THIRD MONDAY DETECTIVES

We had a wonderful meeting December 21st and enjoyed one another and discussing Emily Brightwell's Mrs. Jeffries In the Nick of Time. Susie brought a hummingbird cake for all to share.

Our selection for January is Still Life (Armand Gamache Series #1) by Louise Penny. This first mystery, Still Life, was the winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.

The New York Times - Marilyn Stasio
… like her neighbors in the picturesque Canadian village of Three Pines, the dear old thing had hidden depths, courtesy of an author whose deceptively simple style masks the complex patterns of a well-devised plot - rather like the subtle designs of Jane’s "primitive" pictures. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec, who is as bemused as we are by life in Three Pines, has the wit and insight to look well beyond its idyllic surface.

When you've finished the novel you'll want to visit Three Pines. Please join us January 18th at 10:00 a.m. in the B&N Cafe.

Jane

Third Monday Detectives

A two story mystery. Train enthusiast Francis Humphreys took his last breath while relatives and neighbors visited downstairs. But if everyone was downstairs, who could have stolen into Uncle Francis's study, killed him, and escaped? Mrs. Jeffries will have to lend her downstairs common sense to this upstairs murder mystery.
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Our selection for December is Emily Brightwell's Mrs. Jeffries In the Nick of Time.
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"Everyone's awed by Inspector Witherspoon's Scotland Yard successes, but they don't know about his secret weapon. Her name is Mrs. Jeffries, and she keeps house for the Inspector - and keeps him on his toes. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, her polished detection skills are up to the task. Because as she knows all too well, a crimesolver's work is never done. "
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We have so much fun together discussing mysteries that we decided to meet in December! Please join us December 21st (the first day of Winter, but it's always warm and welcoming in B&N) at 10:00 a.m. in the Cafe.
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Jane

Fiction Book Club

I am excited to announce our selection for January - Stieg Larsson's brilliantly plotted and beautifully written

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THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO.

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An international publishing sensation, Stieg Larsson's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo combines murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue into one satisfyingly complex and entertainingly atmospheric novel. Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

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This one is non-stop action with an ending you will not see coming.

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I've read this one and the second in this series of three (the third will not reach the U.S. until July, 2010), so, if you want to hear more about this selection, look me up or see Eric in music when you're in the store.

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Our discussion is set for January 14th, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. in the B&N Cafe. This is a book and a discussion you will not want to miss!

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Jane

Status of Book Clubs

I am sorry to announce that the History Book Club is once again without a leader. Therefore, the group will be on hiatus until a new leader is found.

Thank you for your support in the past. We'll keep you posted.

The Religion Book Club and the Knitting Book Club will take the holidays off and meet again beginning in January. Watch the blog for information regarding selections and dates.

Jane

no religion book group today

hello bibliophiles -

just a quick note to let you know there will be no religion book group today. personal issues. i'm sorry.

we'll pick up in january with "forgotten God" by chan.

hope to see you then!

jeff

The Refuge (Maxie and Stretch Series #3) by Sue Henry is our selection for November. This is a departure for us as we usually read only the first in a series, but this particular book was recommended by one of our members.

"After nine months on the road, Maxie McNabb is ready for some R&R, Alaska-style, with her miniature dachshund, Stretch. But no sooner has the sixty-something RVer parked the Mini-Winnie than a pleading phone call sends her flying to Hawaii to aid an injured acquaintance."

We hope that you will pick up a copy of this novel at B&N and join us for the discussion on November 16th at 10:00 a.m. in the B&N Cafe. Also, you may purchase this book on line as a digital E-Book that can be read from your computer or IPhone. Check out our website at bn.com for information and instructions.

Jane

forgotten God

hey bibliophiles -

please join us on Thursday, October 22 at 8:00 pm in the cafe for a lively discussion of "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan, the author of "Crazy Love".

this book is about the Holy Spirit, and how it is neglected in many modern churches today. should make for an interesting and enlightening talk.

see you there!

jeff

fiction book club

we had alot of fun discussing "frankenstein" by dean koontz tonight.

next month we'll be talking about "fathers and son" by turgenev. it is reminiscient of jane austen... and takes you into another time and place - Russia in the 19th century.

hope you'll join us!

jeff

KNITTING BOOK CLUB

Dear Knitters,

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We feel that we have reached the saturation point with Jane Austen's novels and have decided to make a new selection for October. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows.

