The Silent Wife -- Cityline Dec. 11, 2017

The Silent Wife book focused on a relationship between two people Todd and Jodi, who were once in love, however Todd becomes a committed cheater . Todd was so self-centered that he could not commit to anyone. Todd and Jodi were in a bad place in their marriage. Much was at stake in the marriage including an affluent life and a condo in Chicago. Jody, who loved Todd very much, refused  to object to anything he did -- and didn’t yell or scream. She tried to use her silence as a weapon. At first, I thought I would like the book, but unfortunately I found the character Jodi to be too submissive -- although she used her silence to be her weapon. I was a little disappointed with the book.

                                         -----Sandrahe story dragged on and left you wondering who really killed Thank you!

Sandra Rivera

The Two Family House at New City Kosher Deli -- Nov. 13, 2017

I selected this story after reading a short excerpt.  I thoroughly enjoyed the story of brothers Abe and Mort and sisters-in-law Helen and Rose.  As Jill said, “this story can be about any family”.  It transcends cultures. This story is the author’s first.   She based some of the events on her grandmother’s tales about her family.  The one thing that bothered her most about most (if not all) cultures is their desire to have a boy or treating the boys as princes.  Mary Velez shared her own story of her father.  He didn’t want to hold the baby, but was forced to when her mother left him alone with the baby and he needed to comfort her.  His love for her bloomed. I wonder if father’s want boys because they get to “carry” the paternal family name. 0r ________________ fill in the blank.

Whenever, I hear stories of men wanting sons, I’m reminded of this great song, "El 

Gran Varon" by Willie Colon (Google it).   The events portrayed in The Two-Family House gives readers many topics to think about: motherhood, nature vs.. nurture, longing, love, betrayal, regret, and the consequences of buried secrets.  I believe we touched on most of the topics in our discussion. Thank you bookworms for the insightful conversations.

                                          --- Myrna

Necessary Lies at Beni's Trattoria

Twelve of us met at Beni's Trattoria in Garnerville to discuss Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain. It was so wonderful to welcome Maureen Degnan as a new bookworm, and welcome back Diana Perez - the returning bookworm. Maria Rego rejoined us too, back from Florida. Thank you Miggy for popping in to visit before your Florida trip! I'm happy that most seemed to really enjoy the book. I loved it for the historical fiction elements, as well as the warm, believable characters and a great story. And, I'm a sucker for a happy ending!

The story was told in the voices of Ivy Hart and Jane Forrester - two seemingly very different women - but as it turned out they shared many things in common. Family values, social economic status, male/female relationships were some of the many topics talked about. We also discussed the surprising facts of forced sterilization - in the U.S. (including California, Pennsylvania and North Carolina), Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, China, Peru and other places in the United States and around the world. Some of the facts were shocking - In 1968 up to 1/3 of Puerto Rican women were sterilized. What a relief that the book ended on a happy note in so many ways.

We made text to self connections. As we went around the table, we all discussed #metoo. With one exception, we all experienced some kind of sexual advances as young girls or women. Yet none of us told our parents or any adult. Hopefully, the world is different now, than it was for us back then.

If you weren't there we missed you -- hope to see everyone on November 13, when Myrna will lead the discussion on The Two Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman.

XXOO,
Robin L.

WONDER

Our 2017 school year book club was up to an uplifting start with the novel, WONDER by R. J. Palacio. It was so nice to reconnect with everyone. For those of you unable to attend, we missed you. Hope all enjoyed the discussion, great company, and slow service (haha). Hopefully, after reading about Auggie's life, all of your already overflowing, generous hearts will be filled with even just a little more empathy, love, compassion, and kindness towards others.

It was my pleasure to host September's meeting at Blu Fig --
Irene

For kindness begets kindness evermore -- Sophocles

If you ever feel lost, let your heart be your compass. -- Emily

If plan "A" doesn't work, just remember: the alphabet has 25 more letters. --Unknown

All you need is love. --John Lennon and Paul McCartney

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it, and hang on.--Thomas Jefferson

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

My Dear Friends,

It was so nice to spend another wonderful afternoon with all of you to discuss The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See.  It’s a powerful story about a family, separated by circumstances, culture, and distance. The author does an excellent job at painting a remarkable portrait of a little known region and its people.  She elaborates on the Akha tribe's culture, the important role tea plays in Chinese culture, and the special bond that connects mothers and daughters -- even if they live continents apart.

