Houston Book Club

Feb 23,2012 - Discuss "Spring Torrents" by Ivan Turgenev

2012-01-28T09:46:00.000-08:00

January's meeting at the lovely home of Barbara B featured catering by El Tiempo, and was enjoyed by all (especially Louis). She's getting ready to remodel, so we had to meet a bit early.

We discussed "Tent Life in Siberia" by George Kennan. We all liked the book, so the discussion was fairly brief. It's when there is controversy and disagreement that we have longer spirited discussions.

We briefly discussed the Facebook page, and I recommended we open it up to whoever wants to join. Right now, it's a closed group. I think the Facebook page might let people find reading groups, or get people connected with others who like the same kinds of reading they do.

The new book is pretty short, and looks like an easy read. The story is about a young Russian man of 22 who falls in love with a girl who lives in Frankfurt. He falls for her in an extreme way, and even moves to be near her.

The author, Ivan Turgenev, was born in Russia in 1818. Barbara chose this book.

January 2012 Meeting - at Barbara's (remodeling permitting)

2011-12-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

Tent Life in Siberia - Amazon.com's description. The selection for December/January is 'Tent Life in Siberia" by George Kennan with Larry McMurtry.

Our discussion of December 20, 2011 at the lady Jessica's house was a fun Christmas-season meeting, with all in attendance. We ate a superb Chicken Breast Parmesan, accompanied by steamed Asparagus, squash, and a divine bread fit for Brennan's.We discussed the book we'd just read -- "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. The consensus was that this is a great book, and a good selection for the book club.

The gift exchange was great too, with a genuine Orrefors crystal gift (Orrefors crystal is sold in Tiffany and Co. stores). I receive a free admission to see the King Tut exhibit. I've seen the Egyptian treasures in the British Museum, but there are many pieces on tour that haven't been in the British museum.

Only 700 pages left in "Jonathan and Mr Norrell" by Susanna Clarke, then to start the book club selection which is only about 400 pages.
Cheers until next Month! Louis ( -=Louis Hemmi=- )

Next December 21, 2011 we discuss One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

2011-12-03T15:42:00.000-08:00

Our second selection on the topic of Russia is Alexander Solzhenitsyn's One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.

Our meeting on November 30 at John's was congenial, and the book Snowdrops met generally with favor, but it's not any blockbuster, either.

We look forward to Drew coming back in the very near future, and have welcomed the Norwegian digeratus Sylvia back into our midst.

As an aside, I just finished Tom Rob Smith's book "Agent 6" and give it five out of five stars. At 600 pages, it actually was about right. I've come to appreciate longer books. I've found that my unwillingness to read books greater than 300 pages has not served me well. The longer books are often worth the trouble! SO, I'm removing book length as a criterion for my selections.

11/30/2011 is next meeting to discuss AD Miller's "Snowdrops"

2011-10-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

I selected this month's book on the new topic of "Russia." This was written by author AD Miller, and is about modern-day Russia. It was short listed (along with five other books) for the Man-Booker prize, and is about 300 pages.

The discussion of "Pillars of the Earth" with Sylvia Sundqvist back with us, went quite well. Though we all liked the book, we still had a lot to say about it, with a few disagreements, but that's what makes the conversation interesting :)

I look forward to next month, and hope I like this book.

10/27/2011 - Next Meeting is at Louis's house to discuss:

2011-09-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is the official selection of the bookclub. Linda chose this weighty tome, so we are assured of quality (she doesn't pick them by whether they are on sale). This is also a miniseries on the Starz cable company.

9/15 - meet at Linda's to discuss "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner

2011-08-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

We'll also discuss a new topic for the next round of selections. An idea we kicked around at the Thursday, August 15, 2011 was "books of Russia." We phrased it this way because some really good books about Russia have been written by non-Russians. I can think of Massey's "Nicholas and Alexandra," as well as Tom Rob Smith's books "Child 44," "the Secret Speech," and the new "Agent 6." Nabokov, Chekov, Solzhenitsyn, Tolstoy, Ayn Rand, etc all come to mind.

The next meeting is scheduled for 8/18/2011 at Buddy's (Barbara's) house

2011-07-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

We'll discuss this month's selection on the topic of Historical fiction "The Giant, O'Brien" by celebrated Booker-award winning author Hilary Mantel. See more about it on Description of the book and reviews on Amazon.com.

7/14/2011 meeting: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. John R to host.

2011-05-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

Jessica selected Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith. This parody is fan fiction. Once all copyrights have expired, people are free to use the characters and plots of dead authors.

Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen
Without having read the original or the parody, it's hard to say much more. Stay tuned.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies - Book Trailer

Regency England has never looked like this...Jane Austen's classic text (well...85% classic text) with some added zombie mayhem - including a plague of undea...

The May 19, 2011 meeting: Discuss "The Egyptian" by Mika Waltari

2011-04-10T07:25:00.000-07:00

This was selected by Louis. We'll meet at Jessica's where there may be a mystery guest (not sure). The Egyptian was published in the US in 1949 and is 512 pages long. Its author is Finland's best-known writer, and so this selection qualifies as belonging to the previous topic of "books by Scandinavian Authors" , as well as the current topic of "Historical Fiction".

"Waltari successfully combine[s] research, imagination, and the cunning of a good tale-teller in bringing the generation of Akhnaton to life.” —New York Herald Tribune

"A grand immersion into an epic tale." —Philadelphia Inquirer

Unfortunately, there is no Kindle edition :(

The March Meeting - scheduled for 4/7/2011

2011-02-25T21:23:00.000-08:00

It will be at Louis's house, and there we'll discuss the last book on the topic of "Scandinavian Writers." This book is "Italian Shoes" by Henning Mankell. Mankell continues to write literary fiction in addition to his popular crime series starring Swedish policeman Kurt Wallander.

In this book, an elderly ex-surgeon has all the time in the world to ponder his failing health, wasted training, lack of empathy, potency and company. After amputating the wrong arm of a woman with bone cancer, he has spent the last 12 years alone on an island in the Baltic. Still, he cannot escape illness.

Our next topic is "Historical Fiction." There's sure a lot to choose from, but so much out of print, and few in Kindle format.

Happy Birthday, Louis - 12 April

The February Meeting is now scheduled & rescheduled for Thu 24-Feb-2011

2011-02-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

The book was long, but not that long :) We will discuss "The Long Ships" by Frans Bengtsson. This is on the current topic "Scandinavian Authors." It is a work depicting Vikings in the tenth century and could be described as an epic tale of adventure! I wish I'd read this as a boy, as it fits right in with the Arabian Nights and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

December's meeting -- "Woman With Birthmark" Next meet 2/24/2011 at John's.

2010-12-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

We conducted our gift exchange which was terrific fun with some good deal of thought obviously involved. I just love my dragon, and admire Jessica's book and Barbara's Houdini wine bottle opener. Drew got socks, Linda a lighted page magnifier with LED light. John got a lovely bottle of Zinfandel from a favorite vintner of Linda's that is in Sonoma.

We talked about the book and ate a repast of Mexican Food, lovingly provided by our hostess, Barbara. She was assisted by Sam and Buddy (aka "Diablo").

Cheers! Have a Happy and Safe Christmas!

Inspector Van Veeteren Mystery: Woman with Birthmark - Dec 7 @Barbara's

2010-11-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

Dinner at Jessica's was a great Texas treat - grilled beef steaks, Caesar salad, red potatoes, and succulent steamed mushrooms with key lime pie with a graham cracker crust!

Discussion of the book "Out Stealing Horses" was tame, as we all pretty much liked it, so not a lot of controversy.

The next meeting will find us discussing Jessica's selection "Woman with Birthmark" by Hakan Nasser, another fine Norwegian writer.
Happy Thanksgiving to all !!!!!!!!!!!!

Nov 4,2010 at Jessica's - "Out Stealing Horses" by Per Petterson

2010-10-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

For our third selection of the six-month topic of "Scandinavian Authors" we are reading "Out Stealing Horses." This coming of age novel in the harsh Norwegian countryside was first published in 2003, and voted "One of the best ten books of the year" by the New York Times Book Review.
If you have read, or are reading this, or have any other comments, we'd love to see them. Just click on the "comments" button :) We now have 'reactions' buttons which right now are "funny," "interesting," or "cool."
Thanks for looking!!

Help -- Anybody know what's on the porch?

2010-10-02T07:11:00.000-07:00

I can't figure out something that is described in KO Dahl's novel "The Last Fix." The question is about the "Palace."

When goes to Frølich goes to Gunnarstranda's country cabin for barbecue,Gunnarstranda is sitting on the porch rolling cigarettes. To his right is something with a cap and arms, but it's never explained what it is.

This is in the chapter called "Palace" which is what Gunnarstranda calls the cabin.

Thanks for any help.

Scandinavian Writers: KO Dahl's "The Last Fix" - 10/7/2010 @ Drew's

2010-09-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Our next selection in the topic of "Scandinavian Authors" is KO Dahl's "The Last Fix." Dahl is one of Norway's better known crime novelists. It's been a long time since we had a whodunit.