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"January 1946: writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name. "

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This novel has been a bestseller since it was first introduced and was a favorite among book clubs in 2009.

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So, if you haven't already, pick up a copy at B&N, bring your latest knitting project and meet us on Monday, October 12th at 7:00 p.m. for a great discussion of this book.

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Leslie

HISTORY BOOK CLUB

Oops! The change in the date for the history book club led to confusion on the part of our leader Tanya and some of our members. Therefore, we will remain with the same selection for the month of October: Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down .

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Synopsis

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The behind-the-lines story of the U.S. Special Forces team dropped into the middle of Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 and the intense firefight for their lives they went through. A true-to-life thriller that gives the political story of what U.S. troops were doing there in the first place and the military details of what the streetfighting cost both sides.

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This foray into modern warfare will be an interesting read and we hope that you will pick up a copy at B&N and join us for the discussion October 15th at 7:30 p.m. in the B&N Cafe.

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Jane

We are moving from 1938 and The Maltese Falcon to a contemporary mystery for October's selection.

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In the Bleak Midwinter (Clare Fergusson Series #1) by Julia Spencer-Fleming is a first-class read with believeable characters and superb writing.

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B&N says,

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"Clare Fergusson, St. Alban's new priest, fits like a square peg in the conservative Episcopal parish at Miller's Kill, New York. She is not just a "lady"; she's a tough ex-Army chopper pilot, and nobody's fool. Then a newborn infant left at the church door brings her together with the town's police chief, Russ Van Alstyne, who's also ex-Army and a cynical good shepherd for the stray sheep of his hometown. Their search for the baby's mother quickly leads them into the secrets that shadow Miller's Kill like the ever-present Adirondacks. What they discover is a world of trouble, an attraction to each other - and murder.... "

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I hope you will pick up a copy of this novel in the mystery section of B&N and join us for a great discussion on October 18th at 10:00 a.m.

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Jane

cs lewis's finest

hey bibliophiles...

welcome back to the religion book group. it's nice to be back. :)

tonight at 8pm, we'll be discussing cs lewis's book "Till We Have Faces", one of his own favorites of his books. it gives great insight into the meaning of human suffering, and is delightful and beautiful to read.

feel free to come to the discussion even if you haven't read the book. it will be a very approachable discussion to everyone.

see you tonight!

jeff

fiction book group

Dear bibliophiles -

Last time we discussed "The Awakening" by Chopin. The discussion was interesting with lots of good participation.

Next month we are discussing the first book in the Frankenstein series by Dean Koontz. The first book is called "Prodigal Son".

You are welcome to grab a copy and join us for a lively discussion on the second thursday of October. See you there!

Jeff

FICTION BOOK CLUB

Our selection for September is The Awakening by Kate Chopin. This is the story of a New Orleans wife's search for love outside a stifling middle-class marriage, the novel portrays the mind of a woman seeking fulfillment of her essential nature.
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First published in 1899, The Awakening occasioned a shocked and angry response from reviewers all over the country. The book was taken off the shelves of the St. Louis mercantile library and its author was barred from the fine arts club. Today, it remains a first-rate narrative with superb characterization.
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We hope that you will join us for a discussion of this powerful story on September 10th at 7:30 p.m. in the B&N Cafe.
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Jane

Religion Book Club

With the return of Jeff to our bookstore, comes the return of the Religion Book Club.

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I am excited to announce that this discussion group will be meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month at 8:00 p.m.; the first meeting is September 24th in the B&N Cafe, Cedar Hill.

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Jeff's selection for September is C. S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces.

"This tale of two princesses - one beautiful and one unattractive - and of the struggle between sacred and profane love is Lewis’s reworking of the myth of Cupid and Psyche and one of his most enduring works. A novel, of the struggle between unselfish faith and selfish pride, of the spirit and the flesh."

