Reflection

The end of the year always brings about reflection for me.

As I think about the books we read this year I remember a story where love was as much a character as the people in the story, I remember a book about the violence that is somehow a part of Africa, a book about women’s friendships, I remember a book about the end of an era in rural Arkansas, a love story, a heartbreak, a historical adventure, a search for what is best for our daughters, a fanciful tale of what witches are really like, and a book about the food that brings people together. All these lovely stories are the stories that helped me track the year go by. They will now forever be associated with 2011 and all the rest of what happened this year.

I love books, they are such an escape and an experience each time. I love sharing my love of books with wonderful inspiring women. So here’s to 2011, may the good reads keep rolling in.

See ya September on to October

I had a great time this past week at book club, so thanks to Jeanne for her home and hospitality, Robin for her lasagna, Denise for her cupcakes, Vara for her salad, Lisa for still loving us, and everybody else not mentioned for always creating a fabulous time.

As we discussed be thinking of a book to put in the hat for December's optional book and bring cash to pay up for any of the books you missed this past year if you still need to get on Lisa's good list.

Movie Night

We are all meeting this evening to see last year's best book of the year turned into a feature film! The Help is playing at 6:30pm at Cinemark on Powers and many of us will be there to check it out. Join us!

Next Month's Meeting

September's book will be Lucia, Lucia: A Novel by Adriana Trigiani. I will be doing an Italian theme in honor of the book and my heritage. I hope I can come up with some good recipes for us to enjoy!

Long time no post

Ok, well it’s been awhile since I have had time to put up new posts. In that time we have actually had two more meetings and should all now be on The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels and Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond.
I have been so out of it myself I was thinking it was August and we were already on to Cinderella Ate My Daughter so now I need to read July’s book really quick. We are meeting next Tuesday the 19th at Lisa’s house. Keep an eye out for an upcoming email with the address and directions.

MEETING TONIGHT

BEE there or BEE square!

Tonight’s meeting is a Janette’s house at 6:30. We will be reviewing The Wednesday Sisters. Group B is up for food: that means you

Sue H

Jeanne W

Lisa E

Janet M

Susan O

Laurie E

Patty B Oh and me too of course.

See you soon!

Next month's Book Club Meeting

For the month of March we will be reading Little Bee by Chris Cleaves. The meeting will be on the regular Tuesday at the regular time at Old Chicago on Academy and Austin Bluffs. Don't forget about our donations for Ronald McDonald house. Read more about the Ronald McDonald House charities at their website.

RMHC of Denver

1300 E. 21st Avenue

Denver, Colorado 80205

Custom Design Picture Frame

To get your custom design Bee-otch book club wood picture frames for $25 contact
Amy Vanlandingham
719-651-1111
www.absoluteengravings.com

Shout Out to Vara!

Vara's house was a blast and the food was really good!!! I really enjoyed discussing this book but was a little bummed so many had trouble getting the book or were unable to finish it especially since I gave away a big secret about the end. The gift for best review was absolutely adorable. So a big shout out to Vara for being the hostess with the mostess this month! Thanks Vara!

She has even shared with us her easy recipie for Crock Pot French Dips

3 pound chuck roast
1 can (10 oz) beef broth or 1 tsp bullion in 1 cup of water
1 pkg onion-mushroom soup mix

French rolls

Cut meat to fit crockery. Combine the dry soup and broth
Pour over meat

Cook on high 6 - 8 hours

Remove meat with a slotted spoon to remove bones and any large fat. Replace meat in crockery and use a potato masher to separate meat. There should be more liquid than meat. If not, add more water or broth.

To make sandwhiches cut french rolls in half lengthwise and dip both sides in juices. Squirt mustard on one side, if desired, put meat on other side and close. It's messy but delicious.

Leftovers make a great soup stock.

Get a Amazon Gift Card for $5 today

Today Livingsocial.com has a deal where you can get a $20 Amazon.com gift card for $10. If you use the link below you can also get $5 off your first purchase making today's deal only $5 for a $20 gift card. I buy 90% of my book club reads at Amazon, so I thought this was a great deal! Now only if I knew what March's book was I could pick both February's and March's book up at the same time. :-)
https://livingsocial.com/redeem_invite/6850282-nora-w?ref=lnk

Bee's Recommendations

So after last year’s holiday party I realized there are quite a few of us that have not been with the Bee’s long enough to have read some of the best books we’ve had. So I went over the Amazon list of books to find the best books of the 5 years we have been reading together.

Best of 2006 – The Time Traveler’s Wife
Best of 2007 – My Sister’s Keeper
Best of 2008 – 1000 Splendid Suns
Best of 2009 – Veil of Roses
Best of 2010 – Tie between: The Help, and Moloka’i

If you always wanted to go back and read some of the books we read before you got here, or it you never got the chance to read just one or two of these they were all very good. In fact one of my favorite books of all time, defiantly in my top 3, would have to be 1000 Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It also won Amazon’s best fiction book of 2008 as well. Make sure to pick that one up if you haven’t read it.

If you have any favorites that were not listed as a Best Of, post your comments and let us know what you really loved!!!

Our next book club meeting is a Sue’s house on January 18th. Check your email for her address.
We will be reviewing the manuscript Informed Consent: A Memoir of Hope by Amanda Rose Adams.
Amanda will be attending January book club and will listen to our reviews. She is not afraid of criticism and is looking forward to our input so Sue has promised we will be honest. Take notes as you are reading and bring them with you.