Death Comes to Pemberly & Crispin

In October we read, Death Comes to Pemberly, by P.D. James and our November book was the 2003 Newberry Award Winner called, Crispin: The Cross of Lead,  by Avi. We didn't get to meet in October so both books were discussed during our November meeting on the 15th at Paulette's home.  

Death Comes to Pemberly, by P.D. James was enjoyed by some and not by others.  Written for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice fans, it is a continuation of the story of  Elizabeth Bennet Darcy and her husband Fitzwilliam at their Pemberly estate as they prepare for the annual ball, a murder is committed on the property and the family is thrown into turmoil.  

Crispin: The Cross of Lead,  by Avi.

A young boy only known as Asta's son is orphaned when his mother dies.  He immediately finds himself in trouble when the steward accuses him of stealing and proclaims him a "Wolf's Head," whom anyone can shoot for a reward.  Before running away, the priest gives Asta's son the lead cross that belonged to his mother and tells him his real name is Crispin and promiese to tell him more about his heritage on the morrow.   But the priest is murdered and Crispin's life is in danger. Along his travels, Crispin comes in contact with a large man named Bear and in their travels together they form a bond of friendship and loyalty.  Bear saves Crispin and eventually returns the favor. Written for children, this is a book of action, courage and miraculous get aways. Everyone enjoyed reading the book. Some will read the rest of the trilogy.  

Our upcoming book club will meet Wednesday, December 19 at 1:00 p.m. at Paula's home for our Annual Christmas luncheon.

The Lucky One ~ Nicholas Sparks

Thursday, September 27, we met at Sandy's home for a discussion on Nicholas Sparks' book, The Lucky One."  Sparks books provide compelling reading, characters who are believable, and plots that are often too similar. Everyone enjoyed the book.  In The Lucky One,  Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a woman while he is serving in Iraq.  His buddy starts calling Thibault's photo "lucky" because he survives some terrible accidents when he should have been killed.  When Thibault gets home, he walks from Colorado to North Carolina to find the woman in the photograph.
If you would like to know more about Nicholas Sparks' books, his  home page is at http://www.nicholassparks.com/

The real treat during our book club was Ann's call from Australia.  It was delightful to hear the many interesting and fun things they are experiencing there. If you would like to keep up with Ann's lovely commentary and photos - check out her blog at Ann's Australian Adventure http://annsaustralianadventure.blogspot.com

Annual Shakespeare Festival 2012

"To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." 

~ Polonius in Hamlet, William Shakespeare

Delightful is the best way I can describe our annual retreat to the Shakespeare Festival. These lovely women are so interesting and so much fun to be with; we stay up talking and laughing until the wee hours each morning. Our fifth annual trip was attended by Ann, Carolyn, Stephanie, Paula, Patti and Sandy

Jeffrey Lieder in the Costuming Seminar with the muslim mock-up, at left and on the right,
 the actual dress of  Queen Elizabeth 1 in Mary Stuart  

  We not only get to see some wonderful plays: Les Miserables, To Kill a Mockingbird,  Merry Wives of Windsor and Scapin were our choices at the Shakespeare Festival this year. We also enjoy attending the seminars they have before the plays. The Costuming Seminar gives an interesting and inside look at not only how costumes are made ~the hours of planning, budgeting, shopping, designing, and sewing the costumes, but also how a costume brings reality to the actor who is playing that character and adds to the experience of the audience as well. Jeffrey mentioned during the seminar how a rehearsal changes once the actors are in costume and the actors really take on that role. At this year’s seminar, Jeffrey showed us the gown worn by Monica Bell in her role as Elizabeth 1 in Mary Stuart.  Another interesting dress was Melisa Pereyra’s gown in her role as Lavinia in Titus Andronicus.   Last year, for one of the plays, Noises Off, they showed us an apron that one of the characters wore in the play. That one apron actually was several aprons and the actress changes aprons to show the passing of time as the apron becomes more tattered and faded.

 We attend the Play Orientations and Actors Seminars, and learn so much about each play.  We always find ourselves wishing we had tickets to every single play!  Maybe next year!

Paula, Stephanie, Carolyn, Patti and Ann at the Play Orientation

Waiting for the Play Orientation to begin.  This year we also went to a fun evening called Bardway Baby. It is a concert at 11:00 p.m. in the Auditorium Theater.  The fundraising concert is given by the actors and actresses to raise funds for the new artistic initiative fund, which helps promote the Festival’s growth.

Dinner plate Dahlias

 We saw these lovely flowers on our way to The Pastry Pub.

