Ann Patchett

Deb has selected State of Wonder by Ann Patchette for our next read. Not our first book by Patchette we all read Bel Canto. 




Read the partial reviews below. Click on links for the entire review.  Warning, the links may have spoilers.

The following is an excerpt from the NY Times Book Review June 2011

"Dr. Marina Singh, the 42-year-old research scientist who is the heroine of “State of Wonder,” Ann Patchett’s most far-flung yet somehow least exotic book, is in her office at a large pharmaceutical company in Minnesota when the bad news arrives. Marina does unremarkable research on cholesterol. She is having an unremarkable affair with Mr. Fox, the company’s C.E.O. The bland, far-from-fantastic Mr. Fox arrives to tell her that her research partner, Dr. Anders Eckman, has died of a fever in a remote part of Brazil."


Evidently this all happens on the second page of the novel.


Taken from The Guardian, UK 2011: 


In the disenchanted millennial world, the American search for wonder centres on the very large and the unimaginably small. At one pole, there's the globe as playground, the hunt through the shrinking wildernesses for whatever magic may somehow lie hidden beyond the totalising reach of GPS. At the other extreme, there's the seething world below eye level, the microscopic life of cells and bacteria. Ann Patchett's sixth novel, State of Wonder, merges the two kingdoms in the story of a pharmacologist, Marina Singh, who travels into the Amazonian jungle to spend time with the mysterious Lakashi tribe.

May Gathering

We had a lovely meeting today. Thank you Kelly and a special thanks to Kelly's Mom, Jenny for inviting us to meet in her lovely home. Perfect food and fantastic discussion - what could be better?

Our selection this month was The Knitting Circle which provided some lively discussion. The book was mostly enjoyed, but not entirely a winner! A quick read and it certainly gave a spring board for us to discuss processing loss and grief.     .

It's blurry..sorry..someone please send me a better group pix.

Kelly P took the picture...but here she is, sorry Kelly...I have to document this!)

Ouch!

Here's a make up picture...such pretty girls!

Lisa and Kelly.

I got a surprise today!

Look at this darling sign..."Turtle Crossing'
Oh my gosh...too cute.

Thanks so much.
I love being your blog master!

We are truly fortunate to have such a great group.














June's book selection by Deb - State of Wonder by Anne Patchette.

7 Lovely Logics

Shared by Noreen

Make peace with your past so it doesn’t spoil your present.

What others think of you is none of your business.

Time heals almost everything; give the time, some time.

No one is the reason of your happiness except YOU yourself.

Don’t compare your life with others, you have no idea what their journey is all about.

Stop thinking too much; it’s alright not to know all the answers

Smile, you don’t own all the problems in the world.

Loving the Knitting Circle

Thank you Ms Kelly....The Knitting Circle  is an absorbing read. 

We can't wait for the discussion!

Our selection for April-May 2012

May book selection:

The Knitting Circle

Kelly selected this book through a personal recommendation.

A quote from the author, Ann Hood:

"This novel is very special to me. A few years ago I was afraid I would never be able to write again. For my entire life, reading and writing were ways to work out what I felt, what I worried about, what I feared, what I hoped for. Then on April 18, 2002, my five year old daughter Grace died suddenly from a virulent form of strep. As an added insult, when I lost Grace I also lost my ability to use words. I couldn't read and I couldn't write. Letters didn't come together to make words; sentences did not make sense. I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't focus.

 Once I began to write again, a novel about women in a knitting circle began to take shape. The old adage: Write what you know is true, but I like the writer Grace Paley's version even better: Write what you don't know about what you know. With that in mind, I began to read books about knitting history, knitting poetry, knitting everything! I gave my protagonist, Mary, the loss of her only child, and then surrounded her with women who, while teaching her to knit, also tell her their own stories of love and loss and recovery. 

The women in this fictitious knitting circle became as real to me as those strangers I sat knitting with after I lost Grace. Each of their stories is told in their own voice and each story moves Mary along in her grieving process. 

This novel is important to me as a writer, as a woman, as a mother, and as a knitter. I hope you find comfort and hope-and even knitting tips!-as you read THE KNITTING CIRCLE. "


See Ann on Facebook 


(click the link)

Bookies!

March Title

Our book selection next month is They Did It With Love

by Kate Morgenroth.

"Secrets lurk under the smooth surface of a wealthy 

Connecticut neighborhood, until a murder reveals all." 

Who in the world selected this mysterious read? 
No mystery -- our Kathy surprised us.

The surprise is...it's not her normal cup of  tea.
(But we are relishing a lighter read this month!)

Thanks Kathy!

What can we say about Kathy? The most fun girl ever! Nothing better than her infectious laugh. And that can burst-out anytime -  anywhere. 
(Think...yoga class, pilates class or Happy Hour!) 

Kathy is dedicated to fitness and may possibly be addicted to Zumba!

Kathy is a fantastic mom, wife, daughter, sister and girlfriend. 

She' s our Sunshine Girl.