JOSHUA - A Brooklyn Tale

Happy 2016!

First, I would like to thank my mother and the ladies of Delray Beach, Florida for recommending Joshua, A Brooklyn Tale. As I read the book over the summer I thought it would be a wonderful consideration for the "Bookworms"!

I also have to thank Robin L. for reminding me about The New City Kosher Deli. There is nothing like a delicious bowl of chicken matzoh ball soup and overstuffed pastrami/corn beef sandwiches to cure all that ails you!!

This story traces the lives of the three main characters Rachel, Paul, and Joshua in Crown Heights, Brooklyn during turbulent times. As their lives become more intertwined we read about deep love, hopeless love, romantic love and about desperation and acceptance. Parental expectations weigh heavily on the decisions of each character.

I am so glad everyone seemed to enjoy this book!

See you on February 8th.

Happy Reading!
Jill

The Girl on The Train

This month for our book we read The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. The book intrigued us with a murder mystery, with several twists and many characters with secrets. The story takes place in a quiet suburban town where the main character Rachel (the alcoholic) witnesses a murder. Rachel doesn't seem to remember all the details of what she has witnessed. This sets off a whole sequence of events.

We had fun discussing themes such as alcoholism, adultery, hypnotism, friendship & murder. We enjoyed our usual restaurant, Blu Fig. Everyone was able to order their favorite meal, with a little wine and chocolate too! As always we caught up with each other's lives. This is always the wonderful part of our book club, to keep in touch.

Happy Holidays To All,

Yvette

Little Princes at Veggie Heaven!

Namaste is both a physical gesture, and a spoken spiritual salutation. 

It is a recognition of the divine spirit or soul in another by the divine spirit in you.

NAMASTE dear friends. Twelve of us got together to discuss Little Princes by Conor Grennan. And so many actually READ THE BOOK -- BRAVO!!! It's so much easier to discuss when everyone has read it, so thank you ladies.

There were so many things to talk about. After revealing how "the book found me", and what the various definitions of "Namaste" are, we heard the "singing tibetan bowls". We remembered Verghese's Cutting For Stone, and his statement "Geography is Destiny". And so it is... we are so blessed to be American women living in this country.

Most of us did not think we would ever really make it to Nepal -- third world, bathroom, shower issues! But we all agreed the book was inspiring us to do more for those less fortunate who are around us. However hokey it sounds, when you give of yourself, you get more in return. Robin A. has donated her time in a soup kitchen in her town, Suffern. It was eye opening for her to see the tremendous need in her own "wealthy suburban" community. Maria P. mentioned she's always wanted to donate her time in a nursing home. Miggy's church has actively built homes for the desperately needy in Dominican Republic.

We spoke of Nepalese culture and the country, and exotic places we've traveled to. Millie had a scary experience in Costa Rica. There are many incidences and examples of "spoiled American children". To compensate for the overabundance of toys, some kids give away a gift each time they get a new one. Some children are so jaded from the accumulation of stuff, and more stuff-- has the idea of gift giving lost its true meaning? I am so rewarded by my own K-ESL students, and their visits to Northern Riverview Assisted Living, where the children sing, and play Bingo with the Seniors.

Ladies, may we all continue to support and inspire each other. The lesson of the book for me, is that it's never too little, or too late. Follow your hearts! We can all give of ourselves, close to home, or far away- you are all amazing women -- just make up your mind, AND DO IT!

 बे bलेषेd  ("Be Blessed" in Sanskrit)

-- we raised $150 for Next Generation Nepal!

Namaste--

(I honor the place in you - 

which is of love, of truth, of light, and of peace.)

XXOO-
Robin

The Viagra Diaries

     This novel proves there’s plenty of life and hot sex after sixty.  Anny Applebaum is a sixty-five year old journalist who not only recognizes her wants, needs and desires....but she goes for them!  She posted her profile on JDate.com after being divorced for so many years.  Most of us thought that would be hard to do, for fear of the crazies we could possibly meet! Anny thought meeting her charming diamond dealer, Marc Rothstein, was a great find.  She quickly learned what a lying, sneaky Viagra using man he really was. Since she still believed in love and monogamy, her heart forgave Marv, AKA- Mr. X, for being so disrespectful.  Her yearning to be in an honest relationship with him, made her appear unrealistic and needy.  By the end of the novel, Anny figures out her feelings and gains the strength to move on without Mr.X.  

