2010 Book Club Schedule

2010 Book Club still happening the 3rd Thursday of each month.  See list below for month, author, and host.  The host for the month will be responsible for reading the book beforehand, posting an update on the blog, sending out a reminder for the meeting, and coordinationg the evening.  Should be fun!

• January 21 - Anne of Green Gables @ Shannon Garafalo
• February 18 - Five Languages of Love @ Bridget Shults
• March 18 - Angela’s Ashes @ Tish Heflebower
• April 15 - The Glass Castle @ Robin McLean
• May 20 - The Jungle @ Richelle Fawcett
• June 17 - Cold Sassy Tree @ Margie Harton
• July 15 - (Title TBD) @ Jennifer Alley
• August 19 - Three Cups of Tea @ Karen Rich
• September 16 -The Virginian @ Heidi Maxfield
• October 21 -The Shack @ Mallory Duncan
• November 18 - (Title TBD)  @ Marisa Garafalo
• December 16 -Book Exchange/Pot Luck (Location TBD)

Christmas Book Exchange

Small group this month due to busy holiday season, but we had a GREAT time!

Everyone took home a fun new book to read...

And our newest book club member, Amanda, read us her favorite children's Christmas story.

2010 Book Schedule to be posted soon - meetings will still be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

November Recap

November's club meeting at Margie's home was a hit!  She went all out with Hawaiian lei's for everyone, a big ALOHA sign, and a huge tropical food assortment (with pina coladas!)!!  Thanks, Margie!

The book was discussed - everyone enjoyed the read.  We also selected books for almost every month in December, as well as hostesses for each month.  We will post that list soon.

For December, mark your calendars for Thursday, December 17, for a Christmas pot luck and book exchange. No assigned reading, just a bring your favorite children's Christmas story as well as a wrapped favorite book (used or new is fine) to give in our exchange.  More details to come!

November Book Club - Moloka'i

Book Club for November 2009 will be held on Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m., at Margie Harton's home (see the email for her address).  Feel free to bring a Hawaiian themed snack to share!  We will be reviewing Moloka'i.  Feel free to make comments here even if you are not able to attend in person.

Discussion questions are:
1. The circumstance that sets the book in motion is called the inciting moment. What was the inciting moment of this book?


2. Describe the character development. Who did you identify with? Did your opinions about any of the characters change over the course of the novel?

3. How does the author use language and imagery to bring the characters to life? Did the book's characters or style in any way remind you of another book?

4. What do you believe is the message the author is trying to convey to the reader? What did you learn from this book? Was it educational in any way?

5. Why do you think the author chose the title? Is there a significant meaning behind it?

6. Is there a part of the novel you didn't understand? Are you confused by a character's actions or the outcome of an event?

7. Do you think the setting, both time and location, played a large roll in this novel? Could it have happened anywhere, at anytime? If so, how would the novel have changed?

8. In your opinion, is the book entertaining? Explain why or why not.

9. What is your favorite passage?

10. How did this book touch your life? Can you relate to it on any level?

Guernsey Recap

Great meeting last night. Lots of yummy pies, and one not so delicious potato peel pie. Thanks to all who participated. Check the bottom of this post for the potato peel pie recipe, and for Margie's famous chocolate fudge pie.

Everyone really enjoyed the book. Most people agreed that it was hard to get into at the beginning because of the introduction of so many characters, but by the second half, everyone was hooked. It was witty, clever and a great ending, although abrupt. Everyone related to Juliet's character, and thought the book was entertaining. We were going to enter our book club into the sweepstakes to be sent to Guernsey on a trip, but we missed the deadline - the winner was chosen back in August.

For next month Moloka'i is the book we will read, and the meeting will be held at Margie Harton's home, with a Hawaiian theme. You won't want to miss this! Details to come.

Potato Peel Pie recipe
2 c raw, grated potato skins (add some of the white part to keep the texture more tender), then use mashed potatoes for filling,
1/3 c grated onion, 1 egg, beaten, 3 tbls flour, 1 beet (cooked--I bought a fresh one but I bet you could use a canned one), Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a small pie plate. Mix grated potato peels wiith egg, onion and flour. Press the mixture into the pie plate and up sides to form a crust. Bake crust for 20-25 min. While crust is baking, cook potatoes, drain & mash. You can add your favorite mashed potato flavorings here such as garlic, onion, milk, butter, salt etc., Fill crust with mashed potatoes and sprinkle with beets ( I julienned them first). Bake in oven at lower temperature of 375 for 10 minutes or until browned.

Margie's Chocolate Fudge Pie recipe
go to Ukrops bakery, pick up chocolate fudge pie, take home, eat.

Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society 10/15/09

Thursday, October 15, 2009, 7:30 p.m., Heidi Maxfield's Home.

***Please bring a favorite pie (sweet or savory) and/or pie recipe to share with the group.***

If you'd like to read more about the book, check out the book's official website HERE.

If you cannot attend our meeting this month, but would like to participate, please leave a comment(s) on any of the discussion questions below:

1. The circumstance that sets the book in motion is called the inciting moment. What was the inciting moment of this book?
2. Describe the character development. Who did you identify with? Did your opinions about any of the characters change over the course of the novel?
3. How does the author use language and imagery to bring the characters to life? Did the book's characters or style in any way remind you of another book?
4. What do you believe is the message the author is trying to convey to the reader? What did you learn from this book? Was it educational in any way?
5. Why do you think the author chose the title? Is there a significant meaning behind it?
6. Is there a part of the novel you didn't understand? Are you confused by a character's actions or the outcome of an event?
7. Do you think the setting, both time and location, played a large roll in this novel? Could it have happened anywhere, at anytime? If so, how would the novel have changed?
8. In your opinion, is the book entertaining? Explain why or why not.
9. What is your favorite passage?
10. How did this book touch your life? Can you relate to it on any level?

First Book Club Meeting Summary

• set up final 2009 reading schedule (October, November, December meetings held at Heidi Maxfield's home). October's meeting October 15 at 7:30 p.m.- "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (7 copies +2 audio books available at Henrico County library). Please come to the meeting with a favorite pie and/or pie recipe to share.


• planned to set up 2010 books/hostesses at the November meeting (please bring calendar and choose a month you would like to host)


• Host responsibilities - organizing meeting for their month, planning refreshments, posting meeting summary on book club blog, leading book club discussion


• organized blog content - will post a summary after each meeting is held, if you could not make it to the meeting - feel free to leave a comment or answer any of the discussion questions listed on the right side of this blog


• reviewed reading list options (click HERE to see list) - book selection to come from this list, but feel free to make a suggestion if you know a great (clean) book that is not on there.

2009 Book Club Schedule

This blog has been created so anyone interested in being part of a book club can participate, whether you can attend the actual meeting or not, we'll post discussions as well as a review of the latest book club meeting. Book club will meet at 7 p.m. on the Third Thursday of each month, beginning in September at the home of Heidi Maxfield. Come if you can, whether you've read the book or not. If you're interested in bringing a snack to share, please do!

2009 Schedule:

September 17 - No Book, just discussion on future reads, and of course - refreshments!

October 15 - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

November 19 - Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

December 17 - No Assigned Reading for this month due to busy holiday schedules. We will meet, read a short children's Christmas story, and have a book exchange, bring a wrapped favorite book (used or new) to exchange. We will also be planning the 2010 Reading Schedule.