Book Club.

I missed my monthly book club on Saturday because of my trip to Idaho.  This month we read My Story by Elizabeth Smart.  I was really bummed I didn't get to discuss it with my friends - after reading it I had so many questions and was curious what everyone else thought of the book.  

My mom had read the book and recommended it to me so on our drive up to Idaho we talked about it - then once I got to Idaho my aunt and cousin and I all sat around and talked about it, so I guess in a way I still had my own little 'discussion group' about it.

It is a very interesting story.  I was on my mission when she was found so I didn't see or hear any of the stuff swirling around in the media about her ordeal - my mission president did give us an article about it to read just so we knew the basics of what was going on.

I found there were some great lessons to be learned from Elizabeth and her strength, she is pretty remarkable.  It seems like this book could really help others who are trying to overcome life's large obstacles.

 Next we are reading Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson.

I also recently got together one night with some of the girls from our book club and watched The Book Theif - which we read last month.

Good Movie - I highly recommend it.

Book Club.

Tonight I hosted book club at our house.  We read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of my high school favorites.  I chose this book because I like it and I really like the new movie {and I thought it would be fun to have a movie night for book club}.  If you haven't read this book you must, it is a quick read and the new movie is great.

 I didn't take any decent pictures of the party or the food.  We had caramel corn, sodas and movie candy {"G" for Gatsby}.

 The things I love most about the new movie are the super creative cinematography and the way they incorporate modern music into a 1920's time period {which also seems to be the most criticized aspect of the movie}.

 The original movie with Robert Redford is really good to.

 I found this great character map on line.  I could have used that in high school!

Next we are reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Book Club.

Tonight we had book club.

We read Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks.  I must say I highly recommend this book - it was such a great story.  Its about a boy Max and his imaginary friend Budo.  The book teaches so many great lessons about friendship, facing fears, along with some teaching and parenting ideas.

Thank you Tara.

Next month it's my turn!

We are going to read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  I ready this in high school and loved it - and the movie {the original with Robert Redford}.  When the new movie was coming out a few months ago I re-read the book and then Gregg took me out to the movie and I absolutely loved the new movie.

It's a classic if you haven't read it.

Book Club.

Tonight we had book club, we read The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

It is a juvenile book so therefore it was a quick, simple read and really cute.  It's about a little boy Milo who receives an usual package one day - a tollbooth.  The tollbooth takes him on all sorts of adventures in which Milo learns great life lessons.

Really cute book and you could easily read it to a child.

Thanks Ali for the yummy Kneaders desserts.

Next we are reading Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks.

Book Club.

This month we read Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman.  It is a collection of quirky essays showing you a glimpse at the life of Anne Fadiman.  It is an easy and quick read and I highly recommend it.

Thanks Pepper for hosting, and thanks for the yummy Kneaders treats and homemade ice creams!

Next we are reading The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

Book Club.

We had book club last weekend but I missed it due to our camping trip.  I still read the book and I still wanted to do a little post about it.

We read Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls.  It was an entertaining and interesting store.  Jeannette Walls also wrote The Glass Castle which is a fairly popular book.

Next we are reading The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty.

Wonder.

I finished reading the book Wonder today.

It was recommend to me by a girlfriend from High School; I read it between reading book club books.  I really liked it - it made me consider the way I think.  I want to try and be more open minded about those around me.  Easy, quick read, I highly recommend it.

I want to start reading chapter books to Truman at night - my sister recommend we start with Mr. Popper's Penguins.  We stopped by the library and checked it out.  I will do a review when we finish!

Book Club.

Last night we had our monthly book club at my friend Karens house  We had a great Italian dinner to go along with our read, Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter.

I have to admite I was excited when this book was introduced to me a month ago - part of the story takes place in Porto Vergogna, Italy which I have traveled to.  I started reading this book but was disappointed with the language, I kept reading until the book just became to raunchy for my taste {along with the bad language}.  I only ended up reading about 1/3 of the book before deciding I didn't want to continue.

So, that being said I don't really have a review, except that the language and content was too raunchy for me so I didn't finish it.

Next we are reading Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls.

