Celebook Club

Hello Gals!
It's been a while since I posted. Truth be told I haven't had many post-worthy thoughts these days. Any one else feeling the last signs of winter draggin them down? Only one more day to wait until we see sunshine and 20 degrees on the plus side, should do wonders for my mood!

We have some celebs in our midst. Check out our very own Celebutants walking the Red Carpet at BLVD. Love.

So...Mommies Who Drink. I turned the last page this week and discovered my insightful questions I posted for you are all at the back of the book...hahaha I had to admit to myself that perhaps you all are right and that is where discussion questions belong. At the END of the book. I guess I just like a good spoiler, movies, books and reality shows alike. I have to know how they end. Back to the book ~ have to say I enjoyed it thouroughly and laughed more often than not. I thought it was just the right mix of funny and heart felt. Will save all other comment for meeting...but do let me know where you are at.

My extracurricular reading between books is Kabul Beauty School, courtesy of Malia. Click here to check it out. What else have you been reading? I've been reading W Magazine Online - check it out here. Great content for a online magazine. Found through http://www.laineygossip.com/ who I've also been enjoying on a daily basis. Again. Bored. At. Work. I think it's the work boredom that has numbed my mind to even conversation generating topics.

Any thoughts on next meeting? Any takers? Candace had a great suggestion to sit at the bar, order Black and Tans and shots, and call the bartender Mack. I'm all over that.

Check the side bar for info on our May selection ~ my pick. I went to pick it up at Chapters and they informed me that there were no copies in Calgary stores. Another option for a en masse order? Thoughts? I'm more than happy to order it up, shipping is free on these big orders.

Also, our renovations are o-v-e-r. Hallelujah.

'Till we meet again!

ps. For those of you who have heard me whining lately about the great decision of life - wether or not to cut my hair short...this picture from W magazine has made up my mind. So hot. I'm dialing up Heather for some highlights a la Cameron - stat!

Proactive Reading

Me again!

So our new book is an interesting pick for our little book club. A book titled Mommies Who Drink and we are 1 for 8 on the Mommy Front so far. I've perused the book and have to say I give it two thumbs up because it's something you can appreciate and ponder no matter what your "Mommy Status", and surely always a hot topic for our 30-something generation of educated, career-minded, and independent women.

I thought I'd start posting some questions for thought here to consider while we are reading, and not just after. Some are my own, and some are straight off the authour's website on the side bar if you wanted to look yourself....though I've edited them here so they are free of spoilers and just less wordy.

1. When Brett does find a group of moms with whom she identifies, they are the moms at Happy Hour. Do you think that these three, along with Brett, accurately represent the many different faces of motherhood? How diverse are the backgrounds of the moms you know? Do these three seem “ordinary” to you?

2. During one conversation at the bar, Brett says, “I find myself on that peculiar planet women meet on, where being together in that moment is enough.” What does she mean by that? Do the conversations at the bar seem realistic to you? What do you think about the fact that they rarely talk about their children? Are there subjects you wish they talked about more? What similarities does our Finer Things Book Club have with Brett's Friday Mommies Who Drink Club?

3. What do you think of Brett’s relationship with her husband Pat? Do you find him a sympathetic character? What do you think of the fact that Brett seems to need the company of other women even though she seems quite close to her husband?

4. One of the more provocative aspects of the book is Brett’s admission that she did a number of recreational drugs in her youth. Do you think that her past is similar to that of other women her age? Why do you think Brett found it necessary to dwell on her past as a particularly carefree one? How much is your past (or current life) like Brett's - oh yes...we have to discuss this one!!!!

5. A Question for Jasmine - Near the end of the book Katherine mentions the old parenting joke, “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who have children and those who don’t. And those who don’t, don’t know that there are two kinds of people in the world.” What is the meaning of the joke? Do you think it’s true?