Paula, Ann, Sandy, Carolyn and Patti

Paula, Ann, Stephanie, Carolyn and Patti

There are a couple of restaurants that are our annual favorites! The Garden House on 164 S and 100 West is in an old home and is comfortable and cozy. The food is beautifully presented and delicious to eat. Another favorite is the Pastry Pub on West Center ~ they have great salads, pasta and sandwiches.

The beautiful quilt at the entry of the Garden House

 The Green Show, held in the quad, is lively and fun.  Costermongers, in period costume, come round selling delicious pastries and freshly roasted cinnamon almonds while you watch the show.

 Some of the beautiful herbs in the gardens at SUU ~ this one was particularly fragrant .

 While at the Shakespeare Festival, we try to take in one of the Neil Simon Plays at the Neil Simon Festival as well.  This year we went to see Proposals at the Heritage Theater.  The play was well done, but we were a little disappointed.  The past few years, the audience has been seated right on the stage  - so it was theater in the round.  This year, they had us sitting right down in the normal auditorium seats, and it wasn't as much fun; theater in the round gets you so close to the actors and the action!

Patti, Carolyn, Stephanie, Ann, Paula and Sandy

Saturday afternoon, after Proposals, we drove back to St. George and picked up Tiffany from the SG Airport.  She joined us for dinner and the evening trip to Tuacahn.  Another highlight of the trip was getting to see another dear friend, Renae H.  She met us at Basilla's restaurant and we so enjoyed our visit with her.

The set for Hairspray at Tuacahn

 That evening we went to see Hairspray at Tuacahn. High energy, great music and fun acting ~ it was an enjoyable way to end our Festival trip.

Carolyn, Ann, and Tiffany waiting for Hairspray to begin.

Thank you ladies, dear, sweet friends, for another memorable year at the Shakespeare Festival.

"Thy friendship makes us fresh." 

Charles in Henry VI, William Shakespeare

Mark of Royalty

Walden Ladies Read Mark of Royalty!

Recipe for the perfect Book Club  

1. A group of amazing and varied ladies - Check!
2.  Refreshments - CHECK 
3. Interesting, different and sometimes unusual books - CHECK  
4. A casual atmosphere where no one is afraid to share their opinion - CHECK
5. An occasional field trip or book related activity - CHECK  
6. Just a pinch of interesting guest speakers to spice up our routine  once in a while - CHECK

Yep, our 13 year old Walden Ladies Book Club pretty much has it all!!  Just back from our annual retreat to the Utah Shakespeare Festival, we had the opportunity to host the author of our August book selection.

The book we read was Mark of Royalty and one of the authors, Jennifer Clark came to talk to us about publishing this, her first book.  She also talked about her book that is about to be published and the one that's in the writing stages right now.  We had all read the book, and found it to be charming.  It is the tale of a young woman of royal birth, who is spirited out of the country, due to political concerns, and is raised as the daughter of a fellow country woman abroad.  The story unfolds as she grows, learns about the world and eventually becomes interested in a handsome young man ... but then, I don't want to spoil the ending for you. Let me just say that we found the plot to be intriguing and romantic, a combination that is hard to beat.

Jennifer, shown on the right, did a great job of presenting her experience of breaking into the world of her own printed word ... she was also very gracious in answering our many and varied questions.  Thanks for coming Jennifer, you are welcome to come and join us anytime, you really felt like a member of our book club family. PS We loved your book!!

Thank you, Paula, for hosting our August book club at your lovely historic home and for the fun write-up and photos!

Trifles Make the Sum of Life ~ David Copperfield

"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."

Mr Micawber ~Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, Chapter 12

"You'll find us rough, sir, but you'll find us ready." Daniel Peggoty,  Ch 3

David Copperfield is a beloved classic and a book that everyone in book club loved reading.  Like many of Dicken's books, David Copperfield was first published in serial form in 1849, it was then published in 1850 as a novel.  Charles Dickens wrote that it was his favorite book and in the preface of the 1867 edition he wrote, " . . . like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield."  

"A loving heart was better and stronger than wisdom." Peggoty quoting Mr Copperfield , Ch 9

Dickens also wrote in the preface of the 1850 edition, " how sorrowfully the pen is laid down at the close of a two-year's imaginative task; or how an Author feels as if he were dismissing some portion of himself in the shadowy world, when a crowd of the creatures of his brain are going from him for ever."  How often I feel like that as a reader when finishing a good book and the characters have seemed so real.