I think we all enjoyed eating the delicious Chinese food at Ocean Empire, along with drinking tea, and taking in all the Chinese decor. It was extra special for me because it was my last book club meeting as an “active” teacher, I’ll be a teacher until I die! Thank you all for the delicious chocolates and wine, how did you know…ha, and gift card to Hand and Stone Massage, can’t wait! Your generosity, thoughtfulness, and friendship are forever in my heart!

Wishing all of you a wonderful summer filled with good health, relaxation, adventure, and reading!

Love you all!

Maria P.

Angel Falls

Dear Bookworms,

          It was so nice to see everyone on Monday.  Those who didn’t attend, we missed you. Thank you, Lourdes, for coming and joining us, even though you had dinner plans with your friends.  I also would like to welcome our new members Sandra and Dee (hope I spelt it right).  Nice getting to know you both!

          Our discussions ranged from personal to book related. It’s always nice to catch up and get to see how each of us is doing. Our prayers go out to Irene’s husband and Miggy’s daughter for a speedy recovery.  

          I’m glad the book was enjoyed by everyone.   I chose this book because when I read the back cover about Mikaela being in a coma, it made me think of my nephew John. He too was in a coma when I had started to read the book.  Thankfully he is recovering everyday. 
        When Mikaela, beloved wife and mother of two, falls into a coma, it is up to her  husband, Liam, to hold the family together, to care for their grieving, frightened children. Day after day, he sits by her bedside, telling stories of the precious life they have built, hoping, always hoping, that she will wake up. Then he discovers evidence of her first marriage to Julian True. It was said in our group his name was an oxymoron, since he wasn't a true individual.

Liam, on the other hand, was a kind and loving man. He would do anything to wake his wife up, even if it meant losing her to her true love. Some of us thought we too would make that sacrifice if it was to save our spouse. Others thought that would be too difficult to do!
This book kept us on our toes wondering if Mikaela would go back to the life she once had. I think the consensus was she would be foolish to leave a man like Liam.

All the best to you,
Millie

   

Father's Day

I was really delighted to learn that everyone enjoyed reading Father's Day by Simon Van Booy, one of the many books my almost 90 year old mother - in- law has recommended to me! We missed those who were unable to attend our April 3rd get together at City Line Diner.The
sangria and conversations flowed, from our opinions about social media to meaningful quotes from the book. Just as Harvey gave Jason special "Father's Day" gifts, we had a lot of fun opening our "Book Worm" gifts and guessing which of our books it related to.

After six year old Harvey's parents suddenly die in a car accident, a very warm hearted, hard working social worker enrolls Harvey's uncle Jason to raise her. At first it seems highly unlikely that Jason is capable of being a parent. But the transformation of Harvey and Jason was an amazing, positive experience. As Jason states while visiting Harvey in Paris truth is "not what's written on a piece of paper or in blood too small to see --- but the memory of how it felt being together."

Thank you all for the great memories!
Happy Passover!
Happy Easter!
Enjoy our Spring Break!
Jill

Because of Mr. Terupt

Hello Bookworms!

It was truly a pleasure to have you all at my place. You ins pire and bless me. For those who were not able to make it, your presence was missed. Our book for March, because of mr. terupt  by Rob Buyea is a story of a unique teacher told by the perspective of his seven students. I think that it clearly showed that he developed "relationship" with his students. His unique style won the love of his students and their loyalty to him.  He also challenged them to look within themselves and become better people. It was interesting to read that they all had a story of struggle. It gave us insight about their families, and challenges us to do the same with our own students. we shared some of our stories as teachers, and from our own lives. We played "the dollar game" and Irene's name came closest to a dollar, at $1.01, and she won a prize.

We shared a little on the benefits of bringing mindfulness into our classrooms, like: reducing stress, improving focus, helping students to self regulate -- and in turn, their academics improve. We practiced the art of paying attention, with some mindfulness activities: mindful listening with the Tibetan Singing Bowl, mindful eating, and mindful smelling - with some essential oils. We shared some inspirational quotes for teachers to keep reminding us that teaching is an art - and we must try and keep the passion, and recognize our unique gifts. At the end, we blew some bubbles, and had a snowball fight! The ineer child needs to come out from time to time!! I had a lot of fun and hope you realize how special you are!! Next month Jill is hosting -- Be blessed! Mary