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This book is available in paperback at Barnes & Noble.

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I hope that you will put this date on your calendar and plan to join us in September.

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Jane

THIRD MONDAY DETECTIVES

Our meeting this month was to discuss P.D. James' Cover Her Face. We all liked the book and would like to read the second in this series to see what happens between one of the minor characters and the police detective Dalgleish. Some of our members were surprised by the identity of the killer, but one or two more astute detectives figured it out before the unmasking at the conclusion of the book.
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We did discuss whether or not we did the author and ourselves justice by reading only the first novel of a series. The characters are introduced to us but not fully developed as they are over time. We base our opinions on that first book, perhaps cheating ourselves out of some delightful and satisfying characters and plots. That is a question for each of us as readers and, since we as a group do not read all of a series, must ultimately be decided by us individually.
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Our selection for the month of September is The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.
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This is a hard-boiled mystery from 1930 and set the standard for this genre of detective fiction. And, who better to bring Sam Spade to life than Humphrey Bogart. This is a classic in every way and can still be enjoyed today for its superb writing and rich characters.

Synopsis from B&N
This mystery novel, generally considered to be Dashiell Hammett's finest work, appeared in serial form in Black Mask magazine in 1929 and was published as a novel the following year. Some critics have said that the Biblical invocation "The love of money is the root of all evil" sums up Falcon's theme.
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Detective Sam Spade's partner Archer is hot on a case, and as his partner, Spade must find the killer. The investigation becomes enmeshed with a search for The Maltese Falcon, a statue rumored to be of "incalculable" value. Spade's life is endangered and he is nearly destroyed by what turns up.
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We hope that you can join our Third Monday Detectives in discussing this novel at our next meeting on September 21st at 10:00 a.m. We have such a wonderful time discussing the current selection, other authors and novels, and getting to know one another that our laughter spreads throughout the bookstore. How delightful!!!

Jane

HISTORY BOOK CLUB

We had a great session last night, despite the absence of some members who are on vacation or having grandchildren. Tanya says she forgot that only really big geeks read such thick and serious books in the middle of the summer! That's us, ambitious to the end.
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There was a very lively discussion both on point and tangential. I first thought we'd wrap up around 9pm, but we went on until they closed up the store at 10pm! We promise next time to keep it to the allotted hour.

Very much looking forward to discussing part two of the book! That will be Thursday, August 27th at 7:30 p.m.

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Tanya/Jane

THIRD MONDAY DETECTIVES

Eight of us turned out this rainy Monday morning to discuss Donna Leon's Death at La Fenice. I had been able to find and print pictures of the Venetian opera house as well as a picture of the main character from the German TV series. We all agreed that we liked the plotline, Ms. Leon's writing style, and Guido Brunetti very much. We'd all like to read more of this series.

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We are looking forward to reading the selection for August, P. D. James' Cover Her Face (Adam Dalgliesh Series #1). One of our members has read the entire series and highly recommended it to the group.

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The synopsis on BN.com says, "Sally Jupp was a sly and sensuous young woman who used her body and her brains to make her way up the social ladder. Now she lies across her bed with dark bruises from a strangler’s fingers forever marring her lily-white throat. Someone has decided that the wages of sin should be death...And it is up to Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh to find out who that someone is. "

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We hope that you can join us for the discussion of this who-done-it on Monday, August 17th at 10:00 a.m. in the Cafe.

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Jane

KNITTING BOOK CLUB

We met Monday evening with completed washcloths, current knitting and crocheting projects and Jane Austen's Persuasion. What a delightful hour. Leslie is a wonderful leader who is always prepared to help us get the most out of any book, especially Jane Austen's novels.

Persuasion is Rebecca's favorite, she re-reads it every year. David was a first-time reader and didn't particularly like the book. We beat him up gently! I love this one with it's mature and believable characters.

Our selection for August/September is Sense and Sensibility . This is a long book, so we decided to divide it into two parts: August will cover the novel until the sisters go to London; September will cover the remainder of the novel.

