The Book Bunch

Book Club- Christmas Style

2010-11-24T17:00:00.004-07:00

Join us December 9 and bring your favorite christmas book to share. Hope to see you there!

(I had some trouble sending out the evite. If you didn't get it let me know and I'll resend it.)

November's Book

2010-10-14T10:25:00.004-06:00

This month's book is A Short History of Women by Kate Walbert. It's been sitting on my nightstand for months since a friend gave it to me. I really need to get it off my "to read" list so I hope you don't mind reading it along with me. It was listed as one of the best books of 2009 by the New York Times and it got a really great review which you can read here. I hope you all enjoy it!

I look forward to November 18th for a night of great discussion, food and fun!

September

2010-09-10T12:40:00.000-06:00

Good book. Come September 28.

June Book Club

2010-05-20T23:12:00.002-06:00

For June I chose the book The Help. I'm really excited to read it! I've heard it's a page turner. Hope you all can come!

The Alchemist

2010-04-26T18:03:00.004-06:00

Hope you're all eager to start reading the Alchemist. I thought it was really fascinating to read a little more about the book online (beware of plot spoiling if you read the entire article...)

Get excited for some real Brazilian cuisine: arroz, feijão, salpicão, doce de leite, brigadeiro and much more!

April 20th

2010-04-08T17:40:00.002-06:00

Hope you are enjoying the book - I read it in 3 days!!! Thinking of celebrating Marissa's character and making TACO SOUP, so hope you can make it for a spicy evening! I apologize for the F Bombs too, didn't know they were in there!!!

April's Book Club

2010-03-25T23:45:00.002-06:00

This month Book Club will be hosted by Molly (me) at my house. I will be sending out the evite shortly so everyone can get the book. The book is The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinski. While we read it, I would love if all of us would think of our own list - things we want to do by the time we are 30, 35, 40, 45 etc . What do we want for ourselves? What dreams do we still have? What can we start working on now? Think ladies - think. See you in April!!!

The History of Love

2010-01-19T16:29:00.002-07:00

I hope all of you got the evite with information regarding February's book club. (Please let me know if you didn't and I will make sure to send you one.)

We will be reading "The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss. I've heard really good things about this book so hopefully it's good. If not, we'll still have a wonderful time talking, laughing and eating.

Enjoy the book and I'll see you February 23rd.

India anyone??

2010-01-08T13:12:00.002-07:00

After reading about the Taj Mahal, I have an immense desire to go there! Maybe the Sleights can go check it out for us and send photos.....

Eggless Cookie Dough - INDULGE MY FRIENDS!!!

2009-09-21T19:35:00.001-06:00

2 C all-purpose flour

1/2 t salt

3/4 C unsalted butter, melted

1 C packed brown sugar

1/2 C white sugar

1 T vanilla extract

4 T milk

Any amount of any mix-in you'd like - cacao nibs, chocolate chips, nuts, or fruit would all work.

Mix all ingredients in a big bowl. That's it!

Let's try this again

2009-09-21T08:00:00.003-06:00

We are going to try this whole blogging our book club experiences once again. We decided this would be a good place to talk about books, share recipes (Ahem, Candice! I need me some raw cookie dough), introduction topics (favorite Denver restaurants), post pictures, and whatever else we want. So, please feel free to add insights and information or just browse. Let me know if you have any suggestions on how to make this blog more useful.

The Book Bunch returns or the blog rather

2009-09-16T22:57:00.003-06:00

September's discussion on Amy Tan's Saving Fish From Drowning was quite animated - since at least a quarter of the bunch had actually finished the text. Good work team!

The census on the tapioca balls was polarized, but I say the bubble tea was delicious.

We had a great turnout - many new faces that we look forward to getting to know better!

Revamp

2008-10-08T22:35:00.003-06:00

I hope that most of you have heard about the new book club plan. We decided it was time to regroup due to many changes. Jen is going to be having the book club meeting at her house on October 21st. If you did not receive the email or evite, please leave a comment below or contact her or I by email. We're excited to have a new book soon. See you then.

