Second Meeting: October 19, 2009

Shanghai Girls
 by Lisa See

Diana Perez's House

Diana welcomed 11 - (and later it became 12) - of us to her home to discuss Shanghai Girls. Another great book with a lot of deep issues to hash out. As we dined on sushi, dumplings, chinese plum candy, oranges, fortune cookies, chinese tea, and more - we couldn't stop talking!  The topics included but weren't limited to: immigration, sisters and family, rape, war, and prejudice. We listened to the end of the book, when the sisters had their huge fight. We heard the rape scene again. Members shared with the group their most meaningful part of the book, which was not the same for all of us.

First Meeting

September 21, 2009

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Meeting at Robin Libow's house

We met at my house, in New City. Nicole Munian, Diana Perez, Lourdes Longobardo, Carmen Cruz, Tracy Laramore, and Yvette Feliciano enjoyed lively discussions about The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.  The sign on the front door of my house should have read "Blonds Only through front entrance", not "Jews only", since the "Jews only" seemed to have created some unintended confusion! I must say Lourdes was a really good sport when I made her use the "garage bathroom", and not my upstairs bathroom...if you read the book, you'll understand that. It was eye opening for me to hear some of my friends' experience with prejudice.

Food included Mint (NOT Julep) tea, and eat at your own risk Minnie's chocolate cake. The music, of course, was 60's Dylan and Beatles. This first book club meeting was a great start, considering we teachers are incredibly busy and stressed out in September! I'm so grateful to everyone who was able to carve out some time in their busy, hectic lives, to attend. I have to say I really enjoyed the sharing of views with my insightful friends and colleagues about a book I was passionate about. I guess I'm even grateful I had to get part of my house clean before all the company - not at all an easy task for me, as I am "organizationally challenged" (nicer word for slob, don't you think?).

The meeting ended with many of us wishing we had more time to discuss in further depth the many important issues from the book - including racism, domestic violence, child rearing, and prejudice.  I guess it's good we all seemed to want more as our time ran out. I do hope Kathryn Stockett will write something again soon. Incredible that this was her first book.

Next month is at Diana's house, and the book will be Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. Can't wait!