We've begun no new knitting projects. (I, the novice knitter, will continue to knit washcloths until I run out of yarn!) Leslie and Rebecca are knitting socks, David a scarf, and Bobbie is crocheting a top. What are your currently knitting?

Please join us for the discussion of Sense and Sensibility, Part I, on August 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the B&N Cafe.

Jane

FICTION BOOK CLUB

Leslie's selection for August is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

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Brazilian author Paulo Coelho broke sacred ground -- and crossed over into worldwide fame as an author -- with this symbolic masterpiece. This is the 20th anniversary printing of this novel.

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Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy, has a dream about finding a treasure in the pyramids of Egypt. A gypsy woman and an old man claiming to be a mysterious king advise him to pursue it. "To realize one's destiny is a person's only obligation," the old man tells him. "And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

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Please join us August 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the B&N Cafe for the discussion of this thought-provoking novel.

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Jane

Second Monday Knitting Group

Well, we have graduated to all Jane Austen all the time for the time being....since her books are fairly long, we will continue with our every other month schedule. This month, we met, knit and chatted about Jane Austen and our impression of the many movie versions that have been made of some of her novels. We were going to knit a simple washcloth pattern but never got that far. Next month, however, we will discuss Persuasion (see earlier post for all the details).

I hope to see you then. It should be a lively discussion.

Leslie

THIRD MONDAY DETECTIVES

Our meeting on June 15th boasted our most lively book discussion yet. Perhaps that is due to the fact that there were thirteen in attendance and one by email! Whatever the reason, the consensus was that we enjoyed Mary Roberts Rinehart's The Circular Staircase.
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The book was written in 1908 and, although it did have some social references that would not be in a modern-day writing, its tone, mystery and sense of humor could easily have been a product of today's historical mystery writers. Mary Roberts Rinehart was herself an educated woman ahead of her time and there was a parallel for us to her central character in the novel, Rachel Innes. The mystery was well written, with rich character development and a well-developed plot. Several of our members "figured it out" early on in the story, but I, as usual, did not see it coming and enjoyed it to the end. We all agreed we could understand why she was so popular in her day and can still be read with enjoyment today.

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Our selections for the rest of the summer are:

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July - Death at La Fenice (Guido Brunetti Series #1) by Donna Leon. Beautiful and serene Venice is a city almost divoid of crime. But that is little comfort to Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who is poisoned one night during intermission. As Guido Brunetti, vice-commissario of police and a genius of detection, pieces together the clues, a shocking picture of depravity and revenge emerges.

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August - Cover Her Face (Adam Dalgliesh Series #1) by P. D. James.

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September - The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

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All of these novels are now or soon will be available at B&N Cedar Hill.

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We were a little crowded in our corner of the Cafe, but our supportive management team at B&N is working to find a better meeting location in the store for our group. We invite all mystery lovers or visitors who just want to see what we're about to join us for our next meeting JULY 20th at 10:00 a.m.

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Detective Jane

Fiction Book Club

Our group met on Thursday night to discuss our selection for June - The Killing Floor by Lee Child. Wow, was it bloody! People didn't just die, they were horribly murdered. We lost track of the body count. None of us could understand such devotion to the hero Jack Reacher that there are several books in this series. I guess we're just not a murder and mayhem group.
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Our selection for July is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Mr. Zusak grew up hearing stories about Nazi Germany, about the bombing of Munich and the Jews being marched through his mother’s small German town. He always knew it was a story he wanted to tell.
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It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . . Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
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We hope that you will pick up a copy of this book and join us on July 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the Cafe for an enjoyable discussion of this BN Discover New Writers selection.