"I ate umble pie with an appetite." Uriah Heap,  Ch. 39

It is believed that David Copperfield has the most autobiographical elements  from Dicken's life.  One book club member mentioned that Dicken's had a near perfect photographic memory and perhaps that is why he is able to describe things in such amazing detail.  We also liked his character development.  His good characters are so likeable and believable, Copperfield, Peggoty, Daniel Peggoty, Aunt Betsy Trotter, just as the villains he creates like Mr and Miss Murdstone and Uriah Heap are notorious and black hearted. 

"Let sleeping dogs lie — who wants to rouse 'em?" Uriah Heap, Ch 39

It was mentioned how many common sayings and phrases that are so common to us are throughout the book - and we don't realize we are quoting Dickens when we use them.  I have interspersed a few favorites here.

"A man must take the fat with the lean." Mr Omer, Ch 51

"Trifles make the sum of life." David Copperfield, Ch 53

The Peace Giver

Our June book club was held at Sandy's home and we discussed The Peace Giver, by James Ferrell.  We didn't have a lot of discussion on the book, because several of us had read it so long ago . . . but the basic premise was that we cannot change anyone else, we can only change our own self.  And that wonderful gift comes through the power of the Atonement. Attending: Carolyn, Suzanne, Paula and Sandy

We also our Shakespeare Festival trip coming up  August 9-11, decided which plays to see, ticket purchase, etc. 


The book we will be reading in July is David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.

Midnight and Edenbrooke

Our May Bookclub meeting was held at Paula's home, and we discussed two books: Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale, that Paula had suggested, as well as a book that Suzanne had recently suggested named Edenbrooke, by Julianne Donaldson.   The general consensus seemed to be that among those that had read both, Edenbrooke was prefferred.

 

A lot of the discussion about Austenland revolved around Shannon's other books, and her opinions about her own books and heroines.  I admit guilt in this wide and sweeping digression, but I must plead to having been influenced by a fondness for Shannon Hales writings and I am a follower of her self searching blog Squeetus.  Someone (I think Suzanne)  commented that they were sort of surprised at the difference between Austenland #1 and #2, because they had figured it would just be another character running through the same story, and they were  pleased that the journey was so different than the first. The story presents as a mystery.

 

Edenbrooke, also an Austen related novel written by an LDS author, was a period piece, and we all agreed it was well done, especially considering that it is a first novel.  I found a couple of small things that I did not think were consistent with the period, but did not find them too distracting.  The others loved the relationship between the heroine and her grandmother.  She was spirited, and evidently the Grandmother found common ground there, and there was some bantering which ensued. Alas I, of course, self proclaimed 'purist' that I am, didn't quite agree.

 

We closed the evening by discussing our choices for the Shakespearean Festival trip and decided on dates in August for our attendance.  Those attending  were Paula, Carolyn, Ann, Paulette and Suzanne.  -Contributed by Paula Perkins

2012 and 2013 Books We Will Be Reading

• January - Union Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini
• February - Traitor by Sandra Grey
• March - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford
• April - Angels on Morgan Hill, by Donna VanLiere
• May -Edenbrooke, by Julianne Donaldson &/or Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
• June - Peacegiver: How Christ Offers to Heal Our Hearts & Our Homes, by James Ferrell
• July - David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens
• August - Mark of Royalty, by Jennifer Clark
• September - The Lucky One, by Nicholas Spark
• October - Death Comes to Pemberly, by P.D. James
• November - Crispin: The Cross of Lead, by Avi
• December - The Red Suit Diaries, A Real Life Santa on Hopes, Dreams and Child-like Faith, by Ed Butchart

2013

• The Peachkeeper,  by Sarah Allan
• Frederika, Georgette Heyer
• 
  

Angels on Morgan Hill

"Angels of Morgan Hill" by Donna VanLiere, a fictional book about a family in  Morgan Hill, Tennesee.  Jane's abusive and alcoholic father dies and a new  black family, the Turners move in near their farm.  Jane and her family have to make some far reaching decisions, that will affect their lives deeply.  Jane realizes that there are angels among us, helping us through each day.


The discussion on the book was divided.  Several in the group really liked the book, felt it was enjoyable reading, a nice feel good book.  Others felt that the characters were a little contrived, not quite believable, predictable in their behavior and not compelling reading.  