The Next Book

2008-08-20T22:36:00.003-06:00

We decided that we have a theme as a club, women. Strong women. Women as a main character. I like this theme. So, to continue our theme we will be reading: We're Just Like You, Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle by Celia Rivenbark. It is supposed to be funny and a light read.
I believe that Tina will be hosting next month but we will get back to everyone with more details.

Book Club: Tuesday August 19

2008-08-16T10:51:00.002-06:00

I hope you all can make it. 7pm--my house.

I will send out an email with my address but if for some reason you don't get it please let me know and I will send it to you pronto.

See you there!

July/August Book Club

2008-08-11T14:13:00.002-06:00

Hey guys. It's Erin.

First I have to apologize for being so lame this month. I know this month's book club meeting is way overdue and that is all on me. I have been in and out of Denver and work has been insane and I am feeling a little overwhelmed, but, excuses aside, I am sorry for being late.

I hope everyone has read or is reading our book "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith.

So our meeting...I talked to a few of you about doing the book club tomorrow night, the 12th. I am still open that night but I do feel bad about the short notice to all the rest of you that I didn't let know. So I am thinking we should do next week (for real this time). Here are the dates I am proposing:

Tuesday, August 19th
Thursday, August 21st
Saturday, August 23rd

I promise to make up for my lack of organization to this point. It will be fun. And there will be lots of yummy food there. Please don't hate me. Please come.

So when can you make it? Vote by Wednesday the 13th (leave a comment) and I will post the winning book club date on Thursday.

July's Book Club

2008-06-16T16:30:00.002-06:00

I just thought I would announce to all of you who could not attend club last month that we will be reading "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" by Betty Smith next month. It's a great book and we are all excited to read it. Yay for the Book Bunch!

Jane Eyre Conclusion

2008-06-12T11:22:00.002-06:00

We had our meeting on June 6th to discuss Jane Eyre. Overall I think everyone agreed that they really enjoyed the book. I encourgage all who weren't able to complete the book to still keep going with it, I think you will all really like it.

We discussed some of the following, plus some:
1. The character of Mr. Rochester.
2. Jane and whether she was driven by love or ambition.
3. The treatment of those that were mentally unstable.
4. Jane's desire to be independent.
5. The people in Jane's life that helped shape her character for good.

Thank you all for coming to this last book club. It was fabulous! I can't wait to get started with the next book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Cheese Cake Recipe:
1- Cup Cottage cheese
1- 8oz package of cream cheese
3/4 cups- sugar
1 tsp- Vanilla
2-eggs
Mix all ingredients together. I find it is easier to mix it in a blender if you have one, it helps get the cottage cheese chunks out and makes your batter smoother. When mixed, put the batter into a graham craker crust, I usually cheat and just buy one pre-made. Pre-Heat your oven to 350. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until most of the jiggle is out. Let cool for a bit, then put in the fridge to allow the cheese cake to set up.

Jenny's Apple Dip

2008-06-07T16:29:00.001-06:00

Mix and serve with apple slices:

8 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Heath Bar bits (about 1/4 cup)

Recipe

2008-05-26T20:38:00.003-06:00

Sorry, this has taken me a long time to post. I have thought about it a million times but have just never gotten around to it but I really did want you all to be able to enjoy this wonderful recipe if you so had a craving.

Basil Pesto Bread Rounds

Ingredients:
1 (1 pound) loaf French baguette (I used more than this)
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup basil pesto
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat oven on broiler setting (about 350 degrees F). Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place under broiler for 5 to 8 minutes, or until lightly toasted on one side. Watch carefully to ensure they don't burn. Remove from oven, and flip bread slices so that the toasted side is on the bottom.
2. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, pesto, garlic, Parmesan and salt. Spread evenly over untoasted sides of bread slices.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes. Set the oven to broil, and place the rounds under the broiler just until they begin to bubble and turn golden. Let cool slightly before serving.