Linda will be able to enjoy it on her Kindle; since I'd already bought the book before I got mine, I'm going to read the hardback. Happily, my Kindle 3 #-G arrived the evening we discussed "The Hunger" at my house.

In the future, we may all have digital books, but I bet it will be decades until all the books we like are available that way. Since I bought my Kindle, I've looked for a lot of books in Kindle format, and have had very little success. Even "Gone With the Wind" isn't available. It's posted on Amazon's website, but has a "pricing information unavailbale" so I couldn't buy it. Happily, a lot of technical software books are available, so I'll load up as my budget permits!

August's meeting is 9-Sep-2010 at Louis's House

2010-08-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

All except Drew. Maybe he'll be at the next meeting!

We'll be discussing the current "Scandinavian Writers" selection "Hunger" by Knut Hamsun.

I saw "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" but it's so long for a book club selection, so I'll be passing out something a bit shorter, but interesting.

Did I mention I just bought a Kindle? Now 1/3 of us have this marvelous piece of technology, with 3-g cellular networking no less!

July's Meeting - Thursday the 22nd 2010

2010-06-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

Several members are going to be taking some vacation, or out of town for other reasons in June and July. Our meeting will be Thursday July 22, 2010.

We are all reading "Clock Without Hands" by Carson McCullers. I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and am now reading "The Optimist's Daughter" by Eudora Welty. Fun fact: the email client "Eudora" was written by a programmer who liked Ms. Welty's writing and her name, so he named it after her. I don't know if she got any royalties. The poet / ex-professor Stella Nesanovich (www.Nesanovich.com) met her and has an autographed first edition of "The Optimist's Daughter."

We hope everyone is enjoying this hot weather. Our topic is now "Scandinavian Authors."
Louis Hemmi - www.Hemmi.us www.SacredCodes.com

New Technology - KNO may be a Kindle,Sony eBook Reader, Nook slayer

2010-06-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

A company called KNO has debuted a device that has two 14" touch screens and is in color. I don't know too much about it yet, but think it's got great potential if it is affordable and if the company can make a decent profit on it.

Click here for the link to KNO.com

I'd sure love to see this. Huffington has this new to share about it:

Link to Huffington Post's article

May 2010 Meeting

2010-05-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

We discussed A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. This farcical work wasn't as well thought of by the book club members as I had hoped. Three members disliked it so much that they couldn't suffer to read the whole book. I think you have to be in the mood for a book like this. I caught myself on many occasions laughing out loud; this behavior is so unlike me.

The story is set in New Orleans, where I spent Easter of 2010. Here's a photo of Louis the webmaster at the Café du Monde.

Buddy, Barbara, and Sam hosted the meeting with terrific Mexican food, consisting of fajitas of both beef and chicken, fresh fluffy tortillas, chile con queso, pico de gallo, rice, beans and a plenitude of wine. We ate and discussed the book, then went outside to see Barbara's new addition to her house.

Jessica then directed our attention skyward, as the exact moment that the space shuttle would be over Houston was at hand. We saw it!!

All in all, it was a lovely evening, and I look forward to next month when the meeting will be at Linda's.
Cheers!
Louis

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

2010-05-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

I finished the book club selection (my selection) of A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I am forbidden to discuss my views, according to our bylaws, so as not to prejudice our meeting's discussion.

I just finished Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith last Saturday. It started out intense,and grew more so in the next 400+ pages. This novel is set in Stalinist Russia, 1953. Communism gives killers an easy time of it, as there is always someone to blame their crimes on.

This is a powerful story, well told. I liked it so much that I've now ordered Tom Rob Smith's second book 'a Secred Speech." His characters invite either your sympathy or contempt, without being too stereotypical.

This one rates five jalapeños!

Next Meeting Date Established for May's Meeting

2010-04-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

The next meeting will be held at the home of Ms. Barbara's. on
Thursday 20 May, 2010.

Barbara has a gorgeous dog who (unfortunately for the next door neighbor) has a taste for Easter bunnies. Buddy is the blackest-furred dog I've ever seen. Really, a name like "Satan" would be so perfect for him. The other dog is nice too. The cats are indifferent to us, and I to them. Ms. Barbara always lays a good spread of victuals and accompanying libation.

See you there!