6. Brett discusses her shortcomings quite freely in the book. Do you think this makes her more or less sympathetic? Do you think that women should share their fears and insecurities so freely with each other?

7. Do you find her ability to find laughter in the midst of pain attractive or alienating? Do you think that finding the humor in tragedy shows us a person who has dealt with that pain, or one who is denying it?

8. Notice that most of the book takes place in Brett’s head. Very little actually happens. Do you like the feeling of being “inside” her thoughts? Do you think that the fact that so much happens in Brett’s imagination gives her the ability to say things she could never say in real life? What are some examples of this?

9. Brett is in her 40's as she is trying to conceive. How much growing up were you influenced to beleive that having children is something that you did in your 20's? How much do you think parenting style is differs from a 20 year old, 30 year old, or 40 year old? How do you think our children's generation will be affected by having older parents?

Happy Chocolate Egg Holiday!

Greetings!
Who else feels a "Spring" in their step? SPRING BEGINS TODAY! I can not tell you how this gives me a lift. My favourite of all seasons! The temperature is perfect, the days get longer, and the winter starts to get washed away. Love.

Unfortunatley, the movie version of our most beloved book club selection has now left theatres. Tear. I think I'll circulate an e-mail on the topic to generate some thoughts and opinions. Our next books were processed today at the postal facility in Richmond, BC. They should arrive at mi casa on or before the 26th. Should we try for another Thursday or Friday gathering next week? Thoughts? My DH is being less than accomodating on choosing a date I can host so I would like to propose another outing for book club this month, and I'll treat a round of drinks. That is, unless anyone else has the ability to host, in which case that is great too.

Enjoy your long weekend ladies. Eat Chocolate.

Quick Update...

Hi again!
Just wanted to say that our book order is IN for Mommies Who Drink and I think we are all going to love this one, and need it after the mind bending writing of Gabriel García Márquez! Thanks to Shannon for the challenge! If you are thinking "What is going on in this @$#%#% book?!?!" as I have heard or still think that upon finishing, it might be worth a glace through the Discussion questions on the Reading Group Guide website on the side bar. The more I think about what I read...the more it is coming together for me.
C

Book Review...

Hello Fab Ladies!

How has your reading been going? I'll save most comment for the meeting, but Candace, I so agree with your comments. It's a fine line between love and stalking! LOL. Love in the Time of Cholera I think I actually read twice because I read each paragraph over and over. After 100 pages I started to do better with this style of writing, and with only 100 pages to go I started to enjoy the book. Upon finishing I spent a day contemplating if I wanted to read it again to get more out of it, but then I passed a buy/sell book store on Phi Phi Island, and alas, my copy of Love in the Time of Cholera was left behind in Thailand. I traded for Sense and Sensibility, for I've always wanted to read Jane Austen's novels. Only now I've encountered the 1812 style of writing, and oh, how excited I am for our next book. I need some Chick Lit!!!

So fill me in...are you finished or stuck somewhere in the middle?

Turn on Your Volume...

We're live action with music now!

Meeting Notes...

Thanks Alana for a great book club meeting on Wednesday! It is so the highlight of a work week!
Now for the issue of our March Meeting. Keep an eye on the website on the side bar for our movie in the theatre. Fingers crossed it's still here at the Canyon Meadows Theatre late March!

Speaking of which...comment on what days work for you for the end of March. Should we try for Thursday March 27 or Friday March 28?

We can have our book Club discussion, drinks and eats before the movie at 9:10 at Canyon Meadows. If the movie is not still in the theater then we'll have our Book Club meeting and movie watching at my place.

Good luck with the book gals!

If you need a laugh I put an excerpt from Mommies Who Drink that had me laughing out loud on the side bar...

Here is the recipe for Blueberry Tea!


1 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 oz Grand Marnier® orange liqueur
Orange Pekoe® tea

Mix amaretto and grand marnier in a brandy snifter or glass. Add hot tea to taste. Garnish with an orange