be heading east now). The road is dirt for about 500 yards, (when you're actually on Salt Lake County property, not Herriman City...) then becomes paved (welcome BACK to Herriman!). :) 

Then take your 2nd right onto Tracy Loop Rd. My house is right after the road "loops" back to an easterly direction. It is gray with red brick. 

Can't wait to see you all! 

Kayleen

Also, we have the last quarter of the year to fill in for hostesses, and a lot of blanks to fill in for book selections.  So, if you can come with your "fill in" we'd love to update the group on this year's calendar.  See you the 17th!