Jane

HISTORY BOOK CLUB

"I'm so thrilled to get the History Book Club up and running again!"
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That quote is from our new leader, Tanya, who has volunteered to lead our discussions. We had several months of interesting, thought-provoking and lively discussions in the past with Milan's choices and I look forward to more of the same with Tanya. They definitely won't be dull!
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The selection for July is Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond.
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"Why did the Eurasians conquer, displace, or decimate Native Americans, Australians, and Africans, instead of the reverse? In this groundbreaking book, evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors actually responsible for histories broadest patterns. Here, at last, is a world history that really is a history of all the world's peoples, a unified narrative of human life even more intriguing and important than accounts of dinosaurs and glaciers.The story begins 13,000 years ago, when the Stone Age hunter-gatherers constituted the entire human population. Around that time, paths of development of human societies on different continents began to diverge greatly. Early domestication of wild plants and animals in the Fertile Crescent, China, Mesoamerica, the southeastern US, and other areas, gave peoples of those regions a head start. Why wheat and corn, cattle and pigs, and the modern world's other "blockbuster" crops and livestock arose in those particular regions and note elsewhere was, until now, but faintly understood.Societies that advanced beyond the hunter-gatherer stage were more likely to develop writing, technology, government, organized religions - as well as nasty germs and potent weapons of war.A major advance in our understanding of human societies, Guns, Germs and Steel chronicles the way that the modern world, and its inequalities, came to be."
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Tanya says this book was given to her by a friend wishing to,” increase the number of Pulitzers” on her list of books read. "I’ve been saving it, hoping we could cover it as a book club! This is an ambitious book. I don’t believe any one person can comment on all of it with equal authority. I am certain, however, that it’ll spark great discussions around the table!"
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We decided to split this book into two discussion times. The first session we'll discuss up to Chapter 10 "Spacious Skies and Tilted Axes". The second session will be to finish off the book.

Please join us for the discussion of this selection on July 23rd at 7:30 p.m. in the B&N Cafe.

Jane

Knitting Book Club

Our selection of Jane Austen for July is Persuasion. This was her final novel and is praised as her greatest and most mature.
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Persuasion follows the romance of Anne Elliot and naval officer Frederick Wentworth. They were happily engaged until Anne’s friend, Lady Russell, persuaded her that Frederick was “unworthy.” Now, eight years later,Frederick returns, a wealthy captain in the navy, while Anne’s family teeters on the edge of bankruptcy. They still love each other, but their past mistakes threaten to keep them apart.
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Due to the vacation schedule of our leader, we have changed the date of the meeting to June 22nd at 7:00 p.m. We will return to our second Monday meeting time in July. This month bring your knitting and let's discuss the times of Jane Austen.

Also, right now BN has a sale on its classics, buy 2 get the 3rd free. It's a great time to get any other Austen's you may need for future discussions.

See you on June 22nd.

Jane

THIRD MONDAY DETECTIVES

We met this morning in the Barnes and Noble Cafe to discuss Carolyn Hart's first two mysteries in the Death on Demand series. We welcomed four newcomers to our group! The consensus: these will not be on our favorites list. Too light, main characters not likeable and plots not particularly deep. Although Ms. Hart's knowledge of other mystery writers and their work is extensive, some found it to be annoying, coming so frequently in the narrative as it did. Some of us would like to visit Annie's bookstore and browse for an hour or two. Oh, well, we look forward to better things with our June selection.
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In June we will be reading Mary Roberts Rinehart's The Circular Staircase.
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The B&N website states, "Mary Roberts Rinehart unravels a story of a summerhouse rental gone dreadfully wrong in the popular 1908 thriller The Circular Staircase. With page-turning suspense, the tart-tongued Rachel Innes narrates the ghostly noises, suspicious deaths, troubling disappearances, mysterious origins, midnight prowlers, and stolen fortunes in this best-selling mystery.
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When The Circular Staircase appeared, Rinehart’s humorous, modern take on the gothic was praised as a new style of mystery writing. Today, it is prominently included in lists of milestones in detective fiction."
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We hope that you will pick up a copy of this ground-breaking tale of mystery and suspense and join us for the discussion on June 15th at 10:00 a.m. in the B&N Cafe.

Detective Jane

FICTION BOOK CLUB

The book club selection for June is the first Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child.