Traitor, by Sandra Grey

Those that had read the book at our Book Club meeting Feburay 22 at Suzanne's home all enjoyed it tremendously. The story is about an American woman who goes into France during WWII as an intelligence officer and is also able to be reunited with her French Fiance as he does work with French Resistance there.  Her life is forever changed and her knowledge of the world is challenged.  She learns and grows. As readers we found that the background information was well researched and very interesting.  We all learned things about WWII that we had not known.  The characters in the book were multifaceted and interesting. Their interactions felt authentic.  We all left with a desire to read the two sequels, "Tribunal" and "Trespass."

22

2011

January - Prayers for Sale, by Sandra Dallas

February - Manhunt,  by James L Swanson

March - Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt,

              by Beth Hoffman

April - Catherine, Called Birdie by Karen Cushman

May- The Last Lecture, Randy Pasch

June -  The Freedom Factor,  by Gerald Lund

July - Romeo and Juliet,

          by William Shakespeare

August -  Sense and Sensibility,

               by Jane Austin

September - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,
                    by Barbara Kingsolver

October -  The Secret of Chimneys,

                  by Agatha Christie

November - North and South,  Elizabeth Gaskell

December - An Amish Christmas trilogy, 

                    by Beth Wiseman

2010

January - God Wants a Powerful People,

                 by Shari Dew

February -  Austenland,  by Shannon Hale

March -  Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

April -  My Cousin Rachel, by Daphne DuMaurie

May - any Louis Lamour book

June -  The Zookeeper's Wife,  by Diane Ackerman

July -  The Price We Paid,  by Andrew D. Olson

August -  Tarzan, by Edgar Rice Borroughs

September - The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

October -  The Professor and the Mad Man,

                by Simon Winchester

November -  Forever, by Pete Hamil

December -  A Christmas Guest, by Anne Perry

2009

January - Left to Tell, Immaculee Ilibagiza

February -  Darcy's Story, Janet Alymer

March -  Before the Dawn, Dean Hughes
April -  Guernsey Literary and
               Potato Peel Pie Society

            by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows

May - Good Night, Mr Tom, Michelle Magorian

June -  A Fresh Start in Fair Haven,
           by Sharon Downing Jarvis

July - Profiles in Courage, John F Kennedy

August -  The Secret Garden,

               by Frances Hodgson Burnett

September - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith

October -  The Host, Stephanie Meyer

November -  Hallelujah, J. Scott Featherstone

December -  The Christmas Sweater, Glenn Beck

Union Quilters Review

"Union Quilters" by Jennifer Chiaverini was a disappointment to all of us.  We felt that the book was not engaging and that the characters were flat.  Several of us had read other books in the Elm Creek Quilters series which we enjoyed much more.  We know that Chiaverini has the ability to develop characters in depth (because she did in her other books), but in Union Quilters, she failed to do so.  We weren't invested in the characters in this book, so the book failed to sustain our interest.  I had to push myself to keep reading.  The Civil War was the story in this book whereas we would have liked to know more about the characters.  "Union Quilters" is definitely not her best book. ~ Carolyn

2008

January - The Glass Castle, A Memoir,

              by Jeanette Wells

February - Twilight, Stephanie Meyer

March -  Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis

April -  The Fisherman's Lady,

           by George MacDonald

May - Can't Wait to Get to Heaven,

           by Fannie Flagg

and for Our 10th Anniversary Celebration~

June - The Bronze Bow, Elizabeth George Spear

July & August - The Distant Land of My Father,

                      by Bo Caldwell
September - At Home in Mitford, Jan Karon
October -  The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
November - Tall Grass, Sandra Dallas
December -  Red Bird Christmas, Fannie Flagg

2007

January - Princess Academy, Shannon Hale

February - The Wedding, Nicholas Sparks

March -  Davita's Harp, Chaim Potok

April -  Stolen Lives, Malika Oufkir

May -  Digging to America, Anne Tyler

June -  Ladies Auxilliary, Tova Mirvi

July - Flag of our Fathers, James Brady

August -  A Girl Named Zippy, Haven Kimmel

September -  Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen

October -  A Thousand Splendid Suns,

               by Khaled Hosseini
November -  Amazing Grace, Eric Metaxas
December -  The Christmas Jars, Jason Wright

2006

January - Across Five Aprils, Irene Hunt
February -  Christy, Catherine Marshall
March -  Peace Like a River, Leif Enger
April -  The Giver, Lois Lowry
May - These is My Words, Nancy Turner
June -  Small Change, The Secret Life
          of Penny Burford, J. Belinda Yandell
July - 1776, David McCullough
August -  Nicholas Nickleby, Charles Dickens
September -  Aint No River, Sharon Ewell Foster
October -  Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspeare
November -  Plainsong,  Kent Haruf
December - The Sunflower, Richard Paul Evans

