"The Two Mrs. Grenvilles" by Dominick Dunne

 

On May 21st we met at my house to discuss Janet's book

"The Two Mrs Grenvilles." Janet could not

join us but asked us to carry on in her absence.

Julie, Nancy, Kathy, Madeleine, Betsy and I

welcomed Diana who is finally home from Florida.

We had pizza and salad and caught up with

everyone's busy life and the spring of torrential rains.

 

The book was written by Dominick Dunne, a former

journalist for Vanity Fair and it was written in

a somewhat gossipy style and told through the

eyes of a character journalist called Basil Plant

who is based on Truman Capote.

The tale is set in the 1940's and 1950's

and is based on a true story about Ann Woodward

who murdered her wealthy husband Billy Woodward in

1955. So the first Mrs. Grenville is Ann, who comes from a struggling

divorced family and though talentless she is beautiful and sexy.

She is a dancer at the El Morroco Club in New York

aspiring to be an actress and manages to reel in Billy who

is the only male heir to a fortune similar to the Vanderbilts.

The second  Mrs Grenville is Alice who is Ann's mother in law

and she is matron of the proper New York society family

who strives to maintain her family and it's image and

is truly born a blue blooded woman into the thick of a

very close knit New York wealthy circle. Ann never

gains acceptance into this circle and eventually her marriage

is about to fall apart and she ends up shooting her husband

"accidentally". Alice gets her acquitted through her money and

influence though she despises Ann. Alice prefers to protect the

family from scandal.

Ann continues to live a wealthy, debauched life traveling

as a jet setter in Europe attracting gigolos  but always

being denied true acceptance into the New York Society

which is the one thing she craves.

The inevitable happens when Ann commits suicide but

so does her son. There was bound to be collateral  damage.

Some said the writing skills of the author was not

too well honed and that it may have been a mindless

read but kept us riveted nevertheless.

 

Madeleine chose a book called "The Burgess Boys" by

Elizabeth Strout. I have read it and know we shall have a

fine discussion. June 25th was chosen for the next date.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

On April 10, 2013 we held our meeting at Oobatz to discuss
Gillian Flynn's book "Gone Girl". There were 9 ladies
in attendance and they were Julie, Madeleine, Kathy, Donna,
Sarah, Janet, Betsy, Nancy and Nettie. All had read the book
and a lively discussion ensued.
Everyone loved the way the book was written and the fact that
it had so many elements of surprise as the story unfolded. So
basically it opens on the fifth anniversary of a young couple
who have lost their jobs as writers in New York. They have now
settled in Missouri and the marriage has gone bad. The wife has
disappeared and the scene smacks of foul play but no body is found.
As it turns out the wife has very cleverly plotted her disappearance
to get even with her cheating husband who becomes the main suspect.
The wife Amy is an evil sociopath and we at first sympathize with
her as she fabricates her story in the first half to incriminate the
husband. In the second half we see the true Amy who eventually
becomes a murderess. She is obsessed with getting back with her
husband and her former life and in the end achieves all that without
being punished for her misdeeds.
We did not like the ending but although Amy has her husband,
a book deal, a baby on the way and seemingly has won the game,
she has to live with herself. Her husband points out in the end that
because of that she is really the loser. A movie is being made
starring Reese Witherspoon.
Janet chose "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles" by Dominick Dunne
based on a true story about a New York socialite named
Billy Woodward. May 22nd will be the next date.
We celebrated  both Nancy's  and Julie's birthdays with a
decadent dessert and of course the $2 pint night added to all
of it.   

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

 

 



On February 27th some of us braved the blustery weather

and met at the new Oobatz restaurant at Clearwater.

Those in attendance were Madeleine, Julie, Nancy, Sarah,

Betsy, Donna and Nettie.

We discussed Nancy's choice "The 19th Wife" by

David Ebershoff and managed to all complete the

reading of this very interesting book.

Everyone commented that they had learned a

trememdous amount of the history of the Mormon

religion and how it started with Joseph Smith on

the East coast and how they made their way to

Utah and under the leadership of Brigham Young

established quite a colony of souls.

