Thursday, May 16, 2013

Chez Book Club

Part of me wants to tell you about the book we read for book club. Another part says, "Naperville Now, only you want to read about that. Get on with the good bits."

Good doesn't begin to describe it.
Remember those luncheons at church? Little sandwiches on glass plates with a punch cup to balance? Of course, our cups held watermelon gin punch, something Presbyterians might frown upon (in a church setting).
Alternatively, there was this:
Also, tarragon chicken salad, deviled eggs, crudités, lemon bars -- pretty much what one might find on a bridge party buffet circa mid-century, which is when our book was written.
We read Carson McCullers' The Member of the Wedding. I know not how I managed to graduate from high school without reading this stunning story.

Frankie, almost 13, says,
 "But what is it all about? People loose and at the same time caught. Caught and loose. All these people and you don't know what joins them up. There's bound to be some sort of reason and connection. Yet somehow I can't seem to name it. I don't know." 
McCullers describes Frankie's world brilliantly. Hot, sticky, lonesome, forlorn, waiting for something to happen. Which it does, sweetly, terrifyingly.

Which leads me to ask which books have you not read that you should have read? Do you have a literary bucket list? I ask because on a field trip to see The Great Gatsby, there were actually some in our group who had not read the book.

Apparently our British cousins are keeping a list of overlooked classics of American lit. The Member of the Wedding is on it, along with a lifetime of reading. Here's the link

Get busy.

With thanks to Carol, our host, for a wonderful evening. That homemade chocolate gelato changed my life.

Each week, Naperville Now participates in Mrs. Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday. Read what others have to say about the letter Z here.



28 comments:

Carol said...

::blush::

We all came together last night and each one of us brought something special to the group...I am so lucky to be a part of it.

My name is Riet said...

Nice, nice

Stacia said...

You had me at lemon bars. Fun!

Leovi said...

Yes, that table what I like is the bottle of champagne!

carol l mckenna said...

Very elegant photos and a fun time I bet ~ thanks ^_^

Thanks for visiting ^_^

debra @ homespun said...

I hate to say it but you lost me as soon as I started to have a HORRIBLE craving for deviled eggs, lol....

It seized control of my mind...i hope that it leaves soon since of course, I have none here at the moment

Pondside said...

I may have to send this post to the members of my book club with a note telling them to 'get with it'!
Books I haven't read? Lots, and I have read The Great Gatsby and everything by Hemmingway.I haven't read the one you've just read - thanks for the recommendation!

Anonymous said...

Mrs JP


Believe it or not I am currently over half way through Dante's Divine Comedy. Something of a bucket list thing but also something that was prompted by one of Sharon's books (The Dante Club). By the way, it is fabulous.

Mr B

Annesphamily said...

Oh I love reading and am always interested in hearing about another good read! The food you described made me hungry here! LOL!
Oh My Goodness! Who has not read the Great Gatsy? Lovely photos.

Judie said...

What a wonderful book that was! I have read it more than once, and I have seen the play as well as the movie. All were very worthwhile.

Splendid Little Stars said...

oooo...what a fun book club meeting! The hostess serves dessert only (and occasionally wine) at our meetings. Once a year, in December, we have a potluck.
I haven't read that book. It's now on my list.
Our book club actually read The Great Gatsby sometime back.
I'm going to check out your link.

EG CameraGirl said...

There are many, many books I still need to read. (And I do read quite a bit.) STILL on my bucket list...oh this is so embarrassing to admit...is To Kill a Mockingbird.

Lmkazmierczak said...

I just got around to reading Gatsby....basically so I could compare it to the movie, yet to be seen. It is a work of art that I am glad to have read for the smooth phrasings, not so much the plot. Your book club sounds fantastic! Thanks for visiting my blog♥

SarahBeth said...

That's a pretty good list -- I bookmarked it to refer back.
I can't imagine not having read The Great Gatsby, or how about The Catcher in the Rye or all of Steinbeck's novels? So many get their "reading" from the movies!
Bucket list? Oh my! I'd like to read more of Hermann Hesse.

VBR said...

Great idea for a book club - good books and yummy lovely food!! Oh my!

I will have to make a list of books that I want to read. One that I want to re-read is East of Eden.

Eden House News and views said...

I need to join a book club to stop me wasting time and actually read. Thank you

Betshy said...

Can I join your book club? Mine is socially awkward :)

Pam Beers. said...

The food looked so good, I forgot what book you were talking about. Goes to show where my priorities are. Lovely pictures.

Laurie said...

I love lists like this -- thank you! (And, I consider myself well read but I only ready GG last year myself! I blame the 1970s education system.)

Kathy and Freddy said...

BEST BOOK CLUB EVER!!!

laurie said...

OK, (a): my book club used to meet in a bar, where we had beer and BLTs. this looks so much better.

(b) my garden is overrun with blooming violets which are weeds, really-most of the summer they're just enormous ugly leaves. but right now they are beautiful. i should try putting them in water, like in your picture. so pretty.

(c) i read that book in college, back when i read purely for plot and not emotion. clearly, i need to re-read it.

(d) Moby-Dick.

Jenny said...

Oh wow.

What fun!

What lovely refreshments and fellowship!

I want to join your book club!

And I promise I will read all the books!

I always enjoy visiting your zesty posts!

Thank you for linking.

A+

Anonymous said...

Sue, when will you come back to us? I miss your sane voice in the wilderness. I can hardly stand it when a day goes by without a post from you --- and by now I'm parched. Say it'll be soon! Th paraphrase The Beatles: Miss you miss you miss you!

Anna Burke said...

Are you on summer hiatus? I want more Naperville Now!! More updated post please.

Kristin said...

I hope all is well with you - I hadn't heard your voice for awhile, and thought I'd check in.

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

Okay, first of all? That is one fancy, well-done book club meeting, I'm so impressed! Second, my friends and I are trying to read all "classic literature" and that book is on the list and I have not read it! (http://bestoffates.com/reading-all-the-classics-of-literature-one-racist-book-after-the-next/)but now you've made me want to put it next on my list!

Pondside said...

Oh yes - I want to read this now. Since my book club folded I look for suggestions from bloggers' book clubs or book lists. Why am I not following you? I thought I was, so will now remedy that oversight.
I will email you a link to the NY Times book review you asked about.

http://www.uk-essay-reviews.com/ said...

Thanks for the link! I'd like to read it. I'm afraid though that it won't be until next year, as I've so many preparations before Christmas! It can be so annoying when you can't read what you want when you want.
Merry Christmas!
Kelly Mamoth