"THE KITCHEN HOUSE" by Katheen Grissom



Last Wednesday a large group of 10 persons met at Chili's to discuss the
debut novel of Kathleen Grissom entitled "The Kitchen House".
Those present were Sarah, Kathy, Julie, Donna, Nancy, Madeleine, Betsy,
Marsha, Janet and Nettie.
Kathy was very well prepared with several good questions about the book.
The first topic of discussion was whether we liked the narrative coming from
2 different voices. Yes we liked seeing the perspective of life on the plantation
from Belle, the black slave and the other from an indentured white girl.
We went on to discuss  the keeping of secrets and how things may have changed
if these secrets had been revealed. The 2 big secrets were the paternity of Belle
and the molestation of Marshall by the tutor.
We had all read the book and agreed that it held our interest to the end even
though it was at times like a soap opera.
We discussed Lavinia's character and how she was weak, lacking in confidence
and willing to marry anyone just for security.
Of course Marshall's character and how the molestation affected him was another
lengthy discussion. We also touched upon the subject of opium addiction which
was popular back then. The uniqueness of Ben and his 2 women and how they
lived in somewhat harmony was also marvelled on.
Kathy also gave us some background on the author and how she became inspired
to writing this book. She said voices of her characters spoke to her. The question
was posed as to whether she would continue the story through the eyes of maybe
two of the offsprings.
December 11th was chosen for the next meeting and Sarah chose a book called
"State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett which is about microbiologists working

in the jungles of Brazil. I think we should all enjoy it as I did but am now reading it for the second time.

OLIVE KITTERIDGE by ELIZABETH STROUT

On September 19th a large froup met at Chili's to discuss "Olive Kitteridge"

which won Elizabeth Strout a Pulitzer Prize.

 Madeleine (with two new knees), Diana, Nancy, Sarah, Julie, Donna, Kathy,

Betsy, Carol, Janet and I attended. All but one of us had read and liked the

book whether they liked the character Olive or not. Olive was a cantankerous,

capricious, brusque, take charge math teacher in a small town in Maine.

She was married to the nicest man named Henry who was beloved by the

townspeople as well as the book club. The Kitteridges are the main characters

in the first chapter and then they are incidental characters in all the other chapters

which are short stories about different inhabitants of the town.

Donna had a printout of a synopsis of each chapter and after she read them we

added our own comments and remembrances. There was a plethora of characters

and some said they would have preferred to have had one story more developed

but I think Strout was still able to develop Olive's character by this writing style.

Although Olive has some flaws she also has a good side as she was

always willing to help others if they needed help whether young or old. She had

a tolerance for young people and seemed to have been loved as well as feared by

her students. She tolerated gays and Republicans.

 

There seemed to be a theme of suicide  running throughout the book. In the final

chapter after her husband dies she seems to have lost her spunk but decides to

feed her hunger and wants to live and takes an older widow as a lover though he

is a republican who voted for G.W. Bush.. Kathy read some passages one of which 

indicated that age should not deter hungers of the body and soul.

 

I read that HBO will be doing a mni series based on the book and Frances McDormond

will play Olive, I can see it it...perfect casting.  

.

October 30th which is a Wednesday was chosen for the next meeting. Kathy chose

a book called "The Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom which is about a 7 year old

orphaned Irish girl sent to a plantation in the south who has to live with the black

slaves. The relationship between the black slaves and the white kitchen help is her

story. Looks very interesting. 

"A Blade of Grass" by Lewis De Soto

On July 30th we met at Carol's lovely Mystic Bay condo

which is the new home of the Santas.

Those present were Julie, Kathy, Madeleine, Nancy, Carol, Janet,

Donna, Betsy and Nettie.

Carol made a healthy  steak salad with corn bread

and nice fudgie brownies. It was a treat.

We had a discussion of the book and most people

had read and liked it.

It was written by a man who had grown up in South

Africa during apartheid but eventually migrated

to Canada.

So the story is about a white woman named Maritt

who marries a farmer and they have no other family when

they move to a very remote region on the southern

border of South Africa. He is killed by black

insurgents and she is left adrift in a strange land. 

Having no family and other home she decides

to make the farm her home with the help and

companionship of a black servant Tembi.

The story delves deeply into the friendship

of the two women as they cross racial lines 

as well as servant-employer  lines.

There are many travails and hardships such

as a plague of locusts, famine, loss of

cattle and electricity and the ever encroaching

 war between the blacks and the whites. When most of the

whites leave the area she is still present and manages

to survive with the help of some black drifters.

There are some shifts in loyalty on the part

of the black woman Tembi especially when

a black man who is a love interest enters the picture.

But in the end all the two women

really  have are each other. The white lady dies

but we think the book ends on a note of hope as

Tembe once more sets out to plant some seeds in the

hope of establishing a home.

This was a very sad time in history and this story

was just one man's view of that appalling period

of apartheid.  

 

We decided to meet again on the 18th of September.

If I am wrong on that please correct me.

Donna chose another Elizabeth Strout book

called "Olive Kitteridge" which is several

different stories which has a tie in to one character

who is Olive Kitteridge.

 





The Burgess Boys

On June 26th a meeting was held at my house to discuss "The Burgess Boys" by
Elizabeth Strout. This was a very well attended meeting.as we had Madeleine, Julie,
Nancy, Kathy, Betsy, Janet, Carol, Sue, Diana and me. Most had read the book and
Madeleine led a very orderly discussion,
Most people were not instantly taken by the book and felt it was more of a character
development rather than a riviting story. Most of the characters were strongly disliked
except for Bob who had a sweet soul and loved his brother despite the abuse handed
out by Jim day in day out. The sister Susan was the only resident still left in Maine and
she had practically stopped living once her husband left her and went to Sweden.
Jim's wife Helen was discussed and his marital infidelities examined. Pam and Bob's
after divorce relationship was wondered about. Finally the car accident that Bob
thought he was guilty of causing was discussed at length. Jim was hung by the book
club jury and many did not see a reconciliation with his wife happening. Bob on the
other hand finds true happiness with a Unitarian Minister.
The second story of Zach and the pig's head incident against the Somalis was also
discussed. Immigration has been a current issue in today's political scene and we
all had opinions as to what immigration means to the American landscape.
Diana chose a book called "A Blade of Grass" by Lewis De Soto about a young
woman set on the border of South Africa. The last Tuesday of July was chosen
so see you all on July 30th. Carol has volunteered to host at her Mystic Bay Condo.
Reminders will be sent out.

"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.