September Book Club

Randi hosted Septembers’ Book Club. We read the wonderufl book “A Thousand Splendid Suns”.

The author of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” uses fictional characters to give a historical, factual account of Kabul before and after the Civil War in Afghanistan. The beauty of Kabul is depicted in the first part of the book; however, the author uses the latter three parts to tell how the Civil War changed all that. While the war affected all of Kabul, the book centers around two women, Mariam and Laila, and discusses the suppression of women that was brought on by the war. As a woman, this book really makes you feel pain for the women living in Kabul during that time but, at the same time, you feel grateful that you live in a country that has taken great strides to get past such a time. This book also makes you realize that while we were suffering during the 9/11 attacks, the majority people in Afghanistan were suffering just as much.

Randi hosted this event in her new, beautiful home. She prepared a delicious and healthy meal, though she provided add-ons for those who did not want the healthy choice. I think everyone took advantage of the add-ons, especially when it came to the dessert. Which reminds me, Randi, we are still waiting for that apple crisp recipe!!

-Alisa

August Book Club

The book for Augusts’ Book Club was “The Art of Racing in the Rain”. Though the title suggests otherwise, it was only fitting that our book club's biggest dog lover, Mandi, hosted the event.

“The Art of Racing in the Rain” actually begins with Enzo on his death bed. The rest of the story is about Enzo’s life as a “dog”, though he was more human than many humans even are. Enzo extensively studied life of a human by watching TV and his owner, race car driver Denny Swift, who went through almost every life joy and trial possible since he brought Enzo home. Enzo predominantly blames his tongue, which is not conducive to pronouncing words, and his lack of opposable thumbs as his major setbacks toward being human. Thanks to car racing Enzo and Denny learned “The Art of Racing in the Rain" and, together, survived some of life’s greatest trials.

After picking such an amazing book, it was only fitting that Mandi cooked us a wonderful dinner, that is once she put the FIRE out!! Let’s just say it was a HOT kitchen! She even went all out with food in “dog bowls" and made “dog bone” brownies. What really made the night complete was having Mandie's two dogs sitting in the center of our discussion circle, probably wishing they had a human tongue and opposable thumbs so that they could speak their piece with a glass of wine in hand.
-Alisa