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"Lee Child grabs you with the first line and never loosens his grip. Killing Floor is a terrific ride." -- Nevada Barr

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"A rip-roaring thriller and one of the truly memorable tough-guy heroes in recent fiction." -- Jeffery Deaver

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We hope you will pick up a copy of this exciting novel at the bookstore and join us June 11th at 7:00 p.m. in the B&N Cafe for a lively discussion.

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Jane, Leslie and Cathy

Knitting Group

We had a nice turnout for the two socks on one needle discussion. One intrepid knitter, besides me, decided to give it a try...the jury is still out for her. I think it is a valuable skill to throw in the toolbox with everything else and have enjoyed learning how to do it.

Next month we will begin our first of the six Jane Austen novels we have committed to reading. Northanger Abbey is the first book of hers to be published. Any edition is fine as long as it is unabridged. It is dripping with satire and the usual variety of Austen characters. I look forward to our discussion on the second Monday at 7 pm. (May 11, 2009) Hope to see you then.

Leslie

We had a great group this morning for the discussion of Catherine Coulter's THE COVE. Opinions on the mystery(ies) were mixed but it gave us a lot to talk about.
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We welcomed two new members today, Avis and Cathy! It was wonderful to have their observations and mystery-reading experience added to our usual group. We have a great group of women who enjoy the mystery genre and I am grateful for you all!

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We also discussed our favorite Nancy Drew novel, mine being The Hidden Staircase. My copy is very old and weathered and was published prior to 1945. I compared it to a newer publication on B&N bookselves and found that, although the basic story was the same, it had been significantly rewritten. I have my theories as to why the changes but, if you know more specifics, please let me know.
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Our selection for May is actually two books in one - Death on Demand and Design for Murder by Carolyn G. Hart.

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Some of us have previous experience with Carolyn Hart, but for others she will be a new writer. We hope that you will pick up a copy of this dual read and join us for our discussion May 18th at 10:00 a.m.

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Until I see you in May, happy reading,

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Jane

HISTORY BOOK CLUB

“Humor is mankind's greatest blessing.”
Mark Twain

A small group of us met at the Cafe to discuss the selection for April. We all agreed that the book was dry and did not approach the history of jokes in the manner we had expected from the title. However, we loved discussing the difference between jokes and humor, the part each plays in our lives, and what makes us really laugh. It was an enjoyable hour, thanks Milan!

We will not be meeting in May because of Milan's schedule.

Please watch your email and this blogsite for upcoming selections. If you have suggestions for future books, please let us know. Our email is bnbookgroup@gmail.com.

Jane

FICTION BOOK CLUB

Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian is our selection for May.

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"On a balmy July night in New Hampshire a shot rings out in a garden, and a man falls to the ground, terribly wounded. The wounded man is Spencer McCullough, the shot that hit him was fired–accidentally?–by his adolescent daughter Charlotte. With this shattering moment of violence, Chris Bohjalian launches the best kind of literate page-turner: suspenseful, wryly funny, and humane."

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This book lends itself well to discussion and I hope that you will plan to be with us on May 14th at 8:30 p.m. in the B&N Cafe.

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Jane

History book club April Selection: "Stop Me If You've Heard This"

Over the last months, we have explored everything from ‘Explaining Hitler’, The Plague, Leopold and Loeb, and the Federalist Papers. To lighten things up a bit, our next book will be “Stop Me If You’ve Heard This”, by Jim Holt, a history and philosophy of jokes.

Let’s have fun April 16, at 7:P.M in the Barnes and Noble Café.

I hope to see you all for some fun! Remember to have your favorite joke or ‘one liner’ ready.

P.S. We have the greatest group of book club people anywhere!

Milan

THIRD MONDAY DETECTIVES

This morning we met in the cafe to discuss Reginald Hill's A Clubbable Woman. I did not particularly like the book but did admit that once I became used to the rugby club and very British atmosphere, it grew on me. The murdered women was indeed a clubbable woman. Nancy, who has read the entire series, said it was not her favorite but that the series gets better with each new book. I was glad to hear it.

