November Book Club Meeting

Jamie and Lauren hosted November's meeting with a delicious breakfast and craft morning. The consensus was that we all enjoyed Heaven is Here and it really put life into perspective.

Enjoy the December break--you get to read whatever you want! haha See you in January!

September Book Club Meeting

Amy hosted for Septembers meeting and she threw a fun lil "BC" party for Carla at Olive Garden!

The Book for the month was The Replacement Wife by Eileen Gouge. It was definitely an interesting book that made for great question/answer conversation!


Wendy will be hosting in October and she has picked The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern!!

Thanks again Amy for a fun night out!!! Happy Birthday Carla!

August Book Club Meeting

Carla hosted our August Book Club Meeting. She had us all take a quiz that determined which of the 5 personalities we would be if we were to be placed in a faction! It was great fun to be able to visit with one another and talk about the book.

Our next Months book pick has been Selected by Amy. Its called The Replacement Wife by Eileen Goudge.

Date to be determined still for the September meeting.

Next Book!

Our next book is Divergent by Veronica Roth, chosen by Carla.

She will set up our next meeting for sometime in August so stay tuned! You all will need to make arrangements to purchase or borrow a copy of the book.

HAPPY READING!

July Book Club Meeting

I would like to thank Melissa for such a fun and intriguing book club meeting today. It was great to be able to discuss the book with open minded women and play a fun game! The food was yummy and the tea cups/flowers are adorable!!!

July's Book Club Meeting

Date: Tuesday July 24th

Time:11:00 a.m.

Place: Rebecca's Gourmet Cafe and Bakery

(303 Metcalf Street, New Bern)

 

Take some time away from the kids and the sun and join us for lunch, a discussion about the book and laughs with friends. Please let me know by July 21st if you plan on attending.

 

Hope to see everyone there!

Melissa

(Edith, Lorina & Alice Liddell: This was first published in Carroll's biography by his nephew:

Collingwood, Stuart Dodgson (1898(1898))

July's Book Selection - Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

Hello Ladies,
I appreciate you all being willing to purchase this month's book, Alice I Have Been. I have already started reading it and I hope everyone enjoys it. Below are some reading group discussion questions:

Reader's Guide

1. What social forces motivate each of the characters to deny Dodgson's inappropriate attention to Alice?
2. Alice became famous through no fault of her own. Can you come up with a modern day version of Alice? How do their lives compare?
3. Alice refuses to read Alice in Wonderland until she is well into her eighties. Why do you think she avoids reading the story she inspired?
4. The relationships between Alice and her sisters Ina and Edith range from rivalry to a life-long bond. What effects do these have on Alice, and what are the consequences?
5. What part of the book speaks to you and your experiences in life?
6. How does Benjamin take both the reader and Alice from ignorance and denial to the self-realization of her complicity in the ruptured friendship with Rev. Dodgson? Is this believable?
7. While Alice's sister lies dying, Mama asks Alice "Why couldn't it be you? You've never brought me anything but pain, while she has brought me nothing but joy". What kind of effect do you think this has on Alice for the rest of her life? Did it affect the way Alice thought of her own children?
8. The photos Lewis Carroll (or the Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) took of Alice Liddell capture a look that can be described as wise beyond her years - what do you think is behind that look?
9. How much did the Victorian setting play a role in this book?
10. Before reading Benjamin's novel, had you already read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? If so, does it make you want to read it again? Why or why not?
11. What do you think of an author writing a biographical novel using only notes and references and filling in the gaps with intelligent supposition?

I will send out invitations in July for the meeting once I set a date.
Happy Reading!!
Melissa

Ghost Walk Tour

In honor of reading Sunday's Child, written by a local author, Carrie set us up for a ghost walk tour of New Bern. I don't know about everyone else, but I loved it! I loved learning about all the legends and myths about New Bern and some of its buildings.  Like this one--can you see the woman in the window?! ;)

I think you can tell by our faces who the believers and non-believers were...

(Wendy: "Maybe if I stand way over here, then I can run away easier..."

Carla: "I know you're taking my picture..."

Amy: "Bless your heart. I'm just going to smile, even though I think you're crazy."

SharRee, Brittany, Melissa, and Lauren: "Interesting..."

Jamie: "Seriously guys, you're listening to this crap?")

We ended the tour at the Episcopal church, learning about the mass graves.  We weren't sure if our tour guide was Southern, English, or something in between...

And what would a night of ghosts be without a sighting?!  Check out this hunk Carrie and Melissa picked up:

I love you gorgeous girls!

Junes Book Club Meeting Invite

Come out and join us for our June Book Club Meeting. 

Please remember to bring your Book Club book, Sundays Child. 

July's Book Selection Head's Up!

Hello Ladies,
I have confirmed with Brittany that I have July's meeting. I would like to read "Alice, I Have Been" by Melanie Benjamin. This will be a book that we will need to purchase since the library does not have the kit. I found a copy of it at Books-a-Million in the clearance section. I am going to go back to Book-a-Million and ask for them to set aside copies for us to purchase. The cost of the book was no more than $5.00 on clearance. I am excited to read it as it looks like a fun twist on a famous character. I am truly looking forward to lazy summer days of reading!
Melissa

May Book Club Meeting

May's book club meeting was held at Brittany's house. She made us a delicous dinner which we had in the backyard on the deck. She had prepared a game of "Truth" which was a fun get to know you kind of thing!

Our next book club meeting will be hosted by Carrie and we will be reviewing our newest book club pick, Sundays Child by Tom Lewis.

Amy, Melissa, Carrie, Brittany, SharRee, and Carla

SharRee, Carrie, and Carla

Brittany, Amy, and Melissa

March/April Book Club Meeting

Aprils book club meeting was hosted by Brit and held at Bakers square, a special thanks to Brittany for the yummy desserts. We will be reading The Pilots Wife by Anita Shreve.

Lauren, Tara, Amy, Carla, Melissa, Carrie, SharRee, and Brittany!

February Book Club Meeting at the New Bern Country Club

A big shout out to SharRee for a fun night at the New Bern Country Club for our Feb meeting. We discussed Januarys book, The Saving Graces, played Catch phrase, and snacked on some yummy food!!

Wendy, Sonja, Melissa, and Lauren

Brittany, Carrie, SharRee, and Amy

Top: Carrie, SharRee, Melissa, Lauren
Bottom: Amy, Brittany, Wendy

Update

The book club will meet on Feb. 28th from 7-9pm. All the rest of the information is the same--just the date change!

February Book Club Meeting

Come join us as we discuss The Saving Graces, and pick up our next read: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. The next meeting will be hosted by SharRee at New Bern Country Club on Feb. 21st from 7-9pm. Hope to see you there! Don't forget to bring back your books for Sonja!

Jan Book Club Meeting

What a super great night!! Thanks for hosting Sonja!

January Book Club

Hey All!! The first book club meeting of the year will be on Friday Jan. 13th at 7pm at Sonja's house: 102 Magnolia Mill Pl., Havelock (in Tucker Creek). The book is The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney, and there are enough for everyone. Hope to see you there!!

Let me know if you can't make it, but want me to pick up a book for you!