Book Club.

We had book club this morning at a cabin east of Heber, it felt like a little girls getaway for the morning!  We read "The Uncommon Reader" by Alan Bennett.  It was a super short, simple novella about the Queen loving to read.  It thought it was really cute and made for a fun, light hearted discussion.

Monica hosted and made the most amazing stuffed french toast {I have learned that book club has lead me to read some really great books, but I have also collected some wonderful recipes over the years - this one will definitely be added to my breakfast collection}.

The Amazing Stuffed French Toast

Monica

Mix 1 package of softened cream cheese,

1/4 cup of powdered sugar,

chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)

Spread between two pieces of bread (thick sliced bread)

Mix about 8 eggs,

1/4 cup milk,

and a little vanilla.

Dip bread "sandwiches" in egg mixture then in a mixture of crushed cornflakes and coconut.

Cook on griddle on medium heat {coconut will burn easily}.  Keep warm in an oven until you serve.

It is even more amazing when served with THIS syrup!

Thanks Monica for the fun book and the amazing french toast {the name says it all}.

Next we are reading "Beautiful Ruins" by Jess Walter.  

And, this book {"Wonder"} was highly recommended to me by a high school friend.  It just arrived at the library so I am going to try and read it between book club books.

Book Cub.

Today Tami hosted book club at her house.  We ready "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.  The book is about how we got the HeLa cells that are used in medical research today - they launched a medical revolution but where taken without permission {not to mention the $$$ made by everyone but the family}.   We discussed if it was right or wrong to take the cells without asking Henrietta or her family;  I don't think it was wrong that Johns Hopkins hospital kept her cells for research - and certainly don't think it was a racial thing either.  We did discuss at length how a lot of what happened was because of a lack of education which is still persistent in the family today - and how that cycle is hard to break {supposedly some of the money from the sales of this book are going to an education grant for the family}.  I do want to add that I did not like how the author put herself in the book - personal opinion!

Thanks Tami for a great discussion and yummy breakfast.

I will give the book three stars out of five - interesting.

Next we are reading "The Uncommon Reader" by Alan Bennett.

Book Club.

Today was book club.

It seemed like such a long time since the last book club, that is because we take December off and I missed November.  It was so fun to be back together as a group - we had a great turnout. 

We read "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand and everyone agreed that it was fantastic.  It is a story about a young man and his childhood journey, Olympic dreams, fighting in World Ward II, surviving, forgiving, finding God, and living a really great life.

Laura served an amazing imitation Magleby's french toast and syrup with fresh fruit and orange juice.  I have included the recipe below because it is that good!

Thank you Laura - as always, it was so classy.

I defiantly recommend this book.  Five stars!

Next we are reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Book Club.

We had book club last week.  We listened to some episodes from the talk radio program "This American Life"  I loved it.  I am so glad I have been introduced to the program.  I like listening to the radio when I am cleaning, cooking or in the car {Gregg is a big talk radio listener} so that is where I get some of my love of listening.  We enjoyed an incredible panini and Italian soda bar while we discuss the episodes.

If you are interested in listening to the programs we did here they are

175: Babysitting 

360: Switched at Birth

465: What Happened at Dos Erres

466: Blackjack

306: Seemed Like A Good Idea at the Time

470: Show Me The Way

299: Back From the Dead

I highly recommend the program.

You can download an app for $4.99 and listen to any episode.

Five stars out of five!

Thanks Rachael.

Next we are reading "Ecology of a Cracker Childhood" by Janisse Ray.

*P.S. This is my first post from my new MAC computer!  A big accomplishment!

Book Club.

Book club was this morning.  Over the summer we read "The Poisnwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver.  It is story about a family who leaves the states in 1959 to go to Africa to the Belgian Congo on a mission.  The story is told from the perspective of the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price {who's wild idea it is to go on this mission}.  Each chapter is written from the perspective of one of the daughters or wife.  At our discussion Tara had each of us take a piece of paper with a word on it that described someone in the story.  The words were; smug, forgiving, accepting, cynical, materialistic, overwhelmed, fanatical, passive, gild-ridden, literal, abusive, observant, solitary, devoted.  It was a fun way to discuss the story and the different characters.

