Invite an author

Hello from the Quad Cities!

During the (mind-numbing) quiet spells on the reference desk at the DPL I've had plenty of time to catch up on my professional reading. Last night I ran across something that the rest of you might already know about - "invite an author" from the Book Club Cookbook. The kind publishers have found authors willing to meet with bookclubs via speakerphone (or in person) to discuss their books. To find a list, see: http://www.bookclubcookbook.com/invite.htm Maybe y'all are ready to take book club up a notch!

:) Jen

I can't figure out the comments

I can't figure out how to post a comment to a blog so I'm just creating a new blog. I had no idea there were comments until Rachel told me about them a few days ago.

For those of you who were wondering, Rachel wrote the last two blogs.

I also remember there was a banana gelato and there were two hazelnut gelatos. Someone got both flavors in one cup, but I can't remember who. There was also a discussion about coconut - I had no idea how many people are grossed out by coconut . But I think coconut should be used a lot more than it is in our society, especially when combined with chocolate.

Everything else is gelato blur now.

Beth

The next book.... The Dante Club

The next book is going to be The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl. Since the book is set in Cambridge we should meet somewhere in Harvard Square. I'm thinking we should try and meet the first or second week of September but I'll get back to everyone with a date later this month. -- Rachel

And to answer Jen's comment in the previous post: Gelato flavors were (from what I can remember) peanut butter chocolate chip (Rachel and Paula), tiramisu (who had this?), and coconut chocolate (am I right Anne?). There were more but I've already forgotten! What a memory I have. I should read more to sharpen my mind.

Valperga

5 August 2005

Donna's apartment, Valperga

Tonight was Wendy and Sabrina's first book club meeting. Welcome! Next month Erin joins us as well. In attendance were: Wendy, Sabrina, Manda, Donna, Paula, Anne, Beth, Cynthia and Rachel. (Paul joined us for the gelato portion to be discussed later). This was our first meeting post Jen moving to Iowa.

Though not *everyone* finished Valperga, enough of us had read enough of the book to join in the discussion (Donna gets the award for most books read). After a plot recap by Donna and Rachel most of us agreed that the first 100-150 pages were the hardest to get through but once you get past the historical background the story really picks up. We all liked Mary Shelley's writing and Donna reiterated how good Frankenstein is to read (note to those who haven't read it yet). Someone commented that Shelley modeled Euthanasia after herself since she disappears in the end. None of us knew the significance of the name Euthanasia but I just looked online and the Greek definition is "good death." I wonder if that means Shelley thinks disappearing is a good way to go.

After eating Donna's pizza and salads and after discussing the book to it's fullest as we always do (no celebrity gossip this time) it was time for gelato. Book club husband and upstairs neighbor Paul joined us for dessert at the Italian store at the end of the street. Returning to Donna's we posed for a picture on Donna's front steps with only slight protest from Sabrina.

Our next book is The Dante Club by Mathew Pearl. Talking points to for next month: Has Anne's downstairs neighbor gotten back together with Dan? What does she do for a job? Is she really a law student at Suffolk? Has anyone ever read Dante's Inferno?