Of course plural marriages being the earmark of

the Mormons that was thoroughly discussed and

compared to what the 2 TV shows had to offer on

the very lusty perplexing situations that would

naturally occur.

We all agreed that the modern day parallel murder story

would hardly be a stand alone story except that it

shed light on the fact that plural marriages are still

in existence amongst the "Firsts".

We all had a chuckle over the founding of the

Golden Plates by Joseph Smith but were reminded

of the burning bush and the ark of the covenant that

are the foundation of some religions. In faith we

must suspend reality obviously.

 

I chose "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn which

was also recommended by Nancy. We decided

on April 10th to be the next meeting and will probably

stay with Oobatz as the venue as the back room was

perfect for discussion. Food is plentiful and

with the $2 premium beer nights being Wednesday,

many members thought they had landed in heaven

despite not having been in a plural marriage.

Reminders will be sent out.

What alice Forgot

On Jan. 9th, 2013 we met at the castleton grill to discuss Julie's
book, What Alice Forgot" by Liane Moriarty. Those present were
Julie, Kathy, Betsy, Madeleine, Nancy and Nettie. All had read
the book and liked it.
Liane Moriarty is Australian and the book is set in Sydney and is full
of  Aussie vernacular which everyone finds charming. The protagonist,
Alice, has bumped her head in the gym and has lost the last 10 years of
her memory. So that makes her mentally 29 not 39 and she thinks she
is pregnant with her 1st child when in reality she has 3 children of whom
she has not a clue. She also finds that she is divorcing her husband whom
she still loves and that she has some how offended a number of people
in her life including her sister Elisabeth. She also gathers there is a Gina
who was very important to her and she has no memory of her and even
wonders if she had somehow become a lesbian. Yet she is dating the school
principal whom she is not comfortable with.
So we accompany Alice on her road to remembering her past  and seeing
how her marriage unraveled not by any major drama but steady day to
day deterioration in relationships. Fortunately for her, due to this incident,
Alice is able to reconstruct her life and marriage, striving to go back to
the nicer person she was before she became the Stepford wife she was
becoming.
Two methods were also used by the author to relate her story. Elisabeth,
the infertile sister mentally writes to her therapist and has such clarity of
thought and understanding of situations which she probably does not have in
the actual sessions. The "grandmother" Frannie also writes to a dead fiancee
and has good insight on all the events and characters in the book. This book
was a light fun read.
Nancy chose a book called, "The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff. It is 2
parallel stories of the Mormon Sect and the First Latter Day Saints one set
in present day and the other set in 1875. It is about murder that is provoked
by multiple marriages. It is available in Kindle and hard copy at the library.
February 27th, 2013 is targeted for our next meeting.

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Nine ladies met at Marha's house to discuss her book "Child 44"
by Tom Rob Smith. The nine members were Marsha, Madeleine,
Sarah, Kathy, Nancy, Betsy, Donna, Janet and Nettie. Everyone
had read the book and all liked it for diferent reasons. Some
liked the mystery and suspense and the quick moving thriller like
action similar to most James Bond movies. Some liked learing about
the Stalin era which was a very grim time when people were starving
and the government controlled everyone. Trust was uncommon and brother
would betray brother for food or a better apartment or easier jobs.
Leo Demidov is the disgraced KBG agent who goes against the
government and investigates a series of gruesome murders because
he believes in justice. It is based on a Ukranian serial killer
Andrei Chikatilo who existed.
It also explores the Soviet Union's stance on crime "which did
not exist" in a totalitarian state. It also touches on the paranoia
which existed in the Soviet Union, as well as their attitude
towards homosexuality, orphanages and  mental hospitals.
There is a big twist in the story as the killer turns out to be Leo's
younger brother Andrei.
Marsha used a study guide to pose many questions and I felt we
had a very thorough and orderly discussion. We learned that
a movie is in the making which we anxiously await.
Marsha has read the other two books in the trilogy and although she
likes "Child 44" best, she recommends the others and says there
is a continuity in the stories. 
Julie chose a book in absentia and it is a story of a woman who
hits her head in the gym and has amnesia regarding the 
last 10 years of life.
The  book is "What Alice Forgot", by Liane Moriarty. We chose
January 9th to be the next meeting.
A reminder will be sent with Venue information.



