June, our best discussion yet

If you had asked me what book would generate the best discussion we have had to date, believe me, Home would not have come to mind. In fact, of the seven of us who were able to get to Lynn's GORGEOUS place, only five of us even admitted to liking it.

None the less, we could not stop talking about the book. Even when conversations turned to other topics, it found its way back to the book.

Sooo... what did we talk about? The language, the characterization, the interactions, the time period, leaving home, coming back, staying all along, choosing to change and so much more. Family relationships, life disappointments, pushing away happiness with both hands, indulging oneself, the distant love of siblings, etc.

Some of us had read the companion book Gilead and we had an advantage in understanding the relationship between Ames and Jack which was so much of the tension.

I can't do justice to this rich conversation and the even richer novel. The food was no different so I would like to propose a new format this month. Can each of us post a few sentences about most struck you about the book and the discussion? Don't forget your recipe, there were lots of requests!

FYI, next meeting is July 9 at the Deep Run Hunt Club. This is a bit tentative as that is Pony Club week at the club so I will have to make sure they will be gone when we show up. Our book is
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith, a pick from the Book and Author Dinner. Maggie, make sure you come! 

The August book is also a Book and Author pick, The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriani Trigiani, location TBD. Remember that we are gearing up for Don Quixote for September. Plenty of time to knock out those 1000 pages. 

Again, please post your comments from our discussion!