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April's selection is Catherine Coulter's The Cove. This was my first introduction to mystery writer Catherine Coulter and I enjoyed it so much I've read several in this series. There are thirteen now! You may learn more about this book on bn.com. If you've not read her or it's been a while, pick up a copy today and join us for the discussion next month.

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The group discussed several authors for possible future book selections. Among them was Carolyn Keene of Nancy Drew fame. That's where most of us began our love of the mystery genre as children and thought it would be fun to read one again. At the meeting in April we'll discuss this further. Bring your favorite Nancy Drew mystery or title for sharing with other members.

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We'll be meeting in the cafe April 20th at 10:00 a.m. Until then, happy reading!

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Jane

April Knitting Group

Since no one was able to attend the February meeting, I have rescheduled that selection for April. Two-at-a-time Socks. This is a really fun and handy technique to learn. If you have never knit socks, no problem, give it a try! If you love your dpns and never want to change, step outside of your comfort zone. I am really enjoying this technique and have just reached the heels of my socks. I'll be happy to help anyone interested in learning. Otherwise, come, knit, chat and have a really good cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate in our cafe! Look forward to seeing you.

April 13, 7 pm Barnes & Noble Cedar Hill

Leslie

Knitting Book Group

Three of us met on Monday, March 9, to discuss the book, the Jane Austen Book Club and knit, of course. We let the questions in the back of the book guide our discussion and found plenty of things to say. We all enjoyed the book. I think it helped that the three of us had also read most, if not all, of Jane Austen's work. We found many differences between the book and the movie and did not always agree with the characters' interpretations of Austen's books. What we unanimously agreed upon was that Jane Austen's work continues to be relevant and timeless and this book confirmed that for us.

I had hoped this book would inspire the group to read through all of Austen's books as part of our goal and so we will! We have moved our meetings to the second Monday of the month to give our newsletter readers a chance to attend. The next meeting will be Monday April 13 at 7 pm in the cafe of Barnes & Noble in Cedar Hill. Since no one was able to attend the February meeting, we will talk about that selection at our April meeting. Our first Austen book will be Northanger Abbey and we will discuss it during our May meeting. Any edition is fine.

Hope to see you next month.

Leslie

FICTION BOOK CLUB

Our selection for the month of April is the delightful 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith.

Bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith brings all the warmth of his extraordinary No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books and the Sunday Philosophy Club series to this witty novel chronicling the lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh. Originally serialized in The Scotsman, 44 Scotland Street is already an international sensation.

"When twenty-year-old Pat rents a room from handsome and cocky Bruce, she inherits some delightfully colorful neighbours.This is Alexander McCall Smith’s entertaining and witty portrait of Edinburgh society. "

Pick up a copy today from B&N, Cedar Hill, and join us for the discussion on April 9th at 8:30 p.m.

Jane

March History Book Club Selection

The “Federalist Papers” reside at the core of all debates pertaining to the meaning of the United States Constitution.

In today’s political deliberation, the question of what the Constitution allows or how it is to be interpreted is an ongoing pursuit. “The Federalist Papers in Modern Language” edited by Mary E. Webster, makes available to today’s American Citizen what the founding fathers envisioned for the United States and her inhabitants.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you on Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 PM in the Barnes and Noble Café.

Milan

FICTION BOOK CLUB

The fiction book club will be discussing Nelson DeMille's The Gate House, the long-awaited sequel to The Gold Coast. The discussion of this selection was postponed from the previously announced February date.

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For more information about this novel, please visit bn.com.

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We hope that you can join us on March 12th at 8:30 p.m. in the Cafe at B&N, Cedar Hill.

THIRD MONDAY DETECTIVES by Jane

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We met this morning to discuss Anne Perry's The Face of a Stranger, the first of the William Monk series. Some of the members of the group had previously read novels in this series, but it was new to me. Imagine having to investigate a cold case murder without memory of who you are, police procedure , or having your boss find out that you've no idea what to do next! (This Monk is not to be confused with the TV character - this is Victorian England!) This police procedural without DNA mapping, and other scientific methods with which we are all familiar because of television, was completely absorbing. I highly recommend it!

