Minnesota Mamaleh: About Books

Book Club, a small contingency

I have a confession. I have an addiction. To books. I can think of absolutely nothing warmer, cozier and more…lovely than curling up with a new book. Yes, yes, I know. Husbands. And babies. And puppies. Oh my!
But books, well with books I can get lost in someone else’s woes and joys. I have access to new places and new faces.
I’m a bit quirky about truly wonderful books– I get sentimentally sad when I finish one because I’llneverseethecharactersagain! Unless, of course, there’s a sequel. In which case my fingers stay crossed that it’ll be as good as the first.
Do you ever feel that way? Never?
Liars.
Getting lost in a story is magical. And it’s a gift. From the author to rest of us.
I love books that make me smarter and I also love brainless reads– the kind that I can curl up exhaustedly and still get lost within. Sigh. I heart books.
After having each of my babies I took a forced reading hiatus. I adjusted sloooowly to the new rhythm of being a mom. I had quite literally no idea what I was doing which I found utterly exhausting. The hiatus length shortened with each baby. About a year for sweet Kayli, a few months for easy going Chloe. And Brody?
With Brody, it was a different story. I read a 518 page book. In the hospital. Mmmhmm. I heart books.
Last year I met a fabulous group of women through a class. When the class ended, we craved a glue to keep us together. You know, besides facebook, play dates and girls’ weekends. And thus, a book club was born.
And can I just say that throughout this year, amongst many, many other things, I learned about the magic of reading together. I learned how a book can bring us to places that none of us could have imagined. How as a group we can agree on some aspects of a book and whole-heartedly disagree about others. One person’s true-blue-love-best read-of-the-year is another’s worst nightmare, abandoned after only a few chapters. Well, that’s just…glorious. Our Book Club has added a dimension to my reading that I love. I also love the wine. And the food. And skipping out on bedtime once a month (Hi Babe!).

I heart the wine. Or in this case, the sangria.

And the food. In this case, Sara Rice's spicy chocolate cupcakes (Hi Sara!) and Dana's Black Bean Salsa (Hi Dana!). Really, what's *not* to love about Book Club?

Thus far, our book club has read:

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Candy Girl by Diablo Cody

Lit by Mary Karr

For this month, I’m curling up with Dracula by Bram Stoker.

And our very last pick, thus far, is The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

As Husbands Go By Susan Isaacs

Now as a bonus book (as in not assigned to a month), our little group read, “As Husbands Go” by Susan Isaacs. Why? Because I got it (signed! and to review!) and thought that it would be just that much more interesting to review it together. Two heads are better than one and all that jazz. And it was.
In this murder mystery, Susan Isaacs knocks you off your feet with a BIG question as a wife– what if your husband doesn’t come home one night? What if he’s found in a prostitute’s apartment? Ouch. Now that would hurt more than just a little bit.
Our book club convo went from writing styles to ethics to grief coping to social status to sex to food to religion to Yiddish. Sigh. I heart book club. It makes any and all reads richer. Smarter. Better.

When our Book Club started, we all gathered over chocolate cake and bailey’s and discussed our reading lists. Our must-reads, best reads and ready-to-share reads. And that’s where the list above was born.

I heart book club.

I so wish that I could pass the coffee, bailey’s or sangria your way. But while I can’t do that, I can compile a reading list with you.  I can think of quite literally nothing more amazing than a diverse reading list compiled by some of the savviest, most articulate, well read people that I know. Now that would be you!
So let’s hear it…What’s on your nightstand right now? What do you wish was there? What do you wish never made it there in the first place?
This is like our very own gasp Book Club. I’m not really sure that my heart could be any happier right about now! Lack of Bailey’s notwithstanding, I’m quite literally at the edge of my seat waiting to hear what’s on your reading list. So fill me up to the brim, people. Aaaaand go!

*This post was inspired by a free copy of As Husbands Go.

Why yes, yes I do heart authors. And books. And authors that sign books. Thanks for asking. *

*The FTC made me do it: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book in the hope that I would mention it on TC Jewfolk. But getting the book for free doesn’t mean that I was obligated to give a glowing review. I wouldn’t recommend anything that I don’t think you’d enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Blah, blah, blah…