Vincent Van Gogh by Julius Meier-Graefe

Starry, starry night
Paint your pallet blue and gray
Look out on the summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul

Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and daffodils
Catch the breeze and winter chill
In colors on the snowy linen land

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen
The did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now

Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue

Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber gray
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen
They did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now

For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when your love was left inside
On that starry, starry night
You took your life as lovers often do
But I could have told you, Vincent
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you

Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn, a bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen
They're not listening still
Perhaps they never will

    ----Don McLean, Songwriter

It was so wonderful to spend a special time together during our February book club meeting discussing Vincent Van Gogh! A truly a fascinating artist who was unaware of how wonderful his work really was. His contemporaries did not seem realize it either.  
I have to confess that it was immensely gratifying to witness each of you experience the exploration of your artistic talents!  We are all born artists who put our own personal touches to convey and interpret thoughts and perceptions through our artwork!  My greatest hope is that each of you make time to find pleasure in exploring your artistic talents.  Here are some thoughts on your artwork! ---Miggy

 Robin L.

I love how you patiently and delicately accentuated your flower's intense color!

Sandra

 I love that you reinvented and reimagined that beautiful flower by adding vivant colors and movement!

Robin A.

 I love how you represented the intense color and depth of this beautiful morning glory flower!  

Mary

I love how you added a delicate flair to this delightful flower! It brings images of a softly swirling dancer's skirt! 

Myrna

I love the jewel tone blue you chose to represent this beautiful flower, how you outlined each petal and how you chose to place it on the canvas! I motivates me to experiment with similar colors! 

Sandra

Loved your shading and how you chose to represent this elegant calla lily!

Maria

I love your delicate dainty flowers!  Loved your attention to detail as you highlighted each petal and used brush strokes to add texture to the leaves!    

Yvette

I loved how you used color to show depth and movement and draw the eye of the viewer to this vibrant flower!

Interesting Van Gogh Tidbits 

For what is he famous?
Vincent Van Gogh was famous for his paintings that inspired the styles of Symbolism, Fauvism and Expressionism, but he is also well known for the mental health issues he had over the 37 years he lived. He completed2,100 pieces of art, of which 860 were oil paintings and 1,300 were watercolors.

For how much did Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" sell? Vincent Van Gogh's painting "Sunglowers" set records by being auctioned for $39.9 million at famed Christie's auction ahouse in 1987. Adjusted for inflation, that price tag nearly doubles to approximately $74.5 million in 2014. He created five versions of sunflowers. Vincent van Gogh was plagued by depression and hallucinations. Much of his work is considered heavily biographical and his modd swings can be detected in the sunflower series. Some of the flowers are vivd and brightly colored, made possible by vibrant pigments that were not manufactured until the 19th century. Others were painted with arid browns and portrayed as wilting and withered.

How many paintings did Van Gogh sell during his lifetime? Vincent Van Gogh sold exactly ONE painting during his lifetime. It was an oil landscape entitled "The Red Vineyard at Arles", and it was purchased in 1890 by Van Gogh's friend and fellow painter, Anna Boch. Sold for 400 francs in Paris, it now resides in Moscow's Pushkin Museum of Art.
 

What is van Gogh's most famous painting? There are many of Vincent van Gogh's paintings that are famous. "The Starry Night," "Irises" and "Sunflowers" are a few of his most popular works. Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" was described by art critic Robert Hughes as "the most popular still life in the history of art." Van Gogh's "Irises"sold for a record $53.9 million. And the most popular painting at New York City's Museum of Modern Art is van Gogh's "The Starry Night."

God the Artist
  ---by Angela Morgan

God, when you thought of a pine tree,

How did you think of a star?

How did you dream of the Milky Way

To guide us from afar.


How did you think of a clean brown pool

Where flecks of shadows are?


God, when you thought of a cobweb,

How did you think of dew?

How did you know a spider's house

Had shingles bright and new?

 How did you know the human folk

Would love them like they do?



God, when you patterned a bird song,

Flung on a silver string,

How did you know the ecstasy

That crystal call would bring?

How did you think of a bubbling throat

And a darling speckled wing?



God, when you chiseled a raindrop,

How did you think of a stem,

Bearing a lovely satin leaf

To hold the tiny gem?

How did you know a million drops

Would deck the morning's hem?



Why did you mate the moonlit night

With the honeysuckle vines?

How did you know Madeira bloom

Distilled ecstatic wines?