Pondering on a Sunday Afternoon

2010-02-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

I've not yet started the current selection by Southern writer Charlaine Harris, but am just about through with The Hunt for Confederate Gold. It gave me a lot of ideas I'd like to use some day. Southern writers tend to be more gothic (dark), connected to the role of religion in their lives and those of their communities, ancestor worship, tradition and understanding of the quirks, foibles and pecadillos of men and women of whatever station in life.

I find I'm increasingly more interested in buying a Kindle. Linda R. loves hers, and she's not easy to please. Now that they are under $300, the Kindle is becoming affordable. However, I think it's still too much to pay when you can get closer and closer to the price of a laptop for which there are far more uses. Once the Kindle price falls to $199 I think that's when I'll bite and make a needlepoint case for it (you laugh, but my grandmother made a lot of things out of needlepoint like eyeglass cases, Kleenex dispensers, belts, vest fronts, etc.).

Netbooks are very close now in price to the Kindle, and they do a lot more than the Kindle can. I like the ASUS EE netbooks, and would consider one if I didn't already have a desktop (Starship Lord Fu XI has 8 GB RAM, 2 TB disk space, Windows 7), a laptop (personal) and a laptop from work.

Louis Hemmi - HoustonBookClub.com
Send Louis Hemmi an e-Mail
Cheers!

After discussion of "Rain Gods" by James Lee Burke

2010-01-24T07:34:00.000-08:00

The new book club selection, the third in the topic "Southern Writers" is called "Dead Over Heels" and is an Aurora Teagarden mystery written by Charlaine Harris. That's all I can tell you, as I've not yet started :)

Our last meeting was at Jessica's and we discussed the book club selection "Rain Gods." Several members opined that it did have some similarity to "No Country for Old Men." I'd not thought about it, but had to agree.

Another point of discussion was whether the selected book really was "Southern" rather than "Western." I think it qualifies as both. True, it is distinctly different in tone than works typically thought to qualify as "Southern" but I think that the genre is evolving, and this is Southern writing in the teens.

I think it's safe to say that our consensus is that this was a good, fun read with some original twists on popular themes.

John R was not feeling well, and we hope he is better. We're not sure of where the next meeting will be, but we are able to coordinate well by email and perhaps a phone call or two.

Congratulations Jessica!!

2009-12-30T08:16:00.001-08:00

Jessica is one of our longest-tenure members, and is especially vivacious and brilliant. We are happy to announce that as of December 2009, her son is now slated to be going to Columbia University on a football scholarship!

Columbia is of course one of the IV league schools (it's not "ivy," it's the roman numeral for 4 because the big 4 schools are Columbia, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton).
We are excited and happy for her!
<-- Here's Duncan on the left, working to save the planet.

Goodbye Xmas, Happy New Year!

2009-12-26T07:18:00.001-08:00

Now that the effort of selecting, buying, wrapping, driving, and visiting is over, I am glad to be home so I can pursue my technical interests. I'm now focusing on finishing out the Mayan page on www.SacredCodes.com

I am reading the current book club selection, Rain Gods by James Lee Burke. We of course don't discuss our take on a book until the meeting (most of the time). Our next meeting is scheduled for 14 January 2010 at this writing. It's subject to change to accommodate the majority of members.

I look forward to making 2010 a bit brighter for all those I know, and continue to walk a path blessed with prosperity and good fellowship. I intend to keep Tweeting and posting to Facebook.

¡Enjoy reading!

Louis Hemmi -- Louis@HoustonBookClub.com

Good reading weather - finished 1, started another

2009-12-20T07:06:00.000-08:00

I finished Bangkok 8 by John Burdett, courtesy of Drew. I really like this book that features a Buddhist detective and a complex murder mystery. As you might expect from the title, the events all take place in Thailand.

I've just started Rain Gods by James Lee Burke, and it has an Asian connection in an unlikely setting.

I'm enjoying a clear and crisp Sunday and hope all the bc buddies are as well.

The week before Christmas, 2009

2009-12-18T18:15:00.000-08:00

Corny, I know, but I wanted to wish everyone a very happy life!

Members of the club continue our journey together, and I hope the new year finds us lucking out on selecting great (and gripping) books.

Thanks!
Louis

Musings on Sunday - the 1st HBC blog entry!

2009-11-29T09:08:00.000-08:00

Good morning - post Thanksgiving Sunday. Back to work tomorrow.

I finished "The Moviegoer" by Walker Percy; it's the current book club selection, and so am ready for the meeting this Thursday at Drew's Gastronomic Emporium.

Also finished John Le Carré's "A Most Wanted Man," and am now reading "Bangkok 8" thanks to Drew who gave me his copy.

Cheeers!