The Verdict!

(posted for Kelly)

Hello All,

 

So here's the verdict. The book will be Option #3: The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

 

The date will be Sunday, July 11th at 5pm.

 

Our address and contact info is at right, but I'll also send a reminder a little closer to the date. If you have allergies (or strong food aversions), please let us know.

 

See you all then!
Kelly and Paul

Next Dine and Discuss

Hello!

We are hosting the next Dine and Discuss. Paul and I live at 4326 N Wolcott Ave, Apt #2 (second floor), just south of the Montrose and Wolcott intersection. We need your help picking a date and book. Please submit your preferred options on this blog. If we have a tie, Paul and I will break it.

Date options are:
Saturday, June 26th at 12pm (brunch)
Saturday, June 26th at 6 or 7pm
Sunday, June 27th at 5pm
Sunday, July 11th at 5pm
Or, we can go further into the summer......

Book options are:
Option #1: The Immortal Life of Henreitta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Nonfiction. It's the story of the woman from whom the infamous "HeLa" cells were taken without her knowledge. Henreitta was a poor Southern tobacco farmer. Most of her descendants live in poverty, without health insurance, and have just begun to understand what their mother's cells have done for modern medicine (and still do by making millions for those who sell them and the careers of the scientists who work with them). It's still in hardcover, but can be purchased for $10-16 (used vs new) on Amazon. Read a brief summary and find a link to the first 5000 words here:
http://rebeccaskloot.com/the-immortal-life/

Option #2: Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Nonfiction. This is the true story of Mortenson's work building schools in remote villages in Pakistan. Mortenson moves from a failed climb of Pakistan's K2 to someone who promises a school to one small village to a major player in promoting peace through education in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A unique view into the politics of Afganistan and Pakistan. Available in hardcover or paperback, approximately $10 from Amazon. See more here: http://www.threecupsoftea.com/about-the-book/

Option #3: The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Fiction. Set in 1960s Mississippi, this is the story of 3 very different and extraordinary women. Skeeter is a 22-year-old returning home from college graduation. Aibileen is a black maid, wise and regal raising her 17th white child. Minny is Aibileen's best friend - short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. Together their determination will start a movement that forever changes a town and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another. Approximately $14 from Amazon. See more at: http://www.kathrynstockett.com/index.htm

Looking forward to hearing your choices!

Kelly & Paul

Evening Four

(posted for Rebecca)

Hello people!


We are overdue!! I propose that we have a movie viewing at our place and discuss afterwards over some food? What do you say?


Movie: Todo de mi Madre (All About my Mother) - directed by Pedro Almodovar
When: Sunday, May 16 at 4 PM
Where: 1346 W. Greenleaf Ave., 3W (Ford-Paz is the name on the bell)

Belated Discussion Summary!

Rebecca graciously hosted Evening Three and fed us yummy lemon chicken and potatoes and peas, and rum.  We had a lively discussion of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and we had several different takes on it.  Because I am posting so late, I'm not remembering our specific discussion points – so maybe one of you does and can post it for us?  :)

Our next discussion is still undecided… please let us know if there’s a book you’re reading that you want to chat about or if you’ve seen a movie you’re itching to discuss.

We’d like to get something on the calendar soon – so comment on the blog or email everyone some thoughts!

Gretchen

Evening Three

Hello Friends,

Our Next Evening will take place on Sunday, February 28th, at 5:00 PM.

Rebecca has graciously volunteered to host.  She has also chosen our topic: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson.

You can read the first chapter on Larsson's site: http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/authors/larsson/
(Click on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at the top, then click on "read the first chapter" at the bottom).

Please email me to RSVP for this Evening.

Can't wait to discuss with you!

Gretchen

Lasagna and the Real Girl

For our second get-together, we had homemade lasagna (2 types!  Fancy!) and talked about “Lars and the Real Girl”.  Most of us really liked the movie.  We had two psychologists with us, Rebecca and Kelly, so it was interesting to hear their takes on the medical side of Lars’ delusions.  I thought the movie was really charming in the way it showed the town adapting.  Rolando brought up that it wasn’t believable how easily everyone in town accepted Bianca, which led to a discussion about the intent of the movie – how “realistic” was it supposed to be?  Gretchen pointed out that the “sanest” character, Lars’ brother Gus, is portrayed as the jerk of the film.  Rachel told us about a documentary-type clip she’d seen on YouTube about a similar situation.  We talked about some specifics of the plot that weren’t shown, and what might happen going forward.

Speaking of going forward: We talked briefly about making our next meeting on a weekday evening, which might work better for some people who haven’t been able to attend yet.  Thoughts?  Also, people have told Gretchen a book would be nice for the upcoming discussion, since it’s currently “Curl up in your house and read” weather.  Suggestions?