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Windy March's selection is Reginald Hill's A Clubbable Woman. The story line introduces the audience to the dynamic duo of Pascoe and Dalziel, who are working together for the first time. Thus, Pascoe is shocked by Dalziel's techniques as he has not adapted to it yet. Fans of the series will enjoy where it all began.

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We hope you will join us in discussing this selection on March 16th at 10:00 a.m. in the B&N Cafe, Cedar Hill.

KNITTING BOOK CLUB

David and I (taking Leslie's place for this meeting) met on January 19th to discuss the book selection for the month - The Lace Reader. It had a complicated plot line, actually several plot lines. I didn't mind because each held my interest and I did not see the end coming. David, however, thought it should have been three books! We both found out a lot about modern day Salem, MA, which was quite interesting to us since we had read about the Salem witch trials for the history book club.

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The book selection for March is The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. "In California's Central Valley, five women and one man join to discuss Jane Austen's novels. Over the six months they get together, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable, and love happens." You don't have to be a student of Jane Austen to enjoy the novel.

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Leslie, David and I hope you will join us for a lively discussion of this delightful novel. Our next meeting is March 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in the B&N Cafe, Cedar Hill. Knitting is optional!

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Jane

Fiction Book Club: February

This month we will be discussing Kafka's classic "Metamorphosis". It is extremely entertaining reading, about a young man who is changed into a roach. It is funny, but also very poignant and satirical.

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Please join us Thursday, February 12 at 8:30pm in the cafe for a great discussion about this timeless classic.

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jeff

February History Book Club

'Miracle at Philadelphia'

by Catherine Drinker Bowen.

Miracle at Philadelphia is Catherine Drinker Bowen's classic history of the Federal Convention at Philadelphia in 1787, the stormy, dramatic session that produced the most enduring of political documents - the Constitution of the United States.

Join us at 7:00 P.M., February 19th, in the Cedar Hill, Barnes & Noble Café to experience the debate that created a nation.

Thanks to all those who attended January’s discussion. As usual, your impressions of the book broadened our understanding of a difficult time in our nation’s history.

Milan

THIRD MONDAY DETECTIVES

We met on January 19th and had a lively discussion of Elizabeth Peters' Crocodile on the Sandbank. The protagonist is a strong, independent, adventurous young women who is interested in travel, and, due to an inheritance, is able to go to Egypt. There she develops an interest in archaeology. This is directly reflective of the author herself and the women's movement in late 1960 and early 1970 when the book was written. However, all that said and appreciated, we agreed not to read any other books by Elizabeth Peters.
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The selection for February is Anne Perry's The Face of a Stranger; the first in the William Monk mystery series. We like to begin a noteworthy series at the beginning, if possible, to see the protagonist at the beginning and watch the character development throughout subsequent novels. In this novel, we meet the previously arrogant London police detective just after he has had a carriage accident and lost his memory. He now must function as an officer of the law without any memory of his prior skills and discover who he was and now wants to be.
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I hope you will pick of a copy of this exciting British police procedure novel today and join us for our next discussion on February 16, 2009.

Detective Jane

The pleasure of reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same books.~
Katherine Mansfield ~

My mother, who lived in a different city, once called me long distance just to discuss John Grisham's A Time to Kill. She had enjoyed it so much that she needed to share the joy with someone who had read the book. We talked for an hour and discussed nothing else!

If you love to read and want to share the experience of what you've read with others, Barnes & Noble has a book club for you. You can discuss fiction, history, religion and mystery with others who have read the same book and double your pleasure. It may be the best hour of your month!

Why not join us for the next book club of your choice!

Fiction: 1/8/09 8:30 p.m. History: 1/22/09 7:00 p.m. Religion: 1/22/09 8:30 p.m. Mystery: 1/19/09 10:00 a.m. Knitting Group: 1/19/09 7:00 p.m. All meet in the B&N Cafe, Cedar Hill.

And, check out the rest of our blogsite while you are here. You may find something that strikes your fancy that you will want to add to your library or reading list.

Happy New Year and Good Reading to All

Jane, Bookseller
bnbookgroup@gmail.com