"A Lady's Cyclist's Guide To Kashgar"

Nine members met at Castleton Grill on November 7, 2012 to discuss
the debut novel of British writer Suzanne Joinson entitled "A Lady
Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar", chosen by Carol.  These ladies  attended...Marsha, Betsy, Carol, Nancy, Julie, Nettie, Donna,
Kathy and Madeleine. Everyone read or listened to the book and enjoyed
except for Julie who had to suffer through a poor reader with fake
accents. She still liked the book.
Carol excelled at being our monitor and everyone had a chance to
make comments and were very respectful of listening while others
spoke.
We discussed the characters of the women in both the old story and
the modern one. Everyone hated Millicent the Evangelist who was
controlling, mean, self serving and over zealous. Lizzie was pitied
as being weak and controlled. Eva was lauded for being at least
honest and caring for both Lizzie and Ai-lien. Freida was adrift and
her mother was deemed crazy as she had abandoned her daughter
at age 7 to pursue her own interests which eventually led to self
mutilation and the inability to speak allegedly to reach Nirvana.

Carol asked if we felt the two stories seamed together successfully
and most of us were satisfied and liked that approach of toggling
back and forth. Some wondered if they could have read just the old
parts then the new parts separately. I personally do not think that would
work. Everyone in general had a preference for the old story of the
1923 adventure over the modern day journey of Freida and Tayeb.

Carol asked a good question of how each person would have written
it differently if she had been the author. We all agreed that she could
have developed Irene Guy's story after she landed in England a bit
more. It seemed like she sort of rushed to the ending.

Carol asked if anyone had ever been to Kashgar. There is a lot of
interesting videos and information about Kashgar online. It is
such a Muslim enclave in China and it's positioning to Russia,
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is very strategic to the Chinese. Though
the Muslims in Kashgar have been trying to gain independence the
Chinese have been holding steadfast so there are still uprisings.
The day Joinson went to Kashgar to research there was an uprising
and she had to leave in a hurry.  

Marsha chose a book called, "Child 44", a debut novel by
Tom Rob Smith which is a thriller set in Stalin's Soviet Union.
The next meeting will be held at Marsha's home on December 12.
Will send out a reminder.

"Wild" by Cheryl Strayed

On September 26, 2012 we had a large group

gathered to discuss "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed.

Janet, Sarah, Marsha, Madeleine,Kathy,Betsy, Julie,

Carol, Sue and I were present.

Most of us had read the book and all loved it.

It is a story of a 26 year old who hikes over 1100

miles on the Pacific Crest Trail which is on the

westcoast traversing many mountains from Mexico to

Washington State. She is trying to find

herself because she feels she has become a sex and drug addict who

has lost mother, father, husband and virtually all family.

She learns many of life lessons along the way, meets many

people and has time to think about finding her way back

to being a person she can like again. The hike is not a walk

in the park as she really was unprepared for all that it

entailed from her pack being too heavy to her shoes being

too small and not having the right equipment like a basic pole or

ice axe. 

We concentrated especially on the relationship she had with

her mother and the devastating effect that her death had on Cheryl.

Happily she emerges a changed person at the end and has

gone ahead writing, remarried and has children of her own.

 

Carol chose a book by Suzanne Joinson entitled

"A Lady Cyclist's  Guide to Kasgar".

It is a story about female missionaries in 1923 Kasgar and a

modern day story set in England. Somehow they both come

together. It seems to be quite intriguing and I am looking

forward to reading it. We chose October 24th to be the next date.

We think that we need a different venue which is more amenable

to discussion as well as a bit more structure in our meetings.

I have emailed 2 people who have been in book clubs and

should be getting some suggestions of how we can improve upon our

discussions so that they are more orderly and enjoyable

for all the members.