Courtesy of allrecipes.com

New Time & Date

2008-05-19T11:40:00.002-06:00

Hey Ladies,

I have recently been informed that there are a lot of ward activities happening on June 7th. So I would like to propose a new time/date. Hope you all can make it. Let me know if this is a bad date too, and I can look into another time.

NEW DATE: Friday, JUNE 6th
NEW TIME: 6:00pm
PLACE: Kasey's House (I will email out the address as it gets closer)

Jane Eyere on CD

2008-05-16T12:52:00.003-06:00

Hi Book Bunch Friends,

If anyone would like to listent to Jane Eyere on CD instead of reading it, let Kasey or Misty know. We have really enjoyed listening to it as we ride to work in the morning.

Jane Eyre Book Bunch Meeting

2008-05-05T09:07:00.003-06:00

It seems as though the month of May is going to be jam packed each weekend. And I would like to propose that we have our Book Bunch meeting on Jane Eyre on June 7th at 11:00am. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Kasey

Time To Vote

2008-05-02T10:32:00.002-06:00

I hope you are all busy reading away with Jane! I am pretty sure that many of you are traveling this month so please try to let Kasey know when you will not be around so that she can try to plan accordingly. I'm sure that she will make a post soon to let us all know.

On to other business. We need to nominate and vote for June's book. Here is how this will work. Anyone who would like to make a nomination should make a comment in this post with the name and author of the book. I will give us one week to do that so please have your nomination in by May 9th. Then I will turn the responses into a poll and we will vote. I will close that somewhere around the 14th. Sound good? So everyone please stay tuned.

More than meets the eye...

2008-03-27T09:53:00.003-06:00

I am letting you all know right now that we will be doing the book club meeting at my house on April 19th unless it is not a good day for the majority, let me know. I want to get started on collecting things for the activity so, if you wouldn't mind, can you send me a photograph, preferably one that you absolutely love. You can send it to my email address which I think that you all should have. It can be a picture of you, your family, a tree, a rock, whatever you consider to be one of the best shots you have ever taken. I look forward to seeing what you all come up with.

Misty's Recipes

2008-03-17T11:52:00.001-06:00

Thank you to everyone that came to Book Bunch on Saturday. I had a lot of fun and I loved the children’s books that were recommended! We had a few yummy treats so I thought I would post the recipes. I didn’t want to double my efforts so I posted both recipes for the Banana Wontons and the Crab Dip on my family’s recipe blog, you can find them at http://goodcookn.blogspot.com/.

The First Bunch

2008-03-16T22:27:00.002-06:00

We had our first get together on Saturday to discuss books, of course. We started with everyone bringing/sharing their favorite children's books, either new or old favorites. Here is the list of some of the favorites:

We're Going on a Bear Hunt-Michael Rosen
Stone Soup-Marcia Brown
The Piggy in the Puddle-Charlotte Pomerantz
Tikki Tikki Tembo-Arlene Mosel
Hiccupotamus-Aaron Zenz
The Napping House-Audrey Wood
Goodnight Moon-Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd
If you Give a Mouse a Cookie-Laura Joffe Numeroff
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom-Bill Martin Jr.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs-Judi Barrett
Eddie and Teddy-Gus Clarke
Pigs a plenty, Pigs Galore-David McPhail
Bear on a Bike-Stella Blackstone
The Giving Tree-Shel Silverstein
Are You My Mother?-P.D. Eastman

We also discussed some of the books that we would like to read in our bunch. Since we are not able to read more than one book per month we had to settle on one for now, actually two. We chose the book for April and the book for May. They are found in the left column. With all of our selections we decided to have an honorable mention list so that if you have time, you can read one of the other selections recommended by a trusted source. Here are the lists of recommended classic and modern novels:

Jane Eyre
To Kill a Mockingbird
Little Women
Gone with the Wind
House of Mirth
Brave New World
Tail of Two Cities
Les Miserables

The Secret Life of Bees
All Together in One Place
America's Women
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Wild Swans
Into the Wild
Marley and Me
A Thousand Splendid Suns