2005

January - The Long Walk, Sladomir Radicz

February - Emma, Jane Austen

March - Death Comes to the Archbishop,

            by Willa Cather

April - Cold, Sassy Tree, Olive Burns

May  - The Word of Wisdom, A Modern

          Interpretation by John and Lea Widstoe

June - I Heard the Owl Call My Name,

           by  Margaret Craven

July - The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

August - History of Joseph Smith,

              by His Mother, Lucy Mack Smith

September - Hannah and Her Daughters,
                    by Maryann Fredriksson

October - Blink, Malcom Gladwell

November - Song of the Buffalo Boy,
                   by Sherry Garland
December - Return to Christmas,
                  by Chris Heimerdinger

2004

January - The #1 Ladies Detective Agency,

               by Alexander McCall Smith

February - Random Harvest, James Hilton

March - Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

April - All Creatures Great and Small,

          by James Herriott

May - Fishers of Men, Gerald Lund

June - Wish You Well, David Baldacci

July - Invincible Louisa, Cornelia Meig

         We Alcotts, Fisher and Rabe

August - The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd

September - Hoot, Carl Hiiasen
October - A Thief of Time, Tony Hillerman
November - Cane RIver, Lalita Tademy

December - Midnight Carol,
                  How Dickens Saved Christmas

                  by Patricia K Davis

2003

January - Charly, Jack Weyland

              Sam, Jack Weyland

February - Mt. Vernon, A Love Story

               by Mary Higgins Clark

March - Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli

April - The Blue Bottle Club, Penelope Stokes
May - As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner
June - The Single Shard, Linda Sue Park
          Anson's Way, Gary D Schmidt
July & August - John Adams, David McCullough
September -  The Blue Castle, L M Montgomery
                  The Dream Mine Story,
                    by Norman C Pierce
October - The DaVinci Code, by Dan Brown
November - Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card
December - Skipping Christmas, John Grisham

2002

January - In the Eye of the Storm, John H Groberg

February - The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Orzchy

March - The Hobbit, JR R Tolkien

April - Having My Say, Sarah and Elizabeth Delany

May - Emily of New Moon, Lucy Maud Montgomery

June - Endurance, Shackleton's Incredible Voyage,
            by Alfred Lansing
August - Leadership and Self Deception, Arbinger Institute
September - My Name is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok
October - The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
November - Cat Running, Zilpha Keatly Snyder
December - The Quiet Little Woman, A Christmas Story,
                  by Louis May Alcott

2001

January - The Dark Frigate, Charles Boardman Hawes

February - Papa Married a Mormon, John D Fitzgerald

                House of Many Rooms, Rodello Hunter

March - Sarah, Orson Scott Card

April - Gift From the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh

May - Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Anne Tyler

June - Walden, Henry David Thoreau

July - Gifted Hands, Ben Carson

August - Letters for Emily, Cameron Steve Wright

September - The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot

October - The Witch of Blackbird Pond, 

                by Elizabeth George Speare

               Calico Captive, Elizabeth George Speare

November - The Kitchen God's Wife, Amy Tan
December - A Stranger for Christmas, Caroly Lynn Pearson
                  The Modern Magi, Caroly Lynn Pearson

2000

January - Harry Potter, vol1, J.K. Rowling

February - The Master Puppeteer,
                 by Katherine Patterson

                  Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom
March - Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Patterson
            Biography of Florence Nightengale,
             by Lyston Strachey

April - Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

May - To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
June - Standing for Something, Gordon B. Hinckley
July  - The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chevkov

          The Merry Wives of Windsor, 
            by William Shakespeare

August - Friendly Persuasion, Jessamyn West

September - The Greatest Generation, Tom Brokaw

October - Bellgrave Square, Anne Perry

November - Watership Down, Richard Adams

December - The Life of Our Lord, Charles Dickens

1999

January - I Don't Have To Make Everything all Better,
                 by Gary and Joy Lundberg
February - Seventh Son, Orson Scott Card
March - A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shulte
April - Mrs. Mike, Benedict and Nancy Freedman
May - Dear and Glorious Physician, Taylor Caldwell
June - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
July - Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Ben Franklin
August - Undaunted Courage, Stephen Ambrose
September - Walking Across Egypt, Clyde Eggerton
October - Pit and the Pendulum, Edgar Allen Poe
November - Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemmingway
December - The Mansion, Henry VanDyke
                     Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
                     Nativity Story in Luke