     So many of us could relate to Anny.  We are all strong, beautiful women who want to be respected for who we are, as Anny did.  We discussed how in our society women are not noticed if they aren’t young, thin, and beautiful.  We should love ourselves as we are, but as we shared -- some of us wouldn’t mind a little nip tuck in certain places.  Why not?  If it makes you feel good, go for it!!

All the Best,
Millie

LUCKY 7!! Beginning our seventh year...

The Bookworms at Beny's Trattoria

My Dear Book Buddies,

It is our club's seventh year! Can you believe it?

What a privilege it is to get together with such an amazing group of women every month! It was so nice seeing many of you there, but missed those who couldn't attend this time. The best thing is that there is always next month....

At this first meeting we met at Beny's Trattoria in Garnerville.  We discussed The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. The setting is World War II, Nazi occupied France. The story follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, and how they each respond in times of great challenge. Their parallel stories are different but are just as suspenseful, complicated, and emotional. Although The Nightingale is considered fiction, it is based on a heart wrenching truth.  There's everything you can expect from such a story -- fear, prison camps, beatings, near starvation, sacrifice... but there is also hope, resilience, and survival. We talked about the things that people endure in order to survive in these situations and the unthinkable things they'll do to protect the ones they love.

As usual, our discussion was passionate and heartfelt. Being the teachers that we are, we made ample connections to self, other texts, and the world (this sounds like one of the report card indicators, ha!)  This book reminded us of how we need to be grateful for the freedoms and luxury that so many of us take for granted. It was also a confimration that despite all odds, the human spirit prevails.

Thank you my dear friends for the love, passion, and wisdom that you bring to each of the meetings. Looking forward to being a dedicated member of The Neary Book Club for many more years!

Love you all!
Maria P.

A nightingale bird

POETRY NIGHT

                                       Two roads diverged...

                                      The bookworms + waitress!

At first I was a bit skeptical about poetry. I like poems but wasn't sure how to select one to four, to share with our group. The task became much easier than I expected! Looking at our awesome poem book (thank you Maria) these poems really relate to all of us! Thanks for all being "phenomenal" women in my life!
-- Jill

How could I be moved to tears — and moments later try not to pee in my pants from laughing so hard? The beauty and power of poetry.  Thank you all for sharing so much of yourselves for this great evening. BIG KISSES for Maria Pages — for thinking of the idea of the book — and for making it happen for all of us.
                           XXOO & Love
                                 -- Robin

Absolutely one of my favorite meetings. I loved that everyone was able to share what was personal to them and how the search for the poem evolved and why it was chosen. I got to know a little bit more about all of you. Thanks, Maria, for an amazing job (even with minor glitches) on the first ever Book Club Poetry Book. It was very creative and thoughtfully put together.
See you all in September,
-- Maria R.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to everyone's favorite poems. They were each so inspirational. I wish Myrna & Lourdes all the best. Have a wonderful summer to all.  Till we meet again --
Fall 2015, for year 7!!
—Yvette

Poetry can really stir conversations! It touches everyone in a variety of ways! Thank you for my present!
—Myrna

I tried to engrave in my memory the image and sounds of each of you as you read your poems. I'll cherish these moments. And when my memory fails me, I'll have your poems and pictures.  Thank you all for inspiring me and including me in Neary's wonderful Book Club.
                         Love,
                         Lourdes

Saving the World by Julia Alvarez

I was intrigued by this title, Saving the World!! I was thinking, who was saving the world and why did the world need saving??? As I started reading the first few chapters, the story line appeared to be similar to A Year by the Sea, but then the historical piece Alma was writing began to pull me in as a reader! I wanted to know how the story would evolve. I was proud to know that my "mother country", Spain, had been instrumental in vaccinating people from the Caribbean Islands. Could one of those people be an ancestor? I was also surprised by how politicized medicine was even then! Some things don't change.  The story had many themes: trust, generational friendships, different ways to fight causes, rights of children, using children or poor individuals as "guinea pigs" etc, etc. What would you do if you were asked to volunteer your child for a questionable medical treatment?

---Myrna