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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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 !!!!!!!!!!!!