How did you weave the velvet disk

Where tangled perfumes are?

God, when you thought of a pine tree,

How did you think of a star?

Home Front by Kristin Hannah

           

There are some things you learn best in calm, some in storm. 
— Willa Cather
 
Twelve lovely bookworms met at Ella's Italian Restaurant in New City to discuss Kristin Hannah's book, Home Front. The story is about two National Guard reservists helicopter pilots, who are deployed to Iraq. Both Jolene, and her best friend Tami, are married and have children. As the story unfolds, we see how hard it is both for the soldiers who are deployed, and for their loved ones who are left behind.

For me, this book was a true eye opener. Growing up during the Vietnam War years, I witnessed so many demonstrations against soldiers. Kristin Hannah made me see that the soldier is doing a tremendous service to our country, so that we can continue to live free, and in peace. Now I see that it is okay to take issue with a war, but not with our soldiers.

There were many issues in this book, including loyalty, love, friendship, honor, marriage, motherhood, desertion, bravery, and finally - hope. I grew to really care about so many of the characters in Kristin Hannah's book - Jolene- brave but damaged and infuriating at times, Lulu - adorable and making me laugh just when I finished a good cry, Tami - a loyal friend, Michael - Jolene's lawyer husband who needed a kick in his *ss when he told her "he didn't love her anymore" - but he redeemed himself, and Michael's Mom, Mila, -- my favorite Greek Grandmother -- who was a loving, supportive, voice of reason, and great cook!

I will never look at a soldier again in the same way. I will never shop again on Veteran's Day or Memorial Day. My hope is that you will join me in always honoring, and trying to help our soldiers and our veterans. Let's try and go together to a local deployment in the summer, as the author, Kristin Hannah, suggests we do.

Last night we raised $50 for K9s for Warriors charity, the charity that saves dogs from shelters, while helping vets who have returned with PTSD or other problems. The book has changed me in countless ways, making me sensitive and in awe of our armed forces. You ladies are awesome, and I am so grateful I got to share it with all of you.

XXOO
Robin L.

RECIPES FROM THE BOOK -- Bon Appetit!

FINIKIA (yields about 5 dozen cookies)

This cookie is made of almonds, coated in a honey syrup and sprinkled with crushed almonds. They're particularly delicious if combined with a mug of steaming tea, a big comfy chair, and a good book.

Cookies

1/2 C butter, softened

1/2 C superfine sugar

grated zest of one orange

1/2 c corn oil

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups semolina

4 TSP baking powder (TSP=teaspoon)

1 TSP ground cinnamon

1 TSP ground cloves

1/2 c orange juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, superfine sugar, and orange zest. Gradually mix in the oil and beat until light and fluffy.

Combine the flour, semolina, baking powder, cinnamon, and cloves; beat into the fluffy mixture alternately with the O. J. As the mixture thickens, turn out onto a floured board and knead into a firm dough.

Pinch off tablespoonfuls of dough and form them into balls or ovals. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto the prepared sheets. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden Cool on baking sheets until room temperature.

Syrup

1 C water

1 C white sugar

1/2 C honey

1 cinnamon stick

2 TSP lemon juice

1/2 C finely chopped walnuts

In a medium saucepan over medium heat combine the water, white sugar, honey, cinnamon stick and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, and boil for 10 minutes. 

Remove the cinnamon stick. While the mixture is boiling hot, dip the cookies in one at a time, making sure to cover them completely. Place them on a wire rack to dry and sprinkle with walnuts. Place paper under the rack to catch the drips. Keep finished cookies in a sealed container at room temperature.

Spanakorizio
This Greek spinach and rice pilaf is bright and full of promise, yet hearty enough for cool evenings. It's often likened to a Greek risotto, creamy and starchy but without the constant stirring required by its Italian counterpart. It's sentimental Greek comfort food, and healthy to boot!

1/2 C olive oil
1/2 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c freshly chopped dill weed
1 c cooked rice
10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 lemon, juiced
2 Tbsps tomato paste

Heat 1/4 c olive oil in the bottom of a large pot.  Add onion and garlic, and saute for about 5 minutes. Add dill weed and cooked rice. Add package chopped spinach. Be sure to thaw it first. Add the lemon juice and salt to taste. Slowly add 1/4 C olive oil and stir. Add tomato paste and stir. Keep stirring until it looks and tastes delicious!