Sunday, March 2, 2025

Correction to an older post . . .


It probably only matters to me, but as I was updating our 2024 list, I discovered another author we have read multiple books by - well, two. Helen DeWitt! Who would have guessed that she wrote both THE LAST SAMURAI (which we read in 2001) and THE ENGLISH UNDERSTAND WOOL (which we read late 2024). Two very different books. Furthermore, who would have guessed she would still be smoking in this century? Helen, Helen, Helen.

Monday, September 23, 2024

Which authors have we read MORE than one book by???

 I confess I am obsessed with keeping up with these odd kinds of trivia. So I took a list at which authors we have read multiple books by. To be honest, since we have been reading together since 1988, it's not all that surprising that we have done this, but hey, there are a whole lot of authors we HAVEN'T read more than one book. 

With no further ado, our multi chosen authors! 26 of them. 

The all time most read author by our group: 

Amor TowlesLouise Erdrich
Ann PatchettMarc Salzman
Anthony DoerrMargaret Atwood
Barbara Kingsolver
Marilynne Robinson
Edith WhartonOliver Sacks
Elizabeth StoutOrhan Pamuk
Erik LarsonPatti Smith
Geraldine BrooksRuth Ozeki
Haruki MurakamiSue Miller
Irvin YalomSusan Orlean
Jane SmileyToni Morrison
Jeffrey EugenidesWallace Stegner
Kazuo IshiguroWilla Cather
 
The most often read author over the years? BARBARA KINGSOLVER, chosen four times, as shown below (book plus the year we read it. 

Flight Behavior2023
The Lacuna2010
The Poisonwood Bible 2001
Animal Dreams 1992

Saturday, April 1, 2023

How to Have a Successful Book Club Meeting

  • Pick a classic Russian Novel. Have the meeting be a potluck with a Russian theme. Start the evening off with caviar, pickles, Russian pancakes (and much more) accompanied by chilled potato vodka shots. Propose numerous toasts to our group, to our mothers, to reading, and more! 
  • Move on to the dining room and indulge in a huge feast! Discuss the book between bites. Discuss the movie based on the book. Discuss other books that are completely unrelated. Get completely off topic and discuss anything and everything! 
  • Finally, pick the next book, the next location, the next date, and hug each other goodbye, as we leave bearing leftovers! 

(Note: This post is in my preferred font, Trebuchet. LOL)