Thanks to everyone who came out for our annual Christmas Book Swap! As usual, we had a wonderful time. This event really highlights the great range of interests we all have - the breadth of subjects, the number of authors and the time frame in which they were written was pretty impressive. I'd say we have a group of readers!
Winning the "Gee, I want that one" lottery was Tom Hank's book Uncommon Type. It turns out Tom Hanks is a collector of old typewriters and wrote a short story collection that has a typewriter in each one. Interesting, and interesting that two people brought along that book to swap, both Lynn and Val. And so, that is our January book - I for one can't wait, the interviews I heard with Tom Hanks peaked my interest, as did the fervor with which this book got claimed!
Many thanks to Lynn who jumped in and took notes so we know who brought what and who wrote it. Great job! And to Ashley for the amazing toffee - she has sent out the recipe so I will not repeat it here, but if you need it, let me or Ashley know. As for the slow apples - I will post it separately. The version I can find online is for individual servings which is much faster than my version.
Gordon added a great twist this year as she wasn't able to attend, but did drop off a book. That gave us a wild card that could be used whenever wanted and it was very fun. We can keep that idea for next year.
And now to the books! Here they are, thanks everyone:
Snobs and Past Imperfect by Julian Fellows - Maggie (this one swapped around a lot too)
The Paris Wife by Paula McLean - Karin (2nd year in a row this one has shown up)
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks - Lynn and Val - the only book ever to have been brought by 2 people!
Kindred by Octavia Butler - Celia
Glass Houses by Louise Penny - Jean
Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shatak - Renee
The Last Tudor by Phillips Gregory - Julie J. (Looks fantastic, it is now in my library list)
The Forger's Tale by Edward Dolnick - Sally (another must read)
I Capture the Earth by Dode Smith - Catherine
The Mating Season by P.G. Wodehouse - Gordon
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbach - Carol
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld - Ashley
Negroland by Margo Jefferson - Mary
We had some ideas for our February book - many of us were intrigued by Negroland which is a memoir of sorts about a black Chicago area that was filled with intellectuals. Another is The Red Notice, by Bill Browder, another memoir about a murdered Russian financier who was on the wrong side of Putin by one of his closest friends. The third suggestion was Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (who wrote The Aviator's Wife). This is a novel but tells the stories of the wealthy women of Truman Capote's world.
And so on we go into 2018, who would have believed it! We do not have a venue yet for January, can someone please volunteer? We are on for January 16, location TBD.
See you all soon!
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