Thanks Tara for breakfast and the discussion.

Next we are listening to some episodes from "This American Life" via the internet.

I am excited for this!

Our Stake Presidency challenged each of us to read the Book of Mormon again starting in September and ending at the New Year.  Gregg and I decided to read it together, I am going to read it chronologically for myself, and we are also reading the children's version with Truman and Bodie {that is an adventure}.

We started a week early ... we figured we need any help we could get {and the first week is September is busy/crazy for us and we won't be together as a family}.

Book Club.

Today was book club and it was my month to host.  We read The Pioneer Woman, black heels to tractor wheels by Ree Drummond.  I think this is a darling book that is a super fast read, simple, and really cute.  It was recommend to me by my aunt Ilene.  I read it a couple of months ago over a weekend.  It is about a country club girl who moves to LA to work - total city girl.  She goes back home for a few weeks before moving to Chicago for a new job and ends up meeting a real cowboy, Marbaro Man.  The book is about how they met and their love story.  Ree, the author, has a very popular blog found HERE.

 I checked out her cook books from the library and made a few of her breakfast dishes.

See post below.

 Friends discussing.

Now we are reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

Book Club.

Tonight we had book club at Bonnie's adorable house in the avenues.  We read My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok.  It is about a young Jewish boy who loves art and becomes an artist.  His art causes conflict in his family because he is inspired to draw the crucifix.  His dad works for the rabbi and disapproves of what his son does.  The story is about the conflict between Asher and his father and mother and Ashers desires to be an artist.  The discussion of the book was very fascinating thanks to Bonnie's preparations and great questions.  We discussed the book over an amazing multi-course Jewish meal.  Chilled carrot and orange soup, bacon wrapped matzo balls, watermelon and feta salad, clove game hen with roasted spring vegetables, orange sorbet, chocolate fig pistachio balls and salted dulce de leche chocolate matzo.  Amazing!

This is not the type of book I would typicality pick up and read, but after discussing it I like it better {that happens often}.  Still only two and half stars out of five.

Over the top amazing dinner and discussion Bonnie. Thank you!

{below is my place setting - so fitting}

The poor soul who has to follow in Bonnie's footsteps ... that's me!

I chose "The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" by Ree Drummond.

{Its a cute, quick, summer read - pick it up and start reading by the pool}

Book Club.

We had book club today.  We read Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner.  The story it's self is not that interesting.  There is no big love story to follow, drama, death, etc.  It is a simple story about two couples who are friends - but you learn of their deep compassion for each other and a powerful insight to friendship and marriage.  We had a great discussion about friendship and marriage and it made me like the book more {that always happens; I like the book more after our book club discussions}.

Kelli hosted in her beautiful home up Mirror Lake highway in Kamas.  She is a lover of food and made us an amazing breakfast; cinnamon waffles with caramelized apples and fresh whipped cream.  And maple syrup bacon with pepper.  Thank you Kelli!

Although I liked the book more after discussing it, I am still only giving it two stars out of five.

Next we are reading My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok.

I already picked it up from the library.

Book Club.

We had book club today.  We read Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay.  This is a really sad book.  It's about the 1942 Vel' d"Hiv Roundup that took place in Paris.  There are a lot of characters in this book - sp keep a note pad near by if you read it.  The chapters alternate between the 1942 story of Sarah in a Nazi camp and a journalists named Julia in 2009 writing about the events of 1942.  And of course their two lives collide {I won't spoil the plot}.

A few nights before book club a few of my girlfriends came over and we watched the movie Sarah's Key.

It was even more sad then the book.  I thought Kristin Scott Thomas did a great job playing Julia.

 Thanks Karen for hosting and serving a wonderful spinach quiche, fruit and orange juice!

I can't bring myself to give this book more then two stars.

Next we are reading Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

Maniac Magee.

My sister recommend this book to me a while ago.

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli.

It was the cutest book and so well written.  I highly recommend it {it's a youth chapter book so it would take you about a night to read it}